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nTranslator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

nLegend had it there was an enormous sacred tree that was rooted in the heavens and grew downward, earthward—the Ashvattha.

nThe laws of the natural world formed the soil from which it drew its nutrients, and the souls of all living creatures were the nourishment it needed to bear fruit.

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nThe Ashvattha flowered only once every ninety thousand years, and it bore fruit only once every ninety thousand years.

nThe flesh of the fruit would split wide open, releasing a seed that had the potential to become the next Sun.

nWhen Xu Xiaoshou opened his eyes, he found himself in a world of scorching red lava. It was a massive world with no end in sight, and it was unbearably hot.

nThe sight of lava bubbling furiously at his feet sent shock coursing through his veins.

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nBefore him was a huge, ancient tree hanging upside down with skyward roots and groundward branches.

n“Is that the Ashvattha?”

nXu Xiaoshou reeled back in shock, unable to believe his eyes. He was staring at something that belonged in myths and legends.

nWithin a blink of an eye, the sacred tree before him flowered and bore fruit. The fruit shriveled, and its flesh wrinkled, peeling away to reveal a seed.

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nThen, with a soft explosion, a white sun suddenly appeared, was enveloped by a near-invisible shimmer, then plunged to the earth and right inside Xu Xiaoshou.

n“Ah!”

nWaves of scorching energy flooded his energy reserve, their sheer heat vaporizing the blood in his body. He screamed in agony.

nWhy?

nHow could a mere illusion cause him such pain?

nIt shouldn’t. It hadn’t the last time!

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nHe didn’t have time to think at all before he was seized by a sudden revelation. Xu Xiaoshou’s eyes fell shut. When he opened them and gazed upon the world again, he was greeted with the sight of countless red specks of lights hovering in midair.

n“The fire element?”

nHis fingers curled into tight fists. Could it be true?

nHad his wish been answered?

nHad he acquired Flame Expertise?

nSuddenly, he heard the sound of chanting. It was as if the gods themselves were murmuring Sanskrit scriptures into his ear, except these whispers rumbled like deafening thunder, filling his head.

nXu Xiaoshou tried to parse the chanting into words, only to realize that his mind had gone completely blank. After a moment’s struggle, he gave up.

nOut rushed all thoughts and desires, and suddenly, the voice in his head sounded as clear as day.

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n“…the world maketh the cauldron whilst fortune maketh the craft; from yin and yang, firewood for burning, from all things living, iron for smithing…”

nBoom!

nThose words struck Xu Xiaoshou like a bolt of lightning. He could hear nothing else after that.

nWas the voice suggesting that he treat the world as his cauldron and that everything between this heaven and earth could be cultivated?

nWhat a terrifying thought!

nA burst of light suddenly erupted from the lava, and a magical-looking herb floated before Xu Xiaoshou’s eyes.

nThis was the first time he’d laid eyes on such a herb, yet he instantly knew everything about it.

n“Nona-Revival Mustard. An ancient mythical herb. Can be used to revive the dead and regenerate flesh. Extremely spicy. Masks fishy odors well. Can be taken with meat.”

nXu Xiaoshou was dumbstruck.

nWhat the h*ll was going on?

nA huge black bird flew across the skies, darkening the heavens with its massive shadow. Xu Xiaoshou had never seen such a bird before, yet he instantly knew everything about it.

n“Divine Black Strix. An ancient mythical monster. Infused with divinity. Delicious. Extremely springy.”

nXu Xiaoshou was speechless.

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nWhat the h*ll?

nThe introductory profile to both magical herb and creature had started off fine before going down this strange, descriptive path…

nThe illusory world had appeared so grand and breathtaking. Yet, the sudden appearance of the magical mustard and winged beast had somehow killed the mood.

nIt was then that the Divine Black Strix swooped down on the Nona-Revival Mustard, and Xu Xiaoshou inexplicably reached out his hand…

nHe had no idea why he stuck out his hand. He simply thought that he should…

nBoom!

nInvisible Infernal Heavenly Flames shot down from the heavens as the Divine Black Strix clamped its beak shut around the Nona-Revival Mustard. The flames engulfed the divine beast and instantly turned it into dust. A strange fragrance filled the air, and before he knew it, the illusory world started falling apart.

n“What just happened?” Xu Xiaoshou was utterly bewildered.

nThe last time he entered the illusory realm, a revelation had seized him, granting him some understanding of swordsmanship. This epiphany had clued him into the kind of Passive Skill he’d gotten then. But this time…

nInitially, he’d suspected that his new Passive Skill had something to do with fire, but now he wasn’t so sure.

nThe words “extremely spicy” and “delicious” popped into his head…

nThey were like demons hounding him. He just couldn’t be rid of them.

nHe immediately looked at the Information Bar.

n“Expertise Passive Skill acquired: Cooking Expert!”

