"All right."
Ye Xuan sprinkled on a handful of spiritual herb powder, like cumin, and the aroma instantly reached a whole new level.
He placed the first cooked piece of meat on a clean jade plate and offered it to Yun Xiao.
"Fairy Yun Xiao, please."
"Thank you, Daoist."
Yun Xiao accepted the plate, gracefully picked up a piece with her chopsticks, and brought it to her lips.
Her pearly teeth bit down gently.
The golden, crispy skin broke apart at once, followed by tender, juicy Dragon Meat bursting across her tongue.
A warm current slid down her throat, instantly transforming into a pure surge of spiritual power that flowed through her limbs and bones.
Yun Xiao's beautiful eyes lit up.
"This..."
"Not only is it delicious, it can even purify one's magic power?"
"Really? Really? I want some too!"
Bixiao had been waiting impatiently. She took the plate Ye Xuan handed her and, without even minding that it was hot, shoved a large piece into her mouth.
"Mmm! So good! It's so good!"
Bixiao exclaimed with her mouth full, her face brimming with happiness.
"Daoist Ye Xuan, you're incredible at this! You're far better than those senior brothers of ours in the Interception Sect who only know how to make pills!"
Even Qiong Xiāo, who was usually aloof, broke into a faint smile after taking a bite.
She nodded at Ye Xuan. "The taste is truly extraordinary."
Seeing the three fairies enjoying the meal, Ye Xuan was in high spirits too.
He cut himself a large piece and devoured it.
Boom!
The flesh of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal entered his stomach.
The vast essence exploded inside him in an instant.
An ordinary Golden Immortal would probably have been burst apart by this energy.
But Ye Xuan practiced the Human Body Secret Realm Method!
"Refine!"
At a thought, the golden Sea of Suffering below his navel surged wildly, while the five Dao Palace deities all opened their mouths and greedily devoured the incoming essence.
The Spine Great Dragon glowed, transforming the energy into the purest physical strength and nourishing every one of his cells.
In the time it took to eat a single meal,
Ye Xuan felt that his body had grown considerably stronger.
His cultivation, which had originally been at the early Great Emperor stage, now seemed to be on the verge of advancing to the middle stage, driven by this immense energy.
"No wonder it's a Grand Unity Golden Immortal."
"This one meal is worth a hundred years of arduous cultivation."
Ye Xuan wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth. Feeling the abundant power within him, he savored the satisfaction.
Before they knew it,
the island had once been filled with the rich aroma of meat, but now only a lingering scent remained.
The enormous Refined Gold Black Cauldron was empty; they had even drunk every last drop of the broth.
The flesh of a True Dragon at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal level was truly extraordinary.
Bixiao leaned against a smooth reef and stretched without the slightest restraint.
Her normally flat stomach was now slightly rounded, and her face was flushed with utter satisfaction.
"Now that's satisfying!"
Bixiao patted her belly and sighed from the heart.
"I've cultivated on Golden Ao Island for so many years. Usually, I eat nothing but Spirit Fruits and pills. My mouth's been bored to death. I never expected this meal of Dragon Meat to be even more satisfying than the golden pills our eldest senior brother makes."
She turned to look at Ye Xuan, who was putting away the Black Cauldron, her large eyes full of admiration.
"Daoist Ye, I never would've guessed! You're not only great in a fight, but your cooking is incredible too. Whoever becomes your Dao companion will be in for a real treat."
Hearing her younger sister speak so indiscreetly, Yun Xiao shook her head helplessly and lightly tapped her on the forehead.
"Little sister, mind your manners."
Yun Xiao then turned to Ye Xuan, her expression composed and her tone warm. "My younger sister is unruly. Please don't take offense, Daoist. Still, we're grateful for your hospitality today. The essence in the flesh of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal is abundant, and it will greatly help us stabilize our cultivation."
Even Qiong Xiāo, who was usually sparing with words, nodded. A little more approval showed in her gaze toward Ye Xuan.
