“After all, I’m not as big as Master.”
Behind him, the Martial Dao Furnace blazed, continuously supplying him with Ancient Ancestor power. He replicated the process! Endless Heaven-reaching Dao Patterns surged from Ye Chen’s hands as he began refining the Fallen Star Sea. To his astonishment, his Alchemy Dao Attainment was skyrocketing.
Just then, a voice echoed in his ear. “Remember to come back for dinner.”
A warmth spread through Ye Chen’s heart. “This is great,” he thought, “as long as it’s not Fourth Senior Sister’s cooking.”
…
At Azure Mystery Peak, within the Grand Dao Sect, Lu Xuan lay casually stretched out on a lounge chair. He felt a little tired these days. It had been one battle after another! Even after merging with his past life’s memories, they remained fragmented. He had arrived in the Fallen Star Sea severely injured, bringing the Bronze Ancient Palace with him, and found a Star Sea with a fragmented Heavenly Dao. His memories had been incomplete even then.
A faint smile played on Lu Xuan’s lips. “Interesting.”
No matter. The path back to the peak is just a scenic stroll.
Ji Fuyao, Ah Li, and Qingqiu gathered around Lu Xuan. The Spirit Fire Dao! The Charm Dao, the Illusion Dao! The Sword Dao! Three Grand Daos hummed and resonated around Lu Xuan.
Qingqiu’s simple skirt billowed softly, a hint of confusion on her beautiful face. “Master,” she asked, “where is that colossal divine tree from before?”
Lu Xuan chuckled. Qingqiu was referring to the giant tree from his previous life, where he had lectured on the Dao and achieved enlightenment. It wasn’t a real tree, but a manifestation of his Grand Dao, a reflection of the World Tree. Lu Xuan explained.
Ji Fuyao’s starry eyes sparkled with curiosity. “The World Tree? Is this how the external Star Domains are structured?”
Lu Xuan nodded. “The World Tree is rooted in reincarnation, immortal and indestructible, wreathed in the power of time. A portion of the Origin of Dao resides within it. Around the World Tree exist powerful beings, or what they might call ‘worlds.’ Among them is a butterfly, and with a mere flap of its wings, terrifying storms can sweep through countless Star Domains. This is the Butterfly Effect!”
Hearing this, Ji Fuyao and the others were deeply shaken. Terrifying! The power of the outside world far surpassed their imaginations.
Lu Xuan smiled. “No matter. The Grand Daos of you three, once refined to their peak, will be enough to destroy the World Tree!” He began to ‘draw cakes’ for them. Though, this ‘cake’ was quite real!
Determination shone in Ji Fuyao’s eyes. “I will definitely redouble my cultivation efforts.”
Lu Xuan nodded.
Chen Changsheng, too, began cultivating in his cave dwelling. A mysterious aura surged around him, and the Bronze Ancient Palace, now fist-sized, floated before him, radiating unfathomable power.
Master was right. The Bronze Ancient Palace was indeed a supreme treasure, capable of concealing heavenly secrets and harboring terrifying mysteries. A Star Core reflected in Chen Changsheng’s eyes, and the years of the past flickered before him like fleeting clouds. He had once believed his cultivation of various Daos—Puppet Dao, Formation Dao, Illusion Dao—was due to his extraordinary talent. He now realized it was because Dao Yi’s true body had cultivated Master’s Origin of Dao. The Origin of Dao, naturally, could fuse myriad Daos into one furnace! All in all, Master was still invincible.
Within the Bronze Ancient Palace floated numerous Great Domains. These weren’t just the Great Domains collected from the Fallen Star Sea during the Great Star Sea War; many were from the Tai Chu Star Domain, and even Star Seas beyond the Tai Chu Star Domain! A ripple stirred in Chen Changsheng’s heart. What exactly had Master experienced when he descended upon the Fallen Star Sea from the outside? The more he thought about it, the more terrifying it became!
Just then, smoke curled gracefully from the straw hut.
