The Name of Eternals

Chapter 156: Entering Spirit

After Ren Qianqian retrieved several large cauldrons to collect the blood, Li Hao summoned his Longxiao Sword. The blade, sharp and formidable, cut into the black bird demon king's body. Li Hao severed its neck, and the precious blood, filled with vital life essence, gushed out. Using his power of control, he directed the blood into the cauldrons, simultaneously removing excess water to concentrate the essence, leaving behind thick, viscous blood. Nine large cauldrons were filled to the brim, which he then sealed with molten iron and set aside.

Next, following Elder Feng's advice, Li Hao extracted the golden feathers from the demon king's back. These feathers, even in death, shimmered with faint golden light. He carefully collected all seven feathers before extracting the demon king's heart.

The heart, imbued with the essence of the Dao, was covered in divine runes that exuded a vast and majestic aura, naturally formed by the forces of heaven and earth. Understanding these runes could reveal the demon king's comprehension of the Dao.

Li Hao placed the half-meter-wide heart on a large white jade tray. Its surface glowed with dark golden runes, still brimming with power, capable of remaining uncorrupted for a century.

Apart from these treasures, the rest of the demon king's body was also valuable. Li Hao planned to share it with the city's warriors. The remaining black feathers, while not suitable for forging divine weapons, could still be made into high-quality weapons useful up to the Heaven realm. The flesh, rich in nutrients, was best consumed after processing to remove the potent demonic energy, although his little white fox, accustomed to fine food, preferred cooked meals.

"Elder Feng will handle the cooking," Li Hao said with a smile, rolling up his sleeves to prepare the demon king for a grand feast. Feng Boping, intrigued, joined in. The idea of cooking a demon king was unheard of, and the city's warriors were in for a treat.

Li Hao wielded the Longxiao Sword, skillfully slicing and dicing the demon king's body. Ren Qianqian assisted, fetching containers and tools. Li Hongzhuang, hearing of the event, arrived to see Li Hao indeed butchering the demon king, with a large iron pot and a woodpile ready for cooking. She was stunned by the extravagance of using such valuable meat for a feast.

"Li Hao, are you really going to cook this demon king?" she asked, bewildered.

Li Hao looked at her, smiling. "What flavor do you prefer, spicy or steamed?"

Li Hongzhuang was speechless. She had guarded the border for years, never imagining she'd one day eat a demon king.

Seeing Ren Qianqian struggling with the preparations, Li Hongzhuang, a straightforward and bold woman, called over the Blood Fiend Army's logistics team. They brought bowls, utensils, and various seasonings. The cooks, astonished by the sight of the demon king being prepared for a meal, eagerly assisted.

The Longxiao Sword, the top of the Ten Famous Swords, was now a chef's knife in Li Hao's hands, efficiently butchering the demon king. He couldn't help but feel a pang of regret; if he could break through his cooking Dao, preparing a Four Absolutes demon king could yield immense experience, potentially thousands of points.

Despite being his first time cooking on such a large scale, Li Hao was meticulous. His cooking Dao, at six segments, demanded that each dish be as exquisite as a single-serving masterpiece. Thus, large-scale cooking was a profound challenge.

Fully immersed, Li Hao realized that ordinary flames couldn't cook the demon king's tough flesh; high temperatures were needed. He used his Zixiao Palm to generate intense heat, transforming it into an Immortal Zixiao Palm, capable of melting Heaven realm demon flesh and severely damaging Three Immortals demons.

During the cooking process, residual wills within the demon king's flesh occasionally surfaced. Li Hao used his mental strength to calm these remnants, turning their ferocity into tranquility. This process revealed to him a deeper level of cooking: it wasn't just about preparing the physical ingredients but also addressing the spiritual essence of the food.

He began to cook not just the flesh but the residual soul fragments of the demon king. These fragments, devoid of conscious thought, were full of violent and bloodthirsty emotions. Li Hao's will gently soothed these fragments, incorporating his gratitude into them, infusing the dishes with his heartfelt emotions.

As he entered this state, notifications appeared before him.

[Cooking experience +2712...]

[Cooking experience +2539...]

[Cooking experience +2934...]

Li Hao had crossed a threshold, entering the spiritual realm of the cooking Dao. His cooking experience continued to grow, but he remained fully engrossed in his task, ignoring the prompts.

Much like his breakthrough in the martial arts Dao, this was a natural, unforced progression. The most precious things in life often come naturally, without being sought.

As the sun set and twilight painted the sky, the city's warriors gathered, drawn by the aroma. Even the astrologers on the city wall, focused on their formations, caught a whiff of the enticing scent.

"What's that smell?" Xia Xianglan asked, sniffing the air, unable to see the source due to the distance and her low cultivation level.

"The young master is cooking the demon king and inviting everyone," a senior astrologer reported, his usually stern face showing surprise.

"Cooking a demon king?" The others were stunned, including the Star Official, who muttered, "The young master is indeed audacious."

Xia Xianglan recalled the refined youth from the courtyard, finding it hard to reconcile his gentle demeanor with such a wild endeavor.

In the city, tables and chairs were set up, and the cooks served a variety of dishes made from the demon king's flesh: stir-fried slices, steamed liver, braised tendons, and more. Li Hao had prepared over fifty dishes, each unique, offering a culinary experience like no other.

Sweating from the effort, Li Hao and Feng Boping joined the feast, diving into the food. No speeches or formalities were needed; all feelings were conveyed through the meal itself. However, Li Hongzhuang spoke a few words of gratitude on Li Hao's behalf before announcing the start of the feast.

As the warriors tasted the food, the flavors and Li Hao's heartfelt gratitude intertwined, creating a profound connection beyond words. Some were moved to tears, their emotions flowing freely.

The sound of clinking cutlery filled the air. Feng Boping, tasting a piece of spicy stir-fry, felt a surge of indescribable emotion, as if an awareness had entered his heart, conveying Li Hao's intense gratitude. This was more than just food.

Li Hao prepared some food boxes for the astrologers on the wall. He enjoyed his meal, savoring the flavors, even though he couldn't absorb the essence like others.

In his spare moments, he checked his panel and saw his cooking Dao had progressed from six to seven segments, smiling in satisfaction. This breakthrough was a natural progression, a heartwarming realization.

The spiritual entry into the cooking Dao also provided insights into other paths like painting. Though more attempts were needed, he now had a clearer direction.

Regardless, he could now continue to accumulate experience points.