Eating Noodles is Such a Beautiful Thing!

In ancient times, there was Electromagnetic Stove Alchemy; today, there are noodles cooked in a pill furnace.

Xiao Bai felt things were getting more and more absurd!

Master Yuhu smiled with a clear, charming expression, then turned and left the bedroom.

Xiao Bai had no idea what pill the elder was selling in her gourd, so he had no choice but to obediently follow.

Interestingly, the entrance to the underground cave abode wasn't in the bedroom, but in the study.

Clearly, within books there are golden houses, while lying flat in bed ultimately yields nothing.

The two arrived at the study.

Elder Yuhu waved her sleeve to open the clean red bookshelf.

Xiao Bai was met with a pitch-black hole, like a gateway to another dimension.

The elder lifted her sleeve and stepped into the tunnel, her cool, imposing back exuding a strange fragrance.

Xiao Bai quickly followed.

The bluestone steps wound downward, the surrounding stone walls dark and damp, covered in dark red moss, with water dripping from both sides, absorbing the dissipated medicinal power.

The stone path twisted and turned until the underground cave abode suddenly burst with cyan light, opening up wide.

The underground cave abode was a round, drum-shaped pill room, with intricate, bizarre floral dharma seals carved into the surrounding walls.

In the center was an earth fire altar.

On the altar sat a massive, indigo-blue Profound Iron Pill Furnace.

The outer wall of the furnace was engraved with rings of black-and-white Yin-Yang Dharma Seals.

Earlier, in Xiao Bai's remote sensing vision, these seals emitted a reverse-swirling red light, casting fox shadows on the stone walls.

Master Yuhu bent down to lift her cloak, then sat cross-legged on the rush mat in front of the pill furnace.

Slowly closing her eyes, she regulated her breath with Spirit Control and Breath Adjustment, saying:

"This is my private pill room and furnace, usually only used for alchemy... but cooking noodles isn't out of the question either."

Xiao Bai was a bit dazed and asked weakly:

"Elder, are you really going to use the pill furnace to cook noodles for me?"

Master Yuhu shot Xiao Bai a glance, like a clear pond's ripple stirring the reflected moon's wheel.

"Naturally."

Xiao Bai was stunned.

He thought "noodles cooked in a pill furnace" was just a joke, but he never expected it to be real!

He watched as the elder took a bag of Spirit Wheat Grains from her storage ring, used telekinesis to grind them into flour.

She added water, kneaded it into dough, waved her palm to cut it into noodles, and placed them in a Yin-Yang Porcelain Bowl.

She poured Spirit Water over the noodles; though she didn't add oil, salt, soy sauce, or vinegar, she did put in various medicinal herbs Xiao Bai couldn't name, which smelled quite fragrant.

Master Yuhu opened the pill furnace and placed the porcelain bowl inside the furnace core.

The firelight inside the furnace roasted her cool cheeks to a faint red.

But then!

At the moment she opened the furnace, Xiao Bai vaguely saw the bottom lined with eerie spine bones and skulls.

More like human bones than animal bones.

Xiao Bai's face turned ashen, his legs so weak with fear he could barely stand!

Suddenly!

A hoarse, seductive female voice whispered in his ear:

"So you can be scared too?"

Xiao Bai's neck stiffened in terror, and he mechanically turned his head.

At some point, the elder had changed into a cyan and white embroidered with peaches Bamboo Membrane Gauze Robe, the Nine-Petal Peach seal on her snow-white forehead flashing with a captivating blood-red light.

On the outer wall of the pill furnace, the dharma seals' red light slowly rotated, casting a waterfall-like cascade of white hair, projecting the silhouette of fox ears and nine tails onto the cave abode's walls.

It was almost exactly the same as the scene from his remote sensing!

Especially the semi-transparent bamboo membrane gauze robe, clinging to the elder's voluptuous, graceful figure...

Xiao Bai's gaze, after receiving baptism from the holy snow slope, slid into the abyss of sin.

He was suddenly no longer afraid.

His mind was filled entirely with thoughts of his children's nutritional needs.

This is my wife, after all—how could she harm me?

Besides, his modifier was still working...

"There's nothing to be afraid of."

Xiao Bai's gaze was calm, as if reaching a great enlightenment.

The fox girl smiled faintly, her long hair like snow, a red dot between her brows—purity and seduction coexisting on the same face.

