Master... You... Did You Pack the Food Before We Left?

After an unknown amount of time, when the surrounding trees became noticeably sparser and the air lost the heavy pressure and dense Soul Power unique to the core area, Bibi Dong's speed gradually decreased.

She landed lightly in a relatively open clearing in the forest, which was already on the outer edge of the Star Dou Forest.

Bibi Dong then looked down at Lin Xia in her arms. The boy's sleeping face was peaceful and serene, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow under his eyelids, and his breathing was even and long.

She glanced again at Qian Renxue, who was floating beside her, enveloped in gentle Soul Power. Her daughter's exquisite face appeared holy and serene under the soft light, and the aura of her Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul seemed even more refined and restrained.

Seeing the two sleeping peacefully, Bibi Dong finally relaxed completely.

A rare, tender smile, purely that of a loving mother, quietly bloomed on her exquisite lips, like the first wisp of snow melting on an iceberg.

She handled Qian Renxue with utmost care, as if she were handling a rare treasure. First, she gently placed Lin Xia on the flat ground covered with Limber fallen leaves. Then, she placed Lin Xia beside Qian Renxue with even greater gentleness, and carefully tidied Lin Xia's hair that had been ruffled by the wind.

After doing all this, Bibi Dong did not rest immediately.

Her deep purple eyes swept over the relatively safe open space, then she flipped her wrist, and an exquisite Storage Soul Tool Ring shimmered with a faint light.

One by one, the items were taken out and placed in an orderly manner.

She carefully laid a thick, Limber, dark green animal hide blanket with intricate patterns under Lin Xia and Qian Renxue, insulating them from the Damp and cold of the ground.

Two light yet warm Swan blankets were gently draped over the two sleeping people.

Small, exquisite folding tables and chairs were laid out on the open ground, their surfaces smooth as mirrors.

Finally, there were several items that were clearly cooking utensils—an antique-looking yet exceptionally sturdy metal stand, a small, polished Soul Tool soup pot, several sets of silver tableware inlaid with sapphires, and several sealed jade food boxes.

If any other Soul Master were present, seeing Bibi Dong light Courtney, they would be horrified, thinking she was courting death—in the perilous Star Dou Forest, the aroma of fire and food is the most deadly Captivate for powerful Soul Beast.

However, for Bibi Dong, a titled Douluo of level ninety-seven, this was nothing more than a trivial matter.

She didn't even deliberately release any pressure; she simply moved her mind slightly.

An invisible yet vast wave of Soul Power, like ripples on water, silently spread out from her center, covering an area of several hundred meters in radius.

This fluctuation was not domineering, but it carried an unquestionable and absolute will to dominate, as if it had carved an invisible barrier in the air.

The peering eyes that had been drawn to the Courtney's glow and the aroma of food, lurking in the shadows, whether from Hundred-Year Soul Beast or thousand-year-old Soul Beast, vanished the moment they came into contact with this will. It was as if their souls had been struck by an invisible giant hammer. They let out terrified whimpers, tucked their tails between their legs, and fled in panic at top speed, never daring to approach it again.

This small clearing instantly became the only absolutely safe island on the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest.

The orange-red Courtney crackled, its leaping Ember licking the bottom of the pot, dispelling the evening chill of the forest's edge and stretching Bibi Dong's shadow long.

Her expression was focused, and her movements were fluid and graceful, a stark contrast to the imposing presence she exuded when Instruct others in the Pope Hall.

She first opened a jade box, inside which was processed tender meat taken from the most essential part of a certain gentle Soul Beast, the meat displaying beautiful snowflake patterns.

Next, she opened several other jade boxes, which contained clean, fresh seasonal vegetables that exuded a natural fragrance, as well as several carefully prepared seasonings and sauces.

Bibi Dong rolled up the wide, luxurious purple sleeves of her Pope robe, revealing a section of her fair, jade-like, and beautifully shaped forearm.

She skillfully sliced the meat into evenly sized thin slices; her fingers flew across the blade, the knife flashing with a strange rhythm. The vegetables were also quickly and precisely prepared, arranged on a pristine white bone china plate, their colors pleasing to the eye.

The soup pot was heated on a stand. Bibi Dong poured in clear spring water and added a few pieces of crystal-clear Spirit Bone that had been simmered into a rich broth.

As the temperature rises, the broth jelly melts rapidly, and a rich, savory aroma immediately fills the air.

She controlled the heat, occasionally using her Soul Power to fine-tune the size of the flames, her movements filled with composure and confidence.

The sliced meat quickly changed color in the boiling broth, followed by the vegetables, and finally drizzled with her special sauce. The entire process was devoid of any unnecessary movements, like an elegant art performance.

The enticing aroma grew stronger, a blend of meaty fragrance, fresh vegetable scents, and rich sauce, swirling within the safe Barrier Soul Power, filled with the warmth of everyday life.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Xia's long eyelashes trembled a few times.

He wasn't awakened by the sound, but by the intense aroma that filled his nostrils and stirred his most primal appetite.

Consciousness slowly rose from the comfort of deep sleep, the body seemingly drawn by the fragrance.

He slowly opened his eyes, and what came into view was the warm, leaping Courtney, and two stunningly beautiful faces smiling at him beside Courtney.

Bibi Dong was placing the last of the tempting vegetable and meat rolls onto a plate. In the firelight, the sharpness in her brows was replaced by gentleness, carrying a hint of barely Frisk anticipation.

Qian Renxue, who had already woken up and was now sitting elegantly at the table, looked at Lin Xia, who was still a little dazed, with a gentle smile in her golden eyes.

"Xiao Xia, are you awake?"

Bibi Dong's voice carried a hint of relaxed laughter as she placed the exquisite plate she was holding on the table covered with a snow-white napkin.

"Come and eat, we've been waiting for you."

Lin Xia was still a little dazed. She subconsciously sat up and rubbed her eyes.

The warmth of the Courtney dispelled the last trace of drowsiness, and his gaze was immediately drawn to the dishes laid out on the small table.

The meal consisted of four dishes and a soup, presented in such exquisite detail that it didn't feel like a temporary campsite in the wilderness; it resembled the offerings of a high-end restaurant.

The main dish is a rich and flavorful stew of Soul Beast meat slices, with a strong aroma. The sauce is thick and the meat slices are tender, garnished with bright green vegetables, and the soup glistens enticingly under the firelight.

Next to it was a plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, bright green and tender, cooked to perfection, retaining the vegetables' original refreshing taste.

A plate of some kind of plant root and stem chunks, pan-fried until golden brown and crispy, exuding a faint aroma of milk and honey.

There was also a small dish of delicate and appetizing cold side dishes, colorful and appealing.

The soup was a clear, flavorful vegetable broth, topped with bright green scallions and pale yellow egg flowers, and steaming hot.

Lin Xia was completely dumbfounded.

This is definitely not the kind of exquisite dish that the chefs of the Spirit Hall could make with a heat-preserving Soul Tool; it's clearly a home-cooked delicacy that's just come out of the pot and still has that wok-fried aroma!

He opened his mouth, almost blurting it out, and looked at Bibi Dong with an incredulous tone.

"Master... you... did you pack the food before you came? This... this is too lavish!"

He simply couldn't reconcile the delicious-looking, home-cooked dishes before him with the His Holiness the Pope who ruled the Spirit Hall and was decisive in his actions.