With New Gains Comes New Threats

Soon, the Fire Realm Feast that had sparked Black Butcher's sudden breakthrough was brought to the table.

"Mm!" Luo Feng took large bites, his eyes lighting up with delight. As a regular patron of the Fire Realm Restaurant, he could immediately tell that today's Fire Realm Feast was different. The large portions of meat refined his divine body and stimulated his soul.

The level of stimulation to the soul was ten times stronger than before.

"Excellent, excellent, excellent," Luo Feng said, repeating the word "excellent" three times. The Fire Realm Restaurant had always suited his taste, but now, with Black Butcher having stepped into the Law Source Realm in his culinary arts, Luo Feng found himself even more captivated by the Fire Realm Feast.

It was simply sublime!

This transformed Fire Realm Feast was the finest delicacy Luo Feng had ever tasted in Hu Yang City.

"This flavor..." Shang Tianyan, who was also tasting the dish, felt a surge of excitement. "I've lived in Hu Yang City for so long, and Black Butcher's culinary skills are undoubtedly the best in the city."

There were indeed several Eternal True Gods in Hu Yang City who were passionate about cooking, but Black Butcher was the only one who had stepped into the Eternal True God realm through the art of cooking.

Moreover, Black Butcher was a practitioner of the Law Path. Having fully grasped the essence of the Law Source, his culinary skills naturally became even more extraordinary.

"This Fire Realm Feast is so beneficial to cultivation," Luo Feng remarked, sensing that the effects of the transformed Fire Realm Feast were stronger than many auxiliary cultivation items.

"Luo He, why not take this opportunity to explore the mysteries of artifact crafting?" Shang Tianyan suggested.

"Good idea. I do have some areas where I'm still confused," Luo Feng replied, continuing to eat and drink while pondering the various challenges of the three phases of body refinement in the Chaos Power Diagram.

After over twenty epochs of cultivation, Luo Feng had accumulated significant experience.

As he thought, Luo Feng began discussing with Shang Tianyan. Stimulated by the delicious food, Luo Feng felt his comprehension improve. A few words from Shang Tianyan were enough to help him fully understand some of his earlier confusions.

...

After Black Butcher comprehended the Law Source, his small universe back home began to expand.

"With Luo He God here, it's safest for me to undergo my divine body transformation at the Fire Realm Restaurant," Black Butcher thought, restraining his excitement as he settled down to meditate in a small building, patiently waiting for his small universe to complete its expansion.

Back in his homeland's original universe region, the flow of time was 10,081 times faster than on the Origin Continent.

So, within the time it took to chat and drink, the transformation of Black Butcher's small universe was complete! His True God's Heart had fully evolved, and his entire divine body was ascending to a higher level.

Divine power continuously flowed from his distant homeland, through his True God's Heart, and into his entire body.

"I've finally broken through to the Eternal True God realm," Black Butcher's heart surged with emotion. He had waited so long for this day! In Hu Yang City, he had always greeted guests with a smile.

He had also endured the oppression of dark forces with a smile.

Finally, he had broken through! He had officially joined the ranks of the powerful in Hu Yang City!

"Even with this breakthrough, I'm still a newly ascended Eternal True God. I'll have to continue being cautious in Hu Yang City. For me, the most important thing is to maintain my relationship with Luo He God," Black Butcher understood this well.

He immediately left the small building and headed straight for where Luo Feng and Shang Tianyan were.

Mo Yu Qing Yan didn't stop Black Butcher, allowing the restaurant owner to enter.

"Black Butcher, congratulations," Luo Feng said with a smile as he looked at Black Butcher.

"I owe it all to you, God," Black Butcher said respectfully, bowing deeply. "If it weren't for your protection, how could I have accumulated such resources over these past twenty-plus epochs? How could I have achieved this breakthrough? I don't even know how to repay such a great favor."

Luo Feng chuckled, "From now on, when I come to your restaurant, just give me a discount. Now that your culinary skills are the best in Hu Yang City, I fear the prices will skyrocket, and I'll feel the pinch every time I eat."

