Chapter 28 - 56-61

Chapter 56: Cultivation World It's Not All Sunshine and Roses

Ying Hua then approached Orion boldly, striding over and seating herself on Orion's lap. She wrapped her arms around Orion's body, getting close as she rested her head on Orion's shoulder, pressing her ample assets against its metallic body.

"Mr. Orion, you can have me for the whole night. You can do whatever you want to me. Should we start?" she said with a mischievous and seductive smile.

"I've heard great things about you," Orion remarked.

"Oh yeah? About what? How great I serve my customers?" Ying Hua whispered to Orion.

"About how nice of a person you are, how warm and approachable you are to talk to," Orion replied.

"Ara ara, Mr. Orion, you are quite the flatterer. Are you perhaps not just wanting to have fun with me but trying to seduce me? Steal my heart, perhaps?" Ying Hua said with a playful smile, still latched onto Orion.

Orion turned its head to look at her. She really knows how to seduce people, Orion thought internally. "Why don't we start with getting to know each other first? I'd love to know more about you" Orion suggested.

"Know more about me? Why? Perhaps you have fallen head over heels for me?" Ying Hua remarked, smirking.

"Mmm... no," Orion replied.

"Mr. Orion, are you perhaps nervous?" Ying Hua teased.

"Why would I be?" Orion replied.

"Why don't you start touching me?" Ying Hua suggested.

"There's no need to hurry," Orion said calmly.

Suddenly, something slithered onto Orion's back, moving up and gently wrapping around Orion's neck before the tip caressed its face. Oh, a tail?Orion thought to itself.

Succubi have horns, wings, and tail, and they can freely hide or show them. It was Orion's first time seeing a succubus tail.

"Don't worry, you don't need to be afraid. I won't bite," Ying Hua whispered slowly to Orion, then planted a kiss on its helmet. 

Orion then lifted Ying Hua with both arms and positioned her to sit on its lap, facing it.

Seeing Orion finally make a move, Ying Hua licked her lips and smiled. She hugged Orion's head tight, pressing her ample assets against it, burying it in the softness. "Kyaaa..." she exclaimed with delight.

Orion pushed her away a little, freeing its head from the embrace of the softness. Then, Orion flicked Ying Hua's forehead with its finger, not too strong nor too weak.

Smack!

"Oww..." Ying Hua held her forehead with both arms. "Mr. Orion, that hurt. You're bad," she pouted. "Or perhaps you like that kind of play? Fine, let's do it," she said with a mischievous smile.

"Listen, I'm a traveler from a distant place, and it's my first time meeting a succubus. I'd love to learn more about you and your race. So, can you stop playing around and tell me about yourself and the succubus race?" Orion requested, having positioned Ying Hua in front of it to ask the questions. However, Orion's camera suddenly captured nothing but a white mound of flesh, prompting Orion to give Ying Hua a little punishment.

"Oh, like that? Don't you want to have fun?" Ying Hua queried.

"We can still do that later; the night is still young," Orion replied.

"Hmm... that's right. Then what do you want to know?" Ying Hua asked.

"Let's start with yourself," Orion suggested.

Ying Hua then began talking about herself, providing information while Orion noted and recorded the details. Unfortunately, the information seemed trivial and unimportant.

"Can you also tell me about the other succubi in this place?" Orion inquired.

"What? Mr. Orion, are you perhaps not satisfied with me and want another succubus?" Ying Hua questioned.

"You are good, beautiful, and nice. I am not dissatisfied with you, but can't I know about the other succubi? Am I not the customer? Can't I choose the succubus I want? Am I not allowed to choose the best succubus in this place? Or are you claiming to be the best among the other two?" Orion countered.

"Of course, I am the best succubus in this place, even in this city. The others can't compare to me," Ying Hua boasted smugly.

"Fine, you are the best in the city, but still, tell me about the other succubi in this place and in the city," Orion insisted.

"Hmph! Very well," Ying Hua replied grudgingly, then began her explanation. Orion listened attentively, noting the information she provided.

"Well, I guess that's all I can tell you. Is there anything else you want to ask?" Ying Hua inquired.

"That's enough, thank you," Orion responded.

Orion gazed at Ying Hua seated on its lap, and behind a pair of white mounds, Orion noticed a beautiful necklace. Pushing her back slightly for a better view, Orion observed the necklace closely. It appeared exquisite, but Orion knew its true nature; the beautiful accessory was actually a sinister tool.

According to the information Orion had gathered, it resembled a slave collar, meticulously designed to enhance the succubus's beauty while serving its dark purpose. Imbued with inscriptions, the necklace granted the master the power to inflict pain or even end the wearer's life. Once worn, the wearer couldn't remove the necklace, as only the master held that authority. Attempting to remove it forcefully would result in the wearer's death.

Orion then touched the necklace, remarking, "What a pity. Such a beauty, but chained like a little bird in a cage, never to learn to fly and explore the vast sky."

Ying Hua's expression shifted abruptly, her smile vanishing as she turned sad and cold, as if Orion's words had pierced her sensitive emotions. Meanwhile, Orion continued to scrutinize the necklace closely, zooming in with its camera to examine it in detail.

"It's our curse as succubi, we have no freedom, our fate is in the hands of others," Ying Hua lamented.

"Perhaps not. What if I could give you freedom?" Orion said, releasing the necklace and turning its attention towards Ying Hua.

Ying Hua fell silent for a moment before chuckling softly. "That would be great, but such a thing... there's no need. Freedom is not something I dare to dream of. Let's just have some fun... Should we move to the bed, or do it here?" she proposed, misunderstanding Orion's offer as an attempt to buy her from her current master. To her, it didn't make much difference; she would still be owned, just by a different master.

"Mr. Orion, why don't you remove your helmet and armor? I can make men happy as if they've ascended to heaven. I will make sure to satisfy you, and you won't be able to forget about me," Ying Hua proposed.

"Well, I doubt that," Orion replied.

"You're challenging me? Fine, let's do it," Ying Hua said, licking her lips.

"..."

"..."

"Ah..."

"Mr. Orion... Kyaa..."

"Aahh... Not... not there... Mr. Orion... Ah... so good... Ah~"

"Don't stop... keep going... ah... yes... mmhh... Ah~"

"..."

"..."

After hours of lewd moaning sounds echoing through the room, Orion eventually opened the door and left. Having subdued Ying Hua, it utilized its metallic palm and fingers to administer a massage and Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS). Ying Hua had never experienced such a satisfying massage before; Orion's technique proved to be exceptional.

The sensation of electricity was a completely new experience for her, leaving her unable to stop moaning in pleasure. Orion's cold, hard metallic fingers were just right for her, not causing any discomfort for a cultivator like her. All the stress, fatigue, and stiffness, especially in her shoulders disappeared entirely.

As Orion walked out of the room, Ying Hua's figure could be seen from the open door, lying on the sofa with messy clothes. Her eyes half-opened, she continued to pant lightly. Slowly turning her body, she looked towards Orion's departing figure.

"Please come again," she said with a satisfied look on her face, despite the session ending up being just a massage. Initially, she had taken the initiative to "attack" Orion, but to her surprise, he overpowered her and began massaging her instead.

Orion simply raised its hand in acknowledgment as it kept walking, not bothering to turn back.

That was really something, Orion thought internally as it retrieved a piece of cloth from the storage ring and wiped its face. There were lots of kiss marks on the glass, affecting the camera behind it. If Liu Jian was here, he would surely have a nosebleed and his face would glow red.

Ying Hua's offensive was rather fierce, prompting Orion to counterattack and take control of the situation. Orion decided to massage her instead because it was unable to fulfill Ying Hua's intentions.

Orion left the building after settling the payment, then walked back to the residence. It was still very early in the morning, dark and cold, with the streets empty.

The succubus are good candidates. For now, I will gather more information about them. As for Ying Hua, at least she still has a fire within her that blazes with the desire for freedom, even if it's small, Orion thought internally as it walked. Currently, Orion still lacks what is needed to begin recruiting the succubus race. Orion also considers that it still doesn't have enough strength to guarantee its own safety in this world, let alone protecting the succubus race.

It's not easy to start industrialization, Orion thought internally. To execute many of its plans, Orion required various things, including money, resources, and manpower. Orion had been searching for trustworthy individuals for a while, and one particular race that caught its attention was the succubus race.

Succubi were the most oppressed race in this world, lacking a place they could call home and unable to roam freely due to the constant threat of capture. In a world where cultivators could commit terrible acts for various reasons, succubi, with their captivating beauty and seductive bodies, often fell victim to exploitation, becoming slaves. Only succubi with sufficient strength could navigate the world freely.

The kingdom has banned slavery, but this primarily applies to mortals, as the kingdom cannot effectively enforce its laws in the cultivation world, because the kingdom is just a small fish in a small pond. Even within the kingdom, those with significant power and backing simply disregard the kingdom's rules, while the kingdom itself often turns a blind eye.

Cultivation world it's not all sunshine and roses.

