Battle Qi Continent's First "Special Product"

Xun'er accepted the Qi-Gathering Powder, a flicker of surprise and gratitude flashing through her eyes. "Brother Xiao Yao, you've always been so thoughtful ever since we were children. Xun'er doesn't even know how to thank you in the future."

"Isn't it only natural for an older brother to dote on his little sister? Besides, you're such a cute girl." Xiao Yao smiled as he rubbed her head.

"Only doting on a little sister? Xun'er is quite greedy. I don't just want to be your little sister. I also want to..." Xun'er muttered softly.

Seeing Xun'er mumbling under her breath, Xiao Yao asked curiously, "Xun'er, what are you saying?"

Xun'er's face reddened slightly as she replied shyly, "Nothing, Brother Xiao Yao."

After hearing that, Xiao Yao walked to the side and sat down in a stone chair. Looking at Xun'er, he said, "Girl, do you remember the special product I mentioned before? I'll have it ready tonight and let you see something that only I can make on this continent."

Xun'er's crescent-shaped eyes curved into a smile. "Hehe, then Xun'er will have to see it when the time comes. I've been looking forward to it for a long time."

Xiao Yao stood and walked aside, taking out the Black Demon Cauldron once more. Then he took a deep breath and retrieved a stalk of Flame Grass from the Soul Storage Ring on his right hand.

The grass was bright red all over, its flame-like color shining brilliantly beneath the sunlight as though it contained endless energy.

Xiao Yao carefully wrapped the Flame Grass in battle qi. His battle qi flowed like water, tightly enveloping the herb and preventing it from suffering any damage.

Then, he slowly moved the Flame Grass into the Black Demon Cauldron. Flames leaped within the cauldron, and the temperature abruptly rose. Under the flames' extraction, the Flame Grass gradually fused into a small pile of dark-red powder.

The powder was crystalline and translucent, as though it contained the purest essence of heaven and earth. It gave off an intoxicating fragrance.

Looking at the pile of red medicinal powder, satisfaction flashed in Xiao Yao's eyes. He reached out, took the powder, and carefully placed it into a jade bottle.

Xiao Yao poured out a little of the powder from the bottle, dipped a finger into it, and placed it on his tongue for a taste. So spicy. It really is this flavor—the exact same taste as the chili powder used for barbecue back on Blue Star.

In this world of battle qi, cultivators no longer needed to eat as their cultivation rose. They had long surpassed the physiological needs of ordinary people.

They no longer needed food to sustain their lives. Through cultivation, they directly absorbed battle qi from heaven and earth to nourish their bodies. This way of life allowed them to focus more fully on pursuing higher cultivation, while making their need for food almost negligible.

Therefore, for alchemists, refining food seasonings seemed like something entirely optional. They were more inclined to study pills that could raise cultivation and strengthen one's power, and had little interest in seasonings that improved the taste of food. As a result, the ingredients and flavorings in this world were exceptionally monotonous and lacked variety.

When Xiao Yao recalled the first time he had eaten the food here as a child, he remembered that it had only barely suited his palate. It simply could not compare to the delicious food of Blue Star.

Over the years, Xiao Yao had constantly searched for ways to improve the taste of food. With his mastery of medicinal ingredient properties rewarded by the system, he researched the characteristics and uses of various herbs to determine which ones could be made into seasonings.

"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully refining a unique seasoning found nowhere else on the continent. You have obtained the 'Unprecedented' achievement. Reward: one small supermarket. (Note: Only ten items may be taken from the supermarket each day. The items originate from Blue Star.)"

Upon hearing the system's voice in his mind, Xiao Yao was thrilled. He impatiently closed his eyes to inspect the supermarket rewarded by the system, browsing through the list it provided in his mind.

His fingers lightly moved through the air as though he could touch those virtual goods. When his gaze fell upon the colorful seasonings, his heartbeat could not help accelerating.

