Chapter 873: There Must Be Something Fishy About This and... Project Void!

"What on earth is this?!" one of the elves exclaimed, picking up a bag of candies adorned with fruit illustrations from the table. "Durian-flavored candy?"

"The drawings on it look just like fruit!" Sera spoke up cheerfully. "Fruit flavors ought to be delicious!"

These elves held a particular fondness for fruit.

Su Tianji, meanwhile, picked up a food box that bore a striking resemblance to the packaging of the spicy gluten strips sold in the shop. "What's this? Is it spicy-flavored tofu?"

Jiang Xiaoyue claimed a bag of seaweed for herself, her mouth watering. "I haven't seen this one either, but it looks quite tasty. I'll try this first."

"Wow—!" Several elves grew rather excited. Previously, they had only heard tales of these non-salable snacks in the shop but had never tasted them!

To think they had stumbled upon such a grand opportunity today, getting to sample delicacies that no one else could.

One had to realize these snacks were strictly not for sale in the shop; it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and if they missed it, they might never get to eat them again!

At that moment, even the surrounding customers in the shop cast envious glances their way.

"Well, I'm opening mine!" Su Tianji said happily.

"I'm opening mine too!" Sera and the other elves each took a piece of candy.

One after another, they tore into their snacks.

"I've already started eating!" By then, Jiang Xiaoyue had already produced a small packet of seaweed. Tearing the wrapper open, she stuffed a few sheets toward her small mouth, though she still reservedly took just a gentle, small bite.

Her rosy little face instantly changed color.

Immediately following, a bizarre, braised stench, mingled with an indescribable, foul odor, intertwined and drifted outward...

It was as if a Pandora's box had been flung open!

The entire leisure area of the shop felt as though a biochemical bomb had been detonated; the faces of the few elves turned practically sallow from the fumes.

"Is this...?!"

"What—?!"

"Ah—! Ptu, ptu, ptu, ptu, ptu...!" Jiang Xiaoyue also screwed up her small, miserable face against that incomparably pungent, burning spice. "Water... I need to go drink water!"

Fanning her tender little tongue vigorously, she hurriedly dashed off to find water to drink.

"It stinks so bad—!" Sera pinched her nose tight, feeling as though she were about to suffocate!

Su Tianji was also left dizzy by the stench. As she struggled to snap the lid back onto the box, her face turned completely green from holding her breath.

Turning her head to look, she saw that every single person in the surrounding shop had retreated more than a hundred feet away, clutching their noses. The envious stares from earlier had all transformed into looks as though they had seen a ghost. It felt... what was wrong with this bunch?! Why did it feel... like this group of people was gathered together to eat dung?!

...

Unlike them, figures like Gu Tingyun, Zong Wu, Daoist Master Xi Chi, and even the enchantress Nengbi—the various sect masters, elders, and leaders—naturally had far more worries to occupy their minds.

After all, Owner Fang only cared about running the shop, and the players only cared about playing; if these people didn't worry, no one would.

At this time, Nengbi was still supervising the jailers of Half City as they interrogated the captives from the Thousand Isles Sea and the Nine Serenities.

Meanwhile, the other sect masters and elders were also discussing subsequent matters, and even... representatives had been sent from the Western Continent to participate in the discussions.

...

As for the Thousand Isles Sea, it went without saying at this moment. Venerable Master Miaofa's strength ranked near the top not just among the elders of the Gui family, but even among the elders of all the clans.

The fact that even his personal command resulted in severe injuries and a forced retreat was an impact that could not be covered up, not only in the entire Thousand Isles Sea, but in the entire Heavenly Realm as well.

Almost simultaneously, within the Nine Serenities.

A band of fierce generals, led by the Demon General of the Nine Abysses, had commandeered the Sky-Swallowing Giant Tortoise to pass through the Mortal Realm and launch a surprise attack on the Heavenly Realm, only to be beaten back the moment they set foot there. Such an event likewise spread through the ranks of the Nine Serenities demon soldiers at extreme speed.

In the Thousand Isles Sea, within the Gui residence, Venerable Master Miaofa narrowed his eyes slightly at this moment, gazing coldly into the distance. "Just as I was about to strike, I encountered a monster with a furry face and a sharp snout?! The Mortal Realm could never possess a strange monkey of such strength. Could it be... a demonic creature from the Nine Serenities...?! What kind of conspiracy are they plotting?!"

