Senior Li is truly a god-like figure

Li Fan heated a small pot of rice porridge in the kitchen and carried it out.

Steam rose, fragrance wafting.

"So fragrant, so fragrant!"

Mu Qianning's beautiful eyes lit up. This tantalizing aroma made all her cravings surge forth.

"Just smelling this scent, I can already feel an incredibly dense concentration of heaven and earth spiritual energy... What kind of celestial treasure was this brewed from?"

Wei Yushan was even more stunned, filled with anticipation.

"More than that... more than just a celestial treasure—haven't you noticed, the curling steam is actually taking the shape of a qilin!?"

Yu Qishui trembled all over, utterly trembling.

The three of them focused their gaze, and sure enough, as the steam rose from the porridge, an intangible Dao Rhyme transformed into a qilin, dancing in the air!

"Legend says that only when a world-shaking pill is refined would such an omen appear, right?"

Wei Yushan murmured, almost speechless.

Seeing their expressions, Li Fan smiled faintly.

Under the system's relentless torment, his culinary skills had long reached a pinnacle. Even the simplest ingredients, in his hands, could become an exquisite delicacy.

He was quite confident in that.

"I just threw together some porridge. Eat up."

He took out bowls, ladled a serving for each, and handed them over.

Wei Yushan and the other two instantly perked up, their eyes burning, swallowing saliva!

Taking the bowl, Yu Qishui's hands trembled. He opened his mouth and gulped it down with excitement!

Wei Yushan and Mu Qianning were no different!

They wolfed it down!

"So delicious!"

Even a refined lady like Mu Qianning finished her bowl in a few quick mouthfuls.

"Not good!"

At that moment, Yu Qishui suddenly cried out!

The spiritual power within him had all surged to life!

He also felt that his body, withered for a hundred years, was now like a desert springing forth with water—vitality returning!

His Five Organs and Six Viscera churned with essence, and his Life Force in that instant surged to the peak of his prime!

He nearly wanted to roar at the sky!

Moreover, the shackles that had not been broken for centuries shattered in that moment!

Nascent Soul Perfection broke through its bounds, entering the Spirit Severing Stage!

In that instant, he had fully become a Spirit Severing Stage expert!

And his aura continued to soar.

Spirit Severing First Heaven!

Spirit Severing Second Heaven!

Spirit Severing Ninth Heaven!

He had crossed an entire major realm from the Nascent Soul Realm, reaching the Spirit Severing Ninth Heaven!

At this moment, he wanted to roar at the sky!

At the same time, Wei Yushan's expression shifted, and he abruptly closed his eyes. In that moment, the Shackles within him snapped with a crash!

His aura shot straight up!

Boom!

He leaped directly from Nascent Soul Eighth Heaven into Nascent Soul Ninth Heaven!

Then, even the line between Nascent Soul and Spirit Severing was crossed in an instant!

Spirit Severing First Heaven!

Spirit Severing Second Heaven!

Straight to Spirit Severing Seventh Heaven!

Beside him, Mu Qianning's beautiful eyes suddenly trembled. She stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm, her aura surging abruptly, charging from Golden Core ninth heaven all the way to Nascent Soul Ninth Heaven!

A leap across an entire major realm!

What... what was happening?

She was utterly stunned.

What kind of heaven-defying treasure had she eaten?

"Master... Qianning..."

Wei Yushan was stirred, thoroughly stirred, as he looked at Yu Qishui and Mu Qianning, unable to speak.

To step from Nascent Soul straight into Divine Separation, leaping multiple realms in one go—what kind of fortune was this?

Heaven-defying!

"These grains... I fear even a single one is worth a sky-high price!"

Yu Qishui spoke gravely, taking a deep breath.

His Life Force had now returned to its peak, and he could restore his former prime at any moment, but with Senior Li here, he dared not act rashly.

"Worth a sky-high price..."

Mu Qianning murmured. A sky-high price, yet Senior Li had just said... this was merely some casually made rice porridge?

This... was what a truly supreme figure looked like, wasn't it?

"Thirsty?"

Li Fan noticed something off about them—perhaps the porridge had burned them? He said, "Haste makes waste, you ate too fast. Have some tea."

With that, he poured a cup of tea for each of them.

All three received it respectfully.

Yu Qishui downed it in one gulp, and instantly a sharp gleam flashed in his aged eyes, his face brimming with joy!

As the tea entered his mouth, his entire consciousness felt as if it had been baptized. In that moment, he saw every inch of his cultivation with perfect clarity.