Orion needs a lot of manpower. Orion had calculated the possibility of bringing the entire succubus race under its wing, providing protection, and, in exchange, Orion will ask them to work for it, but not as slaves. As for manpower, Orion needed individuals willing to relocate to remote wilderness locations, which would also be ideal for the succubi to avoid persecution and oppression. If Orion were able to bring the entire succubus race under its wing and have them grateful to it, Orion is confident that the succubi would be able to keep secrets and stay loyal.

Orion was also seeking mortals for manpower, particularly those who had nowhere else to go, lacked affiliations and ties with others and were in some kind of trouble. Loyalty and the ability to keep secrets were essential qualities Orion sought in these individuals, and people in such circumstances were very likely to be more loyal to Orion if it could help them.

Orion planned to build a new society formed by people who worked for it, completely isolated from the rest of the world to maintain secrecy. However, the candidates for such people were scarce, and Orion had not yet found suitable individuals.

After walking for a while, Orion arrived at the residence, opened the front gate, and entered. Liu Jin immediately appeared in front of Orion. "Welcome, Mr. Orion," Liu Jin said, bowing with cupped hands.

"Mmm... you can go back," Orion replied, handing Liu Jin a piece of paper. "Also, can you get me these items?"

Liu Jin took the paper and glanced over it. Several types of slave collars? What does Mr. Orion want to do with them? he wondered internally. "It's easy, I'll arrange it immediately," he assured Orion before his figure disappeared, leaping off into the distance.

Now, I just need to wait for Wang Lingxin to wake up, Orion thought internally. It was still dark, with about one more hour until the sun rose.

I've been going out during the night for several days, leaving Wang Lingxin behind, but it's not like I want to have fun secretly. It was an important information-gathering mission, Orion reflected internally. Moreover, I can't bring her to that kind of place.

Usually, Orion spent the night in the same room as Wang Lingxin, while she slept, Orion kept busy with something.

Chapter 57: Supreme Fried Chicken

Done, Orion thought internally as it held the finished collar, checking it carefully.

Orion attempted to replicate a similar inscription from the slave collar Liu Jin had brought; he brought several types of slave collars. The Liu family had several types of slave collars in their storage, but unfortunately, they didn't possess any as exquisite or luxurious as the one worn by Ying Hua; they only had low-quality and slightly better ones.

While waiting for the sun to rise and for Wang Lingxin to wake up, Orion used the time to research about the slave collar. Starting with the simple ones made from steel, these collars could be broken rather easily. The problem lay with the inscription; when the collar was forcibly removed or broken, the inscription would activate with varied effects. Some collars were imbued with inscriptions that would electrocute the wearer, some would explode, and some would poison. Orion needed to figure out how to neutralize them safely without harming the wearer.

There wasn't much progress regarding neutralizing the slave collars, but Orion had made some headway with copying the inscriptions and could now create slave collars by replicating the real ones. By using a simple steel collar and adding inscriptions, the collar became a slave collar that is difficult to remove, and attempting to remove it forcefully would activate the inscription.

Additionally, Orion was able to improve them by optimizing the inscriptions, or if Orion used the O# inscription, the effect would be far greater. Orion already had a basic understanding of the principles and workings of the slave collar, having created them on its own.

The research would continue further, with several possibilities that needed to be tried.

One possibility was overriding the inscription by inscribing a new one on the slave collar, which would forcefully drain the hidden small spirit stone acting like a battery. If the spirit stone was drained, even if the collar was forcefully broken, the dangerous inscription wouldn't activate as there would be no Qi from the spirit stone to power it.

The inscription used on low-quality the slave collar wasn't high level or complex; there were lots of points in the inscription that could be broken or forcibly imbued with another inscription. However, for the one worn by Ying Hua, it was more complicated and slightly more complex as Orion's AI had been analyzing the weaknesses of the inscription all this time and still hadn't found a solution. Although it found several weaknesses and possible exploits, Orion was still working on implementing a strategy to exploit them.

Rustling emanated from the bed as Wang Lingxin stirred. "Hoam," she yawned, rubbing her eyes as she gradually woke up. After a moment, she rose from the bed and turned towards the table in the middle of the room, where she spotted her master, busy as usual.

"Master, where did you go last night?" Wang Lingxin pouted; her tone tinged with curiosity.

Orion turned towards her. "Oh, you noticed I've been leaving?" it remarked casually.

"Of course, you've been disappearing every night for the past few days, leaving me behind," Wang Lingxin complained.

"I was attending to something important in the city," Orion explained.

"Why didn't you bring me along?" Wang Lingxin inquired.

"I didn't want to disturb your sleep, and besides, children aren't allowed in the place I visited," Orion replied.

"Really?" Wang Lingxin still gazed at Orion skeptically. "You're not having fun secretly without me, right?" Wang Lingxin added, a hint of suspicion in her tone.

"Of course not," Orion assured her. "Anyway, get prepared. I will need your help."

"What? Really? Master, you need my help? What can I help you with, Master?" Wang Lingxin's mood shifted from doubt to happiness. She forgot about how Orion had left her, simply happy that her master had asked for her help and that she could assist him.

"Then get prepared. We will be going to the Liu family," Orion stated.

In the Liu family residence in Fengxian, Liu Mingzhen sat in his workroom, surrounded by various papers and scrolls scattered across the table. He held a small ceramic bottle, occasionally smiling as he examined it.

A knock sounded at the door, and after Liu Mingzhen gave permission, an old man entered. This man was the steward highly trusted by Liu Mingzhen, despite only being at the 2nd stage of the Qi Condensation realm. He excelled at managing business and finance, and Liu Mingzhen often sought his advice on such matters. Despite his stewardship position, Liu Mingzhen held great respect for him.

"Ah, Uncle Wang, please, have a seat," Liu Mingzhen invited.

"Greetings, Master," Liu Wang responded respectfully as he took a seat. "Master, you still haven't used the MSG?" Liu Wang inquired.

"Hehe, of course. This MSG is very valuable. If I want to use it, I must pair it with food made from high-quality ingredients to maximize the benefits," Liu Mingzhen remarked.

When Liu Jin brought another small bottle of MSG from Orion, Liu Mingzhen was delighted. He decided to reward Liu Jin with a little of it for bringing more from Orion. Liu Jin also mentioned that the MSG was to be used for testing to check its long-term effects. Liu Mingzhen then righteously claimed that he would volunteer as the guinea pig and was willing to test the MSG himself.

Actually, Liu Mingzhen simply wanted to keep the MSG for himself. Liu Jin, Liu Wang, and the other elders knew this but could only accept. Even Liu Wang, Liu Jin, and the other elders were also willing to become guinea pigs and test subjects for the MSG, but alas, Liu Mingzhen claimed the MSG for himself.

"Uncle Wang, how are the preparations for the fried chicken restaurant?" Liu Mingzhen inquired.

"Everything has been arranged, but still, Master, I think it's a really bad idea," Liu Wang expressed his concern.

"What's the matter? Please, speak your mind," Liu Mingzhen encouraged.

"There are several issues I see. First, the restaurant itself. Mr. Orion wants a simple and small stall rather than a big building. Won't this affect our Liu family's reputation? With only fried chicken on the menu, how can the restaurant attract many customers? And how great will the fried chicken be? There are already many fried chicken options in the city, even in our own restaurants, and they are quite popular. Why does Mr. Orion want the new restaurant to only sell fried chicken? Can it even compete? I worry that the restaurant won't turn a profit and will only incur losses," Liu Wang explained his concerns.

"Well, it's fine. As long as we can keep Mr. Orion happy, even if the restaurant fails, it won't cost us much," Liu Mingzhen assured.

The new restaurant is just a small-scale business. The Liu family also owns several large restaurants that generate significant income. Additionally, the Liu family is involved in other major business ventures. As a result, any losses incurred by this small business venture won't have a significant impact on the Liu family's overall financial standing. Therefore, Liu Mingzhen isn't worried about potential losses from the new restaurant.

"Sigh, I really don't understand what a high-level cultivator like Mr. Orion is doing. Why would he be interested in a small restaurant business? Is it just a hobby? As for the MSG business, it's very promising and has the potential to bring in significant income. But fried chicken? Sigh..." Liu Wang sighed in frustration.

"Mr. Orion will come today to discuss our business cooperation further. There are things that can and can't be said. Mr. Orion is very important to our Liu family, so Uncle Wang, please be careful with your words," Liu Mingzhen cautioned.

"Don't worry, Master. I understand," Liu Wang reassured.

After Wang Lingxin got prepared and had breakfast, Orion and Wang Lingxin left the residence and headed to the Liu family residence. Upon arrival, the servants respectfully welcomed them and led them inside.

"I'll be having some talk with Mr. Mingzhen first. Maybe it will take a while. You can come, or you can wait outside and play," Orion said as they walked.

"Hmm... then I will be waiting in the flower garden," Wang Lingxin replied, not wanting to join the potentially boring discussion of adults and preferring to play. "So, what help do you need from me, Master?" she asked.

"You'll know later. I'll finish the discussion with Mr. Mingzhen first," Orion replied.

"Okay," Wang Lingxin said as a servant led her to the flower garden.

"Don't cause trouble, okay?" Orion reminded her.