Within the Nine Serenities, though the Demon General of the Nine Abysses was currently gravely wounded, it still dragged its battered body to kneel inside a magnificent, grand hall. From the vast, boundless darkness before it came a somber voice, "To think that the moment you arrived in the Mortal Realm, you encountered an ambush... and the strength of those humans... far exceeded your imagination? Could it be an ambush from the Divine Courts of the Heavens...?"

Venerable Master Miaofa stated, "There is something fishy about this matter. For now, it matters not; let us report it upward and investigate it thoroughly before making a final decision."

Within the Nine Serenities: "There must be something underhanded at play! The guilt of your defeat shall be recorded for now. First, ascertain the origins of the Mortal Realm experts you encountered, then consider making amends for your crimes with meritorious service!"

"Report—!" Just at that moment, in both the Thousand Isles Sea and the Nine Serenities.

"Two captives were just sent back outside, saying... saying they are passing on a message on behalf of the cultivators of the Mortal Realm!"

"What message?!" The faces of the parties in both realms darkened simultaneously. "Bring them in!"

The two captives knelt below and relayed the words, "They said... said... if your claws stretch out too far, for every one that comes, they will break it!"

"We never initiate war, but if you wish to fight, we will accompany you to the absolute end!"

Instantly, the faces of both sides turned ash-grey!

"Arrogant! Simply outrageous!"

"What do we do, Venerable Master?!" asked a Gui family immortal in the Thousand Isles Sea.

Even without using one's brain, everyone knew who the opponent was...

"But I constantly feel... there is something fishy here!" Venerable Master Miaofa said coldly.

...

In the Pantheon, the deity clad in five-colored divine armor also looked at the newly arrived message in the divine hall. "Word has already come from the Divine Court."

"To maintain our positions without moving?" The Deity of Radiance sat upright upon his divine throne, his face unreadable as he spoke, "I suppose even they suspect... that the Nine Serenities faction has made some move."

"First, make peace with them and ransom the captives! Give them some benefits to stabilize them, and once the truth is uncovered..." He let out a breathless laugh. "They certainly have calculated well. Once the truth is fully brought to light, this Mortal Realm will likely become a new battlefield shared with the Nine Serenities!"

...

"Venerable Master, the Mortal Realm side... also demands that we clear the Void Thunder Realm..."

"The Void Thunder Realm...?" Venerable Master Miaofa sneered. "A joke! Tell them that this realm was formed many years ago and now stands as an independent realm; it is not so easily cleared. Aren't they very capable? Tell them to cross it if they can, and if they cannot, they have no right to blame us!"

Furthermore, the people of the Thousand Isles Sea possessed blood sacrifice imprints upon the Demon-Slaying Platform; though the price of traveling to and from the lower realm was immense, it was not entirely impossible to go.

"These humans think themselves mighty, but how can they ever compare to us!"

...

Meanwhile, at the Daoist Alliance of Wuwei.

Upon the vast plaza of the Daoist Alliance, several highly advanced Dharma boats lay anchored.

Given that Saint-level experts had already begun to emerge among both the Cultivator Alliance and the various warriors, the "Void Project" was also beginning to be incorporated into the itinerary.

Jun Yangzi, a weapon-refining master of the Daoist Alliance of Wuwei, held a jade slip in his hand. Within the jade slip, the otherworldly portals from *Diablo II*, the warp technology from *StarCraft*, the Void creatures from *League of Legends*, and the Qionghua Sect ascension plan from *The Legend of Sword and Fairy 4*, among others, were all heavily underlined.

Some had already been studied previously and yielded certain results, such as the Diablo portal technology and the *League of Legends* Void energy.

Yet others were completely devoid of clues, such as the warp technology from *StarCraft*.

A group of people gathered around. "Let's study these first..."

To these cultivators, this was a grand project, but it seemed... speaking of it now, the journey ahead was still long and arduous.

......

And at this moment, inside Owner Fang's room.

"Which one should I eat first? These are all my favorites! Pork floss cakes, beef jerky, and..."

"Owner!"

With a ferocious roar from the eastern river bank, the door was flung wide open.

“Xiaoyue, we'll tickle him, you go quick and snatch his snacks!”

“Ah ya hahahahaha!” A volley of miserable laughter instantly erupted within the room.

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The next chapter will be made up tonight...

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