She took a sip of peach petal tea, her clear, enchanting eyes fixed straight on Xiao Bai as she asked with a smile:

"What are you looking at?"

Truly a charm demon!

Last time, with his senses sealed, Xiao Bai could barely handle this kind of scene.

This time, immersed in it, he really couldn't take it.

So he spoke directly:

"I saw a fox's shadow on the wall."

Clearly, the demoness was still testing him invisibly.

Seeing but not saying... that would mean harboring guilt.

Her fox tail swayed like a burst of blazing fire, yet the fox demon's face held a faint, unreadable smile, utterly calm.

"It's fine. Tomorrow, you'll forget."

What, you can erase memories too?

Fine.

Xiao Bai figured this was a good thing—if he could have his memory erased, at least he wouldn't be killed to silence him.

Since he was told he'd forget tomorrow, he didn't bother pressing further, fixing his gaze on the furnace and asking:

"Isn't the noodle ready yet?"

Jade Vase nodded.

"It needs another two hours."

Two hours...

Are you sure you're cooking noodles?

Xiao Bai was speechless.

With nothing to do, he suddenly thought he might use this time to have the elder teach him some medicine techniques.

"The cultivation world is far more treacherous than the mortal realm. Disciple suddenly wishes to learn a protective skill."

Aside from charm arts and medicine techniques, Jade Vase had no other particularly outstanding methods.

But she didn't plan to teach Xiao Bai either of these.

Medicine techniques were tied to her plan and couldn't be passed on.

As for charm arts, Xiao Bai was already strong enough; if he learned them, she wouldn't be able to handle it.

So she said:

"Spend some time each day, as a core disciple of Hundred Herbs Peak, going to Solitary Egret Peak to practice mental techniques, or to Misty Sea Peak to learn skills, or to Sword Wielding Peak to train in swordsmanship."

Snow Flame Sect's disciples trained quite openly; inner sect core disciples could cross peaks and disciplines.

It was like university elective courses.

But Xiao Bai had no such intention.

With his talent, learning techniques from others was a waste of time. Taking his wife as his teacher was the true path.

Of course, taking his wife as his teacher wasn't the same as taking his teacher as his wife—that wouldn't summon the River Crab Divine Beast.

The nature was different.

Still, since the elder had spoken, Xiao Bai couldn't rush to refuse, lest he seem unwilling to learn.

"Alright."

Seeing Xiao Bai so obedient, Jade Vase suddenly felt a twinge of pity and smiled faintly.

"You are now This Seat's dao partner. Training as a core disciple—aren't you afraid of lowering your status? Afraid that your cultivation is too low and you'll be mocked by disciples from other peaks?"

"I have thick skin. I don't really care about that."

Xiao Bai replied awkwardly.

Soon, he shifted the topic, getting to the point:

"But since I'm training as a core disciple of Hundred Herbs Peak, aside from the techniques of other peaks, disciple also wishes to learn some life-saving medical arts from the elder."

Jade Vase shook her head, a hint of melancholy on her face.

"Medicine arts can save people, but they cannot save humanity."

So you're the Lu Xun of the cultivation world?

Xiao Bai had nothing to say.

Jade Vase added:

"Besides, my medicine techniques aren't orthodox—they're heretical and deviant. Learning them would only harm you. If you truly want to study, you can learn medicine from the Onmyoji at the Pill Pavilion."

"I'll listen to the elder."

Xiao Bai nodded in response.

In truth, he really wanted to learn medical arts.

After all, any skill the Female Lead possessed, he could master instantly upon learning it, reaching the peak. As long as he picked up a Life Extension Pill, he could brew an Elixir of Immortality in no time.

Unfortunately, the lady was still a villainous Demoness at heart, and she seemed to hold back on her medicine techniques.

This matter couldn't be rushed; it required long-term planning.

Seeing Xiao Bai so obedient, Master Yuhu inexplicably felt a surge of pity and affection, and said:

"Since we're dao companions, there's no distinction of rank or seniority between us. No need to be so formal—just call me Yuhu."

Xiao Bai nodded, sat cross-legged beside Yuhu, and said meekly:

"Alright, elder."

For the next two hours, the two sat silently on the same rush mat, saying nothing more.

