Chapter 27 - 51-55

Chapter 51: Three Different Paths

In the outer sect area of the Melodic Harmony Sect, a minor cultivation sect specializing in the use of music and musical instruments for cultivation and combat, stood one of the many humble residences where outer sect disciples resided. The house was small and simple, containing only the essentials: a bed, with a table and chairs in the middle of the room. Additionally, there was a wooden box for storage at the side. There was also a door leading to a small kitchen, while the toilet and shower were housed in a separate building outside.

Inside this modest abode, Hua Meiying sat cross-legged on the bed, her eyes closed as she focused on her rhythmic and calm breathing, fully immersed in meditation. She had returned a few days ago from Yanjing City. A faint knock on the door interrupted her, prompting her to rise from her seated position and make her way to the door to answer it.

Upon opening the door, Hua Meiying found a girl standing in front of her, who was shorter and appeared younger than herself. The girl's face lit up with joy as she threw herself into a hug with Hua Meiying.

"Senior sister, long time no see," the girl exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth and familiarity.

"Yes, long time no see, Yue Xin. How are you?" Hua Meiying smiled and returned the hug.

"I am good, how about you, senior sister? How was living in Yanjing City? Did you become famous there?" Yue Xin asked.

"It's nothing special, I got some fans from my performances," Hua Meiying replied.

Hua Meiying then invited Yue Xin to enter, and they both sat at the table. Yue Xin began asking various questions, having not seen Hua Meiying for over a year since she decided to stay in Yanjing City for work.

As disciples of the sect, they received resources allocated by the sect monthly, but for outer sect disciples, the amount was very limited. Therefore, outer sect disciples needed to work and acquire additional resources for their cultivation on their own.

In the sect, there is a Mission Hall where disciples can undertake sect missions to earn contribution points, which could be exchanged for resources. Additionally, disciples can take jobs outside the sect based on their skills and capabilities. Others venture into the wild to hunt Spirit Beasts and gather medicinal herbs and other natural resources. Some even join the Mercenary Guild to undertake missions, which offer more varied and slightly better-paying opportunities.

As for Hua Meiying, she had decided to leave the outer sect and stay in Yanjing City, using her zither skills to work and gain experience in the outside world.

After conversing for a while, Yue Xin's cheerful expression turned sorrowful. "I'm sorry, I still can't return the pills and Spirit Stones," she said, her voice tinged with sadness as tears welled up in her eyes. Yue Xin had borrowed some pills and Spirit Stones from Hua Meiying to aid in her cultivation.

"There's no need to worry about that," Hua Meiying reassured her, offering comfort. "You can take it, there's no need to return it. I'm giving it to you."

"But... but..." Yue Xin couldn't hold back her tears any longer, and they began to fall.

Hua Meiying hugged Yue Xin and gently patted her back. "It's okay."

After crying softly in Hua Meiying's embrace, Yue Xin looked up. "Senior sister, I heard that you're going to enter the Haunted Cave. Is that true?" she asked.

"Oh, you knew? That's right, I've registered to enter and will go tomorrow," Hua Meiying confirmed.

"Everyone's talking about it, and I overheard. Are you sure, Senior Sister? Isn't it dangerous?" Yue Xin expressed her concern.

"Yes, I have decided. If I successfully pass the trial in there, it will be good. If I fail, then it's my fate," Hua Meiying replied with determination. She had resolved not to remain ordinary. While others were blessed with great talent or born into favorable circumstances with ample resources for cultivation, she had none of that. Thus, she would compensate by working harder and taking more risks. If even a mortal could reach the Void, then she had a new ambition—to go further than just the Void. She wanted to ascend to the Immortal Realm.

Previously, she cultivated without any fiery ambitions or grand goals. She simply wanted to increase her lifespan and become stronger so she could travel the world and see more of it. However, she couldn't shake off her feelings of insecurity and inferiority, especially when she saw many outstanding cultivators outside the sect and among her fellow disciples. This invoked her competitiveness, driving her to work harder in her cultivation. Still, she couldn't compare to those with greater talent and resources, so she returned to cultivating in an ordinary manner. That's why she decided to stay in Yanjing city to work there and lead a leisurely life.

Everything changed when she met a high-level cultivator named Orion. His words gave her an epiphany and aided her cultivation, igniting fiery ambitions within her and giving her a firmer, more resolute heart. She decided to return to the sect and enter the Haunted Cave, one of the many forbidden training grounds within the sect.

The cave earned its name because it's a lair of ghosts, filled with evil and malevolent spirits formed from the yin energy within. Eerie sounds and screams could be heard emanating from its depths. To pass the trial, disciples must confront these ghosts and reach the end of the cave. Once inside, they can only exit from the cave's end goal. If they fail, they will perish and be consumed by the ghosts, their resentment and negative energy becoming yin energy that strengthens the cave.

Compared to ordinary training grounds, forbidden training grounds can be life-threatening. For more than a century, no disciple dared to enter due to its notorious reputation. In the last thousand years, thousands of disciples had entered, but only dozens returned alive after passing the trial. Those who succeeded soared to great heights in their cultivation, having obtained tremendous opportunities inside. However, the risks were equally high, potentially resulting in death.

With steely resolve, Hua Meiying had headed to the Haunted Cave and had registered for the trial. The cave opened once a week, and tomorrow she would attempt to pass the trial inside.

"But it's the forbidden training ground. No one has tried to enter that place for the last century. People say it's very dangerous. Back then, when there were still disciples who dared to enter, almost none of them returned. Senior sister, please think again. What if something happens to you?" Yue Xin's face was filled with worry.

Hua Meiying smiled, then she retrieved a pouch from her storage ring. "Here, take this."

"Senior sister, what is this?" Yue Xin inquired.

"A gift. These pills won't help me in the trial tomorrow. I don't know if I will be able to pass the trial, and rather than bringing them with me, it's better for you to use them. Consider it a parting gift," Hua Meiying explained.

The pouch contained two small bottles of pills, each containing several pills. While they had little effect for a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator like her, they would be very helpful for a Qi Condensation realm cultivator like Yue Xin.

"Senior sister, please don't say such things. I don't want to say goodbye to you..." Yue Xin's eyes welled up with tears.

Yue Xin cried for a while, and Hua Meiying managed to convince her to take the pouch.

"Senior sister, please be careful tomorrow. I hope you can succeed and pass the trial and return alive. I will see you off tomorrow," Yue Xin said, her eyes still red from crying.

"Thank you," Hua Meiying replied.

Yue Xin then excused herself, and Hua Meiying accompanied her to the door before seeing her off. She closed the door again and resumed meditating to adjust her mental state.

As Yue Xin left Hua Meiying's house, her face remained sad and her eyes still watery. She wiped her eyes, and her expression immediately changed from sadness to cold. "Tch..." Yue Xin muttered to herself as she headed to her own house.

The next day, early in the morning, Hua Meiying headed to the Haunted Cave. Positioned on a hillside beneath a cliff, the cave was sealed by a large metallic door, adjacent to a small building where an elder who supervised the forbidden training ground resided. Disciples wishing to enter the Haunted Cave could register there, and Hua Meiying had already done so. The elder was rather surprised when a disciple wanted to enter the Haunted Cave, as it was the first time in about a hundred years. It also caused a stir among the outer sect disciples and became the topic of discussion when the news spread.

Upon her arrival, Hua Meiying approached the building and knocked. A frail looking elderly man emerged from the house; she didn't know his name, but she recognized him as a Golden Core cultivator and an elder. Hua Meiying bowed respectfully to the elder.

"Are you ready? Have you thought it through? You can still back off, you know," the elder cautioned. "Many have entered the Haunted Cave, but only a few have returned. Most of them perished inside."

"Yes, Elder," Hua Meiying replied firmly.

"Good. Follow me," the elder instructed.

The elder then led Hua Meiying to the gate of the cave. Placing his hand on it, he infused Qi from his dantian into the gate. The inscriptions on the gate lit up, and it slowly began to open, emitting a cold and chilling breeze that caused Hua Meiying's skin to prickle with goosebumps.

"If you are prepared to die, you can enter," the elder stated, observing Hua Meiying standing in front of the cave, peering into the complete darkness. "It's also okay to back out. There are still many other ways to increase your cultivation, you know, even though the gain is smaller, it's safer," he added.

Hua Meiying shook her head. "No, I will enter," she replied firmly. Then, she turned back and glanced towards the residence area in the distance where the outer sect disciples stayed, chuckling to herself. It seemed that Yue Xin hadn't shown up, even though she said she would send her off. "Well, that's how it is," She murmured, attempting a smile despite the melancholy in her face.