Ye Xuan put away the Black Cauldron and brushed the dust from his sleeves. Smiling, he said, "You three fairies are too kind. Shared joy is twice the joy. It's my honor to share a drink with three outstanding disciples of the Interception Sect."
They chatted for a while, and the mood was warm and easy.
"Daoist Ye, what do you plan to do next?"
Yun Xiao asked.
Now that they had finished the Dragon Meat, they would have to go their separate ways.
The three sisters had set out to travel on a whim, with no fixed destination.
Ye Xuan looked toward the vast reaches of the East Sea, his expression growing serious.
"To tell you the truth, I didn't venture out to sea without a purpose."
"I intend to seek the legendary Three Immortal Islands Overseas: Penglai, Yingzhou, and Fangzhang."
"The Three Immortal Islands?"
Yun Xiao furrowed her elegant brows and gently shook her head.
"I'm afraid that won't be easy, Daoist."
"Oh? I'd like to hear more," Ye Xuan said.
Yun Xiao patiently explained, "Though these three immortal islands are famous, few have found any trace of them since Heaven Splitting and Earth Opening. Legend has it that the islands were formed from Chaos Fragments. They belong to none of the five elements and lie beyond the Three Realms. Though they drift across the East Sea, they're constantly moving, and a Primordial Formation conceals them from the secrets of heaven."
"We sisters have traveled the East Sea for many years. We even used secret Interception Sect techniques to make deductions, yet we never found the slightest trace."
"Only those with great fortune and destiny can see them."
Yun Xiao spoke plainly.
They were incredibly difficult to find; it came down to pure luck.
Even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal would be completely at a loss if the time wasn't right.
Ye Xuan didn't lose heart. If anything, his eyes shone brighter.
Formed from Chaos Fragments?
That made them all the more worth finding!
He possessed Chaos Heavy Pupils, which excelled at seeing through to the origin of things.
An ordinary concealment formation might take some effort to deal with, but something related to chaos could actually give him a lead.
"Thank you for explaining, Fairy."
Ye Xuan smiled freely. "But I've always been lucky, so I'd still like to try my chances."
Bixiao, who had been sprawled on the reef, rolled her eyes and suddenly sat upright.
"Lucky?"
She pointed at the Golden Wheel of Merit behind Ye Xuan's head. Though it had been reined in, it still gave off a faint, sacred glow.
"Oh, right! Daoist Ye is the Human Emperor, with such immense Heavenly Merit. Who in the Primordial Wilderness could surpass him in fortune?"
"With merit protecting him, he could stumble across a spiritual treasure just by walking around. Maybe you really will find them!"
The more Bixiao spoke, the more excited she became. She jumped down from the reef and sidled up to Yun Xiao.
"Big sister, we don't have anything urgent to do anyway. Why don't we travel with Daoist Ye?"
"We've been wandering around the East Sea for ages and haven't found them. Maybe if we share some of Daoist Ye's good fortune, we'll get lucky this time!"
Yun Xiao paused.
She looked at Bixiao, who was practically buzzing with eagerness, then at Ye Xuan, whose bearing was exceptional.
It was true.
The Golden Wheel of Merit was Heaven's recognition.
Traveling with someone of great merit often brought good fortune and turned dangers into blessings.
Besides, Ye Xuan was upright and powerful—a good companion.
"Second sister, what do you think?" Yun Xiao asked Qiong Xiāo.
Qiong Xiāo glanced at Ye Xuan and said simply, "Agreed."
"In that case..."
Yun Xiao gave Ye Xuan a slight bow. "If you don't mind, we three sisters would be glad to travel with you and explore the mysteries of the East Sea together."
Ye Xuan was delighted.
These were the Three Fairies of Interception Sect!
If they found an immortal island and it had a Fierce Beast guarding it, or a formation that was difficult to break, these three Grand Unity Golden Immortals would be the best possible allies.
"Hahaha, I couldn't ask for more!"
Ye Xuan clasped his hands and smiled. "With three fairies by my side, this long journey won't be dull."
Before you continue