nWhat?

nA look of utter confusion appeared on Xu Xiaoshou’s face.

nCooking?

nHis eyes widened in disbelief, and his jaw dropped, nearly dislocating his jaw.

nHe’d been spirited away to a magnificent world of molten lava and treated to the sight of the mythical Ashvattha and the birth of a sun. He’d thought that he had hit the jackpot, that he would be rewarded with the Flame Expertise…

nBut instead…

n…he had acquired culinary skills.

nWhat a fine system this was indeed! It was just absolutely fantastic!

nXu Xiaoshou fell to his knees with a loud thud, then collapsed into a heap on the floor in a daze, his eyes glazed over.

nHe had waited so long to acquire another Passive Skill only to get this in the end. A lousy skill that wasn’t going to do him any good.

n“Hah! Cooking Expert…”

nHold on a minute.

nSomething wasn’t right.

nWhy did the floor feel warm?

nXu Xiaoshou pulled his thoughts back to the present and sat up. The bathtub had been turned over.

nHe surveyed the room and found it in an utter mess. Its two windows were shattered, as if they’d been blown out by a storm.

nWhat was going on?

nHis pupils contracted. He remembered lifting his hand up to summon the sun in his illusion…

nHad he caused a similar explosion in reality too?

nCrack! Crack!

nXu Xiaoshou unleased Sense upon hearing a familiar sound, and that was when he saw the invisible flames surrounding him.

n“What the h*ll!?” he thought. “Did I set the Spiritual Law Division on fire?

nXu Xiaoshou hastily deployed his Breathing Technique and sucked the room clean of fire. He patted his chest and heaved a sigh of relief.

n“Luckily it’s not that big a…”

nCrack! Crack!

nSomething sputtered faintly in the distance. Xu Xiaoshou felt his scalp prickle. His hair stood on end.

nHe clambered to his feet, then looked down and stared at the floorboards.

nWere the first and second floors on fire too?

n“Oh my god!”

nXu Xiaoshou charged downstairs without a second thought.

nHe couldn’t let the place burn.

nNot when it was filled with manuals of spiritual techniques!

nHe wasn’t ready to die!

nSomebody, save him!

n…

nMeanwhile, outside the Spiritual Library Division.

nA man dressed in black was hiding in the bushes.

nZhao Xidong had assigned him the duty of sentry. He was to keep his eyes on the Spiritual Library Division at all times and inform everyone if he caught sight of Xu Xiaoshou’s kidnapper.

nYawn…

nThe law enforcer yawned. Honestly, he didn’t see how the kidnapper could’ve sneaked his way into the Spiritual Library Division, but one could never be too careful.

nHis assignment might seem absurd and pointless, but nevertheless, he continued to keep a lookout for anything amiss around the Spiritual Library Division.

nHe felt a sudden rising heat in the air.

n“What’s going on?”

nHe looked up and stared at the darkening sky. The sun had set. The temperature should be dipping. What was going on?

nHe didn’t have the luxury for leisurely contemplation. The Spiritual Library Division suddenly quaked violently, and the protective barrier around the building lost its cloak of invisibility as it shimmered and rippled angrily.

nBoom!

nAn explosion louder than the one they had just experienced erupted. The sentry’s face turned pale.

nHe watched as two windows on the third level of the Spiritual Library Division shattered. Shards of splintered wood sprayed into the air while a terrifying, scorching heat surged outward and began to flood the area.

nThe law enforcer was dumbstruck. Had a kidnapper really been hiding in the Spiritual Library Division all along?

nWas he trying to blow up the Spiritual Library Division?

nWas he trying to destroy the foundation of the Tiansang Spirit Palace?

nCrack! Crack!

nThe sound of crackling sputtered all around the law enforcer while grass transformed into scorched earth in a blink of an eye. He was seized by a sharp streak of pain. His spiritual senses instantly unfurled, and he was abruptly greeted by the sight of invisible fire burning all around him.

n“There’s been an attack!” he yelled frantically at the top of his voice.

nIt hit him then. This was why Zhao Xidong had been immediately made the leader of their team upon his graduation from the Inner Yard while he was still stuck with sentry duty despite years of service at the Spiritual Law Division.

nZhao Xidong now saw what he’d missed.

nLook!

nZhao Xidong had managed to piece everything together from the little that Xu Xiaoshou had said. He, on the other hand, had had to see the Spiritual Law Division blow up with his very own eyes before finally believing what Zhao Xidong had said.

nFortunately, Zhao Xidong had already gone to seek reinforcements.

nIt was then that the law enforcer saw, to his horror, the protective barrier around the Spiritual Law Division burning as well.

nHe cried out a second time, his voice filled with panic and fear.

n“The Spiritual Library Division’s on fire!”

n“We have to put the fire out!”

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