Lei San struggled to hold back his laughter. It had been a long time since he had seen Wang Dapang act so obsequiously.
Wang Dapang was still trembling. The thing sitting on the stove was a living mountain of gold!
He felt even guiltier. Huang Tiancheng had fallen ill all these days, yet he had never gone to visit. At the same time, he was glad he had not kicked a man when he was down. Otherwise, how could such a good thing have fallen to him?
Wang Lie snorted and, following Huang Tiancheng's instructions, handed over the prescription he had written.
These medicinal ingredients were worth at least two thousand star stones in total!
The Hundred Year Snow Lotus and Hundred Year Yellow Essence were the most precious. They were the medicinal catalysts Huang Tiancheng had prepared for stewing the fish treasure.
If he wanted to eat a spirit-fish feast, Wang Dapang would have to bleed for it.
The spirit fish also had to be stewed in the East Courtyard Dining Hall's Spirit Cauldron, so Wang Dapang had no choice but to come.
The Spirit Cauldron was specially used to cook delicacies for the Star Officers of the Outer Gate Hall. It could effectively gather the energy of heaven and earth and improve the quality of the ingredients. It was more valuable than an ordinary treasure ship.
It could even preserve all the nutrients in high-end ingredients!
Of course, if someone used the Spirit Cauldron for personal purposes, they might not die if discovered, but they would certainly be crippled.
After reading the prescription, cold sweat broke out on Wang Dapang's forehead. He gritted his teeth decisively and said, "I'll get everything together as soon as possible. I guarantee we'll light the fire tonight!"
"I'll need the Spirit Cauldron for three days."
Wang Dapang looked at Huang Tiancheng with a bitter expression and gritted his teeth hard. "No problem. Leave it to me!"
For the Other Shore Realm, even if it meant losing everything and staking his life on it, he would not hesitate!
The Other Shore Realm did not merely bring status and position. It could also add a hundred years to one's lifespan. How could it not be worth gambling everything on?
At that moment, Chen Fusheng had recovered from his injuries in his bedroom. He was not surprised to see Wang Dapang. Only with a chef could he make the most of the supreme spirit fish's value.
When Wang Dapang left, Wang Lie was still worried. "I'll follow him. I won't let him go back on his word and blab about this."
"He's not a bad person. He's just a little narrow-minded."
Huang Tiancheng shook his head. Everyone was in the same boat over the private use of the Spirit Cauldron. Once Wang Dapang reached the Other Shore Realm, this good deed would help Chen Fusheng in the future.
"Well, I can't just freeload either. What would you like me to do?" Wang Lie asked.
"Lie-ge, you're being too formal. If you hadn't stepped forward and suppressed Teng Xiong just now, the consequences would have been unimaginable," Chen Fusheng said.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony. In short, I'll do everything I can to help you gather the resources you need to break through to the Other Shore Realm in the future."
Wang Lie took out the extra star stones on him, five hundred in all.
"Fusheng, don't refuse. The path to my breakthrough is already paved." Wang Lie did not like owing anyone a favor. He would repay this debt.
After this, Chen Fusheng might even grow rapidly in the short term. Reaching the Other Shore Realm would not be difficult!
Once Liu Bai broke through, the three of them could support one another in the Inner Courtyard. Perhaps they might even have a sliver of hope of glimpsing the Great Dao of Divine Travel!
"When opportunity comes, not even the heavens can stop it!"
While sighing with emotion, Wang Lie asked the old man about the art of cooking.
Late at night.
Even though Chen Fusheng had concealed the fact that he had fought the spirit fish alone, merely hearing that he had gotten incredibly lucky and encountered a spirit fish, on top of meeting a terrifying expert who was fishing for a Flood Dragon, made Wang Lie feel as though he were in a dream.
"Cold Abyss Poison. The old man on the bamboo raft." Huang Tiancheng gazed at the stars outside the window.
"Buzz..."
From the kitchen came the sound of energy boiling from time to time, accompanied by crackling noises.
