"Master, aren't you going to cultivate?"
Ji Fuyao replied, "No, I'm not."
Ye Chen scratched his head, clearly bewildered.
"However," Ji Fuyao continued, "Master enjoys eating, so you could also research that aspect. And let me tell you, there's a profound art to cooking; it's a form of cultivation in itself."
Ye Chen looked utterly lost yet intrigued. "Cooking is also a form of cultivation?"
Ji Fuyao patiently elaborated, "Cultivation is akin to preparing a fine meal, requiring not just techniques, but also a serene mind and a connection to the 'Path of Nature.' All of this is reflected in the act of cooking."
Ye Chen's eyes widened in understanding. So this was the unconventional cultivation method Master had developed? And it even offered relaxation!
Ji Fuyao smiled. "Let me give you another example. When you cook, don't you use spirit fire? This, too, is a way of elevating your Path of Spirit Fire. As for other aspects, you can explore them yourself."
Ye Chen's mind reeled with revelation. He understood.
"From now on," Ji Fuyao earnestly cautioned, "pay close attention to every word Master says and ponder its meaning deeply. There's always a profound intent behind his seemingly casual remarks. Master loves to guide us inadvertently. If you fail to grasp it, you'll miss a great opportunity."
Ye Chen etched Ji Fuyao's words into his memory. "Thank you, Senior Sister!" He thought to himself, Master truly is an extraordinary expert. I'm actually looking forward to life on Azure Mystery Peak now.
An hour later, Ji Fuyao finally completed the 'Grand Feast'!
She immediately sent a mental message to Lu Xuan. "Master, dinner's ready!"
Lu Xuan leisurely awoke and made his way to a grand hall. There, a table laden with dishes awaited. The Ye Family Old Ancestors, Wang Man, and others stood respectfully to the side, waiting for Lu Xuan to take his seat. A collective sense of awe filled them. They were incredibly fortunate to dine with Empress Fuyao, to partake in a meal she had personally prepared. What an honor for mere mortals to receive such a privilege from the Empress herself!
Lu Xuan was invited to the seat of honor. Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen sat to his left and right, respectively, before the others finally took their places.
The table was filled with a dazzling array of dishes: braised Fire Spirit Beast, spicy spirit chicken, boiled kun fish, and spiritual cucumber salad. Several bottles of spirit wine also graced the table.
Lu Xuan nodded, looking at Ji Fuyao. "Disciple, you've gone to great lengths." It was clear Ji Fuyao had thoroughly studied the culinary jade slip he had given her.
The others watched Lu Xuan, a touch of apprehension in their eyes. Lu Xuan waved a dismissive hand. "Eat, there's no need for such formalities."
Still, no one picked up their chopsticks until Lu Xuan took a bite of the Fire Spirit Beast meat, nodding his approval. "Excellent."
Only then did everyone begin to eat.
The Ye Family Old Ancestor raised a bottle of wine. "Peak Master Lu," he said, "This is an eight-hundred-and-twenty-year-old spirit wine I procured. I've never had the occasion to drink it. Allow me to fill your cup."
Ji Fuyao gave a faint smile. "Pour me some as well."
The Ye Family Old Ancestor paused, surprised. "Empress, you..."
"Today is a day for reunion," Ji Fuyao said, "I shall also have a few sips."
Hearty laughter erupted from the group. Then, the Ye Family Old Ancestor and Wang Man began to pour endless praise on Ji Fuyao's cooking.
"Empress, this is simply divine!"
"Empress, you are truly the God of Cookery of the Southern Wilds!"
"To have the honor of tasting your cooking, I feel blessed indeed..."
The atmosphere in the hall was joyful.
The Ye Family Old Ancestor glanced at Ye Chen. "Chen'er, once you return to Azure Mystery Peak, you must seek more guidance from the Empress and from Peak Master Lu."
Ye Chen nodded. "Understood."
Before long, after everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they moved to the main hall. The Ye Family members knew that Empress Fuyao and Ye Chen would soon be departing.
