"Hiss—"
Even Yun Xiao, who had seen and heard much, couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath.
"What abundant merit!"
"What on earth has this person done to earn such favor from the Heavenly Dao?"
In the Primordial World, merit was the strongest shield and the most straightforward measure of a person's virtue.
Anyone possessing such an immense amount of merit had surely rendered great service to heaven and earth and shown great virtue toward all living beings.
And now.
That Crimson Dragon, covered in karmic sin and wreathed in murderous energy, had actually brought out a spiritual treasure to kill this virtuous man?
"Outrageous!"
Bixiao's delicate brows shot up, and her eyes blazed with fury.
"That wicked dragon reeks of bloodshed. It's clearly committed countless evils. How dare it hunt down a fellow cultivator with such great merit?"
"This is defying heaven!"
"Sister, I can't take it anymore!"
Before her words had even faded.
Bixiao raised her slender hand.
"Wicked dragon! Don't you dare act so brazenly!"
A golden light flew from her sleeve.
It swelled as it met the wind, transforming into two primordial Yin-Yang Flood Dragons, their heads and tails interlocked.
They coiled around each other like two blades sharpened to the utmost, carrying the terrifying Killing Intent of shearing apart all things in heaven and earth as they shot downward.
The Golden Flood Dragon Scissors!
This was a supreme weapon of slaughter bestowed by Tongtian Jiaozhu. Its power was so great that even Grand Unity Golden Immortals had to give it a wide berth.
Below.
Ao Lie, who was just about to use the Flame God Pearl to kill Ye Xuan, suddenly felt his scalp go numb as a sense of impending doom surged through him.
He looked up in terror.
He saw only two golden flood dragons rapidly growing larger in his pupils.
Crack!
A sharp snap rang out.
The Flame God Pearl, whose might had seemed overwhelming, along with the Sky-Burning Sea of Fire it had unleashed, was sheared in half by the two flood dragons. Its spiritual light vanished, and it fell into the sea.
Then.
A flash of golden light streaked past.
Ao Lie didn't even have time to scream.
His indestructible Ten-Thousand-Zhang Dragon Body was severed in two at the waist.
The protective immortal light of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal was as fragile as paper before the Golden Flood Dragon Scissors.
Boom! Boom!
The two enormous halves of the dragon's corpse crashed into the sea, and blood instantly stained the vast, surging waters red.
A mighty expert at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal level had fallen just like that, his body and spirit utterly destroyed.
Ye Xuan was stunned.
His hand, which had been about to activate the Double Piercing Gate, stopped in midair as he stared at the scene before him, somewhat bewildered.
Dead?
The Grand Unity Golden Immortal who had just pushed him to the brink of despair had been killed with a single snip?
He raised his head and looked into the sky.
The three auspicious clouds descended slowly, settling above the sea.
As their radiance faded, the true appearances of three female immortals were revealed.
The one in front wore white. Dignified and lovely, she had the air of an orchid in a secluded valley, with the transcendent Daoist aura unique to a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
The one on the left wore green. Her expression was cool, and she held a sword in her arms, like a snow lotus on an icy mountain.
The one on the right wore a green skirt and had a lively, mischievous air. She was toying with a shrunken golden pair of scissors and looking at Ye Xuan curiously.
"I am Yun Xiao. Greetings, fellow cultivator."
The white-robed immortal gave a slight bow. Her voice was gentle as jade and as soothing as a spring breeze.
"We saw that wicked dragon attacking you and acted in haste. We hope we didn't startle you, fellow cultivator. Please forgive us."
Ye Xuan came back to his senses. He immediately withdrew his powers and aura, straightened his clothes, and gave the three female immortals a solemn salute.
"My thanks to all three fairies for saving my life!"
"If you hadn't stepped in, I fear I would have been in grave danger today."
At that moment, Bixiao, the female immortal in the green skirt, couldn't help moving closer.
She studied Ye Xuan, her big eyes shining as she stared intently at the Golden Wheel of Merit behind his head.
"Wow! Your merit is terrifying!"
Bixiao couldn't help exclaiming.
"It's almost condensed into something tangible! Did you save billions of living beings? Or restore the Heavenly Dao?"
"Even our senior brother... Ahem, he doesn't have this much merit hanging behind his head."
Nearby, the aloof female immortal Qiong Xiao also gave a slight nod in greeting, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.
In the Primordial World, great strength didn't necessarily earn respect, but great merit made one an honored guest wherever one went.
Ye Xuan smiled and didn't hide the truth.
"I'm Ye Xuan, Human Emperor of the human race."
"This merit is simply the Heavenly Dao favoring me for the good fortune of creating a few cultivation methods for my people."
"Human Emperor?"
