Chapter 1010: Specialties of the Buddhist Kingdom

"Come to think of it, that is indeed feasible." Yun Zhi nodded slowly after a moment of earnest contemplation.

"Right?" Seeing his Eldest Senior Sister endorse his idea, Lu Yang grew increasingly animated as he spoke. "In the past, we only knew how to use the physical bodies of prisoners for forging artifacts and their souls as artifact spirits. But over the last few years, the Prisoner Peak has grown more overcrowded by the day. Our sect already possesses an abundance of magical treasures, so we don't have much immediate need for weapon-smithing."

"It works out perfectly. We can make use of those prisoners in Prisoner Peak who still have their physical bodies intact, and refine their blood into medicinal pills."

"Besides, they are all in the Body Integration and Tribulation Transmutation stages, possessing immense self-healing capabilities. A few breaths of spiritual qi, and whatever blood they shed will naturally replenish itself."

One of the primary revenue streams for the Dao Seeking Sect was alchemy, yet even they could not mass-produce pills intended for Body Integration stage cultivators. Such creations were left entirely to the Seventh Elder and his handful of disciples.

Now, the situation was ideal. Refining the Heart-Extinguishing Pill required no cauldrons at all; it was simply a matter of feeding them medicine and drawing their blood—an incredibly convenient arrangement.

Depending on the degree of dilution, everyone from supreme Body Integration sovereigns down to ordinary commoners could make use of it.

"There is one more matter. While Sovereign Meng was searching for traces of the Heartless Sect within the Buddhist Kingdom, he encountered Fairy Gray."

"Ah?" Lu Yang was taken aback. He had heard that Sovereign Meng engaged in battle with an immortal in the Buddhist Kingdom, but he had assumed the opponent was either the Mid-Heaven Emperor of the Great Yu Dynasty or the Arbiter of Destiny. To think it was actually Gray Doudou.

"Is he still alive then?" Gray Doudou's combat prowess was beyond question. Even if the four ancient immortals joined forces, they might not necessarily gain the upper hand, and a duel against her meant a brush with life and death. One only had to look at Immortal Ying Tian, who was forced to abandon his physical body just to escape with his life. The prolonged absence of Immortal Qilin and Immortal Nine Layers was likely because they, too, were hiding from Gray Doudou.

"He lives. From Sovereign Meng's account, it appears Fairy Gray deliberately spared him."

Yun Zhi recounted the details of the battle between Sovereign Meng and Gray Doudou, directing her words primarily toward the Immortal Fairy, while Lu Yang merely listened in from the sidelines.

The Immortal Fairy materialized from behind Lu Yang, crossing her arms and nodding. "For those who have seen her to forget her very existence... This immortal has never encountered any being possessing such a trait. It does not sound like any sort of divine ability or magical spell; it must be a sign that she is approaching 'Transcendence'."

"It seems her path is the correct one. To achieve Transcendence, one must sever all karmic ties and erase one's presence from existence."

"The fact that she fabricated an identity to deceive that man named Meng suggests that 'forging an identity' prevents one from generating karma with others?"

This was something even the Immortal Fairy had been unaware of. The realm Gray Doudou occupied was one that no immortal from antiquity to the present had ever attained. This method of evading karma was likely something Gray Doudou had devised entirely on her own.

"In that case, I shall head over to the Seventh Elder first to discuss the specific method for refining the Heart-Extinguishing Pill."

Watching the silhouette of his Eldest Senior Sister recede into the distance carrying three spatial cages, Lu Yang knit a single brow.

"Strange. I keep feeling as though I have forgotten something."

It made no sense. They had found Tang Chuanwu and captured the Vice Sect Master of the Heartless Sect; this journey to the Buddhist Kingdom had been an absolute success.

"Second-in-Command, you're back from the Buddhist Kingdom?" Having heard of Lu Yang's return, Yun Mengmeng came rushing over immediately.

Lu Yang cursed inwardly as realization finally struck. He had forgotten to bring back any local specialties from the Buddhist Kingdom!

Then again, it seemed the Buddhist Kingdom truly lacked anything worth bringing back.

Gruel?

"Where are the specialties?" Yun Mengmeng asked, rubbing her small hands together with excitement.

Cold sweat broke out across Lu Yang's brow as he tried to find a tactful way to phrase it. "Well, Sister Mengmeng, I originally intended to bring you back some local delicacies, but an unexpected turn of events occurred along the way..."