Hua Meiying reflected on the nature of her relationship with Yue Xin. In the outer sect, she didn't have any friends to talk to; most of her peers from the same generation had already entered the inner sect. Some who remained in the outer sect were busy with their cultivation, others were exploring the outside world, and a few had already perished or left the sect. Yue Xin, cheerful and friendly, had approached Hua Meiying, and their friendship had slowly grown. They chatted a lot and grew closer.

Yue Xin also talked to Hua Meiying about having trouble obtaining resources for her cultivation, so sometimes Hua Meiying would help her by giving her pills. When Yue Xin came to her crying about not having any pills, Hua Meiying would readily provide them. However, one day, Hua Meiying accidentally overheard Yue Xin bragging to her friends about how she could easily manipulate Hua Meiying into giving her what she wanted by crying or lying.

After this incident, Hua Meiying's attitude toward Yue Xin subtly changed. Although Yue Xin remained unaware that her secret had been exposed, she continued to act friendly with Hua Meiying while trying to get something in return. Hua Meiying, perhaps for the sake of having someone to talk to and ward off her loneliness, decided to play along and pretend she still didn't know about Yue Xin's true nature. She maintained a facade of friendship, though she kept her distance and was not as close to Yue Xin as before.

"I am truly pathetic," Hua Meiying mumbled to herself. To allow myself to get tricked just to have a "friend" like Yue Xin, and to think that she would come and see me off... Perhaps she's already looking for someone else to trick, Hua Meiying thought to herself.

There were many ways for disciples to acquire more resources, and some, like Yue Xin, resorted to unscrupulous methods.

Hua Meiying then cupped her hands and bowed. "Thank you, Elder, for opening the Haunted Cave for me," she said before excusing herself and entering the cave.

She was resolute and firm in her decision; she would enter and succeed in passing the trial. If she failed, then she would simply meet her end there. However, if she succeeded, she planned to bury her old self inside and be reborn as a new person, leading a completely different life.

That's why she had previously given a parting gift to Yue Xin to sever her karma with her and move forward. Hua Meiying also had no intention of interacting with Yue Xin in the future if she managed to pass the trial.

She didn't want to live an ordinary life; her ambitions were set high, aiming to ascend to the Immortal Realm. The Haunted Cave would be her first small step toward achieving that goal; it was a do-or-die for her.

"Mmm... Good luck," the Elder said as he watched Hua Meiying disappear into the darkness of the cave. Her figure slowly faded from view as the gate closed behind her. "Sigh... The current generation is truly pathetic. Only one disciple has dared to enter the Haunted Cave in a hundred years, and she seems so ordinary," The Elder lamented, not having big hope or expectation from Hua Meiying, before returning to the building beside the metallic gate.

...

The White Crane Sect, a minor cultivation sect, is located not far from Yanjing City. Its outer sect area surrounds the inner sect area, and it's the largest section of the sect. Many people, both mortals and cultivators, reside here, and the area is divided into numerous residential and commercial districts, bustling with activity just like a city.

In one of the many parks in the outer sect, filled with flowers and trees and situated alongside the banks of a small river, with clear water, a young man and woman sit together on a bench. They are shielded from the sunlight by the shadows of the trees, while enjoying the refreshing breeze. They talk and laugh, the atmosphere filled with happiness.

The young man retrieved a fine silk pouch from his storage ring. "Junior sister Ling, here, for you," he said, handing her the pouch with a shy, red face.

"Senior Brother Jian, what is this? A gift for me?" Xia Ling's smile bloomed as she asked happily.

Liu Jian nodded shyly.

Xia Ling then accepted the pouch and opened it, revealing a Rank-2 dagger beautifully crafted with intricate designs.

"Senior Brother, this... this dagger is too precious. I can't accept it. You should keep it for yourself," Xia Ling said, hesitant.

"It's fine, you should accept it. This dagger is of no use to me; it's custom-made for you," Liu Jian insisted.

"But this dagger is too precious. I don't deserve such a gift," Xia Ling protested, her gaze scrutinizing the blade. The blade gleamed with beauty, and the intricate craftsmanship of the scabbard matched its elegance. The handle was of a small size, seemingly custom-made to fit her hand perfectly. Inscriptions adorned the dagger's surface.

"No, you totally deserve it because you're important to me. I don't want anything bad to happen to you, so you should accept this dagger and use it to protect yourself," Liu Jian said with a serious expression, recalling the time they were attacked by Vermillion Clawed Bears and nearly lost their lives. He had developed feelings for Xia Ling, and he didn't want such an incident to occur again.

"Important to you..." Xia Ling murmured, her face turning red along with her ears as she looked down shyly. "Then I accept it, thank you..." she said in a small voice, then she stored the dagger along with the pouch in her storage ring.

Realizing what he had just blurted out, Liu Jian turned his face away, feeling embarrassed. He attempted to change the topic by awkwardly mentioning the weather. Xia Ling couldn't help but giggle at his flustered attempt.

"Oh, yeah, there's another gift for you," Liu Jian continued, still feeling shy. He retrieved a silver hairpin from his storage ring, its design resembling a flower. "It's nothing special, just a trinket I saw while strolling the streets of Yanjing. I bought it on a whim. It's nothing compared to the dagger, but I hope you'll like it," he said casually.

Before Liu Jian could finish, Xia Ling eagerly took the hairpin. "Thank you very much, Senior Brother Jian. It's so pretty, I love it," she exclaimed, placing it in her hair.

"Uhh... you're welcome," Liu Jian replied, wondering why Xia Ling seemed more pleased with the hairpin than the dagger, the hairpin was just an ordinary accessory meanwhile the dagger much more valuable. He had purchased the hairpin based on the advice previously given by Hua Meiying.

"How do I look?" Xia Ling asked after putting on the hairpin.

"You look... beautiful," Liu Jian said, his face turning even redder.

Xia Ling's smile brightened. "Once again, thank you."

Xia Ling was genuinely happy with the hairpin. While the dagger was undoubtedly more expensive and likely cost many spirit stones due to its custom-made nature, the hairpin, in contrast, was inexpensive. Despite this, Xia Ling found the hairpin to be more special to her, and she vowed to cherish it. She could tell that Liu Jian had put a lot of thought into choosing the hairpin. She knew that Liu Jian was not someone who understood much about accessories, yet he managed to select one with a tulip ornament, which happened to be Xia Ling's favorite flower. It was evident that he had chosen it carefully, making it a gift filled with love and consideration.

After a while, they resumed their conversation, no longer feeling awkward or embarrassed. Liu Jian felt happy, content, and blissful. He hoped that this kind of day could last longer, where he could be together with his junior sister, experiencing the bittersweetness of love and enjoying their youth, all while cultivating on the side. How great would that be?

Unbeknownst to Liu Jian and Xia Ling, a figure hidden behind a tree secretly watched them from afar. "Hmph! You won't be lucky next time. I will make sure you both are dead," the figure muttered before turning and leaving.

...

In Yanjing City, two major factions of similar strength, influence, and wealth always competed against each other for dominance: the Liu family and the Chen family.

And within the inner area of the Chen family estate, there was a training ground reserved for core family members. The sounds of intense combat emanated from this area, where a young man, drenched in sweat, was engaged in rigorous training. Executing his movements and combat techniques, he ruthlessly destroyed wooden logs, boulders, and wooden mannequins positioned across the training ground, delivering powerful punches, swift kicks, and a flurry of sword strikes.

"[Crimson Serpent Sword Style]!" the young man exclaimed as he unleashed a barrage of sword strikes, reducing a big boulder to countless small pieces.

After he finished his training, he plunged his sword into the ground, gasping for breath as he wiped the sweat from his face. Chunks of boulder and wood littered the ground around him. This young man's name is Chen Rongwei. His previous injuries have healed, and now his demeanor has changed greatly. His face now looks serious and cold, no longer showing his previous playful smiling face. He was also no longer arrogant, mocking, or bullying others, nor was he playing around with girls or being a playboy. He no longer drank and played around in the city as he used to. Now, he was diligent with his cultivation and practicing combat, and he no longer relied on pills to boost his cultivation.

Chen Xianlong had been observing Chen Rongwei secretly for a while before finally revealing himself and approaching his son.

Noticing someone suddenly appeared behind him, Chen Rongwei turned to see his father. "Greetings, Father," he said, cupping his hands and bowing respectfully.

"Mmm..." Chen Xianlong nodded, looking at Chen Rongwei. "How is your training going?" he inquired.

"Everything is going smoothly, Father," Chen Rongwei replied.

"That's good," Chen Xianlong said, his expression unreadable but inwardly very satisfied with Chen Rongwei's change. Seeing his son no longer wasting his potential by playing around and causing trouble everywhere he went, but rather training hard and cultivating diligently. It seems that Chen Rongwei's encounter with Orion had a good effect on his son. After being dispirited for a few days following the incident, Chen Rongwei changed, and Chen Xianlong was satisfied that his son had turned a new leaf. "I heard you want to enter the White Crane Sect. Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes, Father. I will diligently cultivate there and won't bring shame to our Chen family," Chen Rongwei affirmed, still respectful as he bowed.