Xiao Bai thought to himself: If we spent this time in dual cultivation, the elder's ailment would be alleviated a little more, and I'd rise a rank too—why not?

Unfortunately, this Demoness was far too restrained!

As the administrator of the modifier and the embodiment of male charm, Xiao Bai couldn't very well bring it up himself.

Time ticked by, minute after minute.

The red glow on the furnace wall spun endlessly, casting the fox shadow on the wall to sway, twist, and repeat the cycle...

Finally, the noodles were ready.

Yuhu opened the furnace mouth and retrieved a ceramic bowl with an airy gesture.

Her pale, delicate hands held the scalding rim of the bowl, her gauze-wrapped body leaning close to Xiao Bai. Her cold, indifferent face suddenly softened like water, flushed like sunset clouds.

"Taste the noodles this elder made."

She deliberately drew out the words "this elder" in a long, teasing tone, chiding Xiao Bai for still calling her elder.

It sounded so provocative that Xiao Bai momentarily misheard the word order, his mind wandering with wild thoughts.

Until he looked down and saw a plate of black, squirming, worm-like strips...

These were noodles?

Alright, let's call them noodles for now.

But this smell—was it something a human could endure?

Xiao Bai barely stopped himself from covering his nose and asked with a scientific spirit:

"The noodles I remember should be white... Elder, do you think someone might have poisoned them?"

Master Yuhu's face didn't change, her heart didn't race, as she said:

"Medicine and poison are inseparable. I added delicious noodles to the poison—taste them and you'll know."

Xiao Bai: I...

Poison with noodles mixed in—only you!

Seeing Xiao Bai hesitate for so long without taking a bite, Yuhu wondered why.

After a moment's thought, she realized: humans seek color, aroma, and taste in food, caring little for efficacy.

"This poison is called Heart-Returning Powder. Eat this bowl of noodles, and at a crucial moment, you can feign death to save your life. As long as you're not ground to dust and scattered to the winds, it can bring you back."

Heart-Returning Powder?

Xiao Bai had never heard of such a miraculous medicine, but he could be sure: this was a life-saving bowl of noodles.

Thinking carefully, if the elder wanted to harm him, would she need to use poison?

If she wanted to control him, there were many ways—she could have acted last night.

So the Demoness might be wicked, but she still loved him!

Even without considering the modifier's effect on charm, he was a precious antidote and fire-draining medicine, whose potency was known to all who used it.

He understood all the logic.

But when he looked down at this bowl of noodles that seemed to come from the abyss, Xiao Bai stared left and right, still couldn't bring himself to take a bite, and asked timidly:

"These noodles... do they have any side effects?"

Yuhu's delicate brows furrowed slightly, as if she'd heard a strange term.

"Side effects?"

Xiao Bai quickly explained:

"I mean, even though they can save your life, are there any other bad effects on the body?"

Master Yuhu quickly said:

"There are no side effects, but the main effect is poison to cultivation. However, with your Heavenly Waste Constitution of Balanced Five Elements, you can't cultivate normally anyway."

Xiao Bai: Thanks a lot!

Thinking about it, his modifier was a Causal Law Weapon. As long as it was spiritual power gifted by the Female Lead, he could absorb it one hundred percent and turn it into part of his cultivation. Even if it was poison, he'd still absorb it—so why fear poison?

Besides, the modifier hadn't flagged any evil deeds from the Female Lead, so she probably didn't really mean to harm him.

"Whatever. Cultivation is just for staying alive anyway. Why go far when the answer's near? I have to eat the elder's noodles."

The hand holding the bowl trembled slightly.

Eating these noodles would be a beautiful thing!

Xiao Bai consoled himself, held his breath, and with a surge of momentum, lifted the ceramic bowl and downed the black noodles in one go.

In an instant—

The dark aura went straight to his stomach!

It spread through his body in a flash.

Then gathered in his dantian.

Hmm...

Xiao Bai's expression was complicated.

Until the mechanical voice rang in his mind—

[Ding—Congratulations, host. You have absorbed the Female Lead's poisoned noodles. Retaining the medicinal effect, absorbing the spiritual power, progress toward upgrading to Fetal Breath Third Layer increased to 69%!]

Not bad, 69% from one bowl of noodles!

These noodles were extremely precious.

Xiao Bai felt joy in his heart, but his expression remained calm.

At the same time...

The clear, indifferent face beside him froze.

