Noodle Soup Under Mount Buzhou

On the mirror-smooth black marble countertop of the island, the perfect dough, radiating a warm, jade-like luster, lay like an uncarved jade.

Ling Ye held the "Fragment of Buzhou Mountain," a dark obsidian rod covered in profound, twisted patterns, exuding an ancient, terrifying aura of suppression. His wrist dipped slightly, his movement as casual as flattening a piece of mud in a park.

The rolling pin... descended.

"Pfft."

An extremely faint thud, like a massive stone sinking into the deep sea.

There was no imagined shower of sparks, nor did the countertop collapse. The terrifying "short stick," capable of crushing galaxies and subtly adjusting planets, instantly retracted its soul-shivering aura the moment it touched the dough, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea. All that remained was its extreme physical weight!

The rolling pin pressed down!

Under the absolute physical weight, the smooth and pliable dough was like the most docile lamb, offering no resistance! It was instantly flattened and stretched!

Ling Ye's wrist turned with extreme casualness, his movements fluid and natural, possessing a rhythm of returning to simplicity. The incredibly heavy "Buzhou Mountain rolling pin" in his hands felt as light as nothing. Every roll was precise and steady.

"Pfft... pfft... pfft..."

Faint, rhythmic rolling sounds echoed in the quiet kitchen.

Under Su Wanqing's stunned gaze, the perfect dough, under the rolling of the pitch-black "rolling pin," smoothed out rapidly and evenly like silk being smoothed by an invisible hand! Its thickness visibly thinned! Thinned! And thinned further!

In just a few breaths, the dough, originally the size of a fist, was rolled into a sheet... as thin as a cicada's wing, almost transparent!

The sheet covered more than half of the island countertop! Its texture was incredibly uniform, so thin that the grain of the black marble beneath could be clearly seen! Under the kitchen's overhead lights, the entire sheet exuded a warm, restrained jade-like luster, like the finest piece of glazed crystal! A pure, extreme fragrance, mixed with the original scent of wheat and a hint of indescribable chaotic warmth, quietly permeated the air!

After finishing the dough sheet, Ling Ye casually leaned the "Buzhou Mountain rolling pin," which exuded an invisible heaviness, against the corner of the island countertop... casually!

"Thud!"

A dull, light sound. The "short stick" leaned there, not even touching the edge of the counter, yet the entire island, and even the floor beneath their feet, seemed to subtly... sink down by an inch! As if an invisible mountain had been placed there!

Su Wanqing's heart skipped a beat with the "thud!" Looking at the world-ending weapon leaning against the island like an ordinary firewood stick, she felt her breathing become difficult.

Ling Ye, however, paid no mind. He picked up a chef's knife from the knife block on the island... a knife that looked incredibly sharp, but in his eyes, was probably no different from a toy. The blade flashed!

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

So fast that only afterimages remained!

The sharp chef's knife in his hands seemed to possess a life of its own! The blade cut with incredible precision across the giant, cicada-wing-thin dough sheet! His movements were casual, yet possessed a rhythm that was as natural as a swallow's flight!

With just a few cuts, the giant jade-like dough sheet was divided into countless diamond-shaped pieces of uniform size, almost perfect! Each piece was as thin as paper, with edges as smooth as a mirror!

Su Wanqing watched, dazzled, her mouth agape. She had forgotten her fear, replaced by pure shock! This knife skill... was divine!

Ling Ye put down the knife and picked up a clean... stainless steel soup basin? He casually swept the diamond-shaped pieces into the basin. The jade-like pieces clinked against each other, producing clear, pleasant sounds like jade striking jade.

Then, he walked to the sink and turned on the faucet. Tap water gushed into the basin, submerging the small pieces. He stirred them casually with his hand, as if washing ordinary dried noodles.

Washing off... non-existent floating flour?

After finishing, Ling Ye carried the basin of "jade pieces" back to the island, his footsteps making patta patta sounds. He took out a brand new... double-handled soup pot and placed it on the island's built-in induction cooker.

He turned it on.

Without choosing a complex setting, he directly pressed it to maximum power.

He filled the sink with water and poured it into the soup pot with a huala la sound.

The actions were seamless, as skilled as a thousand-times-practiced househusband.

Su Wanqing held her breath, her eyes fixed on the scene. She had a premonition that what was about to happen would be even more shocking than the rolling of the dough!

The clear water, heated by the induction cooker at maximum power, quickly churned and boiled, white steam rising.