"Good. Then I will arrange it," Chen Xianlong said before walking away.

"Thank you, Father," Chen Rongwei said, raising his head as he watched his father's figure recede into the distance. His eyes flashed with a dangerous glint. He then turned and walked towards a nearby boulder on the side, resuming his training. Showering a flurry of punches towards the boulder, it cracked little by little. His killing intent flared for an instant before disappearing again. With a final punch, the boulder shattered.

Chen Rongwei clenched his fist and gritted his teeth, looking at the shattered boulder. "I will make you all pay," he muttered. He then dashed to another nearby boulder, kicking it and using his combat technique to destroy it, before continuing to demolish other boulders.

As he thought about the Chen family, his father, his brother, Liu Jian, Hua Meiying, and finally Orion, he smashed another boulder using his right fist, shattering it. All the boulders in the training ground were destroyed. He opened his right fist, which was now bloodied. I need more power, Chen Rongwei thought to himself as he watched the sky above.

Chapter 52: Selecting a Maidservant

Wang Lingxin woke, her gaze lingering on the ceiling for a moment, still not accustomed to her surroundings. With a sleepy yawn, she rubbed the remnants of sleep from her eyes and glanced to the side, where a familiar figure donned in full armor sat reading at a nearby table. A smile crept across her lips as she saw him.

"Good morning, Master," Wang Lingxin greeted Orion.

"Good morning. How was your sleep?" Orion inquired.

"It was wonderful," Wang Lingxin replied, marveling at the luxuriousness of the bed she had rested on. She really liked this new bed—soft, warm, and incredibly comfortable.

"Good to hear. Get prepared," Orion instructed.

"Master, are we going somewhere today? What will we do today?" Wang Lingxin asked as she rose from bed and tidied the sheets.

"We'll be exploring the city again today, sampling different foods. How does that sound?" Orion closed its book and fixed its gaze on Wang Lingxin.

"Really? That sounds amazing!" Wang Lingxin exclaimed, excitement evident in her voice.

Today's plan isn't solely about exploring the city and indulging Wang Lingxin, but more importantly, it's for information gathering. Currently, Orion has enough resources and money to sustain its survival and cater to Wang Lingxin's needs, including providing for her cultivation journey up to the Foundation Establishment Realm for decades to come. However, to execute many of its future plans, Orion still lacks in certain aspects, particularly in terms of finances.

Thus, Orion's first step is to make money, and for now it has chosen food as the means to achieve this. Orion plans to take Wang Lingxin around the city to visit various restaurants, food stalls, and eateries to sample different cuisines. Wang Lingxin not only loves to eat but is also rather good at judging food; she sometimes gives her comments about the taste, possible improvements, any lacking elements, or the uniqueness of a dish while savoring it. Orion will use her for tasting, as a robot, Orion lacks such capability.

Meanwhile, Orion will focus on gathering information about the restaurant's operation and patron behavior.

While waiting for Wang Lingxin to prepare, Orion left the room and intended to head out from the residence for a while. As it walked, Orion activated inscriptions on its body, enveloping itself in an energy barrier. "Time to teach that rat a little lesson," Orion mutters as it slowly disappears from view.

On top of a house not far from Orion's residence, a masked figure dressed in dark clothing lurked, peering towards the residence. Suddenly, his instincts kicked in, and he swiftly attempted to jump forward, away from the danger. However, a hand emerged seemingly out of nowhere, gripping his left shoulder firmly, preventing his escape.

Despite the tension, he remained calm. With a quick motion, he unsheathed a short sword from his back and slashed backward with all his might, aiming towards the head of his unseen assailant. A loud clang reverberated through the air as the hand released its grip, allowing him to dash forward and leap to another building roof, sword pointed towards the sudden assailant.

Cold sweat trickled down his forehead as he processed the close call, realizing that someone managed to sneak up on him unnoticed. He could have been easily killed had his attacker wished it. He was also taken aback by the strength of the grip that had held him back. Observing the individual who had appeared behind him, his wariness turned to surprise.

"Mr... Mr. Orion?!" the man exclaimed.

"That's right," Orion confirmed. "Why so surprised to see me?" it inquired, its tone calm and composed.

Now realizing his mistake, the masked man sheathed his sword, knelt, and cupped his hands in a bow, his gaze fixed on the ground. "Forgive me, Mr. Orion. I didn't mean to attack you; I was just surprised," he stammered nervously.

"It's fine. Are you Liu Jin?" Orion asked as it rubbed the area that had been attacked, which remained unaffected because Orion activated its defensive inscription. Orion was satisfied with the successful experiment; the concealment inscriptions for stealth had worked perfectly, and Orion managed to surprise Liu Jin.

"Yes, Mr. Orion. This humble one is named Liu Jin," the man replied.

"Good. You've been briefed on your new job?" Orion inquired.

"Yes, Mr. Orion. My superiors have informed me of everything and ordered me to guard your residence," Liu Jin confirmed.

"Good, you just need to guard the residence and Wang Lingxin when I am not around; also, there's no need to follow me around as you did in Yanjing City. Understand?" Orion clarified.

"Ye... yes, I understand, Mr. Orion. Please forgive me. I was previously ordered to secretly protect you. I didn't mean to spy on you; I really didn't," Liu Jin pleaded, fearing Orion's punishment. Surprised that Orion had discovered him during their time in Yanjing City despite his best efforts to conceal himself carefully from a safe distance, Liu Jin wondered if Orion was a Golden Core Realm cultivator, a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, or even higher.

"It's fine. No need to worry about it anymore," Orion reassured him. With the assistance of the Liu family, Orion had made several arrangements, including hiring Liu family cultivators to keep watch over the residence.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Orion," Liu Jin said, relieved to be forgiven for secretly following Orion. "Mr. Orion, the carriage drivers and maidservant candidates are prepared. If you have time, you can visit the Liu family residence," he added. In addition to guarding Orion's residence, Liu Jin's new role included relaying messages between Orion and the Liu family.

"Oh, already? Then I will go there later, and you will guard the residence," Orion decided. Orion was satisfied that the Liu family worked quickly to find suitable candidates.

"Yes, understood!" Liu Jin affirmed.

"Do you see that little flag on the second floor? If it's raised, then I am calling for you. Other than that, you can hide anywhere around here. Understand?" Orion instructed.

"Understood, Mr. Orion," Liu Jin acknowledged.

Orion then returned to the residence. As Liu Jin watched Orion's departing figure, he wiped the sweat off his brow in relief. "Phew..." Liu Jin muttered to himself, relieved. After a while, he observed Orion and Wang Lingxin leave the residence. Liu Jin then made his way inside to begin his guard duties. Hmm... I wonder why using flag as a signal. Why not just use voice transmission? Liu Jin wondered internally.

During the night, Orion made several modifications to the residence. This included installing a comprehensive camera system covering the entire premises, which was integrated with an antenna for monitoring purposes. Although the range was limited to several kilometers, it provided Orion with surveillance capabilities. Additionally, Orion placed inscriptions around the residence for security measures, which could be activated remotely. There were also other security arrangements made, and for extra security, Orion employed Liu Jin.

As Orion and Wang Lingxin departed from the residence, Wang Lingxin couldn't help but wonder why they were heading to the Liu family residence instead of exploring the city. "Master, aren't we going to explore the city?" she asked, a hint of disappointment evident in her voice.

"There are some matters that need to be handled first," Orion replied cryptically.

"Um... okay," Wang Lingxin responded, feeling a bit disappointed that they wouldn't be able to indulge in food adventures right away.

In the Liu family residence, Liu Mingzhen greeted Orion and Wang Lingxin and led them inside. The candidates for the carriage driver and maidservants had arrived, and Orion needed to choose. The candidates selected by the Liu family strictly adhered to Orion's criteria.

After a brief evaluation, Orion swiftly selected several carriage drivers from the candidates provided. Given the Liu family's carriage travel business, Orion aimed to exclusively book their carriages. The Liu family had prepared a selection of their finest drivers, carriages, and horses for Orion's consideration. These carriages would operate in shifts, ensuring that Orion had access to their services every day.

For the maidservant, Orion had stricter requirements. After narrowing down the choices, a few candidates remained. Ultimately, the final decision would depend on Wang Lingxin, as she will help take care of Wang Lingxin. The candidates, all young women around 20 years old, waited in the flower garden. Orion instructed Wang Lingxin to interact with them and make her choice.

Wang Lingxin then met with each candidate individually and engaged in conversation. Afterward, she returned to Orion and voiced her decision.

