Roast Rabbit Slowly, or Haste Will Ruin the Flavor

Afternoon.

Dappled sunlight filtered through the forest leaves onto the clearing by the Lake of Life.

Gu Yuena had long been waiting in the center of the clearing, her silver-white clothes making her seem cool and aloof.

Her weapon was the Silver Dragon Spear, so she naturally knew nothing about the various schools of swordsmanship and could not teach Lu Yuan complete sword techniques.

But when it came to the fundamental principles of Soul Power circulation and physical exertion, no one on the entire continent could compare to her.

"Begin."

Hearing Gu Yuena's voice, Lu Yuan's mind stirred as he summoned his Martial Soul.

With a hum, black flame-mist surged from around his body, while two weapon-shaped blades of light and flame condensed directly above his hands.

The Sun-Chopping Flame rested in his right hand, blazing with pure yang fire, while the Abyss-Eroding Profound Blade in his left was wreathed in silent black mist from the Abyss.

Gu Yuena's gaze fell upon the two flame blades as she spoke softly. "Ordinary people who possess two conflicting attributes will inevitably find them restraining one another during cultivation, leaving their Soul Power constrained at every turn."

"But your Martial Soul is extremely unusual. Not only do the two powers not conflict, they enhance each other, layering their might together."

Lu Yuan understood inwardly.

The flame attribute was merely something Gustot had imitated after absorbing the memories of Xiu Kuteer, the Fire Element Dragon King within the earth veins.

Erosion's true attribute was the Abyss. Flame was merely one of its manifestations, but on Douluo Continent, it was undeniably genuine Ultimate Fire.

Following Gu Yuena's instructions on how to exert force, Lu Yuan steadied his stance.

His feet spread shoulder-width apart, his waist and abdomen braced his strength, and Soul Power flowed through his limbs and coursed throughout his body.

He raised his hand and performed the simplest vertical chop. The Sun-Chopping Flame crashed down in a blaze of scorching golden fire, cleaving apart the airflow.

Almost at the same instant, the Abyss-Eroding Profound Blade swept horizontally, spreading deathly black mist.

The golden and black powers collided and merged, blending into an even heavier shockwave that flattened every blade of grass beneath the forceful wind.

"Slow your movements. Control the rhythm of your Soul Power output."

Gu Yuena quietly guided him from the side, correcting only basic issues such as his stance and center of force.

She never bound him with complicated techniques, since she did not know them herself...

"I do not understand swordsmanship, so I cannot teach you the flashy techniques of different schools. But your Martial Soul is inherently unique. There is no need to copy another's path. Following your own instincts and wielding it freely will be best."

Overwhelming force could solve anything. Simple!

Lu Yuan nodded in agreement.

He calmed himself and repeatedly practiced the four basic movements: chopping, slashing, pointing, and thrusting.

With every swing, the two powers cooperated with growing harmony.

For others, such training would only continually deplete their Soul Power. Yet as Lu Yuan repeatedly wielded his Martial Soul forms, the surrounding heaven and earth's Soul Power instead flowed into his body through the source flames, continuously nourishing his meridians and physique.

After two hours of polishing his skills, Lu Yuan swung both flame blades together and unleashed a combined strike, sending golden-black airwaves explosively spreading outward.

With a thought, he withdrew the flames around his body back into himself, and the two weapon forms vanished as well.

After such intense cultivation, his body was tired, but his spirit was instead becoming increasingly invigorated.

Gu Yuena slowly walked over to him, a faint smile hidden in her eyes. "Your Martial Soul is blessed by nature. As long as you continue refining it every day, once your Soul Power advances further, the true killing move of these Yin-Yang Twin Flames will naturally reveal itself bit by bit."

Lu Yuan nodded vigorously. Looking at his own hands, his heart was filled with anticipation.

Who did not dream of wielding a sword?

He glanced at the sky and said, "Sister Na, it's getting late. I'll go prepare dinner first."

Gu Yuena nodded slightly.

She did not need to eat, but Lu Yuan did. Besides, he was still a child and growing.

Lu Yuan turned toward the lakeshore, only to find that the Three-Eyed Golden Lion and Bi Ji had left at some point.

Just as he was about to search for ingredients, a light pattering of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the grass in the woods.

A small golden figure darted swiftly before him.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion had three plump Soft Bone Rabbits clamped in her mouth.

Thud!

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion sharply flung her head, tossing all the Soft Bone Rabbits, each several decades old, at Lu Yuan's feet.

Her furry little head lifted slightly, and her lively vertical pupils stared intently at Lu Yuan with a hint of curiosity and mischievous intelligence.

A crisp voice rang out, carrying a trace of slyness.

"I've already brought you the ingredients. Let me see how good your cooking is today!"

Lu Yuan looked down at the fat, sturdy Soft Bone Rabbits with their firm meat.

She really was a seasoned foodie. She knew these rabbits tasted best!

But since the Auspicious Beast had already prepared the ingredients, he naturally would not refuse.

"Since you're so interested, then I'll make a fool of myself and treat you to roasted rabbit."

As soon as Lu Yuan finished speaking, he immediately got to work.

He walked into the forest and gathered dry branches and firewood from all around.

Before long, he had collected a pile of evenly sized branches that would ignite easily, then neatly stacked them into a simple bonfire.