Ling Ye picked up the basin of "jade pieces," without even looking, and with extreme casualness... poured all the diamond-shaped pieces, along with the water used to wash them, directly into the boiling soup pot!

"Huala--!"

Scalding water splashed!

The moment the small pieces, radiating a jade-like luster and containing a chaotic warmth, fell into the boiling water--

"Weng--!"

The entire kitchen space seemed to tremble slightly!

An indescribable, majestic yet gentle aura of life essence, accompanied by the purest fragrance of wheat grains, erupted from the boiling soup pot like an awakened ancient deity!

The steam rising above the pot was no longer white, but swirled with a faint, chaotic halo shimmering with starlight! The boiling water in the pot instantly turned a warm amber color! Countless tiny chaotic light spots, like fragments of stars, floated and spun in the liquid!

The diamond-shaped pieces tumbled and unfurled in the amber boiling broth! They did not become soft and mushy like ordinary noodles; instead, they seemed to be infused with life, becoming even more crystal clear! Their jade-like luster flowed, their edges curled slightly, emitting an alluring aroma and a purifying Dao rhythm!

A fragrance more warm and mellow than the previous Chaos Spirit Tea, as if it could nourish all things and return to simplicity, powerfully swept through the entire villa! The few potted plants on the windowsill, which had been looking a bit wilted, instantly became lush and vibrant under the influence of this aroma, their leaves and branches stretching at a visible rate! Even the dust particles floating in the air seemed to be purified and settled by this scent!

Su Wanqing greedily inhaled the aroma that soothed her soul, feeling warm all over. The last trace of chill and fatigue from last night was completely dispelled, and the nascent strength within her body felt as docile and full as if she were soaking in a hot spring!

It smelled too good! This was definitely a noodle soup for immortals!

Ling Ye, however, seemed accustomed to this scene. He picked up a long-handled ladle and stirred the pot casually. Looking at the noodle pieces floating in the amber broth, like shattered jade stars, he frowned slightly, as if something was still missing.

"Tsk," he muttered with a hint of disdain, "Too bland."

Saying that, under Su Wanqing's stunned gaze, he naturally reached his fingers into the old cloth bag at his feet and fumbled around.

Then, he pinched out a small handful of... something that looked like dull gray mineral powder? The powder was neither gold nor jade, its color chaotic, and its surface seemed to have countless fine stardust appearing and disappearing, emitting an Origin Qi aura heavier than the previous "Origin Qi powder," like the Earth Embryo Membrane!

Ling Ye casually, as if sprinkling salt, lightly shook a small pinch of "Breathing Soil Dust," which was the color of chaos, into the boiling noodle soup!

"Hiss..."

A deeper, almost pulsing sound, like the earth's heartbeat.

In the soup pot, the moment the amber broth absorbed that pinch of powder, chaotic starlight erupted! The broth became thicker and more condensed, its color deepening to a restrained amber gold, as if containing the essence of the entire earth! The unpretentious, jade-like aroma was elevated once more, carrying an supreme Dao rhythm that nourished all things and stabilized foundations! The small, jade-like noodles seemed to come alive, happily tumbling in the broth, absorbing the essence of the Breathing Soil Dust!

Su Wanqing's rationality, along with the aroma elevated to its extreme and the golden starlight churning in the pot, collapsed once more!

She looked at the noodle soup emitting a divine radiance, her mouth watering uncontrollably, her stomach rumbling like thunder! The craving, a hundred times stronger than when she licked the bowl the night before, assaulted her will like a primordial beast!

And just then, Ling Ye seemed finally satisfied. He picked up a large soup bowl (ordinary white porcelain) and scooped a full bowl of the noodle soup, which was emitting a chaotic golden glow, with a ladle. Amber-gold broth, crystal-clear jade-like noodles, steaming hot, with an intoxicating aroma!

He carried the bowl and sat down by the sofa.

Then, under Su Wanqing's gaze, which was so eager it was turning green, Ling Ye picked up the spoon, scooped a spoonful of noodle soup, brought it to his lips, and blew on it gently.

"Slurp..."

The clear, satisfied sound of slurping soup, accompanied by the aroma of supreme Dao rhythm, echoed in the living room.

Su Wanqing stood by the kitchen island, as if frozen in place, her eyes fixed on the bowl in Ling Ye's hand, her body trembling violently from extreme desire and restraint! The aroma hooked into her brain like a fishing line, making her feel like her soul was about to fly out of her body!

