Single-Eyed

"Good little rabbit, take your skin and fur off... one by one and once again, wrap in spices and jump into the oil cauldron..." The teenager squatted beside the stove, holding a wooden staff and gently tapping the meat rabbits.

Clang-

The meat rabbits on the cutting board all leaped up, frantically tearing at the fur on their bodies, and just like taking off clothes, peeled off a complete rabbit skin.

Then, they gutted their internal viscera and rolled and washed repeatedly in a basin of clean water. Inside, outside... not a single bit was missed.

Then, just like bathing and applying fragrant balm, they each jumped into a stone basin filled with marinade, coating themselves inside and out.

Finally, the rabbits actively jumped into the oil cauldron.

Hum-

Oil splattered.

Ao Ding flicked the wooden staff lightly, and the pot lid snapped down swiftly.

This wooden staff was made for him by Master Wang using kitchen Dharma Artifact waste materials. When casting spells, it could reduce True Qi consumption.

Calculating the time, Ao Ding turned his head to look at another stove.

The Seven Spirits Sect kitchen garden supplied the diet of disciples in the inner gate and outer court, overseen by three Daoist chef masters. Yet kitchen garden affairs were numerous, and the three Daoist chef masters also had to regulate their breath and gather Qi to cultivate the Great Dao, so many tasks were assigned to others. Ao Ding, a fire-stoking boy, was close to Master Wang He and naturally shouldered a good deal more chores.

After inspecting the steamer's heat, Ao Ding walked to the other side of the courtyard.

The chicken coop was noisy, with Red 𫜁 Birds flapping their wings and crying out in disorder, constantly spitting flames from their mouths. Those red glows flickered, possessing full spirituality, being the spirit birds Red 𫜁 sent from the Hundred Birds Court.

With golden crests and yellow backs, green heads and red feathers, they resembled mountain chickens and could withstand flames.

The teenager flicked the wooden staff again, True Qi shooting out along with the wooden staff: "Han Yin Falling Feathers-"

In an instant, the Red 𫜁 Birds let out shrill cries like ghostly wails, their bright red feathers flying chaotically everywhere. Seeing feathers scattered all over the ground and blood splattering, the teenager covered his ears and retreated.

Seeing the falling feathers all over the ground and blood splashing, the teenager covered his ears and retreated.

"Ah-the noise was still too loud... And this mess all over the ground-when I got back, Auntie Wang was going to nag me again."

Looking at the birds inside the chicken coop, Ao Ding deliberated on curse refinement in his heart.

The "Chicken Feather-Shedding Curse" was born from the "Five Insects Ten Kinds Great Skinning Method" of the Nine Nether Skinning Hell.

As the saying went, "Beasts have fur, birds have feathers, and humans have skin." All living beings in this realm possessing a skin bag could hardly escape this method.

Meanwhile, the scope of the "Chicken Feather-Shedding Curse" was restricted solely to the species of "chickens".

"The cry needs to be weakened... We can start from the pain sensation, slowing down the pain or increasing hallucinatory effects so they obediently pluck their own fur, and they can even feel joy, elation, and enjoy boundless happiness during the plucking process... Master Wang said, 'If ingredients die happily, the meat will also become delicious.' That's right, we can try reversing the pain, the more painful the more joyous."

After standing there for quite a while, Ao Ding heard Auntie Wang calling from the kitchen. Only then did he temporarily suppress the flood of inspiration in his mind and reply, "Never mind. I'll think it over another day. First, I'll finish making lunch."

He shook his head, turned around, and walked toward another corner.

The stone mill spun endlessly, grinding mountains of soybeans into white jade nectar.

This was the "Soy Milk Grinding Spell", originating from the "Stone Mill Form-Erasing Formless Great Method" of the Stone Mill Hell, capable of grinding away all tangible forms of all things in the world.

Watching the gurgling slurry enter the bucket, Ao Ding was filled with joy and delight.

Compared to the "Chicken Feather-Shedding Curse", his "Soy Milk Grinding Spell" was already perfected. Not only could it conveniently process all kinds of bean items, but he had also comprehended a bit of the quintessence of "form-erasure of all things" within this spell.

"The kitchen is hell... Master Wang truly hadn't deceived me. Cultivating in the kitchen really is well suited to studying the Hell Diagram. I feel like I haven't made much progress with the Seven Spirits Sect's cultivation method, but the Northern Yin Netherworld Hell Method is almost at minor mastery!"

Master Wang was one of the three Daoist chef masters of the kitchen garden, transferred from the inner gate to the kitchen garden three years ago. Usually he took good care of Ao Ding, and even lent a private scroll of the "Northern Yin Hell Diagram" for Ao Ding to cultivate the White Bone Contemplation Method.

Unexpectedly, Ao Ding actually comprehended quite a few hell curses from the Hell Diagram and improved them to cook meals.

