I always find it sounds unreliable

(This chapter has been revised)

Su Ji suddenly felt that old geezer Zhao Tianyang wasn't actually that detestable.

"Junior Sister, tell me honestly."

"Is that 'one hundred times' thing just you deliberately messing with me?"

"Who would study something so outrageous for no reason?"

"I'm not!" Su Jiu's voice immediately retorted, anxious and fast. "This is the only possibility recorded in the ancient texts of our Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox clan! Though it's just theoretical... it seems it hasn't been put into practice yet..."

Su Ji looked hesitant. "Theoretical?"

"How about we think this over and discuss it further..."

"I just feel like it sounds a bit unreliable."

"Does Senior Brother have any other ideas then?"

"Zhao Tianyang has already gone to find someone to verify it."

"Go confess to Zhao Tianyang right now and tell him you were lying to him before! Let's see if he doesn't slap you to death!"

Su Ji fell silent again.

He naturally knew he had no choice.

But that didn't mean he had to just pinch his nose and accept it.

What a joke!

He, Su Ji, had lived two lives. What kind of scenes hadn't he seen?

What kind of mountains of blades and seas of fire hadn't he braved?

But damn it, in all his life, he really had never seen such an outrageous requirement!

An average of fourteen sparring sessions a day, and he'd still be short by two!

Is this something a human could do?

Su Ji did like to take advantage of the little fox, but he wasn't brainless!

The more Su Ji thought about it, the more unreliable it seemed.

He abruptly stood up from the stone chair and paced back and forth in the courtyard, muttering to himself, "No, absolutely not."

"Senior Brother, what exactly are you dawdling for?"

"Are you hesitating so much because you can't manage a hundred times?"

Su Ji's footsteps suddenly halted.

Although he couldn't see Su Jiu, he could almost picture her little fox face written all over with "disdain" right now.

"Heh, I'm just afraid you won't be able to handle it."

"Since Junior Sister doesn't appreciate my concern, then bring it on."

"Hmph!"

A disdainful cold snort from Su Jiu echoed in his mind, followed by total silence.

Leaving only Su Ji standing alone in the courtyard in a daze.

After a long time.

He let out a long breath of stale air.

He had been too impulsive.

His heart was filled with regret.

The price for acting tough was a bit too high.

But then again.

As a dignified Golden Core cultivator of the Heavenly Palace, and with a heaven-defying cultivation method like the Desolate Meteor Fallen Dragon Art protecting him, the vigor of his vital blood was far beyond compare to mortals.

Using a mortal's mindset to gauge a cultivator's abilities was too narrow-minded.

Perhaps... it wasn't impossible?

Should he challenge his own weaknesses?

However, before that.

He had to make thorough preparations.

For these seven days, absolutely no one could be allowed to disturb him.

Zhao Tianyang shouldn't be back for a short while.

Right now, the biggest variable was Zhang Kui.

He had to stabilize him first.

Having made up his mind, Su Ji didn't delay any further. He straightened his robes and walked straight toward Zhang Kui's residence.

...

Zhang Kui was in his shack, staring blankly at a palm-sized map.

The map was drawn very roughly, with several red dots marked in cinnabar, indicating several important areas deep within the third mining area.

He was engrossed in his study when the door curtain was suddenly lifted.

"Big Brother Zhang."

Su Ji's face, wearing an honest and naive smile, poked in.

Zhang Kui was startled and instinctively moved to put the map away, but upon seeing that the visitor was Su Ji, his movements halted.

He squeezed out a smile. "Steward Su, how do you have the free time to visit my rundown place?"

"Big Brother Zhang, you're embarrassing me."

Su Ji quickly waved his hands, his face showing a perfectly measured amount of trepidation.

"Just call me Su Hao."

He said this while walking inside.

Zhang Kui looked at his humble appearance.

Even though he knew it was an act.

But mutual flattery is always pleasant, and he felt quite gratified inside; the smile on his face became a bit more genuine.

"Alright, don't just stand there, sit."

He pointed to the stone stool opposite him.

Su Ji sat down as told.

"What's the matter?" Zhang Kui got straight to the point.

The smile on Su Ji's face slowly faded, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity.

He glanced at Zhang Kui and lowered his voice.

"Big Brother Zhang, I might... need to go into secluded cultivation for a period of time."

"Secluded cultivation?"

Zhang Kui froze for a moment, somewhat puzzled.

"You're a steward now, eating well and drinking well, what do you need to go into seclusion for?"

Hearing this, a bitter smile appeared on Su Ji's face, and he shook his head.

"Big Brother Zhang, things aren't that simple."

He leaned closer, his voice even lower.

"To tell you the truth, that Heaven Devouring Demonic Art of mine is actually... not as powerful as I boasted."

Zhang Kui's brows instantly furrowed.

Su Ji continued to speak in that "heart-to-heart" tone.

"This demonic art is truly overbearing, but the backlash is also genuinely deadly."

"Yesterday, in order to bluff Old Zhao, I forcefully used it, and it has already injured my Golden Core origin."

As Su Ji said this, he even dramatically clutched his chest.

"Old Zhao is a man with very deep thoughts. I'm afraid... I'm afraid the 'witness' he brings might notice some clues."

"Therefore, I must go into secluded cultivation for a while to adjust my condition to its peak."

"At least..."

Su Ji held up seven fingers.

"For seven days, no one can come and disturb me."

"Otherwise, if anything goes wrong, it won't just be me. I'm afraid even you, Big Brother Zhang..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the implication was already self-evident.

Zhang Kui's expression instantly darkened.

He naturally understood the stakes involved.

Right now, he and Su Ji were grasshoppers tied to the same rope.

If Su Ji's boat capsized, he would fall into the water with him.

"Is it that serious?" Zhang Kui's voice was a bit dry.

Su Ji nodded heavily, his face showing a helpless "I have no other choice" expression.

"This demonic art has always been a narrow escape from death. I am gambling with my life here."

Zhang Kui paced back and forth in the room, the expression on his rugged face constantly changing.

After a long time, he suddenly stomped his foot, as if he had made a firm decision.

"Alright!"

He turned around, his bell-like eyes staring fixedly at Su Ji.

"Seven days!"

"For these seven days, you can cultivate in peace!"

"If you need anything, just say the word!"

"I might not dare to promise elsewhere, but in this third mining area, as long as it's something I, Zhang Kui, can get my hands on, I will absolutely not hesitate!"

This was exactly what Su Ji had been waiting for.

A moved expression immediately surfaced on his face. He stood up and gave Zhang Kui a heavy salute with cupped fists.

"Thank you, Big Brother Zhang!"

"I don't need any items. With your words, I can rest easy!"

His tearfully grateful appearance, looking as if he wanted to bow down in worship, made Zhang Kui feel even more comfortable inside.

"Alright, cut out these empty formalities."

Zhang Kui waved his hand, his face returning to its usual hearty appearance.

"We are brothers, saying such things makes us seem like strangers."

"Hurry back and prepare. Leave the matters outside to me!"

"Even if Old Man Zhao returns, I will explain the stakes to him and figure out a way to make him wait the full seven days!"

Su Ji expressed a few more "heart-to-heart" words of gratitude before turning around and leaving Zhang Kui's shack.

Watching Su Ji's retreating figure, an inscrutable gleam flashed through Zhang Kui's already somewhat cloudy eyes.

"Su Hao..."

Zhang Kui murmured, slowly chewing over the name.

"I hope you don't disappoint me, kid..."

...

Su Ji returned to his courtyard residence.

The very first thing he did was bolt the courtyard gate securely from the inside.

Only after doing so did he finally let out a long breath of relief.

"Junior Sister."