Is Su Ji About to Explode

Su Ji couldn’t care less about formalities.

He pointed at the spirit stones on the table.

"Come on, let’s split the loot."

Su Jiu was momentarily stunned.

"There’s a share for me?"

But why call it "loot"?

Weren’t these supposed to be someone else’s investment?

"Of course," Su Ji declared righteously. "I, Su Ji, believe in clear accounts—what’s borrowed must be returned, and the extra counts as interest."

"There should be about three hundred and seventy high-grade spirit stones here."

"You take one hundred and eighty..."

Su Ji felt his heart bleeding.

These weren’t low-grade spirit stones.

Was he really about to give away half?

"Actually, take seventy..."

But before he could finish, he was interrupted again.

Finally, Su Ji managed to convince himself with a justification.

Wasn’t Su Jiu about to help him gather materials for his Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment?

What if she ran short on funds?

That would jeopardize his future!

This was no place for stinginess.

Consider it an investment in materials.

"Take one hundred and seventy."

"Reach the Golden Core stage soon, Junior Sister, so I can bask in your glory."

With that thought, the pain in his heart lessened.

Once Su Jiu reached the Golden Core stage, he could ride her coattails.

By then, would he still need to hide from a mere elder by soaking in a medicinal tub?

He could sit on the sect leader’s throne and do as he pleased—no one would dare utter a word.

...

Su Jiu stared at the pouch, momentarily at a loss for words.

He could have kept everything for himself, yet he still shared with her.

This thought lingered in her mind, refusing to fade.

Su Ji paid no attention to her inner turmoil. He upended the pouch of high-grade spirit stones onto the table with a clatter.

Three hundred and seventy high-grade spirit stones glittered brilliantly, nearly blinding Su Ji’s "dog eyes."

He counted them one by one, painstakingly separating one hundred and seventy.

The rest were stuffed back into the pouch.

Then he glanced at the floor.

"One, two, three... five..."

Hmm.

He snatched five more stones from the table and returned them to his own pouch.

Su Jiu watched as Su Ji wrestled between generosity and reluctance, an inexplicable silly grin spreading across her face.

After a long pause, she finally remembered the main issue. "By the way, what about the [Hundred Refined Heavenly Silkworm Thread]?"

"Oh, that." Su Ji waved it off.

"There wasn’t enough to craft an inner armor, so I asked that old man to find a skilled artificer and turn it into something else."

"He said he’d notify me once it’s done, so don’t worry."

The poor vendor—not only did he lose money and a sword, but he also had to run errands for free.

Su Jiu relaxed completely upon hearing this.

She rose from the bed, bent down, and picked up the five spirit stones from the floor.

Gently, she placed them back into the pile meant for her.

"Since Senior Brother trusts me so much, I’ll make preparations and set out tomorrow."

Gazing at the pile of spirit stones, her eyes brimmed with newfound confidence.

"With these, the trip should go smoothly. Within a month at most, I’ll bring back every material needed for your Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment—not a single one missing."

Su Ji: "..."

Must you say things like that...?

It sounded like some theatrical general’s boast.

But what could Su Ji do?

She was utterly reckless.

"No rush."

"Leave in five days."

Su Jiu’s face twisted in confusion.

"With your cultivation speed and these spirit stones, I’d say you’ll reach Foundation Establishment in about a month."

"Why wait five more days? Shouldn’t we act as quickly as possible?"

"Besides, I’ll be attempting my Golden Core breakthrough in around a month too."

Her meaning was clear—these five days were precious for both of them and would significantly delay their progress.

Su Ji merely smiled without explanation.

"Trust me."

Two simple words, yet they carried an unshakable authority.

Su Jiu studied his confident demeanor, and memories of his past inexplicable feats surfaced in her mind.

Whether it was foreseeing Elder Liu’s murderous intent or predicting the Nascent Soul remnant’s attempted possession, everything proved Su Ji harbored secrets beyond her comprehension.

Her doubts gradually gave way to another emotion.

Fine.

Su Ji always had his reasons.

"I’ll follow Senior Brother’s arrangements."

Su Jiu acquiesced, her tone unconsciously docile.

...

Five days passed in a flash.

During this time, Su Jiu never left her small courtyard, quietly meditating and occasionally tending to the spiritual herbs in the backyard.

Meanwhile, Su Ji finally obtained what he’d been waiting for.

The cooldown for [Fate’s Gaze] had ended.

Without hesitation, he willed it to activate.

In an instant, an indescribable, vast sensation enveloped him.

Countless threads floated around him, weaving into an endless, boundless web.

This time, only one thread could be tugged.

So...

Even predetermined fate could shift unpredictably due to his actions?

Moreover, this thread was unlike any Su Ji had seen before—it was a sinister black-red!

His consciousness didn’t hesitate. With a forceful yank, he pulled the thread.

The surroundings shattered like glass, crumbling into dust.

When his vision cleared again...

...

Then—

The opening scene hit like a thunderbolt.

Su Ji was in his wooden cabin, his entire body burning with unbearable heat. A violent surge of spiritual energy rampaged through his meridians, threatening to tear him apart from within.

"Creak—"

The door swung open.

Su Jiu walked in, dust-covered and weary, yet her clear eyes sparkled with faint joy.

"Senior Brother, I’m back—"

Before she could finish, Su Ji cut her off.

Staggering up from the bed, his eyes bloodshot, he fixed a desperate gaze on her, his voice hoarse and ragged.

"Junior Sister..."

He reached out, like a drowning man grasping for his last lifeline.

"Give it to me..."

Su Jiu recoiled half a step, startled by his appearance.

But Su Ji advanced, the spiritual energy in his body growing even more uncontrollable. A pained growl escaped his throat.

"I need it..."

"I can’t hold back anymore!"

With his current state, those words could easily be misconstrued.

Su Jiu’s cheeks flushed crimson.

But the next moment, she sensed something amiss.

Su Ji’s spiritual energy was running wild, luminescent patterns flickering beneath his skin—this wasn’t lust, but... the signs of an imminent, forced breakthrough into Foundation Establishment!

Who could’ve guessed that in the mere month she’d been gone, Su Ji had reached his limit and was about to explode?