Ji Fuyao’s heart stirred, and she murmured, “I can completely avoid relying on spirit herbs! Just with my fire control mastery, I can ensure the spiritual essence of the dragon-python meat doesn’t dissipate!”
“He appears to be cooking, but in reality, he’s mastering fire!”
She began to absorb the lesson with all her focus. Fragments of memory from her past life, like shadows in a mist, slowly revealed themselves under a sudden burst of sunlight. She grasped a sliver of profound truth. Swiftly, her fire control became even more refined. No longer did she need the aid of spirit herbs; she could now perfectly preserve the dragon-python meat’s power.
Ji Fuyao let out a long breath. Her mastery of the Path of Spirit Fire had once again ascended! She had achieved enlightenment. Master Lu Xuan’s guidance had been perfectly timed. Though she was a Great Emperor in her past life, sometimes even the wisest are blind to what’s right in front of them. She knew it would have taken her far longer to discover this truth on her own. Yet, Lu Xuan had merely offered a casual word, and she had immediately reached a profound realization. Ji Fuyao decided it was crucial to pay serious attention to everything Lu Xuan said. His words seemed so offhand, yet they held hidden depths!
At that moment, the System’s voice chimed in Lu Xuan’s ear.
“Ding! Disciple Ji Fuyao has gained enlightenment on the Path of Spirit Fire! Synchronizing!”
Lu Xuan was pleasantly surprised. “My disciple really is something else! Achieving enlightenment while cooking! Is this what they call a Congenital Cooking Saint Body?”
“Not bad, not bad at all. From now on, Fuyao, you can take over all the cooking.”
Just as Lu Xuan was basking in his secret delight, Ji Fuyao suddenly spoke, “Master, thank you for your guidance.”
“Huh?” Lu Xuan froze. Guidance? What guidance?
Ji Fuyao explained, “Master, I understand now. You asked me to cook because it held a deeper meaning.”
“Oh?” Lu Xuan rubbed his nose. A deeper meaning, huh? He honestly just wanted Fuyao to cook! Isn’t that what disciples are for?
Ji Fuyao smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling like stars. “Cooking requires the use of spirit fire. You wanted me to comprehend the power of spirit fire, so I could achieve great mastery over it!”
Lu Xuan’s internal monologue: “???”
“Really? Was I really thinking that?”
Watching Lu Xuan’s astonished expression, Ji Fuyao found it quite amusing. Still pretending to be so humble! She couldn’t fathom why Lu Xuan, clearly possessing such profound wisdom, would go to such lengths to keep a low profile.
Ji Fuyao continued, “To achieve great mastery in the Path of Spirit Fire, one needs extremely precise fire control, and cooking demands exactly that! Master, truly, thank you.”
Lu Xuan was utterly dumbfounded. How had Ji Fuyao started making things up in her head? He couldn’t help but find her a little cute.
Ji Fuyao gave a knowing smile and nodded meaningfully towards Lu Xuan, her delicate neck tilting slightly. “Master, the food will be ready shortly.” Her eyes seemed to say, Master, I know you hold secrets. All these years, you’ve been thoroughly misunderstood! Lu Xuan simply nodded. “Good.”
Soon, Ji Fuyao carried a wooden tray, placing two plates of spirit beast meat on the stone table. Lu Xuan took a bite, giving a thumbs-up. “This is much better than yesterday.”
Ji Fuyao’s cheeks flushed. “Is it tasty?”
Lu Xuan replied, “Still needs practice.”
Ji Fuyao blinked. A moment of silence passed. Then, Ji Fuyao suddenly realized: This is Master telling me to continue practicing the Path of Spirit Fire! Her heart warmed. Lu Xuan’s guidance was always so understated, so casual! He spoke of taste, but he was truly speaking of fire control!
Ji Fuyao’s starlit eyes shimmered as she began to eat. Lu Xuan ate quickly, finishing his meal before sprawling back onto his reclining chair to bask in the sun. Ji Fuyao ate slowly, pondering Lu Xuan’s words.
Then, “Boom!” A torrent of spirit fire erupted from her body, its power surging. At times, it was wildly chaotic; at others, it was as gentle as a flickering candle flame.
“Ding! Host’s eldest disciple, Ji Fuyao, is comprehending the Path of Spirit Fire! Synchronizing!” the System’s voice resounded.
