Target: Soul King for Everyone
Dinner was held in the courtyard of the Secluded Bamboo Pavilion. Oscar had indeed prepared a sumptuous seafood feast—steamed lobster, garlic scallops, spicy crab, fish soup—a dazzling array of dishes.
"These are all from the best seafood market in Heaven Dou City, guaranteed fresh!" Oscar proudly introduced. "And I've processed them with my Soul Power to remove impurities, making them even more nourishing!"
Liu Erlong and Dugu Bo were also invited. Looking at the sumptuous dishes on the table, and then at the young men and women sitting together, Liu Erlong's eyes were full of satisfaction. "This feels more like a home."
Dugu Bo picked up a lobster and said slowly, "Kids and girls, enjoy this while you can. Once the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament begins, you won't be so relaxed."
The mention of the competition energized everyone.
"Senior Dugu, how much longer until the competition?" Ning Rongrong asked.
"There's still a little over a year left," Dugu Bo said. "Although you're already quite strong, you still need to hurry up and improve. Things like the Soul Spirit and the techniques that A-Zu passed down to you need to be kept secret; they're not suitable for display in the competition."
Yan Zu also said, "Everyone should diligently practice the Aura Concealment Technique in the Nine Yin Manual. Once this technique is mastered, it can conceal the Soul Ring and change Soul Ring color, which is extremely useful to us."
"In addition," Yan Zu calculated, "Rongrong currently level 44, Zhu Zhuqing is level 38, Sister Yanyan is level 47, Oscar level 44, and Lingling level 45."
"This year, I will provide everyone with cultivation resources such as pills and ingredients. Our goal is to have an average of Soul King by the time the Soul Master Tournament begins."
As dawn broke, a unique fragrance filled the courtyard of the Secluded Bamboo Pavilion. It was not ordinary cooking smoke, but a misty aroma mixed with dozens of rare medicinal herbs and the essence of Soul Beast flesh and blood. The scent invigorated the spirit and made the flow of Soul Power seem smoother.
Yan Zu, dressed in plain clothes, stood under the specially renovated kitchen corridor.
This place is less like a kitchen and more like a small alchemy workshop; the stove is made of warm jade; the firewood is made of crimson flame wood that can stably release heat; and all kinds of cooking utensils are made with Soul Tool Technology, which can perfectly lock in the Soul Power of the ingredients.
Before him lay a variety of ingredients: there were century-old snow lotus roots from the Far North, jade marrow mushrooms gathered from the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest, thousand-year-old blood ginseng sent by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and the essence of the shell and flesh of a Mystic Water Turtle with three thousand years of cultivation, which he had just purchased from an auction yesterday.
These are all the ingredients for his "medicinal cuisine" today.
Since receiving the "Culinary Master) " skill as a system reward, Yan Zu has combined it with his understanding of pharmacology...
The principles of harmony from the Nine Yin Manual and the vitality sensing of the Qilin Martial Soul are perfectly combined.
He can not only accurately grasp the Soul Power attributes and original energy contained in each ingredient, but also use unique processing methods and heat control to bring out its maximum efficacy, remove impurities and even toxicity, and transform it into the gentlest and most easily absorbed nourishing power, so that it can be better absorbed to support everyone's cultivation.
"A-Zu, what delicious food are we having today? I can feel my Soul Power surging just from the smell!" Xiao Wu, like a butterfly that has caught a whiff of flowers, was the first to hop over, her pink scorpion tail braid swinging back and forth as she eagerly watched Yan Zu's actions.
"Today's dishes are Five Elements Body Tempering Soup and Spirit Turtle Nourishing Soup." Yan Zu didn't even look up. In his hand, a thin and sharp jade knife was processing the snow lotus root at an astonishing speed. Where the knife passed, the lotus root slices were as thin as cicada wings, perfectly uniform. The wisps Sisi cold air were locked in by his Nine Yin True Qi and did not dissipate at all.
"The Body Tempering Soup focuses on strengthening meridians and solidifying the foundation, making it especially suitable for Zhu Zhuqing and Rongrong as you are currently breaking through your bottlenecks; the Spirit Nourishing Soup, on the other hand, nourishes the spirit and improves the precision of Soul Power control, greatly benefiting Oscar and Sister Lingling's Auxiliary System cultivation."
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing also arrived one after the other. Ning Rongrong took a deep breath, her Glazed Tile eyes sparkling. "It smells so good! A-Zu, your cooking is absolutely amazing!"
Although Zhu Zhuqing did not speak, a hint of expectation was revealed in her cool eyes.
She could feel that after each time she consumed the medicinal meals prepared by Yan Zu, not only did her Soul Power increase faster, but some minor internal injuries left from her past cultivation were also gently nourished, her meridians became more resilient and unobstructed, and her control over her Martial Soul became more and more effortless.
Ye Lingling stood quietly a little distance away, watching Yan Zu's focused profile.
