Gourmet food—an ultimate pleasure in its own right.
A single bite could strengthen one's physical body. That made it all the more an unparalleled enjoyment. Now, within the Yellow Cauldron, the divine cauldron for body refinement in Yi Tianxing's body, a figure identical to him stood upright. Yet, its temperament was distinctly ethereal—graceful and transcendent, as though a banished immortal had descended to the mortal world. A faint, elegant aura surrounded the figure, enhancing its otherworldly air.
It was not just a change in aura; the energy it emanated rivaled that of any top-tier body refinement technique. As the Gourmet Cells devoured the essence of the food at an astonishing pace, they didn't merely draw in vast amounts of heaven and earth energy. They also extracted immense quantities of Heavenly Gang Force and Clear Qi of the Nine Heavens from the void to temper the body, instinctively circulating the supreme body cultivation technique, the Heavenly Gang Immortal Physique (天罡仙灵体).
The unmatched bliss brought by the gourmet feast drove Yi Tianxing's body cultivation to rise rapidly.
The culinary skills of a six-star Chef Immortal were truly awe-inspiring.
A bowl of octopus soup had been pushed to the peak of savory delight—rich yet not cloying, fatty yet not greasy. The pieces of octopus were chewy at first but melted in the mouth soon after. Each bite left one savoring endlessly; even the taste buds seemed to burst into euphoric cheers.
A sensation of overwhelming joy surged within.
It was like a carefree octopus swimming through the seas.
Other dishes combined ingredients from both the Yin and Yang realms in perfect harmony. Their flavor and texture elevated them to an even more transcendent level.
Throughout the meal, his physical strength continued to rise without pause.
By the end of the feast, after every dish had been consumed, Yi Tianxing's bodily strength soared to sixteen million catties.
"Delicious. Truly a peak enjoyment," Yi Tianxing exclaimed with deep satisfaction. "That was a satisfying meal."
Although he remained at Body Refinement Stage Four – Yellow Cauldron: First Ring, this meal had pushed his cultivation significantly forward. He was now just one step away from reaching the Second Ring. Perhaps just a few more such meals would naturally trigger the breakthrough.
"Incredible. To bring cooking to this level... it borders on Dao. This is by far the best meal I've ever had. I nearly swallowed my own tongue," the Decomposer praised.
"Ah! Why did I only bring my paper clone? If I had come in person, I wouldn't have missed this divine meal. Missing out on food like this should be a crime," the Paper Craftsman muttered, swallowing his saliva as he stared hungrily.
He could speak, walk, and fight in this paper body—but he couldn't eat. Paper constructs couldn't digest, and though he could chew, he couldn't savor the taste. Eating like that was utterly meaningless.
So, while Yi Tianxing and the Decomposer indulged themselves, the Paper Craftsman merely moved his chopsticks a few times before giving up. He could only sit there, helplessly watching.
Naturally, Yi Tianxing ate the most.
He moved his chopsticks like the wind, devouring each dish cleanly with nothing left behind. He nearly licked the plates.
Of course, such a divine feast came at a steep price: a massive sum of Eternal Coins.
The Yellow Springs Inn accepted Eternal Coins, and even circulated them internally. They seemed to have spread here from some unknown realm.
After the meal, the three each took a superior room in the inn.
The rooms of the Yellow Springs Inn were exceptional—not only fully furnished but each infused with spirit-gathering formations that drastically boosted cultivation speed and allowed for even greater absorption of Nether Yin Qi.
Time passed silently.
Before they knew it, midnight had arrived.
Above them, the Blood Moon shone brighter, its crimson light bathing the world in radiance. For Yin realm cultivators, the moonlight was an immense boon, nourishing their bodies and tempering their souls.
At this moment, Yi Tianxing stepped out of his room and headed straight for the central plaza of the Yellow Springs Inn.
