Exploring Immortality Cultivation-Chapter 802 - 131: The Icebreaking Journey

Seafood, marine products, are truly a rarity for the people of the Shenzhou Continent. In fact, it's only been a few hundred years since Modern Cultivators cleared the seas and allowed the common people to settle.

For the residents of Shenzhou, "seafood" is not only a rare item but also something difficult to prepare—after all, they don't have much experience.

Currently, the methods for preparing seafood in Shenzhou typically only include "steaming" and "simmering in soup." The former involves steaming with ingredients like cooking wine and ginger slices, dipping in aromatic vinegar, and eating it with its original flavor. The latter emphasizes slow simmering over a low flame to gradually bring out the broth.

Of these two methods, the former especially demands the freshest ingredients. This is why Chen Youjia is so familiar with this path.

The seafood market is very close to the spontaneous trading venue among the cultivators. This is not surprising. Due to the Dragon Clan's influence over billions of years, sea fish closer to the deep sea and nearer to the Holy Dragon Abyss taste better. Fishing in these Sea Demon-infested waters is already considered a high-risk occupation. Harvesting seafood from the far sea is something only cultivators can accomplish.

And those who can accomplish it are not just ordinary cultivators.

Chen Youjia looked around. Most of the meat sold here were chunks of varying sizes, which seemed to be the "leftovers" after cultivators hunted demon beasts. After extracting the Innate Divine Seal and bodily materials, there was still some good meat on these demon beasts, which would be wasted if thrown away, so some cultivators brought it here to sell.

However, these were not Chen Youjia's target.

These "leftovers" were unlikely to be particularly delicious ingredients, and their price was low—ordinary gold and silver could purchase them. The biggest market for these leftovers was the slightly affluent mortals. After all, the meat of demon beasts contains strong essence, which, if processed properly, is beneficial to the body.

Chen Youjia continued walking deeper.

As Chen Youjia ventured further in, fewer and fewer mortals came to buy ingredients, while more and more cultivators appeared. Chen Youjia knew that the deeper one went, the more precious the ingredients became.

Though Chen Youjia was not skilled in dealing with people, in this regard, she was "experienced."

Then, Chen Youjia twitched her petite nose, eyes alighting.

A faint, fresh aroma.

No trace of a fishy smell, just a light, fresh scent. Ingredients with such an unprocessed aroma must be top grade...

Soon, Chen Youjia pinpointed her target. She fixed her gaze on a fish in front of a stall and asked the vendor, "Daoist Fellow, will you sell this Luoshang Fish?"

The Luoshang Fish is a type of deep-sea fish, very precious. Because it lives in the pitch-black sea depths, its eyes have degenerated into two black marks on its head, its fins are wide, and it swims slowly, hence the name "Luoshang." This fish has fewer bones and an extremely delicious flavor, as if it was born to be eaten.

Such a species certainly wouldn't exist on Earth. However, the Dragon Clan has completely altered the structure of the ocean's food chain. Under their control, these fish maintain a stable population. Any demon daring to excessively hunt the Dragon Clan's food would be mercilessly eradicated.

Two hundred million years of "selective breeding" have also made this fish incomparably tasty.

The vendor held a smoking pipe in his mouth, his tone casual. Inside wasn't tobacco, but a few medicinal herbs. He was clouding the air, actually exercising his lungs. Hearing Chen Youjia's inquiry, the vendor grinned, "Young Daoist, you've got a good eye. But this fish is reserved for a friend of mine, not for sale. Why don't you look at something else?"

Chen Youjia shook her head, "I'll pay a high price."

As the daughter of the Wanfa Sect Leader, Chen Youjia never lacked spiritual energy in her pockets.

However, the vendor still shook his head, smiled, and said, "Little girl, it's pointless to talk like that. Which of these meats and fishes could possibly be worth more than a thousand stone of spiritual energy? If a cultivator is selling here for a day, earning ten thousand stone is the limit. Compared to hunting in the sea and slaying demons, this is just side income. Better if I have it, no big deal if not."

Chen Youjia frowned, recent frustration facing Mao Zimiao and her broken culinary desires erupting together.

Just then, she heard an exclamation, "Senior Sister Chen?"

.....................

Mao Zimiao had never expected to encounter Chen Youjia in this place.

How can I put it... If you saw a somewhat popular B-list celebrity crouched in the doorway of your local market, staring moodily at a piece of pork, what would you feel?

Mao Zimiao basically felt the same way. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

She came here, honestly, just to buy some good ingredients to make a nice meal for her younger siblings. As a Half-demon, benefiting from the human side's spirit wisdom, her spiritual acuity was strong, and she naturally possessed essence demon energy. If this power is cultivated properly, it can act as an aid on the Immortal Path. However, for this reason, a Half-demon needs more nutrition during the growth stage.

The vendor, Tu Zhenxi, greeted Mao Zimiao, "Niece, do you know each other?"

"This is… my senior sister… meow..." Mao Zimiao looked at Chen Youjia.

At this moment, what Chen Youjia was thinking was "how to use Ground Technique" and "I really want to die."

She could ignore her image, but for some reason, she didn't want to reveal her true nature in front of Mao Zimiao.

"Ugh..."

