190: Exhilarating

"I'm exhausted, hehe..."

Lin Luo's face was slightly pale as his head rested on Erina's lap, looking up at her with a smile. His forehead was soaked with sweat, appearing unusually disheveled, yet those eyes remained scorchingly bright.

Erina bit her lip, her eyes already red. The long-accumulated tears finally fell, pitter-pattering onto his cheek, warm and hot.

Lin Luo raised his hand, his fingertips gently wiping away her tears. "Don't cry, I'm fine, aren't I?" He smiled, slowly pulling out a plume from beneath him.

Instantly, golden light flowed like water, enveloping them both. A single feather was enough to cover them, radiant and magnificent, as if a piece of frozen sunset had been cut out.

"Look," he said in a low, husky voice with a smile, "it's enough to make you a wedding dress."

Erina couldn't smile. She reached out and tugged at the corners of his mouth, as if trying to pinch away his improper grin. "Look at the state you're in... and you're still joking." Her voice choked up, her fingertips trembling slightly, "You simply... you simply don't value your own life at all."

Lin Luo let her pull his face, his hands gently cupping her cheeks. His gaze turned serious, looking through the moist layer of tears into the depths of her violet eyes.

"Because I have the confidence to protect you," he whispered. "This time... it really was just an accident."

After resting for a bit, the traces left by the fierce battle just now had visibly receded. His pale face regained some color, and his breathing steadied.

He patted the warm back of the giant bird beneath him and raised his voice clearly:

"Let's go, Huangyu—to the Sky Vegetable Garden!"

The Radiant Phoenix, named Huangyu, raised its head and let out a clear, long cry. Its wings spread, stirring up a gentle yet magnificent current of air.

In an instant, golden light broke through the clouds, carrying the two of them as it soared towards the higher, more distant heavens.

Skree—!

A golden stream of light tore through the thunderclouds, soaring into the sky!

Above were pure, soft white clouds; the air suddenly became fresh, carrying the unique chill and clarity of the high heavens.

Swoosh!

Huangyu accelerated again, turning into a bolt of golden lightning that dove into the clouds, only to emerge from the other side—

The view suddenly opened up!

"The Sky Vegetable Garden, we've arrived!"

Brilliant sunlight poured down without obstruction, and the vast view was refreshing to the soul. Thick vines snaked through the sea of clouds like giant Dragons, winding and spreading until they reached the horizon. On the other side, a large, lush meadow grew atop the thick clouds, vibrant with greenery.

Lin Luo picked up Erina and leaped lightly from Huangyu's back, hovering above the meadow. Looking closely, it wasn't just clouds covered in grass—there was actual soil beneath, like a piece of land floating at the edge of the clouds.

"We shouldn't fall, right?"

He stepped down cautiously. The grass sank slightly, soft yet firm, steadily bearing the weight of the two of them. Then, he gently set Erina down. After confirming it was safe, Huangyu let out a long cry, dove into the sea of clouds below, and its golden shadow vanished.

His feet felt like they were stepping on a thick, soft sponge; the sensation was strange yet comfortable.

As for why grass grew on the clouds—the Sky Vegetable Garden was located at an altitude of twenty thousand meters, yet it was extremely close to the Fiber Volcano. Volcanic ash spewed upwards and condensed into clouds upon meeting the cold, and grass seeds took root and grew using the abundant minerals in the ash. The ash from the Fiber Volcano was top-tier natural fertilizer.

Crossing a gentle grassy slope and passing through a patch of dew-covered cloud shrubs, the view suddenly widened—

Lin Luo's footsteps suddenly stopped, his pupils dilating slightly, filled with wonder, excitement, and a hint of unbelievable brilliance.

Before him was an incredibly open clearing, and the scene spread out across it was enough to make any chef's heart race.

As far as the eye could see, there were nothing but fruits and vegetables.

Various kinds of vegetables stretched out under the clear sky, radiating vigorous vitality and a pure luster.

Plump radishes were half-embedded in the cloud soil, their skins as smooth as glaze; emerald green cucumber vines snaked along, the cucumbers straight with crystal-clear dewdrops hanging from their tips; corn stalks stood tall with golden tassels; tomatoes were as red as rubies, hanging in clusters; green peppers were vibrantly colored and perfectly shaped... almost every common vegetable in the world could be found here, and every single one was of the highest quality. They grew naturally like this, layer upon layer, spreading boundlessly like a giant carpet woven with the most vivid colors and life, covering the entire cloud-land.

As the wind blew, the fresh scent of vegetables wafted over, carrying the warmth of the sun and the fragrance of the earth.

Lin Luo subconsciously took a deep breath, and the corners of his mouth curled up involuntarily.

"This really is..." he whispered in admiration, his voice suppressed with restrained excitement, "a genuine 'vegetable carpet'."

Erina was also stunned by this magnificent and pure sight. Her violet eyes scanned the abundant 'carpet' before her, and she whispered, "It's like... a miracle garden."

"Whatever, let's eat first!"

Lin Luo rushed forward a few steps and took a deep breath—the scent flooded his nose, making his whole body relax.

This aroma was not at all inferior to grilled steaks or fatty fresh fish, yet it was deeper, richer, and filled with a vibrant green power.

What was even rarer was that it lacked any of the bitterness of raw grass, possessing only the refreshing purity of fresh leaves full of moisture.

"Let's try the radish first."

He leaned down and grabbed the leaves of a radish, and with a little effort, he pulled it out of the soft cloud soil. The radish was snowy white throughout, lustrous like jade, and felt heavy in his hand.

"It's so big and heavy!" Lin Luo weighed it, marveling. "I've never seen fiber and moisture packed this tightly before."