The plaza bustled with life. Numerous Yin realm cultivators sat cross-legged on the ground, their stalls laid out before them. Deals were being struck left and right. One could even see Artifact Forgers wielding flames of chilling Yin energy to temper rare materials into divine artifacts, and Talisman Masters casually setting up tables to write talismans on the spot.
Yi Tianxing didn't find any of this surprising.
He had attended ghost markets and black markets. He had seen it all—this was nothing out of the ordinary.
He scanned the area, then settled in an open space. He laid down a cushion and sat cross-legged. Beside him, he planted a tall banner bearing a single word:
SYNTHESIS!!
Then, he sat silently, unmoving.
The underworld was full of incredible treasures, many of which didn't exist in the world of the living.
Even the proprietress of the Yellow Springs Inn, Meng Qi, appeared in the plaza, naturally claiming the best spot. She had set up a massive cauldron, stirring its contents with a large ladle. The aroma wafting out of it was utterly intoxicating, igniting desire in the hearts of all nearby.
"Fellow Daoist, smells good, doesn't it? You want to try a bowl, right?" said a figure sitting nearby. "Let me tell you, no one who's ever stayed at this inn doesn't want a taste. The soup the proprietress brews is called Meng Po Soup. It's a delicacy long dreamed of by many. But it's not for sale—only available via barter with rare treasures. If you don't have what it takes, you'll just have to sit here and drool."
"Oh? I've heard of Meng Po Soup. Isn't that what ghosts drink before reincarnation, to forget their past lives? Could it be this soup also erases memory? If so, who'd dare drink it?" Yi Tianxing asked with interest.
The speaker turned out to be a zombie in a Daoist robe, his appearance rather bizarre. In front of him lay several talismans.
"That's the Reincarnation Meng Po Soup, also known as Water of Forgetfulness. It washes away all emotion and memory before rebirth. You can't reincarnate without drinking it. But the proprietress's version is different—it's called the Seven Emotions Water. It purifies the soul, tempers the spirit, even clears away inner demons. It brings miraculous insights. It's a rare elixir—akin to a divine treasure," the zombie said with a chuckle.
Yi Tianxing was intrigued.
He learned that Meng Po Soup came in many variants. The original—Water of Forgetfulness—was brewed by the Meng family's ancestor, Lady Meng Po, and used to guide countless souls through reincarnation, accumulating vast merit.
Every member of the Meng family could create their own variant. Some brewed Six Desires Water, others brewed Five Elements Soup—each unique and offering different effects.
The Meng family was clearly mysterious and powerful. In the Yin realm, they were one of the most untouchable clans. The Yellow Springs Inn's neutral status owed much to their influence.
"I'm selling Zombie Suppression Talismans," said the zombie.
"Zombie Suppression Talismans?" Yi Tianxing nearly choked.
He stared at the zombie, completely baffled.
A zombie selling zombie suppression talismans—what kind of cosmic joke was this?
"Brother, you're a zombie, and you're selling talismans to suppress zombies? Who would dare buy those? Are they even effective?" Yi Tianxing asked, puzzled.
"Of course they work! They're heirlooms. I was a Daoist priest in life. The suppression talismans I make are top-tier. They work on zombies—absolutely," the zombie said, patting his chest confidently.
Then he looked at Yi Tianxing and asked, "So... what does this 'synthesis' of yours mean?"
Clearly, he was curious. Yi Tianxing hadn't displayed any goods at all, which made the banner all the more enigmatic.
"I perform synthesis of materials, treasures, divine weapons, etc. Anything you bring—if it's suitable—can be merged and upgraded. For example, low-grade talismans can become mid-grade or high-grade talismans. Low-grade pills can become high-grade pills. Even raw materials can be refined during the synthesis," Yi Tianxing replied calmly.
Hiss!!
Surrounding cultivators gasped.
Their gazes toward Yi Tianxing changed dramatically. This wasn't just alchemy or crafting—it was transmutation. Taking common goods and turning them into treasures. The potential profits were astronomical.