The azure Spirit Cauldron was as large as a millstone. Wang Dapang used the energy in his energy sea as fire, continuously burning the Spirit Cauldron. From time to time, he formed hand seals and struck them into the cauldron.
Wang Lie was fortunate enough to observe a Spirit Chef's craft. Under heaven, there were not only Star Masters, but also all kinds of special auxiliary professions.
For example, Star Gazing Masters, Spirit Planters, Spirit Chefs, alchemists, blacksmiths, and so on.
Leaving Star Gazing Masters aside, the status of the other professions was roughly equal.
Spirit Planters mainly cultivated all kinds of spirit herbs, spirit seeds, spirit rice, and the like. A highly skilled Spirit Planter could even provide rations for ten thousand elite soldiers.
Alchemists could refine all kinds of spirit pills and potent medicines. Blacksmiths could forge all kinds of weapons. Spirit Chefs, meanwhile, earned people's respect through their superb culinary skills.
They sounded like cooks who merely prepared food, but high-level Spirit Chefs were exceedingly rare. It was said that they could draw down fire from beyond the heavens and use the power of the stars to cook peerless delicacies.
Wang Dapang's cultivation was at the Ninth Heaven of the Star Guiding Realm. He continuously stimulated the energy in his energy sea and had been stewing the ingredients for several hours, yet it still was not done.
It was already well into the latter half of the night. The stars across the sky shone in harmony, and Wang Dapang pushed the Spirit Cauldron's power to its limit with the energy in his energy sea.
"Boom!"
The azure Spirit Cauldron let out a thunderous roar. A unique force of attraction spread out, drawing down the moonlight and star radiance like a lake overflowing its banks. Layer after layer cascaded down and sank into the Spirit Cauldron.
As time passed, the beams of light emitted by the Spirit Cauldron grew increasingly dazzling. Inside, muffled thunder rumbled endlessly, as if the heavens were raining thunderbolts. The cauldron buzzed without pause.
Lei San was startled and began to worry that the cauldron might explode.
Wang Lie spread out an energy barrier around the kitchen to keep the commotion from reaching the outside world.
Time passed. At the end of the horizon, the Sun Star rose and scattered the darkness. Wang Dapang, nearly drained dry, let out a low roar. He formed hand seals with both hands, causing the Spirit Cauldron to float in the air and draw down layers of Great Sun Essence Fire to refine the spirit fish within.
Each of these seals was highly particular. They drew on different energy attributes and stimulated the ingredients' hidden value.
"I'm opening the cauldron!"
Wang Dapang was drenched in hot sweat. Wang Lie released all the energy in his energy sea, manifesting nine layers of energy barriers to guard the area.
As the Spirit Cauldron opened, it seemed as if raging waves were splitting the sky.
Splash!
A huge, illusory spirit fish leaped out of the cauldron. It swung its tail upward and smashed through several energy barriers, looking as though it wanted to break through the roof and escape.
"Where do you think you're going!"
Wang Dapang urged the Spirit Cauldron to unleash a wave of energy that tore apart the spirit fish's phantom. It turned into thick streams of juice that splattered back into the cauldron with a loud slosh.
Chen Fusheng's eyes were opened wide. The spirit fish had truly gained a spirit. Even the essence extracted from it had developed an aberration, as if it were about to take shape and flee on the wind.
They all gathered around and stared into the cauldron. Spirit energy billowed, rosy light blossomed, and every inch of fish meat was crystal clear, like supreme jade exuding an intoxicating fragrance.
Everyone swallowed repeatedly. Wang Dapang was excited and exhilarated. As a low-level Spirit Chef, being able to cook such a supreme delicacy made his entire life worthwhile.
Why was that? How could ordinary ingredients withstand refinement by the sun's fire?
After he executed the complete set of seals, Wang Dapang's culinary skill had naturally risen to another level, and he had benefited immensely.
Everyone sat around the stone table. Chen Fusheng placed the jar of aged wine he had bought the previous night on the table and poured some for each of them, lamenting that it was not spirit wine.
Spirit wine paired with spirit fish was the perfect combination, but the value of any spirit wine exceeded five hundred star stones.
