A thin bamboo skewer held five cicadas, roasting over an open flame.
The bamboo skewer was no ordinary stick, and the fire was no mundane blaze. All five cicadas were Fifth Transformation Flame Path Gu Insects known as Purple Smoke Cicadas. Once infused with True Essence, they could spew dense purple smoke, obscuring a vast stretch of sky and earth.
In the mortal world, each Purple Smoke Cicada would have been enough to drive Gu Masters into a frenzy of bloodshed. But right now, they were nothing more than food.
The one roasting them wore a white robe and sported thick, voluminous hair. Even while sitting on a small folding stool, his tall, lean frame was unmistakable.
He was none other than Northern Plains' Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal — Hundred Centipede Heavenly Lord!
Hundred Centipede Heavenly Lord had a well-known hobby that had long been famous throughout the Northern Plains Gu Immortal world. He enjoyed cooking Gu Insects and would periodically come up with novel delicacies like this one.
He prepared these dishes himself, and besides eating them on his own, he would also bestow them upon members of the Hundred Centipede family. Any Gu Immortal who received such a treat would feel deeply honored. It was a symbol of Hundred Centipede Heavenly Lord's high regard!
From time to time, Hundred Centipede Heavenly Lord would also invite fellow Gu Immortal friends to visit and personally cook for his guests.
At this moment, Chu Du sat across from Hundred Centipede Heavenly Lord — the sole honored guest he had invited!
Chu Du chewed steadily, and only one Purple Smoke Cicada remained on his skewer.
"Brother Chu, how is the taste?" Hundred Centipede Heavenly Lord asked with a smile, still roasting cicadas over the flame.
Chu Du grinned. "Exceptional flavor! Who would have thought that these Purple Smoke Cicadas, after a bit of roasting, would taste like chicken with a hint of sweet taro. Crunchy and crisp — one skewer is definitely not enough."
"Hahaha." Hundred Centipede Heavenly Lord laughed heartily. "As everyone knows, I came from a lone cultivator background. A long time ago, I wandered Northern Plains in rags, half-naked and starving. One time, I tried to capture a wild Gu Insect and failed — I crushed it underfoot, and half a month's worth of effort went to waste."
"I couldn't bear it! I was furious. So I boiled that shattered Gu Insect and ate it. The taste was absolutely revolting. I had diarrhea for seven days and seven nights and nearly died from it."
"That ordeal, instead of breaking me, only strengthened my resolve. From then on, I swore that once I made something of myself, I would regularly eat Gu Insects — to exact my revenge."
Hundred Centipede Heavenly Lord's gaze drifted like clouds.
Chu Du fell silent.
Hundred Centipede Heavenly Lord had never shared such words with him before. There was an air of baring one's heart to a confidant.
Chu Du understood: this was because he had revealed his Eighth Transformation cultivation, placing him on equal footing with Hundred Centipede Heavenly Lord.
Hundred Centipede Heavenly Lord laughed once more and steered the conversation back around. "My cicada-roasting and whatnot — it's just a quirk. I only pursue the pleasure of taste with no real practical benefit. Not like those super forces with deep foundations, most of whom have famous teas and fine wines passed down and refined over generations. Some of the finer ones are said to actually enhance one's Dao Marks just by drinking them."
Chu Du nodded and spoke in an analytical tone. "Ever since the battle at Yitian Mountain, the Ghostly Soul Demon Venerable has been active, and his Food Path methods have been remarkably extraordinary. Heavenly Court opposed him and devoted significant effort to studying the Food Path, achieving considerable results. Meanwhile, the Qi Tide swept across the world. I've heard that five or six exposed Food Path inheritances have surfaced. Most of these inheritances were sold into the Bao Yellow Heaven, with one person selling multiple copies, benefiting more people. All of this has allowed the Food Path to gradually spread."
Hundred Centipede Heavenly Lord nodded repeatedly and sighed. "Fate is destroyed, the five regions are unified, three Venerables coexist, and an age of chaos is about to begin. This is a situation never before seen in the history of humanity. The Food Path originated among the Beastmen race, and its occasional spread was deliberately concealed by those with ulterior motives. But in this great era, the Food Path can no longer be hidden. I wonder how many Food Path powerhouses will emerge in the future. And if the Food Path is like this, the Strength Path won't remain stagnant either. Brother Chu, your ambition to revitalize the Strength Path would be nearly impossible in ordinary times. But in a grand era like this, there is much that can be accomplished!"
Chu Du couldn't help but laugh. He had previously fought against Dark Moon Immortal and sustained serious injuries just to save Hei Loulan, which had laid his ambitions bare for all to see.
A faint gleam lit Chu Du's eyes. "It's still far too early. Right now, if you count the Strength Path powerhouses across all five regions, you wouldn't reach five on one hand. Besides me and Dark Moon Immortal, the only other renowned one is the Supreme Grand Elder of the Fang Family in the Western Desert. To revitalize the Strength Path, I need to attract more Gu Masters to choose Strength Path cultivation. I have no power to change the natural environment, but I can create more Strength Path powerhouses and ignite a trend!"
Hundred Centipede Heavenly Lord finally found his opening and immediately interjected. "Brother Chu seems to have forgotten about a Strength Path powerhouse. In his early years, he relied heavily on Strength Path methods. As for this person now — he stands high above, looking down upon us as one would view birds from the clouds."
Chu Du paused for a moment, then quickly realized — Hundred Centipede Heavenly Lord was referring to Fang Yuan.
Chu Du understood the other's intent in mentioning Fang Yuan and decided to play along, his expression turning solemn. "I must admit, I was genuinely surprised that Gu Yue Fang Yuan could ascend to the rank of Venerable. When I first met him, I already sensed that this person was far from ordinary and impossible to fathom."
"Later, when I had the fortune to fight alongside him on several occasions, I came to see his iron will, his wisdom and courage. Anyone with such qualities could never remain subservient to others for long."
"And yet his identity was uniquely special — he was the person selected by Heavenly Will for rebirth, and then became the only candidate invested in by numerous Venerables to destroy Fate. The sheer strangeness, danger, and extraordinary nature of his life's journey — when you survey all of history, no one can stand beside him."
"So, when he ultimately reached that final step and became one of the most powerful beings under heaven, after my initial shock, the more I analyzed it, the more I felt it was only natural."
Hundred Centipede Heavenly Lord nodded vigorously after hearing this. "Exactly right."
Then, instinctively, he lowered his voice and leaned slightly forward toward Chu Du. "I wonder — has Brother Chu had any recent contact with that Demon Venerable Refining Heaven?"
Rather than answering directly, Chu Du countered. "Oh? Brother Hundred Centipede, are you thinking of..."
Hundred Centipede Heavenly Lord spread his hands and smiled bitterly. "Given the current situation, Brother Chu, why bother asking what you already know? You and I didn't exactly get off on the right foot — we only came to know each other through conflict. Though we've each established our own family forces, here in Northern Plains, we've always been treated as outsiders and pushed aside."