I'm Afraid Master and Them Will Stew Him

Super Big White was speeding like lightning.

Hongyun was comfortably half-reclined in the dog's fur, chatting with Chen Song about interesting tales from the Great Wilderness.

As Da Bai galloped, it occasionally twitched its nose, greedily inhaling the lingering scent of Ginseng Fruit from Hongyun, full of energy.

Suddenly, Da Bai muttered as it ran, "Huh? In this desolate wilderness below, what's that little sun sticking out there? It's quite dazzling, woof!"

It was just a casual remark, but while the speaker meant nothing by it, the listener took it to heart.

"Little sun?" Chen Song curiously got up from Da Bai's back and peered down.

On a sun-drenched slope below, a peculiar plant grew all alone.

It had a thick green stem, topped with a huge, golden disk. A ring of golden "petals" surrounded the disk, seemingly rotating slowly with the movement of the sun in the sky. It truly resembled a miniature sun!

"Holy crap! A sunflower?!" Chen Song's eyes widened instantly, so excited he almost jumped off Da Bai's back!

"Melon seeds! It's melon seeds, brothers!"

Hongyun was startled by Chen Song's sudden excitement and followed his gaze, asking doubtfully, "Oh? This thing is called a 'sunflower'? That's quite fitting. But... young Chen Song, this is just a common plant, not a spiritual root, nor does it possess any spiritual energy. It's useless for cultivation, so why are you so excited?"

He couldn't understand why Chen Song was more thrilled to see this than Ginseng Fruit.

"Senior, you don't understand! This is a good thing! As good as spiritual fruits!" Chen Song excitedly patted Da Bai's back, "Da Bai! Turn around! Go down! Go down quickly! We've found treasure!"

Although Da Bai didn't understand what treasure a common grass could be, it immediately obeyed its master. It slammed on the brakes and drifted, turning its dog head and diving towards the sunflower with the two on its back.

Landing beside the sunflower, Chen Song jumped off Da Bai's back. He circled the sunflower, which was taller than him, several times, rubbing his hands, his eyes shining, muttering, "That's right! It's a sunflower! Melon seeds are secured! They look so plump!"

Hongyun and Da Bai stared at him blankly.

Chen Song extended a finger, and the Wood Essence Qi from his Innate Five Elements Qi slowly flowed out, like the gentlest spring rain, nourishing the sunflower.

Under the astonished gazes of Hongyun and Da Bai, the sunflower visibly grew stronger at an astonishing rate. The golden disk at its top expanded and plumped up, its color deepening. It even emitted a unique, dry fragrance that belonged to the sun.

Chen Song carefully plucked the giant flower head, feeling its weight in his hand.

He then activated his Fire Essence Qi. With just a slight display, he dried the sunflower seeds. He then gently picked out a plump, black-and-white striped melon seed and examined it closely, nodding with satisfaction.

Then, under the curious watch of Hongyun and Da Bai, he put the seed into his mouth.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound was exceptionally clear.

Chen Song skillfully cracked the shell with his teeth, spat out two shell fragments, and chewed the fragrant, crispy kernel, a look of utter satisfaction and bliss on his face!

"Mmm~~~! That's it! That's the taste! It's been too long!" Chen Song was so moved he almost cried. He never expected to be able to eat melon seeds in the Great Wilderness!

Hongyun: ???

Da Bai: ???

Kui Niu, who had finally caught up: ???

Big Brother is eating grass seeds? And eating them so happily?

Little Master also likes to eat grass? Seeds?

"Pine Tree kid... you... you're just eating this?" Hongyun couldn't help but ask. What was so good about this thing? It wasn't even as good as his pine nuts!

"Senior, you just don't understand, do you?" Chen Song picked out a few more seeds and handed them to Hongyun and Da Bai.

"Here, try some! This is called a melon seed! The essence lies in the 'cracking' process and this mouthful of roasted aroma! It's an essential artifact for passing the time and gossiping!"

Hongyun took a seed skeptically and tried to crack it with his teeth, but he couldn't get the knack of it – he was a primordial god and demon, how could he do such delicate work? In the end, he used his magic power to gently break the shell, took out the kernel, and chewed.

"Hmm... it's... got a unique flavor." Hongyun nodded, acknowledging it, but still felt it was more trouble than it was worth compared to eating fruit directly.