Lu Xuan was completely bewildered. Again?! She’s comprehending again? Comparing myself to others just makes me want to die from frustration.
Lu Xuan recalled how, in his own cultivation days, let alone enlightenment, even studying cultivation techniques felt like tackling a reading comprehension test. It was like deciphering an ancient, indecipherable tome! This is true talent; the difference is like heaven and earth! But now… why bother with his own enlightenment when his disciple could do it for him? Lu Xuan inwardly beamed with delight!
Several hours later, Ji Fuyao slowly opened her eyes, her face alight with joy. The spirit fire around her body gradually receded, clearly indicating she had advanced another step closer to complete mastery. Yet, Lu Xuan’s own gains were even greater!
Ji Fuyao offered Lu Xuan a faint smile, her starlit eyes sparkling with a trace of gratitude. Lu Xuan nodded in response. Ji Fuyao then began to clear the dishes, heading into the humble cottage to wash them.
Just then, a divine rainbow streaked across the distant sky, its destination none other than Azure Mystery Peak! A terrifying saintly aura, vast as an abyss and deep as the sea, surged from the rainbow, reverberating through the heavens and earth with overwhelming force.
“Boom!” A grey-robed middle-aged man landed on Azure Mystery Peak. It was the Sect Master of the Grand Dao Sect! The Sect Master, with his square-jawed face and righteous demeanor, slowly approached Lu Xuan. Every movement exuded the aura of a high-ranking authority. He had come to have a heart-to-heart with Lu Xuan. To this day, he still couldn’t fathom why Lu Xuan had taken Ji Fuyao as a disciple. He had explicitly promised Lu Xuan that he could amend the Grand Dao Sect’s rules, allowing him to remain a Peak Master even without taking any disciples!
The Sect Master simply couldn’t understand. Even Elder Mu had suggested he speak with Lu Xuan, so here he was. However, seeing Lu Xuan sprawled in his reclining chair, the Sect Master shook his head. Sigh. Lu Xuan is still the same! Still not cultivating, just lying around all day. It’s truly improper. I thought he might change after taking a disciple!
Wait a minute! The Sect Master suddenly froze. His gaze drifted towards the cottage. What did he see? Ji Fuyao washing pots and dishes?! No. The Sect Master was utterly dumbfounded. On what grounds does Lu Xuan deserve this?
The Sect Master’s fury flared, flames flickering in his eyes as he charged directly towards Lu Xuan. Ji Fuyao’s cultivation talent was unparalleled, a genius unseen in the Grand Dao Sect for a thousand years, and she had even resonated with the Grand Dao Sect’s supreme treasure, the Grand Dao Bell! Yet now, Lu Xuan wasn’t having Ji Fuyao seize every moment to cultivate; instead, he was making her wash dishes? Wasn’t this pure foolishness?!
“Lu! Xuan! You had better explain yourself!” the Sect Master roared, rolling up his sleeves, enunciating each word with thunderous rage.
Lu Xuan blinked, then calmly looked at the Sect Master. “Sect Master, explain what?”
The Sect Master pointed at Ji Fuyao in the cottage, practically incandescent with frustration. “You, you, how could you make Fuyao do such chores as washing dishes and scrubbing pots? You’re squandering Fuyao’s talent!”
“I originally thought you would guide Fuyao in some meaningful way, or at the very least, give her your Master’s cultivation resources. I never imagined you’d make Ji Fuyao do such trivial tasks!”
Lu Xuan was just about to formulate an explanation when Ji Fuyao suddenly spoke, “Sect Master, please do not blame Master. I volunteered.”
Volunteered! The Sect Master was stunned. He looked at Lu Xuan, then at Ji Fuyao, completely bewildered. Ji Fuyao was actually defending Lu Xuan? Why? He was utterly lost.
Numerous questions flashed through the Sect Master’s mind; he simply couldn’t comprehend any of this.
“Fuyao, you mean doing these things was your choice?”
“Don’t tell me you’ve also started eating with Lu Xuan.” The Sect Master looked at Ji Fuyao, grasping at a last straw of hope.
Ji Fuyao replied earnestly, “I have.”
The Sect Master’s face flushed crimson with anger; he stomped his foot directly onto Azure Mystery Peak, roaring, “Ah!”