"Gulp..." She swallowed hard, a desperate whimper like a small animal's yearning escaping her throat.

Ling Ye seemed to finally notice her almost palpable "hunger ray." He paused with the bowl in his hand, looked up at Su Wanqing.

Su Wanqing's heart leaped into her throat! Could it be... the big shot was finally going to share a bite with me?!

Ling Ye's gaze was calm and unruffled. It lingered on her eager face for a second, then glanced at the tempting noodle soup in his bowl. Then, with extreme casualness... he scooped a piece from the bowl with his spoon... the smallest, almost transparent, paper-thin jade-like noodle.

He lifted his wrist, his movement as nonchalant as feeding goldfish in a tank, and offered the single noodle on the spoon in Su Wanqing's direction.

"Here." His voice remained flat.

Su Wanqing: "..." She looked at the noodle trembling on the tip of the spoon, radiating a fatal temptation, then at Ling Ye's expression of "here, have a taste," and a wave of immense grievance washed over her rationality once more!

But... her body's instincts were faster than her thoughts!

"Ah-woo!"

She shot forward like an arrow, with fierce determination, and snatched the noodle off the spoon with her mouth! Her movement was as swift as a hunting leopard!

The noodle melted in her mouth!

An indescribable, gentle power, like the deepest nourishment from Mother Earth, accompanied by a pure wheat fragrance, instantly dissolved in her mouth! A warm current surged through her limbs! She felt her bones singing, her flesh becoming more solid, and the nascent power within her, like roots planted in fertile soil, instantly became stable and weighty! Her spirit was clearer and more settled than ever before!

After swallowing that single noodle, the soul-stirring craving did not subside; instead, it became even more surging!

"More!" Su Wanqing suddenly looked up, her eyes terrifyingly bright!

Ling Ye, however, had already put away his spoon and continued to drink his soup as if he had just tossed a piece of fish food.

Meanwhile, three kilometers away from Yunqi Mountain, at a temporary command post.

In front of the giant monitoring screen, the atmosphere could no longer be described as solemn; it was... a numb silence.

On the screen, the energy reading curve representing the villa's kitchen area had begun a slow climb when Ling Ye started "kneading the dough." When he took out that black "short stick" ("Fragment of Buzhou Mountain"), the curve shot up sharply! And the moment the "short stick" touched the dough, all the terrifying aura instantly retracted, and the curve inexplicably returned to a stable level.

Next came the energy fluctuations caused by the flashing knife light during noodle cutting, the gentle surge of life force when pouring water to cook the noodles...

Until the moment Ling Ye sprinkled that pinch of "Breathing Soil Dust" into the soup pot--

"Beep beep beep--!!!"

The piercing alarm once again tore through the silence! On the screen, the curve, as if injected with a stimulant, instantly broke through all preset thresholds! The peak value was so high that the entire screen turned a blinding scarlet! A reading of heavy, condensed life energy, as if carrying the origin of the entire earth, along with data showing an abnormal surge in the spatial stability coefficient, frantically scrolled across the screen!

"Report! Energy readings in the target kitchen area... have broken through the high-level 'Stellar Level'! Approaching 'Galactic Level'! Energy form... extremely complex! Contains ultra-high concentration of life origin... mixed with... mixed with unknown 'Earth Embryo Membrane' level chaotic source energy... and..." The technician's voice became hoarse with extreme shock, his face filled with absurdity as he looked at the analysis results, "...and... high-purity hydrolyzed wheat starch?! What... what the hell is he cooking, noodle soup?!"

Silence descended upon the command vehicle. Everyone was stunned by the bizarre analysis results.

Cooking noodle soup... producing a "Galactic Level" energy reaction?!

Just then, a slightly clearer frame of the extremely blurry optical image captured inside the villa was finally refreshed on the screen.

In the image: the target (Ling Ye) was holding a white porcelain bowl, steaming hot, with golden light flowing within. And the president of Su Corporation (Su Wanqing) was lunging at the target in a near-maniacal manner, snatching something glowing off the spoon? Her expression was contorted, a mixture of extreme desire and... drooling?!

Thunderstorm stared intently at the blurry figure holding the bowl on the screen, then at Su Wanqing, who was acting like a madwoman beside him. An absurd, yet the only possible explanation for the bizarre energy fluctuations before him, roared uncontrollably in his mind:

This guy... is he really... cooking noodle soup?!