The seasonings were dazzlingly varied, with everything one could want. Each gave off an enticing fragrance, as if beckoning to him. When he looked again at the chili powder in his hand, he suddenly felt a little troubled. Still, he had worked so hard for so long to refine this bottle himself. If he had not succeeded, the system would not have rewarded him. It seemed it was rather valuable after all.

Seeing that there was only a little chili powder in the jade bottle, Xiao Yao lowered his head and began refining again. With the ease brought by his first successful attempt, he soon refined ten more bottles of the same red powder—chili powder.

Xiao Yao hurriedly stood up and stored the ten jade bottles on the ground in his storage ring, leaving only the one in his hand. Looking proudly at Xun'er, he said, "Xun'er, do you see the jade bottle in my hand? Inside is the first batch of special products personally refined by me."

Hearing Xiao Yao's confident words, Xun'er curiously accepted the jade bottle. After opening it, she looked at the red powder inside and caught a faint fragrance. She teased, "That's it? Nothing else? Brother Xiao Yao said you would satisfy me, but I'm not interested in this kind of medicinal powder."

Xiao Yao smiled at that. "Come on, Xun'er. You'll understand after you taste it. I guarantee you'll like it." With that, he took Xun'er by the hand and led her out of the courtyard.

Seeing this, Xun'er allowed Xiao Yao to pull her along by the hand as she muttered inwardly, Where is Brother Xiao Yao planning to take me? Can that red medicinal powder really make Xun'er like it?

Xiao Yao led Xun'er to a side courtyard. They entered and arrived at the Lineage's cooking area, then pushed open the door.

At that moment, a chef was busily preparing ingredients. The man looked up and saw Xiao Yao and Xun'er enter, quickly greeting them. "Young Master Xiao Yao, Miss Xun'er, what brings you here?"

Xiao Yao asked with a smile, "Have you finished preparing the tools I asked for before? Especially that pot."

The man respectfully replied, "Reporting to Young Master, I have already sent people to prepare the tools you requested." After saying that, he walked to the side and pulled out a box from the floor. From it, he took out a black iron pot whose surface had a unique design, divided internally into the yin and yang dual forms.

After taking the iron pot, Xiao Yao lifted it and examined it carefully. He nodded and said, "Not bad. The shape is good, and the quality is excellent too. By the way, were these tools forged from the rare iron ore I gave you before?" I happened to find that rare ore while passing by a roadside stall when I went out to buy materials. The system even appraised it.

The man respectfully said, "Rest assured, Young Master. I personally supervised the process and saw the blacksmith forge them with the iron ore you provided. These iron racks were made from it as well." As he spoke, he continued searching through the box and took out several new iron racks, along with ten small knives and forks.

Xiao Yao satisfactorily stored them all in his storage ring, then said to the man, "Cut several large pieces of the freshest Magic Beast meat you have here for me. Also prepare some fresh ingredients and vegetables for me."

After a while, Xiao Yao placed everything the chef had prepared into his storage ring and brought Xun'er back to his small courtyard.

At that moment, Xiao Yao took an iron rack from the storage ring on his hand and set it on the ground. He then took out charcoal and fire tongs, lighting the charcoal. Next, Xiao Yao placed the prepared beast meat and ingredients on the rack and began grilling.

Xun'er stood to the side, watching Xiao Yao skillfully handle the barbecue. She could not help feeling somewhat impressed. "Brother Xiao Yao, how are you so good at grilling meat?"

Xiao Yao smiled. "Maybe I'm naturally gifted. After all, both alchemy and grilling require controlling the heat."

After a while, the meat was done. Xiao Yao sprinkled his specially made seasoning over it, then took out some cumin from the supermarket and added a little. At once, the grilled meat gave off a rich fragrance.

Xiao Yao cut off several pieces of meat with a knife and handed them to Xun'er. "Come, Xun'er, give it a taste. It has a little special product added to it, so it should taste quite good." After saying that, Xiao Yao began eating as well.