Chapter 218: Days of Eating Spicy Strips and Watching Matches (2/3)

"It's a good thing we entered the Counter-Strike team tournament." Seeing the situation over at the Diablo individual tournament, Liang Shi and a group of other rogue cultivators participating in the Counter-Strike team tournament clicked their tongues in disbelief.

They could not afford equipment that cost a hundred or even two hundred crystals apiece.

Ever since Resident Evil, he had started playing games in the shop, but even as an old player, the games he played were still limited; aside from Resident Evil, there was only this single game, Counter-Strike.

In truth, was playing games really solely for the sake of cultivation?

No.

Ordinary people made up the vast majority in this world, but not everyone was willing to be ordinary, just like Chris in the story of Resident Evil 1. At that final moment, when the mansion exploded, that momentary brilliance was like a ray of light that pierced straight into his own heart!

Not everyone came here for profit.

From the very beginning when they were clumsy even in using a pistol, to now, when they could handle any firearm or combat technique with ease, they had poured more effort and heart into this than those nobles and powerful figures!

"It's the final day." He glanced to his side; the person sitting next to him was his comrade in reality and his teammate in the game.

Perhaps this tournament was the best opportunity, he muttered in his heart. Perhaps audience members like them, who would forever stand at the foot of the mountain looking up at others, would have a chance this time to stand on the peak, bathed in golden sunlight, and look out over the scenery below!

He craved such a vista!

Just like that story about competition that had once circulated through the shop, which had only just begun.

If what was before him was also just a beginning...

Perhaps this was the beginning of his glory!

He tightened his grip on the gunstock that had already been warmed by his hand, staring intently to see if any enemies were approaching, while his mind, quite unexpectedly, began to wander.

...

The day of the qualifiers.

Dong Qingli, this young mistress, was in an exceptionally good mood. Even though she hadn't even made it into the top sixteen yesterday, she had come here just to try something new and hadn't harbored any other unwarranted hopes.

Therefore, there was no unwarranted disappointment either.

Unlike dealing with all kinds of monsters, fighting against players clearly involved many more variations and responses, and the opponents encountered upon entering randomly were filled with the unknown. Coupled with the fact that she had won a few matches yesterday, her current mood was very good.

And what made her mood even better was that just as she finished her instant noodles and was about to sit down comfortably on the sofa to wait for the tournament live stream to begin...

She saw Referee Fang, who had already arranged the tournament personnel and various matters, coming down from upstairs, holding a piece of chalk and writing on the small blackboard.

"Boss! Is there a new product again? Is it a snack!?" Dong Qingli immediately leaned in close, after all, this was what she cared about most right now!

Now there weren't even enough snacks to eat every day!

Soon, she saw Fang Qi finish writing: Spicy Sticks?

Fang Qi nodded, pointing to the finished text on the small blackboard and said, "The shop's provisionally designated highest-grade snack, fifteen crystals a box, ten sticks per box, and it is also the only snack in this shop that can be shared with others."

"Of course, it must not be shared with anyone listed on the blacklist; once discovered, they will likewise be blacklisted by this shop," Fang Qi said indifferently. "Do you need a box?"

"Yes!!" Dong Qingli's voice rose by almost eight decibels instantly as she said loudly, "I was just worrying that I wouldn't have enough snacks to watch the match!"

"What snack? Is there a new snack?" Lan Yan had already finished the Diablo tournament she participated in yesterday, so today she simply sat on the sofa to watch Nalan Mingxue's match. Hearing that there was a new snack, she immediately looked over.

Taking a look at the price, she clicked her tongue slightly: "This snack is three times more expensive than Häagen-Dazs?!"

"Is it delicious?" Lan Yan hurriedly asked.

"..."

Fang Qi stated, "To be honest, I haven't eaten it yet."

With that, he took out two boxes of spicy sticks.

The spicy sticks produced by the system did not come in a bag, but rather in a rectangular, transparent glass box. Ten spicy sticks were neatly stacked together, and next to them was a small, long compartment containing several pairs of wooden chopsticks.

Once the lid of the box was opened, a very distinctive, pungent, and spicy fragrance could be smelled.

The orange-yellow spicy sticks each appeared crystal clear, with a few milky-white sesame seeds clinging to them.

Fang Qi froze for a moment, almost failing to recognize this item: "Is this still a spicy stick?!"

"It smells so delicious!" Dong Qingli's snow-white nose sniffed the air.

Even Zhang Wanyu beside her could no longer remain calm, hurriedly paying the money: "Let's eat it and see first!"

At this time, Fang Qi also opened a box, only to see Jiang Xiaoyue's eyes beside him staring straight over.

Fang Qi picked up the chopsticks, casually pinched a stick, and held it out in front of Jiang Xiaoyue.

"Ah—!" Jiang Xiaoyue felt a burst of excitement, opening her mouth ready to eat when...

Fang Qi nonchalantly stuffed it into his own mouth, only feeling a wonderful flavor spread across his taste buds. It was numb yet spicy, and within the spiciness lay a hint of sweetness, mixed with the excellent elasticity of the gluten. The bitten-off gluten bounced in his mouth: "Mmm—! Delicious!"

Jiang Xiaoyue's silver teeth ground together: "..."

"Pick it up yourself!" Fang Qi spoke while blissfully eating the spicy stick.

"Oh..." Jiang Xiaoyue looked entirely depressed. Although psychologically she should have rejected this detestable boss and wanted to bite him, her hand still reached out involuntarily and picked up a stick.

"It's not just delicious!" Dong Qingli had also begun to eat by now. "This gluten, even if the finest spiritual wheat were used, could not achieve such a texture! And what is this unique, pungent, and spicy flavor all about?!"

"With one bite, I feel a warm current burning inside my body!" Zhang Wanyu said in shock. "The qi inside me seems to have become more condensed and stable within this warm current!"

Jiang Xiaoyue took small bites of the spicy stick, as if afraid that if she ate too fast, it would be gone soon, not forgetting to stick out her little tongue to lick clean the sesame seeds at the corner of her mouth.

"What is that? Why is it so fragrant?" Blue Ink and the others also looked over.

...

Xiao Yulv walked in through the door at this moment, carrying a basket of snacks with an air of triumphant pride.

"In order to watch today's match, this young master specially prepared quite a few snacks!"

"Hmm? What's that smell?" Just as he sat down, he discovered that a rectangular box was placed in front of Dong Qingli, Lan Yan, and even Blue Ink and the others.

"I didn't expect this shop to actually have such a delicacy!" Blue Ink held his chopsticks, pointing at the spicy sticks in front of him and smiling, "Junior brother, try it! Not only is the taste superb, but it actually helps to purify the spiritual qi in the body! Excellent! Truly excellent!"

Jun Yangzi hurriedly picked up a spicy stick and took a bite: "Mmm! It truly is a delicacy of the mortal world!"

At the seat near the edge of the sofa, Jiang Xiaoyue, who had originally been watching others eat alongside him, was now holding a spicy stick, eating with a look of absolute intoxication.

"Watch the match! Watch the match!" several voices called out.

Xiao Yulv: "..."

.