"Ao fellow-come out!"

A bell-like shout pierced through the wooden door of the kitchen garden, startling away a few birds under the eaves.

A few kitchen maids poked their heads out inside the house.

Catching sight of the group of people standing outside the courtyard, the few kitchen maids could not help but sigh.

One of the maids, carrying a trace of annoyance, said to Ao Ding: "Kid Ao-everyone tells you to keep to yourself on usual days and provoke less right and wrong, but you just won't listen! Look, these outer court disciples come over to challenge every day, it's so annoying! Hurry and settle it, then come over and make steamed buns with us."

Ao Ding was also quite helpless, hastily begging for mercy: "What do their making trouble have to do with me? Alright... several older sisters wait a moment, I will go and return shortly."

Six years ago, Ao Ding upon crossing over was covered in wounds and injuries, thanks entirely to several kitchen maids who tended to him day and night to survive. Toward these benefactors, he naturally carried a trace of respect.

Carrying that wooden staff containing five hundred years of spiritual power and walking out quickly, the teenager stood before the steps, sizing up the arrogant young men and women outside the door.

Five people, all familiar faces.

As for names... no impression.

"Hey-" Ao Ding let out a long sigh.

His own face was like jade with vermilion lips, handsome and dashing, even though his left eye wore an eyepatch, it could hardly conceal that transcendent charm. What a pity though-at the foot of Mount Xuanling, looking good was instead a crime.

"Don't you need to eat?" Still in the voice-breaking period, Ao Ding's voice carried a trace of hoarseness, "These last few days, the inner gate has drafted kitchen garden personnel, and the outer court relies entirely on a few of us to run the stoves. You harass us daily, delaying our work. The one who ends up with an empty stomach later will be the entire outer court."

Ao Ding swept his right eye across the distant bamboo forest.

The green bamboo was lush, bamboo shadows swayed, and a dozen figures were sneakily hiding behind the bamboo, yet not a single person stepped forward.

Missing a meal was nothing much to a Seed Qi Realm cultivator. Yet Ao Ding, this "one-eyed blind man", suppressed all outer court disciples so they could not lift their heads with a set of spells-that was the true humiliation!

Even more rumored, he actually dared to reject the invitation of Fairy Luo, the "outer court's number one beauty" who was expected to enter the inner gate next year.

A fire-tending boy, and a one-eyed blind man at that...

Did he think he was too good for them? Did he dare refuse?

There was even a rumor that a certain Outer Court instructor had let slip while drunk that Ao Ding was their "whetstone." By using a whetstone to hone themselves, they could wash away the dross and become True Disciples of the Seven Spirits Sect.

And fourteen-year-old Ao Ding really was strong. With a single Northern Yin Dharma technique, he had brutally beaten down Outer Court disciples, making the rumor seem all the more believable.

The red-robed cultivator in the middle of the five sneered. "Enough talk! Fight! If you lose, go kneel before the Outer Court and swear you'll never bother Fairy Luo again!"

Mm, this one was a suitor of Luo Qiushui.

"And another thing," the female disciple beside him said. "If you lose, you have to be my kept man! You'll also make my face powder every day! Jasmine powder, peach-blossom face powder... Once you get back, you'll have to supply me first-no, I'll tell you who to make it for, and you'll make it for them!"

Mm, she was after my body and my money-making business.

The third person said, "If you lose, you'll be responsible for all my meals from now on. Whatever I order, you'll make, and you'll deliver it to my room every day, right on time!"

Thinking of Ao Ding cooking, he couldn't help swallowing.

Mm, fine. This one was also coveting my cooking.

Ao Ding was so amused he could only laugh. Then he looked at the twin brothers beside them. "And what about you two? Whatever you want, say it all at once."

"We came along to challenge you and use your help to enter the Inner Court. Oh, we know the rules. We've already written out our cultivation insights."

A one-eyed fire-tending boy rejected by the Outer Court could only obtain cultivation knowledge this way.

Seeing the fighting spirit in the twins' eyes, Ao Ding was at a loss for words.

No, seriously, you actually believe that Outer Court rumor about the so-called "whetstone"?

Those Outer Court instructors who look down on me would let me be your whetstone? Think about it. Does that logic make any sense?

Letting a bunch of Outer Court disciples challenge a fire-tending boy?

At the thought, Ao Ding felt even more dejected.

Wasn't he just a little better at cooking? A little gentler in his everyday manner? Making some rouge and face powder to sell to the Outer Court female cultivators?

And now a whole lot of Outer Court girls thought he was interested in them.

What a bunch of horny idiots!

You've got it so much better than I do! You've cultivated in the Outer Court since childhood and been granted immortal fate. Why not focus on cultivation instead of thinking about romance all day?

You're wasting the best years of your immortal cultivation!

