Everyone’s hearts nearly jumped out of their throats. They turned to look at the fish in front of Li Nianfan and their eyes popped out, though, to their credit, they did not die from the shock.
‘This aura…’
‘Yes, it’s definitely the same aura!’
‘It’s not a fish. It’s that big boss from the River of Time!’
‘It’s just as I expected. He was hooked by the expert and turned into a fish.’
Their scalps began to tingle, unable to process the scene in front of them. They found it hard to believe the terrifying owner of the giant hand had been turned into a useless fish with no way to resist the incoming chopping knife. They had to pinch themselves to check if it was all real.
Li Nianfan smiled at them, thinking they must be shocked by the size of the fish. “This fish looks good, doesn’t it?”
Qin Manyun wiped away her drool and in a low voice said, “Yes. I can tell it used to be very energetic when it was alive.”
Li Nianfan nodded his head. “How did you know that? It was full of vitality and could jump to a height of one meter! The flesh should be tender with all that workout. You’re all in for a treat!”
‘Of course, it’s full of vitality. It’s a Wisdom Elite after all.’
‘Wait, flesh?’
‘Is the expert planning to eat this Wisdom Elite?’
Everyone’s face turned beet red as every cell in their bodies began to vibrate violently. A Wisdom Elite cooked with the expert’s cooking skill—pure heaven.
“Can I… have some, too?” asked Old Ling in a trembling voice.
“Of course, you’re my guest after all. How may I address you?” asked Li Nianfan.
“My name’s Ling Liqun. I’m Huang Deheng’s best friend and came here with him,” answered Old Ling.
At this, the corners of Huang Deheng’s lips began to twitch. ‘Best friend? Pah! You’ve finally realized the benefit of being my friend huh! I don’t see you acting so friendly toward me in normal times.’
“By the way, Lord Saint, the reason for our visit was to bring you a fruit tree. However, the fruit tree’s condition deteriorated during the journey. We’re not sure whether it’s still alive.”
Li Nianfan was startled when he finally noticed the fruit tree they were carrying behind their backs. The tree was without a single leaf and the bark was all wrinkly. It looked like a dead tree trunk.
He quickly walked up to the tree. “Let’s see… It’s a walnut tree!” He was overjoyed at his discovery. “The life force is strong in this one. There’s still some hope for it to make a complete recovery. We should quickly plant it in the backyard.”
Dragin and Nanan rushed over and volunteered to help. “Brother Li, let us help you!”
“Hahaha, alright. Please, be careful with it.” Li Nianfan was feeling on top of the world. He had some sunflower seeds before and now he would get to enjoy walnuts. He had always liked to consume seeds and nuts. Walnuts did not only taste good but they could strengthen the brain, making them more valuable than any other fruits.
“Please, excuse me for a moment,” said Li Nianfan. Then, to Xiao Bai, he said, “I leave this fish to you. Clean it nicely and cook up a feast for our honored guests.”
“Yes, my noble Master,” said Xiao Bai.
Huang Deheng and Old Ling breathed out a sigh of relief once they had made sure Li Nianfan had gone to the backyard. The pressure of meeting the expert was too much for them. They surveyed their surroundings and were stunned by everything they saw. They found themselves to be in the perfect place for Dao cultivation. No secret border could even come close to the unparalleled opportunity for transformation here. They had no doubt they would be able to reach the top of the peak if they trained here long enough.
Xiao Bai was cautiously and conscientiously removing all the scales from the fish. With every scrap of the knife, a flurry of golden scales fluttered into the air before landing sloppily on the ground. Suddenly, both Huang Deheng and Ling Liqun turned their full attention on the golden scales and their breathing quickened.
‘These scales belong to a Wisdom Elite and contain the essence of Wisdom. We’re lucky to have come across it. It’s more valuable than an Ultimate Treasure!’ thought Huang Deheng.
‘We could create an ultimate weapon with the scales and other parts of the fish. We’d become unstoppable with those weapons!’ thought Old Ling.
They were staring at the fish scales with red eyes. When they saw Xiao Bai getting ready to hose away the fish scales, they quickly rushed over.
“Master Xiao Bai, can you give me these fish scales? I’d appreciate it if you do,” said Huang Deheng in a flattering tone.
“Master Xiao Bai, you take care of your body and not bother with this kind of work. Why don’t you let me clean the scales off? I’m used to this kind of work already,” said Old Ling in a pleasing tone.
