Ding! Congratulations, Host, for completing the quest: Assist Ji Fuyao in annihilating the Heavenly Net Hall Branch! Rewards are being issued!
Ding! Congratulations, Host, for obtaining a large amount of cultivation foundation!
Ding! Congratulations, Host, for obtaining a Nine-star Emperor Tier Dao Derivation Jade Slip!
Ding! Congratulations, Host, for obtaining one Nine-star Great Emperor Experience Card!
Ding! Congratulations, Host, for obtaining a Heaven and Earth Wonder: a jar of Azure Origin Sweet Dew!
As the notifications faded, a profound surge of spiritual energy flooded Lu Xuan’s body, rushing through his limbs and bones like a mighty river. The familiar, blissful sensation of tingling comfort spread throughout his entire being.
Lu Xuan’s cultivation skyrocketed! In an instant, he broke through to Four-star Great Emperor Late-stage Great Perfection, standing just one step away from the Five-star Great Emperor realm!
Lu Xuan merely offered a casual, “Not bad.”
Next, he examined the Dao Derivation Jade Slip. It was identical to the one he’d previously given to Ye Chen. This one could upgrade Ji Fuyao’s Heaven-Burning Art to Nine-star Emperor Tier! And this time, there was an additional Nine-star Great Emperor Experience Card! Once activated, it would grant him the power to instantly kill Half-step Supremes!
Then, Lu Xuan turned his attention to the Heaven and Earth Wonder, the Azure Origin Sweet Dew.
The System prompted: “Azure Origin Sweet Dew is a supreme essence, born from dozens of rare plants, continuously condensing Dao and Essence within the most extreme Grand Terrain Stance. Over countless eons, the essence of these plants evolves, with only a few drops forming every millennium! Once consumed, this item allows for direct comprehension of the Grand Terrain Stance it originated from, leading straight to the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, and containing the ultimate meaning of this very world.”
Lu Xuan blinked, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Wait, this sounds even more potent than the Azure Nether Celestial Water and All-Reach Profound Powder he’d seen before?
With that thought, Lu Xuan turned to Ji Fuyao, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Fuyao, when you cook today, let’s add something new to the menu.”
At his words, Ji Fuyao emerged from the thatched hut, a radiant smile gracing her face as she gracefully approached Lu Xuan. But the moment her gaze fell upon Chen Changsheng, sprawled lazily beside Lu Xuan, her smile instantly froze.
Ye Chen, who had been diligently cultivating even while eating, shot a quick, knowing glance at Chen Changsheng, cleared his throat discreetly, and then resumed his practice.
Whoosh! A faint, elegant fragrance wafted through the air as Ji Fuyao materialized directly in front of Chen Changsheng.
“Chen! Chang! Sheng!”
Ji Fuyao gritted her teeth, each syllable a hammer blow as she glared at Chen Changsheng, her eyes blazing with a humorous, yet palpable, ‘killing intent.’
Chen Changsheng slowly opened his eyes, offering a guileless, “Senior Sister!” with a seemingly honest smile.
Normally, Ji Fuyao addressed him as ‘Junior Brother Changsheng’ with a warm, affectionate tone. This, however, was entirely different.
Flames seemed to ignite in Ji Fuyao’s eyes. She glared fiercely at Chen Changsheng, pressing a hand to her forehead in exasperation. Her voice was sharp, authoritative. “Get up!”
Chen Changsheng scrambled to his feet.
Ji Fuyao fixed him with a stern gaze. “Third Junior Brother, your talent is merely average. You should be seizing every single moment to cultivate, to live up to Master’s profound expectations! Master himself once said, ‘Diligence makes up for shortcomings, and the early bird catches the worm.’ How can you possibly lie around like this?”
Chen Changsheng opened his mouth to protest, “But, I—”
Ji Fuyao cut him off sharply. “Master can lie around, because Master is invincible! But you? Are you invincible?”
Chen Changsheng stammered, “I’m still very weak, but—”
Ji Fuyao let out a disdainful huff, her aura radiating the full majesty of a Senior Sister. With a look of utter exasperation, as if disappointed he wasn’t living up to his potential, she slammed a palm down, instantly pulverizing Chen Changsheng’s lounge chair into dust. “Cultivate!”
Ye Chen let out a muffled chuckle, muttering under his breath, “Third Junior Brother, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Ji Fuyao’s gaze snapped to Ye Chen. “Ye Chen, what’s so funny?”
Boom! She raised her slender, jade-like hand, and a stream of Divine Radiance descended, instantly suppressing Ye Chen where he stood.
Ye Chen was utterly dumbfounded. “Huh? Wasn’t she just lecturing Third Junior Brother? What did I do wrong?! Why am I being used to make an example?! I’m innocent!”
A subtle smirk played on Chen Changsheng’s lips.
