The first morning in the Southern Mountain Range was cold and pure, shrouded in gently drifting spiritual mist. The light of dawn touched the hidden cave, transforming the waterfall curtain into shimmering liquid silver. The air was filled with abundant spiritual essence, inviting any cultivator to immediately enter meditation.

  Zhi Xuan stepped off the flat stone, approaching the pile of crow meat that looked dense and rich in nutrients. The carcass of the Three-Headed Black Crow, having lost its essence to Xiao Die, now only left stiff and solid flesh—Azure King Beast meat, a highly nutritious food for cultivators.

  Zhi Xuan raised his finger to manifest his devil blood sword, intending to cut the meat before it completely froze in the cold of the Southern Mountain Range. He saw the dark red reflection of spiritual blood on his fingertip, ready to form a thin blade that could cleave stone. However, he let out a cold sigh.

  "If I peel this meat with a blood sword," Zhi Xuan muttered, pondering for a moment and his brow furrowed. "It will surely taste unpleasant."

  Zhi Xuan shivered slightly, thinking about eating his own blood; it felt too grotesque if he cut the meat and it mixed with his blood. He looked around for a moment, trying to find a sharp stone on the mountainside.

  Before, he smiled faintly because he had a crazy idea. Why did he not just pound it until several pieces were severed, of course? This time, the divine cauldron would once again become a victim of his foolishness in performing mortal tasks. Zhi Xuan waved his hand, and the jade-gold bead in his hair slowly whizzed, spinning above his palm.

  "Divine Cauldron, smash it for me."

  The Heavenly Trifold Reincarnation Cauldron spinning in his hand whizzed loudly, as if the haughty Heaven-grade Artifact was protesting this mundane assignment. The cauldron, which was designed to forge immortal pills and shatter Gods, was now asked to chop up the carcass of a Crow. An immeasurable insult!

  "Do not be troublesome, foolish stone," Zhi Xuan hissed, channeling a small amount of his black jade essence without hesitation. "Smash it. Small pieces. I need breakfast, and I cannot waste essence looking for a knife."

  The cauldron trembled briefly, as if letting out a reluctant spiritual sigh. Then, with a sharp whizz, it enlarged to the size of a rice bowl. Zhi Xuan held the Cauldron like a clumsy hammer.

  He raised the Cauldron high. The dark bronze light emanating from the Cauldron clashed with the dawn light, creating a surreal sight: a Blood Transformation cultivator, surrounded by a pool of pure jade essence, using a Heaven-grade Artifact that drank the blood of Gods to cut meat.

  THUD!

  "Come on! Do not be shy, we have both bled more than this."

  Zhi Xuan slammed the Divine Cauldron hard onto one of the Three-Headed Black Crow's wings. The solid, stiff Azure King Beast meat trembled, and a rough crack appeared where the Cauldron struck. Some small meat flakes detached, splashing onto the wet grass.

  THUD! THUD!

  He struck again, this time with a faster rhythm, focusing the blows on the bone and muscle joints. Zhi Xuan did not use physical strength, but a cold essence control, ensuring that each blow of the Cauldron only created focused physical damage, not a wasted essence explosion.

  The Ancient Devil Monument, Ruo Xianxue, who witnessed this embarrassing spectacle from within Zhi Xuan's Sea of Consciousness, let out an almost unbearable howl of scorn.

  "Oh, the Gods of the Seven Heavens! I have witnessed thousands of eras, Monkey! But never has a cultivator used a Divine Cauldron as a meat tenderizer! The glory of a Heaven-grade Artifact is stained by your crude hands!" Ruo Xianxue roared, his laughter filled with cosmic contempt.

  Zhi Xuan let out a spiritual sigh, jumping back to pick up the detached pieces of meat. He ignored the howling mockery of the Ancient Devil Monument. He was used to it; for Ruo Xianxue, all things related to the mortal world or bodily needs were an insult to cosmic grandeur.