She recalled the "Hundred Flowers Nourishing Porridge" that Yan Zu had specially prepared for her a few days ago. It was made with the essence of various gentle flower-type Soul Beast and spiritual herbs. After taking it, her Sacred Heart Begonia Martial Soul circulated more smoothly, and its compatibility with the Thousand-Thread Spirit Banyan Soul Spirit had subtly improved.
This meticulous care warmed her heart, but she could only keep it to herself.
Soon, Oscar and Dugu Yan arrived, followed by Dugu Bo and Chen Xin, who both had expressions that said, "I just happened to be passing by."
"Dinner's ready! Dinner's ready!" Oscar rubbed his hands together, looking incredibly hungry. "Hehe, after eating Boss Yan's medicinal cuisine, I feel like my clone Sausage can last a few more seconds!"
Dugu Bo glanced at the spirit turtle soup in the pot, his nostrils twitching slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Boy, the Mystic Water Turtle's cold poison is notoriously difficult to deal with, yet you were able to completely neutralize it, leaving only the pure water elemental nourishment? This skill is almost on par with my poison-refining abilities."
His tone carried a subtle hint of admiration. He had regained his youthful appearance and his mindset had become much more cheerful. He would occasionally come to the Secluded Bamboo Pavilion for a meal, ostensibly to "guide the younger generation," but in reality, he was extremely curious about Yan Zu's various miraculous abilities.
Chen Xin was also very satisfied. He had stayed at the Blue Tyrant Academy to protect Ning Rongrong, but the delicious food he enjoyed every day made him forget about returning to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Liu Erlong arrived last. Looking at the steaming, fragrant medicinal food before him, and then at the young people sitting together, a gentle smile appeared on his stern face, "Is everyone here? Then let's begin. After you finish eating, get back to your cultivation; don't waste your A-Zu's hard work."
Everyone sat around a table, enjoying their meal. The Five Elements Body Tempering Soup felt like a gentle warmth spreading through their limbs and bones, nourishing their meridians and bones; the Spirit Turtle Spirit Nourishing Soup felt like a clear spring flowing through their sea of consciousness, instantly clearing their mind.
Even the picky Dugu Bo silently drank two large bowls of soup, feeling that the Soul Power within his body seemed to have become slightly more active.
This has become the norm at the Secluded Bamboo Pavilion. Ever since Ye Lingling returned with her Soul Ring, Yan Zu has devised a detailed "secluded cultivation plan."
Every morning, he uses his "Grandmaster of Culinary Arts" skills to prepare a customized medicinal breakfast for everyone; in the morning, everyone cultivates their Soul Power and digests the medicinal effects;
In the afternoon, engage in practical combat training or study the martial arts techniques passed down by Yan Zu:
In the evenings, there were sometimes story sessions where Yan Zu continued writing "Battle Through the Heavens".
At night, Yan Zu, Xiao Wu, Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing entered the Martial Soul Mimicry Training Ground for high-intensity Simulation battles. Originally, it was just the four of them, but later, seeing that Lingling was training too hard every day, Xiao Wu dragged Lingling in as well, and gave Yan Zu a glare, saying, "You got lucky."
Yan Zu then hypocritically replied, "Actually, I don't want to."
In terms of resources, Yan Zu was very generous. He distributed all kinds of pills obtained from signing in (such as the Foundation Strengthening Pill and the Mind-Calming Pill), special ingredients rich in Soul Power (such as spirit rice and Soul Beast meat), and even some rare herbs to everyone in a reasonable manner.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Dugu Bo also occasionally sent some good things, making the cultivation resources of the Secluded Bamboo Pavilion top-notch.
Under this comprehensive nourishment and systematic training, the speed at which everyone's strength improved was terrifying.
Ning Rongrong's Ten Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shone even brighter, and her precise control over Soul Power increased dramatically. The level 44 Soul Power barrier was beginning to loosen.
Zhu Zhuqing became even more agile and unpredictable. Under Yan Zu's guidance, she incorporated some of the essence of the Wind God Legs technique into her own footwork, further increasing her speed and steadily advancing towards level thirty-nine.
Ye Lingling's Sacred Heart Begonia and Thousand-Thread Spirit Banyan Soul Spirit worked together seamlessly, and she became increasingly adept at using the "Spirit Banyan Barrier," switching freely between healing and control. Her Soul Power had reached the peak of level 45.
With the Qilin's vitality and a large amount of nourishing medicinal food conditioning her Jade Phosphorous Jade Dragon Martial Soul, Dugu Yan's cultivation is now free of worries, and she is approaching level 48. In addition, the problem of poison backlash that had been troubling her has been resolved.
Oscar's Thousand Illusions Clone Sausage has come up with a new trick: the four clones can not only deliver Sausage, but also perform simple tactical coordination, and their Soul Power is approaching level 45.
Even Xiao Wu, under Yan Zu's "special attention" and various strange but highly effective "snacks," quietly increased her Soul Power to level 55, taking another step closer to becoming Soul Emperor.