With a thought, the Ye Family Old Ancestor retrieved an ancient spiritual artifact from his storage ring. It resembled an old inkstone, entirely black, emanating an eerie aura. As he gently patted it, a terrifying surge of power erupted, and brilliant Dao patterns spread throughout the main hall, accompanied by a mighty Quasi-Emperor aura. This was a Quasi-Emperor tier weapon!
The Ye Family Old Ancestor smiled at Ye Chen. "Chen'er, this is our Ye family's heirloom, the Quasi-Emperor tier Heavenly Origin Inkstone. I acquired it in an ancient secret realm. Now that you're leaving the family, take this Quasi-Emperor weapon with you."
Ye Chen shook his head. "Old Ancestor, I don't need it."
The Ye Family Old Ancestor insisted, "Take it. You've already offended Qin Xiao. If the Qin Family targets you, this Quasi-Emperor weapon can at least buy you some time, enough for Peak Master Lu to rush to your rescue."
"Old Ancestor, I truly don't need it," Ye Chen reiterated. "Master has already given me an even greater treasure."
The Ye Family Old Ancestor's eyes widened slightly. "What object is it?"
Ye Chen looked at Lu Xuan, who gave a faint nod. Ye Chen then took out the Emperor Weapon, the Grand Dao Lock.
"Old Ancestor, this is the Emperor Weapon Master gifted me—the Grand Dao Lock!"
The Grand Dao Lock shimmered with brilliant, ancient Dao patterns, incredibly profound and complex. Within these intricate patterns, the lock seemed to seal an incredibly terrifying power. As everyone focused on it, a chill ran down their spines.
Instantly, a trace of Emperor-level aura poured forth into the main hall, an overwhelming force that pressed down on their hearts, leaving everyone breathless. An Emperor Weapon!
Lu Xuan had actually given Ye Chen an Emperor Weapon! The Ye Family Old Ancestors and others felt a pang of envy, looking at Ye Chen. "Chen'er, may we examine it?"
Ye Chen respectfully presented the Grand Dao Lock to the Ye Family Old Ancestors. They immediately extended their divine sense to scrutinize it. However, a thread of divine sense, upon entering the Grand Dao Lock, was instantly swallowed by a mysterious black energy.
This power sent shivers down the spines of the three Quasi-Emperor Old Ancestors of the Ye Family, leaving them utterly terrified.
"The Eerie Power!" The Ye Family Old Ancestor's voice trembled with shock. "Chen'er, this… is the power sealed within this lock the Eerie Power from your body?"
Ye Chen nodded.
Everyone stared at the Grand Dao Lock, profoundly shocked. So this was the Eerie Power! The same power that the three Ye Family Old Ancestors had failed to suppress, even after exhausting countless family resources. Now, it had been effortlessly sealed by Lu Xuan within the Grand Dao Lock.
Ji Fuyao also showed interest, her starry eyes twinkling. "So this is the Eerie Power?"
With utmost respect, the Ye Family Old Ancestor presented the Grand Dao Lock to Ji Fuyao. Wang Man and Qing Yan, along with the other Dragon Guards, also gathered around.
Ji Fuyao took the Grand Dao Lock, her gaze fixed on the wisp of mysterious energy sealed within. The Eerie Power swirled like black smoke inside the lock, causing her spirit to tremble faintly. It was an instinctive fear, born from the legends of forbidden powers that could even make Great Emperors wary. Once tainted by the Eerie Power, it was incredibly difficult to eradicate!
The others present also examined the Grand Dao Lock, all silently marveling. They thought, How fortunate that Ye Chen met Peak Master Lu; otherwise, this Eerie Power would still be lurking within him.
"Empress," the Ye Family Old Ancestor said with lingering fear, "we had originally intended to wait for your arrival to see if you could resolve this Eerie Power. We never imagined Peak Master Lu would descend upon our Ye family."
Ji Fuyao shook her head. "Even at my peak, I would have been powerless to resolve it!"
