You want to eat it Not for you.

Central Continent, Ten Thousand Blossom Ridge.

Chu Xingchen lifted a black Go piece and placed it gently on the board, then shifted his gaze to Cui Hao sitting across from him. He asked, "Your eldest senior sister has already begun her closed-door cultivation, preparing to break through from the Golden Core to the Nascent Soul stage. Your second senior brother is also pushing himself hard to catch up, your third senior sister is out gaining experience, and Luo Yu is deep in rigorous training. Yet here you are, leisurely playing Go with your master?"

Cui Hao replied with a calm expression, "Even if two of me were cultivating together, I probably still couldn’t match Eldest Senior Sister. There’s no use rushing. Of course, I’ll do my daily training, but relaxation is necessary too."

Halfway through his words, a smile crept onto Cui Hao’s face as he added, "Master wouldn’t kick me out just because I’m not as much of a genius as Eldest Senior Sister, would you?"

Chu Xingchen raised an eyebrow slightly. "That’s hard to say. No teacher dislikes a diligent student, but lazy ones aren’t exactly favored."

"Nor does any teacher dislike a clever student," Cui Hao countered, his smile unwavering as he quietly made his next move.

Chu Xingchen glanced at the board. Though he was only half-versed in Go, he could still roughly tally the score.

Cui Hao had lost by just about two points—a perfectly measured act of going easy on him.

In any case, compared to Li Xingtian, Cui Hao was far more skilled at managing upward relationships.

Chu Xingchen didn’t continue the game. Instead, he picked up a piece and rubbed it lightly between his fingers as he spoke.

"You’d do well to focus more on cultivation. The world hasn’t been too safe lately."

Cui Hao blinked in surprise at his master’s words, noticing the rare seriousness in his expression. Without pressing for details, he nodded.

"As you command. I’ll start training properly tomorrow. Since Third Senior Sister isn’t here, let me keep you company today."

Chu Xingchen lifted his gaze. "You’re not as thoughtful as your third senior sister. She never gives me any worries."

"That’s true," Cui Hao admitted without denial, pursing his lips slightly. "I miss Third Senior Sister too."

"That expression of yours doesn’t look like missing your third senior sister," Chu Xingchen chuckled. "It looks more like you’re craving Bai Qing’s tea."

Cui Hao grinned cheekily. "Same difference. Third Senior Sister wouldn’t mind."

Suddenly, Chu Xingchen’s eyes flicked toward the door, his face lighting up with pleasant surprise.

"Bai Qing, you’re back?"

Cui Hao didn’t turn around, his expression skeptical. "Master, don’t try to trick me. What are the odds? If Third Senior Sister is really behind me right now, I’ll eat this Go board."

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen glanced at the board and couldn’t help but laugh.

"Then you must have quite the appetite."

"Only if Third Senior Sister is here to witness it."

"Then you can start eating now."

The moment Cui Hao heard the familiar voice of Chen Baiqing behind him, his smile froze. Still refusing to turn, he looked at his master, his tone suddenly much meeker.

"Master… this trick is outdated. I’m smarter now—"

Before he could finish, his peripheral vision caught sight of Chen Baiqing in a pale-yellow dress gracefully taking a seat beside their master.

Chen Baiqing couldn’t hide the joy in her eyes as she looked at Chu Xingchen.

"Master, why didn’t you let me know you were back? I always send word to Eldest Senior Sister when I go anywhere."

Chu Xingchen smiled faintly. "I told Ying Ling not to send you a letter. It’s good for you to go out and gain experience. So, how was your trip?"

Chen Baiqing deftly retrieved tea and a tea set from her spatial ring, preparing it as she answered.

"It went smoothly, though I came across something strange toward the end. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, so I decided to return and wait for further news."

Chu Xingchen’s curiosity was piqued. "What could possibly stump my well-read Bai Qing?"

