Chapter 69 The Distribution of Spoils Meeting, This Beast King's Heart's Blood... Hot Pot?

"Sizzle—" That was the wonderful sound of scorching hot oil poured over dried chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, accompanied by an incredibly domineering, spicy, and savory aroma that instantly overpowered the lingering smoke and stench of blood on the battlefield.

In the central plaza of the Third Fortress, bonfires were burning brightly.

The strategic meeting table, originally used for discussing critical military affairs, had been pushed together, and was now piled high with top-quality Materials carved from the recently deceased Demonic Beasts.

In the very center, a massive black tripod with a diameter of two meters was set up.

This tripod was named the "Black Iron Demon-Suppressing Tripod," a defensive Spiritual Artifact that Lei Heng treasured like his own life; usually, he wouldn't even let anyone touch it.

But now, it was bubbling and steaming, with a bright red, enticing soup base churning inside.

"Turn up the heat! Little Fatty, did you not eat? Fan the flames!" Jiang Chen, holding a pair of long chopsticks made from the leg bone of some high-level Demonic Beast, stood by the tripod, swallowing his saliva while issuing orders.

Little Fatty Chen was squatting on the ground, drenched in sweat, holding two banana-leaf fans, desperately fanning the Spiritual Charcoal beneath the tripod.

"Brother Chen... This is the Beast Emperor's heart blood! Are you really just... just pouring it in to boil?"

Little Fatty Chen watched the jade bottle in Jiang Chen's hand, which was dripping golden-red liquid, and his heart was bleeding.

That was the essence of the Earth-Shaking Demonic Ape! Blood at the Half-step Grandmaster level!

In the outside world, a single drop could make Martial Artists in the Organ Refining Realm fight to the death, and it could even be used to refine the legendary "Nine-Turn Golden Core."

But now?

"Nonsense." Jiang Chen rolled his eyes righteously. "With such good stuff, if you don't eat it while it's hot, are you going to save it for the New Year? Besides, this thing gets fishy when it's cold, so you have to use strong spice to mask it."

After saying this, he flicked his wrist.

Splash!

A whole bottle of golden-red heart blood was poured into the hot pot like soy sauce.

Boom!

The originally boiling soup base instantly erupted with brilliant golden light, and a massive energy fluctuation surged into the sky, even forming a small vortex of Spiritual Qi above the tripod.

The fragrance was so intoxicating it could make one's Soul Emergence.

The thousands of soldiers watching, including Lei Heng, all swallowed their saliva in unison.

"Gulp."

This sound was exceptionally loud in the silent night.

"A waste of heaven's gifts... truly a waste of heaven's gifts..." Lei Heng clutched his chest, heartbroken. "That's enough resources to create ten Grandmasters... and he's using it to swish mutton?"

"Commander, please stop talking." The adjutant next to him wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth. "It does... smell really good."

[Act II: System's Gourmet Review]

Jiang Chen watched the golden soup churning in the pot, and the System's notification box popped up in his mind.

【Ding! Detected ultra-high energy ingredient: Demonic Ape heart blood (S-Rank).】

【Energy assessment: Extremely violent. Consumption by ordinary people carries the risk of explosion.】

【Gourmet suggestion: That applies to others. For the host, it is recommended to pair with cilantro, minced garlic, and oyster sauce for a better taste.】

【Additional effects: Significantly strengthens internal organ durability, treats kidney deficiency (crossed out), and replenishes Yang Qi.】

"See that? Even the System says to add cilantro." Jiang Chen nodded with satisfaction, picked up a slice of Demonic Ape tenderloin as thin as a cicada's wing, and swished it in the boiling golden soup for three seconds.

"Seven ups and eight downs, the heat is just right."

He popped the meat into his mouth.

It melted in his mouth, and a warm current instantly exploded, flowing down his throat into his limbs and bones. His body, which had been somewhat empty due to overexertion, felt as if it had been fully charged, so comfortable it made one want to moan.

"Refreshing!"

Jiang Chen exhaled a puff of hot air, a look of happiness on his face.

"Come on, come on, don't just watch, eat! It's on me today, eat until you're full!"

Jiang Chen waved his hand generously.

Although everyone was drooling, no one dared to move. That was Beast Emperor flesh and blood; the energy was too terrifying, and if things went wrong, people could really die.

"A bunch of cowards."

Jiang Chen curled his lips and turned his gaze to Su Qingyue, who was sitting nearby looking a bit reserved.

"Rich lady, open up."

Jiang Chen picked up the most tender piece of heart meat, blew on it, and brought it to Su Qingyue's lips.

"Ah? I..." Su Qingyue's face flushed red. Seeing countless eyes around her, she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

"Hurry up, it won't taste good if it gets cold." Jiang Chen urged, his eyes carrying an irresistible dominance. "You expended a lot in that battle earlier, and this thing is good for your phoenix blood."

Su Qingyue felt a warmth in her heart. So he was caring for me...

She shyly opened her cherry lips and bit into the meat.

"Mmph!"

As soon as the meat entered her mouth, Su Qingyue's beautiful eyes widened instantly.

That wasn't just delicious; it was a terrifying torrent of energy! The phoenix blood in her body seemed to be stimulated and instantly boiled over.

Boom!

A phantom of a fiery Phoenix flashed and disappeared behind her.

The Bottleneck that had been stuck at the threshold of the Organ Refining Realm was shattered like paper under the washing of this massive energy.

First level of Organ Refining Realm!

