Chen Xu sat opposite the Wild Goose Feather Ghost King.

The Wild Goose Feather Ghost King was startled and let out a "huh" as he looked at the japonica rice in Chen Xu's palm.

It was clearly just an ordinary small handful of japonica rice, yet it made the Ghost King momentarily dazed.

But after the daze, the Wild Goose Feather Ghost King shook his head and said, "No, still not right, the porridge I ate back then, the rice grains weren't this good."

The rice grains weren't this good?

Chen Xu gave the cross-legged Ghost King a deep look, realizing his guess was correct.

So Chen Xu put away the handful of japonica rice in his palm, then opened his hand again, revealing a small handful of brown rice and a small handful of millet.

He carefully observed the Wild Goose Feather Ghost King's expression, noticing a stunned look as his gaze fell on the brown rice, his fierce and rugged face now showing deeper desolation.

Chen Xu suddenly formed a hand seal, summoning a thread of water from the boundless Yin Qi of the Netherworld out of thin air.

This was not the Jade Dew Spring Water from his Fire and Smoke Kitchen but was natural water from the mortal world, passing through the Netherworld!

This act made the previously dazed Wild Goose Feather Ghost King suddenly sit up straight.

The Tray Ghost was also stunned again.

Water divination, which shouldn't be anything unusual.

But being in the Netherworld and summoning water from the mortal world, this magic of crossing the boundary between Yin and Yang was truly extraordinary.

The Tray Ghost's mind was dizzy again, confused and muddled.

He felt he had repeatedly overestimated the "Hanged Ghost" in front of him, yet at unexpected moments, he realized he still knew too little.

What level of ghost could achieve this crossing of Yin and Yang to summon water?

Little did they know, Chen Xu was also using this technique for the first time.

He had just experienced the Karma Fire Illusion Realm, breaking through with his Fire Control Skill, speeding up the condensation of the fire seed, and comprehending a new Divine Power, the [Six Paths of Celestial Desolation].

Although the Six Paths of Celestial Desolation was still awakening and not fully mastered.

But at the same time, Chen Xu found his understanding of the Netherworld had deepened.

Although in the Netherworld, he could clearly sense the mortal world.

It went beyond that, he could even penetrate the barrier of Yin and Yang, freely summoning wind, fire, and water from the mortal world.

Fundamentally, this was about Chen Xu's deeper understanding of the concept that "the Netherworld and mortal world are one."

The seemingly simple act of summoning water might not have formidable destructive power, but the profound spiritual meaning within it demanded the Wild Goose Feather Ghost King's earnest regard.

Because the Wild Goose Feather Ghost King realized he couldn't achieve what Chen Xu did.

With a rush, water poured into the pottery jar.

Two handfuls of brown rice were added, along with a handful of japonica rice.

The fire brought the water to a boil, and the rice grains rolled within.

Steam gently rose, drifting onto the ghostly face.

Chen Xu spoke softly, "In the past, my family was poor, and we couldn't afford porridge made from pure white rice. My mother managed the household budget, always torn between stretching every penny and worrying about our health if we didn't eat well.

She would mix brown rice with fine rice to cook porridge for us. On days when there was more fine rice, it was considered a good day meant to nourish our bodies."

Yet, actually, my mother didn't know that aside from a slightly lesser taste, brown rice is more nutritious than fine rice.

In the village, being able to eat thick porridge made from brown rice was already considered a good family situation."

The Wild Goose Feather Ghost King was drawn in by his words and actions, his gaze resting on the rolling, sinking porridge water.

He couldn't help but ask, "Brown rice is more nutritious than fine rice? What logic is this? It's my first time hearing of it."

Chen Xu replied conversationally, "Rice is the essence of water and soil. Brown rice, when first hulled, retains its innate fullness. The bran is preserved, and the germ embryo stays within, like a spiritual seed in latency.

As they say, whole grains are concentrated with the life force of heaven and earth.

Physicians say, 'Eating its sprouts, one attains the grain spirit and doesn't perish.'

The bran serves as the grain's protective energy, while fine rice, having removed the bran, seems to be removing the useless and retaining the essence. But in fact, it's like cutting a pearl to take the flesh, only to buy the case and return the jewel.

The brown rice we ate when we were poor, in contrast, grasped more of the natural and complete way.

Yet, since fine rice tastes good and looks lustrous, few can turn back to eating brown rice once they can afford fine rice."

He spoke leisurely, while gently stirring the boiling rice in the pottery jar with a long-handled wooden spoon.

Steam rose and the fire made the porridge boil.

Although it seemed a simple action, Chen Xu's rhythm at this moment carried an indescribable grace.

This rhythm, matched with Chen Xu's speech pattern that was like drifting smoke, made listeners unconsciously feel as if they had returned to the mortal world.

The clamor of the ghost market was isolated, all the noise veiled behind a curtain.

The Wild Goose Feather Ghost King listened intently to Chen Xu, unable to resist responding, "I... I wasn't like this!"

After blurting this out, an expression of change unwittingly crossed his fierce ghostly face.

Truth be told, he didn't actually remember how many years he had been a ghost.

Many events from the mortal world had long been forgotten during his endless time in the Netherworld.

The only thing he seemed attached to was the knife in his hand.

Had it not been for the previous whiff of porridge's fragrance bringing back memories, he wouldn't have recalled that there was a bowl of porridge deep in his memory.

Fresh and pure, with a long-lost warmth in the once-yellowed times.

This bowl of porridge didn't seem that important, yet it was very important at this moment.

The Wild Goose Feather Ghost King couldn't help but caress the ghost blade at his side, some indescribable emotion causing countless images to flash in his mind, fleeting quickly.

Some blurred memories inexplicably became clear at this moment.

He looked down at his ghostly hands, his voice gradually sinking, "I... I wasn't originally a swordsman. I... I was once just an ordinary young man seeking a livelihood.

That year, I married my wife and had a daughter.

I farmed, my wife wove, and although life was hard, it was manageable.

When did it start to change?

Oh, it was when the landowner from the neighboring village came to our village, using various tricks to buy all the land from the neighbors.

If anyone didn't want to sell, a few wayward offspring would always appear in their home.

Debts from gambling forced upon them, trouble outside resulting in broken limbs, or suddenly struck by serious illness...

My family was forced to sell all our land due to my daughter falling ill after an accident in the water.

After selling all the land, we became tenant farmers.

Life became tighter, yet even then, the world wouldn't leave us be.

That evening, the manor steward's son barged into our home in drunkenness to assault my wife.

How could I bear it any longer?

I rushed into the kitchen, grabbing our only kitchen knife, and killed that bastard with a single chop.

Heh, the bastard died, but things didn't end there.

Knowing I couldn't stay, I immediately told my wife to pack up, aiming to take her and our daughter away from the village.

At midnight, the manor steward came chasing with people. I stood my ground with the kitchen knife, killing several more.

What happened after that, guess what?"

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