"Okay, Master, don't worry," Wang Lingxin reassured him.

Meanwhile, a servant brought Orion to Liu Mingzhen's workroom. After a bit of pleasantries, Liu Mingzhen introduced his steward, Liu Wang.

"Mr. Orion, this is my steward, Liu Wang. He is an expert in business and finance. He will be the one managing the restaurant," Liu Mingzhen introduced.

"Greetings, Mr. Liu Wang," Orion greeted with a cupped hand.

"Greetings, Mr. Orion. You are too polite. I am just nobody. Just call me Liu Wang," Liu Wang replied, also cupping his hands.

After a little more pleasantries, they began to discuss the restaurant. Liu Wang handed Orion a scroll containing the plan and details for the restaurant. After a quick glance, Orion was satisfied and agreed with the proposal.

"So, this is the fried chicken that will be on the menu," Orion remarked as it retrieved a plate full of fried chicken, still hot. Finally, Orion had the fried chicken that Wang Lingxin had approved after experimenting with the recipe for days.

"Oh, so this is the fried chicken?" Liu Mingzhen questioned. Internally, he mused, Just chicken meat covered in some flour and then fried? Feeling somewhat disappointed, he pondered over the simplicity of the dish.

"Please, try them," Orion offered.

"Um, okay," Liu Mingzhen replied.

"Just grab them and eat, no need for chopsticks," Orion suggested.

"Then, excuse me," Liu Mingzhen said, reaching for a chicken drumstick and taking a bite. Liu Wang also grabbed a piece and began eating.

Crunch

Liu Mingzhen and Liu Wang's eyes widened in surprise at the deliciousness of the fried chicken. The exterior was crunchy, the meat was soft and juicy, and the seasoning had seeped deep into the meat. As they chewed, the combination of the crunchy coating, the tender meat, and the flavorful seasoning delighted their tongue.

Gulp

"Ah~...." Liu Mingzhen and Liu Wang both made satisfied noises, continuing to eat while savoring every bite until only clean bones remained.

"This fried chicken is really impressive, Mr. Orion. Its taste is so good, I'm sure the restaurant will be a success!" Liu Mingzhen praised.

"Thank you. Hopefully, the restaurant will indeed be a success," Orion responded.

Meanwhile, Liu Wang remained quiet as if lost in thought, all the while still sucking on the already clean chicken bone. Liu Mingzhen felt embarrassed by Liu Wang's behavior and was itching to scold him.

"Ahem," Liu Mingzhen cleared his throat, pretending to be composed.

Liu Wang, noticing the attention on him, spoke up. "Ah, please forgive me. I was thinking about something." Liu Wang said, appearing embarrassed. "Mr. Orion, I think we need to modify the previous plan for the restaurant," Liu Wang suggested.

"What do you mean exactly?!" Liu Mingzhen was surprised by Liu Wang's sudden desire to change the plan, especially since Orion had already agreed to it.

"Let's hear about it," Orion replied, open to discussion.

"I think we can increase the price further and make the restaurant more luxurious to match the taste of the menu. Previously, we aimed for regular folks, but I think we can target richer people as customers, after all, the fried chicken is so good and unique." Liu Wang suggested.

"Will it be fine to increase the price? What if there are only a few customers?" Liu Mingzhen raised a concern. And didn't you previously feel skeptical about Mr. Orion's fried chicken? Look at you now, praising it, Liu Mingzhen thought to himself.

"The problem is to let people know about the taste. Once they know, I am sure they won't complain about the price," Liu Wang reassured.

The three then continued their discussion, finally agreeing to modify the plan. The restaurant would be slightly bigger, grander, and more luxurious, and the prices for the fried chicken would be raised. In the first month of opening, there would be promotions and discounts to attract customers.

"Mr. Orion's plan for a smaller restaurant spread throughout the city is really good. I never thought of such an idea before," Liu Wang agreed after hearing Orion's plan.

For Liu Wang, Orion's idea is truly unconventional. Usually, they make the restaurant very big to accommodate the city's people, but using many smaller ones could indeed make it easier for people, as they don't need to walk far to reach the restaurant. Although it will be less grand than a single big restaurant, Orion prefers practicality over prestige and reputation.

"If the restaurant is successful, which is very likely, we will open more restaurants throughout the city. Later, we will also start the expansion and build in Yanjing City. I will let my brother handle the restaurant in Yanjing City," Liu Wang explained.

Liu Wang's brother, Liu Wei, was also a highly trusted steward of the Liu family and he is currently in Yanjing City.

"That sounds good," Orion agreed, while Liu Mingzhen nodded in agreement.

The discussion about the fried chicken finished, the name for the restaurant also been decided which is Supreme Fried Chicken. The discussion then shifted to the MSG. It was agreed not to reveal information about the MSG yet. Instead, another restaurant would be built—a luxurious and grand establishment specialized for cultivators. The food would be added with MSG to enhance its effects and taste. Liu Wang skillfully come up with the plan, and the three agreed.

After finishing the discussion regarding their cooperation, it was time for Orion to teach the chefs how to make the fried chicken. Orion headed to the kitchen where the Liu family's trusted chefs were waiting. Orion let the chefs taste the fried chicken, which impressed them. Then, Orion began teaching them.

After a while, the best-finished fried chicken was served on a plate, with a bowl of red sauce placed beside it on the table. Wang Lingxin, seated at the table, scrutinized the fried chicken while the chefs stood nervously at the side, surprised that it was a kid who would judge the fried chicken and not Orion.

Wang Lingxin then took a piece and began to eat. After finishing, she wiped her mouth with a piece of cloth and put on a serious expression. She started giving her appraisal, her detailed and professional critique surprising the chefs with its depth. Although the fried chicken was good, it still fell short compared to Orion's. Wang Lingxin pointed out various flaws and areas for improvement.

The chefs were left stunned, their jaws dropping at the unexpected expertise of this young girl. To think that someone her age could deliver such a professional critique was astonishing. It became evident that there were still many aspects they needed to refine and perfect.

Orion observed silently from the side, impressed by how much Wang Lingxin had learned from the food review videos it had created. Liu Mingzhen was equally impressed, seeing how Wang Lingxin, despite her youth, had become an expert at judging food in such a short time with Orion. It made him wonder how far she could go in the future, especially once Orion began teaching her on the path of cultivation.

The Supreme Fried Chicken business is just a small enterprise, and even if it turns a profit, it will still be modest and not sufficient to advance Orion's plans. However, if it succeeds and expands widely with more restaurants, the profits will increase. Orion has agreed with the Liu family regarding the Supreme Fried Chicken business and allowed them to handle marketing in Yanjing City, Fengxiang City, and the surrounding areas. Orion also plans to cooperate with other people in other locations; the Supreme Fried Chicken partnership is not exclusively tied to the Liu family.

Orion has already been contemplating the secret society it intends to establish. It will have a large population, with not all individuals directly involved in Orion's future projects. Skilled workers will be required for the projects, while unskilled individuals can contribute in other ways. Some will need to support the population itself, engaging in tasks like labor and farming, while the Supreme Fried Chicken business and MSG will also play a part in the economy and society. Additionally, Orion is already preparing for other businesses, like blacksmithing, but that will still need to wait until after the house is completed.

Only when almost sunset did Orion and Wang Lingxin leave the Liu family residence.

"Master, will you need my help again tomorrow to taste the fried chicken?" asked Wang Lingxin.

"Yes, will you help me?" inquired Orion.

"Of course, I will help you. I will do my best in tasting the fried chicken," replied Wang Lingxin, happy because her master needed her help.

"Thank you, you're doing a great job," responded Orion.

"Hehehe," chuckled Wang Lingxin, smiling, pleased to receive praise.

Orion and Wang Lingxin rode in a horse carriage back to the residence.

Chapter 58: An Artificial Dantian and Meridian System?

The next day, Orion and Wang Lingxin returned to the Liu family residence. Orion met with Liu Mingzhen to continue their discussions about their joint business. Mingzhen proposed the idea of also selling fried chicken in the new restaurant specialized for cultivators and adding MSG to the fried chicken.

However, the fried chicken would be made from a special ingredient: chicken Spirit Beasts. Orion agreed, allowing the Liu family to experiment with modifying the recipe to incorporate chicken Spirit Beasts.

After a brief discussion with Liu Mingzhen, Orion sought out Wang Lingxin and found her enjoying tea in the pavilion near the flower garden.

"So here you are," Orion stated as it approached Wang Lingxin.

"Master, have you finished your business?" Wang Lingxin inquired, setting down her teacup.

"Yes, I have. You will be tasting the fried chicken and also helping them to make fried chicken using chicken Spirit Beasts. Can you do it?" Orion asked.

"Sure, I'll do my best," Wang Lingxin replied.

"Do you want me to stay and accompany you?" Orion inquired.

"There is no need. Master, you can return first," Wang Lingxin replied.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Orion asked.

"Yes, don't worry about me," Wang Lingxin reassured.

"Alright, but don't cause any trouble, okay? I'll come to get you around sunset," Orion reminded her.

Orion then rode in the horse carriage back to the residence, while Wang Lingxin headed to the kitchen of the Liu family residence.

