“Doctor Xue, could you help me fetch the roasting oven from the storeroom over there?”
“Of course, Senior. I’ll go right away.”
Qin Xue arrived at the warehouse and pulled open the door.
A wave of dust and musty air rushed out, nearly choking her and making her stumble.
Cough, cough… How long has it been since Senior last cleaned this place?
“Let me see, where is the roasting oven…”
Qin Xue searched around the storeroom for a while.
Finally, her gaze settled on a cauldron in the corner, and her expression became somewhat complicated.
She had seen this cauldron before in medical texts and ancient records.
The Blazing Fire Divine Cauldron, passed down by the Medicine King Ancestor, the Blazing Fire Sage—a Saint Grade Upper Tier treasure for alchemy.
Legend had it that using this cauldron could refine Nine-Rank Immortal Medicines that were already lost in the present world.
Could it be that the roasting oven Senior mentioned was…
Suppressing the shock in her heart, Qin Xue tried not to appear like a country bumpkin in front of the senior.
She silently carried the Blazing Fire Divine Cauldron out of the storeroom, gave it a quick wash, and brought it before Ye Qing.
“Good, we can finally start roasting the meat.”
Ye Qing grinned, flicking his index and middle fingers. A blazing fire instantly ignited beneath the divine cauldron.
Qin Xue: “…”
“Samadhi True Fire!”
The flames Ye Qing summoned were actually the Daoist secret technique, Samadhi True Fire!
The Samadhi True Fire, capable of incinerating all demonic beasts and evil spirits, was actually being used to roast meat.
An Ascension Realm Great Power truly did as they pleased.
Under Qin Xue’s astonished gaze, Ye Qing took out several medicinal herbs from his Storage Ring.
Heaven Grade Upper Tier Spirit Medicine, Star Spirit Grass.
King Grade Middle Tier Spirit Medicine, Dragon Blood Ginseng.
King Grade Upper Tier Spirit Medicine, Jade Dew Condensed Fragrance…
All kinds of priceless, rare medicinal herbs that Qin Xue could hardly obtain even one of on ordinary days.
At this moment, Ye Qing was taking them all out and tossing them into a stone mortar.
Watching Ye Qing pound these heavenly treasures into powder as if crushing garlic,
Qin Xue felt as if her heart were bleeding.
Such extravagance!
Such waste!
Precious medicines capable of refining Seven-Rank Immortal Pills were actually being used as seasoning for roasted meat.
If her master saw this, he would surely cough up blood in anger.
After pouring the powdered herbs into the Blazing Fire Divine Cauldron, the entire courtyard instantly filled with a rich medicinal fragrance.
Ye Qing then took out a water pouch and poured clear water into the cauldron.
With one glance, Qin Xue recognized that the water in the pouch was from the Fountain of Youth, located at the world’s highest peak.
It was said that drinking a single mouthful could prolong life and preserve youthful appearance.
Qin Xue was a lady from a noble family, always mindful of propriety in every action.
But ever since stepping into the Ye residence, the number of times she had been shocked into losing her composure exceeded all such instances in her entire life combined.
This absolutely could not be blamed on her being a sheltered woman with limited experience, easily startled.
It was simply that Ye Qing’s actions were too much like those of a prodigal son.
So many precious heavenly treasures, all used as seasoning for roasted meat.
Even the Great Qi Empress did not have such an extravagant approach.
Ye Qing sat before the Blazing Fire Divine Cauldron, patiently waiting.
Only after the Fountain of Youth water had fully blended with the various medicinal herbs did he leisurely place the Savage Tiger meat, giant serpent meat, a complete tiger skeleton, two tiger gallbladders, and one snake gallbladder into the cauldron one by one.
The plump tiger meat sizzled as it roasted, and the serpent meat emitted its unique aroma.
Ye Qing took a deep breath and nodded with a satisfied smile.
“Doctor Xue, how about it? My skills aren’t bad, right?”
Beside him, Qin Xue was utterly dumbfounded.
She could only force an awkward smile and nod, “Not bad, not bad…”
She couldn’t help but ponder inwardly.
With so many rare treasures and such a supreme alchemy cauldron…
Forget about this fine meat—even if you threw in a shoe insole, you could create a peerless delicacy.
Ye Qing sipped his wine while patiently flipping the meat, thoroughly enjoying the roasting process.
Just as the meat in the cauldron had reached a perfect crisp outside and tender inside, he was about to taste it.
Suddenly, a cry echoed from mid-air.
A bird flew into the estate from outside.
