Soon, it was night.
They were on a rugged village road when Chen Jingzhou said, “According to the map, there’s a mountain village around twenty miles ahead. We’ll rest there for two hours before continuing!”
“Okay.”
Everyone agreed, with Zhou Rui’s eyes shining.
She was a little exhausted since her physique was merely equal to a rank-five martial artist after running over five hundred miles in a single go.
Soon, a run-down village appeared within sight, with signs of Feral rampage everywhere and most of the buildings reduced to debris.
The group hence looked for a relatively complete house, started a fire, took out food and water as they had their break.
Jiang He came to them while munching on sunflower seeds.
Whipping out a handful, he asked, “Anyone wants some?”
No one said a thing.
After all, they did not know that the sunflower seeds that Jiang He had been munching on over their journey were the purple-gold sunflower seeds worth over a million dollars each.
Jiang He sat down opposite Cheng Dongfeng, whipped out a bottle of ‘water’, grinning, “Want a drink, Old Cheng?”
Cheng Dongfeng eyed the mineral water in Jiang He’s hand and shook his head, smiling as he whipped out a bottle of wine and had a few sips. “Jiang He, you may be stronger than I am, but when it comes to survival in the wild, no one here would dare claim first place even if I claim second…”
“Food and water are not actually necessary when martial artists are out in the wild. You just need more medicine, stuff like that.”
“Most Feral meat are edible which resolves the food problem, and farming villages over here at Xibei has the habit of digging wells and water cellars. That’s why a trip to any uninhabited village solves the water problem, just as you could quench your thirst at rivers and with wild fruits.”
“Of course, you can pretend I didn’t say that if there’s a water-type Awakened among us.”
Both Yang Chengwu and Zhou Rui looked enlightened, although Jiang He appeared thoughtful as he opened the mineral water bottle.
Inside was not actually mineral water but rank-nine Origin Fluid.
Jiang He had two variants of Origin Fluid: one from the willow tree of Mount Helan that improves cultivation and qi, whereas the other variant which he traded from one of Jiangnan’s martial clan improves spirit.
And this bottle contained the Origin Fluid of the willow tree.
Its aroma was very sweet, and its aroma promptly extended once the bottle was opened.
Cheng Dongfeng was the closest; he could not help gaping.
The look on the others’ faces changed too.
Jiang He seemed to not notice, and simply chugged down most of the bottle as he picked the bottle up, before he put the cap back on and the bottle way.
After cleaning his mouth, Jiang He smiled with a fist-palm salute. “Well, the ancients are right—if three people come together, one can be the teacher. Thanks for your guidance, Master Cheng. You do speak reason.”
Cheng Dongfeng returned the salute and asked, “Jiang He, what was that you were drinking?”
“Origin Fluid.”
There was nothing worth hiding about that, which was why Jiang He replied, “It’s from that willow tree of Mount Helan. It insisted on giving me some Origin Fluid when I spoke to it.”
“…”
What the hell!
Cheng Dongfeng’s face turned green.
Rank-nine Origin Fluid?
Are you actually using a mineral water bottle to carry around such a precious item?!
And here I was thinking it was just mineral water…
If Cheng Dongfeng had known, he would not have put on airs when Jiang He took it out and promptly took it for a chug. Indeed, his cultivation might ascend by a whole notch after some sips.
Even so, Jiang He grinned and added, “Still, you were being one-sided, Master Cheng… for example, if a martial artist had a Spatial Ring and could carry a lot of things, he could bring anything he needed when he stepped out of the house.”
Whoosh!
Even as he spoke, he brought out a grill rack, a box of coal, bottles of barbecue condiments, olive oil, oil brush, and the meat skewer that his sexy, adorable maid had cleaned and prepared.
Jiang He poured the coal into the grill rack and promptly used his fire-type powers. When the coal fire was more or less burning, he picked up the oil brush and elegantly oiled his meat, before grilling it.
As everyone else gaped, Jiang He chuckled. “It’s not easy going on long journeys at the current age. Every little bit of enjoyment counts, and I believe grilling is definitely a part of camping… I mean, training in the wild: Beat up a Feral with fresh meat, raise a bonfire, have some beer and meat while enjoying the moon. How luxurious is that?”
The fragrant smell of meat spread in the darkness of the night.
Chen Jingzhou’s expression twitched somberly. “Such fragrant meat scent might draw the attention of Ferals…”
“That’s fine.”
Jiang He waved him off, grinning. “I have experience with grilling out in the wild. You just have to pick your meat if you want to avoid catching any Feral’s attention.”
“Meat?
Yang Chengwu appeared confused and asked, “Bro Jiang, the type of meat matters too?”
“Of course.”
Jiang He took out one of the skewers and had a taste. It was more or less cooked but needed a little salt, which he promptly grabbed a pinch and sprinkled it while he said, “For example, the meat I’m grilling now is the meat of the Blue King Drake, ranked third amongst all python-type Ferals in this world.
“The Blue King Drake is an elite amongst all Feral Kings, and even the burning scent of its flesh would probably intimidate other Ferals to some extent.”
