"Take a look. How is this grilled fish different from yesterday's?" Huo Yuhao asked, as a golden grilled fish appeared in his hand.
Jiang Nannan immediately noticed the difference. "Isn't this the same black fish from yesterday?"
"Exactly," Huo Yuhao replied. "After considering your suggestion yesterday, I decided to improve the quality of the ingredients. This is the ultimate grilled fish, the result of my careful research. It not only satisfies the palate but also accelerates a soul master's cultivation to some extent. It's well worth the price of one gold soul coin!"
Although the real reason was different, Huo Yuhao smoothly transitioned into the role of a persuasive salesman, speaking with confidence.
The miraculous effect of today's grilled fish was due to the addition of carefully selected black fish from Sea God Lake, as well as the use of Yuanshi.
While grilling the fish, Huo Yuhao had been absorbing energy from the Yuanshi, allowing him to cultivate simultaneously.
This method was something Huo Yuhao had been experimenting with since obtaining the Tianyuan Treasure Lotus Gu (Tianyuan Baolian Gu).
Tonight's grilled fish stall was his first practical application of the technique. Since it was his first attempt, some of the energy from the Yuanshi had inevitably overflowed and been absorbed by the fish.
While this method of cultivation consumed a significant amount of mental and soul power and was less efficient than focused meditation, it had the advantage of being sustainable over time.
It was akin to having an automatic cultivation system running in the background—a true dimensionality reduction strike!
He declared that Douluo Continent had entered the era of great cultivation.
The Yuanshi functioned similarly to spirit stones in cultivation novels. It could assist soul masters in their cultivation and quickly restore soul power.
By using meditation and mental power, one could guide and absorb the energy within the Yuanshi, allowing it to flow through the meridians, assimilate into one's soul power, and ultimately increase the soul power limit.
This method was similar to the training area's camouflage principle, but the Yuanshi was far more efficient and versatile.
Although maintaining this kind of training during daily activities was energy-intensive, the Tianyuan Treasure Lotus Gu provided a continuous "blue buff," eliminating concerns about soul power consumption.
Moreover, with Huo Yuhao's mental power, which was comparable to that of a Soul Sage, he could practice uninterrupted, day and night.
'The birth of the King of Scrolls!' Huo Yuhao thought proudly.
When the grilled fish overcame its shortcomings, it became truly invincible. It could outshine Xiao Dajia's creations and surpass even the King of Medicine's concoctions.
Even if the Food Good descended to Douluo Continent, he would have to bring out his special ingredient-enhanced sausage to compete.
Jiang Nannan thought she saw a faint golden glow emanating from the grilled fish. As the rich aroma filled her senses, she couldn't help but salivate.
'This is the taste of first love!' she thought, even though she had never experienced one. The sight and smell of the grilled fish evoked a sense of youthful innocence and restraint.
In a trance, Jiang Nannan's emotions were stirred, and she felt as though she had returned to the day her mother fell seriously ill.
Back then, she had been prepared to agree to the Xuanming Sect's shameful conditions in exchange for the Xuanwu Divine Pill. But that process had been interrupted by a mysterious hooded man.
He had suddenly chanted:
"Medicine cannot cure false illnesses, wine cannot drown true sorrows, clothes are not as good as new, and people are not as good as old."
As for what happened afterward, Jiang Nannan's memory was hazy. She couldn't recall the specifics, no matter how hard she tried. Even when she asked Xu Sanshi, the other party involved, he couldn't provide a clear answer.
Whether it was their initial transaction or their reunion at Shrek Academy, Jiang Nannan had no desire to reconnect with Xu Sanshi. But he kept pestering her, spouting nonsense like "fate brought us together" and "it was love at first sight." It was infuriating.
As for the incident where Xu Sanshi disrupted Huo Yuhao's grilled fish stall, it was mainly because grilled fish held a special meaning for her. Her father used to grill fish for her when she was a child.
Returning to the present, Jiang Nannan said, "I'll take this last one, and make it spicy."
Although she didn't understand why she felt such a strong connection to the grilled fish, she didn't hesitate. She handed over a gold soul coin to Huo Yuhao.
'Let's see how delicious this grilled fish worth a gold soul coin really is,' she thought.
"Thank you for your patronage," Huo Yuhao said politely.
In truth, there were still a few skewers of this special grilled fish left in the Flower Bud Gu. Since Jiang Nannan had come specifically for it, Huo Yuhao decided to put on a show. And the reward came promptly.
[Achievement Triggered!]
[Achieved Jiang Nannan's "It's Not My Fault?" Achievement. Reward: Green Silk Gu.]
[Green Silk Gu: A first-tier Gu insect. When activated, it causes the user's hair to grow rapidly, forming a temporary waterproof hair cloak that can be used for defense.]
[Evaluation: A strand of green hair, three thousand feet long.]
Jiang Nannan took the grilled fish, her eyes fixed on the delicious food. She stared at it in a daze for a moment before suddenly taking a big bite.
As she chewed, her delicate body trembled, her face flushed slightly, and tears began to flow uncontrollably.
For a moment, the scene was so moving that men fell silent, and women wept.
Huo Yuhao, however, was speechless. 'This was just a simple transaction. Why does it feel like I've done something heartless?' he thought. 'You asked for it to be spicy—it's not my fault!'
"Are you okay?" Huo Yuhao asked, concerned.
Jiang Nannan looked up at him, her eyes glistening with tears, and said softly, "I'm fine. I just added a bit too much spice. But your grilled fish is truly worth the price."
Although the fish her father used to grill was more delicious in her memory, this was still quite good.
"Alright, then I'll call it a day," Huo Yuhao said, nodding. But he couldn't help feeling puzzled. 'Is the effect of this grilled fish really that powerful?'
[Jiang Nannan]
[Relationship: Friends]
[Achievement Task: Waiting for Refresh]
Huo Yuhao couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed in Jiang Nannan's eyes—something he couldn't quite explain. But he didn't dwell on it and headed home.
'It doesn't matter,' he thought. 'Jiang Nannan isn't that important anyway.'
Huo Yuhao: 'Just a tool for completing achievement tasks.'
…
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