Secrets of Ben Ti and Mecha Manufacturing, Gu Yue's Holiday Ends

Secrets of Ben Ti and Mecha Manufacturing, Gu Yue's Holiday Ends, Na'er's Open Scheme Cuisine (4k)

"Well said. The Ben Ti Lineage is about being yourself!"

Muye laughed heartily. The question he had just raised had once been the first lesson for Body Sect disciples: understanding Original Martial Souls.

"Humans are born between heaven and earth and should stand tall and firmly on the ground. That is why Original Martial Souls are not suppressed by any bloodline," Muye said. "Innate Compatibility directly prevents conflicts between a Soul Master's nature and the origin of their Martial Soul, which would otherwise cause their cultivation to hit a bottleneck."

Ben Ti Soul Masters possessed righteous personalities and could not tolerate evil; their Martial Souls might awaken a Light Attribute. If their personalities were vicious and sinister, their Martial Souls would most likely possess poison or a Dark Attribute.

"As for your Yin-Yang Attribute..."

Muye fell silent for a moment, seemingly unable to think of an appropriate word to describe Zhao Xuanzhen.

"Perhaps I'm just good at playing people against each other."

Zhao Xuanzhen picked up the conversation and made a harmless joke.

"Keep it up."

Muye nodded, then reined in his smile and said solemnly:

"Being yourself is the key to the power of Original Martial Souls, but I must emphasize one thing: besides insisting on being yourself, you must always believe in yourself.

"When ancient humans held torches against the Soul Beast Clan hundreds of thousands of years ago, we caught a glimpse of the truth: humanity was both the torchbearer and the flame itself.

"Humans are the primates of all things and the masters of everything in this world. Ben Ti Soul Masters respect nature and powers temporarily greater than our own, but we must never fear those powers. One day, even the legendary supreme Dragon God will kneel at humanity's feet.

"Xuanzhen, you awakened the most powerful Original Martial Soul. Its true meaning lies in surpassing the self, constantly shedding the old self. The ancestors of the Body Sect had a profound hope...

"The True Self has no limits."

"Senior of the Body Sect, I will remember that."

Zhao Xuanzhen's future was boundless, and the enemies he would face were equally unmatched. The True Self was equivalent to everything he possessed; it would eventually transform with the rebirth of his self into an Eternal and Undying totem.

Seeing the resolve in the boy's eyes, Muye took an ancient, weathered manual from his Storage Soul Tool. Four rough and wild dark-gold characters were written on its cover.

Secrets of Ben Ti.

"Keep it safe. You may read and study it as you please during this period. Come ask me if there's anything you don't understand."

Gently wiping the surface of the ancient book with his sleeve, Muye solemnly handed Secrets of Ben Ti to Zhao Xuanzhen.

"Thank you, Senior of the Body Sect."

Zhao Xuanzhen's gaze sharpened as he accepted Secrets of Ben Ti with both hands.

Since he knew that the key to Second Awakening was stimulating one's potential in an extreme state, Zhao Xuanzhen could follow Tang Wulin's old path of Deep Sea Training. His Second Awakening did not depend on Muye.

Compared to Second Awakening, what truly interested him was this Secrets of Ben Ti, which recorded the various top-secret techniques of the Body Sect.

If time were turned back ten thousand years, only the Body Sect Master or Young Sect Master would have been qualified to cultivate its secret arts. Yet in the declining Legend of the Dragon King Era, Muye made an exception and allowed a third person to cultivate Secrets of Ben Ti.

Looking at the still-young Zhao Xuanzhen, Muye's expression held some hesitation, as well as a trace of embarrassment at making a request of a junior. His lips moved a few times, and his eyes flickered as he said:

"Xuanzhen... if one day in the future, Body Sect disciples come to seek your help, I hope that, for the sake of our bond... you will lend them a hand."

The once-glorious Body Sect, which had overshadowed even Poseidon Pavilion, was now down to only master and disciple. Muye truly feared that the Body Sect would end with A Ruheng's generation and vanish completely into the tide of history.

"Senior of the Body Sect, equivalent exchange is an unchanging principle of this world. I repay kindness and never forget a favor. If the Body Sect comes knocking in the future, I will certainly help with all my strength."

"Good..."

Zhao Xuanzhen had already become Leng Yaozhu's Direct Disciple. At the very least, he would become the Spirit Pagoda Deputy Tower Master. Muye wanted a promise.

