Preparations Before Departure

Before long, the table was filled with various delicacies, each one a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.

Xue Xi picked up a braised pork knuckle dripping with sauce using her chopsticks; the tender skin wobbled with every movement. Since the meat had already been deboned, she simply opened her small mouth and took a hearty bite.

The bouncy, chewy texture of the knuckle was packed with collagen, and when mixed with the secret sauce, Xue Xi couldn't help but shake her head in delight, feeling deeply impressed by her own culinary skills: As expected of me!

Just as Xue Xi was busy enjoying her meal with gusto, a sharp whistling sound came from outside. Luo Feng retracted his Sky-Escaping Shuttle, and upon smelling the aroma of the food wafting through the air, his mouth watered uncontrollably: Better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early! Heaven knows what kind of torture I've been suffering these past few months without Xue Xi's cooking.

With a joyful heart, his pace quickened. He strode into the dining room in two or three steps and let out a loud laugh: "Hahaha, welcome back to Earth, Fourth Sister! Third Brother has missed you so much these days! Oh, you're eating? Perfect, perfect, I brought my own bowl and chopsticks."

Xue Xi, chewing on a piece of juicy Sweet Skin Duck, looked speechlessly at Luo Feng as he produced a set of alloy bowl and chopsticks from his ring. His Adam's apple bobbed as he began to help himself to the dishes with practiced ease, occasionally letting out a satisfied sigh: "This is what real food tastes like! Fourth Sister, you can't even imagine the miserable life I've been living these past few months."

Popping a few Five-Spice Beans into her mouth, Xue Xi picked up the conversation: "Tell me about it!"

Luo Feng demonstrated his domain: "My domain and laws are progressing rapidly thanks to the buffs from the Golden Horned Beast, but its bloodlust has also started to affect me. These days, I've only been able to vent my frustration in the Trial Tower, just waiting for you to return so we could figure out a way to handle it in the universe."

Xue Xi thought it was something major: "Doesn't the Candied Fruit Shop in my menu cleanse the soul? Didn't you know?"

Luo Feng swallowed the last piece of braised pork knuckle and rolled his eyes at Xue Xi, who was looking at him as if he were an idiot: "Fourth Sister, I know that, but the chef ran off to the universe and I couldn't reach her!"

Suddenly realizing, Xue Xi coughed a few times to cover her slight embarrassment and walked toward the kitchen: "Hey! What a small matter. You just sit there and don't move; I'll go buy—cough, cough—make some candied fruits for you. Whatever bloodlust influence you have, I can cure it."

Ignoring the starving ghost who was busy cleaning his plate, Xue Xi plucked a variety of fruits from the newly added cultivation plots in her Cultivation Space—apricots, kumquats, passion fruit, mangoes, cherries, plums, and about thirty other types.

She washed and processed them, cut them into pieces, dried them, boiled them with sugar, and then left them to cure and air-dry. Xue Xi picked up a piece of dried mango and put it in her mouth; the rich mango flavor and the sweet-and-sour aroma permeated her entire soul, causing her to relax as if she had given her soul a bath, washing away all the impurities.

After tidying up, Xue Xi placed the prepared candied fruits into a container, arranged them on a plate, and carried them out.

Outside, Luo Feng was holding a bowl of Lamb Paomo, tilting his head back to gulp it down. He finished it in one go, let out a satisfied burp, and exhaled deeply: "Ah, that's the stuff!"

Xue Xi placed the plate in front of Luo Feng: "There you go, try it, Luo Feng, and see if it works for you."

Luo Feng chuckled: "If you made it, Fourth Sister, it's bound to work. I'll try one." As he spoke, he picked up a pitted dried apricot and popped it into his mouth.

Instantly, the sweet and sour apricot stimulated his palate, making his mouth water uncontrollably, but the effect was also obvious: the restless, violent aura within Luo Feng's domain gradually calmed down.

Luo Feng swallowed the dried apricot, feeling a sense of relief in his soul: "I haven't felt this comfortable in a long time. I've been suppressing the influence of the Golden Horned Beast on my soul for months and haven't had a good night's sleep. Fourth Sister, as expected of you!"

Xue Xi chuckled: "Is that so? I think so too. By the way, when do you plan to set off for the universe?"

At this moment, Babata, who had been holding back for a long time, finally popped out: "You're finally done eating! Virtual food just doesn't feel the same as the real thing. Little Feng, you promised me that once you make it big, you'd buy me a mechanical race Evolution Heart! I want to taste Xue Xi's food too; virtual data is just too empty, wuwuwu!"

Luo Feng looked at the pitiful little devil and promised solemnly: "Don't worry, Babata, I, Luo Feng, keep my word!"

Babata wiped away his simulated tears, coughed twice, and said to Xue Xi: "The sooner we leave for the universe, the better, of course. But since you just got back, why don't you take a rest before we head out?"

Xue Xi nodded: "That works. I also need to handle some restaurant matters and say goodbye to some good friends. You guys can discuss the details with Big Brother and Second Brother; just let me know when you're ready to leave."

After they finished discussing, a full and satisfied Luo Feng took Babata and bid farewell, needing to return home to get a good night's sleep and recharge his spirit.