Mao Zimiao knowingly chuckled, sighing inwardly "Senior Sister is still so aloof," and then said to Tu Zhenxi, "Hello Uncle Tu. Last time you said you went out to the sea to get a good fish for Little Ya and the others..."

"Here it is." Tu Zhen Xi—who was recently treated for an injury by Mao Zimiao—handed the fish Chen Youjia coveted over to Mao Zimiao.

In an instant, the resentment of having food snatched from her mouth, the jealousy of having her lover stolen, and the frustration of being unable to converse normally erupted together. The resentment emanating from Chen Youjia was so dense it was almost tangible. Luckily, Chen Youjia was just a normal cultivator and hadn't gone mad like Wang Qi, producing something like Unity of Magic and Self; otherwise, Mao Zimiao would have been more than startled.

Mao Zimiao followed Chen Youjia's gaze to the fish in her hand and could only smile wryly. Looking at the crouching Chen Youjia, she suddenly felt a sense that "this senior sister is actually quite cute."

Then she twitched her ears and impulsively asked, "Senior Sister, can I invite you to my house for a meal, meow?"

.....................

A feeling never experienced before.

Chen Youjia stared blankly at the dinner table in front of her, watching the Mao family's three siblings arguing.

Unfamiliar chopsticks, unfamiliar... people.

And, an unfamiliar taste.

The Luoshang Fish was steamed together with a sauce made of yellow wine, rice wine, ginger, and garlic over high heat until the fish skin naturally cracked. It was then paired with aromatic vinegar for dipping. In truth, not a particularly upscale way of eating.

Yet, the flavor lingered on the lips and teeth.

This seemed to be what was called "home-cooked food," a cuisine Chen Youjia had never tried before.

For some reason, she suddenly felt a sense of failure.

—Damn it... Having eaten her food, now I have even less idea of how to put things bluntly to her.

—Sob sob…

Chen Youjia's mood sank even lower. She said to Mao Zimiao, "Junior Sister Mao, I'm heading back now."

"Ah, Senior Sister Chen, won't you stay a little longer... Wait, wait. I'll walk you back," Mao Zimiao quickly left her younger siblings and ran after her.

Chen Youjia said flatly, "No need, I can walk back myself."

"It's etiquette meow, etiquette," Mao Zimiao emphasized, following Mao Zimiao out, leaving her sister to watch the house.

Then, on the way back, the two girls walked in silence.

Chen Youjia felt like she was about to die of awkwardness and didn't know what to say. Mao Zimiao slightly bent and said, "Just a simple meal, not much of a gesture..."

"No, it was very good... Thank you... you."

Chen Youjia responded with an unusual mechanical tone.

—Especially that flavor called "human warmth"… never tasted before…

When she arrived at Mao Zimiao's home, Chen Youjia also met Mao Zimiao's father, Mao Kaicheng—a mediocre, not very strong, but very family-oriented man. Additionally, she saw "normal kids from normal families."

Perhaps due to the heavy shadows of her childhood, even though Chen Youjia had reconciled with her biological father, she couldn't help but feel a sense of envy when seeing families like Mao Zimiao's.

Mao Zimiao clapped her hands freely and exclaimed joyfully, "As long as you liked it, Senior Sister."

After leaving Langde City, the two girls came to the seaside again. It was sunset. The body of the Sea God type sparkled with unusual colors in this sunlight.

And Mao Zimiao's gaze once again drifted towards the sea, revealing a look of melancholy.

This was also the first time Chen Youjia saw such a heartbroken expression on Mao Zimiao.

"What's the matter?"

Mao Zimiao covered her chest and shook her head, "Nothing really, it's just... I have a friend, who's probably still adventuring overseas? I occasionally think of him... whether he's safe or not... and things like that..."

"Your friend? What friend? Where is he?" Chen Youjia decided to play dumb, trying to probe into the "enemy's" situation.

Mao Zimiao gave a wry smile, "Actually, just a normal friend... Sometimes I even feel like I don't really need to worry about him..."

"Why?"

"I'm... I'm really useless... can't do anything at all." Mao Zimiao looked toward the sunset with a bitter smile, "And that friend of mine, he's insanely capable... Maybe he doesn't need anyone to worry about him meow, someone like that..."

Chen Youjia pointed out, "But you are still worried."

Mao Zimiao smiled wryly, "Yeah... because when I first met him, he wasn't so amazing, couldn't do anything, even accidentally shredded his pillow and bedding when practicing, and didn't know how to fix them. I always feel stuck in those days. So, meow, I just can't help but worry about him."

"Actually, such worry is completely unnecessary." Chen Youjia suddenly sped up her pace by two steps, leaving Mao Zimiao behind by half a step, and then said, "If he is really as capable as you say."

Unlike Mao Zimiao, Chen Youjia never worried about Wang Qi. In her eyes, Wang Qi could sometimes be unreliable, and sometimes create colossal troubles. But just this one thing. She believed he could definitely overcome all difficulties.

Chen Youjia would never worry about Wang Qi's safety.

If Wang Qi really had an accident, then she would just silently wait until she achieved Carefree, then wipe out the West Sea Demon Clan.

Mao Zimiao was puzzled, "Senior Sister... meow? Left?"

By then, where could Chen Youjia's figure be seen?

A few minutes later, Chen Youjia appeared in her study room, bumping her head on the desk.

—What exactly am I doing...

—I should have told her... (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly votes at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)