And those men-fine, the girls coveting my body was one thing, but you not only coveted me, you coveted my skills too!

On top of that, there were people jealous that Ao Ding still looked handsome despite having only one eye. They called out insults and challenged him every day. They were the ones who'd spread his nickname, "One-Eyed Blind Man."

This was so annoying!

Couldn't you all just focus on cultivation-

And you, Luo. Wasn't it just because you were about my age, and I saw that you were small and lonely, so I kindly gave you a few extra servings of food back then?

It was such a small favor. You didn't have to remember it all this time. After awakening the Cloud-Su Immortal Physique and getting into the Inner Court, you didn't have to remember to bring me along, either.

I really appreciate it.

Thinking of the girl's kindness made Ao Ding even more irritated.

Over the past two years, more and more people had come to challenge him. He had that gradually blossoming beauty to thank for it. The more she tried to stop them, the more busybodies showed up.

The women wanted to get the better of Luo Qiushui and make him a trophy to show off their charms.

The men were driven either by jealousy or by their competitive nature.

And Luo Qiushui kept explaining that she didn't love me; she just liked my cooking.

That only attracted more people who coveted a good meal.

You're all so annoying!

At the thought, Ao Ding decided not to hold back. He pointed his wooden staff at the five of them.

"Come on, all of you at once! You know the rules, right? If you lose, hand over your 'cultivation manuscripts'-at least five thousand words. I'm in a hurry!"

Before he had even finished speaking, the five young men and women charged at him together.

The Seed Qi Realm was the first of the Six Realms of the Immortal Dao.

Qi-Seeding one's Qi root marked the beginning of cultivation.

Ao Ding and these Outer Court disciples were all in this realm.

The only difference was whether they had more or less magical power.

And in actual combat, this slight advantage in magical power didn't amount to much.

Ao Ding lightly adjusted his eyepatch, shifting its angle.

Beneath it, his left eye narrowed slightly, taking in every change in his surroundings... He saw through every move and technique the five challengers used.

Soon, a wave of dizziness came from his left eye.

That was the second time today. He could still use it once more.

Ao Ding wore an eyepatch, not because his left eye was blind, but because it contained the mysteries of a Divine Ability and could not be used to look for long.

At present, Ao Ding could use it only three times a day.

"Northern Yin Nether Wheel, all beings boiled in prison; oil cauldrons seethe and take shape, and karma is repaid."

Amid a thunderous rumble, a vast, phantom cauldron appeared beneath the five men's feet.

The Nine-Boiling Chain Form of Oil Cauldron Hell.

Blazing flames shot up from beneath the ground, and the boiling cauldron swallowed the five men in an instant.

"Ah-!"

The terror of being trapped in Oil Cauldron Hell, the pain of being scorched by rolling flames and boiling oil... all became one shriek after another.

Even if they endured the pain and shattered the illusion, flames still burned on their bodies for real.

That was another "Kindling Flame Curse" Ao Ding had secretly cast. It was an essential spell for a fire-tending boy, used to kindle and control flames.

Their clothes blazed. The five hurriedly leaped into the fishpond and frantically tried to put out the flames with spells.

Ao Ding yawned and drawled, "Hey-fish is on the menu tonight. Don't burn the fish in our Kitchen Garden! If they aren't fresh, don't blame us later! Also, hurry back and change your clothes. Remember-one written reflection on cultivation or one insight into the Daoist canon each. Give them to me at breakfast tomorrow."

With that, Ao Ding turned and went back inside, slamming the gate shut.

Bang-

The gate shut, then a crooked piece of it fell off.

Ao Ding paused, then added, "Remember to pay for the gate repairs later! The Kitchen Garden doesn't put things on the tab-"

Before long, the young men in the fishpond slunk away, and the other onlookers dispersed as well.

They still couldn't beat him.

Those cooks-if he hadn't been blind in one eye, wouldn't he have entered the inner sect long ago?

From the distant Moon-Containing Tower, two cultivators watched the whole farce unfold.

Old Daoist Sun narrowed his eyes as he watched Ao Ding return to the Kitchen Garden and continue cooking with Hell spells.

Stroking his white beard, Sun Chen asked Deputy Sect Master Wu beside him with a smile, "Who is that boy?"

"Oh, Ao Ding, a Kitchen Garden helper. He washed up here six years ago. At first, he wanted to join the outer court, but his appearance was flawed, so no one would take him as a disciple. Still, his heart was set on the Dao, and he refused to leave for a long time. So he stayed to help in the Kitchen Garden."

"His appearance was flawed?" Sun Chen exclaimed. "This old Daoist sees rosy lips, white teeth, and a bright, handsome face. What's ugly about him?"

"One eye."