Da Bai was less particular. It directly swallowed the seeds Chen Song gave it, shell and all, crunching loudly. Its eyes lit up: "Woof! Fragrant! Crispy! Although there's not much spiritual energy, it's delicious! Big Brother, I want more!"

"Stupid dog! You need to spit out the shells!"

Chen Song cursed with a laugh and broke off a small piece of the flower head, handing it to Da Bai. "Go crack them yourself!"

He also gave a small piece to Kui Niu. Kui Niu was even less particular, swallowing it in one gulp. It chewed its mouth and swallowed it directly. It wasn't very tasty? There was no spiritual energy, so what were they so excited about? The ox's face was full of confusion.

Da Bai, who had shrunk down and was now a dog bed holding the flower head, was picking seeds with a paw and stuffing them into its mouth, grumbling, "A boar can't appreciate fine grains."

Chen Song then activated his Wood Essence Qi again, ripening all the surrounding wild, inconspicuous sunflowers. However, he didn't dry them all, as he needed to leave some for seeds!

He harvested over a dozen large flower heads, packed them away contentedly, and then had Da Bai transform into a giant dog bed for their flying bed journey.

The weather was pleasant, with white clouds drifting leisurely across the sky.

However, one large white cloud was not keeping pace with the others, darting rapidly between the clouds. Furthermore, a black behemoth, resembling a thundercloud, was chasing behind it.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn't clouds at all. It was the mutated beast Da Bai, swollen to the size of a small mountain with its fur flying, desperately carrying Chen Song and Hongyun.

And the black shadow behind them, crackling with lightning and filled with rage, was the ill-fated Kui Niu!

"Roar roar roar! Can't catch me, can't catch me! Stupid ox, eat my dust! Woof hahaha!" Da Bai, speeding like lightning, didn't forget to turn its head to taunt. Its huge tail wagged like a battle flag, full of pride.

"Moo!! Fat dog! Stinky dog! Dead dog! When this Ox Grandpa catches you, I'll make you pay!" Kui Niu's single leg crackled with lightning, its pursuit at full power. The air expelled from its nostrils carried sparks, clearly indicating its intense anger.

Chen Song was comfortably nestled in Da Bai's soft fur, happily cracking melon seeds in his hand, "Crack, crack." Daoist Hongyun also held a handful of seeds, cracking them with relish.

"Tsk tsk, this old ox isn't fast enough, is it time to put it on a diet? Will Third Martial Uncle dislike it when we get back?" Chen Song spat out a melon seed shell, enjoying the show.

Daoist Hongyun, imitating Chen Song, finally learned how to crack melon seeds. Tasting their unique toasted flavor, he grinned from ear to ear. "Interesting, interesting! Young Chen Song, these two immortal pets you've tamed are truly amusing, much more so than our thousand-year debates! Hahaha!"

"Senior Hongyun, I'm taking this Kui Niu back for Third Martial Uncle. Although it looks a bit foolish, just imagine it as Third Martial Uncle's mount. Isn't that quite extraordinary?"

Daoist Hongyun glanced at the Kui Niu chasing behind them, its body crackling with lightning. "Indeed, it is extraordinary."

"And this dog? Are you planning to give it to Fellow Daoist Taiqing or Fellow Daoist Yuanshi?"

"Neither. I'm afraid my master and the others might not be able to resist stewing him."

Who could tolerate this yappy dog, Da Bai, besides Chen Song? Oh, and Hongyun could too!

Just as the dog and the ox were having a grand time, one chasing the other, a nondescript streak of light was flying low along the foothills below.

Within the streak of light was a cultivator with a pointed mouth, monkey-like cheeks, and shifty eyes. He clutched a newly acquired, spirit-rich jade bottle tightly in his arms, his face a mixture of smugness and panic.

"I'm rich, I'm rich! I never expected to actually find a pot of Innate Stone Marrow in that old hole! Heh heh, it's my lucky day, Old Ancestor Black Weasel! I need to hurry back to my cave dwelling to refine it..."

The cultivator, who called himself Old Ancestor Black Weasel, was happily lost in thought when he suddenly felt the light above him dim, as if two huge dark clouds had passed overhead, accompanied by strange dog barks and ox bellows.

He instinctively looked up.

Plop.

A melon seed shell landed precisely on his face.