Chapter 1821: Exuberant curiosity
There weren’t any squirrels inside a squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, and neither were there any wives in a wife cake… Going by the same logic, the so-called Braised Heavenly Tribulation should be braising something else.
It made perfect sense, reading comprehension test passed!
“No, the ingredient being braised in this dish really is the heavenly tribulation,” Song Shuhang said slowly. After confirming the recipe repeatedly, he reached this conclusion.
“!!!” Senior Scarlet Heaven Sword.
Heavenly tribulation, don’t lose face like this!
“How is one even supposed to eat the heavenly tribulation? Regardless, are you telling me that the heavenly tribulation can be braised?” Senior Scarlet Heaven Sword was utterly confused. No matter what was said, it was a divine weapon through and through. Before going around and having fun with Song Shuhang, it had stayed by Scarlet Heaven’s side for a very long time, and had seen many things. However, it had never heard of the possibility of a heavenly tribulation getting braised.
The heavenly tribulation generally consists of tribulation lightning, and advanced versions usually include the five-element tribulations, inner demon tribulations, yin and yang tribulations, law-level tribulations, and so on.
Not even mentioning other things, and only looking at the most basic tribulation lightning…
…can something like that really be braised? A lightning bolt can be put in a pot and braised? How in the world?
Senior Scarlet Heaven Sword felt that its imagination was insufficient for this task. It simply could not visualize what a ‘Braised Heavenly Tribulation’ was supposed to look like.
At this moment, in Song Shuhang’s shadow, half of the black-skinned Soft Feather’s body emerged, trembling slightly. She raised her hand cautiously, and asked, “Senior Song, there isn’t a Braised Inner Demon Tribulation, right?”
Song Shuhang replied, “As far as I can see, there’s only the ❮Braised Heavenly Tribulation❯… Oh, I’ve found it. There is an appetizer related to the inner demon tribulation, it’s called ❮Smoked Inner Demon Tribulation Slices❯.”
The black-skinned Soft Feather nodded cautiously before silently retreating into Song Shuhang’s shadow.
She decided that she would not be coming out for a while. She would be staying silently in Senior Song’s shadow, and be a bit more transparent for a while so as not to be pulled out by Senior Song to be smoked and sliced.
Although she was an ‘inner demon’, and not an ‘inner demon tribulation’, the two could be said to be related since billions of years ago—they were of the same species. As such, she had to stay on guard.
Senior Scarlet Heaven Sword asked, “Shuhang, is there really no problem with your menu?” It glanced at Song Shuhang’s shadow while speaking. Hmm, perhaps it really is possible to make inner demon tribulation slices?
Song Shuhang replied, “I just had a look at the recipe and production process of the ❮Braised Heavenly Tribulation❯. Theoretically speaking, there shouldn’t be a problem with it.”
Senior Scarlet Heaven Sword asked, “Do you mind sharing?”
Song Shuhang explained, “Sure, I’ll start from the beginning. At the beginning of the menu, Demon Emperor Hezhi introduced the concept of this Life Menu. Allegedly, in the ancient era, there was a cultivator who had a very strange gourd. That gourd had the ability to absorb enemies, beasts, treasures, and even magical techniques, and then turn them into golden cores. As long as it was used properly, the gourd could even absorb the heavenly tribulation, and turn it into a nourishing golden core. And this is where Demon Emperor Hezhi got his inspiration for the Heavenly Tribulation Grand Banquet.”
Scarlet Heaven Sword’s body swayed slightly. “Now that you say that, I do seem to have heard of such a legend. I remember there was a rumor that the gourd was not something that could be forged, but rather it was a born treasure. The gourd came with its own powerful laws that allowed the objects that were absorbed into the gourd to be turned into pure energy. Afterward, that energy would be condensed into grain-like ‘golden cores’. Although these grains were called ‘golden cores’, they were in fact just pure grains of energy. As such, swallowing them could allow one to replenish one’s energy.”
Eh?
Placing that in consideration, it seems that the Braised Heavenly Tribulation isn’t actually that difficult to grasp; it might really be a possibility.
Song Shuhang continued, “Demon Emperor Hezhi’s ❮Braised Heavenly Tribulation❯ uses a similar method. The first step is to choose the ingredients. For example, for the ❮Braised Heavenly Tribulation❯, the ingredient needed is the tribulation lightning of a cultivator who’s ascending to the Third Stage. Lightning of this level is easy to work with, is relatively convenient to hunt for, and is suitable to be braised. Moreover… its texture is very crispy and surprisingly chewy, and it tastes better than any pork ribs.”
“…” Scarlet Heaven Sword.
Am I really listening to the description of a heavenly tribulation of the Third Stage?
“What follows is the process of hunting the Third Stage heavenly tribulation. First, one needs to find a Second Stage cultivator who is about to ascend to the Third Stage. Next, set up a tribulation-transcending formation, and get them to draw the heavenly tribulation. When the tribulation lightning descends, seal it. The method to seal the tribulation lightning is to turn it into strips and store them. It must be noted that the tribulation lightning has to be sealed in strips; otherwise, it will greatly affect the dish’s taste,” Song Shuhang read out the recipe. “It is at this point that skill is required as tribulation lightning can instantly switch between thousands of variations. If the tribulation lightning were to suddenly take the form of a ‘lightning ball’ or ‘lightning palm’, it can’t be stored in strips.”
It also needed to be taken into account that the current heavenly tribulation had been undergoing mutations. What if the cultivator who was ascending to the Third Stage happened to encounter a modernized tribulation where a big cannon made of tribulation lightning appeared? Although a big cannon was vaguely in the shape of a strip, what would it end up being called after being braised? Braised Cannon Tribulation? Braised Tank Tribulation?