"Are you sure?" Orion asked.

"Yes, that big sister seems nice and kind," Wang Lingxin replied.

"Alright then," Orion said, rather satisfied with all the candidates. Any choice made by Wang Lingxin was acceptable to Orion, as it would go with her decision.

...

Chunhua, an orphan, was left on the doorstep of an orphanage one night. Growing up in the orphanage, she experienced the harsh reality of life without parents. Despite the challenges she faced, Chunhua grew into a resilient young woman, determined to carve out her own path in the world.

As she reached adulthood, Chunhua left the orphanage to make her own way in the world. She took on various jobs, working as a maidservant, a server in restaurants, and even helping out in kitchen restaurants, among other roles. Despite her hardships, Chunhua persevered.

One day, she came across a pamphlet advertising a maidservant position at the Liu family residence. Despite her modest expectations, Chunhua decided to try her luck. She joined the long line of hopeful candidates at the Liu family residence, nervously awaiting her turn.

When Chunhua was finally called in for the selection and questioning process, she was surprised but hopeful to be asked to return for a final test the next day. Arriving early the following morning, she waited nervously in the guest room along with the other candidates.

The luxurious guest room of the Liu family residence made Chunhua even more nervous. After waiting for hours, the candidates were called in one by one for further interviews and questioning. Eventually, they were allowed to relax and wait in the flower garden.

As Chunhua waited anxiously for the results, she noticed a young girl among the other candidates. Wondering what a child was doing there, as she seemed too young to join the maidservant selection, Chunhua speculated that the girl might be related to the Liu family. However, observing the simple and modest attire worn by the little girl, Chunhua wondered if she was instead related to one of the servants in the Liu family. The little girl approached each candidate, engaging in conversation, before finally coming to Chunhua.

"Hello, big sister," Wang Lingxin greeted with a bright smile.

"Hello, little girl. Is there something I can help you with?" Chunhua replied, returning the smile.

"Nothing, I just want to talk. By the way, my name is Wang Lingxin," Wang Lingxin introduced herself.

"My name is Chunhua," Chunhua smiled warmly.

"Big sister Chunhua, are you here to become a maidservant just like the others?" Wang Lingxin inquired.

"That's right. And what about you, little Lingxin? Do you live here?" Chunhua asked.

"No, I'm just visiting. By the way, big sister Chunhua, why do you want to work here?" Wang Lingxin questioned.

"Um, well, the payment is nice," Chunhua replied.

"Just that?" Wang Lingxin pressed further.

Chunhua smiled and gently patted Wang Lingxin's head, thinking she might be too young to understand the complexities of life. "Yes, just that, but it's not only for me," Chunhua elaborated.

"Huh? What do you mean, big sister?" Wang Lingxin was curious.

"I am an orphan, and I grew up in an orphanage. Life there was not easy. After I was old enough, I eventually left the orphanage and had to fend for myself. Seeing those kids in the orphanage reminds me of my old self and makes me want to help them, as they share the same fate as I once did. I've worked various jobs before, but the pay was barely enough for me to live, let alone support the orphanage. Working for the Liu family means I can earn more and give more to those kids in the orphanage," Chunhua explained, her smile masking a hint of sadness.

Moved by Chunhua's story, Wang Lingxin comforted her, saying, "It's okay, big sister. I'm sure you'll be accepted."

"Thank you very much," Chunhua said gratefully as she gently stroked Wang Lingxin's head. Wang Lingxin reminded her of the little girls back in the orphanage.

Wang Lingxin then excused herself. Chunhua watched as Wang Lingxin departed, still feeling nervous about the results. Unbeknownst to her, she had just passed the final test. Not long after, Chunhua's name was called, and she was instructed to enter the main hall of the Liu family. As for the other candidates, they were informed they had failed, and Chunhua could sense their envy as she walked towards her fate, her heart pounding with excitement. Entering the grand and luxurious hall, she noticed a man donned in luxurious robes, another wearing a metallic helmet, and a little girl sitting around a table. Huh, Little Lingxin? Why is she here? Chunhua wondered internally, puzzled by Wang Lingxin's presence in the main hall.

"Greetings, my name is Chunhua," she bowed courteously, feeling slightly groggy and nervous.

"Mmm... congratulations, Miss Chunhua. You have passed the test and will be accepted as a maidservant," Liu Mingzhen said warmly, his smile reassuring.

"Thank you very much," Chunhua replied with a happy smile, bowing in gratitude.

"But actually, you won't be working as a maidservant for my Liu family. You'll be serving this gentleman here," Liu Mingzhen gestured towards Orion.

"Huh?" Chunhua raised her head, confused. "But the pamphlet said it was the Liu family that was looking for a maidservant," she pointed out.

"That's correct. My name is Liu Mingzhen, the head of the Liu family branch in Fengxian City. I'm looking for a maidservant for Mr. Orion here," Liu Mingzhen clarified.

"The head of the Liu family branch?" Chunhua muttered, startled. She couldn't understand why the leader of the Liu family branch would personally meet her for a mere maidservant selection.

"Greetings, Miss Chunhua. My name is Orion," Orion introduced itself. "I am the one who is actually looking for a maidservant, and I'm using the assistance of the Liu family. Don't worry; if you work for me, the payment will still be the same as stated in the pamphlet. There are also other bonuses included. So, how about it? Will you take the job and work for me?"

"Yes, I am willing. I will work hard, Master Orion," Chunhua immediately replied, bowing. She felt a tinge of disappointment that she wouldn't be working for the Liu family. However, upon learning that working for Orion would still offer the same payment, she felt content. This meant she could provide more for the orphanage.

"Big sister Chunhua, congratulations!" Wang Lingxin waved happily from the side.

"Thank you," Chunhua smiled back at Wang Lingxin.

Orion then explained Chunhua's job scope, do's and don'ts, and presented her with the contract. Chunhua put her name on it, even though she can't read or write, she still knows how to write her name. She also put her finger mark on the contract. After finishing, Orion informed Chunhua that she could start working tomorrow. For now, she could return home, and tomorrow she could head to the residence. Chunhua would be staying in the residence and needed to prepare first. Orion even gave her the first payment in advance, for which Chunhua was grateful. She thanked Orion profusely, feeling fortunate to have found a kind master.

Chunhua then left the main hall, with Wang Lingxin accompanying her as they chatted while walking. Before parting ways, Wang Lingxin congratulating Chunhua and introducing herself as Orion's disciple who had chosen her to be the maidservant. Chunhua bowed and thanked Wang Lingxin before leaving the Liu family residence.

Meanwhile, Orion remained in the main hall with Liu Mingzhen to settle some matters. After finishing their discussions, Orion excused itself. Walking out the Liu family residence with Liu Mingzhen and Wang Lingxin, Orion thanked Liu Mingzhen for his assistance before boarding the carriage with Wang Lingxin. They headed to the commercial district.

"Now, that one thing's done, but there's still more to do," Liu Mingzhen reflected. He had agreed to cooperate with Orion on various matters and knew there was more work ahead. Recruiting a maidservant was just the beginning. Liu Mingzhen typically delegated such tasks to his underlings, but because it involved Orion, he handled it personally. He even treated Chunhua and the other candidates with politeness, despite their status as commoners and a mere maidservant. Now that Chunhua was selected as Orion's maidservant, Liu Mingzhen didn't even dare to offend her and sought to build a good relationship instead.

"Back to work," Liu Mingzhen muttered as he watched Orion's carriage disappear into the busy streets.

Chapter 53: Creating the Secret Weapon to Dominate the Culinary World

For several days, Orion and Wang Lingxin explored the city, visiting various restaurants and shops. Wang Lingxin was thrilled, never having had this much fun before. Currently, they were having lunch after leaving an auction house, with a steaming bowl of noodles in front of Wang Lingxin.

"Hello... My name is Wang Lingxin... Now we are going to review the famous noodles from...," Wang Lingxin trailed off nervously.

"Stop," Orion interjected. "Why are you so nervous? Just do it like usual."

"Yes, Master. I will try," Wang Lingxin cleared her throat. "Hello... My name is Wang Lingxin... Now we are going to review the famous noodles from..." She hesitated again.

Well, this won't work, Orion thought internally.

Orion and Wang Lingxin had been visiting many places to eat and trying different foods. Orion asked Wang Lingxin to give her opinion about the food as she ate, which she did. Meanwhile, Orion recorded her.

Everything was going well until one day when Wang Lingxin asked Orion why she was being asked to review the food. Orion explained that it was recording her eating and reviewing the food. Orion also explained to Wang Lingxin about mukbang and food review videos.

Orion's AI easily created videos of mukbang and food review, using Wang Lingxin's face. Wang Lingxin was truly impressed to see someone who looked like her doing this "food review" thing. She asked Orion to create more videos like that and enjoyed watching them.

