"Good question. That old man only fears I will stir up trouble once I am out, but that is how the world works."
"If you do not hit others, they hit you. If you do not stand up, people treat you like a pushover."
Shiratori Riku was set on attending the Luo Tian Da Jiao. Not just to go, but to take first place and let the entire gifted world learn his name.
"Right, kid, lend me some money and mark the route on my phone."
He had found Longhu Mountain on the map, but which bus to take and which line to follow was a blur.
"But Grandmaster Uncle said..."
"Forget that stubborn old man. Slip it to me. By the time I win, it will be too late for him to complain."
"But..."
"No buts. Am I not good to you? Do I not look after you? Now I need a favor and you keep backing out."
"All right, Uncle, I will transfer you money."
Rokudo Rinko looked at him, then sent some funds to his phone and marked when to take which bus.
"Good girl. You are a fine niece. If anything comes up, find me. Whatever it is, I will handle it."
Riku was about to set off, but as he stood he felt a small pang in his stomach.
"Hold on. Bathroom."
He hurried off, and while squatting there he discovered a problem with his Kunpeng Heaven-Devouring Art.
"Most of what I ate was digested, but some was not. Those leftovers compacted together. It is a bit much."
He decided to upgrade the art later, aiming to absorb food even more thoroughly.
Half an hour later, he came out.
He felt clear-headed and light, as if three jin had dropped away. Stretching, he said, "This is not a bad thing. Not only food residue is gone, but bodily impurities too."
Riku used the Quake-Quake Fruit style differently from Whitebeard. He favored precision. While shaking the food, he made his whole body vibrate.
Those subtle tremors helped the body shed trace impurities. Purged, his body felt pristine.
He figured that in later cultivation he could try using vibration to polish himself.
He opened the chat group.
[I Am Not Crooked-Path: "I ate meals for thirty people today. Barely filled the corner of my stomach."]
[I Am Not Crooked-Path: "@Whitebeard how's your body today? How much did you eat?"]
[Whitebeard: "Hohohoho, feeling good. I do not need IV drips all the time now. As for how much I ate, no idea."]
[Whitebeard: "Since I improved, I threw a banquet. We have already been eating a day and a night."]
[Whitebeard: "Picture.JPG"]
Riku stared at the bowl in Whitebeard's hand. It was bigger than his head. A day and a night of feasting, how many of him did that add up to?
"Lost again. I lost in appetite to this half-dead geezer again. No, I must keep upgrading the Kunpeng Heaven-Devouring Art."
He refused to accept it. It was a small matter, but pride was pride. He had to surpass the old man.
Fuming, he walked out and ran into Rinko.
"U-uncle, there is something I have to tell you."
"Say it. Who bullied you? I will beat him up."
"Not that. It is about the Luo Tian Da Jiao. It is actually ten days away."
Rinko showed her phone and pointed to the date in the corner. It clearly said ten days later.
"Ah, I still have to wait ten days. I thought it was happening right away."
"An event involving many sects must be announced in advance so everyone can prepare and gather at Longhu Mountain."
"Ten days is already rushed. Normally something this important is announced a month ahead."
She could be silly sometimes, but as the Lu family's young lady she knew these things.
"Ten days. I still have to wait ten days."
Riku's hands itched. He wanted to see what the other sects could really do.
"Ten days will pass in a blink. My great-grandfather is going, so I am going too. When the time comes, I will accompany Uncle on the trip."
Rinko said softly.
They reached the practice ground mid-conversation. A fat senior and a chubby junior were there, practicing to project their Yang Spirits.
"Senior Huang and Senior Liu look amazing when they send out their Yang Spirits. Too bad I can never manage it."
Rinko watched Huang Ming and Liu Xingyang duel as disembodied souls and could not help feeling envious.