Ji Fuyao’s brow furrowed slightly. Her slender hand rose once more, and a moment later, Chen Changsheng found himself suppressed as well.
Lu Xuan slowly opened his eyes, a faint smile gracing his lips. “Excellent. Fuyao is truly embracing her role as the Senior Sister now!” Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Lu Xuan’s mind drifted to a completely unrelated thought: “Marry a Sichuan-Chongqing wife, enjoy a life of misfortune, live a silly life.”
Chen Changsheng immediately turned to Lu Xuan, a helpless plea in his voice. “Master, could you put in a good word for me?”
Lu Xuan looked at Ji Fuyao. “Release Third Junior Brother. His ‘lying flat’ is actually with my tacit approval—”
Before he could even finish, Ji Fuyao instantly lifted the seal on Chen Changsheng.
Ye Chen mumbled softly, “Senior Sister, what about me?”
Ji Fuyao replied, “Ye Chen, you can reflect for a while longer! I’ll unseal you when it’s time to eat.”
Ye Chen was speechless.
Lu Xuan explained, “Fuyao, Third Junior Brother cultivates the Scripture of Non-Action, the very Dao of Non-Action. So, it’s perfectly fine for him to lie down. Besides, this kid, Third Junior Brother, is far more profound than he lets on. You’ll all understand in due time.”
Hearing this, Ji Fuyao’s eyes flickered with understanding. She stared intently at Chen Changsheng for several long breaths, then finally turned back to Lu Xuan. “Understood, Master. I will remember that.”
Lu Xuan nodded, then casually produced a jar of Azure Origin Sweet Dew. In that instant, a faint, ethereal Dao and Essence wafted out, far surpassing even the Azure Nether Celestial Water and All-Reach Profound Powder in its profound aura!
Divine Radiance flickered in Chen Changsheng’s eyes. “Master, this… this couldn’t be the Heaven and Earth Wonder, Azure Origin Sweet Dew, could it?”
Ji Fuyao’s body trembled almost imperceptibly. She had only ever read about such a treasure in the most ancient of texts. A supreme treasure, rumored to have condensed the Grand Terrain Stance and the very essence of flora over countless eons! Even a single drop was said to immerse one in the Grand Terrain Stance, allowing them to comprehend the power of the Heavenly Dao as if they were experiencing it firsthand! And now, Master had casually produced an entire jar of it!
Chen Changsheng was utterly astonished. “Did Master scour the entire Southern Wilds for every last drop of Azure Origin Sweet Dew?” he wondered, deeply awed.
At that moment, even Elder Yao, who had been quietly observing, gasped aloud. “What?! So much Azure Origin Sweet Dew! The Yao Family only possesses half a bottle of this precious elixir!”
Lu Xuan glanced at Ye Chen. “Ye Chen, when you cook with this, remember to give Elder Yao ten bowls!”
Elder Yao quickly waved his hands in refusal. “One bowl! One bowl is more than enough!”
Soon after, Ji Fuyao carefully carried the jar of Azure Origin Sweet Dew into the thatched hut. Her heart was a tempest of emotions. As she began to prepare the meal, her mind remained in a profound state of awe and disbelief. Three heaven-defying Heaven and Earth Wonders, casually sitting within a simple thatched hut! This was wealth and foundation that could rival the combined might of numerous Overlord-level Powers!
Chen Changsheng let out a soft, shaky breath. Even after cultivating for countless years in the Southern Wilds, he was utterly shaken by Lu Xuan’s sheer extravagance. He then conjured another lounge chair and settled back down beside Lu Xuan. Before his mind’s eye, the long river of the Southern Wilds’ history flowed endlessly. Yet, no matter how far back he searched, a figure like Lu Xuan had simply never existed! Chen Changsheng’s reverence for his Master deepened even further.
Before long, Ji Fuyao emerged, carrying steaming hot dishes to the stone table. She finally lifted the seal on Ye Chen, and the four of them settled down to eat.
“Mmm…” “Oh…” Ji Fuyao, Ye Chen, and Chen Changsheng all let out simultaneous, involuntary moans of pleasure. The dishes contained an incomparably profound blend of Dao and Essence, infused with the power of three heaven-defying treasures. These three forces surged within them, causing a wondrous transformation in their internal worlds. The power of the Grand Terrain Stance suddenly began to manifest within their bodies. For a moment, a faint, ethereal fragrance wafted from Ji Fuyao, spreading outwards. It was the overflowing Dao and Essence, incredibly fresh and invigorating, purifying the very air. Ji Fuyao’s fine hairs became impossibly crystalline and delicate, standing on end. Her entire body surged with brilliant Divine Radiance, making her appear like a celestial fairy descending to the mortal realm, utterly pure and refined. Even her hair shimmered with a crystalline glow.