Now Wang Lingxin also wanted to do those mukbang like in the videos. However, she seemed nervous that she was being recorded, which was very different from before when she could naturally review food without worry.

"Let's try again. No need to be like in the videos I showed you. You can do it as you like, just like usual," Orion reassured her.

Finally, after several takes, Wang Lingxin finished the review and ate the noodles. They left the restaurant.

"Uh, Master, it's not easy to make food review videos. It's stressful," Wang Lingxin commented.

"Well, you'll get used to it later," Orion replied.

Orion decided to return and finish exploring the city for the day. They rode in the carriage back to the residence.

While in the carriage, Orion received new data from the Orbiter that was currently on its way to Asteroid-1. The Orbiter's camera picked up several long and large creatures swimming close to the ocean surface. Hm... dragons? Now it's confirmed that they exist, Orion thought internally as it analyzed the images taken by the Orbiter in detail.

Not long after, the carriage arrived at the residence.

"Welcome back, Master Orion. Welcome back, little Lingxin. How was the journey?" Chunhua opened the front gate and welcomed them.

"Big Sister Chunhua, I'm back! We visited lots of places today, and I tried many different foods," Wang Lingxin eagerly shared her experiences.

Wang Lingxin got along well with Chunhua, and she treated her not just as a maidservant but more like a big sister. Chunhua wanted to address Wang Lingxin as "Little Miss," but Wang Lingxin insisted that she keep calling her "Little Lingxin." Orion was very satisfied with Chunhua; she had vast and varied work experience and was kind to Wang Lingxin, and able to build a good relationship with her.

...

Very early in the morning, before the sun had risen, Chunhua already woke up. She tidied the bed, cleaned herself, and then dressed in her maidservant clothes.

After a few days of working in this residence, she found her master to be kind, despite his not being very talkative. He also seemed to enjoy conducting many weird experiments. The payment was generous; her master even gave her the first payment in advance. Chunhua used more than half of it and gave it to the orphanage where she had grown up.

The room where she stayed in the residence was very comfortable, unlike any she had ever had before. Although there were about six rooms for servants, apparently, she was the only one working as a servant. She wondered why her master didn't hire more servants.

Her daily routine involved waking up early and cooking for herself. She didn't need to cook for her master or Wang Lingxin as it was not required in the job contract. From what she heard, her master was a high-level cultivator, so it was normal for him not to need to eat. Wang Lingxin only ate food purchased from high-quality restaurants and stored in her master's storage ring.

Surprisingly, Chunhua found her job to be very easy. She did laundry for Wang Lingxin and kept the residence tidy. Her master even gave her a day off every week, which he called a "holiday." She wondered if it was okay for her to work like this. In her previous jobs as a maidservant, the workload was much heavier, and there were no holidays. Now, the work was light, the payment was good, she could cook any meal she wanted using any ingredients in the residence, and even have a day off.

Chunhua once raised the issue with her master, but he just shrugged it off, saying not to think too much about it and that everything was fine. Chunhua could only thank Orion and swore to work hard to repay her master's kindness, determined not to disappoint him.

...

In the Liu family residence in Yanjing City, the Liu family patriarch, Liu Ming, sat reading a scroll. Several scrolls and books were spread out on the table in front of him. An old man sat at another table, sipping tea. Liu Ming closed the scroll and placed his right hand on his chin, deep in thought.

"Father, it seems that Mr. Orion is a very careful person. Even when looking for a candidate for a maidservant, he is very strict," Liu Ming remarked after reading a report from Fengxian City sent by his brother, Liu Mingzhen.

Liu Xinyi set down his tea cup. "Of course, someone like him is not simple. Otherwise, how could he have reached where he is now? Cultivation also requires a bright mind to advance further and not be fooled by others," he said, reflecting on his own experiences.

"But I still don't understand the reasons why he seems to hide his strength and always stay low profile. He didn't even use his power when dealing with the Black Armor Crocodile. I wonder if he has some trouble with his cultivation, some kind of injury, or something else," Liu Ming pondered.

"There's no need to dwell on the reasons. He must have his own reasons. We don't need to pry about it. He's not someone we can afford to offend, understand?!" Liu Xinyi's tone was stern as he glared at his son.

"Understood," Liu Ming replied.

"Even if he has some troubles with his cultivation or other issues, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse. It would be easy for him to eliminate our Liu family. We should do our best to maintain a good relationship with him and establish friendly ties. If not, we should at least avoid becoming enemies," Liu Xinyi asserted.

"Um, Mingzhen also mentioned cooperation with Mr. Orion," Liu Ming added.

"Then we must do our best with it. As for the cooperation, it's fine for us to sacrifice a little and not focus solely on the benefits. As long as Mr. Orion is satisfied, understand?" Liu Xinyi concluded as he rose from his seat and left the room.

"Understood, Father. I will arrange it," Liu Ming affirmed.

Liu Xinyi made his way to his abode, intending to enter secluded cultivation. He sighed, burdened by the weight of his age and the slim chance of breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm. With his lifespan nearly exhausted, he feared the consequences of failure for the Liu family.

Liu family currently possesses a few Golden Core realm cultivators. The addition of a Nascent Soul cultivator could elevate them to new heights. However, losing even one Golden Core cultivator would be a significant blow.

Now, with the appearance of the enigmatic figure named Orion, the Liu family needed to tread carefully. While befriending him could bring benefits, offending him would spell disaster for the family. Liu Xinyi had much to worry about, and he could only hope to witness the Liu family's growth before his time came to an end.

...

Orion, Chunhua, and Wang Lingxin sat around a table in the kitchen of the residence. On the table, there were bowls, sacks of flour, jugs of water, and other tools, creating a slightly messy scene.

"Stop playing around with it and do it properly," Orion instructed.

"Yes, Master," Wang Lingxin replied, with some flour on her face. She stopped fooling around and began to work seriously with the dough. Having studied all morning, she was bored and tired, and played around with the dough to relax, after Orion's admonishment, she started seriously working with the dough.

Chunhua watched from the side, chuckling softly as she worked on her own dough.

Meanwhile, Orion also mixed the dough in front of it, wearing unique gloves made from slime skin to cover its metallic arm. Chunhua couldn't help but wonder why her master didn't remove his metallic armor, but she kept her curiosity to herself.

Previously, Orion was busy in the kitchen when Chunhua arrived and offered her help. Wang Lingxin joined them shortly after. Orion then explained the task to them.

Chunhua couldn't help but wonder why her master, who was supposed to be a high-level cultivator, was busy making dough. Wang Lingxin, on the other hand, was excited to see her master working on something related to food and eagerly offered her assistance, curious about what kind of food Orion would make.

Both listened carefully to Orion's instructions, mixing the wheat flour with water to make dough. After letting it rest for a while, Orion instructed them to wash the dough with water in the bowl and keep changing the water until it was clean.

Although Wang Lingxin and Chunhua were initially dumbfounded by the idea of washing dough, they followed Orion's instructions. After a while, they noticed the dough becoming smaller and rubbery, and Orion explained that it was called "gluten". Orion stored the dough called "gluten" in the storage ring before instructing them to make another one, apparently needing a lot of it, though not specifying its use.

Orion spent the rest of the day making "gluten" dough with Chunhua and Wang Lingxin's help, and they managed to produce a significant amount of gluten. After they finished, Wang Lingxin couldn't help but feel disappointed that her master still hadn't revealed the purpose of the dough. Because Wang Lingxin had been working with dough for hours, she craved buns. Orion retrieved steaming hot buns from the storage ring, and she ate lots of them during dinner.

As night fell and Wang Lingxin drifted off to sleep, Orion closed the book and rose from the table. Quietly, Orion checked on Wang Lingxin in bed, tucking her in before leaving for the adjacent room to begin the experiment with the gluten.

The ingredients, materials, and tools had already been prepared by the Liu family and delivered by Liu Jin, Orion very pleased with how fast Liu family work. Orion began preparing the tools and ingredients, retrieving them from the storage ring.

With Wang Lingxin's help, Orion roughly understood the culinary level of this world, and Orion had a secret weapon to gain an advantage over others. With it, Orion believed it could elevate the culinary level even further. And now, Orion was working to make that secret weapon. To create the secret weapon, Orion employs a hydrolysis reaction. The necessary ingredients include gluten, hydrochloric acid (HCl), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH).

The preparation and process were as follows: First, the gluten was obtained from wheat flour by mixing it with water. The mixture was then washed to remove the starch, leaving only the gluten behind. Chunhua demonstrated remarkable skill in producing gluten, followed by Orion, while Wang Lingxin, who was more preoccupied with playing around, only managed to produce a small amount.

