Chapter 27: Shadow
Chapter 27: Shadow
Gurgle, gurgle...
As Xue Ruyan watched Jiang Tian lift the boiling stone lid with his bare hands, the soup in the pot bubbled violently.
Jiang Tian picked up a stone bowl filled with the sauce he had just prepared, poured it into the pot, and then reached his hand to the bottom.
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The blood in his veins surged, igniting into flames that burned hotter than before.
He cooked on high heat, thickening the sauce.
Just as the liquid reduced to perfection, his fire extinguished on its own, leaving behind only the intoxicating aroma of the dish.
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Not far away, the bird meat was nearly done roasting.
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Jiang Tian turned to Xue Ruyan, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
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"Classmate Xue, please try it and tell me how it tastes. Any suggestions for improvement?"
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He handed her a stone bowl full of rice.
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Xue Ruyan took the warm bowl, staring at the crystal-clear rice grains and the rich aroma wafting from them.
She picked up a bite, placed it into her mouth, and chewed carefully.
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"The texture is noticeably softer… and the sweetness of the rice is so pronounced!"
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She had never eaten rice that tasted this good before.
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Then, she picked up a piece of bird meat, letting the thick sauce drip onto the white rice.
It soaked into the grains, infusing them with color and flavor.
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Taking a small bite, her eyes widened in shock.
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"The Flame Bird tribe's meat… is this delicious?!"
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Even after stewing for so long, the meat was not dry or stringy.
Instead, it was soft, tender, and had a slight elasticity when chewed.
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The sauce was perfectly balanced, neither too salty nor too light.
Instead of overpowering the natural taste of the meat, it enhanced it, making each bite more flavorful.
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And then... the heat hit.
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At first, the spiciness was mild.
But then, it spread—a fiery burn blossomed inside her mouth.
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"This… this is the fire poison!"
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The Flame Bird's flesh contained toxins that could burn the body's meridians, causing severe blisters if eaten raw.
That was why their meat had to be refined into medicinal pills before it could be consumed safely.
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Yet, here she was—eating it freshly cooked, feeling the heat but suffering no harm.
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Jiang Tian's cooking had removed the fire poison.
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"So his talent really can neutralize toxins…"
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Her suspicion was confirmed.
Not only had Jiang Tian's cooking purified the alien flesh, but it had transformed the poison into flavor.
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Her gaze fell onto the skewers next to her.
She grabbed one, inspecting the crispy, golden-brown skin glistening with rendered fat.
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With a gentle blow, she took a bite.
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CRACK.
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A crisp sound filled her ears as the crunchy exterior broke apart, revealing juicy, tender meat underneath.
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Then, the seasoning kicked in—a spicy, salty, smoky explosion.
Each bite was hot and flavorful, yet perfectly balanced.
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Xue Ruyan lost herself in the meal.
She abandoned her usual restraint, eating quickly and hungrily, savoring each bite like it was a treasure.
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Before she even realized it—
The bowl was empty.
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She put down her chopsticks, sighed deeply, and turned to Jiang Tian.
"It's delicious!"
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Boom!
Suddenly—
A violent surge of blood energy erupted from within her.
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Her body trembled as warmth flooded her meridians, stronger than anything she had ever experienced.
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"This is even more intense than last time!"
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The rich energy from Jiang Tian's food was stimulating her entire body, enhancing her physique.
She hurriedly sat cross-legged, closing her eyes to refine the energy.
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For a moment, she panicked—this force was too strong!
But then—
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Jiang Tian's calm voice reached her ears.
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"I'm here. Just focus on your practice."
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She opened her eyes slightly.
Jiang Tian was still eating, stuffing food into his mouth with unbothered ease.
His casual reassurance made her relax instantly.
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She took a deep breath, focused her mind, and surrendered to the flow of energy.
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Meanwhile—
Jiang Tian was devouring his own meal.
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His skin flushed red, steam rose from his body, and his Blood Abyss Furnace Technique activated on its own.
The powerful energy was remodeling his body, strengthening him even further.
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"Burp..."
Jiang Tian let out a satisfied belch as the last of his meal settled.
His blood and energy reserves had expanded again.
His flesh had strengthened.
His power had increased.
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"Now, I should be considered a full-fledged Level 1 Awakener."
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Jiang Tian clenched his fist, testing his enhanced strength.
He glanced at the horizon, eyes shining with excitement.
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"Next… I need to hunt a Level 1 Flame Bird."
"I wonder if their meat tastes better?"
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He was already thinking about his next dish.
While others saw enemies… Jiang Tian saw ingredients.
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Just as he finished cleaning up, his instincts flared—
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Someone was watching them.
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Jiang Tian froze.
He scanned the surroundings but found nothing.
The feeling vanished instantly.
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"Was I imagining things?"
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His gaze darkened.
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"No. That wasn't an illusion."
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His mind flashed to Wu Xianqing.
He had seen him acting strangely before they entered the space-time gate.
Could it be…?
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"Are they planning something?"
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Boom!
A sudden shockwave rippled through the air—
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Xue Ruyan opened her eyes, her aura stronger than before.
Her expression brightened with joy.
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She had awakened.
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But before she could even celebrate—
Jiang Tian appeared right in front of her, his voice deadly serious.
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"Classmate Xue…"
"Do you have some kind of treasure… or a special identity… that would make people want to target you?"