He clearly perceived that, due to his frantic breakthrough, there were many flaws in his cultivation, but this cup of tea, once in his belly, made those flaws vanish. His cultivation became more rounded and natural!

This was a tremendous boon!

Without this tea, their future cultivation might have run into major problems!

Now, their Dao foundations were stabilized.

Yu Qishui was even more shaken. This Senior Li truly had piercing eyes; their cultivation was laid bare before him like a clear mirror. That was why he had said they couldn't rush things!

He couldn't help but bow deeply, saying, "Senior Li's great kindness and virtue, Yu Qishui will never forget!"

Seeing this, Wei Yushan and Mu Qianning quickly knelt and bowed as well!

Li Fan was utterly stunned.

Seriously? Was this necessary?

Wasn't it just a bowl of porridge and a cup of tea?

Were cultivators in this world all crazy?

He figured these three must be the poor folk of the Immortal Realm—couldn't even afford a meal?

Reduced to relying on mortals for handouts. Pitiful.

"No need, no need. Meeting is fate; these are just small gestures."

Li Fan shook his head and said, "Get up, all of you. I won't keep you any longer."

Yu Qishui and the others sighed inwardly. The connection had run its course after all.

The karma between this senior and their Lihuo Sect was likely over.

"Thank you, Senior. We take our leave."

Yu Qishui gave a deep bow.

They turned and departed, but just before leaving, Mu Qianning couldn't help looking back. Summoning her courage, she said, "Senior, Qianning... may I visit you again in the future?"

Her beautiful eyes were filled with hopeful light.

Yu Qishui and Wei Yushan's hearts instantly tightened, tense to the extreme.

Facing a figure like Senior Li, how could one casually make such an audacious request? If it displeased him, the Lihuo Sect would be doomed beyond recovery!

But Li Fan just smiled. He didn't have a bad impression of Mu Qianning. "Of course you can."

Having such a beauty visit him often was, in any case, a pleasure.

Mu Qianning was overjoyed, nearly jumping up. A blush rose on her face as she said, "Thank you, thank you, Senior, for granting this!"

Li Fan saw them out of the small courtyard and watched them leave.

"Qianning, just now, your master was truly sweating for you!"

Once they had left Li Fan's residence, Wei Yushan finally relaxed and let out a sigh.

"Qianning, girl, earning that promise from Senior Li is the Dao fortune of your life. From now on, come often to pay your respects to Senior Li!"

Yu Qishui was even more delighted. Even if Senior Li hadn't agreed to look after the Lihuo Sect, with Qianning around, if the sect ever faced an insurmountable crisis, a single wave of his hand would resolve everything, wouldn't it?

This is truly a supreme blessing!

Mu Qianning was also somewhat excited and said, "Actually, I think Senior Li is a very easy person to get along with. He really... doesn't put on any airs of a senior at all."

Her beautiful eyes were full of longing—possessing heaven-shaking, earth-shattering power, yet living in seclusion in a mountain village, so humble and refined, without any arrogance. This was the kind of cultivator she had always imagined.

"By the way, Qianning, have you already reached Nascent Soul Ninth Heaven?"

Wei Yushan spoke again.

At the mention of cultivation levels, all three were extremely excited.

"Yes, Ninth Heaven Perfection, and I feel that the Dao Rhyme from that cup of tea is still inside me, with room for further comprehension!"

Mu Qianning said excitedly.

"Haha, with just a wave of Senior Li's hand, our Lihuo Sect is about to flourish. Your master has also broken through to Spirit Severing Seventh Heaven!"

Wei Yushan was full of confidence. Now, even in the entire Fire Kingdom, their Lihuo Sect could no longer be considered insignificant.

"Master, what about you?" He then asked Yu Qishui.

Yu Qishui smiled and said, "Your master spent more time stuck in the Nascent Soul Realm than you, so I had more accumulated experience. Now I've reached Spirit Severing Perfection, gaining an extra three hundred years of lifespan!"

Hearing this, Wei Yushan could only sigh deeply: "Senior Li is truly a godlike figure!"

Unknowingly, they had already reached the village entrance.

"Hmm? Something's wrong!"

Suddenly, Yu Qishui frowned, a gleam of divine light flashing in his eyes as he looked toward the sky!

In midair, a red light gradually appeared, flames burning half the sky red. At the center of the flames, a majestic middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back, looking down arrogantly at the people below.

"Lie Huo Mountain, Yin Xiaokong!"

Wei Yushan's voice turned heavy!

This middle-aged man was none other than the Mountain Lord of Lie Huo Mountain!

The enemy had actually tracked them here!