Next, to create hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid was first produced by roasting sulfur-containing minerals, which results in the production of sulfur dioxide. This sulfur dioxide then reacts with oxygen in the air to form sulfur trioxide. The sulfur trioxide is then dissolved in water to make sulfuric acid. After that, table salt is mixed with sulfuric acid to produce hydrochloric acid. Orion asked the Liu family for help and provided them with scrolls containing the instructions to make sulfuric acid, leveraging their connections and manpower to easily acquire the necessary ingredients. Orion just needs to add the salt to complete the process, producing hydrochloric acid through the Mannheim process.

For lye (sodium hydroxide / NaOH), Orion enlisted the help of the Liu family to obtain trona. After acquiring trona, Orion processed it into Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate) and then used electrolysis to obtain sodium hydroxide.

After ensuring all the necessary ingredients were ready, the experiment began. Orion started by mixing the extracted wheat gluten with a solution of hydrochloric acid and water in a large pot. The hydrolysis process commenced, with hydrochloric acid breaking down the peptide bonds in the gluten proteins over time, releasing amino acids including glutamate.

Once hydrolysis was complete, Orion added lye (sodium hydroxide) to neutralize the pH, ensuring it was safe for consumption. The solution was then meticulously cleaned of any contaminants and residues before being concentrated by boiling off excess water, resulting in a concentrated glutamate solution.

For the final step, drying, using the sun would take too long, so Orion improvised by previously ordering a metallic box and inscribing it with inscription to generate heat. Additionally, a fan and a DC motor were installed for airflow, effectively transforming it into a drying oven. Orion put the concentrated glutamate solution into a bowl and placed it in the drying oven.

A few hours later, as dawn approached, a loud reverberating thunder boom echoed in the sky, surprising many, including Orion. People immediately checked the sky, but it remained dark, with no clouds obscuring the stars.

Orion opened the window to investigate, pondering internally, That's odd. Perhaps not natural thunder, but maybe some cultivator fighting? Hopefully, it won't lead to any trouble.

Orion then closed the window and checked the drying oven. After waiting for a few hours, it should have been done, but Orion was shocked by what it found. What the?! Orion thought internally, puzzled by the unexpected result.

Orion retrieved the bowl from the drying oven, finding white crystalline powder that glowed. Is there something wrong with the ingredients, the process, or is it caused by the uniqueness of this world? Orion wondered internally, examining the glowing substance.

Weird... Orion thought, deciding to repeat the experiment to understand this phenomenon.

Chapter 54: MSG (Mystical Savory Gourmet)

MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) is a flavor enhancer with a savory taste that intensifies the meaty, savory flavors of food, much like naturally occurring glutamate found in stews and meat soups. As the sodium salt of L-glutamic acid, an amino acid present in various foods such as tomatoes, cheese, and mushrooms, MSG is particularly noted for its ability to enhance the umami profile of dishes, especially in Asian cuisine from earth. And Orion has just created MSG in this cultivation world.

Orion held a bowl of freshly made MSG powder. This one is normal and not glowing, it noted, scrutinizing the powder. Unlike the previous batch, this MSG did not emit any glow.

Orion placed the bowl of MSG on the table beside the glowing one, analyzing the situation. Both are supposed to be MSG, yet one glows while the other doesn't. There have been no changes with the process and ingredients, but the results are different, Orion assessed.

Orion then conducted some experiments to test both batches of MSG. Afterward, Orion stored the glowing MSG in a ceramic bottle, followed by storing most of the normal MSG in another ceramic bottle, reserving a small amount in a separate smaller ceramic bottle. Orion tidied the room, stowing away tools, equipment, and ingredients in storage rings before quickly cleaning the room.

As it was time for Wang Lingxin's breakfast and she was already calling Orion via the tablet, Orion asked her to wait a moment. Once finished cleaning the room, Orion wirelessly controlled a small flag outside the second floor. The stepper motor whirred into action, raising the flag.

Immediately, Orion detected a radio signal belonging to Liu Jin approaching rapidly. In a flash, Liu Jin entered the room through the window, swiftly assuming a kneeling position in front of Orion, hands cupped in a respectful bow.

"Mr. Orion, is there something you need?" Liu Jin inquired.

"This is the seasoning that I talked about. Have your Liu family test it," Orion said, handing the smaller ceramic bottle containing normal MSG to Liu Jin.

Liu Jin received the bottle respectfully. "Understood," he replied, storing the ceramic bottle in his storage ring. "Is there anything else, Mr. Orion?" he asked.

"No, you can go," Orion responded.

With a cupped hand, Liu Jin immediately disappeared from the room through the window.

Hmm... just like a ninja, Orion mused internally as it left the room for the dining area, where Wang Lingxin had already been waiting.

"Master, what took you so long? I'm hungry," Wang Lingxin exclaimed.

"Sorry about that. So, you want porridge for breakfast?" Orion asked.

"Yes," Wang Lingxin replied with a smile and a nod, her stomach growling in agreement.

Orion retrieved a bowl of steaming porridge, which Wang Lingxin happily devoured. She had done some stretching and a light exercise routine earlier in the morning, becoming hungry and making the breakfast even more delicious and satisfying.

After finishing breakfast, Wang Lingxin returned to her room to begin her morning with study. She used her tablet, where her master taught her through animations and easy-to-digest information and explanations. On the tablet screen, there was even a small, cute version of her master, which her master called the "chibi" version. This miniature version acted as a teacher, providing guidance as her master taught her through this chibi version.

In a room within the Liu family residence in Fengxian City, three men gathered.

"What a waste... what a waste..." Liu Mingzhen sighed, sitting at the table holding his head with both arms.

"It can't be helped. What should we do with the rest of it?" asked Liu Yang, a middle-aged looking man and an elder of the Liu family at the 2nd stage of the Golden Core realm, standing nearby.

After a moment of quiet pondering, Liu Mingzhen spoke up. "Liu Jin, bring the report on the MSG to Mr. Orion and also inform him about the progress of the house construction," he instructed, sliding a scroll across the table.

"Understood," Liu Jin replied, bowing respectfully before disappearing.

"As for the rest of the MSG... Uncle Yang, deliver it to my father. Hopefully, it will help him break through to the Nascent Soul realm," Liu Mingzhen continued.

"Sure, I will depart immediately," Liu Yang affirmed.

"Uncle Yang, didn't your grandson just born recently? Use that as a cover to return to Yanjing City. Remember, the MSG is of utmost secrecy. Don't let others know about it," Liu Mingzhen cautioned.

"That's a good idea. And don't worry, I'll be extra careful. I understand the significance of this MSG. I'll stake my life on it," Liu Yang assured.

Liu Mingzhen then retrieved a ceramic bottle from his storage ring and handed it to Liu Yang. "Have a safe journey, Uncle Yang," he said with a serious expression.

"Don't worry, I'll be careful," Liu Yang replied, taking the ceramic bottle and storing it in his storage ring before promptly leaving the room through the window and flying back to Yanjing City.

Watching Liu Yang disappear into the distance, Liu Mingzhen muttered to himself, "Now it's time to tie up loose ends." With a snap of his fingers, three masked figures appeared, kneeling before him. "I don't want the secret about the MSG leaking out. Clean up anyone involved who can't be trusted. Understand?" Liu Mingzhen ordered. The three figures nodded, cupping their hands in acknowledgment before disappearing.

Sighing to himself, Liu Mingzhen muttered, "What a joke. Just a mere seasoning? It's a magical medicine. Mr. Orion really knows how to joke around," he mused, alone in the room.

Previously, Orion had mentioned wanting to cooperate with the Liu family, proposing various collaborations, some of which involved culinary ventures. One particularly unconventional idea was to establish a joint venture for a small restaurant specializing in fried chicken. Although the concept seemed bizarre to Liu Mingzhen, he considered that even if it failed, it wouldn't have a significant financial impact. Thus, he accepted the proposal.

In this arrangement, the Liu family would manage the business while Orion would provide cooking techniques and recipes. Additionally, Orion offered the Liu family a seasoning called MSG, which he claimed would enhance the flavor of food. The Liu family could incorporate the seasoning into their restaurant's menu items to enhance their flavor. Orion also asked the Liu family to consider selling the seasoning as a standalone product in their shops. Providing a sample of MSG, Orion instructed the Liu family to test it first.

Following Orion's instructions, the Liu family conducted tests, beginning with animals and then humans. They found no adverse effects, and after further examination by experienced physicians in the Liu family, it was deemed safe for consumption. Over several days of testing, they discovered that when consumed by cultivators, MSG nourished their meridians and improved Qi flow. Additionally, they found that food enhanced with MSG not only tasted better but also multiplied the benefits and effects of the food.

