Peach Blossoms Still Smile in the Spring Breeze

"Master's wife, was the Spiritual Mountain Mountain Lord lineage's habit of using a pot to temper the body... passed down by you too?"

Ye Kong shuddered, feeling that things were going very badly.

"Of course. Back when that damned ghost was trying to cheer me up, he loved catching a few detestable Divine Beasts to stew. Later, it was adapted for your four senior brothers' cultivation. I've always treated everyone equally, so you can't be an exception."

With a gentle tap of her delicate finger, Kong Xuan extracted the Nine-Colored Stone Essence Blood from Ye Kong's body. She gave Peng Chaoyang a meaningful look and said:

"I've already put in the essence blood left behind by Little True Phoenix. How much you can absorb depends on you. If one time isn't enough, then stew yourself ten or eight times. You'll absorb it all eventually.

"While you're in the pot, remember to circulate the Peacock King Sutra I gave you. I've modified it over the years, and it can accommodate Little True Phoenix's essence blood. Just cultivate according to it."

Ye Kong was about to suggest getting into the pot another day when he discovered that someone had grabbed him from behind, sealed his cultivation, and tossed him straight into the cauldron.

"Ah! Bro Peng! You're betraying me!"

Peng Chaoyang lifted the lid and firmly pressed down Ye Kong, who was still struggling. His gaze was resolute.

"Little brother, it's not that I'm disloyal. You have no idea how Aunt Xuan tormented your senior brothers back then.

"Besides, if I didn't throw you in, Aunt Xuan might get a sudden urge and throw me in instead. Your brother here has no choice."

"Little Golden Peng, don't just stand there. Drag those guys down and stew them too. If they're going to return to the world, they should receive some benefits."

With the great enemy eliminated, Kong Xuan's state of mind had become much younger. Her witch-like nature was returning as she instructed Peng Chaoyang to cook a few more people.

Peng Chaoyang froze. "Aunt Xuan, Qingfeng's essence blood isn't suitable for them, is it?"

"Who said we were using Little True Phoenix's?"

Kong Xuan glared and waved her hand, tossing out two new cauldrons and several portions of essence blood.

"I did stew a Heaven Sovereign Kunpeng back then, but unfortunately, I ate it all. I still have some essence blood from an Earth Sovereign Kunpeng, just enough for those little ones.

"As for those little monkeys, I happen to have essence blood I won in a bet from a Heaven Sovereign Sky-Reaching Ape back then. They're getting lucky today."

"Those little ones are truly blessed this time. Pity they won't have it easy."

Peng Chaoyang wiped cold sweat from his forehead. In a flash of golden light, he appeared outside the Bodhi Tree, swept up the nine unsuspecting people, brought them back, and tossed them into the cauldrons.

"Ah! Senior, why are you doing this to us?! We're on your side, not Evil Tribe members!"

"Senior, we never actually intended to dig up your grave! We were only joking! No, we were talking nonsense..."

"We've rendered meritorious service for Officer Ye! We've shed blood for Officer Ye! We want to see Officer Ye! We want to see Officer Ye..."

"You still want to see Officer Ye? Your boss was personally thrown into a pot by me just now! He's tumbling around in the pot next to yours! Do you want to go in and pay him a visit?

"Enjoy yourselves. This is absolutely good stuff. Once you absorb these benefits, after enduring the Supreme Thunder Tribulation, you'll at least gain an additional First-grade Venerate of cultivation."

Peng Chaoyang kicked the hotpot containing the Four Great Vajras, venting his frustration, then turned toward the other cauldron.

"Now that you mention it, I nearly forgot. You five were the ones who brought these four monkeys to my resting place before, weren't you?

"You dared lead outsiders to dig up your ancestor's grave. You've got some nerve. Let's see if I don't cook you until you're crispy outside and tender inside today!"

Flaming ropes gathered in Peng Chaoyang's palm. He wrapped them around the cauldron containing Zong Qingfeng and the other four again and again, then fiercely poured heat into it.

Kong Xuan stood elegantly to one side, a leisurely smile covering her peach-and-plum-like face. This generation's little ones were quite resistant to stewing.

Seven days and seven nights later, a sacred and resounding True Phoenix cry emerged from Ye Kong's cauldron. Peng Chaoyang, who had been resting with his eyes closed, perked up.

"Not bad, kid. After seven days of stewing, you're finally coming out."

