Chapter 16 - Xiao Shu Advances! Reward! Grand Illusion Technique!

Chapter 16: Xiao Shu Advances! Reward! Grand Illusion Technique!

…

After enlightening the pheasant Ah Si, Zhu Xuanji received the reward of the Nine Character Mantra.

For more than a year now, Zhu Xuanji had been cultivating diligently. Although he had only mastered the first three characters, their power was already formidable.

As Zhu Xuanji reviewed the records on his personal panel, Xiao Zhi popped her head out of the lake and called out, “Brother!”

“Brother! My stomach has been feeling bloated these past few days.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xuanji glanced at Xiao Zhi, noticing that she had grown more than ten times her previous size, transforming from a palm-sized silver fish into a large silver fish.

“Feeling bloated? Could it be that you’re about to advance in rank?”

Zhu Xuanji reached out to touch Xiao Zhi’s head. Just as he was surprised, Xiao Shu also emerged.

“Brother, brother! I think I’ve broken through! Look, I’ve grown bigger!”

Zhu Xuanji looked closely and saw a large silver fish over ten feet long flopping in the water. It was indeed Xiao Shu.

At that moment, a system prompt sounded in his ear:

[Ding! Congratulations, host! Your enlightened silver fish Xiao Shu has successfully advanced to the lower stage of the Body Transformation Realm!]

[You have received the enlightenment reward: Grand Illusion Technique, Dragon Pattern Cauldron, 10 Green Ghost Vine Seeds, and 10 Five-Colored Spirit Sprout Rice Seeds!]

[The Grand Illusion Technique is a divine skill that can trap people in an illusion. The higher the practitioner’s realm, the longer the duration, potentially trapping an entire nation in an illusion!]

[The Dragon Pattern Cauldron is a treasure cauldron filled with dragon patterns!]

[Green Ghost Vine Seeds can grow into Green Ghost Vines, which are green like dragons and can appear and disappear mysteriously. They require very low maintenance and can grow once planted.]

[Five-Colored Spirit Sprout Rice Seeds can grow into Five-Colored Spirit Sprout Rice, a pure spirit rice. Consuming this rice not only satiates hunger but also improves the consumer’s constitution with prolonged use!]

Hearing the system prompt, a faint smile appeared on Zhu Xuanji’s face. As expected, Xiao Shu had broken through, and with the breakthrough came generous rewards: Grand Illusion Technique, Dragon Pattern Cauldron, Green Ghost Vine Seeds, and Five-Colored Spirit Sprout Rice Seeds—all valuable items.

However, Zhu Xuanji hadn’t anticipated that Xiao Shu and Xiao Zhi’s advancement would take so long. Ten years had passed, even in the spiritual energy-rich Zhongshan, a supreme land blessed with spiritual energy, and despite frequently consuming spiritual fruits and herbs along with Zhu Xuanji’s constant enlightenment and support.

Xiao Shu had only now advanced to the lower grade of the Body Transformation Realm. This highlighted the complexity of spirit beast evolution, further proving that Da Huang’s five-year advancement was indeed impressive. Initially, Zhu Xuanji thought Da Huang would be the slowest to advance, but now it seemed Da Huang was the fastest. Xiao Shu and Xiao Zhi, although doing well, couldn’t match Da Huang’s speed.

“Brother! Brother! I broke through! What reward do I get?”

Having spent a long time with Zhu Xuanji, Xiao Shu and Xiao Zhi behaved like his sisters, playfully demanding rewards. Zhu Xuanji smiled and said to the monkey Xiao Liuzi on Da Huang’s back, “Xiao Liuzi! Go to the medicinal field and bring back a White Jade Spirit Mulberry Fruit.”

Xiao Liuzi somersaulted off Da Huang’s back and replied, “Got it, master!”

Xiao Liuzi, being close to Da Huang, also referred to Zhu Xuanji as master.

“Brother, you’re so stingy! I break through and only get one White Jade Spirit Mulberry Fruit!” Xiao Shu said, blowing bubbles in the lake.

Zhu Xuanji laughed, “You little fish! Complaining about the White Jade Spirit Mulberry Fruit! Looks like I’ve been giving you too many good things. No more spirit fruits for you from now on.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Shu quickly said, “Brother, brother! I was just kidding! I want it, I want it!”

Zhu Xuanji shook his head with a helpless smile.

Xiao Liuzi was quick, returning with the White Jade Spirit Mulberry Fruit in no time. Zhu Xuanji threw the fruit into the water, and Xiao Shu swallowed it in one gulp.

“Xiao Zhi, you need to work hard too. Strive to break through soon!” Zhu Xuanji encouraged Xiao Zhi before standing up and heading to the mountain medicinal field with Da Huang and Xiao Liuzi.

Soon, Zhu Xuanji arrived at the medicinal field. Under the Longevity Fruit Tree, a small white snake about the length of Zhu Xuanji’s arm coiled around a branch.

Under the tree stood the pheasant Ah Si, glaring menacingly at the white snake, which seemed to be trembling.

Seeing the small white snake, a smile appeared on Zhu Xuanji’s lips. This was the snake he had rescued and kept in the medicinal field, not yet enlightened. Today, it seemed the snake had recovered well. But why was it frightened by the pheasant Ah Si?

“Ah Si! Get away from there and stop causing trouble!” Zhu Xuanji shouted at the pheasant.

Ah Si, with his splendid feathers and larger size compared to ordinary roosters, screeched upon hearing Zhu Xuanji’s voice, “Aiya, aiya … the master is here!”