Chen Baiqing didn’t answer immediately, focusing instead on brewing the tea. She handed the first cup to her master, then passed the second to her fifth junior brother, Cui Hao. Perhaps because she was in high spirits from seeing her master, she suddenly mimicked his tone and said,

"The Go board might be a bit dry. Here’s some tea to wash it down."

Cui Hao’s previously deflated expression shifted instantly. His third senior sister never teased him like this. He shot a resentful look at his master.

"Master, you never used illusion magic to prank your disciples before. This isn’t right."

Chu Xingchen didn’t respond, silently sipping his tea before gesturing for Cui Hao to do the same.

Cui Hao, confident in his assumption, reached for his cup without hesitation.

A moment later, he set the cup down, his expression returning to its earlier gloom as he stared at the Go board.

The taste of Third Senior Sister’s tea was far beyond what any illusion could replicate.

This was undeniably the real Chen Baiqing.

Chen Baiqing glanced at Cui Hao but didn’t comment further. Instead, she retrieved a small vial containing a strange energy from her spatial ring and placed it on the table.

"I came across this during an incident in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent. This energy is very similar to what we encountered in Zhou Family Village. The Tianyan Sect has already confiscated all the problematic items from that location."

"This sample is one I kept separately. Master, please see if there’s anything unusual about it. If it’s useful, you can ask Sister Bai for more—I’ve already instructed them to hand the rest over to her."

Chu Xingchen studied the faint energy within the vial, then reached out and touched the white jade sealing its mouth, sending a wisp of spiritual power inside.

No mistake…

Though its manifestation was different and its power far weaker, it bore a faint resemblance to the essence of Wan Fan.

So, this was another fragment of the shattered Heavenly Dao that someone had discovered and harnessed?

But… why was there no system prompt for a mission this time?

After a brief contemplation, Chu Xingchen turned his gaze back to Chen Baiqing.

"When exactly did you encounter this energy?"

Chen Baiqing activated her Qingtian Treasure Ring, and the surroundings of the hall transformed into a forested scene.

In the distance beyond the tea table, three figures stood before a wild boar spirit and a bear spirit, interrogating them.

Then, in an instant, the situation changed—the boar spirit attacked, Li Qiyun moved to block it, and Chen Baiqing intercepted the strange energy.

From deep within the woods, two streaks of dark light shot toward them.

Beyond recreating the scene, Chen Baiqing also simulated the spiritual fluctuations and unique characteristics of the event as accurately as possible.

Chu Xingchen’s eyes quickly locked onto the two shadowy figures emitting the dark light. After a moment, he nodded approvingly.

"Who would’ve thought our Bai Qing would return with such a significant discovery? Your luck might just rival your eldest senior sister’s. It seems I should send you out on trips more often."

Chen Baiqing couldn’t suppress her smile at the praise.

"I’m glad I could be of help to you, Master."

Chu Xingchen smiled and nodded.

"Then I’ll entrust you with another task."

"Just say the word, Master."

"Then I’ll trouble you to make a trip to the Tianyan Sect and invite Senior Bai back… If Senior Bai is too busy, then bring Ling Yu instead." Chu Xingchen sighed.

"Right now, your eldest senior sister and second senior brother are in seclusion, and I can’t leave either. This task can only fall to you."

Chen Baiqing looked at her master, fully aware that this was his way of indulging her—and also his way of showing that he now saw her as just as reliable as her eldest senior sister.

The task was actually optional, but her master's approval certainly wasn't.

With a solemn expression, she vowed, "Bai Qing will complete it properly."

Chu Xingchen smiled and nodded, then turned his gaze to Cui Hao, who was still staring at the chessboard.

"No need to look. You're already a Foundation Establishment cultivator—digesting a chessboard won't be a problem."

Cui Hao lifted his eyes, his expression almost pleading—Master, you’re really making me eat it?

Chu Xingchen leisurely stood up, walked to Cui Hao’s side, and patted his shoulder.

"This is the only chessboard I have. Even if you wanted to eat it, I wouldn’t let you. Come on, let’s go grill fish with your Third Senior Sister."