He condensed energy at his fingertips and skillfully peeled off the skin. Juice instantly splattered, drawing crystal-clear arcs in the sunlight. "There's so much moisture!"

Crunch.

He couldn't help but take a big bite, his eyes suddenly lighting up. He turned to Erina: "Try this! It's so succulent, crisp, and sweet, but the flavor is as rich as a well-simmered Oden broth... Is this really a radish?"

Erina took the other piece he handed her and took an elegant bite. Her violet eyes widened slightly, and after chewing carefully for a moment, she said softly, "...The balance between sweetness and richness is perfect. The cloud soil and special lighting have likely allowed it to accumulate extraordinary umami substances."

Lin Luo finished the rest in a few bites and let out a satisfied breath, feeling as refreshed as if he had just finished a stalk of sweet sugarcane. His gaze shifted, landing on a nearby cucumber vine.

He reached out and picked one. The cucumber was straight and smooth, its skin shimmering with tiny bits of light as if countless little spirits were dancing on it.

"Is this really a cucumber?" he muttered, taking another bite.

Crunch—!

An incredibly crisp sound. Lin Luo was stunned. Ordinary cucumbers are often light and simple because of their high water content, but this one... a rich flavor instantly rippled through his mouth, with a moderate natural saltiness. The more he chewed, the clearer the crispness and sweetness became.

"Damn, this is delicious!" he exclaimed muffledly. "What kind of cucumbers was I eating before... wait?"

He suddenly touched his face, the sensation clearly different. "Eh? My skin... why does it feel smoother?"

He looked at Erina in disbelief. "Could it be because of this cucumber?"

Erina had already taken out a handkerchief and was elegantly wiping her fingertips. She glanced at him, the corners of her lips curling slightly. "It's full of moisture and rich in active antioxidants and minerals... It's not surprising it has an instant moisturizing effect."

Lin Luo laughed and excitedly pointed not far away: "Look! Is that a Marshmallow Pumpkin? And over there—Broccoli Trees!"

Erina looked in the direction he pointed and saw strangely shaped broccoli growing like small trees, with thick, milky-white sauce dripping from the branches, emitting the sour and slightly salty aroma of Thousand Island dressing.

"There's also a French Fry Spring over there!" Lin Luo had already run to the other side, using a large, thick leaf to scoop up a handful of golden, crispy 'French fries'.

Steaming hot and fragrant, he tossed them into his mouth, the chewing making a crunching sound.

"So fragrant! I can't stop!"

Erina followed slowly, her gaze sweeping over a field of cabbages. She leaned down and lightly touched a leaf, which felt cool and crisp to the touch.

She picked a leaf and put it in her mouth. A sweet juice erupted along with an extreme crispness, followed by the slow release of an indescribable complex umami.

"...Incredible," she sighed softly, then looked at a nearby green pepper that was as bright as emerald.

She picked a small piece to taste. The spiciness was extremely mild, replaced by a full sweetness and a rich 'green pepper' aroma, with distinct layers.

"The flavor profile of these vegetables is exceptionally high. They are practically perfect dishes on their own, requiring almost no cooking."

Lin Luo came back with a handful of 'French fries' and stuffed a few into her hand, his own mouth full. "Right! This cabbage, this green pepper... they're amazing! It's like someone seasoned them in advance!"

The two stood in the middle of the Sky Vegetable Garden, surrounded by countless top-tier vegetables. Sunlight fell, and the breeze rustled the leaves, weaving together a rich and fresh aroma.

Burp—

A satisfied burp.

Lin Luo patted his stomach, looking at the still-abundant 'vegetable carpet' with lingering desire. "When we leave later, we definitely have to pack a lot of this!"

Before he could even finish—

Gurgle... gurgle!

A clear rumbling suddenly came from his abdomen, followed by a churning sensation like an overturning sea.

"Holy crap, digesting this fast?!" Lin Luo's expression changed slightly as he pressed his hand to his stomach. "I just got full and now...?"

The vegetables of the Sky Vegetable Garden were, needless to say, exquisite in flavor, but their composition of pure minerals, active vitamins, high-quality dietary fiber, and extremely low fat formed a near-perfect nutritional combination.

They were absorbed by the body with alarming efficiency, quietly completing the metabolic cycle without causing almost any digestive burden.

"It's too late!"

Lin Luo made a split-second decision and immediately rushed toward the nearby cloud-slope shrubs, his pace somewhat hurried as he looked around for a private place to take care of business.

Erina watched his hurried back, first slightly stunned, then realizing what was happening. A subtle expression, both understanding and amused, appeared on her face. "Serves you right for eating so much."

A moment later, Lin Luo strolled out from behind the shrubs refreshed, comfortably rubbing his belly with a grin. "Phew, that was thoroughly satisfying!"

He looked around but didn't see Erina. He subconsciously muttered, "She didn't go to take care of business too, did she..."

"Take care of business my foot," a voice came from ahead to the side, sounding a bit annoyed. "Come over here, I think... I've found our true goal for coming here."

"Goal?" Lin Luo laughed as he pushed aside the thick cloud shrubs. "Weren't we just here to have fun?"

Behind the shrubs, Erina was standing with her back to him at the edge of the cloud-land. She leaned forward slightly, focused intently on the view below, her long golden hair gently fluttering in the high-altitude wind.

Hearing Lin Luo's footsteps, she didn't turn around, but simply pointed down into the depths of the swirling cloud rifts, her voice carrying a hint of subtle solemnity:

"Look there—the Sky Vegetable Garden's most precious legendary ingredient, ozone grass."