"Hello, good morning, everyone," Wang Lingxin greeted as she entered the kitchen.

"Good morning, Ms. Lingxin," replied the chefs. They didn't see her as just a mere kid, especially with her professional skill in food critique and tasting.

"Let's make delicious fried chicken!" Wang Lingxin exclaimed, raising her fist.

"Oooo!" exclaimed the chefs in unison.

With the sun high above, Wang Lingxin sampled the freshly fried chicken.

"This is good enough. I think it's okay to sell it," she remarked.

The chefs cheered, relieved to see their hard work pay off. Wang Lingxin's approval lifted their spirits after she had critiqued many of their previous attempts. As professional chefs, their confidence had been shaken by Wang Lingxin's critiques, and not receiving approval from a young girl had affected their morale.

However, as seasoned professionals, they finally mastered how to make the fried chicken and earn Wang Lingxin's approval in just two days, a feat that took Orion several days to achieve. After perfecting the normal fried chicken, it was time to experiment with making fried chicken using meat from chicken Spirit Beasts.

"Miss Lingxin, have you ever tried eating chicken Spirit Beast?" one of the chefs asked, the oldest among them and the head chef.

"Chicken Spirit Beast? I haven't," Wang Lingxin replied.

"Then you should try it first so you can give a better judgment later when testing the Spirit Beast fried chicken," the head chef suggested.

"I'll let you taste one of the best dishes on our menu at the Liu family restaurant. I'm sure you'll like it," the head chef continued. "Come on, everyone, help me prepare!"

The other chefs scrambled to prepare the Spirit Beast fried chicken. After a while, a bowl of soup with chicken Spirit Beast meat, its broth a rich red color with many spices floating within, some oil glistening on its surface, steaming hot, was served in front of Wang Lingxin at the table. Wang Lingxin used a spoon to lift a bit of the broth to her lips, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Wow, such flavor! The broth is thick and rich, bursting with flavor. There's a unique blend of spices and the essence of the chicken Spirit Beast. While it looks and smells spicy, it's surprisingly mild. There's also a hint of sweetness and plenty of savory goodness. Truly exceptional," Wang Lingxin remarked. She then used the spoon to pick up a piece of meat, finding it tender and easily picked up. She tasted it.

"Wow, the chicken Spirit Beast truly has a unique aroma and taste. The meat is tender, infused with the seasoning. When eaten together with the soup, it's a delightful combination of flavors. This is really outstanding," Wang Lingxin added.

"Fufufu," the head chef chuckled, standing from the side with a wide smile crossing his face as he folded his arms, clearly satisfied. The other chefs also smiled; their confidence restored after receiving praise from Wang Lingxin's critique.

"Come on, now let's try to make Spirit Beast fried chicken," the head chef exclaimed.

"Oooo!" the chefs responded eagerly. Meanwhile, Wang Lingxin continued to savor the chicken Spirit Beast soup.

Liu Mingzhen and Liu Wang watched from the window of the kitchen, coming to check the kitchen after hearing the commotion. "Finally, they succeeded. Now, they just need to make the Spirit Beast fried chicken," Liu Mingzhen remarked.

Liu Mingzhen then left, still having a lot of work to do. Liu Wang followed behind.

"Master, today should be the day Elder Yang arrives in Yanjing," Liu Wang mentioned.

"Mmm... hopefully the MSG can help Father break through," Liu Mingzhen replied.

The gentle breeze brought a refreshing touch, rustling the flowers and grass. Currently taking a brief break to enjoy some fresh air, Wang Lingxin found that the recipe and experiment for the Spirit Beast fried chicken were far from complete. The meat wasn't tender enough, and the seasoning struggled to penetrate it, among other challenges.

Wang Lingxin decided to take a break and wander through the flower garden, she enjoyed playing in the Liu family garden. It was expansive, filled with a variety of flowers, and meticulously maintained, offering a refreshing and calming atmosphere.

As she wandered, her gaze fell upon a tree beyond the wall, adorned with plump and enticing purple fruits, its beauty captivating her attention. Impressed, she approached closer, eventually arriving at the moon gate. Peeking inside and finding nobody around, after a moment's hesitation, she decided to venture in.

Unbeknownst to her, a masked figure wearing all black clothes slowly materialized near the moon gate, standing quietly as he watched Wang Lingxin approach the tree. Inside, there were many other trees, but no flowers like in the flower garden, just trees.

Okay, now what do I do? the masked man pondered internally, feeling conflicted and unsure.

The area Wang Lingxin entered was a restricted area, and not everybody was allowed to enter. It was where his master, Liu Mingzhen, planted and grew various Spiritual Fruits, and all the trees inside were Spiritual Fruit trees.

The purple fruit that had attracted Wang Lingxin's attention was also a Spiritual Fruit, called Violet Essence Fruit, highly sought after and very beneficial for Golden Core cultivators. At auctions, it could fetch thousands of spirit stones.

The masked man was the guard of this place, and now he was conflicted because although the area was restricted, his master had instructed that Orion and his disciple, Wang Lingxin, were important for the Liu family. They must never be offended, and they should always do their best to cater to and help them.

After thinking about it, the masked man decided to let Wang Lingxin venture inside. He was sure that his master would allow Wang Lingxin to enter anyway and might even give her the fruit.

Now, after he let Wang Lingxin enter, if she really took the fruit, he was certain his master would allow it. However, there was still a possibility that his master might scold him a bit to vent his anger.

Sigh, I'll just accept being scolded by the master, the masked man thought, his figure disappearing again, nowhere to be seen, while also sending information to Liu Mingzhen via Spiritual Sense.

Wang Lingxin stood in front of the purple fruit tree, looking up at the five fruits dangling from its branches. A sweet and enticing scent wafted from them, captivating her senses. She couldn't help but wonder if the fruits tasted as good as they looked, given their enticing appearance and sweet fragrance.

After a moment of contemplation, she glanced around and noticed many other trees, but none bore fruit. Wang Lingxin then decided to return to the flower garden.

"Hello, Miss Lingxin," a voice came from behind Wang Lingxin as she walked.

Wang Lingxin turned around, surprised by the sudden appearance of someone. It turned out to be Liu Mingzhen. "Greetings, Mr. Liu Mingzhen," Wang Lingxin bowed courteously.

"Hahaha, no need to be so formal. Just call me Uncle Mingzhen," Liu Mingzhen chuckled.

"Greetings, Uncle Mingzhen," Wang Lingxin bowed respectfully once more.

"Good girl," Liu Mingzhen nodded. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I was just checking out that purple fruit. It looks interesting, and it smells good," Wang Lingxin explained.

"Well, it's a special fruit after all. Do you want it?" Liu Mingzhen offered with a smile.

"Is it okay?" Wang Lingxin hesitated, noticing there were only five fruits on the tree.

"Of course, these fruits grow all year round. It's just that they're slow to ripen," Liu Mingzhen assured her. With a swift gesture, he waved his hand, and a purple fruit fell from the branch. Extending his hand, he deftly caught the fruit using his Spiritual Sense, and it landed softly on his palm.

"Here you are," Liu Mingzhen handed her the fruit.

"Wow, thank you very much, Uncle Mingzhen," Wang Lingxin said gratefully, taking the fruit. As she examined it closely, she noticed that its scent was even sweeter up close. She wondered how to eat it.

Seeing Wang Lingxin's curiosity, Liu Mingzhen smiled. "Come, I'll show you how to enjoy this fruit," he offered, leading her to the kitchen.

The Violet Essence Fruit was very valuable, but Liu Mingzhen was still okay with giving one to Wang Lingxin. It was a gesture to build a good relationship with her. He also considered giving some to Orion, viewing it as a good investment.

In one of the dimly lit rooms within Orion's residence, Orion was busy at a table. Slime skins hung on the walls, and on the floor, many buckets were filled with slime body liquid, some containing slime body parts. The slime body liquid had splattered on the floor.

On the table in front of Orion, there was a large bucket filled with slime body liquid, and inside it, a Spirit Beast core was connected to many small and long tubes. These tubes were the slime's meridians, and the Spirit Beast core was from a wolf Spirit Beast.

Orion internally noted, The research progress is rather successful. This is good. Checking its internal clock, it realized, It's almost time to pick up Wang Lingxin. With that, Orion began tidying up the room, storing some items on the table into its storage ring, and calling Ying Hua to clean up the rest.

While experimenting with the slime, Orion discovered several uses for it. The slime's skin proved to be versatile, capable of being both soft and hard, as well as weak or strong, elastic or rigid. It could also change shape, adapting to different conditions as needed.

In addition to its skin, the slime had various body parts, including tubes that were situated within its body. These tubes had a semi-transparent color and were widely used as lamps, reminiscent of neon lamps from Earth. It was this unique slime lamp that piqued Orion's interest in slime and began experimenting with it.

Despite others deeming certain parts of the slime as useless, Orion found value in them. While most people focused on the skin, tubes for lamps, and the Spirit Beast core, Orion noticed another body part that often went overlooked: the slime meridian.

