A flash of fiery light shot from Shi Teng's eyes. "The Ten-Headed Blazing Sun Serpent's inner core! What a nourishing treasure!"
He was just about to make his move.
The Fire Qilin swallowed the inner core in one gulp.
Shi Teng could not help blurting out, "Fuck! You stole my inner core!
"I was going to use that thing to condense Scarlet Emperor Fire Emperor Qi!"
There was nothing he could do now, though. He could hardly cut open the Fire Qilin's belly. The thing was probably very beneficial to the beast, too.
Only then did Shi Teng remember Xia Youyu and the others beside him.
He said respectfully, "Thank you for guarding me just now, Senior Sister Xia!"
Bai Yun gave a little snort. "Hmph! We were the ones who brought you here, yet you took all the benefits for yourself!"
Shi Teng chuckled. "You can't put it like that. At least you gained some combat experience. That gives you one more means of staying alive in future battles!"
Bai Yun was so angry that she could not speak.
"H-how can someone be so utterly shameless?"
Shi Teng kept smiling. "I have teeth, you know. Plenty of them!"
As he spoke, he even bared his teeth.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Bai Yun was left panting with anger. Coupled with the serious injuries she had just suffered, her body began trembling slightly.
Zi Yi hurriedly steadied her.
Xia Youyu said, "The brothers earned these treasures through their own abilities. They rightfully belong to them!"
Shi Teng nodded lightly. "Senior Sister Xia is the reasonable one after all. I see you're skilled with a sword. I have one here that should suit you very well!"
With a slight stir of Shi Teng's will, a spirit sword flew out, violet lightning wreathing its length.
Xia Youyu caught it with one hand. As though possessed of intelligence, the spirit sword instantly formed a mental connection with her.
"This sword is called Tianya. It was forged from nine-heavens strange iron combined with many rare treasures. When Tianya leaves its sheath, blue light flows and supreme sword qi surges, overturning heaven and earth.
"Its sheath and hilt are sky-blue throughout, their color bright and vivid, with faint ripples of light flowing over them. The sword itself contains auspicious, righteous energy."
Xia Youyu's eyes fixed on Tianya, shock showing on her face.
She loved the spirit sword in her hand too much to put it down!
Even in the entire Heaven Mending Pavilion, famed swords of this caliber were rarely seen.
Yet this young man had taken it out and given it away so casually.
Could this be his token of love?
At that thought, Xia Youyu could not help raising her head to glance at Shi Teng.
Shi Teng was still as carefree as ever. He did not seem to harbor any special feelings for her.
"This...!"
Before Xia Youyu could speak, Shi Teng continued, "Oh, forget it. If you're saving someone, see it through; if you're escorting the Buddha, take him all the way west. The stronger you are, the less likely the Heaven Mending Pavilion is to be destroyed!"
Xia Youyu's eyes flickered. "Hmm? What did you just say?"
Shi Teng hurriedly corrected himself. "N-nothing. I happen to have a set of the Divine Sword Thunder-Controlling True Art here, too. I'll give you that as well!
"The Divine Sword Thunder-Controlling True Art is a supreme mystical technique that allows you to draw in thunder of tremendous force and wield it as your own.
"When cast, it uses a divine weapon to lay an invisible barrier around the caster, allowing a mortal body to summon the utmost might of heaven and earth.
"With a divine blade as its conduit, it calls down divine thunder from the nine heavens. Its radiant heavenly might shakes heaven and earth when unleashed, changing the colors of wind and cloud. All who stand against it are swept away. Its power is unparalleled.
"The incantation: Mystic powers of the nine heavens, become divine thunder! Radiant might of heaven, let this sword draw you forth!"
Xia Youyu's expression shifted slightly as a streak of lightning entered the center of her brow.
In that instant, she actually felt the radiant heavenly might of the Divine Sword Thunder-Controlling True Art.
Beside her, Bai Yun spoke up. "Hmph! Who are you trying to fool with this scrap metal? What fine treasures could a brat from the Great Wilderness possibly have?
"Do you really think our Senior Sister Xia is that easy to deceive?"
Shi Teng had originally intended to give the others a few small gifts, too, but he abandoned the idea.
A woman like you, neither pretty nor pleasant, with such a shrewish temper and nothing remarkable on your chest either-when the Heaven Mending Pavilion is invaded, you should be the first to die.