A Breakthrough!

Just from one bite of meat!

"Damn! Miracle medicine!"

Seeing this scene, the eyes of the surrounding soldiers turned green. Who cared about the risk of explosion anymore? They pounced like hungry wolves.

"Leave me a bite! I want to drink the soup!"

"Don't grab! That kidney is mine!"

Even Lei Heng couldn't care about his dignity as a commander; he hugged a large bowl and squeezed in: "Get out of the way for me! This tripod is mine! I want the first bowl of soup!"

The entire plaza instantly became an ocean of joy.

After everyone was full, it was time for the exciting loot-sharing segment.

As the biggest contributor, Jiang Chen naturally took the lion's share.

Apart from the heart blood and meat that had already been eaten, the remaining loot was piled into a small mountain.

"The Demonic Beast core is mine; grinding this thing into powder to make incense has top-notch sleep-aid effects."

Jiang Chen unceremoniously put away the black Demonic Beast core, which was the size of a fist and radiated terrifying pressure.

"The bones will go to the school for weapons, and these fangs... Little Fatty, I'll make you a kitchen knife; it'll chop vegetables fast."

"Thank you, Brother Chen!" Little Fatty Chen hugged the fangs and grinned foolishly.

Finally, Jiang Chen's gaze fell on a huge, complete beast hide that shimmered with a black-gold luster.

It was the fur of the Earth-Shaking Demonic Ape, impervious to blades and spears, resistant to water and fire, and was a top-tier Material for crafting defensive battle armor.

Lei Heng looked at the hide longingly, rubbing his hands together and saying: "Um... Grandmaster Jiang, can this hide be sold to our military? We are willing to pay a high price! This is good stuff that can be made into dozens of sets of Grandmaster-level battle armor!"

Jiang Chen walked over and touched the thick fur.

"It feels a bit hard and prickly."

Jiang Chen frowned, looking disgusted. "But the fur is quite dense; it should be quite moisture-proof if laid on the ground."

"I want to make it into... a rug."

Lei Heng: "???"

The whole crowd: "..."

Using the hide of a Half-step Grandmaster Beast King as a rug? You're too extravagant! Is this something a human would do?

"No, no! That's too wasteful!" Lei Heng jumped up and down in anxiety.

"Then... cut half for me to make a mattress, that's fine, right?" Jiang Chen compromised. "The rest is yours."

Although Lei Heng's heart ached, he had no choice but to agree through tears.

Just like that, Jiang Chen not only ate and drank to his heart's content, but also upgraded his sleeping equipment—【Demonic Ape Genuine Leather Mattress (Shockproof and Moisture-proof Edition)】.

[Act IV: Iliya's Belonging]

Just as everyone was dividing the loot, Iliya, who had been shrinking in the corner, was trembling at this moment.

She looked at the group of humans gorging themselves, looked at the large tripod boiling the flesh and blood of her "Uncle Black," and her heart was filled with fear and sorrow.

"Are they... devils?"

Just then, Jiang Chen walked over holding a bowl of steaming soup.

"Here."

Jiang Chen handed the bowl to her.

Iliya shrank back in fear, her tail fur standing on end: "I... I won't eat! This is Uncle Black's meat! I will never..."

"This is vegetable soup; there's only radish and cabbage in it."

Jiang Chen rolled his eyes. "You don't even have the fortune to eat meat; with your small body, you'd explode after one bite."

Iliya was stunned for a moment, looked down, and sure enough, it was clear soup.

She hesitated, and her stomach growled uncontrollably. Eventually, she took the bowl and started sipping it slowly.

The hot soup went down, dispelling the cold in her body and calming her anxious heart a little.

"Don't be afraid."

Jiang Chen suddenly reached out and rubbed her furry head. "As long as you obediently act as my pillow, no one will stew you. After all... your fur is much softer than this monkey's."

Iliya's body stiffened, and she looked up at Jiang Chen.

In the firelight, the youth's face appeared exceptionally gentle; gone was the violence from the slaughter, replaced by a lazy warmth.

"Am I... a pillow?"

Iliya lowered her head, hiding the complex expression in her eyes.

Perhaps, being a pillow... was better than being dead?

The night was deep.

Jiang Chen lay on the newly made Demonic Ape skin mattress, holding the star dream emperor pillow in his arms, with a nine-tailed fox (human form) lying next to him acting as a hand warmer.

"Comfortable..."

He let out a satisfied sigh.

"This trip to the Northern Territory has been very fruitful. Not only did I level up and make a fortune, but I also got such good equipment."

He glanced at the System panel.

【Main Quest: Go to the Northern Territory (Completed).】

【Next Phase: Return to school in glory.】

【New Quest Preview: The wind and clouds rise again in the Imperial Capital; please be prepared, host, to welcome the worship (and challenges) of the whole school's teachers and students.】

"Forget the worship, just don't disturb my sleep."

Jiang Chen muttered, his eyelids becoming heavier and heavier.

"Going back tomorrow... I wonder if that bed in the Imperial Capital will miss me..."

The sound of snoring gradually began.

Moonlight shone on the fortress walls, drawing a seemingly perfect period to this thrilling Northern Territory battle.

But Jiang Chen did not know that in the distant Imperial Capital, a larger storm targeting him was quietly brewing.

The Wang family, whom he had crippled, and certain forces hidden in the dark, would never let it rest.

Of course, even if he knew, he would probably just roll over and say: "Don't make noise, line up to die."