These smaller tubes, similar to those used for lamps but on a smaller scale, were typically discarded or considered useless by others. However, Orion saw potential in them and has been experimenting with them, showing great results.

After reading numerous books and scrolls, Orion learned that slime meridians were among the best, even surpassing those of Dragons and Phoenixes in effectiveness at transmitting Qi. However, despite this advantage, slimes were inherently weak due to their Spirit Beast core (Dantian) being unable to store much Qi. Orion has made significant progress in its experiments regarding slime meridians, showcasing great potential and promising results.

Orion attached a slime meridian to another Spirit Beast core, currently using the Spirit Beast core of a Two-tailed Wolf, which Orion had slain in the past. During the experiment, Orion discovered that slime meridians couldn't directly absorb LQ (Liquid Qi); instead, the LQ would dissolve the slime meridian, likely because the LQ contained too much pure Qi and the slime meridian couldn't handle it.

Orion found a solution: by soaking the Spirit Beast core in LQ, it would slowly absorb the Qi. Then, by connecting the Spirit Beast core with the slime meridian, the slime meridian was able to absorb and transmit the Qi from the Spirit Beast core.

It worked. The previously transparent slime meridian now glowed with a beautiful cyan color. By referring to scrolls and books, Orion noted that the slime meridian appeared to be active, effectively transmitting the Qi from the Spirit Beast core to the meridian system.

Orion wondered if this could be considered an artificial Dantian and meridian system. Theoretically, it was, as cultivators and Spirit Beasts function similarly, with their Dantian acting as a battery and their meridian as a cable, albeit for storing and transmitting Qi instead of electricity. However, Orion knew it would need to conduct further experiments to confirm its hypothesis and put the findings to use.

Orion rode the horse carriage to the Liu family residence to pick up Wang Lingxin, while Ying Hua remained behind, cleaning the room where Orion had conducted the experiment. She had grown accustomed to the task, wiping the table clean and mopping the floor diligently. Carrying the heavy bucket filled with slime body liquid and body parts, she made her way outside to the trash pit, where she dumped them one by one.

At the corner of the room, there sat a bucket filled with slime tubes, but Ying Hua had no intention of throwing them out. Instead, she planned to sell them later. Her master had once experimented with these tubes to create slime lamps but had lost interest after succeeding. When Ying Hua proposed the idea of selling them instead of discarding them, Orion agreed and allowed Ying Hua to sell them. This way, Ying Hua could earn some money to contribute to the orphanage.

Ying Hua often wondered why her master preferred to discard the most valuable body parts of the slime instead of using them to create slime lamps. She couldn't help but ponder why her master seemed to be more interested in the slime's skin and what appeared to be its meridian.

For Orion, the slime lamp is indeed interesting, but that's it, it's just a lamp. Even if Orion were to decide to make and sell them, the profit would be small. However, Orion sees great potential in the slime's skin and meridian, which is why it's solely interested in them. As for the other body parts of the slime, Orion has no qualms about discarding them. On the other hand, Ying Hua views slime lamps as a promising source of income, but for Orion, they're simply a waste of time.

Orion arrived at the Liu family residence to pick up Wang Lingxin, then the two of them rode in the carriage back to their own residence.

"So, how is the fried chicken? Did they succeed?" Orion asked during the journey.

"Yes, the chefs successfully made the fried chicken. It's delicious enough," replied Wang Lingxin.

"That's great," said Orion.

"But for the Spirit Beast fried chicken, they still need more time," Wang Lingxin added.

"I see. Did you have fun today?" Orion inquired.

"Mmm," Wang Lingxin nodded. "Uncle Mingzhen gave me a delicious purple fruit. It's so sweet and yummy."

"Have you thanked him?" Orion asked.

"Of course," Wang Lingxin replied eagerly. "Master, let me tell you about the fruit. The smell is so sweet, and to enjoy it, you first cool it down on ice, then cut it open, and slice it into small pieces. After that, you pour honey on it and then eat it. The fruit is sweet, soft, refreshing, and with honey, it adds even more sweetness and deliciousness. I can't wait for another fruit ripen so I can eat more," Wang Lingxin said, licking her lips in anticipation.

At the same time, in the Liu family residence, Liu Mingzhen was in his workroom, scribbling something on paper when he suddenly felt uncomfortable in his heart. "Huh... That's weird. What is this sudden uncomfortable feeling?" Liu Mingzhen pondered for a moment before shaking it off and returning to his work.

Chapter 59: Liu Xinyi's Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm

Liu Yang finally arrived in Yanjing City after several days of flying. He flew not too fast nor too slow, trying not to attract attention. Sometimes, he also took rests during the journey.

Upon arrival at the Liu family residence, he immediately headed to the main hall to meet the patriarch, Liu Ming. In the main hall, Liu Ming sat at the main seat, while Liu Xinyi sat at the side sipping tea.

Liu Yang handed over the ceramic bottle containing MSG and the scroll containing messages from Liu Mingzhen. He also provided a short explanation to Liu Ming.

"I see, a magical medicine that is beneficial to cultivators, nourishing their meridians and improving Qi flow, and it can also multiply the benefits and effects of the food," Liu Ming remarked as he read the scroll.

"Is it really that effective, Uncle Yang?" Liu Ming inquired.

"Of course, Mingzhen and I have tried it ourselves," Liu Yang affirmed.

"What do you think, Father?" Liu Ming asked, handing the scroll to Liu Xinyi.

Liu Xinyi pondered, "Maybe this is the opportunity I've been waiting for. There's no use in waiting any longer. I don't think there will be a better opportunity to break through to the Nascent Soul realm than now."

He was already old, and as time passed, his chances of successfully breaking through diminished. Waiting longer would only decrease his chances. Now that a good opportunity had presented itself, with the assistance of the magical medicine called MSG, perhaps he would be able to enter the Nascent Soul realm.

"I will immediately arrange it, Father," Liu Ming assured him.

Liu Xinyi then headed to his secret cultivation chamber to prepare for the breakthrough. Meanwhile, Liu Ming also made preparations. He immediately gathered the most valuable ingredients that the Liu family had and instructed the chef to prepare them. Liu Yang, on the other hand, promptly leave the main hall to meet his newly born grandson, as a cover for his real reason for returning to Yanjing.

The chef didn't take too long to turn the ingredients into a dish. The ingredients were cooked into a soup, with various items such as Spirit Beast meat and Spiritual Herbs. Liu Ming personally took the soup from the kitchen and brought it to Liu Xinyi.

He walked through a secret underground tunnel, reaching a big underground chamber with a door. Liu Ming passed through the door and met Liu Xinyi, who was sitting cross-legged on a platform in the secret chamber.

"Father, this is the soup," Liu Ming said, presenting the bowl of soup on a tray.

The soup emanated a unique aroma, made from high-quality ingredients beneficial to cultivators.

"Put in the MSG," Liu Xinyi instructed.

Liu Ming then took out the ceramic bottle containing MSG from his storage ring and poured it into the soup. He then handed the soup to Liu Xinyi.

"This moment will decide the rise or fall of our Liu family," Liu Xinyi said, taking a deep breath to calm himself. He then consumed the soup, swallowing it down, and also retrieved several pills from his storage ring and swallowed them. These pills were meant to aid his breakthrough. Liu Xinyi closed his eyes and sat cross-legged, focusing on absorbing the food and pills.

"I will excuse myself," Liu Ming said as he left the secret chamber, closing the door behind him. He then sat cross-legged in front of the door, determined to guard it. The moment of breaking through was very vulnerable, and he wouldn't let anything disturb his father.

After a few hours, Liu Xinyi had fully absorbed the pills and soup. The MSG had enhanced the effects and benefits of the soup and pills. Liu Xinyi felt his entire body heat up, with his abdomen becoming very hot. Trickle of sweat rolled down his face as his body emanated smoke.

Within his Dantian, a golden sphere floated in the darkness — his Golden Core. Its surface was smooth and shiny as it began to spin slowly. Qi pulsed from within the Golden Core, attempting to break it. The Golden Core hummed with a buzzing sound that grew louder with each passing moment.

The Qi within periodically slammed against the Golden Core's wall, causing a loud boom in the Dantian. This continued for hours, with the Qi intensifying over time. Eventually, a small crack appeared on the surface of the Golden Core, followed by more cracks as time went on.

However, the intensity of the Qi raging within the Golden Core began to slow down.

"Guah!!!" Liu Xinyi exclaimed, spitting out blood as he experienced the backlash from attempting to control the Qi inside his Golden Core while trying to smash and destroy the Golden Core's wall. Each time he attempted to breach the wall, he suffered a backlash, which intensified with each subsequent attempt.

Drenched in sweat and with a pale complexion, he had been struggling for hours to crack open his Golden Core, managing only to create several small cracks, nowhere close to breaking it open completely.

"Is this as far as I can go?" Liu Xinyi questioned. He had neared the end of his lifespan, and his chances of reaching the Nascent Soul realm were diminishing.

He wasn't a genius blessed with great talent, and now, even with the help of the MSG, it seemed that he still couldn't achieve the breakthrough he desired.

