After that person finished speaking, the Dream Realm rapidly shrank, finally disappearing completely.

Watching the other party withdraw, Jiang Zuo wasn’t too concerned. What he cared about was what these people had said.

"Cheating again? So who exactly is cheating? Me?" Jiang Zuo muttered to himself.

However, he still wasn’t bothered by this. Cheating?

Forget the fact that he hadn’t cheated. So what if he had?

Besides, did he even need to cheat?

However, he had never met anyone who used a stone tablet as a weapon in his previous life.

This person could bring his Dream Realm into reality—a very distinct trait. But in his previous life, Jiang Zuo had only met one person with this ability, and he was certain it wasn’t the same individual.

So, he had no idea if this person went into hiding or was killed later on.

Jiang Zuo didn’t dwell on it. Instead, he walked over to Liuyue Xue and the others. "The person has left," he said. "This individual is beyond conventional understanding. I can’t be sure if he’ll return."

After saying that, Jiang Zuo immediately turned and left.

’It’ll be the next day soon, and Su Qi will probably be back. I need to get home ahead of her.’

As for Liuyue Xue and the others, none of them had died or fallen unconscious, so they naturally knew the gist of what had happened.

Jiang Zuo wouldn’t meddle in what they chose to do.

After Jiang Zuo left, Liu Yiyi and the others managed to sit up. They had all sustained minor injuries.

If it weren’t for Jiang Zuo just now, they believed they wouldn’t have survived, not even with a Life-Protecting Treasure.

"You have such a terrifying existence under your Sect’s purview, and you didn’t even know? You’re really something else," Liu Yiyi said to Liuyue Xue.

Liuyue Xue: "..."

’If I had known such an entity existed down there, I would’ve run off long ago. Why would I still be farming?’

Even now, she was starting to reconsider farming here.

Just then, Qian Xie suddenly asked, "Fellow Daoist Po Xiao is Tier Two, right?"

Liu Yiyi replied, "Mhm, he just advanced to Tier Two not long ago."

"Then... who was he fighting just now?" Qian Xie felt like he was listening to a fairy tale.

Liu Yiyi said, "Probably someone around Tier Seven. It’s quite normal. You don’t need to worry about it too much."

Qian Xie, Qian Xu, and Qian Yu: "..."

’So, what in the world did we just run into?’

’Does such a terrifying person actually exist in this world?’

While they were reeling from the shock, Liuyue Xue was busy plotting. Now that she had information on the Luoling Ancient Flower, she could probably apply to be relieved of her farming duties.

The only problem was whether her information could be verified. After all, not everyone was as knowledgeable and experienced as Po Xiao.

’No, that’s not right. If the Sect had someone like that, my information would be meaningless. They would already know everything.’

******

After leaving the Baili Valley area, Jiang Zuo headed straight home.

He had some injuries, but they weren’t serious and would heal with a bit of rest. He just wasn’t sure if he’d recover before Su Qi got back.

He soon arrived back at his residential complex.

Passing by the fruit stand, Jiang Zuo made a point to buy two pounds of apples.

He figured he’d bring something fresh for Sweet Potato.

As for the Yin Yang Fish, he just needed to toss in a couple of Spirit Stones. Yin Yang Fish could absorb Spiritual Qi.

Otherwise, they would have starved to death long ago in the Immortal Spirit Spring.

While the proprietress was weighing the apples, she suddenly asked, "Xiaojiang, you’re not planning to sell that little pet duck of yours?"

Jiang Zuo shook his head. "No."

"If you ever decide to sell him, you have to consider me first," the proprietress said. She was genuinely fond of Sweet Potato.

Especially how clever he was; it was just too cute.

Jiang Zuo nodded.

’But I have no such plans. I’d rather roast and eat him. It’d be a shame to sell him.’

He really could have roasted and eaten him in the past, but it would be difficult now. Su Qi would never agree to it.

A Holy Beast Descendant—Su Qi definitely wouldn’t let Jiang Zuo do anything reckless with it.

Soon, Jiang Zuo was back home.

But the moment he opened the door, he froze.

Never mind that the house was a mess.

Never mind that the other Vase was shattered.

The TV was on, music was playing, but what was the meaning of two fish and a duck hopping and jumping all over the table?

’Are they having a rave?’

Jiang Zuo calmly closed the door, set the apples aside, and then released Duan Qiao.

Duan Qiao, who had just come out, was also stunned.

The house was an absolute wreck. What was going on?

When it saw Sweet Potato, Shi Qi, and Shiba on the table, and then saw Jiang Zuo’s calm expression...

...it couldn’t help but shudder.

’They’re dead. They’re so dead.’

’In its heart, it was already burning incense for its three companions—those poor, clueless pets.’

Jiang Zuo went to the kitchen, turned on the stove, placed two tall cups on either side of the flame, and then set a metal rack on top of them.

After doing all this, Jiang Zuo walked over to the coffee table in the living room. He first grabbed Sweet Potato, found a metal wire, and tied him up. Only then did he grab Shi Qi and Shiba.

"QUACK?" Sweet Potato cried out.

But of course, Jiang Zuo paid it no mind.

’It’s not like I understand what it’s saying anyway.’

As for Shi Qi and Shiba, Jiang Zuo directly pierced their bodies with the wire.

"..."

Shiba thrashed wildly. ’I didn’t do anything! What is this human devil trying to do?’

’This pain is going to be the death of this fish!’

Although Shi Qi was in pain, it didn’t react as violently.

Then, Jiang Zuo placed Shi Qi, Shiba, and Sweet Potato all on the metal rack, even wrapping them with a few more loops of wire, completely ignoring their frantic struggles.

Only after confirming they were secure did he plan to start cleaning the room.

Shiba: "..."

’Can’t move... so hot... It’s over.’

’Let me go!’

"Shiba, am I going to die?" cried Shi Qi. (Fish language; can also be used on land.)

"No way. We’re Yin Yang Fish. This must be just a warning. We just have to endure it. Besides, how could a normal fire burn us to death? We’ll be fine.

AH, IT’S HOT!" Shiba yelled. The normal fire was much hotter than it had imagined.

"QUACK, QUACK, QUACK-QUACK~" Sweet Potato let out a series of frantic squawks.

’It hates heat! It’s gonna die! It’s gonna die!’

’But I didn’t even do anything!’

By now, Jiang Zuo was no longer paying them any mind. He looked at the other broken Vase and sighed. "What else is there to break? Maybe I’ll smash a couple of things, too."

’There’s someone to take the blame anyway. It’d be a real waste not to break something.’

’And there are three scapegoats, at that.’

Duan Qiao remained silent off to the side. ’This cruel human... He was so ruthless he even put a Sun Flame Stone in the fire. Those three might actually die.’

’Oh my god, am I going to have to get new partners?’

’It really is better to be out of the house. Spares you from getting caught up in the trouble at home.’

’A moment of silence.’

Jiang Zuo looked around and found that the only breakable things left were a glass crystal Su Qi had bought when she was a student...

...and a glass dolphin he had given her.

’I think I gave this to her the second year I knew her. What occasion was it for?’

’It must have been a Qixi Festival gift. Seriously, my taste back then was pretty bad.’

’It was always either a glass crystal or some other glass shape with a base that could light up.’

’They might have seemed nice back when we were young, but now... eh, they actually still look okay.’

Jiang Zuo then gave a helpless smile. ’Whether it looks good or not isn’t important. The important question is, should I break it?’

’What would happen if I broke it? Su Qi would get furious, then chop up Shi Qi and Shiba, and then roast Sweet Potato?’