Inside the Serene Pavilion, spiritual energy surged like an ocean, transforming into fiery spirits that roasted the phoenix meat with a sizzling sound. All the essence of energy was refined by Ye Kong's fiery spirits, condensed within the meat.
Drop by drop, golden phoenix oil dripped like divine nectar, imbued with immeasurable power.
"So fragrant, so fragrant!"
Ye Kong tore off a phoenix leg and savagely took a bite. The meat was tender yet resilient, exuding an unparalleled aroma.
"My spiritual energy is fully restored, no need to absorb from the Star River Sect anymore!" Ye Kong was overjoyed.
After all, three years ago, on a journey, he encountered a formidable black-clad man with an imposing demeanor and fought him. Upon returning to cultivate, he had drained the entire Star River Sect's spiritual energy. It was a matter of shame.
Suddenly, the sound of knocking echoed from outside.
"Master? Master?" Lin Yaoyao called out from the door.
This master was really unreliable, promising to give her an identity token but disappearing without a trace.
Lin Yaoyao was a bit worried, wondering if her master had encountered some mishap. After all, despite his penchant for pretending to be a sage, he had been kind to her.
She felt the need to protect him.
"Ah, it's Yaoyao. What's up?" Ye Kong, holding the little phoenix and with a mouthful of oil, opened the door.
"Master, I came to ask about the identity token..." Lin Yaoyao said, her gaze suddenly fixing on Ye Kong's little phoenix.
Delicious!
It truly smelled divine!
Lin Yaoyao's mouth watered.
Even as an Empress, having savored countless delicacies, Lin Yaoyao had never seen such a fragrant roasted chicken!
This master, though seemingly feeble, had remarkable culinary skills.
"Master, can I have a taste of this roasted chicken..." Lin Yaoyao said somewhat sheepishly.
It was hard for an Empress-level powerhouse to ask a mere Qi Refiner for roasted chicken.
What?
Ye Kong was taken aback, then shook his head.
"Disciple, you can't eat this roasted chicken yet. You wouldn't be able to refine the energy it contains."
The essence of the phoenix had been refined by Ye Kong, all converging within the meat. If Lin Yaoyao ate even a piece, her Dan Tian would explode.
A hint of disdain flashed across Lin Yaoyao's eyes. Master, you can be greedy, but at least come up with a better excuse.
It's just a pheasant, how much energy could it possibly contain?
Besides, we're both at the Qi Refining stage. Why can't I refine it when you can?
Just because you're the incompetent peak master of the Serene Peak, fishing all day with nothing to do?
"I understand." Lin Yaoyao nodded.
Seeing her disciple's melancholy expression, Ye Kong's heart softened. He took out a jade bottle, carefully squeezing a drop of divine oil from the phoenix's flesh into it.
"Here, try this drop of oil first. Just lick a thread of it with your tongue every day, and don't be greedy."
Ye Kong handed the jade bottle and identity token to Lin Yaoyao before closing the door of the great hall.
"I'll rest for the night and teach you the cultivation method tomorrow."
Lin Yaoyao held the jade bottle, frozen in place.
Then, her pretty face darkened.
You... just gave me one drop of oil?
And I'm supposed to lick a thread of it every day?
How stingy is this master?
"No wonder the Serene Peak has only had me as a disciple for ten years." Lin Yaoyao sighed. "Well, this is good too. I'll cultivate peacefully for ten years and leave the Serene Peak when I'm invincible. Then I'll catch ten thousand pheasants like this for you, old man. Let you know what real strength is."
Lin Yaoyao, with a head full of black lines, turned and left.
She could already envision her master being overwhelmed with excitement.
Arriving at the Bitter Sea, she looked at the jade bottle in her hand and mocked herself, "I don't deserve such fine things."
She threw the jade bottle into the Bitter Sea and returned to Peach Mountain to cultivate.
The jade bottle floated slowly, eventually reaching the center of the Bitter Sea.
A huge dragon carp swam over, gazing at the jade bottle with curious eyes.
Thump!
It nudged the small jade bottle with its head, playing with it merrily.
Pop!
The stopper was knocked off, and a drop of golden divine oil spilled out.
Since the essence had all been refined by Ye Kong, the dragon carp didn't sense anything special and swam away, finding the oil unsightly.
The divine oil continued to float on the water.
A leaf drifted by, with a small black ant clinging to it.
The little black ant trembled, clinging tightly to the leaf.
Starving, it saw the drop of oil beside the leaf and sucked it into its body!
Delicious!
Satisfying!
Buzz!
Its body vibrated as if a river were being poured into it!
The little black ant's body instantly exploded!
But in the instant of the explosion, it seemed a phoenix's cry resounded, and its flesh and blood began to reassemble!
Phoenix Nirvana!
Its body swelled, exploded... reassembled, swelled, exploded...
After repeating this cycle thousands of times, the commotion within the little black ant finally settled.
Its cultivation level soared from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment and finally stopped at Golden Core.
One drop of divine oil, and an instant Golden Core!
Rumble!
Heavenly tribulations gathered, descending upon the Bitter Sea.
Ye Kong, enjoying his phoenix leg, heard the thunder outside and impatiently said, "Go away, find someone else to strike."
All the surrounding spiritual energy seemed to surge skyward, intent on extinguishing the tribulations.
The thunder grew fiercer, roaring several times as if extremely displeased with the little cultivator's defiance.
And then...
The tribulation clouds dispersed.
The little black ant had completed its evolution.
Its body remained small, but a horn grew from its forehead.
Sky-Horned Ant!
Bloodline Awakening!
Having obtained a great opportunity, the little black ant looked toward the direction of the Serene Peak and bowed deeply.
It trembled its legs, causing a sonic boom and stirring up waves in the Bitter Sea.
It darted away, returning to its anthill to propagate its family with the queen ant.
Shortly after its departure, the Peak Master of the Beast Taming Peak arrived on a crane, staring at the Bitter Sea with a look of surprise.
He said to the crane beneath him, "Are you sure you sensed the aura of an ancient fierce beast here just now?"
The crane nodded fearfully.
The Peak Master of the Beast Taming Peak was even more puzzled, "Strange, I also seemed to sense the aura of tribulations just now, but they suddenly vanished."
"Search carefully. The Serene Peak has been abandoned for a long time. Perhaps some exotic beast has awakened here."
If found, the strength of his Beast Taming Peak would soar.
...
The next morning, Ye Kong, well-fed and rested, rose to go fishing.
"Ding, congratulations to the host, you've fished out the third special item!"
A special item? It's actually a special item?
Ye Kong was amazed. Over the years, he had only fished out two special items.
One was a hammer, which the system said was the Sky-Splitting Hammer.
Ye Kong had wondered why Pangu used an axe to split the heavens when it was a hammer.
But he understood when he obtained the second special item.
"This is a sword scripture. I estimate it's a divine-level sword technique with boundless sword intent changes."
"Since it doesn't have a name, let's call it the Star River Recurrence Sword. Perfect for my disciple to practice."
Thinking thus, Ye Kong finished fishing for the day and headed toward Peach Mountain.
"The tip of the peach leaf is sharp, the master comes to impart the way..."
Not far from where he walked, Ye Kong suddenly noticed that the peach pond at the foot of Peach Mountain seemed to have a graceful woman bathing...