Reflecting on the process, Liu Mingzhen couldn't shake the regret and gut-wrenching wastefulness. He lamented wasting such a magical medicine, especially when considering the initial testing on animals and mortals. Initially, Orion had said that it was just a regular seasoning, leading Liu Mingzhen to treat the MSG as such. Little did he know that after testing it, MSG turned out to be a great medicine. Perhaps for a figure like Orion, such a great medicine was deemed trivial, just like any regular seasoning. He truly regretted blindly trusting Orion's explanation about the MSG. After discovering its profound benefits, he had only sampled a small amount. More than half of the MSG had already been used for testing and given to animals and mortals. The remaining amount was then sent to Yanjing City, hoping it could assist the Liu family ancestor in achieving a breakthrough.

In Orion's residence, Orion was busy experimenting with slimes. Butchering them, removing their innards, cleaning the skin, and hanging it to dry, Orion was deeply engrossed in the process. Suddenly, Liu Jin arrived to deliver a report and handed over a scroll containing information about the MSG.

Taking the scroll, Orion read through it with curiosity. A great medicine? Very beneficial for cultivators? Orion mused internally as it continued reading, pondering why the seemingly ordinary MSG had such remarkable effects.

"Is what's said in this scroll true?" Orion inquired.

"Of course, Mr. Orion. What's stated is indeed accurate. We wouldn't dare deceive you. I can personally attest to the beneficial effects of this MSG medicine," Liu Jin explained respectfully, fearing any misunderstanding. He was afraid that Orion might misunderstand and believe that the Liu family underestimated the MSG given to them.

Still perplexed by how ordinary MSG could possess such remarkable effects, Orion moved to the table, taking a seat to further study the report.

I see, so the MSG has such effects... Orion thought internally. And it can even multiply the benefits and effects of food and medicine pills? It was a mystery Orion couldn't quite comprehend and could only attribute to the uniqueness of this world.

According to the report, the tested MSG had no adverse effects and was safe for consumption by animals, mortals, and cultivators. The Liu family's expert physician had confirmed its safety. When consumed by cultivators, it nourished their meridians and improved Qi flow. When used in food, it enhanced the taste. Additionally, if food or medicine pills had beneficial effects, adding MSG amplified them. However, if the food or medicine pills were made from rare ingredients and had complex effects, the MSG's efficacy diminished, only providing a marginal enhancement.

So, there is a limit for the MSG, the more valuable the ingredient for food and medicine pills, the enhancement also decreases, Orion mused internally as it continued to read the scroll. After a while, Orion finished and rolled up the scroll.

"Have you tried it yourself?" Orion inquired.

"Just a little, and the effect is really great," Liu Jin replied.

Orion retrieved a small ceramic bottle containing MSG. "Here, continue with the test. Now, focus on long-term consumption to check for any side effects."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Orion. On behalf of the Liu family, I offer our greatest thanks," Liu Jin accepted the ceramic bottle with both hands and bowed deeply, genuinely happy to receive another bottle of the magical medicine.

Orion gave another bottle of MSG so that the Liu family could continue testing it. However, Orion wondered why Liu Jin appeared so happy about it. As for Liu Jin, he was pleased because he could obtain some of the MSG as a reward for bringing more MSG from Orion.

"Mr. Orion, my master agrees to cooperate regarding the MSG, and we can start immediately. Also, if I may ask, what is the name of the MSG? You said MSG is just its abbreviation," Liu Jin inquired.

"The name? It's Mystical Savory Gourmet," Orion replied, easily creating a name for the MSG to fit the cultivation world.

"Mystical Savory Gourmet," Liu Jin repeated. "A truly grand name."

"We will talk about our cooperation regarding MSG later. For now, focus on testing it first," Orion instructed. Now that the MSG is no longer just a mere seasoning but has become a kind of medicine with great effect, highly sought after by cultivators, all the previous plans need to change. Orion will have to make new plans accordingly.

"Understood," Liu Jin acknowledged. "Mr. Orion, I also came here to deliver a report on the progress of the house construction."

"How is it going?" Orion inquired.

Liu Jin then explained the progress. The construction had already started, situated about 12 km from Fengxian's outer wall. The house was located atop a hill in a rather remote area. Nearby, there was a small village surrounded by rice paddies and farm fields. Due to the remote location and the complex design of the house, it would take a while for it to be completed.

"That's all for now, then. I'll take my leave," Liu Jin said respectfully, cupping both hands.

"Make sure to keep the secret about MSG," Orion instructed, wanting to avoid any problems related to the MSG and not attract any attention for the time being.

"Don't worry, Mr. Orion. We know what to do," Liu Jin assured before bowing and disappearing.

It was midnight, and in the dimly lit room of the servant quarters in the Liu family residence in Fengxian, a man held a saucer containing a small amount of white powder. He was a servant who often assisted the physician, and he had managed to steal a small amount of a magical medicine being tested.

"Hehehe, if I sell this on the black market or to other factions in the city, along with the information about it, I'll be rich," the man chuckled to himself as he put the saucer on the table.

Stab!

Suddenly, a sword pierced his back, reaching his heart and penetrating through his chest, with part of the blade protruding from his chest, now covered in blood.

"Argh... who?!" the man coughed up blood as he struggled to turn his head, trying to catch a glimpse of his attacker. He attempted to grasp the blade lodged in his chest, but it was swiftly withdrawn by the assailant. Falling in pain and bleeding profusely, he slowly began to lose consciousness.

A masked figure dressed in dark clothing emerged from the shadows of the room, taking the saucer containing the white powder. As the masked figure disappeared, the candles in the room were extinguished.

Throughout the night, several more individuals were slain within the Liu family residence, yet by the next morning, everything seemed to return to normal, as if nothing had happened. As for the vanished individuals, the Liu family simply stated that they had returned to their own families or taken a long holiday.

Chapter 55: Requesting a Succubus

Orion sat motionless in front of Wang Lingxin at the table, with both arms crossed over its chest, observing her intently. Meanwhile, Orion's AI was also busy with background processes, multitasking on other tasks.

Wang Lingxin, visibly stressed and anxious, scribbled furiously with a brush on several sheets of paper. Occasionally, she glanced at the tablet in front of her, scratching her head in deep thought before returning to writing.

This went on for almost an hour, with silence enveloping the room.

"Time is almost up," Orion finally broke the silence.

"Oh no," Wang Lingxin muttered, increasing her pace, the stress evident in her movements.

"Okay, time is up. Stop writing and hand me the papers," Orion instructed after a few more minutes.

But Wang Lingxin didn't reply; she continued to write frantically, consumed by her task.

"I said time is up," Orion reiterated.

"No... there are still some questions I haven't answered. Master, can I have some extra time? Please?" Wang Lingxin pleaded, her eyes reflecting her desperation.

"Very well, just a little extra time," Orion conceded, unable to resist her puppy-dog eyes.

"Thank you, Master," Wang Lingxin said gratefully, returning to her writing. After a while, she let out a relieved sigh and wiped her forehead. "Master, I am done with the test," she announced, handing the papers to Orion.

"Okay, good job. I'll check them now," Orion replied, taking the papers and quickly capturing them with its camera. Its AI processed the answers in less than a second. Orion then placed the papers down.

"Master, how did I do?" Wang Lingxin asked anxiously, her hands clasped together.

"The result is..." Orion's voice trailed off, building pressure and suspense, causing Wang Lingxin to wait in anxious anticipation.

"You pass," Orion finally announced.

"Yay! That means I can get a reward and no extra study, right Master?" Wang Lingxin exclaimed eagerly.

"That's right. Now, you can choose your reward from the tablet," Orion confirmed.

Excitedly, Wang Lingxin reached for the tablet, her fingers hovering over the screen. "Wow, so many interesting stories," she murmured, scrolling through the options. She checked the preview images, read the descriptions, and even watched trailers.

"Master, I want this one," Wang Lingxin declared, finally making her choice and showing it to Orion.

"Little Red Riding Hood? Sure, you can watch it later during bedtime," Orion agreed, already having prepared the animation movies for Little Red Riding Hood, along with many others.

"Thank you, Master. Master, when will be the next test?" Wang Lingxin asked, her expression beaming with eagerness.

"You're looking forward to the next test?" Orion asked, surprised, as it thought Wang Lingxin didn't like tests.

"Yes, so I can get a reward. I can get more animation movies, right, Master?" Wang Lingxin replied, her enthusiasm evident.

"Absolutely. There are many more animation movies for you if you score well on the test. And if the score is really good, who knows, I may give you a special reward," Orion hinted. Internally, Orion thought, I'm sure she will like ice cream.

"A special reward?! What is it, Master?" Wang Lingxin asked, her curiosity piqued.

"You'll find out later if you score well. The next test will be next month, but remember, you need to finish the test on time. When the time is up, you must stop writing and hand in the papers," Orion reminded her.

