Qian Daoliu glanced at Bo Saixi, then at the Sea Witch lying on the ground with starved-puppy eyes fixed on his bowl.
A sincere, almost guilty expression appeared on his face.
He looked down at the lonely two or three grains of rice clinging pitifully to the bottom of his bowl.
Scratching his cheek, he said awkwardly:
"Xi Xi… there really isn't any left."
And before anyone could even blink—
Shlick—!
He shovel-scooped the remaining grains into his mouth with lightning speed.
The crisp scrape of chopsticks against the jade bowl echoed through the silent hall like a crime scene siren.
Qian Daoliu immediately stowed away the bowl and chopsticks, pretending he hadn't just eaten the evidence.
"I left in a hurry," he explained solemnly. "Only had time to pack half a bowl."
"But—!"
His tone flipped instantly.
His eyes gleamed with the fervor of a cult leader recruiting a new disciple.
"As long as you come with me to Feng Ran Pavilion! Forget egg fried rice—there's everything there! Mountains, seas, spirit beasts, divine ingredients—limitless!"
"By then, forget deputy captain—if you want, I'll promote you straight to captain!"
"Becoming a god is the minimum threshold there!"
The Sea Witch beside him trembled.
This wasn't persuasion—this was divine revelation.
She almost lunged forward to agree on Bo Saixi's behalf.
But—
Bo Saixi's focus wasn't on his speech at all.
Her eyes were fixed—unmoving—on the bottom of the now-empty jade bowl.
That old geezer Qian Daoliu had actually finished the last bite of rice while she was talking!
Wasn't that the same as—
Getting someone fired up, then pulling up his pants and running off?!
Rage surged straight to the top of her head.
Buzz—!
The air vibrated.
The golden phantom of the Sea God Trident burst into existence in her hand.
The icy tip aimed directly at Qian Daoliu's glabella.
"Qian. Daoliu!"
Bo Saixi's voice was so cold it could freeze the ocean.
"You have two choices."
"One—leave my Sea God Island immediately."
"Two—stay here forever… as fertilizer."
Qian Daoliu's body stiffened.
Something was wrong—
This killing intent was real.
Xi Xi genuinely wanted to kill him!
He planned to persuade her further, but when he saw the Sea God Trident phantom condense divine might that made his heart lurch—
His survival instinct exploded.
"No no no—Xi Xi, don't get excited! I'll scram! I'm leaving right now!"
He rolled out of the hall like a panicked donkey.
But even fleeing for his life, he still dared to shout back:
"Xi Xi! If you rethink it, come to Spirit City! The deputy captain position—reserved just for you!"
A golden streak ripped through the air toward his forehead.
"ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL YOUR HUSBAND?!"
Qian Daoliu shrieked, performing the ugliest evasive roll in Spirit Hall history, barely dodging the trident that shaved past his hair.
He didn't dare linger another second.
Spirit power erupted—
and he turned into a golden streak, fleeing without looking back.
The Sea God Temple fell deathly silent.
Bo Saixi stood trembling with fury.
Sea Witch hid in a corner, barely breathing.
After a long time, Bo Saixi's breathing finally steadied.
Only then did the Sea Witch dare to creep closer.
"L-Lord Posey… that… are you really not going to Feng Ran Pavilion?"
She swallowed, cheeks full of longing.
"The egg fried rice he brought was really… really delicious…"
"If you go… you could eat that sort of thing every day. Don't you… want another bite?"
Bo Saixi's heart shook violently.
She gently rubbed the Sea Witch's small, bump-covered head and sighed with feigned serenity.
"As the High Priestess of Sea God Island, duty comes first. How could I ignore responsibility for personal gluttony?"
"That would be a betrayal—and blasphemy—against Lord Sea God."
That was what she said.
But in her mind…
That taste resurfaced like divine punishment.
The domineering fragrance had carved itself into her very soul.
Being the High Priestess sounded glorious…
But in reality, she was just a pitiful offering waiting to be sacrificed to the Sea God's successor.
A century of cultivation—
a century of obedience—
all to become nourishment in the end.
The bitterness stung her heart.
But then…
That heavenly taste resurfaced again.
Her saliva surged uncontrollably.
No.
Absolutely not.
She had tasted heaven—
how could she go back to eating the bland, mushy "delicacies" of Sea God Island?
Never eating it again?
That was more painful than being sacrificed!
She had to eat it again.
Bo Saixi's eyes grew dangerous.
As the Great Priestess, she could not leave without a major reason.
But—
What if something… happened?
A major event.
A dangerous crisis.
A calamity requiring immediate intervention.
Her gaze dropped—
Landing on the Sea Witch's innocent, bump-decorated head.
Sea Witch—
A Titled Douluo.
One of the seven sacred pillars.
Loyal, obedient, strong.
And… blessed with a brain that was safely under-utilized.
A perfect scapegoat.
Bo Saixi silently prayed:
Lord Sea God… forgive me.
For the sake of your devout follower not starving to death… please close your eyes this once.
She lightly coughed.
"Alright, enough about this."
Her voice softened subtly.
"Sea Witch… do you want to see the outside world? Such as… the Feng Ran Pavilion Qian Daoliu mentioned?"
Gulp—
Sea Witch swallowed loudly.
Her eyes lit up like stars.
Of course she wanted to go.
Bo Saixi's lips curved slightly.
"In that case, I, as the Great Priestess, grant you a long vacation."
Sea Witch froze.
"R-Really?! Great Priestess! But the Sacred Pillar—"
Guilt flickered briefly in Bo Saixi's eyes.
Then she remembered the taste of that egg fried rice.
Guilt was instantly thrown into the sea.
"Mm. Sea Dragon and the others will cover for you. It'll be fine. Go."
"Thank you, Great Priestess!!! You're the BEST Great Priestess in the whole world!"
The simple Sea Witch didn't think this through at all.
She was so excited she almost flew out of her skin.
The next moment—
Whoosh—!
A streak of light shot out of the temple.
"Egg fried rice! I'm coming!!!"
Bo Saixi watched her disappear.
Then slowly sat back down.
Ignoring the table full of top-tier spirit ingredients, she closed her eyes.
She waited.
She prepared.
Half an hour later—
Her sea-blue eyes snapped open.
Gone was guilt.
Gone was longing.
Only towering, majestic fury remained.
She stood up.
A terrifying super Douluo aura blasted out of her, shaking the entire Sea God Temple.
"Someone!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Sea Dragon, Seahorse, and the other Sacred Pillar Douluo rushed in and knelt.
"Great Priestess!"
Bo Saixi's beautiful face was frosty.
Her phoenix eyes brimmed with wrath.
With a voice filled with grief, indignation, and divine authority, she declared:
"Sea Witch Douluo—seduced by external forces—has betrayed Sea God Island… and defected!!!"