Yan Zu's own cultivation was unfathomable. Although he had not yet revealed all his Soul Ring, his aura was becoming increasingly profound. He devoted more of his energy to honing his Soul Power, studying cultivation techniques, and writing "Battle Through the Heavens".
The night was as still as water, but the study in the Secluded Bamboo Pavilion was brightly lit. Yan Zu was explaining a new chapter to everyone.
On the desk, a thick stack of manuscripts has already taken shape. The story has progressed to Xiao Yan's second visit to Yunlan Sect, where he fulfills his three-year agreement with Nalan Yanran Misty Cloud Sect. Yao Lao is asleep, and Xiao Yan embarks on a journey to the Jia Nan Academy. The magnificent scroll of the Dou Qi Continent is slowly unfolding.
Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Lingling, and even Oscar and Dugu Yan, were all either sitting or standing, immersed in the aftertaste of the story.
Even Dugu Bo and Chen Xin would often use the excuse of "protecting their granddaughter" and "guarding Ning Rongrong" to lean against the door, seemingly dozing off, but in reality, their ears were perked up high.
"Xiao Yan finally won—but Yao Lao— " Xiao Wu's eyes reddened, saddened by Yao Lao's slumber.
"Nalan Yanran must regret it now, being so arrogant back then." Ning Rongrong pouted, but there was a hint of complexity in her eyes; the fates of the characters in the story had deeply moved her.
"Jia Nan Academy —I wonder how it compares to our Blue Tyrant Academy?" Oscar scratched his head.
"The strong are respected, and this is true everywhere. But Xiao Yan's tenacity is truly admirable," Zhu Zhuqing said softly. The story's message of "never underestimate a young man's potential" resonated strongly with her own experiences.
Ye Lingling listened quietly, her gaze occasionally drifting towards Yan Zu. How vast and profound must the heart of a man capable of writing such all-encompassing stories imbued with profound truths be?
Yan Zu smiled slightly as he observed the reactions of the crowd.
He wrote "Battle Through the Heavens" not simply for entertainment, but also to subtly convey the values, fighting spirit, and reflections on power and responsibility of another world to those around him, and even to spread it to a wider world through Ning Fengzhi's channels.
His works, such as "The Song of Roland" and "The Legend of King Arthur," published under the pen name "Wen Yansheng," have long since transcended the confines of Heaven Dou City and Nuoding City thanks to the efforts of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Like dandelion seeds, they have been scattered by the wind and landed in many corners of the Douluo Continent.
The Heaven Dou Empire, the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace.
Xue Qinghe (Qian Renxue), dressed in simple, elegant clothes, Ning Fengzhi. The black and white pieces on the chessboard were intertwined, and the situation was delicate.
"Teacher, recently, basic Soul Tool have become increasingly common in Heaven Dou City. It's said that even the palace eunuchs are using them; they are indeed very convenient." Xue Qinghe placed a chess piece, his tone casual. "And the storybooks and novels circulating in the market all have excellent themes and stories, subtly educating people. Not to mention the ' Heaven Dou No. 1 ' rice variety; although its promotion is only in a few cities, the reports of doubled yields per mu are truly surprising. Mr. Wen Yansheng, who invented and promoted all of this, is truly a national hero."
Ning Fengzhi, holding a white chess piece, smiled slightly upon hearing this, "Your Highness is quite right. Mr. Wen a man of great Fengzhi, and I deeply admire him."
"Such a talent, if he could be employed by our Heaven Dou Empire, would surely be a blessing to the people and a boon to the empire." Xue Qinghe raised his eyes, his gaze gentle yet carrying an undeniable inquiry. "Teacher, you have a close working relationship with Mr. Wen. Do you know where he is now? Qinghe is willing to treat him with the utmost respect and personally visit him to seek his guidance."
Ning Fengzhi, already prepared, calmly placed his white piece, cutting off a group of black stones. "Your Highness's thirst for talent Fengzhi sympathize with. However— Mr. Wen is of a detached nature, indifferent to fame and fortune. Our cooperation that day was merely a matter of chance. After laying the groundwork for many matters, he went on a journey, saying he was going to explore more ways to benefit the people. Now, even I, Fengzhi, do not know his exact whereabouts."
A barely perceptible glint flashed in Xue Qinghe's eyes, which quickly turned into regret. "That's truly a pity. Such a master is elusive, appearing only briefly and never returning. I hope that if you have any news of Mr. Wen in the future, you will surely inform Qinghe, Qinghe will definitely pay him a visit in person."
"Of course." Ning Fengzhi a smile, but thought to himself: A-Zu Zu, I helped you block the Crown Prince's direct recruitment. However, given the character and methods this "Crown Prince" has shown, he probably won't give up investigating easily. You and your little team need to be even more discreet.
Meanwhile, in the distant Spirit City, at the Pope's Palace.
Bibi Dong sat high on her throne, her magnificent Pope robes highlighting her stunning beauty yet conveying a profound and dignified presence. In her hand she held a beautifully bound book, its cover bearing the gilded inscription "The Song of Roland."