"Senior of the Body Sect, since the Body Sect has so few members, why not recruit Soul Masters with powerful Bloodline Power into the sect?"

Zhao Xuanzhen looked curious. As one of the Eight Deceitful Gods representing fierce strength, Jiu Tian's Bloodline Power was equally surging, yet Muye had not shown the slightest interest. It did not match this Body Sect Master's thirst for Bloodline Soul Masters.

Muye raised an eyebrow and said irritably, "We're the Body Sect, not the Blood Essence Sect.

"Look at Martial Uncle Phantom Brain's Brain Martial Soul. Does that have anything to do with Bloodline Power? And there are Original Martial Souls like eyes and hair... the body encompasses all things. You can't simply equate it with blood and vitality!

"Besides, the Body Sect must ultimately be inherited by Ben Ti Soul Masters. What would it mean to let people without Original Martial Souls enter the sect?"

"Really..."

Zhao Xuanzhen voiced his doubts. Muye coughed and changed the subject.

"All right, don't speak in absolutes.

"If I hadn't encountered the True Self Martial Soul, I really would have considered accepting a young Soul Master with exceptional blood and vitality into the Body Sect. After all, A Ruheng... sigh!"

Muye covered his face and sighed. Zhao Xuanzhen could not help smiling. It seemed A Ruheng truly was not very reliable and could not become the great leader who revitalized the Body Sect.

"Let's not talk about bothersome matters. Let's talk about you." Muye waved a hand and opened a new topic.

"You have three tasks during this period. First, naturally, is completing the Second Awakening of your Original Martial Soul. Second is studying Secrets of Ben Ti.

"And lastly... what Second Profession did you choose?"

"Mecha Design, Mecha Manufacturing, and Mecha Repair," Zhao Xuanzhen said.

"Good heavens, you're cultivating all three!" Muye's eyelid twitched. "You're quite ambitious. That way, the Battle Armor you manufacture will be one hundred percent compatible with you.

"I remember that Sky Phoenix Douluo is a Ninth Rank Mecha Designer and an Eighth Rank Mecha Manufacturer, while Martial Uncle is a Ninth Rank Mecha Repairer. Are the two of them teaching you your Second Profession together?"

"Yes."

"No wonder Martial Uncle gave me a hint..."

Muye suddenly understood. He was a Ninth Rank Mecha Manufacturer, and the difference between ninth and eighth rank was worlds apart. Han Tianyi clearly wanted him to teach Zhao Xuanzhen Mecha Manufacturing.

"In that case, I will teach you Mecha Manufacturing from now on. Among the many Ninth Rank Mecha Manufacturers of the Sun Moon Federation, no one dares claim to surpass me." Muye spoke with immense pride.

"Do you like mechas, kid? Especially Red-grade Mechas!"

Red-grade Mechas were also known as God-level Mechas. They required the finest materials and the highest-level forging. Their makers fused in their own essence blood, and there had even been special cases where Soul Spirits and mechas fused into one.

"Not particularly. At most, I'll make a mecha for transportation," Zhao Xuanzhen said bluntly.

Once one's cultivation reached Extreme Douluo, nearly everyone possessed Four-Word Battle Armor. Holy Dragon Douluo Enci of the neighboring continent, as well as the Mingui Two Emperors of the Holy Spirit Cult, had all nurtured Four-Word Battle Armor through special methods. Compared to that, a Red-grade Mecha at the level of Three-Word Battle Armor was a joke.

There was no shortage of monstrously talented people. It was simply that some lost themselves on the road ahead, like the Body Sect Master before him, who was immersed in Red-grade Mechas. Zhao Xuanzhen did not want to become a second Muye. He had already learned enough knowledge—enough to use.

One month later, Death Valley.

Strange trees grew everywhere, evil winds howled, and evil aura madly eroded the living beings that trespassed within.

Boom—

Taijiquan traced a perfect circle, sending two enormous Abominations flying backward. Their chests caved in horribly at the center, and greasy fat gushed forth.

Zhao Xuanzhen froze in a stance with his arms spread and knees slightly bent. His long black hair hung down as smoothly as flowing water. Undead Creatures lay strewn everywhere, their corpses forming small hills.