  "Glory is the result, not the tool, red stone," Zhi Xuan replied flatly in his mind, while wiping the Divine Cauldron, which he had now returned to its normal size, ensuring it was clean of blood and Beast grime. "When I reach Immortality, I can laugh at this Heaven-grade Artifact because it once served as my meat hammer."

  Ruo Xianxue was silent for a moment. The silence itself was an admission that Zhi Xuan’s cold logic, although impertinent, was undeniable.

  "You... you truly are shameless," Ruo Xianxue finally hissed, his tone now one of disbelief rather than scorn. "Alright. Now you have disgusting pieces of meat. How will you cook it? I will laugh at you again if you try to burn Azure King Beast meat with your Azure Holy Flame."

  "Why not? Fire is still fire, even if it is my soul fire." Zhi Xuan shrugged, waving his hand and the divine cauldron returned to the jade-gold bead in his hair.

  Zhi Xuan walked toward the edge of the mountainside, descending the slope with proficient steps, his eyes fixed on a branch that looked dry and had fine cracks as if struck by lightning. It was suitable for a fire pit.

  Zhi Xuan moved quickly, tracing the rocky slope covered in thick moss. Below, he found a fallen ancient pine branch; its wood had been perfectly dried by the season's cold, and the fine cracks on its surface hinted at a touch of lightning—an ideal and energy-dense source of fire.

  He used his physical strength, which had been forged by blood, to lift several flat stones and temporarily gather them on the gentle slope. His movements were without essence, purely muscle strength and efficiency.

  "Next, jade green leaves and five-colored spices." Zhi Xuan descended the slope further and shot downward, his feet feeling like they were floating and like obsidian rock descending quickly.

  He moved with astonishing speed, like a shadow dragged by the Southern Mountain Range wind. His sharp eyes scanned the vegetation along the slope. As a cultivator who had lived off the wilderness and survived in harsh environments, Zhi Xuan possessed a keen instinct for identifying edible spiritual materials.

  It did not take long. In the crevices of stones exposed to the morning sun, he found Jade Green Leaves, thick foliage that emanated a soft spiritual essence aura. These leaves were commonly used by low-realm cultivators to absorb moisture and eliminate fishy odors.

  Then, in a more hidden place, under the shade of spiritual thorny bushes, he found Five-Colored Root, a spice whose scent was pungent but possessed the property of purifying coarse essence, lending a delicious taste to the meat.

  Zhi Xuan gathered all the materials efficiently. He shot back up the slope, taking the pile of branches and flat stones. He returned to the area beside the jade essence pool, and with skillful movements, he arranged the stones he had brought into a small circle, forming a simple fire pit.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  He arranged the lightning-struck dry pine branches in the center of the stone circle. The branch, having absorbed a bit of Thunder energy, promised a hot and clean fire.

  Zhi Xuan did not use mortal flint. He raised his right hand, and from his fingertip, a tiny strand of dark purple flame emerged—his Azure Holy Flame, a soul fire that was icy cold and pure.

  The fire, which was previously used to warm the cave, was now reduced to a cooking tool. Zhi Xuan carefully touched the pine branch with the Azure Holy Flame.

  WHUP!

  The pine branch and the Holy Flame resonated. In an instant, the wood burst into a blue-purple flame, its heat pungent but concentrated. The fire was smokeless, clean, and hot enough to roast Azure King level Beast meat.

  "See, red stone," Zhi Xuan hissed in his mind, his thin, cold smile reappearing. "Fire is still fire. Even the Soul Fire submits to the need of the stomach."

  Ruo Xianxue snorted in his Sea of Consciousness, but no cosmic scorn was heard. Only a slightly tense silence, as if the Ancient Devil Monument was forced to acknowledge this painful fact.

  Zhi Xuan took the pieces of Three-Headed Black Crow meat that he had hammered with the Divine Cauldron. The pieces, though irregular in shape, were thick and dense, emitting a strong fishy odor and wild essence.

  He tore the Jade Green Leaves, wrapping each piece of meat with the leaf. The leaf, which had slight spiritual purifying properties, immediately absorbed the excessive fishy odor. Then, he sprinkled the Five-Colored Root, which he had crushed between his fingers, onto the leaf bundles.