As he coughed up more blood, Liu Xinyi refused to accept failure. "No... I refuse to fail," he declared, determination shining in his eyes. "I, Liu Xinyi, will become a Nascent Soul realm cultivator!"

Inside his Golden Core, Qi surged as Liu Xinyi controlled it, building momentum. Despite reaching his limit, he decided to make one last gamble. Gathering all his strength, he prepared for a final attempt to break through. With a mighty roar, he unleashed the gathered Qi from within his Golden Core, directing it outward towards his Golden Core's walls with unprecedented force.

"EAAAA!!!!" Liu Xinyi screamed, channeling all his willpower into the decisive moment.

The Qi smashed violently against the Golden Core wall, causing it to crack and shatter into pieces that scattered in all directions. The Qi gushed out in a great, violent torrent.

In his Dantian, the shattered pieces of the Golden Core slowly disappeared, releasing the Qi within it as if a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. The Qi expanded greatly within his Dantian before gradually gathering and slowly forming a humanoid figure.

Now, in his Dantian, the figure transformed, resembling him, and sat cross-legged in the middle, surrounded by a faint mist of Qi. The figure glowed brightly, contrasting with the surrounding darkness that shrouded the Dantian.

Liu Xinyi could see this figure within his Dantian and hear a voice in his mind saying, "I am called [Rongyun Baiyun - Rolling White Clouds]."

In the secret chamber, winds swirled around Liu Xinyi's body as it shone brightly. His eyes opened and emitted a radiant glow. After a while, the light dimmed and vanished, and his eyes slowly closed.

Moments later, Liu Xinyi reopened his eyes and remarked, "I see, so my Soul Manifestation's name is [Rongyun Baiyun]." He checked his body, "I have successfully broken through to the Nascent Soul realm! Hahaha" Liu Xinyi laughed, his laughter echoing in the secret chamber.

Liu Ming waited anxiously outside the secret chamber, several hours passing without any sign of his father emerging. He couldn't shake the feeling that the worst had occurred within. Unable to use his spiritual sense due to the concealment inscriptions shrouding the chamber, he was left in agonizing uncertainty.

As the door to the secret chamber finally creaked open, Liu Ming stood nervously. From within emerged an old man, and Liu Ming immediately sensed a profound change in his father.

Liu Xinyi was no longer hunched; he stood tall and straight, despite his long white hair and beard. His eyes were clear and filled with vitality and vigor, his skin smooth, supple like a babies, and no longer pale and wrinkled. His steps were firm, exuding strength and confidence.

"Father... have you succeeded?" Liu Ming asked tentatively.

"Hahaha, it was a close call. Without the help of the MSG, I would have surely failed," replied Liu Xinyi, his tone triumphant.

"Congratulations, Father, on breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm," Liu Ming said, relief flooding through him.

"It's all thanks to Mr. Orion," Liu Xinyi mused, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "It was a blessing that Liu Jian was attacked by the Vermilion Clawed Bear and then met with Mr. Orion, hahaha," he laughed heartily.

Ugh, how can you say it like that, that's your own grandson, Liu Ming thought to himself. Though he somewhat agreed, it was because of Liu Jian's encounter with the Vermilion Clawed Bear and subsequent rescue by Orion that the Liu family had gained benefits from their association with him.

"Immediately inform Mingzhen to thank Mr. Orion on my behalf. After I stabilize my cultivation, I will personally meet him to offer my gratitude," Liu Xinyi commanded.

"Father, how about we keep your breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm a secret?" Liu Ming suggested tentatively.

"Oh? Let's hear about it," Liu Xinyi responded, intrigued.

"Currently, Mr. Orion prefers to stay low-profile and secretive to avoid attracting attention. So, we should keep your breakthrough and how the MSG helped you a secret. You should not meet him, at least for now. If he doesn't want to stand out and attract attention, then we shouldn't cause trouble for him. Otherwise, we may offend him," Liu Ming explained.

"Hmm... good point. Well, do as you say. But still, let Mingzhen thank Mr. Orion on my behalf. Also, tell Mingzhen to bring a thank-you gift to Mr. Orion. Make sure the gift won't embarrass me or our Liu family, understand?" Liu Xinyi instructed, emphasizing the importance of selecting an appropriate gift.

"Understood," Liu Ming acknowledged.

"Then, I will focus on stabilizing my cultivation and getting familiar with my new strength. If people are looking for me, just tell them I am in closed-door cultivation and don't want to be disturbed. Don't let anyone know I have reached the Nascent Soul realm," Liu Xinyi declared as he turned and entered the secret chamber again, the door slowly closing behind him.

"I'll arrange it, Father," Liu Ming affirmed, then walked out of the underground chamber, smiling. "Fufufu," he chuckled softly to himself as he walked. The Liu family was about to reach new heights.

Chapter 60: Bringing Gifts

The morning sun cast a warm glow, and birds chirped merrily. Still very early in the morning, but Liu Mingzhen was already at the gate of Orion's residence, where he rang the bell. Orion had already detected his arrival through the radio signal he emitted. After hearing the bell, Orion stepped out to greet him, then brought him inside.

Orion wondered what kind of business had brought Liu Mingzhen personally. Moreover, Liu Mingzhen appeared to be in a particularly good mood, smiling and more talkative than usual. They sat at a table, exchanging pleasantries.

Chunhua then entered the room, serving tea and pouring a cup for Liu Mingzhen before quietly exiting. Orion gestured and offered Liu Mingzhen the tea. After taking a sip, he finally stated his true purpose.

"Mr. Orion, on behalf of my father, I want to offer our sincere gratitude. With the help of the magical medicine MSG, my father has successfully broken through to the Nascent Soul realm. Thank you very much, Mr. Orion," Liu Mingzhen said, bowing his head and cupping his hands in respect.

Orion was rather surprised to hear this, for mere MSG could have such a significant impact on a cultivator and help them achieve a breakthrough in their cultivation. Internally, it thought, I told you to test it first. Why would you send it to your father?

"Oh, I see. That's great news. Please convey my congratulations to him," Orion replied.

Liu Mingzhen smiled and responded, "Thank you, Mr. Orion. Also, regarding my father's breakthrough, he has decided to keep it a secret for now. What do you think about it, Mr. Orion?" Liu Mingzhen probed for Orion's opinion.

"Well, it's up to him. You don't need to ask me," Orion replied.

"It's like this, Mr. Orion. We want to keep the secret about MSG as much as possible and distance my father's successful breakthrough from being related to you. If you want to maintain a low profile and not attract attention, then my father thinks it's a good idea. What do you think?" Liu Mingzhen elaborated.

"Oh, I see. I think it's a good idea. Yes, I would prefer not to attract any attention and maintain a low profile. I really appreciate your father's thoughtfulness. It's a good idea," Orion agreed.

"Then, our Liu family will make sure that we won't cause any trouble for you, Mr. Orion. I'll ensure that information regarding the MSG and our interaction with you is strictly kept hidden. In the future, my father will come personally to offer his gratitude, Mr. Orion," Liu Mingzhen assured.

"Sure," Orion replied.

"Huh? Uncle Mingzhen?" Wang Lingxin walked into the room, having finished breakfast and hearing the commotion. She came to check. "Greetings, Uncle Mingzhen," she said politely.

"Good morning, Miss Lingxin," Liu Mingzhen replied with a smile.

"Uncle Mingzhen, did you come to pick me up to help taste the Spirit Beast fried chicken?" Wang Lingxin asked. Isn't it still too early? she thought to herself.

"No, I'm not here to pick you up," Liu Mingzhen smiled. He then retrieved a beautifully crafted wooden box from his storage ring. "I've come to bring gifts," he said, opening the box to reveal eight purple fruits.

"That purple fruit... don't tell me," Wang Lingxin licked her lips in anticipation.

"It's the same one you ate yesterday," Liu Mingzhen confirmed.

"But isn't there only four fruits left on the tree? And aren't they still rather young?" Wang Lingxin walked closer to check the fruits, their sweet smell already spreading in the room.

"These are the ones we harvested last year, but don't worry, they're still fresh. They've been stored in the storage ring," Liu Mingzhen explained.

"Wow, is it for me?" Wang Lingxin asked.

"It's for your master. If you want, you can ask him," Liu Mingzhen replied.

"Master, can I eat it?" Wang Lingxin turned to Orion.

"Sure, you can have them all," Orion agreed, taking a glance at the purple fruit. The shape resembled a mango from Earth.

"Yay, thank you, Master," Wang Lingxin picked up a fruit and brought it close to her nose to smell.

"But you can't eat it now, it's still too early in the morning," Orion reminded her.

"Uh... okay," Wang Lingxin reluctantly agreed, placing the fruit back in the wooden box.

"Mr. Orion, other than the fruit, there are many other gifts in this storage ring. It's to express my father's gratitude. Please accept it," Liu Mingzhen offered the storage ring to Orion.

"Then please deliver my thanks to your father," Orion said, accepting the storage ring.

"Mr. Orion, if there is something else that you need, you can just tell me. Our Liu family will do our best to obtain it," Liu Mingzhen offered.

"Hmmm... there is no need for now, thank you," Orion replied.