“Feel free. Make sure you clean it properly,” said Xiao Bai indifferently.
“Don’t worry, Master Xiao Bai. You can count on me.”
“You’re so generous, Master Xiao Bai. Thank you so much.”
Huang Deheng and Old Ling bowed to Xiao Bai with huge grins on their faces which disappeared as soon as they had turned their heads. Immediately, the two of them broke out in a fight.
“What do you think you’re doing, Brother Ling? Is this how you repay me for bringing you here? I’ve already called dibs on picking up rubbish,” said Huang Deheng with his face flushed red with anger.
“Bullsh*t! We have a meritocracy system here. I used to be called the King of Trash before I became an Immortal. Therefore, it’s only right that this job goes to me!” said Old Ling without backing down. He started to pick up the fish scales off the ground. “The fruit tree used to be mine. In the end, you needed me to gain favor from the expert.”
“Your ungrateful man. Didn’t you say I was your best friend just now?” scolded Huang Deheng.
The two of them picked up the fish scales in between throwing out punches. They were well aware their first priority was to clean the area and that was exactly what they did. The ground was so clean that they could eat off it.
After a while, Li Nianfan came back from the backyard and thanked Huang Deheng and Old Ling. “Thank you for the fruit tree. Your thoughts have been well received.”
“The pleasure is ours, Lord Saint. We’re just glad you like it,” said the two of them at the same time.
Li Nianfan brought out some fruit juice and snacks for the group and went into the kitchen to help Xiao Bai with the cooking. He had decided to split the fish into many types of dishes such as using the head for soup, braising the flesh, and deep-frying the skin. This way, nothing would go to waste and they would get to experience many different flavor profiles.
Although the fruit juice and snacks were extraordinary and were enough to make Huang Deheng and Old Ling scream internally at their good fortune, there was no denying the dish they were most anticipating for was the big fish. After all, the big fish was a Wisdom Elite.
Gradually, the soup began to bubble in the pot and a fragrant smell wafted into the air and their nostrils. They kept gulping down their drool and could not wait to have a taste. They finally knew what a cooked Wisdom Elite smelled like, which was a sweet fragrance with a hint of Wisdom aura. They had not even begun to dig in but already felt their Dao leveling up.
Huang Deheng and Old Ling closed their eyes and breathed in hard. A drunken expression colored their old faces, making them look a little perverted as they immersed themselves in the smell.
“Brother Li, is it ready?” asked Dragin and Nanan with eyes full of desire. They were already seated at the table and in front of them were sets of bowls and chopsticks. They looked as if they were ready to start the meal anytime.
“Soon. I just need to put in some coriander,” said Li Nianfan. He then opened the lid and instantly, the air was filled with a thick mist rising from the pot, making the area seem a little ethereal. Under the group’s watchful gaze, they saw an infinite amount of light exploding out from the pot as it kicked up a Spiritual Qi storm. They were sure Li Nianfan was not cooking a fish but Wisdom itself!
Li Nianfan threw in the spring onion and coriander he had prepared beforehand and stirred the pot. “It’s done! Everybody, please, get ready!”
Huang Deheng and Old Ling’s hearts jumped as they sat down on their chairs as if they were primary school kids listening to the teacher’s instructions. They dared not even breathe. They fixed their wide eyes on the pot and only moved their gazes when their bowls were filled with the same content.
“It’s time to feast!” said Dragin and Nanan excitedly as they shoved the food into their mouths.
“Oh, nom nom nom!”
“Oh god, this is so good!”
“All the flavors are exploding in my mouth! This has gotta be the most tender fish I’ve ever tasted.”
“I thought the flesh would be hard because it’s so big but it’s the total opposite!”
Li Nianfan whacked them lightly on the head and mock-scold them, “Keep your mouths closed while eating.”
These two girls had become more talkative ever since knowing Li Nianfan. They could even be food critics one day. Dragin and Nanan stuck out their tongues and continued to eat quietly. The fish was really good but after eating it, they felt a warm aura burst from their stomachs and fused with their mana, causing their mana to drastically increase. Not only that, the warm aura had even shot up to their brains, and instantly, they found themselves to have entered a bizarre state.
Their minds went black and they felt as if they were floating in the Chaos. With a wave of their hands, a planet came to them and started to revolve around them. More and more planets came and started to revolve around them as if they were the center of the universe and able to control everything with a wave of their hands.