  He skewered each bundle with a straight, sturdy pine twig, creating a primitive yet efficient meat skewer. Zhi Xuan held the meat skewers over the blazing Azure Holy Flame. The hot, clean flame immediately began to roast the meat. The fat of the Azure King Beast, rich in essence, began to drip, sizzling on the wood.

  The pungent aroma of the Five-Colored Root mixed with the smell of roasting meat, spreading in the morning air of the Southern Mountain Range. Zhi Xuan sat cross-legged in front of the fire, his sapphire eyes reflecting the purple flame. He waited, his hand holding the meat skewer remaining stable, as if he was controlling a formation rather than cooking.

  The sight was so contrasting: the majesty of the soul fire, the calmness of the cultivator, and the simplicity of the mortal act. Behind the waterfall curtain, inside the cave, Mei Hua woke up to the pungent aroma.

  She rubbed her clear eyes, murmuring softly. Lulu, her cloth doll, was still in her arms, and Xiao Die, who had now returned to her small shoulder, trembled softly. The Heavenly Moth, despite having just absorbed the essence of an Azure King Beast, now acted as a quiet nursemaid.

  "Lulu, Lulu," Mei Hua whispered, clutching the cloth doll tighter. "There is a good smell! Not the bad spiritual pill smell. But the smell of... cooked candy!"

  Mei Hua slowly rose from the warm stone floor, her new Glimmering Cloud Silk gown now radiating a soft, dim light inside the dim cave. She walked toward the cave entrance, curiosity overriding her obedience to stay inside.

  Xiao Die trembled on Mei Hua’s shoulder, sending a soft spiritual buzz that warned her to stay inside. But the aroma of roasted meat covered in spiritual seasoning from the Five-Colored Root was too strong. Mei Hua stepped out, passing through the cold waterfall curtain.

  Zhi Xuan, who was sitting cross-legged at the edge of the pool, did not need to use his divine sense to know Mei Hua's presence. The unexpected warmth, which always accompanied Mei Hua's pure aura, immediately touched his cold aura.

  He turned his head, his sapphire eyes catching Mei Hua's figure standing behind the spiritual mist of the pool. Mei Hua, still hugging Lulu, stared at the sight of Zhi Xuan cooking with full admiration.

  "Big Brother Zhi Xuan!" Mei Hua exclaimed, her cheerful laughter like a wind chime breaking the morning silence. "Is big brother roasting a shooting star?"

  Zhi Xuan smiled faintly. The smile disappeared as quickly as a flash of lightning in the sea of consciousness, but it was a genuine smile. The meat skewer he held was now perfectly cooked. The Jade Green Leaves had become crispy, and the Azure King Beast meat inside radiated essence-rich steam.

  "This is not a shooting star, Mei Hua," Zhi Xuan replied, his voice calm. "This is the meat of a very powerful monster. This meat will give you a lot of energy for today."

  Mei Hua jumped slightly, not afraid of the word monster at all. She stepped closer, her eyes fixed on the steaming roasted meat skewers.

  Zhi Xuan let out a cold sigh. He turned to the pile of raw meat that was still roughly hammered on the grass. He could not let Mei Hua touch the raw meat.

  "Sit here, Mei Hua. Do not get too close to the fire. This fire is very hot," Zhi Xuan commanded.

  Mei Hua immediately sat on the grass, hugging Lulu, letting Xiao Die fly and land on the flat stone next to Zhi Xuan. She stared at the meat skewer that Zhi Xuan was now holding.

  "Is it sweet, Big Brother Zhi Xuan?" Mei Hua asked, innocently.

  Zhi Xuan extinguished the Azure Holy Flame with a single cold breath. The blue-purple flame disappeared, leaving only hot embers in the pine branch. He carefully released the meat from the twig skewer, removing the Jade Green Leaves that had served as the grill.

  "Yes, it is sweet," Zhi Xuan replied. He held out the still-warm piece of roasted meat to Mei Hua. "Eat it. Slowly. It is still hot."