Once everything was ready, he looked at the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, who was crouched before him with expectant eyes, and smiled. "Let me borrow your flames."

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion did not hesitate in the slightest. She lifted her small head slightly and breathed out a ball of fire.

Whoosh!

The gentle flames landed precisely on the pile of dry branches. The firewood ignited instantly, and dancing flames slowly rose.

Warm light flickered, tree shadows swayed, and the silent forest immediately gained a touch of life and warmth.

Lu Yuan turned and walked to the clear lake nearby, where the water was transparent to the bottom and shimmered with rippling light.

He bent down, picked up the Soft Bone Rabbits from the ground, carefully cleaned their fur and innards, then skewered them with wooden sticks and steadily set them over the bonfire.

Sizzle~

The high heat of the coals roasted the tender rabbit meat. Soon, tiny droplets of fat slowly trickled from the firm flesh and fell onto the charcoal, sparking little bursts of fire.

A rich, pure aroma of meat gradually spread, mingling with the fresh scent of grass and trees as it drifted through the mountains and forest, utterly enticing.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion obediently sat beside the bonfire, her small body leaning forward slightly as her nose constantly twitched, greedily inhaling the fragrance rushing toward her.

Lu Yuan raised a hand and gently turned the skewers, ensuring the rabbit meat heated evenly so that every part could be thoroughly roasted by the coals.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion had long lost the pride and majesty of the Imperial Auspicious Beast. She now crouched directly before the bonfire, her forepaws pressed together beneath her chin while her tail swayed behind her.

She looked exactly like a greedy little kitten waiting for dinner, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on the rabbit meat without moving away even a fraction.

"Quick, quick, quick! Turn it a couple more times! The skin needs to be crispy!"

Lu Yuan spun the skewers one-handed with remarkably skilled movements. A wicked grin appeared at the corner of his lips as he teased, "What's the rush? Rabbit needs to be roasted slowly, or haste will ruin the flavor."

But just as he finished speaking, a delicate fragrance drifted past.

Gu Yuena, who had supposedly already returned to the bottom of the lake, had somehow appeared silently beside the bonfire.

Without saying a word, she silently bent her knees and crouched steadily beside the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.

Her posture was extraordinarily down-to-earth, no different from a passerby squatting by a roadside food stall to eat.

Even the Three-Eyed Golden Lion was stunned and secretly glanced sideways.

Good grief, even the Lord had come!

Gu Yuena remained expressionless, trying hard to preserve the last shred of her dignity.

"I... I was merely afraid that you were still young and did not know how to cook, Xiao Yuan. I came to keep an eye on things."

Lu Yuan did not expose her and merely nodded.

Before long, the Soft Bone Rabbits were done roasting.

Lu Yuan handed one each to Gu Yuena and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.

"Try them!"

"Pure original-flavor roasted rabbit. It's just a pity there are no seasonings, otherwise it would taste even better."

Gu Yuena took a bite, nodded, and said, "The taste is still quite good. Xiao Yuan, you have real skill!"

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion, meanwhile, finished one in just two or three bites.

A mere decades-old Soft Bone Rabbit was nowhere near enough to fill even the gaps between her teeth.

Lu Yuan handed her another and said, "Eat slowly."

Then he picked up the last one and began eating it himself.

But the Three-Eyed Golden Lion did not listen. She still wolfed it down and finished it in two or three bites.

Seeing that there was no more, she pouted and muttered, "Sigh, looks like I'll have to catch more in the future."

Lu Yuan smiled.

"Ingredients alone aren't enough. We need seasonings too. Auspicious Beast, go borrow some from those Soul Masters who come here to hunt Soul Beasts."

Borrow?

Wouldn't it be easier to just take them?

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's eyes rolled as she said, "Ah! I remember now. I found quite a few belongings left behind by human Soul Masters in the forest before. Storage Soul Tools and such. There must be some inside. I'll go look!"

With that, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion ran off.

Lu Yuan watched her hurried retreating figure and shook his head.

"Xiao Yuan, what plans do you have for yourself from here on?"

Gu Yuena suddenly asked.

Lu Yuan froze for a moment. "Cultivate here with Sister, of course!"

"I mean your own thoughts."

Lu Yuan thought for a moment. "I'll cultivate until I'm twelve first, then see?"

Twelve was a relatively important milestone on Douluo Continent.

He wondered what realm he would reach by then.

Ultimate attributes became slower to cultivate after reaching Soul Elder, because their Soul Power was too overbearing and required a stronger physique than ordinary Soul Masters could bear. That was why cultivation slowed.

But his physique was already countless times stronger than an ordinary person's. It should not slow down too much, right?

If it did slow down, he would have to make up for it elsewhere...

The four major elements of cultivation: wealth, companions, methods, and environment!

The nourishment of the Lake of Life, Soul Rings, Soul Bones, companionship, guidance...

He lacked none of those. That left only one special resource: Immortal Herbs!

Immortal Herbs could accelerate cultivation, and their medicinal effects could last until Soul Sage, which happened to be when Ultimate attributes returned to their normal cultivation speed.

But how could he persuade Gu Yuena to take him to Sunset Forest?

While eating roasted rabbit, Lu Yuan fell into deep thought.