"One eye? Heh-"

Sun Chen chuckled and lightly tapped the floor with his cane. "We cultivators defy the heavens. A congenital lack in one's appearance often accords with a profound aspect of the Dao. 'Missing one thing' is even a necessary condition for the cultivation of certain teachings and sects. Some seniors, having cultivated to a certain point, will even cut off an arm or gouge out an eye to better conform to the Great Dao!"

Deputy Sect Master Wu shook his head and said coolly, "Uncle-Master Sun speaks the truth. It's just that our Seven Spirits Sect is a surviving branch of the Heavenly Sage Vast Dharma Sect, with strict rules for its inheritance. The significance of his condition may not be apparent now, but many profound techniques in the future require one to open the spiritual apertures of both eyes and draw on the wisdom-light of heaven and earth. He is missing an eye, and his spiritual apertures are incomplete; his path to immortality is cut off. Now he relies on minor Outer Dao tricks to show off, making a scene in the outer court. If he faced an elite of the inner sect, I'm afraid he wouldn't withstand even one move."

At this, a strange smile tugged at the corners of Old Daoist Sun's mouth.

How could he not understand what the deputy sect master meant?

Was he covering up the outer court's incompetence? Trying to save the Seven Spirits Sect a little face?

But he didn't care.

Sun Chen's gaze remained fixed on the busy figure of the youth.

After a moment's thought, Old Daoist Sun took three jade boxes from his robes. Inside each box, a pill shimmered with visible blackish light.

A strange glint passed through the deputy sect master's eyes. "Uncle-Master, you're..."

Purple Leopard Mystic Gang Purity Pills?

Spirit medicines that let cultivators of the Mystic Gang Realm attempt to break through and comprehend the mysteries of the Heavenly Gate Jade Palace?

These- even inner-sect disciples could use them!

"He isn't a direct disciple of your line, and his future has been cut off here... why not let him seek another path?" The old Daoist pushed the jade boxes before the deputy sect master, trying to keep his expression calm. "Let the boy come with this old Daoist. Consider these three Mystic Gang Pills payment for taking on his karma. What do you say? Your sect master refuses to grant my request, so I cannot offer your sect any help."

The deputy sect master's expression changed, then his face lit up with delight. He quickly took the jade boxes and laughed heartily. "Uncle-Master is merciful. You're even willing to grant an immortal opportunity to a one-eyed odd-job servant... This boy is blessed to have earned your favor."

As for Old Daoist Sun's final barb, the deputy sect master pretended not to hear it.

By the standards of their former relationship, this True Person senior really was their "uncle-master." But he had run into a calamity of monstrous proportions. How could the Seven Spirits Sect dare get involved?

Still, the Seven Spirits Sect had once received his kindness, and there was also the bond between their elders. If they openly refused him, not only would things turn ugly, other fellow cultivators would criticize them as well. Now they could use a troublesome odd-job servant who threatened their nephew to get three Mystic Gang Pills, and send away a hot potato at the same time. It was the best of both worlds.

Thinking this, the deputy sect master feared the old Daoist might change his mind. "I'll go call him!"

Leaning on his cane, Old Daoist Sun rose unhurriedly. "No need. This poor Daoist will go himself."

The Kitchen Garden was filled with the drifting fragrance of food.

After driving off that annoying crowd, Ao Ding returned straight to the stove.

The cooks acted as if nothing had happened and called him over to help lift the steamer lids.

Steam billowed, turning everything white.

With practiced hands, Ao Ding lightly tapped the steamers with his wooden staff. Buns and steamed rolls leaped out one basket after another like soldiers in formation, then lined up neatly on the counter.

When he'd finished working, he gently adjusted the angle of his eyepatch, served himself a bowl of glistening, fragrant roast white pork, and topped it with stir-fried cloud beans, sour-pickled sesame meat, and roasted cloud pheasant wings. Then he took two steamed rolls and ambled toward a secluded corner of the Kitchen Garden.

He didn't eat with the cook sisters because he would think about spells while eating and instinctively try them out in practice, which could be unpleasant to watch.

As Big Sister Ma put it: "Everyone's eating, and you're making things with white bone skeletons, flesh, tendons, and skin. Isn't that disgusting?"

Just as he was about to sit down and dig into his food, he heard an old man's amused sigh.

"Young friend, you've got quite an appetite."

A pair of straw sandals came into view.

He looked up sharply and saw an old Daoist he'd never met before.

His hair was white, the light of dusk filled his brows, and his aura was fading.

How strange!

Ao Ding's left eyelid twitched instinctively.

Though he hadn't opened it, just having the old Daoist standing there was enough for him to sense how formidable this senior was!

He might even be stronger than the Seven Spirits Sect Master!

Ao Ding quickly steadied himself, set his large bowl on the step, and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Greetings, Senior."

The old Daoist nodded with a smile and looked Ao Ding up and down.

Suddenly, he said something that made Ao Ding's expression change.

"Your left eye can see, can't it?"