  Mei Hua took the meat with her two small hands. The essence-rich Azure King Beast meat felt warm and slightly greasy. The aroma of the Five-Colored Root immediately filled her sense of smell. She bit it slowly. Her eyes, clear and innocent, widened in surprise.

  "Lulu! This is so delicious!" Mei Hua exclaimed, talking to her cloth doll. She chewed with full enjoyment.

  The dense and essence-rich meat, combined with the sweet-spicy taste of the Five-Colored Root, was a burst of flavor far superior to the mortal fire flower candy she had ever tasted.

  Zhi Xuan watched, his sapphire eyes radiating a cold tranquility. He knew that although Azure King Beast meat was very nutritious, Mei Hua's mortal body could not fully absorb the coarse essence. But the pure nutrients would still strengthen her physical foundation.

  He took a long breath. He took the second piece of meat. Ruo Xianxue, who was watching from within his Sea of Consciousness, could no longer contain himself.

  "You are wasting a treasure of essence," Ruo Xianxue hissed, his voice filled with dissatisfaction. "Azure King Beast meat cooked with Soul Fire! That is a rare cultivator meal! And you are giving it to—to a mortal girl who cannot even absorb five percent of its essence!"

  Zhi Xuan ignored the taunt. He held out the second piece of roasted meat to Mei Hua, who welcomed it with a crisp laugh.

  "I have enough treasure to waste, red stone," Zhi Xuan replied flatly in his mind. "She is not wasting. She is eating the foundation that will protect her on the path ahead. Besides, there is still enough meat left for me to refine in the cauldron."

  Ruo Xianxue fell silent again, this time due to Zhi Xuan's undeniable cold logic. For Zhi Xuan, Mei Hua's physical nutrition was an investment, just as important as stabilizing his own Divine Wheel.

  Zhi Xuan began to cut the remaining meat he had hammered with the Divine Cauldron, this time cutting it into small pieces. He divided the remaining meat into two piles: one small pile for Mei Hua, and one large pile that he would use for cultivation.

  Zhi Xuan handed the last small pile of roasted meat to Mei Hua, who now leaned against Lulu, her small face filled with pure satisfaction. Xiao Die, the Heavenly Moth, hovered above her head, as if waiting for the remnants of essence that might escape from Mei Hua's food.

  "Mei Hua, do not eat too quickly," Zhi Xuan said, his voice gentle but containing caution. "This meat has very strong energy. You must let your stomach digest properly."

  Mei Hua nodded obediently, chewing slowly with her eyes still fixed on the morning sky.

  Zhi Xuan turned, his focus shifting to the remaining raw meat pile—the much larger pile. This was his true focus. Azure King Beast meat, although it had lost its wild essence, was still a valuable resource. However, Zhi Xuan would not consume it raw.

  "I will use this to reach Zenith," Zhi Xuan said in his mind. The Thousand Heavens Sect Selection was still a matter of time. He briefly stared at the jade essence pool and toward the morning sky. "This path, I will tread."

  Zhi Xuan let the remnants of the Azure Holy Flame extinguish on their own. He cleaned up the fire pit he had made with agile movements, removing all traces of their presence—a basic principle of self-preservation in the wilderness. The large pile of raw meat was now before him, roughly cut by the Heaven-grade Artifact that had just been repurposed as a meat hammer.

  Zhi Xuan closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a long, cold breath. Eclipse Peak was locked. His foundation was solid. Now, he needed an explosive momentum, supported by resources, to propel him to the Zenith Phase—the peak of Blood Transformation, a realm that would make him equal to, or even surpass, the top geniuses he would meet at the Selection.

  He stretched out his hand. This time, the Heavenly Trifold Reincarnation Cauldron emerged from the jade-gold bead in his hair with fitting majesty—a dark bronze artifact, adorned with faintly whizzing Trifold Reincarnation patterns.

  "Your true task begins now," Zhi Xuan whispered, his hoarse voice filled with cold authority. The cauldron spun in his hand, enlarging to its proper size.