Yun Xiao paused, then immediately understood.
"So you're the Human Emperor personally appointed by Saintess Nuwa."
The Three Fairies exchanged glances, understanding at once.
No wonder he had accumulated so much merit.
Educating an entire race and creating a Cultivation System truly were deeds of great merit.
"Human Emperor fellow cultivator, these are my younger sisters, Qiong Xiao and Bixiao."
Yun Xiao introduced them with a smile.
"So you're the three distinguished disciples of Saint Tongtian."
Ye Xuan cupped his hands, a genuine smile spreading across his face.
The Three Fairies of Interception Sect.
They were famous allies in the Primordial World, known for their loyalty and kindness.
It seemed he had forged a good connection with them today.
On the sea, the two halves of the enormous Crimson Dragon Corpse still rose and fell with the waves.
Although its life force had been extinguished, the flesh of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal still gave off astonishing waves of spiritual energy.
Ye Xuan didn't let this "spoils of war" soak in the sea for long.
He swept his sleeve and used the Sleeve Universe technique, putting the two halves of the dragon corpse, each as enormous as a mountain range, into his storage space.
Once he'd finished, he turned to the three stunning female immortals before him and gave them his signature dazzling smile.
"Fairies, you came to my aid today and helped me out of an urgent predicament. I can't thank you enough. Now that the wicked dragon has been slain, wouldn't it be a waste not to make good use of it?"
"This was a True Dragon at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal level. It spent years in the deep sea absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, so its meat is especially tender and delicious—a rare tonic in this world."
"I'm no match for any of you in cultivation, but I daresay I'm quite skilled at cooking."
"Would the three of you do me the honor of joining me for a 'Full Dragon Feast'?"
"A Full Dragon Feast?"
Bixiao, who had been watching Ye Xuan, immediately lit up at the words.
She was a renowned little foodie in the Interception Sect.
Back on Golden Ao Island, she usually enjoyed spirit fruits and fine nectar, but she'd hardly ever tasted dragon meat from a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
After all, although the Dragon Race had fallen from its former glory, it was still one of the great races of the Primordial World. Who would go around hunting Grand Unity Golden Immortals from the Dragon Race just to eat them?
"Sure! Sure!"
Bixiao clapped her hands delightedly, her emerald-green skirt swaying in the breeze and making her look especially lively and adorable.
"That wicked dragon was so vicious. Snipping it was acting on heaven's behalf, and eating it is making the best use of it! Ye Xuan's suggestion is right up my alley!"
Yun Xiao gave her little sister a helpless look, her eyes full of affection.
She had meant to decline. After all, they still had to travel through the Primordial World and seek to comprehend the Heavenly Dao.
But seeing Bixiao's eager expression and Ye Xuan's sincere gaze, she swallowed the refusal on the tip of her tongue.
"Since you've so kindly invited us, we sisters will have to trouble you."
Yun Xiao nodded slightly, her bearing graceful and composed.
Qiong Xiao, who hadn't spoken at all, remained cool and reserved, but she too gave an almost imperceptible nod.
They didn't linger on the sea. Instead, they landed on a nearby island with beautiful scenery.
The island had white sand and clear water.
Ye Xuan didn't waste any time. He took the finest cut of dragon spine meat from his space.
The meat was crystalline and beautifully marbled, giving off a rich crimson radiance.
Even though it had been separated from the body, it still contained an awe-inspiring amount of energy.
"Rise!"
Ye Xuan pointed a finger.
A massive cauldron forged from fine gold crashed to the ground.
He deftly drew in clear, sweet mountain spring water, washed the dragon meat, and cut it into evenly sized pieces.
With every cut, he precisely removed the Killing Intent lingering in the meat, preserving only its purest essence.
Then.
Ye Xuan turned his palm over.
A crimson flame rose into the air.
It wasn't ordinary fire, but Vermilion Bird Divine Fire he'd learned to wield in Perfect World. It was ideal for roasting meat and simmering soup, as it best preserved spiritual energy.
Sizzle—
As the first piece of Dragon Steak was set over the Vermilion Bird Divine Fire, an indescribably enticing aroma spread across the island.
It was the scent of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal's flesh, its essential nature brought forth and blended with the special spices Ye Xuan had brought from the human world. It was an irresistible feast for the senses.
"Gulp."
Bixiao swallowed noisily, no longer caring in the least about her image as a fairy.
She crouched by the grill, staring wide-eyed at the golden dragon meat, sizzling as its fat dripped.
"It smells so good..."
Even Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao widened their beautiful eyes, looking rather surprised.
They had abstained from food for many years and long since given up the pleasures of ordinary life.
But the aroma of this dragon meat had stirred their appetites.
Before you continue