On the Sun Star, golden light blazed within the Sun Palace. Dijun sat upright upon the throne at the head of the hall, faint True Sun Fire coiling around him.
Taiyi stood to one side, the Chaos Bell Prototype in his hand emanating an immense and weighty pressure.
Below, Bai Ze wore a blue-gray Daoist robe and held a scroll of beast hide as he respectfully bowed and delivered his report.
"Reporting to His Majesty Dijun and His Highness Taiyi, I have led several Great Luo Demon Sages to the four regions of the Primordial Wilderness to persuade the various tribes to submit to the demon race."
"The Black Eagle Tribe in the east, the Fire Crow Tribe in the south, and the Black Snake Tribe in the north have all surrendered. They have offered their tribe's spiritual materials as tokens of allegiance and are willing to await the Heavenly Court's orders."
"The Bear Tribe and Ape Monkey Tribe of the central region are still observing the situation. They said they would wait until the Zixiao Palace's second lecture and see the attitudes of the other great powers before deciding."
"Only the Three-Headed Flood Dragon Tribe of Dragon Breaking Mountain in the west has refused to submit. Their chieftain even severely injured two Grand Unity Golden Immortal demon generals of our race."
"I have ordered the Lion Camel Tribe and Black Wolf Tribe to surround them completely. We await Your Majesty's command on whether to exterminate them."
As he listened to Bai Ze's report, Dijun tapped his fingers against the throne's armrest and pondered.
"The Three-Headed Flood Dragon Tribe is so ignorant of the times. Once the Zixiao Palace's second lecture ends, send Taiyi to suppress them and make an example of them."
"As for the tribes still observing, there is no need to force them. Give them time to consider. Once the demon race displays sufficient might at the Zixiao Palace, they will naturally submit of their own accord."
Taiyi nodded in acknowledgment. Bai Ze then reported on the cultivation progress of the demon race's cultivators and the extraction of Innate Spiritual Veins.
Dijun listened to every report. Once everything was nearly settled, he and Taiyi took several core Demon Saints and transformed into streaks of light on True Sun Fire, flying toward the Chaos Zixiao Palace.
They were not the only ones.
As everyone hurried toward the Zixiao Palace, Haotian was busy preparing hotpot within the Zixiao Palace at the edge of Chaos.
Boiling water from the Innate Spiritual Spring roiled within the Bronze Cauldron, releasing fine wisps of white steam.
He tossed evenly cubed Black Tiger Beast leg meat into it.
This Black Tiger Beast had been a ferocious beast previously suppressed in the northern Primordial Wilderness. Its meat was firm and rich in Innate Earth Attribute Spiritual Qi, making it ideal for boiling.
He then opened several Jade Bottles and added seasonings one after another: Chili powder ground from Innate Spiritual Pepper, spicy yet not harsh.
There was sauce made by simmering Spiritual Fruit, sweet and savory. He then sprinkled in various seasonings before adding some broth seasoning blended with Innate Spiritual Liquid.
In an instant, the numbing, spicy, fresh fragrance thoroughly filled the air. Even the lingering Dao Rhythm within the hall seemed to gain a touch of lively color from the smoky aroma.
Jade Pool held the Twelve-Petal Pure World White Lotus in her arms, the purifying radiance on its petals gently intertwining with the Ren Water Spiritual Qi around her.
She leaned over the pot, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling as she lightly sniffed at the fragrance.
"Senior Brother, this hotpot smells completely different from chewing raw spiritual meat in the Primordial Wilderness. It's so unusual! Is it ready yet? I can hardly wait."
"Wait a little longer. The Black Tiger Meat needs to cook for a full year to absorb the flavor of the seasonings. Otherwise, it will retain a gamey smell inside."
Smiling, Haotian took out two pairs of Mutton-Fat Jade Chopsticks and two White Jade Bowls from his Storage Spiritual Treasure, handing one set to Jade Pool beside him.
He then circulated his profound technique and sealed his cultivation down to the Golden Immortal realm before adding, "Remember to seal your cultivation too. The spiritual qi within Innate Spiritual Beast Meat is too potent. Only after sealing our cultivation can we taste the different layers of the seasonings."
Jade Pool hurriedly nodded. After forming a hand seal to suppress her cultivation to the Golden Immortal realm, she took the Jade Chopsticks and stared eagerly at the pot.
After a year had passed, she impatiently picked up a piece of meat, blew on it, and put it into her mouth.