"Master, master, can we get the purple fruit tree and plant it?" Wang Lingxin eagerly asked. She hoped to have the tree so she could enjoy the fruits that would grow in the future. However, the purple fruit didn't have any seeds, so she wondered how to obtain the tree.

"What do you think, Mr. Mingzhen? Is it possible?" Orion inquired.

"Of course, I still have one young tree. I'll have Liu Jin send it later," Liu Mingzhen confirmed.

"Thank you very much, Uncle Mingzhen," Wang Lingxin expressed her gratitude.

Liu Mingzhen had received a message from his brother, Liu Ming, last night via a Communication Talisman. The message informed him that their father had successfully broken through to the Nascent Soul realm. Liu Ming also instructed Liu Mingzhen to offer thanks to Orion and bring proper gifts. Additionally, Liu Ming gave several other instructions.

The Violet Essence Fruit was very valuable to Liu Ming, and previously, giving one fruit to Wang Lingxin had been difficult for him. However, now, after being instructed by his brother and hearing of his father's successful breakthrough, he no longer hesitated to give the fruit. He had prepared various precious gifts and even included eight Violet Essence Fruits. Now that Wang Lingxin wanted the tree, he was also willing to provide it.

Orion and Liu Mingzhen had a brief discussion about their current and future cooperation, and Liu Mingzhen gave an update on the progress of the house construction. After they finished, Liu Mingzhen excused himself, and Wang Lingxin followed him to the Liu family residence to help tasting the fried chicken.

After Liu Mingzhen and Wang Lingxin left, Orion called for Liu Jin, who immediately arrived and stood in front of Orion, cupping his hands.

"Is there something you need, Mr. Orion?" Liu Jin asked.

"Yes, unload the gifts from this storage ring and arrange them in the storage area of my workroom. Place them next to the other items," Orion instructed, handing the storage ring given by Liu Mingzhen to Liu Jin.

Orion couldn't retrieve items from the storage ring given by Liu Mingzhen one by one. If Orion tried to retrieve the items inside the storage ring, all the contents would flood out at once. Thus, Orion asked Liu Jin to retrieve and arrange the items. Later, Orion would store them one by one and register each item's unique electrical signature. Only after doing this could Orion retrieve specific items from the storage ring.

"Understood. By the way, Mr. Orion, do you still need more slimes?" Liu Jin inquired.

"No, unless they are Rank-2 or higher," Orion replied.

"Unfortunately, we still haven't found any Rank-2 Spirit Beast slimes or higher. We've used our Liu family connections and dispatched our men to search the forest, but there's been no success. I'll bring one immediately when we find it," Liu Jin assured Orion before heading to Orion's workroom.

Liu Jin had been supplying many slimes to Orion. He didn't know exactly what Orion was doing with them, but he guessed that perhaps Orion wanted to make slime lamps. Slimes were very abundant in the forest and were also used in large numbers in the city.

Most slimes were just Rank-1 Spirit Beasts, and it was rare for them to reach Rank-2 or higher. They were weak and docile, harmless and not a threat. Even mortal children could safely play around them.

Slimes were very useful as they consumed organic matter. People used them in latrines and dirty sewers, and to clean the feces of both animals and Spirit Beasts, whether on farms or as pets.

However, the slimes Liu Jin delivered to Orion were wild slimes that had only consumed plant material such as leaves, flowers, and grass, making them "clean".

...

In a bustling workshop in Yanjing City, young blacksmiths of various races were hard at work. Some hammered away at hot metal, while others tended to the fires of the furnaces, their faces glistening with sweat. A few meticulously applied finishing touches to weapons and armor.

The workshop hummed with activity and echoed with the sounds of clanking, hammering, and the lively chatter of the blacksmiths.

The air was rather hot due to the furnaces, with some smoke lingering in the air.

Kaboom!

Suddenly, a deafening explosion echoed through the workshop. Behind the workshop, an explosion occurred, accompanied by a thick plume of smoke and dust that billowed into the air. Rubble and debris flew in all directions, rattling the workshop, and all the blacksmiths stopped their tasks.

Some went out to check the explosion, while others peeked out from the workshop. There was once a wooden house where their master lived behind their workshop, but now it was just rubble. Even the tent, which had been built and destroyed several times over on the ruins of the house, was now also gone, destroyed by the explosion.

"Master, are you alright?" called out Little Wei, one of the young blacksmiths, from the workshop door.

Amidst the wreckage of the former house and tent, dust continued to rise. In the center of the swirling smoke, a figure could be seen seated cross-legged on the ground within a small crater, covered in soot and dust.

"Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry about me. Carry on with your work," replied Luo Fengwei from amidst the smoke.

The blacksmiths in the workshop resumed their tasks, the rhythmic sound of hammering filling the air once more. It was a scene they had grown accustomed to— their master had blown up his house, replaced it with a tent which kept getting destroyed and rebuilt several times over.

The surrounding neighborhood had also grown accustomed to the explosions; initially surprised and scared, they now ignored them. Even officials from the City Lord Manor once came to check but dared not to complain. After all, the one causing the explosions was a Golden Core realm cultivator, and moreover, the most famous blacksmith in the city, and now they just ignore it.

Luo Fengwei still sat cross-legged on the ground, stroking his beard with one hand while the other rested across his chest. His white beard, white hair, and clothes were dirty from dust and soot, his brow furrowed in contemplation. "Sigh... that was close... I almost succeeded. Pity it had to explode at the end."

Luo Fengwei was still struggling with his experiment on the wolframite ore and tungsten. He was in the midst of modifying the furnace to achieve higher temperatures. The new inscription used on the furnace was a success, allowing the furnace to reach higher temperatures. However, after a while, the furnace exploded.

Despite facing setbacks, Luo Fengwei was steadily making progress. He remained optimistic about processing the wolframite ore to obtain tungsten, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to experiment with making weapons and armor using tungsten.

"Master, why are you still here? Haven't you been invited to the Liu family's banquet? Are you not going?" Little Wei inquired.

"Oh, that's right, thanks for reminding me. Sigh... I would rather continue the experiment than attend the banquet. Damn that brat Liu Yang, just having a grandson, why make such a fuss over it," Luo Fengwei grumbled.

Little Wei then entered the workshop again to continue his work. He didn't know exactly what his master was experimenting on, but it was apparent that it wasn't going smoothly.

Luo Fengwei then stood up. Wind swirled around him before a strong gust blew outward, cleaning him of dust and soot. Once he was clean again, he retrieved a comb to tidy his hair and beard and straightened his clothes. His clothes, Grade-3 defense artifacts, were not even slightly damaged by the explosion; after getting cleaned by the wind, they still looked as good as new. After getting ready, he flew to the Liu family residence.

Chapter 61: False Alarm

The Liu family residence was a sprawling compound filled with many luxurious buildings. In one area, the scene was very lively with numerous horse carriages arriving and people streaming in, entering a grand mansion. One of the Liu family elders had just welcomed his first grandson and was so happy that he immediately returned from Fengxian to host a banquet and invite many guests.

Inside the mansion, the atmosphere was busy with people. Liu Yang had been greeting guests non-stop and decided to take a short break. He headed to a room where Liu Ming was seated, drinking tea at a table. Liu Yang sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, drank it, and then set the teacup down.

"So, how was it?" Liu Yang asked seriously.

Liu Ming didn't reply immediately. He just looked at Liu Yang, smiled slightly, and then sipped his tea.

"Fufufu, is that so? That's great! Our Liu family will rise to new heights. Not even the Chen family can threaten us now," Liu Yang said, laughing. Even without Liu Ming saying anything, he could guess that Liu Xinyi had successfully broken through to the Nascent Soul realm.

"We decided to keep it a secret," Liu Ming said, setting down his teacup.

Liu Yang looked at Liu Ming and nodded. "I see. Well, that's a wise decision."

"Make sure you keep it a secret and everything related to Mr. Orion as well," Liu Ming added.

"Don't worry about that," Liu Yang assured him.

"So Uncle Yang, why did you only bring a small amount of MSG? There are other elders, you know. Even I want to taste it myself. Don't tell me that Mingzhen is hoarding it for himself?" Liu Ming inquired.

"How could you think like that?! Mr. Orion indeed only gave us a small amount for now. Later, he will provide more. Even Mingzhen and I have only tasted a little. The rest, I immediately brought back. We wasted most of it during testing on animals and mortals. Animals and mortals, you hear me?!" Liu Yang complained bitterly, expressing his frustration and regret as he recalled the experience.

"Okay, I was just asking. No need to get agitated. Do you think Mr. Orion made the MSG himself, or did he obtain it from somewhere? Have you probed for any information?" Liu Ming questioned.

"Both Mingzhen and I don't dare to offend Mr. Orion, so we haven't investigated. But we speculate that Mr. Orion made it himself," Liu Yang replied.

"Oh? That would be quite something if he can make the magical medicine himself. Do you have any leads or information about how it's made?" Liu Ming asked.

"Well, Mr. Orion asked us for many things, from tools and equipment to ingredients, from common to expensive and unique ones. We think that they may be used in making the MSG. However, there were so many things that Mr. Orion asked for, that we don't know which are used for making MSG and which aren't. We completely have no clue how it's made," Liu Yang admitted.