"From now on, whenever the God visits the restaurant, it will always be free," Black Butcher said generously.

Luo Feng looked at Black Butcher and said, "Then it's settled! I won't pay for my meals anymore."

Black Butcher was a bit overwhelmed with excitement and quickly responded, "It's my honor."

"Black Butcher, you're really lucky," Shang Tianyan remarked, looking at Black Butcher with a sigh.

At their level, they wouldn't take advantage of such small perks.

Luo Feng's words represented a stance—this Fire Realm Restaurant was under his protection!

After all, even the strongest Eternal True God in the culinary arts in Hu Yang City would face many challenges. With Luo Feng's protection, Black Butcher, a newly ascended Eternal True God, could truly establish himself in Hu Yang City.

The various hidden powers in Hu Yang City meant that a newly ascended Eternal True God who didn't align with a major force would face many difficulties. Unless, like Sang Shuiyun, they were completely unattached.

"I'll head back and prepare a few more dishes for you," Black Butcher said with a smile, taking his leave.

Inside the small building.

Shang Tianyan asked in surprise, "Luo He, are you planning to protect Black Butcher?"

"His cooking is my favorite in all of Hu Yang City, and his temperament isn't bad either," Luo Feng replied with a smile. "By protecting him, I'm also protecting my favorite food."

"You're too kind-hearted, always willing to help the weak," Shang Tianyan remarked. "In this world, being kind and merciful can sometimes lead to great suffering."

Luo Feng looked at him and said, "My kindness is reserved for the right people."

"By the way, since you're studying key techniques in body refinement, are you interested in learning about artifact crafting?" Shang Tianyan asked. "Weapons, armor, and even mechanical-type treasures—I know a bit about all of them. Although I've taken on many disciples, you're far more talented in this area than any of them."

"Not at the moment," Luo Feng replied. "I'll seek your guidance when I'm interested."

"Anytime, I'm happy to teach you," Shang Tianyan said, eager to share his knowledge.

In terms of artifact crafting inheritance, Luo Feng's master, Sitting Mountain Guest, was a divine king in the crafting lineage, so Luo Feng had access to many crafting techniques. However, they were too obscure to fully grasp on his own. With Shang Tianyan's guidance, Luo Feng could avoid some pitfalls.

The two continued discussing artifact crafting and the situation in Hu Yang City. Once they finished eating, drinking, and talking, they finally parted ways.

"Let's go."

As Luo Feng, Morosa, and Mo Yu Qing Yan left, the entire Fire Realm Restaurant was in a celebratory mood.

"Our master has become an Eternal True God!"

"Master has broken through!"

Black Butcher's many disciples, including Suo Zi, were all ecstatic.

Previously, they had only been disciples of a Void True God! Now, they had suddenly risen in status, becoming disciples of an Eternal True God! Their status in Hu Yang City had been greatly elevated.

Under normal circumstances, how difficult was it to become a disciple of an Eternal True God? The cost was even higher!

They were all from the lower ranks of Hu Yang City and had only come to apprentice under a Void True God. Now, joy had fallen from the heavens, and their master had broken through! Naturally, the disciples were all excited.

"Suo Zi, congratulations! You're really lucky to have become a disciple of an Eternal True God," Suo Yun said. Over these twenty-plus epochs, Suo Yun had grown accustomed to looking down on his brother.

He looked down on his brother, who was content to be a mere chef, considering him cowardly, incompetent, and lacking ambition.

In a place like Hu Yang City, how could one become strong without taking risks and seizing every opportunity? If it weren't for the chance to occasionally encounter Luo He God, Suo Yun wouldn't have bothered to maintain much contact with his brother.

But fate has its own plans!

Suo Zi had now become a disciple of an Eternal True God.

"Our master is incredible. We're just fortunate," Suo Zi said, full of joy.

By this time, Luo Feng, Morosa, and Mo Yu Qing Yan had already left the restaurant in their flying vessel.

...