Even more vexing was that the ❮Sealing Technique❯ was not listed on the Demon Emperor Hezhi’s menu.
It was likely that the Demon Emperor had expected the person who received his immortal chef inheritance to have mastered exquisite sealing techniques already. He might have even thought that those who couldn’t seal the heavenly tribulation into strips weren’t worthy of his inheritance at all.
After thinking about it, Song Shuhang said, “I should be able to consult Senior White about the sealing of the heavenly tribulation. After all, Senior White has quite a bit of experience in this regard.”
Not to mention strips, even if the recipe required for the heavenly tribulation to be sealed in twists, Senior White would definitely be able to do it.
“At this point, I can understand and visualize it,” Senior Scarlet Heaven Sword said. “Then, the most important step should be the next one. After sealing the heavenly tribulation, how are you going to transform it into a delicious and crispy yet chewy dish? Don’t tell me that you’re going to simply throw it into a pot…”
Were the heavenly tribulation strips going to be thrown into the pot directly and braised? If anyone were to do this, then they would have to have gone mad as the heavenly tribulation in the pot would definitely explode in that person’s face.
“Of course not. Before the heavenly tribulation strips are placed in the pot, one must first prepare the other ingredients. This process has 36 individual steps, making it rather complicated. First, the heavenly tribulation needs to be sealed inside a magical treasure. Afterward, add a medicinal liquid into the magical treasure that can liquefy pure energy. There are many choices of medicinal liquid that can be used, and they can all pretty much be bought from pill refining masters. Similar medicinal liquids are used in the process of pill refining, and the stronger the effect, the better. There are six formations recorded here which can suppress the power of the heavenly tribulation, and allow the medicinal liquid to exert its effect.
“After a period of time, 12 kinds of spices and natural treasures are poured into the sealing magical treasure procedurally. Their function is to solidify a little the liquified heavenly tribulation and fuse with it, allowing the formation of solid strips. Similarly, there will be six formations here that will make it possible to suppress the power of the heavenly tribulation, and allow the 12 kinds of spices and natural treasures to display their prowess.
“What follows is a process similar to pill refining. The solidified heavenly tribulation needs to be placed into a pill furnace to be refined…”
Although the 36 steps were rather cumbersome, it was all worth it.
Moreover, as long as one was proficient enough, the entire process could be completed within half a day.
“After these 36 steps are completed, the magical treasure is to be left sealed for a month. After a month, you will be able to get the perfect heavenly tribulation ingredient. The lethality of the Third Stage tribulation lightning would have been removed, and its entire body should be golden in color, and should have a lasting fragrance. After cutting it with a knife, you should be able to see the alluring meat texture. Eh, this process can be carried out in my Time City. As long as I can supply some spirit stones to my Time City, the required period of time can be drastically shortened,” Song Shuhang said tactfully.
Next was the ‘braising’.
“At this point, you can treat the heavenly tribulation as meat, and slice it into pieces before using demonic immortal cooking techniques to braise it. When done, the ‘Braised Heavenly Tribulation’ should appear reddish, with a golden hue and a rich fragrance to it. Once you take a bite, the first layer would appear fat but not greasy, and it should melt in your mouth. The second layer is chewy, and the more you eat, the more fragrant it gets. The third layer is extremely crunchy, and crumbles when you bite into it,” Song Shuhang read aloud. The image of the completed Braised Heavenly Tribulation appeared in his mind, and he was involuntarily salivating.
“…” Scarlet Heaven Sword.
It was truly speechless at this moment.
“Hmm, it just so happens that Chu Chu is about to transcend the Third Stage heavenly tribulation.” Song Shuhang pondered, and said, “Perhaps, on the premise of ensuring Chu Chu’s safety, we can hunt down a few strips of tribulation lightning and try it out?”
Nowadays, with Song Shuhang’s defenses, there was pretty much no need to worry about his life being placed in danger by an ordinary Third Stage heavenly tribulation. In addition, Song Shuhang was still carrying around a group of big shots.
How could he possibly lose against a mere Third Stage heavenly tribulation?
Senior Scarlet Heaven Sword said, “I feel that it would be best to look for a Celestial or an enemy to conduct the experiment. Although a Third Stage heavenly tribulation doesn’t pose much of a threat, it’s still best to be on the side of caution.”
Song Shuhang nodded earnestly. “Senior is right. When facing the heavenly tribulation, one must absolutely not become complacent. The seniors of the Nine Provinces Number One Group might have gone hunting a group of Celestials. I should go and see if any of them are at the Second Stage and approaching the Third Stage, then try making the dish that way.”
Next, Song Shuhang added, “In addition, I still require Senior White’s help in the matter of sealing the heavenly tribulation. Hmm, I’ll use the Golden Core QR Code to try and see if I can contact him later.”
Senior Scarlet Heaven Sword said, “As for the medicinal liquid, there are pill refining masters among your seniors. You will probably need their help in several aspects.”
Senior Scarlet Heaven Sword was very interested in the ❮Braised Heavenly Tribulation❯. It wanted to see for itself if something like the heavenly tribulation could truly be braised. It was a very studious and curious divine weapon, having a strong desire to explore all new things and knowledge.
❄️❄️❄️
Song Shuhang and Senior Scarlet Heaven Sword soon landed on Heavenly Field Island while chatting with one another.
At this time, the members of the Nine Provinces Number One Group were already gathered together and preparing the banquet.
There was a private immortal chef on Heavenly Field Island, and the seniors in the group had brought good wine.
“Shuhang, you’re finally here.” Northern River’s Loose Cultivator squinted and waved at Song Shuhang.
Senior Northern River seemed to be in a good mood..