"I see. Then there's no need to pry further," Liu Ming concluded.

A servant knocked on the door. After Liu Yang gave permission, the servant entered the room, bowed, and informed them that Luo Fengwei had arrived. Then, the servant left the room.

"To think that someone like Mr. Luo is willing to come," Liu Yang remarked. He knew that Luo Fengwei was the type who disliked attending banquets and preferred to spend his time in his workshop. Luo Fengwei could easily be called a blacksmithing maniac.

"Fufufu, you don't know, but because of Mr. Orion, our relationship with Mr. Luo has grown closer," Liu Ming said.

"Well, that's good. Let's go out to welcome him," Liu Yang suggested.

Liu Ming and Liu Yang then went out to greet Luo Fengwei. After some pleasantries, Luo Fengwei congratulated Liu Yang on having his first grandson. Liu Yang then led him inside. They went to a table and sat down, and a servant served tea.

"Is your father in secluded cultivation?" Luo Fengwei asked as he sipped his tea and looked around, not seeing Liu Xinyi.

"That's right, Father is currently in secluded cultivation, trying to break through to the Nascent Soul realm," Liu Ming replied.

"Mmm," Luo Fengwei nodded. He had known Liu Xinyi for a long time and was aware that Liu Xinyi's chances of breaking through were rather slim. "May he succeed in his breakthrough," Luo Fengwei added.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Luo," Liu Ming said gratefully.

Liu Xinyi was already more than 700 years old and had only a few decades left at most. Cultivators who had neared the end of their lifespan were no longer in their prime; their vitality and strength slowly waned, and even their cultivation began to decline.

As a result, they needed to constantly remain in secluded cultivation to maintain their cultivation and, if possible, attempting to achieve a breakthrough in their cultivation to extend their lifespan. Thus, it made perfect sense and was perfectly normal for Luo Fengwei to believe Liu Ming's words, when in reality, Liu Xinyi had successfully broken through to the Nascent Soul realm.

"I really don't know what gift to bring. Here, give this to your grandson when he's old enough," Luo Fengwei said, retrieving a pendant from his storage ring. He had crafted the pendant himself.

"On behalf of my grandson, I thank you very much, Mr. Luo," Liu Yang accepted graciously. "As expected, Mr. Luo, your craftsmanship is truly exceptional," he added, admiring the pendant. The pendant was a Rank-2 accessory artifact, boasting a simple design but exhibiting high-quality craftsmanship. Even the string attached was of remarkable quality, while inscriptions were delicately carved on the pendant's surface.

"It's just a trinket I made a while ago, nothing special," Luo Fengwei modestly remarked.

Inside the mansion, the atmosphere grew busier and livelier as more guests arrived. Tables filled with people dotted the room, and various foods were served. Liu Ming and Luo Fengwei continued their conversation, occasionally punctuated by laughter, while Liu Yang returned to greet the newly arrived guests.

...

A horse carriage stopped in front of Orion's residence. Wang Lingxin got out of the carriage and rang the bell on the gate. After a short while, Orion opened the gate.

"Master, I'm back," Wang Lingxin said as she entered.

"You're back early?" Orion asked, closing the gate.

"Yes, it's done. The Spirit Beast fried chickens are finished, and they also improved the normal fried chicken," Wang Lingxin replied as she walked.

"That's good. Which is better, mine or theirs?" Orion inquired as it walked beside her.

"Um... They are slightly better, just slightly, but yours is also good," Wang Lingxin answered, indicating a small gap between her index and thumb to emphasize "slight."

"Master, can I eat the purple fruit now?" Wang Lingxin asked.

"Sure, I'll prepare it for you. By the way, I will be going out for a while," Orion said.

"Mm," Wang Lingxin nodded.

In the small garden behind the house, Wang Lingxin was seated on a stone bench, happily eating a tray of purple fruit. Not far away, Chunhua was taking laundry off the clothesline and putting it into a rattan basket.

"Little Lingxin, why do you always wear these same few clothes? You have many others in your drawer, and they are better and more beautiful," Chunhua said as she took down the laundry.

"Mmm... mmmm... I like these clothes. Master made them for me. Nyam... nom... nom... Master promised to make a really beautiful dress for me, but for now, Master is still practicing and can only make these simple clothes. But I really like them," Wang Lingxin said as she ate the fruit. "Master even promised me to make armor like the one he wears."

"Oh, but you should also wear the other clothes too. I will help you choose your dress next time," Chunhua replied. She had wondered why Wang Lingxin always dressed simply and wore the same clothes. When Chunhua first met Wang Lingxin, she even mistook her for someone related to the servants in the Liu family. However, when she had put the laundry away before, she discovered that Wang Lingxin had many other, better, and more beautiful clothes in the drawers in her room.

"Big Sis Chunhua, here..." Wang Lingxin said, offering the purple fruit as she ate.

"I'm good, I don't really like sweet food," Chunhua replied. She had already tried it before and found it too sweet, especially since it was also covered with honey. Sweet food was not her favorite, so she only ate a small piece.

Chunhua then entered the house. After folding the laundry, she went to Wang Lingxin's room to put the clothes in the drawer. She planned to clean Orion's workroom next since he was out.

"KYAAAAAA!" Chunhua screamed in horror as soon as she entered the room, falling backward onto her butt. The scream echoed through the residence, even reaching Wang Lingxin in the garden.

"Big Sis Chunhua, what happened?" Wang Lingxin ran inside the house.

Swoosh!

Swoosh!

Swoosh!

Several black figures moved swiftly toward Orion's residence from different directions. They quickly surrounded the house, hiding behind bushes, in treetops, and on rooftops. Some of them entered the house with weapons drawn.

A masked figure in black clothing entered the house swiftly, heading directly to Orion's workroom with his sword drawn, ready for battle. He stood alone in the room, his eyes darting around as he used his spiritual sense to scan the area, worried that the enemy might be hiding. Meanwhile, Chunhua had already crawled out of the room, her expression filled with fear.

"Big Sis, are you okay?" Wang Lingxin asked, helping Chunhua stand.

"Little Lingxin, help... there's a... a very big bug inside the room," Chunhua said, still horrified.

"Bug?" Wang Lingxin asked. "Oh, those are the bugs that Master keeps. They should be in a cage; one must have escaped."

"Can you put it back in the cage? I'm very afraid of bugs," Chunhua pleaded.

"Yeah, sure," Wang Lingxin replied.

A bug? Liu Jin thought inwardly upon hearing Wang Lingxin and Chunhua. He also noticed the bug the moment he entered the room but chose to ignore it, focusing more on searching for enemies. He never imagined that all this commotion was caused by a mere bug. He had thought there were enemies infiltrating the residence.

Liu Jin looked at the squirming bug on the table. Damn it, just a bug. Why did you have to scream so loud? Liu Jin complained inwardly about Chunhua's reaction.

"False alarm, everyone. Return to your positions,"he ordered his subordinates via Voice Transmission. Many black figures then quickly moved out from the residence and disappeared into the distance.

Liu Jin then approached the table, flicking the bug on its head until it became stunned and no longer moved. He had only wanted to immobilize it so Wang Lingxin could take care of it. He didn't dare to kill it because the bug belonged to Orion, and he didn't know what Orion was doing with it.

With that done, he disappeared from the room. Wang Lingxin peeked inside to check and saw the bug on the table. She then entered the room, grabbed the broom that was resting in the corner, and used the end to poke the bug for a while, but the bug didn't move.

After making sure that the bug was not moving, Wang Lingxin grabbed it and put it back into its cage.

Wang Lingxin then left the room, saying, "It's done, Big Sis Chunhua."

Chunhua exhaled in relief. "Thank you. I really can't handle bugs and I'm really scared of them. Are you okay? Did you get attacked?" she asked.

"No, the bug isn't even moving. Maybe it's dead. You don't need to be scared," Wang Lingxin reassured her.

"Phew... What is Master doing with bugs?" Chunhua inquired.

"I don't know, but Master has been experimenting with them. He cuts them into pieces and takes something from inside their bodies, then squeezes out the liquid and stores it in a jar," Wang Lingxin explained, recalling Orion's experiments during their boat journey to Fengxian.

"Ughh... you don't need to explain further," Chunhua said, feeling queasy at the thought of Orion's experiments.

Both Wang Lingxin and Chunhua then left the room, unaware of the many black figures that had surrounded and entered the house. Even as the black figures departed, Wang Lingxin and Chunhua remained oblivious to their presence, having not noticed them upon their arrival or departure.

Meanwhile, Orion, who was currently in the commercial district, was alarmed by the commotion at the residence. Many inscriptions were triggered, and the microcontroller controlling the house defense and surveillance system then sent detailed warning messages via radio to Orion about cultivators attempting to infiltrate the residence, specifying which inscriptions were triggered. However, after checking the camera feeds from the residence via radio communication, it turned out it was just Chunhua getting scared of a bug.

"It seems that I can't ask Chunhua to help me with the bug," Orion thought internally.