Having drained the last trace of strength from his body, Zhao Xuanzhen swayed for an instant. Relying on the will in his heart to support himself, he avoided collapsing onto the ground and barely maintained a standing posture.

"Training is over."

A dark-gold flash passed by. Muye reached out and scooped up Zhao Xuanzhen. The Undead Creatures howled madly at the sky, able only to watch the two leave with unwillingness.

High in the sky, Muye held the exhausted Zhao Xuanzhen with one hand while rubbing his chin with the other. Puzzled, he said, "Strange. Although the limit is seven times seven, or forty-nine days, the Second Awakening of an Original Martial Soul usually occurs around twenty days...

"Today is the thirtieth day. Why is there still no movement from you?"

Zhao Xuanzhen smiled helplessly. The reason could not be shared with outsiders. This month was the backlash period from fusing with Soaring Serpent, leaving his entire body in a weakened state.

The one-month period had ended, and Zhao Xuanzhen had returned to his peak. There was still enough time to undergo Second Awakening within nineteen days.

Under the dim yellow sunlight, the two streaked across the sky like meteors and returned to the Forging Association in Heaven Dou City.

Zhao Xuanzhen's routine now was simple. In the mornings, Muye dragged him to Death Valley to beat the Undead Creatures relentlessly until he burned himself out. Then he returned to the Forging Association to eat before studying Mecha Manufacturing and the Body Sect Secret Arts.

After a hard day of cultivation, either Gu Yue or Na'er would wait in his room with a smile to apply medicine for him, and then he would meditate and rest.

Zhao Xuanzhen and Muye entered the small kitchen. Godly Craftsman Zhen Hua, Na'er, and Jiu Tian were already seated and waiting for the meal. Gu Yue's graceful figure was reflected in the kitchen glass.

"Gu Yue is cooking?"

Zhao Xuanzhen paused in surprise. Muye had always handled the cooking after returning these days. Today, it had unexpectedly become Gu Yue.

With his hands behind his back, Muye sighed in the manner of someone who had been there before. "The little girl insisted on learning to cook. This Sect Master couldn't refuse, so I casually taught her a few things.

"To win a boy's heart, you first have to win his stomach. Kid, you're quite lucky."

Hearing this, Zhao Xuanzhen showed no reaction and remained as calm as water. Beside him, Na'er bit her chopsticks indignantly, her silver hair slightly disheveled.

Gu Yue's move was too underhanded!

This month, Na'er had deeply experienced what it meant to be anxious and uneasy. She feared that the fair, plump pig at home would be lured away by a bad woman.

Gu Yue was far too high-level. Astronomy and geography, mechas and Battle Armor, massages and cooking—she knew a little about everything. Her beauty was quiet and peerless, her temperament elegant and serene, and she was meticulous without lacking charm. She was simply the perfect choice for a partner.

Na'er panicked. In truth, she could not distinguish between liking someone and love. She was merely a girl who did not want another girl to take away the cherished doll she treasured.

"Time to eat."

Gu Yue carried over dish after dish and smiled brightly at Zhao Xuanzhen, like a flower of love blooming. "You worked hard in battle. Try my cooking."

Peerless beauty was only one weapon in Gu Yue's arsenal. She was an extremely intelligent girl and understood well that looks and a figure were never a lasting strategy.

Showing off her outstanding abilities from multiple angles, drawing Zhao Xuanzhen's attention, then slowly suppressing and replacing Na'er—this was the Conquering Xuanzhen Plan Gu Yue had devised.

Through Gu Yue's persistent efforts, the relationship between the two had visibly warmed.

During the process, Gu Yue discovered that Zhao Xuanzhen was a very, very good person. He clearly possessed the finest appearance, talent, and background, yet he had none of the bad habits of a spoiled young master. He had his own standards in everything he did, and when she was with him, she felt extremely comfortable as well.

She admitted that Na'er had excellent taste. Zhao Xuanzhen was worthy of being the Core of Humanity for the Silver Dragon King Half Body, and she increasingly wanted him to submit to Queen Gu Yue.

Whoosh—

The silver-white meal covers were lifted one by one. Steam rising from the dishes shattered the halo of the chandelier. The fish was wrapped in pale cherry-colored marbling. In a golden broth simmered from blood swallow and ham floated peony-like flowers, with crab roe outlining the veins of their petals.