Standing in the cabin of the flying vessel, Luo Feng looked out at the endless expanse of Hu Yang City, blanketed in snow. The city was beautiful, shrouded in clouds and mist, transformed into a city of ice and snow.

He quite liked this city!

When he first arrived on the Origin Continent, he chose to live in Hu Yang City because he wanted to see more of the world and also to avoid the Chaos Masters and Divine Kings. That's why he chose this border city, Hu Yang City.

"Until I become a Chaos Master, it's better to stay hidden here," Luo Feng knew he was still too weak to confront the Chaos Masters.

"It's time to prepare for the third phase of body refinement," Luo Feng thought.

After his conversation with Shang Tianyan, he felt that he had finally grasped the theory behind the third phase of body refinement in the Chaos Power Diagram.

Anyone who completed the third phase of body refinement could be considered a master in the art of crafting. Luo Feng's rapid progress made Shang Tianyan eager to teach him more about crafting techniques.

"The third phase of body refinement requires materials estimated to be worth around 3.6 million Universe Sand," Luo Feng frowned slightly. "I only have a little over a million Universe Sand on hand, so I'm short by quite a bit."

"I'll have to sell one of my mechanical-type treasures."

Luo Feng considered his options.

Of the four mechanical-type treasures he currently possessed, the Wings of the Dead had the abilities of Chaos Control and Wing Blades, which were still highly useful to Luo Feng. Besides, the Wings of the Dead held significant meaning for him, so selling them was out of the question.

His main combat reliance was his perfect divine body! The Ten Thousand Worlds Escape Order was a mechanical-type treasure that was extremely useful to him.

The River of Life was less important than the Ten Thousand Worlds Escape Order.

The World Sword, which only had the ability to refine chaotic divine power, was of little use to Luo Feng, as his perfect divine power, combined with the Wings of the Dead and the River of Life, could already refine and convert power comparable to chaotic divine power.

"In Hu Yang City, there are three main factions: the City Lord's faction, the Shiguo faction, and the local faction," Luo Feng thought. "Let's see which of them is willing to bid the highest."

"Whoever offers the highest price gets it."

Luo Feng made his decision and immediately sent messages to Mo Li Meng and Zhu You, informing them that he intended to sell the mechanical-type treasure World Sword.

...

The World Sword was not very attractive to Luo Feng.

But for Eternal True Gods with extremely high levels of understanding who had mastered chaotic-level techniques, it was incredibly appealing! Their divine power wasn't as pure as Luo Feng's. Obtaining the World Sword would greatly enhance their strength.

Ying Cang had relied on the World Sword to make his assassination so deadly.

While the City Lord's faction and the local faction were focused on the World Sword, a seemingly ordinary dark red flying vessel arrived in Hu Yang City.

Inside the dark red flying vessel.

Two figures stood in the cabin, watching the city.

"It seems that the Marquis is preparing to take action and seize full control of this city," said a woman with an ice-like body. "That's why he sent Second Brother here to join forces with that Blood Cloud."

"Hu Yang City is under the jurisdiction of Jiu Jiang Marquis," said the burly figure, who stood like an immovable mountain. "Jiu Jiang Marquis may have a great reputation, but compared to the Marquis, he's still a step behind."

The woman with the ice-like body nodded in agreement.

Although both were ancient Chaos Masters, reputation was something built over long epochs of strength. The Marquis they served, Liu Yin Marquis of Shiguo, was indeed more renowned than Jiu Jiang Marquis.

"With us siblings and Blood Cloud working together, we can turn Hu Yang City upside down!" said the burly figure. "But Blood Cloud is too cautious, unwilling to take risks. He's been in Hu Yang City for so long without making any significant gains. When I see him, I'll have to challenge him... If his strength is inferior to mine, he'll have to listen to me."

"That Blood Cloud may be from an older generation, but he's probably no match for you, Second Brother," said the woman with the ice-like body, fully aware of her brother's power.

"We'll find out soon enough," said the burly figure.

The dark red flying vessel moved silently toward its rendezvous with Blood Cloud God.