"How much farther…?"
The sound of his growling stomach echoed through the forest. A sight hard to believe—a Celestial Master, once standing at the pinnacle of worlds, now trudging down a village path with an empty stomach.
"Oh, Jade Emperor…" he muttered. "You sealed my powers, fine. But couldn't you have left me a bit of food?"
[Viewers: 5]
[Guest1810: "Are you doing a travel vlog?"]
[TinyFairy2k: "The martial arts cosplay is actually spot-on!"]
[FoodReview: "Are you looking for a good place to eat?"]
"Vlog? Cos… what?" He scratched his head, looking at the screen. "Uh, no, I'm… looking for a place called Spirit Creek Village."
[FoodReview: "Uh, the village is right in front of you, dude."]
"Huh?"
He looked up. Sure enough, a sign reading "Spirit Creek Village" stood just… five steps away.
[Guest1810: "HAHAHA! Funniest clip of the year!"]
[TinyFairy2k: "You've got a real knack for comedy!"]
[CelestialPalace_002: "… Dare Drake Tran, you're disappointing me."]
Ahem. He cleared his throat, trying to recover his dignity. "I knew it all along. I was simply testing your observational skills."
[System: "Lie detected +1"]
"Hey!" He glared at the screen. "Are you a support system or here to make my life harder?"
Entering Spirit Creek Village, he attempted to maintain the poise of a Celestial Master. But his rumbling stomach ruined any semblance of composure.
Cough cough. He took a deep breath. "The task now is… to find somewhere to eat."
[FoodReview: "Try Granny Six's place over there—it's famous!"]
[TinyFairy2k: "You should try her fish soup!"]
"Perfect!"
He marched toward the restaurant, the delicious scent intensifying his hunger. But just as he was about to step inside, a serious problem dawned on him…
"Wait a second…" He patted himself down. "I… don't have mortal currency!"
[CelestialPalace_002: "A Celestial Master… without money for food?"]
[Guest1810: "This content is gold, liking it!"]
"Hmm…" Looking around, he suddenly remembered. "Right! I have System Credits!"
[System: Mortal Currency Exchange feature unlocked!
Exchange Rate: 1 Credit = 1 Coin
Current Credits: 150]
"150 coins…" He glanced at the menu posted outside. "A bowl of fish soup costs 200 coins?!"
[TinyFairy2k: "Wow, cosplaying as a poor man too, huh?"]
[FoodReview: "Classic! Going into a place without money!"]
[CelestialPalace_002: "… Serves you right."]
Ahem. He turned to the restaurant owner, who was now eyeing him with suspicion. "Excuse me… if I wash dishes, would you give me a discount?"
The owner looked him over, her gaze skeptical.
"Wash dishes? You ever washed a dish before? Look at you, like some pampered rich boy…"
"I used to…" He almost said 'run the entire Celestial Court' but caught himself. "I mean, I can do it!"
[Guest1810: "Celestial Master doing dishes, this content is next level!"]
[FoodReview: "Best crossover ever: Cultivation x Dishwashing"]
"All right." The owner nodded. "Wash twenty bowls, and I'll give you a meal."
A Celestial Master who'd never so much as touched kitchenware now stood before a mountain of dishes. He glared at the stack as if facing an enemy.
"Dishes… we're about to have an epic battle…"
[TinyFairy2k: "Livestream the dishwashing!"]
[Guest1810: "Yes, this is prime content!"]
"Fine!" He said with determination. "Watch as I conquer… I mean, clean every single one of these dishes!"
[System: Side Quest—"The Path of Dishwashing" activated!
Objective: Clean 20 bowls
Reward: 100 Credits + Level 1 'Dishwashing Technique' skill]
"What?" He gaped. "Since when was dishwashing a mystical art?"
He began washing dishes with a steely resolve…
"The Dao of Dishwashing requires a calm mind…" he muttered, trying to mimic the tone of his old masters. "Right hand moves clockwise, left hand holds the bowl steady…"
[TinyFairy2k: "He's washing dishes like he's practicing a cultivation technique!"]
[FoodReview: "This isn't dishwashing; it's an art form!"]
"Oops!" The first bowl slipped from his hand, crashing to the ground in pieces.
[System: Quest failed!
Penalty: -50 Credits
Note: 'A Celestial Master, yet so clumsy with his hands?']
"Hey!" He glared at the screen. "Could you stop mocking me?"
The restaurant owner sighed. "All right, just sit down and eat. If you wash dishes like this, I'll go out of business."
[Guest1810: "Good ending!"]
[TinyFairy2k: "The restaurant owner is so nice!"]
[CelestialPalace_002: "Perhaps in the mortal world, you'll learn a few things…"]