The thousand-year ice-snow lamb had been stewed until it gleamed like jade fat, covered in a layer of white jelly formed from Heaven Mountain Star Chrysanthemum. The beef shreds, thin as cicada wings, cast silhouettes like a revolving lantern. In an instant, the entire room was filled with the colors and fragrances of the dishes.

Na'er's eyes lit up. She picked up a piece of ice-snow lamb and put it into her mouth. The fragrance of the lamb spread through her entire body, and happiness burst forth from within.

Never mind that. First, she would feast!

Seeing this, Gu Yue calmly served Zhao Xuanzhen some food, though the slight curve at the corner of her lips inadvertently betrayed her.

A foodie whose mind was filled with nothing but food was no opponent at all. Gu Yue was extremely confident. Even if she gave Na'er another four years, Na'er would not be able to win Zhao Xuanzhen. In this life, the silver-haired girl was destined to end up a defeated dog!

"Xuanzhen, Eastsea Academy starts tomorrow. I have to go back to school," Gu Yue said softly.

Zhao Xuanzhen stopped eating and looked at her beautiful fair face beneath her black bangs. "I'll take you."

"Mm."

Gu Yue naturally wanted to remain by Zhao Xuanzhen's side and continue her conquest, but she also wanted to return to Eastsea Academy to investigate Tang Wulin's abnormal bloodline. The Golden Dragon King had inexplicably regressed into a Golden Dragon overnight; after a month, whether he could revert remained uncertain.

Yes, the bad woman was finally leaving!

Na'er nearly cried out in excitement. Such a wonderful day was worth celebrating—she had to eat ten more bowls of rice!

Transforming into a merciless silver-haired eating machine, Na'er swept through the meat like a whirlwind. Then she abruptly realized that more than half the meat in her bowl was gone. She lowered her head to stare at the empty bowl for a long while.

"Hey, Zhao Xuanzhen, you stole my meat!"

Na'er let out a piercing shriek!

"Whoever gets it into their mouth owns it," Zhao Xuanzhen said righteously.

"If you like it, I'll make more," Gu Yue said with smiling eyes.

"No need!" Na'er's confidence surged. "Anything you can do, I can do too. Just wait, I'll make extra dishes for everyone!"

With that, Na'er excitedly ran into the kitchen. Crunching sounds of chopping vegetables came from inside.

"Na'er can cook?" Muye asked in surprise.

"She can't tell salt from sugar."

"Huh???"

Muye's expression changed drastically. Oh no, my kitchen!

Not long after, the kitchen's glass door opened. Accompanied by a thick cloud of black smoke, Na'er brought out three dishes: green beans, a fish, and charcoal.

Looking at the vibrant green beans before him, Muye, a master chef, gave an impartial evaluation. "Judging by the color, the beans don't want us to eat them."

The fish looked like leftovers from yesterday right after leaving the pot. It smelled like the unwashed socks of a dark-skinned athletic student who had played basketball all summer for a week without washing them. Zhao Xuanzhen looked gloomily at Na'er and said:

"I think you need to apologize to this fish that died in vain."

"It just doesn't look good. Take a bite!" Na'er urged tirelessly.

The third dish was Carbon Fiber Large Intestine. Alchemical genius Na'er had extracted rare metal from the intestines.

Jiu Tian abruptly rose to his feet and said seriously, "I suddenly have a forging inspiration. I'm going to the Forging Room."

"Teacher will go with you." Godly Craftsman Zhen Hua followed immediately behind him.

"The kitchen is a little messy. I'll tidy it up."

With a bang, Muye shut the kitchen door, leaving the three of them staring at one another.

Gu Yue crossed her arms and said coldly, "I'm not eating it!"

"Who asked you to eat it!"

Na'er huffily turned her head, then put on another expression. "Zhao Xuanzhen, you want to eat it, right?"

"They found excuses too quickly. I couldn't keep up with the rhythm." Zhao Xuanzhen regretted it.

"No, everyone else can be excused, but you have to try it!"

Na'er ground her small tiger teeth. If you won't eat it, I'll eat you!

Out of respect for Na'er's labor, Zhao Xuanzhen picked up a piece of pitch-black Carbon Fiber Large Intestine and took a small bite. His features instantly twisted, and he turned to glare at Na'er, who was pretending to be innocent.

Well, well. You used all your open schemes on me!