Xun'er accepted the Qi-Gathering Powder, a flicker of surprise and gratitude passing through her eyes. "Brother Xiao Yao, you've always been so thoughtful, ever since we were little. Xun'er doesn't even know how to thank you in the future."
"Isn't it only natural for an older brother to cherish his younger sister? Besides, you're such a cute girl." Xiao Yao smiled as he rubbed her head.
"Only cherishing a little sister? Xun'er is very greedy. I don't just want to be your little sister... I also want..." 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 on a stone chair. Looking at Xun'er, he said, "Girl, do you remember the specialty I mentioned before? I'll have it ready tonight. I'll let you see something that only I can make on this continent."
Xun'er's crescent-shaped eyes curved as she smiled. "Hehe, then let Xun'er have a look when the time comes. Xun'er has been looking forward to it."
Xiao Yao rose and walked aside, taking out the Black Demon Cauldron again. Then he drew a deep breath and retrieved a stalk of Flame Grass from the Soul Storage Ring on his right hand.
The entire stalk was crimson red, its flame-like color gleaming brilliantly beneath the sunlight, as though it contained boundless energy.
Xiao Yao carefully wrapped the Flame Grass in battle qi. His battle qi flowed like water, tightly encasing 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 suddenly rose. Under the flames' refinement, the Flame Grass gradually fused into a small pile of dark red powder.
The powder was crystal-clear, as though it contained the purest essence of heaven and earth, and it emitted an intoxicating fragrance.
Xiao Yao looked at the pile of red medicinal powder, satisfaction flashing in his eyes. He reached out, removed the powder, and carefully placed it into a jade bottle.
Xiao Yao poured out a little of the powder, 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 I used for barbecue on Blue Star.
In this world of battle qi, as one's cultivation increased, cultivators no longer needed to eat. They had already surpassed the physiological needs of ordinary mortals.
They no longer needed food to sustain their lives. Instead, 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 their need for food became negligible.
Therefore, for Alchemists, refining food seasonings seemed like an utterly dispensable task. They preferred researching pills that could raise cultivation and strengthen one's power, showing little interest in seasonings that improved the taste of food. As a result, the flavoring of ingredients in this world had become extraordinarily 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 sought ways to improve food's flavor. Using the system's reward, mastery of medicinal ingredient properties, he researched the characteristics and uses of various herbs to see which 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 Mini 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 and inspected the rewarded supermarket, browsing the supermarket list provided by the system in his mind.
His fingers lightly swept through the air, as though he could touch those virtual goods. When his gaze fell upon the colorful seasonings, his heartbeat could not help quickening.
The seasonings were dazzlingly varied, with everything one could possibly need. Each gave off an enticing fragrance, as though beckoning to him. Looking again at the chili powder in his hand, he suddenly felt a little dejected. Still, he had spent so long refining this bottle himself. If he had not succeeded, the system would not have rewarded him. It seemed to be quite valuable after all.
Seeing that there was rather little chili powder in the jade bottle, Xiao Yao immediately bent over and began refining again. With the experience from his first attempt, he smoothly succeeded in refining 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 bottle 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 specialty goods I personally refined."
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 its faint fragrance. She teased, "That's it? Nothing else? Brother Xiao Yao said he 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 know once 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, muttering 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 separate courtyard and entered it, arriving at the place where the clan prepared meals. He pushed open the door and walked in.
At that moment, a cook 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 the utensils I asked you to prepare earlier? Especially that pot."
The man respectfully replied, "Reporting to Young Master, I have already sent people to prepare the utensils you requested." After saying that, he walked to the side and pulled out a box from the ground. From within, he took out a black iron pot. Its appearance was unique, and its interior was divided into yin and yang.
After taking the iron pot, Xiao Yao carefully examined it and nodded. "Not bad. The pot's design is good, and the quality is excellent as well. By the way, were these utensils forged from the rare iron ore I gave you before?" I happened to find that rare ore at a roadside stall while buying materials outside. The system even appraised it.
The man respectfully said, "Rest assured, Young Master. I personally supervised the work and saw the blacksmith forge it from the iron ore you provided. These iron racks were made from it as well." As he spoke, he continued rummaging through the box and pulled out new iron racks, along with ten small knives and small forks.
Xiao Yao satisfactorily stored them all in his Storage Ring, then said to the man, "Cut several large pieces of the freshest Magical Beast meat you have for me. Also prepare some fresh ingredients, vegetables, and the like."
After a while, Xiao Yao placed everything the cook had prepared into his Storage Ring and returned to his small courtyard with Xun'er.
At this time, Xiao Yao took an iron rack from the Storage Ring in 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 iron rack and began roasting them.
Xun Er stood to one side, watching Xiao Yao skillfully work the grill. She could not help feeling a little impressed. She asked, "Brother Xiao Yao, how are you so good at grilling meat?"
Xiao Yao smiled. "Maybe I'm just naturally gifted. After all, both alchemy and grilling require controlling the heat."
After a while, the meat was cooked. Xiao Yao sprinkled it with his specially made seasoning, then took out some cumin from the supermarket and sprinkled a little over it. At once, the roasted meat gave off a rich fragrance.
Xiao Yao cut off several pieces of meat with a knife and handed them to Xun'er. "Here, Xun'er, give it a try. It has a little of my specialty added to it, so it should taste pretty good." After saying that, Xiao Yao began eating as well.
Before you continue