"Shut up!" Xia Youyu snapped. "Who told you this was a pile of scrap metal?"
Bai Yun looked even more displeased. "What good things could he possibly produce? What doesn't our Heaven Mending Pavilion's treasury have?"
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Shi Teng's mouth. "The ignorant know no fear. Everything in your Heaven Mending Pavilion put together probably couldn't compare to this divine sword and this Divine Sword Thunder-Controlling True Art!"
Bai Yun shouted angrily again, "Brat, brag all you want, but don't compare your junk to our Heaven Mending Pavilion! How could they possibly stand on equal footing?"
Xia Youyu ignored Bai Yun. She had no desire to entertain a fool.
Instead, she said respectfully, "Brother Shi, your gifts are far too precious. I truly feel unworthy of accepting them!"
Shi Teng declared spiritedly, "From the moment you stepped forward to protect me, you became worthy of receiving them!"
Xia Youyu hesitated. More than anything, she was very fond of both the divine sword and the technique.
Then she said, "All right. In that case, I'll accept them. But courtesy calls for a gift in return. I saw you condensing fire spirit power just now. I have a bottle of Fire Origin Pills here, a gift the Fire Emperor bestowed upon our sect.
"Though they cannot compare to your divine sword and true art, they are still a token of my sincerity!"
Shi Teng gladly accepted Xia Youyu's Fire Origin Pills.
For one fleeting instant, Xia Youyu actually felt her heart flutter again.
It was as though thunder from the nine heavens had struck her.
Her heartbeat began to race.
Busy flirting, Shi Teng had neglected the Ten-Headed Blazing Sun Serpent's treasure blood below, which the firewood had heated to a rolling boil.
"Ah! It's so hot!"
A howl came from beside them as Shi Hao leaped straight out of the Ten-Headed Blazing Sun Serpent's treasure blood.
Standing on the ground, he stared at the boiling cauldron, his face full of bewilderment.
"Big Brother, what are you trying to do?"
Shi Teng's expression shifted slightly, and he gave a few quiet coughs. Luckily, Shi Hao had woken up on his own. Otherwise, the Desolate Heaven Emperor might have met his end right there.
"N-nothing. This is the Ten-Headed Blazing Sun Serpent's treasure blood. Heating it helps you absorb it!"
"Oh," Shi Hao said. "I really like treasure blood. It's just a little too hot!"
Shi Teng moved the great cauldron aside with one hand. "Mm. Let it cool down a little, then get back in for another soak. It'll help temper your body!"
Then he turned his gaze toward the Ten-Headed Blazing Sun Serpent's carcass, a gleam appearing on his face.
Little One understood Shi Teng's thoughts better than anyone.
"Big Brother, wait here! I'll prepare some snake meat for you right away. We're having roast snake meat!"
Xia Youyu and the others looked somewhat puzzled.
Before long, several fine cuts of snake meat had been set over the firewood.
The meat was fresh and tender, a rare delicacy that could be called an unrivaled ingredient in the mortal world!
At first, Xia Youyu and the others were still puzzled. What could be so good about eating this thing?
As wave after wave of roasted meat's fragrance filled the entire cave,
the four of them could not help swallowing as they watched the brothers wolf down their food.
Shi Teng lifted a piece and offered it to Xia Youyu. "Senior Sister, have some. This is prime Ten-Headed Blazing Sun Serpent meat.
"Personally cooked by the master of barbecue, Shi Teng, and seasoned with my carefully prepared cumin and salt. It's a delicacy fit to crown the mortal world!
"Once you pass this village, there's no telling when you'll find another shop like it-you won't get another chance to eat this!"
Xia Youyu hesitated, but still accepted the roast meat Shi Teng offered her.
At first, the four merely took a small, tentative bite.
Then they could no longer stop eating. Turning away, they began taking great mouthfuls.
Not only was it delicious, it was also tremendously nourishing.
Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, everyone sat cross-legged where they were to absorb the Ten-Headed Blazing Sun Serpent's fire spirit power.
Shi Teng and his brother leaped into the great cauldron, bathing in the Ten-Headed Blazing Sun Serpent's treasure blood to temper their bodies.
Only after a long while did the group leave the cave.
Before you continue