Today is my holiday—let all under heaven celebrate, may all my readers be happy every day!
……
Though Yang Kai's Divine Sense cultivation was nothing to scoff at, it still fell considerably short of the Great Emperors. For someone of Zhan Wuhen's caliber, secretly monitoring him would be child's play.
And yet the man had deliberately let a wisp of his aura slip, just enough for Yang Kai to sense it.
The message was crystal clear: I've got my eye on you, kid.
He couldn't very well interfere with his precious disciple's actions, but that didn't mean he couldn't give Yang Kai a little warning.
Dragged along by Lin Yun'er the entire way, Yang Kai felt like he had needles pricking at his back.
Along the road they encountered numerous people hurrying about—obviously Star Realm cultivators stationed in the Seven Fog Sea. Every single one of them greeted Lin Yun'er with a smile and a bow when they saw her, clearly well acquainted.
They finally arrived outside a grand hall, and only then did Lin Yun'er release Yang Kai's arm, pointing at the building with a grin.
This appeared to be their destination. Yang Kai had no idea what Lin Yun'er wanted with him here, but before he even stepped through the door, the scent of roasting meat hit his nose—an aroma so indescribably wonderful that even he, long since an Emperor Realm cultivator with no need to satisfy mortal appetites, felt his stomach growl with hunger.
The fragrance drifted outward, spreading far and wide. People nearby were craning their necks to peer in this direction, licking their lips every now and then, the picture of ravenous anticipation.
Lin Yun'er pushed open the heavy doors and tugged Yang Kai inside.
The great hall was bare, devoid of furnishings. Only in the very center stood a large black cauldron, something unknown simmering inside, bubbling vigorously as columns of steam rose skyward. Firewood blazed beneath it, burning strong and bright.
Beside the cauldron sat a stunningly beautiful woman in brilliant red robes, her appearance dazzling to behold. She was scooping broth from the pot with a ladle, slurping it down noisily—the soup was clearly scalding hot, yet she paid it no mind, draining several mouthfuls before setting the ladle down. Her ruby-red lips, lustrous as gemstones, curled into a smile as she looked at Yang Kai, who had just walked in with Lin Yun'er. "You're in for a treat, kid!"
Yang Kai stepped forward and bowed. "Greetings, Senior Nine Phoenix!"
The one keeping watch over the black cauldron was none other than Nine Phoenix of the Spirit Beast Island. In terms of age, she outstripped Yang Kai by an immeasurable margin. As for seniority, she was of Li Wuyi's generation—Mo Xiaoqi called her Aunt Phoenix, and what's more, Liu Yan had been her disciple, making Yang Kai regard her as family all along.
Nine Phoenix, whose grace was second to none, now sat cross-legged on the ground beside a grimy black pot with absolutely no regard for her image. To make matters worse, the pot was stewing some unidentifiable beast meat. The moment Yang Kai walked in, the visual impact was staggering.
The firewood was ordinary. The fire was ordinary. But the pot was anything but. Its name was Guiyi—the Unifying Cauldron—a rare treasure obtained by the Iron Blood Great Emperor himself. Throughout the entire Star Realm it was a famed existence. Perhaps it couldn't match the Mountain and River Bell in terms of historical lineage, but its power was no less formidable; each had its own strengths.
Lin Yun'er was Zhan Wuhen's only disciple, and naturally the master doted on the student with all his finest treasures. This Guiyi Cauldron had been gifted to Lin Yun'er as a means of protection—except the girl had always used it as nothing more than a cooking pot. Yang Kai had learned that firsthand over twenty years ago.
Lin Yun'er's status was extraordinary. A Great Emperor's disciple—how many existed in all the Star Realm? With Zhan Wuhen backing her up, she could practically walk sideways across the world and no one would dare cross her.
The girl had also earned her keep. Her innate physique—the Tyrant Body of Force—was a natural match for the Iron Blood Records that her master cultivated. In just a few short decades she had advanced to the third stage of the Emperor Realm, progressing even faster than Yang Kai.
But it was precisely because of this cultivation method that the girl's appetite was monstrous—her palate was practically gluttonous. Whatever she caught got tossed into the pot and stewed without a single seasoning, and it would turn out to be a supreme delicacy.
Right now, who knew what was simmering inside the Guiyi Cauldron. The broth churned and bubbled, thick and rich, the aroma of meat filling the air.
Yang Kai was still politely exchanging pleasantries with Nine Phoenix when Lin Yun'er had already charged up to the cauldron, craning her neck to peer inside. "Is it ready? Is it ready?" she asked, then slurped up a string of drool, every ounce of a Great Emperor disciple's dignity vanishing into thin air—as if she hadn't eaten in decades.
"Let me check." Nine Phoenix fished out a large chunk of meat and devoured it in a few swift bites.
Lin Yun'er kept watching her, her small face full of anticipation. Nine Phoenix pulled out another piece…
A third…
Lin Yun'er swallowed saliva over and over.
Yang Kai sighed. "Yun'er, if you don't eat now, there won't be any left."
Her expression changed at once. Without a moment's hesitation, both her hands plunged into the cauldron. She hauled out a massive beast leg and took a huge bite—then paused, forced down her gnawing hunger, and held it out toward Yang Kai.
Yang Kai waved it off, stepped forward, and rolled up his sleeves. "I'll help myself!"
In an instant, the three of them gathered around the black cauldron, and a whirlwind of eating commenced.
Over twenty years ago, Yang Kai had tasted what the Guiyi Cauldron could produce and thought it the most heavenly delicacy in all existence—no other food in the world could compare. Now, sampling it once again, it was exactly the same.