“Is this how it feels to master Wisdom?”
“With the sun and the moon in my hands, with the stars only a pick away, I’m the peak of the boundless heaven! This is the perspective of a Wisdom Elite!”
“The soup must be infused with the fish’s Dao.”
Dragin and Nanan were awestruck. Their enlightenment started to overflow and along with their increase in mana, it brought them to a higher cultivation level. Eating the fish had pushed them from early-stage Heavenly Realm to middle-stage Heavenly Realm. It was not long ago when they had just broken through to the Heavenly Realm.
Shi Tuqin and Qin Manyun picked up a piece of the fish and put it into their mouths. Immediately, they felt their bodies lighten, flowing upward gently with the wind. They floated away from the Area of the Gods and only stopped when they were standing in the Chaos.
They were witnessing the death and birthing of the countless worlds in the Chaos. Qin Manyun’s fingers began to jump up and down as if she was strumming the Guqin to play a melody of the Chaos. Shi Tuqin had the same impulse. She wished she could draw everything that had occurred in the Chaos with her calligraphy brush.
Huang Deheng and Old Ling could not wait any longer. They picked up their spoons and dipped them into the milky white fish broth and brought it to their lips. Immediately, a shock went through their bodies and their faces became red. The strong energy nearly made their bodies burst as their tummies grew a size bigger.
They gritted their teeth and hardened their hearts. They forced themselves to quickly digest the food for they were afraid of causing a scene in front of the expert. It was impossible for them subtly handle the fish soup with their power. This just proved the amazing power of the fish soup. There was no medicine in the world comparable to this soup.
“Amazing! Unbelievable! The expert’s able to bring out the essence of the Wisdom Elite and preserve it in this soup.”
“He’s the big boss of all big bosses! His Dao of Cooking must be at the Wisdom Elite level!”
Needless to say, they were awestruck, too. However, they could not help but feel a little frustrated and sad, because due to their limited power, they were not able to dig heartily into the soup. It was akin to torture for them. The most excruciating thing in the world was not failing to attain something, but attaining something that one could not enjoy due to their own limitations.
Daji and Fire Phoenix had also started eating.
“Gah! It’s hot!” They twisted their bodies and a thin layer of sweat appeared on their skin. Wave after wave of flaming hot energy traveled inside their bodies and made them feel as if they were soaking in a hot spring. They were already halfway through the stage of the Heavenly Realm and the fish dish immediately pushed them to the edge of the line that separated the Heavenly Realm and Wisdom Elite. It would take them some time before they could fully digest their newfound power.
Li Nianfan alone was enjoying the meal with no care in the world. The braised fish and the fish soup was the perfect combination. He felt satiated and contented with the meal. He drank some soup and said to Huang Deheng and Old Ling, “Please, help yourself and have some more of this soup.” He had no idea why they were sipping soup like birds drinking from a water fountain.
“Thank you, thank you. We’re starting to get full already and cannot have more,” said Huang Deheng and Old Ling.
Li Nianfan looked at the leftovers on the table. “It’s a shame we couldn’t finish our food. I thought we’d be able to since there are so many of us. You all should level up your appetite more. Are you sure there’s no more room in your tummies?”
“Yes, Master, we’re really full!” Daji and Fire Phoenix stood up and walked over to the gym equipment. They needed the help of yoga to help them digest the meal. If one session was not enough, they would practice more with Li Nianfan tonight and that should be enough for them to advance to the Wisdom level.
Jiang Liu’s belly was like a little mountain. “I can’t take it anymore, Lord Saint,” he said with some difficulty.
Li Nianfan waved his hand. “Fine. Xiao Bai, dump the leftovers in the backyard. That should fertilize the plants. Oh, dump some in the pond, too, to feed the fish.”
Xiao Bai went to do as he said and immediately, the entire backyard became filled with noises of the trees, flowers, and grass calling out to it.
“Xiao Bai, Xiao Bai, give some to me!”
“The fish soup smells so good. Please, pour some onto me. I need some nourishment.”
The fishes in the pond could not wait to be fed, too. They jumped out of the water, creating arcs in the air.
“Wow, the expert’s cooking smells delicious!”
“I can’t wait to find out what a dish made out of a Wisdom Elite tastes like!”
“A great opportunity for a great transformation. We’re too blessed!”
“Long live the expert!”
