Chapter Sixty: I Want to Eat Eel Rice!

A lone figure and a divine beast staged a dramatic battle at the mouth of the Frozen Ice Valley. It was curious—when Chen Xiang first encountered the Rainbow Skinned Eel, the creature was arrogant beyond measure. Yet after being beaten by Chen Xiang, it had become utterly meek. Now, Chen Xiang chased it relentlessly, and the beast didn’t even bother to retaliate.

As the three days were nearly up, most of the cultivators who had found or failed to find the Ice Condensing Grass returned to the valley entrance. Typically, the Hidden Snow Sect would not open the Frozen Ice Valley except at certain times. Anyone who overstayed risked freezing to death within the valley.

Chen Xiang’s commotion quickly drew the attention of the gathered cultivators. With nothing better to do, they watched the spectacle unfold.

“Hey, kid, stop that, quit hitting it!”

“Ee ee ee!”

“I’m warning you, if you keep hitting me, I won’t be so polite!”

The Rainbow Skinned Eel wailed under the repeated blows. Chen Xiang moved at lightning speed, employing the Three Thousand Thunder Movement technique, and his cunning Dog Beating Staff technique left the eel no room to evade—every strike landed perfectly.

But Chen Xiang was not faring much better. The eel’s flesh was astonishingly tough; after prolonged fighting, his palms tingled with numbness, and his grip weakened. Yet the beast bore no visible wounds, just as after their first encounter. If Chen Xiang hadn’t needed to vent his frustration, he might have felt his efforts were wasted.

After practicing the Dog Beating Staff technique three times, Chen Xiang noticed the cultivators watching them intently. He grabbed the eel, whose face betrayed utter despair, and flew to a secluded corner, away from prying eyes.

“That young man’s movement technique is extraordinary—and fast!”

“Yes, and his staff skills are almost impossible to defend against.”

“I wonder what that beast did to provoke him—it’s getting beaten so badly!”

“Badly? I don’t see any injuries on the beast.”

Among the onlookers were those who recognized the uniqueness and power of Chen Xiang’s techniques.

In a hidden corner, Chen Xiang threw the limp Rainbow Skinned Eel to the ground. “Alright, since we’re even now, let’s talk about your situation.”

The eel immediately straightened, indignant. Even? What nonsense—what did I owe you? You interrupted my sleep and beat me several times, this time for no reason at all, the harshest beating yet! And now you say we’re even?

But it remembered it needed his help—and couldn’t defeat him anyway. So it decided to bide its time. When its strength returned, it would settle the score.

Quickly, the eel forced a smile. “Fine, we’re even. As I said, you just need to take me out of here, then remove the mark on me as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Afterward, we go our separate ways—you take your road, I take mine.”

Chen Xiang nodded calmly. “Agreed. ‘Quickly’ and ‘thoroughly’—I’ll remember those words. Now, what reward do you plan to give me? Let me be clear, I don’t want any useless junk.”

The eel erupted in protest. “What? You’ve already beaten me—shouldn’t you feel guilty and help me out of kindness? You dare ask for a reward? Shameless!”

“Oh?” Chen Xiang sneered. “Perhaps I should practice my Four Symbols Extinction Sword technique a bit more—want to help me?”

The eel instantly wilted. Sometimes one must bow to circumstances.

“Fine. What do you want?” it asked impatiently.

“I want eel rice,” Chen Xiang replied without hesitation.

“Damn it! Kid, have you no shame? I treat you as a friend, and you want to eat me?” The eel retreated hastily, terror written across its face.

“Heh, so you admit you’re the Rainbow Skinned Eel?” Chen Xiang grinned, advancing step by step. With a flick of his hand, the Murder Sword appeared, gleaming green.

The eel stared at the sword in horror. “Wait! I have a earth-grade, fifth-tier spiritual artifact—will that do?”

Chen Xiang was momentarily stunned, his eyes lighting up. An earth-grade, fifth-tier artifact—clearly, the Rainbow Skinned Eel was quite wealthy. In the System Mall, even the cheapest earth-grade artifact cost five hundred reputation points; fifth-tier ones easily broke a thousand, and superior ones could fetch fifteen hundred or more.

“Alright, show me first,” Chen Xiang said, extending his hand.

But the eel refused. “No! You’re so shameless, what if you take my artifact and don’t help me? You’ll only get it after you remove the mark!”

“Ah, so you don’t trust honest, reliable me? Fine, I don’t really need artifacts anyway. Stay here in the Frozen Ice Valley, then,” Chen Xiang said coolly, turning to leave.

Seeing Chen Xiang truly about to depart, the eel panicked. “Wait, young man, let’s discuss this!”

“No discussion. That’s that—farewell,” Chen Xiang replied, walking toward the valley entrance, though his steps were slow.

The eel leapt to block him, gritting its teeth. “Fine, you can look—but you can’t touch. Otherwise, I’ll wait for the next earth array master.”

“Deal!” Chen Xiang replied without hesitation.

He was already thinking of how to get his hands on the artifact. He had none of earth-grade, and one would save him over a thousand reputation points.

The eel eyed Chen Xiang warily, then opened its mouth gently. A beam of light emerged, growing larger and larger until it became a jade-green bamboo segment about three feet long, crystalline and translucent. One end bore a bamboo tassel, making the whole piece look like a work of art.

As soon as the bamboo appeared, the eel wrapped its body tightly around it, watching Chen Xiang with suspicion.

“I found this in the ruins of a mighty cultivator called Emperor Shangyun. This earth-grade artifact is named Jade Bamboo Sword, Emperor Shangyun’s own blade. Although it’s earth-grade, fifth-tier, its power rivals seventh-tier artifacts, and may even surpass them, nearing heaven-grade. Unfortunately, the blade has an unknown flaw, so its power is greatly diminished—but it remains priceless,” the eel explained, never taking its eyes off Chen Xiang.

From the moment the eel produced the Jade Bamboo Sword, Chen Xiang’s gaze remained fixed. He felt a strange resonance with the sword, as though it was calling to him, wanting to merge with him.

“Deal!” Chen Xiang replied without hesitation, as soon as the eel finished speaking.

“To be continued…”