Persimmons, pick the soft ones to pinch

Su Ji snapped back to reality.

He was still sitting cross-legged on that somewhat chilly rock...

Holy shit!

Su Ji sprang up like a catapult, instantly putting distance between himself and the boulder.

Why the hell did it suddenly get so hot under his ass?

Whatever.

Not important.

He began recalling the scenes he had glimpsed in [Peering into Fate].

The Heart Demon Tribulation made sense.

After all, he'd already attracted heavenly punishment—what's one complimentary heart demon combo on top?

The Heavenly Dao was just being hospitable, throwing in a freebie. Made perfect sense.

Better prepare for that.

But... the Heavenly Fox Tribulation?

He meticulously replayed the vision in his mind—Su Jiu hadn't faced the slightest hint of danger throughout.

Where was the tribulation?

Su Ji shook his head, dismissing the chaotic thoughts.

At any rate, underground Foundation Establishment was the right approach.

As for the heart demon, he'd mention it to Su Jiu when she returned. See if she had any brilliant insights.

One man's wisdom had limits—might as well exploit a free walking encyclopedia.

Decision made, Su Ji wasted no time.

He picked up his spear from the ground.

Balanced it horizontally across his shoulders, the shaft pressing against the back of his neck, arms hooked around either end.

Striking an outrageously cocky pose, he strode deeper into the molten cavern.

About fifty steps in,

perhaps feeling the stance wasn't arrogant enough,

he adjusted the spear.

Now gripping it single-handedly behind his back, tip angled toward the ground.

As he advanced, the spearhead scraped against stone, spraying sparks.

Yeah. This was way more badass.

Much better.

...

Then came the discomfort.

Half an hour later,

Su Ji stood at a three-way fork, his spear now properly strapped to his back.

His expression was... colorful.

"This can't be right... I followed the map exactly."

He flipped the parchment repeatedly, scrutinizing it.

Then eyed the three identical tunnels ahead, deep in thought.

Refusing to believe it, he backtracked and took another branching path.

Only to return to the same damned junction.

Su Ji's face darkened.

He brought the map inches from his eyes.

Turned it right side up, upside down.

Finally, in frustration,

rolled it into a tube and peered through it like a telescope at the fork.

Still no epiphany.

His face flushed crimson.

Goddammit!

Should've known better than to trust anyone from the Love-Longing Sect.

That Contribution Hall elder took his spirit stones and sold him a fake.

This forged map looked more authentic than Su Ji's own handwriting.

Map was useless now.

Only himself to rely on.

Su Ji carefully stored the map away,

then fished out a low-grade spirit stone from his robe.

He weighed it in his palm before casually flicking it forward like a pebble.

"Clink-clatter..."

The stone bounced several times before rolling into the leftmost tunnel.

Su Ji dusted his hands, wearing a "told-you-so" smirk.

Don't ask.

This was advanced methodology.

One of these paths had to be correct.

Where there was passage, there was airflow.

Faint, but enough to alter the stone's trajectory.

Take notes, folks. This was premium knowledge.

Su Ji marched into the left tunnel.

...

Through relentless stone-tossing,

he somehow stumbled upon the right path.

After an indeterminable time,

a subterranean river surged into view.

The rapids churned in an eerie ink-black hue.

To Su Ji, this was far more reliable than any map.

Without hesitation, he followed the current downstream.

About an incense stick's worth of walking later,

Su Ji froze mid-step.

Slithered soundlessly behind a protruding rock.

Squinting, he focused on a bend ahead.

After all this time...

living souls.

...

"Senior Sister, I still feel uneasy,"

a timid female voice barely pierced the roaring waters.

"What if... what if those rogue cultivators aren't enough?"

Another voice, crisp yet impatient, answered: "Nonsense! The Holy Maiden's calculations are flawless. If she says their sacrifice suffices, it does."

Joyful Union Sect disciples.

Two women in sheer pink gossamer stood by the river, backs turned.

The fearful junior's voice trembled:

"But... what if I get sacrificed too...?"

"Useless coward!"

The senior sister scoffed.

"The Holy Maiden isn't unleashing that beast—she doesn't need that many lives."

"She's just retrieving a [Dragon's Saliva Stone], a heavenly treasure to aid her breakthrough to the ninth-tier Golden Core!"

"Once those cannon fodder break the outer formations, she'll claim it."

"We'll earn sect contributions without lifting a finger. Zero danger."

The junior seemed reassured.

"Oh, I see now..."

Su Ji held his breath.

Exactly as suspected.

Blood sacrifice!

As he strategized, the senior sister spoke again:

"Enough dithering."

"The Holy Maiden's orders: if this river shows no change in three hours, we investigate."

"Hope those rogues aren't slacking—or else... heh."

Her words hung as the air suddenly thickened.

"Wait—"

Her body tensed like a predator sensing prey.

"Someone's here."

An invisible detection pulse swept over Su Ji's hiding spot.

The cavern's atmosphere turned glacial—even the river's roar seemed muted.

The pair whirled around, their pretty faces now devoid of levity, replaced by icy vigilance.

Exposed.

Su Ji emerged leisurely from behind the rock, ambling as if on an evening stroll.

"Threesome, ladies?"

The women didn't respond, exchanging a glance.

A silent psychic conversation flashed between them.

The senior sister's thought was frigid: 'A rogue cultivator, late Qi Refining. He heard everything.'

The junior panicked: 'He knows about the sacrifice! What do we do?'

'Calm down,' came the mental reprimand. 'Two Foundation Establishment against one? Crush him fast.'

'Kill him?'

'No choice. The Holy Maiden's plan cannot leak. Strike together—quick and clean.'

'Understood.'

That fleeting murderous intent? Su Ji caught it crystal clear.

He even gave them mental applause for efficiency.

Not giving them time to hesitate, Su Ji closed the distance with deliberate steps.

Ten paces. Five.

As he neared, the senior sister forced a saccharine smile, voice dripping honey:

"Such bold words, dear cultivator~ Your skills must be... formidable. I wonder if you can satisfy us both—"

Su Ji's response was a gale that tore through the air.

The spear in his hand became a soul-reaping weapon.

His target was not the senior sister who had spoken, but the timid junior sister beside her, who had exuded cowardice from start to finish.

When picking a persimmon, one should choose the softest.