Huang Tiancheng was the first to pick up his chopsticks. He lifted out the golden fish eye and placed it in Chen Fusheng's bowl.
The spirit fish's eyes could improve one's vision. Chen Fusheng did not hold back and ate them both, but they were like chewing wax, bitter beyond words.
Then his eyes began to itch unbearably. Hot tears streamed down as he rubbed his eyelids frantically, unable to stop himself from clutching his head.
Soon, his eyes began to sting and burn. He wished he could dig his eyeballs right out!
After the torment passed, Chen Fusheng's pupils shone brilliantly. When he circulated his power, they emitted a faint golden radiance, and his vision surged dramatically.
He suddenly looked out the window. A hawk was soaring high in the sky, yet his eyes made it seem as though he were observing the hawk from close by.
Chen Fusheng was startled. His vision had increased by at least five or six times!
When he lowered his head, he exclaimed in shock, "Lie-ge, why are you wearing bright red underpants?"
"Holy crap!" Wang Lie, whose face was flushed from eating, nearly toppled beneath the table.
"Don't look at me. You might get needle-eye!" Wang Dapang covered his crotch with both hands. He was wearing nothing at all.
Lei San grinned foolishly. His face was flushed from eating, and he gulped down strong liquor, his entire body burning hot. He had never felt so exhilarated.
After wolfing down three or four pounds of fish meat, Wang Dapang said enviously, "The eyes of a supreme spirit fish! Their visual power has actually become strong enough to see through clothing. Just imagine how formidable your observational ability will be against enemies in the future."
Chen Fusheng was delighted. It seemed he could cultivate the Ferocious Bird Diagram now. Although he could not spread his wings like a hawk, he could still strengthen his vision!
Chen Fusheng picked up a piece of fish and put it into his mouth. It was so fragrant that he nearly bit off his tongue. An intoxicating aroma seemed to explode inside his mouth, shooting straight to the crown of his head, and he even felt a little drunk.
"Fragrant! It's too fragrant!"
Every pore on Chen Fusheng's body relaxed. He swallowed rosy clouds and exhaled auspicious energy as the foundation of his physical body continued to grow denser. In a daze, he emitted an intimidating pressure.
Wang Dapang looked at Chen Fusheng in shock. This kid's physical body seemed somewhat terrifying.
The youth looked delicate and handsome, yet he actually possessed an oppressive presence.
Wang Lie was astonished as well. How many days had it been? He probably possessed an extraordinary physique.
Huang Tiancheng tapped his chopsticks against the Spirit Cauldron. "Too much nourishment can be harmful instead."
"I got too greedy." Wang Dapang could not eat anymore. Black, greasy oil seeped from every pore on his body. It was clearly the body's impurities. If not for the fish's fragrance masking it, the stench might have knocked them dead.
Wang Lie had reached his limit as well. His body was fierce and powerful, his physical strength had climbed one or two times over, and the energy in his energy sea had expanded by thirty or forty percent on its original foundation!
His eyes were red. With a physical body and energy sea like this, he could be called a genius!
Perhaps because of the spirit fish's medicinal power, his mental force felt like a little boat about to take flight. He could hardly resist sitting down cross-legged to observe the stars filling the sky.
"I'll leave first."
Wang Lie turned and ran toward his household. He roared inwardly that he seemed capable of breaking through on his own. Tears of excitement filled his eyes as he laughed loudly.
Wang Dapang had just risen to leave when he suddenly said, "Oh, right, Fusheng. Come outside with me."
"Master Wang, what is it?" Chen Fusheng asked in confusion as he walked out.
After Wang Dapang closed the door, he said, "Teng Lin has disappeared."
"Oh? What happened?" Chen Fusheng's heart tightened.
"Who knows?"
Wang Dapang used a fish bone to pick his teeth. "Teng Lin went to look for you that day. I know about that. A few days ago, Teng Xiong asked where Teng Lin had gone, but I didn't tell him that Teng Lin had gone to find you."
Before you continue