The moment she bit down, a numbing spiciness rushed straight to her taste buds. She could not help hissing as the tip of her tongue went slightly numb.
Yet in the next instant, the tender freshness of the Black Tiger Meat and the sweet savoriness of the Spiritual Fruit Sauce surged forth. The numbing spice intertwined with rich fragrance, far more flavorful than raw spiritual meat.
Ignoring how hot it was, she chewed in small bites. A little chili powder clung to the corner of her mouth without her noticing, making her look just like a greedy child.
Seeing her expression, Haotian smiled and picked up a piece of meat for himself.
The two of them each ate piece after piece, but before they had eaten much, he frowned.
He had clearly added a great deal of Black Tiger Meat just now, yet less than half remained in the pot.
Even the bowl of Spiritual Fruit Sauce he had just filled was already nearly half empty.
He looked at Jade Pool and saw her holding her Jade Chopsticks, with two unfinished pieces of meat still lying in her bowl, so he teased her.
"Junior Sister, you look refined when you eat, but you certainly aren't slow. You've nearly finished half a pot of meat."
Jade Pool froze at his words, hurriedly set down her Jade Chopsticks, and counted on her fingers. "I've only eaten a dozen or so pieces! Look, Senior Brother, there are still two pieces in my bowl!"
As she spoke, she raised her White Jade Bowl. Sure enough, only two pieces of meat remained inside, still dusted with fine chili powder.
The two looked at each other, both somewhat puzzled. Jade Pool leaned toward the pot, lightly poked its rim, and muttered softly.
"Could the Dao Rhythm of the Zixiao Palace be strange? How could the ingredients disappear so quickly? I'm not even full yet."
Haotian also found it strange and raised his hand to retrieve another half pot of Black Tiger Meat from his Storage Spiritual Treasure.
He also added a handful of tender spiritual plant leaves freshly picked from Penglai Immortal Island. The leaves were emerald green and tender, and once cooked, they would carry a faint fragrance that was perfect for easing the spiciness.
Yet before half an incense stick's time had passed, more than half the meat in the pot had vanished again. Only a few tender leaves remained floating on the broth's surface, and even the soup at the bottom had become shallower.
"Strange, this is far too fast..." Haotian was just about to use his divine sense to investigate whether there was anything unusual nearby.
A light cough suddenly came from the void, and Hongjun's figure slowly appeared.
A faint reddish sauce stain was unexpectedly visible on the cuff of his plain white palace robe. If Haotian's eyes had not been so sharp, it would have been nearly impossible to notice.
Hongjun's gaze fell upon the boiling hotpot, and he spoke in a deliberately casual tone. "Ahem... Haotian, Jade Pool, what are you making? Why is there such a peculiar fragrance in the hall?"
Only then did Haotian and Jade Pool realize what had happened. They exchanged a glance and could not help suppressing their laughter.
So the mysteriously disappearing ingredients had actually been their Master secretly stealing bites!
The two hurriedly stood and bowed. Holding back her laughter, Jade Pool said, "Greetings, Master! Your disciples are trying to prepare a dish called hotpot. If Master does not mind, why not try some with us?"
"Oh, an experimental dish?"
A hint of interest flashed through Hongjun's eyes. With a wave of his hand, he condensed a pair of Jade Chopsticks and a Jade Bowl from thin air, his movements so practiced that it seemed as if he had used such tableware long ago.
"Then I shall taste this hotpot and see what is so novel about this dish called hotpot."
As he spoke, he picked up a piece of Black Tiger Meat, blew it cool, and placed it into his mouth. A trace of surprise immediately flashed through his eyes.
The numbing, spicy, fresh flavors unfolded in layers. With his cultivation sealed, the perception of his taste buds was infinitely heightened.
It actually reminded him of the vivid freshness of Chaos Spiritual Plants he had occasionally tasted during the early days after the opening of heaven, something far beyond the monotonous spiritual foods of the Primordial Wilderness.
"Not bad, not bad. This chili powder has quite a kick, while the Spiritual Fruit Sauce eases the spice. Paired with the tenderness of the Black Tiger Meat, it has a rather intriguing charm."
Hongjun rarely showed praise. He casually grabbed a spiritual plant covered in morning dew from the edge of Chaos, pinched off its old branches, and tossed only the tender leaves into the pot.
"These tender spiritual plant leaves can add a little freshness to the pot and balance the richness of the meat."
Haotian and Jade Pool nodded slightly. Over the following several hundred years, the three of them sat around the Bronze Hotpot and feasted heartily.
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