Qin Xue glanced up, then lost interest.
The bird was quite large, only slightly smaller than an eagle.
But its appearance… was truly unflattering.
Its feathers were half-red, half-white, messy and disheveled, giving it a grimy look.
Its eyes were murky and dull, lacking the sharpness of an eagle’s gaze.
While not exactly repulsive, it was undoubtedly an outright ugly bird.
Qin Xue assumed it was just an ordinary bird drawn in by the aroma of the meat, so she paid it no mind.
However, the ugly bird flew above them and dove straight down.
It landed steadily on Ye Qing’s shoulder as if very familiar with him.
“Xiao Bai, craving again?”
Ye Qing stroked the ugly bird’s feathers and chuckled, “Your nose really is sharper than a dog’s.”
Qin Xue was stunned and cautiously asked, “Senior, you… know each other?”
“We do.”
Ye Qing smiled faintly, “Doctor Xue, do you know that the Great Qi Empire has a Nation-Protecting Divine Phoenix?”
“Of course I know.”
Qin Xue replied without hesitation, “The Nation-Protecting Divine Phoenix of the Great Qi Dynasty is revered as the Fire Phoenix King, the sovereign of all birds.”
“I’ve heard its cultivation has reached the Ascension Realm. Not only is it immensely powerful, but its status is also equal to that of the Great Qi monarch.”
Ye Qing smiled faintly, “Correct. Doctor Xue is indeed knowledgeable.”
“However, there’s one thing you likely don’t know.”
“Xiao Bai is the offspring of that divine phoenix.”
“What?!”
Qin Xue’s eyes widened in disbelief, “This bird… is the Fire Phoenix King’s offspring?”
“This is a lesser-known trait of their kind. They all look quite ugly during their juvenile stage.”
“But upon reaching maturity, they undergo their first nirvana, reborn from flames, and transform into the graceful and magnificent Nine Heavens Fire Phoenix.”
Ye Qing showed no disdain for Xiao Bai’s ugliness, instead affectionately stroking its small head.
“This is also a genetic trait embedded in their bloodline to protect themselves.”
“Because of their ugly appearance, most people don’t recognize Xiao Bai, allowing it to grow up carefree without attracting the covetous eyes of predators.”
Qin Xue stood by, utterly dumbfounded.
She had indeed heard before that the Great Qi Dynasty’s Nation-Protecting Divine Phoenix had deep connections with Ye Qing’s ancestors.
As the offspring of the Nation-Protecting Divine Phoenix, Xiao Bai’s status was naturally extraordinary.
Yet before Ye Qing, it was as docile and obedient as a pet.
This further revealed just how profound and unfathomable Ye Qing truly was.
“Chirp chirp!”
Xiao Bai flapped its wings excitedly, eyeing the fresh meat in the cauldron.
“Xiao Bai, don’t rush. It’s still missing the final seasoning.”
Ye Qing smiled slightly, retrieving another gourd from his Storage Ring and pouring some into the cauldron.
The aroma of wine, roasted meat, and Samadhi True Fire collided, releasing an enticing fragrance that tantalized the taste buds.
With the roasting complete, Ye Qing first cut a piece of tiger meat for Xiao Bai.
Then he sliced a piece of snake meat for himself, placing it in his mouth to chew slowly.
“Mmm, delicious!”
“The meat of a Refining Void Realm Great Demon truly is the most tender!”
Seeing the man and the bird eating so heartily, Qin Xue couldn’t help but swallow her saliva.
Ye Qing cut off a piece of meat and said with a light smile, “Doctor Xue, if you don’t mind, would you like to join us?”
“Thank you, Senior, but I’ll pass…”
Just as Qin Xue was about to politely decline, her stomach inconveniently rumbled.
Her delicate face flushed slightly as her body honestly accepted the meat Ye Qing handed over, taking a small bite.
“It’s delicious…”
“The aroma of herbs, the fragrance of meat, the scent of fire, and a faint hint of wine—truly exceptional!”
Qin Xue discovered that after just one small bite, the Spiritual Power within her body had increased significantly.
Moreover, her cultivation, which had stagnated for years, began to slowly improve.
But then, Qin Xue was no longer surprised.
After all, this was the essence of so many rare treasures gathered together.
Even when made into roasted meat, it was undoubtedly a great opportunity.
At that moment, Ye Ling’er happened to return home from school and entered from outside.
Smelling the aroma of meat in the courtyard, she couldn’t help but swallow her saliva.
“Father has made meat again…”