With a thunderous crash, Azure Mystery Peak trembled, seemingly sinking several hundred feet! He was on the verge of a breakdown! He really wanted to punch Lu Xuan! Among the entire Grand Dao Sect, only Lu Xuan hadn’t abstained from worldly food. Now, he had even led Ji Fuyao astray. Wasn’t this just ruining a promising talent?
At this, Ji Fuyao calmly stated, “Sect Master, this is also a form of cultivation.”
“Hmm?” This is also cultivation? What in the world had Lu Xuan done to completely fool Ji Fuyao into believing such a thing?! The Sect Master’s brows furrowed deeply, his eyes spitting fire as he glared at Lu Xuan. He grabbed Lu Xuan and dragged him into the cave dwelling.
“I need an explanation.”
The two sat around a wooden table. The Sect Master’s gaze fell upon some calligraphy and paintings on the table, which only fueled his anger further. These were Lu Xuan’s doggerel poems and landscape paintings from over the years. The Sect Master immediately averted his eyes, unwilling to look at them for a second longer! These were all the masterpieces of Lu Xuan’s idle years! After all, Lu Xuan had nothing else to do…
At this, Lu Xuan slowly began, “Sect Master, don’t worry. Fuyao knows what she’s doing.”
The Sect Master’s brows subtly furrowed. He considered a crucial point. From Ji Fuyao’s demeanor, she clearly wasn’t being coerced! Could cooking and washing dishes truly be a form of cultivation? He didn’t believe a word of it! But then, where was the problem? Ji Fuyao obviously held Lu Xuan in immense respect. Could the two of them share a deeper connection?
“Wait. Lu Xuan, what about your cultivation level?” The Sect Master suddenly asked, his eyes sweeping over Lu Xuan. He realized he couldn’t perceive Lu Xuan’s cultivation at all.
Lu Xuan calmly replied, “I’ve hidden it.”
The Sect Master couldn’t help but want to laugh. “You, a mere Qi Refining stage cultivator, need to hide your cultivation?”
Lu Xuan’s internal monologue: “…”
The Sect Master continued, “Did Fuyao teach you a high-grade concealment technique? It must be quite potent, to even evade my detection.”
Lu Xuan fell silent. “???” How did the Sect Master also start overthinking things? He didn’t know how to explain. Should he tell him he was a Profound Emperor? But even a Profound Emperor was nothing compared to the Sect Master’s Profound Saint level. Better to keep developing for a while longer.
Lu Xuan poured the Sect Master a cup of tea, and the Sect Master’s emotions gradually settled. He thought for a moment, deciding to tolerate this for now. He would just let Lu Xuan mess around for this month.
Lu Xuan curiously asked, “Sect Master, is there something specific you came for this time?” It was worth noting that the Sect Master hadn’t visited Azure Mystery Peak since his master’s demise! Nothing good ever comes from an unannounced visit!
The Sect Master’s gaze burned as he looked at Lu Xuan. “Lu Xuan, your Master, the Azure Mystery Saint, made many contributions to the Grand Dao Sect. After his passing, our Grand Dao Sect naturally wouldn’t let his disciple feel neglected.”
“And you are the Azure Mystery Saint’s only disciple. However, your cultivation talent is limited, and you’ve suffered cold words over the years; it must not have been easy.”
“Alas… I’ve been negligent all these years, not looking after you much.”
Lu Xuan took a sip of tea and remained silent.
“Lu Xuan,” the Sect Master continued, “did you know that if you hadn’t managed to recruit a disciple this time, I had already arranged a fallback plan for you?”
Lu Xuan was slightly surprised. “Really?”
The Sect Master produced a jade seal and placed it before Lu Xuan. “What is this?” Lu Xuan slowly picked up the jade seal, examining it. It was a low-grade spirit artifact, incredibly heavy, with four characters inscribed in spirit runes: “Grand Xuan Dynasty!”
The Sect Master smiled faintly. “Originally, after you were expelled from the Grand Dao Sect, I would have arranged for an elder to send you to the mundane Grand Xuan Dynasty to become a worldly Emperor. You would have enjoyed a life of luxury, with three thousand beauties in your harem, truly savoring the pleasures of the mortal world.”