"What's the surprise?"
At that moment, Yvonne walked in, carrying a wooden tray with three steaming bowls of shredded meat noodles on it.
"Sally, come join us for some noodles with meatballs. I made these myself," Yvonne offered.
"No, thank you. My dad is waiting for me at home," Sally declined with a smile. "Yvonne, I didn't expect you to be able to manage household chores and cook now. You're so much more capable than me."
"You're just being kind, Sally. It's just necessity that's the mother of invention. You know, I've had to do these chores since I was a child. Anyway, since you're here, do try my cooking," Yvonne insisted.
"Well, when in Rome..." Sally quickly picked up her chopsticks and took a few bites.
"Wow, this is so delicious," Sally praised, giving a thumbs-up. "This is the best noodles I've ever had."
"You're so sweet, Sally! I was afraid you, being used to delicacies, would find my noodles too plain," Yvonne replied. "By the way, what surprise did you prepare for my brother?"
Sally gestured towards Edward, and that's when Yvonne noticed a space pouch in Edward's hand.
"Ask your brother to open it. Inside it's cultivation resources sent by my dad," Sally explained.
Yvonne, who had been worried about her brother's lack of cultivation resources, was overjoyed at the news.
"Let me open it for him," Yvonne quickly snatched the bag from Edward's hand, acting like a child eager to find out what candies were inside.
Edward shook his head, "She's such a mischievous one."
"Yvonne is still a child, after all," Sally laughed. "You, as her brother, must take good care of her, or I won't let you off the hook."
Her tone sounded like she was Yvonne's sister-in-law.
This time, Edward didn't argue back.
He was silent, like a man who feared his wife.
Yvonne quickly dumped the contents of the storage bag, and the items were a treasure trove.
Some rare herbs in New Hook, and various colourful pills.
Even Yvonne, who didn't know much about herbs and pills, knew these were precious.
Among them, a blue pill the size of an egg caught Yvonne's attention.
"Wow, this is a top-grade Strength Pill!" Yvonne exclaimed. "I've heard that taking this pill can increase the speed of cultivation by at least ten times."
"That's right," Sally took another bite of noodles. "My dad used the most precious herbs in New Hook. And after forty-nine days, with the help of our city's most famous alchemist, Tolly, he managed to refine it."
"Your dad is incredibly generous," Yvonne said. "If only he were here, I'd definitely make him a bowl of my noodles."
Edward chuckled,
"He's used to his fancy dishes and might not enjoy your homely dish."
Yvonne stuck her tongue out at her brother,
"It's precisely because he's had enough of delicacies that he might want a taste of my rustic fare to cleanse his palate. I'm sure he'll like my cooking!" Yvonne retorted.
"I think my dad would enjoy your cooking because it's indeed fantastic," Sally took another bite of noodles and then said casually,
"Alright, it's getting late. I must head back, or my dad will worry."
"Okay then, Shorty. Anyway, I need to thank you and your dad for sending such precious cultivation resources," Edward said.
"There's no need to thank us. It's the least we can do for you right now. I'm off, Edward, Yvonne."
"Hope you can come again when you're free, and I'll make you my noodles again. Walk her home please, brother!"
"She's a big girl. She doesn't need me to walk her home," Edward replied.
"You call her Shorty, how can she be big? Walk her home," Yvonne insisted, giving Edward a meaningful look and whispering, "Jump at the chance, fool!"
"I can find my way back on my own," Sally said considerately. "Don't worry, I know my way around here, and I won't get lost. Don't waste Edward's time for his cultivation."
With that, Sally skipped out of the yard and gradually walked into the distance.
"You have no idea about girls, brother. That was such an opportunity. Can't you see she likes you?"
"What nonsense, Yvonne," Edward raised his voice, "You know I have a girlfriend."
"Humph, don't even mention that so-called girlfriend of yours," Yvonne suddenly said indignantly, "Think about what she's done to you over these days!"
"I know all that. Don't worry, I have a plan, and when the time comes, I'll work it out."
"Good, Sally seems like a very nice person, you should..."
Edward suddenly interrupted her, not allowing his sister to finish her sentence,
"Stop talking like that, sis! I know I owe her a favor now, but the only thing I can do is to focus on my cultivation and pass the entrance test for Aurora Awakening Academy in one go."
"You're right, I believe you can do it. You must not let Sally down, look at all the cultivation resources she brought for you."
"Indeed, I'll do my best. You mentioned this top-grade Strength Pill, is its effect that magical? Can it really increase the speed of cultivation by ten times? I have to give it a try now."
Before his sister could speak, Edward swallowed the blue pill straight away.
"Wait, brother," Yvonne said anxiously, "Don't take it all at once!"
But it was too late; the blue pill was already down his throat.
"What's wrong?" Edward asked, puzzled.
"I heard that if a regular awakener takes the whole Strength Pill in one go, it could cause to burst blood vessels. Ordinary ones can't withstand such a powerful medicinal potent. What should we do now?"
Edward immediately felt a burning sensation in his stomach, getting increasingly hotter.
"Heavens, you're about to burn up!" Yvonne looked at Edward in horror as flames appeared on his body. "You can't die, brother."
In a second, Yvonne was on the verge of tears, her eyes already welling up.
At that moment, Cici's voice suddenly rang in Edward's ear.
[What a powerful fire energy, perfect for merging with Infinite Primitive Energy.]
"Really? That's great," Edward muttered to himself, talking to Cici.
"Great?" Yvonne's eyes welled up with tears. "What's so great about dying? I want you to live."
Yvonne thought her brother was talking to her.
Edward noticed and quickly said, "Don't worry, sister. You know I'm not an ordinary awakener. After all, it took me years to awaken, isn't that ordinary, right?"
"How can you still be in the mood to play a joke?"
Yvonne noticed the fire on her brother's body growing larger.
She was so scared that she forgot to fetch water to extinguish the fire. Suddenly it occurred to her, so she rushed to get water.
"I'm not joking. Watch how I make use of the energy of this top-grade Strength Pill."
Edward rushed to the courtyard and sat on a large slab of bluestone, allowing the fire on his body to temper his muscles and bones.
[Very well, master, this is an excellent opportunity for you to awaken the 'Fire Dragon Emerging' technique. Quickly merge the Infinite Primitive Energy with the pill's energy.]
"Fire Dragon Emerging? Does this mean I can use fire for attacks?"
[Exactly. Merge!]
"Merge!"
Edward shouted, and the Infinite Primitive Energy within him quickly absorbed and transformed the fiery energy from the pill.
Soon, Edward's whole body was enveloped in a golden light, and the fire on his body gathered in his palms, forming a massive fireball.
"Fire Dragon Emerging!"
The huge fireball shot from Edward's hands and hit a pole in the courtyard that was meant to support the growth of vegetables.
In an instant, the pole turned to ash.
"Fantastic. Next time I want to eat a turkey or something, I just need this one move, Fire Dragon Emerging, and I can have it ready to eat."
At the same time, he noticed his basic information was rapidly updating.
[Congratulations. You have become a level-two Master Awakener. Moreover, you have successfully acquired the 'Fire Dragon Emerging' technique.]
"This top-grade Strength Pill is indeed effective, accelerating my level-up. At this rate, becoming the most powerful awakener in this world is just around the corner.
And it will be a piece of cake for me to pass the entrance test for the Aurora Awakening "
As Edward was revelling in his newly acquired technique, his sister suddenly rushed out of the house, carrying a bucket of water.
"I'm here to save you, brother. I'll put out the fire for you!"
She poured the water in her bucket straight onto his body.
Splash!