"That was only one-fifth of it. He has plenty more suffering ahead."

Kong Xuan narrowed her eyes with a smile, seeming to possess an innate anticipation for this sort of thing.

"Nine-Colored Li Fire stews the true body; today, I finally know myself!"

Following an enraged roar, Officer Ye, transformed anew, shattered the seal of heaven and earth with one punch and leaped out of the simmering pot.

A pair of enormous crimson phoenix wings, spanning dozens of meters, grew from either side of his spine. Golden radiance shone in his eyes, shooting toward the stars. Rows of faint True Phoenix markings were inscribed across his back, emanating the terrifying pressure of a True Phoenix divine beast.

Looking at Ye Kong, who had transformed into a bird-man, Peng Chaoyang shook his head and smiled as he reminisced.

"The essence blood in your body came from my old close friend. It's a pity that he was extraordinarily talented but died young. I hope you can make good use of his power. At least it'll leave me something to remember him by."

"Of course. But Bro Peng, Master's wife, can we use another method next time? There's no need to force ourselves to suffer, right?"

Kong Xuan snorted softly.

"Ever since your master founded Great Spiritual Mountain, it has upheld the tradition of ascetic cultivation. The goal is to endure the greatest hardships and forge the strongest will to cultivate and fight, so you don't have too much energy left to think up immoral schemes."

"My character has been certified by those bastards' traitors."

Ye Kong refused to accept that.

"You've already perished together with that Demon Emperor several times. Are you afraid of a little more suffering?

"My cauldron-stewing method has no side effects whatsoever. It's the best body-tempering method with the greatest absorption efficiency. If you don't believe me, ask them."

With a sweep of Kong Xuan's sleeve, the nearby space swiftly rippled, and the nine people who had long since hidden themselves revealed their figures.

Lu Hou nervously waved at Ye Kong. "Boss, you're out."

What was going on? Why were these guys all avoiding his gaze?

Clear light flickered in Ye Kong's eyes as he swept his gaze over the furtive Lu Duowen. He discovered that this fellow was hiding a small fan shaped like a Plantain Fan in his palm, one that looked particularly suitable for fanning a fire.

"You guys... didn't add firewood and fan the flames beneath my cauldron, did you? No wonder the fire became noticeably stronger during the final three days."

Ye Kong glared at them one by one, then fixed his gaze on a target. "Second Brother, you're the most honest. You tell me!"

Lu Lutong decisively stabbed them in the back. He snatched the fan from Lu Duowen's hand, his teeth chattering as he spoke.

"Boss, I confess! I'll tell you everything!

"Senior Kong Xuan gave us this fan to take turns fanning the fire. I didn't dare fan it even once! Not once! It was all them!"

"Boss, it wasn't just us! Those Zong fellows did it too!" Lu Hou shouted anxiously, pointing at Zong Qingfeng and the others.

"Hehe, no matter. I'm rather fired up right now. All nine of you, come at me! I'll beat you all at once!"

Ye Kong sneered, forming a phoenix claw with his hand as he charged at the nine men as though he intended to clean house. They were so frightened that they turned and fled.

Sorry, brothers. Our godmother wants to watch some fun, so you'll just have to suffer a little.

"Watch carefully. This is the new ultimate art I've comprehended—Eternal Flame Phoenix!"

Phoenix cries of "clang clang" echoed throughout the world. The True Phoenix patterns on Ye Kong's back seemed to cry out after bathing in blood, releasing an undying roar as they transformed into clusters of phoenix flame. The flames flowed through every meridian in Ye Kong's body and condensed into nine three-inch spirit birds in his hand.

As soon as the spirit birds took shape, they flapped their wings and flew after the nine men, spewing ceaseless blazing fire. It was as if they meant to repay all the suffering from before, making the scene burn fiercely.

In ancient times, Kong Xuan watched the chaotic scene with a quiet smile, as though she had returned to fifty thousand years ago. In those days, time had been peaceful, and harmony had filled their lives.

Yet though peach blossoms still reflected the beauty of familiar faces, the blossoms remained, smiling in the spring breeze.

In the end, things had changed and people were gone. Nothing was as it had been.

"Outer Domain Evil Tribe, one day we will drive every last one of you out of the Great Thousand World! That day will not be far off!"

Little Meng Xin politely asked readers to keep reading, bookmark, and recommend.