Ethan Foster said, “Let my Brother Brooks talk to you instead.” Adam Brooks cupped his hands with a smile on his face, though he knew in his heart that this David Reed was extremely cunning and not easy to deal with. He was no idle rich kid like Ethan Foster, who spent his days leisurely at the sect gate; from the mortal world to the immortal realm, he’d done his share of good and bad deeds and seen all kinds of people. Still, he had his own trump card and wasn’t worried that David Reed wouldn’t take the bait.

“Brother Reed, I need a treasure that can continuously supply a stable electric current. I wonder if Brother Reed can craft such a thing?” Adam Brooks stated his request. David Reed immediately grew suspicious: a treasure that could continuously supply a stable electric current—wasn’t that just a generator? Who was this Brooks guy, to be able to persuade the young master of the Remote Hall? What did he want a generator for?

Smuggling between the immortal and mortal realms was a capital offense, and David Reed never expected the young master of the powerful Remote Hall to get mixed up with a smuggler from the lower world. Still, he kept his guard up. Not only was Ryan Brooks’s request difficult to fulfill, but even if it could be easily made, he couldn’t agree to it right away.

David Reed frowned and said, “Brother Brooks, Young Master Foster, this won’t be easy. You know, the power of lightning techniques lies in their explosive force. To make it stable and continuous is no simple matter. How about this: let me think it over, and I’ll contact you with a message talisman once I have an idea.”

Ethan Foster wanted to say more, but Adam Brooks was already pulling him away to take their leave: “Sorry to trouble Brother Reed, we’ll take our leave for now. Once it’s done, you’ll be handsomely rewarded!”

David Reed cupped his hands in return. “In that case, I won’t see you out. Safe travels, gentlemen.” As the two turned to leave, a pouch fell from Adam Brooks’s body. David Reed was startled and picked it up to return it, but the two had already reached the bottom of the cliff and vanished in a flash. David Reed gave a sly smile, thinking to himself: Trying such petty tricks in front of me? If I fell for your scheme, my five hundred years in the mortal world would have been for nothing.

At first, David Reed didn’t want to open the pouch and intended to catch up to Ningyao Mountain to return it to Ethan Foster. But a familiar fragrance wafted from the pouch, stirring distant memories. Since his ascension, he hadn’t smelled this familiar scent in nearly a hundred years...

Ethan Foster grabbed the hurriedly departing Adam Brooks and complained, “I still wanted to say a few more words to him, but you rushed off so quickly. If things don’t work out, don’t blame me. Of all the people I know, only this bird’s lightning techniques are worth a look. If he won’t help, there’s nothing I can do.”

Adam Brooks said, “Young Master Foster, don’t worry. As long as the rumors you heard are true, this David Reed is definitely on our pirate ship... ahem, I mean, he’s definitely on board with us.” Ethan Foster said, “I really don’t get it. He’s already become an immortal, so why is he still obsessed with bird food from the mortal world?”

Adam Brooks replied, “That’s just a quirk—immortals aren’t immune to them. Speaking of which, I’ve seen far more than you have. Back in the mortal world...” As Adam Brooks mentioned the mortal world, he seemed deeply nostalgic, his eyes full of longing, and he trailed off, lost in thought.

Ethan Foster gave him a push. “Old Brooks, what’s wrong with you?” Adam Brooks snapped out of it, forced a bitter smile, and his eyes reddened a bit. “I must have made a fool of myself. Sigh, I never wanted to become an immortal—maybe that’s a quirk of mine too.”

The two parted ways at the foot of Ningyao Mountain. Ethan Foster returned to the mountain, while Adam Brooks still had some distance to go to Fushan, traveling alone.

Just as Adam Brooks expected, in less than three days, Ethan Foster received a message talisman from David Reed, inviting him to meet at the Cengtian Cave Residence. Ethan Foster was about to contact Adam Brooks, but before he could set out, David Reed had already impatiently come looking for him!

There’s an art to giving gifts, and Adam Brooks knew it well. That pouch of top-quality bird food from the mortal world was just the right amount—not too much, not too little—enough to satisfy David Reed’s craving, but not enough to make him overindulge. After eating it, for three days, no matter what rare fruits or delicacies the immortal realm offered, they tasted bland in his mouth. After three days, he couldn’t stand it anymore and hurriedly sent a message talisman to Ethan Foster. As soon as he sent it, he simply used his immortal arts to fly straight to Ningyao Mountain. Once a craving is awakened, it’s impossible to suppress.

Adam Brooks hadn’t yet arrived at Ningyao Mountain when David Reed was already there. Ethan Foster sent a message talisman to summon Adam Brooks.

David Reed knew he’d fallen into Adam Brooks’s trap. Over those three days, he’d had moments of sudden realization: this bird food was from the mortal world, and for Adam Brooks to get it, he must have broken major immortal realm laws. But before the cold sweat from that thought had even dried, the delicious taste of the bird food lingered on his tongue. So David Reed consoled himself: since I wasn’t caught the first time, I probably won’t be caught in the future either. Besides, I only ate food from the lower world—I didn’t sneak into the immortal realm myself. Even if I get implicated, at worst I’ll be exiled to the Cloud Sea between the immortal and divine realms for a few decades.

Once again, in the Guanyan Pavilion on Ningyao Mountain, Ethan Foster and David Reed brewed a pot of fresh Huayu Xinfeng tea, waiting for Adam Brooks. The door sounded, and Adam Brooks entered with a smile, apologizing, “Sorry, sorry, I’ve kept you both waiting, haven’t I?”