The fox tail shadow swaying on the wall stopped mid-motion, as if witnessing something unbelievable.

Master Yuhu was stunned.

The Heart-Returning Powder had been broken down and absorbed...

Strangely, the medicinal effect remained.

The spiritual power had been completely absorbed by the dantian, leaving only an empty shell of medicinal effect clinging to the Dantian Outer Wall.

In her hundred years of cultivation, whether among the Demon Race or while lying low on Snow Flame Mountain, Master Yuhu had never seen such an absurd scene!

Was this a talent of the Balanced Five Elements constitution?

No.

Although those with Balanced Five Elements couldn't refine qi, she had seen many cases of them reaching high levels in the Fetal Breath Realm.

From those cases, the dantian of a Balanced Five Elements cultivator lacked a prominent spiritual medium, making it hard to absorb spiritual power. This gave them a certain immunity to various poisons.

But there was absolutely no way they could break down a poison and absorb it separately!

This defied her worldview.

But...

Interesting.

Shock quickly turned into excitement.

The fox shadow on the wall suddenly spread out nine tails like a peacock's display.

The thin gauze stirred without wind, her delicate skin like snow, flushed pink like peach blossoms.

Her slender arms slowly rose, her pale hands crossing over Xiao Bai's shoulders.

Her chin, warm and white like jade, rested on the back of her hand on Xiao Bai's shoulder.

Her moist, thin red lips whispered by Xiao Bai's ear.

"This is the first time I've seen Balanced Five Elements like this. Are you really human?"

Xiao Bai's ears grew hot. He felt the elder's voice was soft, husky, and hoarse, like stepping on snow—indescribably wonderful.

Curiosity was the first step to indulgence.

He felt the elder was about to let herself go!

If the lady was letting loose, he couldn't be a coward. Wouldn't it be wonderful to just dual-cultivate right here and achieve the great harmony of life?

"I'm technically human, but maybe a monkey demon."

Xiao Bai joked.

From an evolutionary standpoint, humans and monkey demons weren't fundamentally different. Besides, he was skilled in staff techniques and had the momentum of a stone monkey.

But the humans of the True Origin Continent did not seem to have evolved from apes.

Master Yuhu knew this well.

She could tell at a glance that Xiao Bai was no Monkey Demon.

Yet even if it was a joke, why did it have to be a Monkey Demon?

She felt it was time to conduct a closer observation of Xiao Bai.

With this thought, Master Yuhu asked softly:

"You said earlier you wanted to learn a skill to save your life. I do know a unique sword technique. Would you be willing to learn it?"

Sword technique?

Xiao Bai perked up at once.

The peak of the sword, proud above the world!

Learning the sword in the Cultivation World was like learning to drive in his past life.

What cultivator didn't want to wield a flying sword, just like what young man didn't want to drive a car!

Still, Xiao Bai doubted whether a Fox Demon, or a Pill Elder, could really know any profound sword technique.

So he asked cautiously:

"Can it really save my life?"

Master Yuhu straightened up, her gaze clear and cold, her proud Snow Flame Mountain rising with an imposing slope.

"My sword technique can kill across ranks. If it can kill, it can save lives."

Killing across ranks was always a protagonist's essential skill.

As a transmigrator, Xiao Bai naturally took it as his due.

"Your disciple wishes to learn!"

Master Yuhu nodded slightly, then drew a sleeve sword from her cuff.

It was a silver short sword gleaming with a cyan light, its color so close to bamboo membrane and skin that Xiao Bai hadn't even noticed it.

"I am not skilled in combat. The only sword technique I am proficient in is a dissection sword technique called 'Butcher's Sword.' Its strength lies in precise strikes, discerning the spiritual veins of all things to take the edge, thus killing with minimal spiritual power."

Master Yuhu explained.

Xiao Bai had never heard of the Butcher's Sword Technique; he only knew of Butcher Ding Carving an Ox.

That was a technique for painlessly dismembering an ox.

Sword and blade shared the same principles.

Xiao Bai asked curiously:

"I never thought Butcher Ding Carving an Ox could become a sword technique. But learning it would require practicing on oxen, right? I haven't heard of any oxen on Snow Flame Mountain."

The charm on her cold, beautiful face faded.

The silver sword in her hand reflected a chilling gleam.

"No oxen? A Monkey Demon will do."