The Immortal Fairy, ever understanding, stepped forward to cover for Lu Yang. "Of course there are specialties, though it is not a tangible object. Rather, it is a unique culinary technique native to the Buddhist Kingdom—gruel."

"Little Yangzi specifically requested that this immortal learn this cooking method, so that I might display my skills for you, Third-in-Command."

"Fairy, I..."

"Little Yangzi, say no more. This immortal understands your concerns. Rest assured, are you not well aware of my learning capacity? I guarantee the gruel I prepare will possess its authentic, original flavor."

"Second-in-Command, is that true?" Hearing that both the Chief and the Second-in-Command were looking out for her so considerately, Yun Mengmeng gazed at Lu Yang with shining eyes.

Faced with Yun Mengmeng's innocent gaze, Lu Yang could not bring himself to deny it, and could only nod in agreement.

At this moment, regardless of how unpalatable the gruel of the Buddhist Kingdom might be, Lu Yang genuinely hoped the Fairy's creation would taste authentic.

May the World-Honored One protect me... No, wait, may Eldest Senior Sister protect me.

Heavenly Gate Peak housed a kitchen that the Immortal Fairy had used during the ancient era, and Eldest Senior Sister had even stocked it with a vast array of ingredients—a deeply thoughtful gesture.

The Immortal Fairy instructed Lu Yang and Yun Mengmeng to wait outside as she strode into the kitchen with high spirits, ready to unleash her grand talents.

Her soul power was formidable enough to interact with physical objects.

"Second-in-Command, what did you all do in the Buddhist Kingdom?" Growing bored while waiting for the Immortal Fairy to finish cooking, Yun Mengmeng took the initiative to inquire.

Lu Yang replied with an earnest expression, "On the surface, my journey to the Buddhist Kingdom appeared to be for leisure, but in truth, I had received intelligence regarding the Heartless Sect's movements there. Using that as a cover, I conducted a comprehensive and meticulous investigation throughout the realm..."

Yun Mengmeng listened with rapt attention, completely unaware that the Second-in-Command's excursion to the Buddhist Kingdom had involved so much foresight. Upon hearing of his brilliant and masterful calculations, she occasionally let out exclamations of "How incredible!"

"Come, come, come! This immortal's specially crafted gruel has arrived." The Immortal Fairy materialized, using her mind to float two plates of gruel out of the kitchen.

"How fragrant!" Yun Mengmeng caught a scent and sniffed. She had been in the mortal world for over three years and had sampled many delicacies, yet none possessed an aroma as enticing as the gruel prepared by the Chief.

"Naturally. This was made by this immortal herself; even Ying Tian and the others used to praise my culinary arts."

"Little Yangzi, you eat as well." The Immortal Fairy handed the other plate of gruel to Lu Yang.

She had always been fair and impartial in her dealings. Since she had prepared a portion for Yun Mengmeng, she could not leave the Second-in-Command wanting.

Lu Yang's body shuddered. How is there a portion for me too?

An internal battle raged within Lu Yang's mind. Not daring to eat it immediately, he stole a glance toward Yun Mengmeng beside him.

With a smile, Yun Mengmeng took a spoonful of the gruel, letting out a highly satisfied sound before consuming it spoon after spoon.

Lu Yang was utterly astonished. Could it be that the Immortal Fairy had exceeded her usual standards this time, and it truly tasted magnificent?

Finally steeling his resolve, he took a spoonful of the gruel. Instantly, flavors of sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty rushed to his senses, leaving his mind in a complete daze.

With a loud thud, Lu Yang's head slammed onto the table. He caught sight of Yun Mengmeng beside him, who appeared thoroughly intoxicated, swaying as she stood up and giggling while pointing at him.

"My, why are there three Second-in-Commands?"

Sister Mengmeng, so it turns out you were poisoned. You should have said so earlier; had you said so, I wouldn't have eaten it...

An indeterminate amount of time passed before Lu Yang woke from his stupor, his mind hazy and throbbing with a severe ache. "What just happened?"

The Immortal Fairy offered her kind concern to her trusted minister. "Little Yangzi, you were simply too exhausted from your journey to the Buddhist Kingdom. You fell asleep right in the middle of your meal."

"Oh, then I shall continue eating..."

...

"What just happened?"

"Little Yangzi, you were simply too exhausted from your journey to the Buddhist Kingdom. You fell asleep right in the middle of your meal."

"Oh, then I shall continue eating..."