"Well, writing with a brush is slow," Wang Lingxin complained.

"Then I'll make a better writing tool that writes faster," Orion promised.

"Great! Then I'll finish the test faster," Wang Lingxin said confidently, knowing that with a faster writing tool, she could complete her tasks more efficiently. "Master, can I go out now and play?" she asked eagerly.

"Of course," Orion replied, tidying up the table and clearing away the papers, brushes, and ink splatters while Wang Lingxin rushed out to play.

The monthly test served to assess Wang Lingxin's progress in her studies, covering a variety of subjects. Among these, language held the utmost importance as it was a high priority to teach Wang Lingxin how to read and write.

In addition to writing and reading, Orion also started teaching mathematics, delved slightly into geography, imparted common sense knowledge, and educated her on the do's and don'ts of daily life. Orion extended this guidance to include special protocols specific to the cultivation world, drawing upon the knowledge from Earth.

While this knowledge was considered fiction on Earth, in this cultivation world, it proved to be applicable. Orion found common tropes and plots similar to those from fictional stories from Earth. Now residing in this cultivation world, Orion slowly introduced Wang Lingxin step by step, teaching her how to navigate various situations, introducing her to basic, mainstream, and common character archetypes, and advising her on how to interact with them.

Orion also started teaching Wang Lingxin about cultivation, although only an introduction to cultivation and basic knowledge. Regarding instruction about cultivation itself, Orion was still undecided and continued researching and learning about it.

For now, Orion focused on teaching Wang Lingxin basic knowledge and introductory concepts. Orion also began instructing Wang Lingxin in physical exercises, starting with simple stretching and exercises.

Once the house was finished, there would be Physical Education (PE) sessions for Wang Lingxin to further enhance her physical abilities. Orion also planned to teach her martial arts.

The sun set in the west, casting an orange glow. Orion was busy in the kitchen, frying something, the sizzling sound audible in the dining area.

Chunhua was seated at the table in the dining area, fidgeting and not quite getting used to the idea that her master was cooking for her. Although her master had said only to ask her to taste the food, she still felt nervous and awkward.

Before long, Orion emerged from the kitchen carrying a plate with freshly fried chicken.

"Here you go," Orion said, laying the plate in front of Chunhua, along with a small bowl containing red sauce. "Be careful, it's still hot."

"Thank... thank you, Master. I will try it," Chunhua replied nervously, taking a chicken piece—there was a wing, breast, thigh, and leg on the plate. She blew on it a bit before taking a bite. After a while, she exclaimed excitedly, "Master, it's super good and delicious!"

"Is that so? Anything else?" Orion asked.

"It's so good and delicious. Master, your fried chicken is the most delicious food I've ever tasted," Chunhua continued, recalling the first time her master asked her to taste the fried chicken.

It was so delicious that she unknowingly let out a moan, feeling embarrassed as her face turned red. Since then, her master had asked her to taste it again every day, apparently still unsatisfied and trying to further improve it, even though she thought it was already good enough.

"Thank you," Orion replied, rather disappointed. Internally, Orion thought, As expected, it won't work. Asking her opinion is useless. I will ask Wang Lingxin later.

Orion had been experimenting with the fried chicken for several days, trying to improve it. Orion asked Chunhua to test and give her feedback about the fried chicken, but she always only said it was good, great, and the like.

As night fell, Wang Lingxin sat in the dining area, eating the fried chicken slowly and in a refined manner. She also dipped the fried chicken in the sauce before taking a bite, and after finishing, wiped her mouth and hands and cleared her throat. Orion watched her from the opposite side of the table.

"This fried chicken is really yummy! The outside is all crispy, and when you bite into it, the meat inside is super soft. And the best part is, the flavor goes all the way through the meat, making it taste so good," Wang Lingxin commented, looking seriously towards Orion. Then, after a moment of silence, she added, "How was it, Master? How is my review and acting?"

"It's good. You can watch the video later. So, do you really like this version of the fried chicken?" Orion inquired.

"It's divine! It's far better than the one from yesterday. Master, we can sell this fried chicken. I'm sure lots of people will love it," Wang Lingxin exclaimed.

Oh, divine? Orion mused internally, surprised by Wang Lingxin's description of the food. It was the first time she described food as such. Then I will use this version, Orion decided, already planning to share the recipe with the Liu family.

In cooperation with them, Orion would provide the seasoning and seasoned flour for the fried chicken, while the Liu family would be responsible for running the restaurant.

"Master, give me more chicken, I also want rice," Wang Lingxin requested. Now that she had finished recording the food review, she could eat without worry and just like usual, without the need for acting.

"Sure, there you go," Orion replied, retrieving more fried chicken and rice from the storage ring.

Wang Lingxin then ate happily, energetically giving her commentary on the food. Orion silently recorded her, preferring this natural version of Wang Lingxin's food reviews over her previous ones, which imitated Earth's food review videos.

Late at night, with Wang Lingxin and Chunhua already asleep in their own rooms, Orion left the house, closing the door behind it, and made its way to the front gate. A figure in a mask and black clothing emerged behind Orion, silently following it.

"I will be out for a while. Guard the residence," Orion instructed.

"Understood," Liu Jin replied.

"Also, tomorrow I will visit the Liu family residence," Orion added before opening the front gate.

"Have a safe trip, Mr. Orion," Liu Jin said, cupping his hand and bowing.

Orion closed the front gate behind it and boarded the waiting carriage, the carriage then departed under the cover of dark night.

"It seems that someone like Mr. Orion still needs to wind up and have some fun," Liu Jin remarked with a knowing smile. He then jumped onto the roof and began his guard duty, lying down while watching the night sky dotted with stars.

A cold night breeze blew, it seems that I will be accompanied by another cold night, while Mr. Orion has fun and is embraced in warmth, sigh... Liu Jin thought to himself. It's been like this for the past few days.

The carriage traveled through the city, heading towards an area that remained lively even at night—the pleasure district. As the carriage approached a specific building, Orion disembarked and instructed the carriage driver to return, indicating that his job for the day was done. With that, the carriage departed, and Orion entered the building amidst the bustling stream of people.

There was a special reason for Orion's visit to this particular building. Through its explorations of the city with Wang Lingxin, Orion had gathered a wealth of information not only about food but also about various other aspects of the city.

Orion had gained insights into the power distribution and cultivation levels of cultivators in the city. Utilizing its advanced multi-band phased array antenna, Orion easily discerned the cultivation levels of cultivators by detecting the radio signals they emitted.

Among them, the strongest detected was at the Nascent Soul realm. Additionally, there were quite a lot of cultivators at the Golden Core realm. Orion had also gathered information about the different races residing in the city and encountered various races during exploration with Wang Lingxin.

One particular race that had piqued Orion's interest was the succubus. They were not common in the city, with most of them concentrated in the pleasure district. Orion had been visiting this place for several days now, booking luxurious private rooms each time. However, Orion only requested the company of normal human girls and solely enjoyed their dancing and singing performances.

This was to establish an image and gather some information first; meeting a succubus wasn't easy, and requesting one would also cost a lot. Thus, Orion's initial intention was to portray an image of someone with a background and plenty of spirit stones.

Today, however, Orion decided to request a succubus.

As Orion entered the establishment, a beautiful girl approached it with a warm smile. "Mr. Orion, welcome. Shall I bring you to the usual room?" she asked, her voice melodic and inviting. Orion nodded in acknowledgment, following her lead.

With graceful steps, the girl led Orion up to the third floor and into a lavishly decorated room. "Mr. Orion, which girls would you like to accompany you tonight?" she inquired, her smile taking on a seductive charm.

"Hmm... could I request Ying Hua? Is she available?" Orion replied.

"Yes, please wait a moment. She will come soon," the girl said before leaving to call for Ying Hua.

Orion waited in the room, settling onto a long, luxurious sofa as it surveyed its surroundings while anticipating Ying Hua's arrival. With three succubi in the establishment, Orion had chosen Ying Hua based on the information it had managed to gather. Known for being approachable and warm, she seemed the ideal candidate for extracting information.

Before long, a female figure entered the room with a seductive sway in her steps, closing the door behind her. She was dressed in a beautiful dress adorned with numerous openings and revealing cuts, some parts slightly transparent, allowing glimpses of her tantalizing curves. Her appearance was captivating, exuding sensuality from every curve.

Taller than the average human girl, she possessed long, silky hair and a generously endowed figure that seemed almost too perfect. With the right amount of curves in all the right places, she exuded an undeniable allure, her movements fluid and enticing.

"Greetings, Mr. Orion. My name is Ying Hua, and I will accompany you for the night. Let's have lots of fun," Ying Hua said with a warm smile, her ample assets swaying as she bowed, not escaping Orion's camera's notice.