Ji Fuyao looked at Lu Xuan, her delicate lips parting slightly. “Master,” she said, “it’s been a while since you recited poetry. Would you grace us with a poem?”
Lu Xuan pondered for a moment, then began to recite: “Plum rains clear, summer winds soft and warm. Tall willows, cicadas in a swarm. Small garden pavilions, far from pond’s gleam. Fish play, stirring fresh lotus dream. Gauze curtains thin, light feather fan. Cool pillow, bamboo mat, deep in the courtyard’s span. This mood, this moment, this sky, a carefree minor immortal am I.”
Ji Fuyao immediately savored the words. “Wonderful poem, truly wonderful!” Qingqiu echoed, “Wonderful poem! Truly wonderful!”
Lu Xuan smiled.
Just then, Xuanji Holy Lord’s voice rang out from the straw hut. “Dinner’s ready!”
In an instant, everyone scattered. Lu Xuan vanished just as quickly.
Xuanji Holy Lord emerged, carrying steaming dishes, and froze. “Huh? Where did everyone go? Even Master vanished.”
By this time, Lu Xuan was already comfortably lying on a profound ice bed, engrossed in a storybook.
Xuanji Holy Lord placed the steaming dishes on the stone table. Since no one else was coming, she could only call Ye Chen back. “Second Senior Brother, dinner’s ready!”
Hearing her voice, Master Ye, who had been busy all day, finally let out a sigh of relief. After all, refining a Star Sea sounded incredibly impressive, but it was exhausting him to death! Such a monumental task, and he was doing it all by himself!
Soon, Ye Chen returned to Azure Mystery Peak, within the Grand Dao Sect.
“Fourth Senior Sister, where is everyone? And Master?” Ye Chen asked curiously.
Xuanji Holy Lord smiled. “They left.”
Ye Chen’s face twitched. “Wait. Fourth Senior Sister, this isn’t your cooking, is it?”
Xuanji Holy Lord beamed. “It is! But I’m an Ancient Ancestor now, so the taste of my cooking is different from before.”
Ye Chen was skeptical. “Really?” he muttered, picking up a piece of Spicy Spirit Chicken with his chopsticks. Instantly, several divine senses probed the scene.
The moment Ye Chen took a bite, his face darkened. “Fourth Senior Sister, the taste is different from before.”
Xuanji Holy Lord’s expression was full of anticipation.
Ye Chen added, “It’s become even worse.”
Xuanji Holy Lord: “…”
Everyone: “…”
Lu Xuan’s voice drifted out casually, “Don’t waste it, now.”
Everyone tried their best to stifle their laughter.
Ye Chen continued to eat, bite by painful bite, then suddenly declared, “I’ll go call a few more people over.”
Soon, he had gathered Void Kun, Tamamo-no-Mae, Tianzhao, Fang Yan, Luo Lingkong, and Liu Xuan. “Fourth Senior Sister made some delicious food herself, everyone come and try some!”
Luo Lingkong and the others were all rather curious. After all, these dishes contained rich Dao韵, which would greatly benefit even an Ancient Ancestor. Everyone immediately took a seat.
Tamamo-no-Mae took the first bite, her exquisite face instantly scrunching up. “This…” She donned a ‘pain mask.’
Next, Tianzhao took a bite, his face a mask of confusion. “??? How can something be so rich in Dao韵, yet taste so utterly awful?”
Soon, Fang Yan, Luo Lingkong, and Liu Xuan also wore expressions of melancholy. Food that made Ancient Ancestors frown!
Void Kun let out a hearty chuckle, his parted hairstyle flowing elegantly. “I can devour all things; nothing has taste in my mouth. I’d like to see what could make you all change color like that?” He took a bite of the Spicy Spirit Chicken. He fell silent. From that day on, taste gained a concrete form.
Just then, two aged voices rang out. “We’ll help!” Everyone looked over to see Heavenly Fire Supreme and Heavenly Splendor Supreme. “Endure the bitterest hardships, and you shall rise above all others!”