“…”
Cheng Dongfeng and the others traded glances—Zhou Rui, who knew nothing about Jiang He’s background was especially staring in wide-eyed wonder as she stared at Jiang He.
The astonishment that Jiang He caused in a brief moment left them all breathless and a thousand questions in their mind, though they did not dare to ask.
“Come, come. The meat is cooked, everyone, get some…”
Jiang He generously shared the Blue King Drake’s meat with everyone… but before he could finish several skewers, he scowled in embarrassment. “Damn it, are these Ferals trying to give me a slap?”
In the distant darkness of the night, Ferals were approaching after catching a whiff of the meat.
After all, the Feral King’s meat was too alluring for them.
Ferals, especially weaker ones, could ascend and evolve after having a few mouthfuls of Feral King’s flesh.
Cheng Dongfeng rose, sneering as he twirled his skewer. “Everyone, stay here. I’ll get rid of those pests.”
And yet, Jiang He stopped him just as he rose to his feet.
“Beware, Master Cheng.”
“According to Chief Duan, the Sky Demon Cult’s elites might ambush us, so I should go just in case.”
Whipping another dozen of skewered meat and passing it to Cheng Dongfeng, Jiang He added, “The meat’s almost finished, so I’m counting on you to cook more for the others… ah.”
Jiang He took out another huge chunk of meat from his System Backpack, which was probably around four hundred catties.
He threw it straight at the Black Panther, saying, “This is a rank-eight Feral’s meat I’ve killed a while ago, do eat more. How am I supposed to ride you when you’re that skinny?”
With that, Jiang He turned and entered the darkness.
Soon, waves of explosions could be heard, with dazzling flames shooting up to the horizon.
Stunned, He Litong promptly sat up.
Likewise, Zhou Rui appeared somber as if she faced a great enemy, whereas Yang Chengwu whipped out his combat blade with a wary look.
Cheng Dongfeng, however, was handily twirling the meat skewers he was holding before sprinkling some cumin as he chuckled, “Don’t panic, it’s perfectly normal. Everyone, sit, and have a taste of Old Cheng’s culinary arts.”
Jiang He’s nickname of Bomber Prince has started spreading at the Lingzhou City Martial Arts Department, which Cheng Dongfeng himself gave him.
Indeed, this was nothing, since he wasn’t using the nuclear rocket launcher…
And soon, Jiang He was already back.
There was even a Fiend Decree in his hand.
As he sat before the bonfire, Jiang He simply flung the token plate on the ground, and muttered unhappily, “Damn it, I should not have attacked just now… there’s no telling if I’ve alerted the Sky Demon Cult after accidentally killing one of their scouts.”
What if the Sky Demon Cult did not attack because they were alerted?
***
Out in the night.
Three Blades Lin was standing on thin air looking down from afar with a dark look on his face.
What the heck!
Here I am escorting you lot, unable to relax for even a second, but not only are you people having a barbecue in wildlands, you’re even playing with fireworks?
Rather vexed, Three Blades Lin hence discreetly descended from the skies, sought out the Sky Demon Cult elites hiding and diced them.
Wang Hou had intended for these Sky Demon Cultists to be allowed to assassinate those ‘prodigies’ heading to the Secret Realms, considering it training…
“Wang Hou wouldn’t say anything because I killed them to ease my boredom, would he? Moreover, Jiang He is here, and how different would be five rank-sevens, three rank-eights, and one rank-nine from cannon fodder?”
***
Back at the run-down village.
After Jiang He finished his skewers, he took out the half-bottle of Origin Fluid left and finished it with a big gulp.
When the bottle was empty, he simply threw it away…
Cheng Dongfeng reacted instantly, and subtly hid away the bottle.
Jiang He was being so wasteful—there was still a little Origin Fluid left at the bottom, and he was actually dumping it…
That bit of Origin Fluid might not seem much, but there were at least dozens of drops in there… each of them of priceless quality.
Jiang He saw it but said nothing.
In spite of that, he was a little shocked.
Though it was often claimed that Cheng Dongfeng was very greedy, he did not believe it… until now: A mighty rank-seven grandmaster could make at least several million just by going out into the wildlands and kill a few Ferals, and yet here he was, picking up a bottle…
“Sigh. I guess I’ll keep all my used bottles from now on and send them to Old Cheng—all families face hardships, and he might be going through a rough patch.”
As he sighed inwardly, his expression changed.
His aura was becoming jumbled.
Chen Jingzhou, having the sharpest senses amongst them promptly looked up at Jiang He and ask, “What is it, Jiang He?”
The others turned towards Jiang He too.
His raging aura was suddenly bursting away from his body, and the silhouette of five suns arose behind him…
Soon, the sixth sun rose too.
His aura instantly overflowed, and he ascended from rank-eight pinnacle to rank-nine.
Even as he ascended, Jiang He had a blank look at first before becoming delighted while grinning. “It might be because I just ate a Feral King’s meat and had some rank-nine Origin Fluid. Add that to the fact that I was nearing ascension in the first place, my cultivation and technique developed slightly as well…”
