During breakfast, everyone at the table stared at Duan Chen with peculiar eyes. His actions had successfully ruined everyone's appetite.
"Master, are you... sick?"
"Brother Duan Chen, if we're sick, we get treated. Spirit energy users can get sick too. Why don't we go out and see a doctor first?"
"Duan Chen, you..."
Even Sheng Chen and Qi Qing, who normally ate like starving ghosts, forgot about their food and stared at him with their mouths agape.
Duan Chen kept lifting his shirt, sniffing it, while his ears remained a constant shade of red. It looked like...
"Is he in heat?"
Bai Ye felt his explanation was quite reasonable.
Duan Chen seemed to realize his inappropriate behavior and frowned.
"Eat."
"You're not sniffing anymore? Or should we wait until you've sniffed enough, and then we..."
"What was I sniffing?"
Duan Chen brazenly denied it, leaving the others speechless.
"After breakfast, we'll go to the bottom of Peach Blossom Pool and enter Mirror City through the gate."
"Starting so soon?"
Qi Qing was eager to destroy it quickly, but Duan Chen's speed was simply too fast.
"Yes, there's no time to delay. By the time the Apostle fully activates the Thunder Altar, it will be too late for us, and it will be much more troublesome."
"Cough cough..."
At the table, the old woman suddenly coughed twice.
"What's wrong?" Duan Chen gently patted her back.
"Nothing, it's an old problem."
Hearing them talk about destroying the Thunder Altar, the old woman didn't react much. Duan Chen strongly suspected that Chu Yue had already told her about his arrival, otherwise, how could everything be so smooth and natural?
Duan Chen smiled.
Bai Ye exchanged glances with the others.
[It's over, Duan Chen has gone mad.]
[Was he tormented by that woman?] Sheng Chen guessed.
[Wow, no way. Even the Apostles couldn't make the instructor afraid, how could he be driven mad by a woman?]
Bai Ye chuckled.
[In my opinion, he's just in heat.]
[Duan Chen gets in heat too?] Jia Yunlian found it hard to swallow the food in her mouth.
For so long, Duan Chen had never lacked beautiful women around him, yet he never harbored any improper thoughts. She found it hard to imagine who could catch his eye.
[Tsk, it must be that woman. If you don't believe me, let's test it later.]
[How do we test it?]
Mi Xue'er stared at him, her face full of suspicion.
Bai Ye smiled, called the others out, and shared his perfect plan.
"That'll definitely work."
Qi Qing was eager to try.
"Take it easy. If Master gets angry, you guys will definitely face the consequences."
Yan Qiuren snorted.
"We know, Secretary Yan. You can just watch us from the side."
Bai Ye, like a cunning fox, trotted over and sat down beside Duan Chen.
"What did you guys go out for?"
Duan Chen asked.
"Instructor, I've been thinking carefully just now."
Qin Ze said with a serious expression.
"What?"
Duan Chen was startled by his earnest face.
"I've decided."
"Ah?"
Qin Ze's eyes were firm. "I'm going to propose to her!"
"Pfft—"
Sheng Chen found it too funny and sprayed a mouthful of rice onto the floor.
Even the old woman stared at Qin Ze, utterly bewildered.
"You want to propose to whom? Xue'er? When did you two get together?"
Duan Chen's bewildered expression made even Bai Ye unable to suppress his laughter.
"Brother Duan Chen! What are you talking about?!"
Mi Xue'er's face turned red with anger.
Qin Ze pinched his thigh, still maintaining a serious demeanor.
"No, I'm going to propose to the beautiful woman I met that day."
"Who?"
At this moment, Duan Chen hadn't realized something was amiss until Qin Ze turned his head and said solemnly, "Actually... it's Chu Yue!"
"Cough cough cough..."
Jia Yunlian covered her mouth and coughed violently.
The old woman put down her chopsticks, looking suspicious.
You? Want to propose to my granddaughter?
"No!"
Duan Chen slammed his chopsticks onto the table. After realizing what he had done, he was startled himself.
Bai Ye and the others exchanged glances.
Yan Qiuren sighed helplessly and could only remind Duan Chen through telepathic communication.
[Master, don't be so obvious.]
Seeing the teasing gazes of Qin Ze, Bai Ye, and Qi Qing, Duan Chen finally understood.
These kids were playing a trick on him!
"Cough, cough, Duan Chen, you're not young anymore, I can understand."
"That's right, Little Duan. Anyway, they are women, and they don't seem any different from ordinary people outside."
Duan Chen's eyes darted around.
"Is this why you guys are playing tricks on me?"
He feigned composure, even picking up a piece of green pepper and putting it into his mouth.
The others exchanged glances.
They were discovered?
Yan Qiuren gave a thumbs-up under the table.
As expected of Master!
Finally, Jia Yunlian reminded them, "Mind reading, they've probably read us already."
Duan Chen felt incredibly embarrassed. In fact, he hadn't thought of that at all. If Yan Qiuren hadn't reminded him, he might have really slipped up.
Wait, slip up? Slip up about what?
Duan Chen snorted and shook his head.
The old woman also sighed helplessly.
Young people these days.
After breakfast, the old woman thoughtfully cleared out the villagers around Peach Blossom Pool to allow them easier access to Mirror City.
"The Thunder Altar is different from other altars. If we try the same trick again, it'll probably be useless."
He was referring to the time when Jia Yunlian was applying makeup in front of the mirror.
The passage to the Thunder Altar was filled with turbulent currents. Without the Apostles clearing the way, very few sea demons could pass through the turbulent currents to reach Peach Blossom Pool.
"Let's just brute force it."
"What about this pool water?"
The old woman walked over and said indifferently, "This isn't pool water, it's a barrier."
With a wave of her hand, the pool water in front of them instantly vanished, revealing a large rock with mysterious and obscure patterns drawn on it in red paint.
"Move this rock, and you'll see the turbulent currents."
"Thank you."
Duan Chen said with a serious expression.
The old woman shook her head. "These are the instructions from my disobedient granddaughter. Do whatever you want."
"Yes."
He understood even without her saying it; that granddaughter was likely Chu Yue.
Speaking of which, why didn't she appear in person, and why did she insist on meeting Duan Chen in a dream?
He shook his head, casting aside these complicated thoughts.
"I'll do it!"
Bai Ye wrapped his hands with spirit energy and exerted all his strength to move the rock.
"Rumble!"
Lightning currents mixed with hurricanes blew upwards.
"I'll do it!"
Duan Chen unhesitatingly channeled his spirit energy.
"Star Bright!"
"Moon Descent!"
His two ultimate moves tore open a path in the turbulent currents. Knowing he couldn't hold on for long, Duan Chen's voice was cold.
"Jump!"
Without hesitation, they jumped into the torn opening one after another. After ensuring they had all jumped in, Duan Chen entered the passage.
After he left, the old woman manipulated the rock, sealing the passage entrance once more.