Chapter Fifty-Nine: It Seems I’ll Still Have to Make That Eel Rice!

After several hours of hard work, Chen Xiang finally finished all his preparations.

With this grand array in place, the Frozen Cave was now essentially safe and secure.

Chen Xiang carefully calculated the time. It had been just over two days since he entered the Ice Valley. Without Li Qiner by his side, he already felt an emptiness after just a short while.

Now it was time to complete his small goal!

“Heh, this trial in the Ice Valley is the perfect opportunity,” Chen Xiang saw a road to fortune opening before him.

He didn’t know much about many things in the cultivation world, so going out to experience them wasn’t a bad idea either.

With that, Chen Xiang was about to head for the mouth of the valley. As for the Ice-Coagulating Grass required for passing the trial, he could easily pick dozens along the way.

“Hey, you there, wait a moment!” Just then, a rainbow-hued figure suddenly swooped down and blocked his path.

It was the Primal Tiger Eel, who had been guarding the entrance to the Frozen Cave, waiting for Chen Xiang to come out. It had also been watching in secret, observing as Chen Xiang set up an array far more powerful than the “Ice Entrapment Divine Array.” Now it was certain that Chen Xiang was an Earth-grade Array Master and could remove the mark from its body!

To the Primal Tiger Eel, Chen Xiang was a beacon of hope. Being trapped in the Ice Valley for over ten thousand years had been unbearably dull and boring, but fear of a certain person forced it to stay here for so long. If Chen Xiang helped, its chances of escaping that demon’s clutches would increase dramatically. It only needed to remove the mark immediately after leaving the valley, and then the sky would be the limit!

“Oh, isn’t this the Rainbow Slippery Eel? What’s wrong, feeling itchy and want me to give you a good scratching?” Chen Xiang burst out laughing when he saw the Primal Tiger Eel.

The Primal Tiger Eel’s head darkened; although it didn’t know what exactly a “Rainbow Slippery Eel” was, Chen Xiang’s tone made it clear it wasn’t anything good.

It wanted to retort, but didn’t know where to start. After all, it needed Chen Xiang’s help. Reluctantly, it said, “I am not this ‘Rainbow Slippery Eel’ you speak of! My name is Primal Tiger Eel! Boy, don’t call me by the wrong name again!”

“Oh, Rainbow Slippery Eel, do you want your mom to play with you this time, or your uncle? Or maybe your third aunt will do!” Chen Xiang paid it no mind, smiling mischievously.

“No, alright, call me whatever you want!” At Chen Xiang’s words, the Rainbow Slippery Eel was startled. If he brought up its mother again, it would feel even more aggrieved.

Seeing it yield, Chen Xiang didn’t bother to argue further. He said indifferently, “Why are you blocking my way? If you have something to say, make it quick. I’m busy.”

“I do, I do!” the Slippery Eel hurriedly replied. “Actually, I’ve been guarding the entrance to the Frozen Cave all along. I just witnessed your entire process of setting up the array…”

It hadn’t finished speaking when it suddenly felt a chill at its neck. Looking up, it saw Chen Xiang staring at its serpentine, graceful body with a blank expression.

“You saw everything?” Chen Xiang narrowed his eyes, giving it a dangerous, fake smile.

He was surprised. The Rainbow Slippery Eel had been there the whole time, yet he hadn’t noticed. If someone saw the entire array setup, breaking the formation would just require following the steps in order, greatly increasing the chance of success—just as the basic array manuals said. It seemed he might have to make an eel stew after all!

Seeing Chen Xiang’s smile, the Rainbow Slippery Eel shivered involuntarily. It realized it had said the wrong thing. After living sixteen thousand years, it wasn’t stupid. It hurriedly explained, “Don’t worry, I would never sabotage the array. I only saw that you have the skills of an Earth-grade Array Master and wanted you to help me remove the mark from my body. I’m sick of this wretched place and have no intention of coming back after I leave.”

“Oh? That’s good then,” Chen Xiang replied with an innocent smile.

“Of course, you’re right to trust me, boy. I am the Primal Tiger Eel, a divine beast, and I would never—ah—stop, that hurts!”

“Waaah…”

“I’m going to die…”

“Ugh… I’m dead.”

“Hey, no playing dead. Believe it or not, I’ll make sure you stay that way forever!” Chen Xiang calmly withdrew his Coiling Dragon Staff and nudged the ‘dead’ eel on the ground with his foot.

At his words, the Rainbow Slippery Eel shot up and darted a hundred meters away in a flash.

“Damn you, brat! How dare you beat me up? You’re finished! My divine beast clan will never let you go!” the Rainbow Slippery Eel shouted.

“Oh? You’re threatening me? I’ll give you three breaths to disappear and wait for me at the valley entrance. I’ve left a trace of my spirit sense on you—if you dare remove it, you’re done for!” Chen Xiang brandished his Coiling Dragon Staff.

“Tch, you dare order me? Who do you think you are? I’m tired, I’ll wait for you at the valley mouth. Come find me yourself!” the Slippery Eel threatened, but when Chen Xiang raised his staff to strike, it immediately changed its tone.

With that, the Rainbow Slippery Eel soared away, vanishing from the cave entrance.

Chen Xiang sensed with his spirit that the eel kept moving until it was hundreds of miles away, only then did his heart settle.

“Damn it, now I have to redo the array. Tonight, I’m definitely having eel stew!” he muttered angrily.

Chen Xiang revised the array, changing the original route and making it even more complex. Since it was only a modification, the array’s power diminished slightly, but not by much.

Still uneasy, he added a mid-grade Mist Maze Array outside the Life-and-Death Entrapment Formation for good measure.

This time, Chen Xiang kept a close eye on his surroundings and only stopped working once he was sure no one was near.

With everything done, he rode his sword straight for the mouth of the valley.

...

Chen Xiang traveled at full speed. Now that he was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, he was fast, and since he wasn’t searching for herbs anymore, it took him only a few hours to reach the valley entrance.

There were only a few hours left until the end of the first trial, so many cultivators were also heading that way.

Before he even landed, a voice called out to him.

“Hey, kid, I’m over here! Get down here!” The Rainbow Slippery Eel poked its head out from a snowdrift, transmitting its voice to Chen Xiang.

Looking down, Chen Xiang saw the eel hiding in an inconspicuous corner, unnoticed by the other cultivators. Because he’d left a mark on it, he found its location instantly.

Just seeing it annoyed Chen Xiang. Having to part with Qiner for over a year, coupled with her possible confession, left him both frustrated and pleased. Now, after having his array work spied on and being forced to redo his defenses, his irritation only grew. The eel was like a living punching bag for his anger.

Without a word, he summoned his Coiling Dragon Staff, leapt from the sky, and unleashed the Thirty-Six Dog Beating Staff Techniques.

“Damn, what are you doing, kid?”

“Waaah, stop, stop! Don’t hit me!”

“Kid, I’m telling you to stop! Or I’ll fight back!”

“Oww, oww, oww!”

To be continued…