Everyone was dumbfounded. They looked at Lu Xuan, their shock deepening. Just how powerful was Peak Master Lu, to casually bestow an Emperor Weapon that suppressed the Eerie Power so effortlessly?
Moments later, Ye Chen put away the Grand Dao Lock.
The Ye Family Old Ancestor then retrieved several ancient jade slips. "Since your Master has gifted you an Emperor Weapon, your cultivation technique must not fall behind. These are Quasi-Emperor tier cultivation techniques I've collected over several millennia, including sword arts, fist methods, and saber techniques. You may examine them and choose one to cultivate."
Ye Chen felt a surge of excitement. Quasi-Emperor tier cultivation techniques! He was about to step forward when Lu Xuan calmly interjected, "No need. Quasi-Emperor tier cultivation techniques are a bit trashy."
The Ye Family Old Ancestor froze, utterly bewildered. What? Quasi-Emperor tier techniques were trashy?
Lu Xuan looked at Ye Chen and took out a cultivation jade slip. "Ye Chen, do you remember I told you I'd give you another gift when we returned to Azure Mystery Peak?"
Ye Chen nodded, recalling the promise. Lu Xuan smiled. "I'll give it to you now. You lack a high-tier cultivation technique."
With a flick of his finger, Lu Xuan sent the jade slip flying towards Ye Chen. Ye Chen eagerly caught it. He was filled with anticipation. What tier was this technique? Master had just said Quasi-Emperor tier techniques were trashy! This must be an Emperor-tier technique! An Emperor-tier technique! He was already miles ahead of everyone else at the starting line!
Swiftly, Ye Chen immersed his divine sense into the jade slip to examine the technique. "The Desolate! Heaven! Art!"
Instantly, the scenery before Ye Chen's eyes shifted, and he found himself in a vast, ethereal space.
Boom! A majestic figure in a green robe slowly ascended from the void. He stood with the myriad star domains behind him, divine radiance surging from his form, illuminating all creation. His black hair cascaded down, Dao patterns flickered across his body, and as his eyes opened and closed, thunder roared, shaking the heavens and earth.
Ye Chen was utterly staggered. What an incredibly powerful expert was this? This green-robed man held a boundless world in one hand. Before him stretched an endless host of alien enemies, all of them Great Emperors! The might of Emperors was like an abyss, capable of annihilating stars and tearing apart the heavens and earth.
The green-robed man's gaze swept over the alien enemies before him, and he slowly spoke, his voice resounding through the cosmos.
"Even with a vast world in my hand, I am still invincible! I am the Desolate Heaven Emperor, destined to suppress all enemies in the world!"
As his words fell, the green-robed man's figure vanished, reappearing with each step millions of miles away, stepping on stars as he traversed the void!
Boom! He unleashed a single punch! It was as if the universe shattered, as if star domains plummeted. In an instant, an incomparably ferocious power surged across the heavens. The fist print radiated an invincible aura, annihilating everything in its path. Dazzling Dao patterns continually coalesced into illusory forms, suppressing the horde of alien enemies.
The next instant, the myriad alien enemies were utterly obliterated, leaving no trace behind!
...
Ye Chen felt a profound disorientation as he suddenly withdrew from the vision. The Desolate Heaven Art had been fully imparted to him through that single, shocking scene! He stood rooted to the spot, drenched in sweat, completely engrossed in the memory of the vision, unable to recover his senses for a long time. Who was that powerful being? To be so supremely domineering, transcending ancient and modern times, rising into the void, and annihilating countless Great Emperors with a single punch!
The others watched Ye Chen, a mixture of awe and concern on their faces. When Ye Chen's eyes finally regained clarity, the Ye Family Old Ancestor asked, "Chen'er, was that cultivation technique… truly incredibly powerful?"
Ye Chen nodded emphatically. "Master bestowed upon me a six-star Emperor-tier cultivation technique, the Desolate Heaven Art! This technique embodies terrifying 'Dao and Momentum,' carrying with it an unyielding willpower!"
The entire Ye Family was stunned into silence.