"This is a week's worth of food, and the Second City trial lasts for thirty days."
The words of others in the trial made Chen Jiuyang's head ache. Two buns as hard as stones were a week's worth of food. Could he survive?
But he still didn't know how to proceed with the trial.
Chen Jiuyang spoke, "Spirit Elder, I wish to proceed with the trial."
"Proceed with trial?"
A line of text appeared before Chen Jiuyang.
Chen Jiuyang clicked yes.
According to the trial, he was to read "The Oath of Life and Death," presented in a way familiar to the trial.
Then, the scene before him changed. He was sitting on a sofa, with a large screen in front of him, much like watching a movie.
A ship was sailing on the sea. The male protagonist was an ordinary person, but handsome and talented. The female protagonist was a beautiful and wealthy lady. They met on the same ship while enjoying the scenery, and their story began amidst romance and beauty.
An hour later, the story reading was complete. Chen Jiuyang withdrew from the illusion, his expression thoughtful.
This story of "The Oath of Life and Death" was somewhat similar to "Titanic" he had watched in his previous life. Both featured a male protagonist saving a female protagonist, with the male protagonist eventually dying, urging the female protagonist to live well. The female protagonist cried sorrowfully, and the story ended there.
Spirit: Please provide your evaluation, challenger. Different evaluations will result in different rewards.
Heh...
Chen Jiuyang felt a bit disdainful of the story. Wasn't it just a love story? How was he supposed to evaluate it? Naturally, he would say—
"A miracle of life!"
Grade C!
Spirit: Please elaborate on the connection between this story and the miracle of life.
Chen Jiuyang became serious, his face animated as he said, "For the people on the ship, this was a disaster in their lives. But for the live lobsters and abalones on the ship, they survived."
"Originally, they were destined to be food served on the table. However, the ship crashed, and most of the people on board died. These live lobsters and abalones not only survived but also returned to their homeland, the sea. Isn't this a miracle of life?"
Spirit: The evaluation of the story received a grade of C, C, C. The reward is five North Sea lobsters and five North Sea abalones!
Having met the minimum standard of three Cs, the reward is one more chance to proceed with the trial.
Suddenly, five fresh, live lobsters and five large abalones appeared before Chen Jiuyang.
"..."
After a long silence, Chen Jiuyang said faintly, "This is something..."
He had expected the spirit to reward him with cultivation techniques, magical treasures, or the like. He hadn't expected this.
It seemed the rewards were related to the content of his evaluation.
However, these rewards were also helpful in his current situation.
He spoke, "Excuse me, may I ask if there's a way to start a fire?"
A weak voice came from the adjacent cell, "Rub the steamed buns vigorously against the iron bars, and you can start a fire."
Then, voices from other cells also chimed in, "Roasted buns? That sounds delicious? This Heavenly Pride will try."
"This Heavenly Pride will try too."
Chen Jiuyang raised an eyebrow, "Can you really start a fire?"
"Of course."
Chen Jiuyang fell silent.
He picked up the black bun he had thrown aside, went to the iron bars, and rubbed them forcefully. Sparks actually flew. Chen Jiuyang raised an eyebrow, "What the hell did they mix into these buns..." Can they really be eaten?
He turned around, picked up a pile of dry grass, and then used the bun to rub against the iron bars to start a fire.
Heh.
Before long, smoke and the smell of fire filled the cell. Others, like Chen Jiuyang, also started fires.
In fact, the buns were edible. Chen Jiuyang even heard the crunching sound of them being chewed.
Soon, Chen Jiuyang was roasting something to eat, but the taste felt off.
The person in the cell opposite Chen Jiuyang said, "Hey, brother, what are you roasting? Why does it smell more fragrant than my bun? It smells like meat."
Chen Jiuyang's mouth was full of oil, chewing meat with bulging cheeks, and he replied indistinctly, "Roasting lobsters and abalones, what's the problem?"
"...What did you say?" The other person's mentality immediately collapsed, their eyes bulging out. "You're roasting lobsters and abalones here?"
Then, the entire prison erupted.
"Brother, where did you get lobsters and abalones?"
"Heavens, I can't live anymore!"
"Brother, this Heavenly Pride is a sixth-level Venerable Realm prodigy. May I ask, are these abalones and lobsters delicious?"
Chen Jiuyang wiped his mouth and chuckled, "Thank you for your concern, brother. They are very delicious. Heh, this abalone has so much juice, it's very quenching."
"Gulp!"
The entire prison simultaneously heard the sound of swallowing.
The person asked again, "This Heavenly Pride has lived a life of luxury since childhood and never lacked anything. I didn't expect to fall into hardship in the Second City of the Human King's Path. I haven't eaten meat for more than twenty days. Brother, can I exchange some food with you for divine abilities, cultivation techniques, or secrets?"
"..."
Chen Jiuyang finally understood why some prodigies were tormented to tears. Venerable Realm great prodigies were reduced to mortals here, unable to satisfy their cravings, and had to go hungry.
Moreover, the world of the Small Immortal Realm was not like the mortal world with movies and the internet. The education they received from childhood was different, and their thinking was also different.
They were all prodigies. It was likely that in terms of these trials, they had all focused on the path of cultivation and had never considered food.
Chen Jiuyang hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, "No, I only have this much. I've roasted these abalones and lobsters, and I'll dry them by the window later to eat as provisions."
"Fortunately, I only roasted one. The rest will be smoked and dried."
"Although there's no meat, I've roasted the lobster shells until they're crispy. I haven't eaten the lobster heads either. These can be used for exchange with you."
"Damn it!" Someone immediately cursed, "Brother, just you wait!"
"..." Chen Jiuyang reflected, realizing that his actions might be wrong, as he had angered them.
"This Heavenly Pride will think hard and see if I can find a divine ability to exchange for this lobster head! I'm claiming this lobster head, and no one can take it from me, I say!" The person's aura was surging, and surprisingly, no one else competed with him for the lobster head.
After this person spoke, the remaining people seemed to be ranked by strength or some other criterion. They spoke in order, first asking for the remaining lobster heads, and then someone spoke to Chen Jiuyang about exchanging lobster shells.
"..."
Chen Jiuyang was astonished. These people in the prison were all martial arts prodigies in the outside world, and now, for a bite of food, they were willing to sell their divine abilities and cultivation techniques. It truly left him speechless; they were not just miserable.
"Then wait for me to finish roasting them, and then you can trade with me one by one..."
And so, everyone in the cell grabbed the bars with both hands, their heads squeezed between the bars, their eyes fixed on Chen Jiuyang smoking and roasting lobsters, while they gulped down their saliva.
Top-quality ingredients often only need the simplest preparation.