Once it happens the first time, it will happen again.

Behind Purple Bamboo Peak, green bamboo shaded the area, and Spiritual Qi lingered in the air like mist.

This place was originally a rare spot for quiet cultivation in the Taichu Holy Land. Usually, even birds wouldn't dare to chirp loudly, fearing they might disturb the inner Sect experts in seclusion.

But today, this peaceful place was completely disrupted by a thick, inescapable aroma of meat.

It was a fragrance strong enough to stir the most primal desires in one's heart.

In the open space in front of Snow Listening Tower, a large black pot about half a person's height was set up.

The pot was pitch black, shimmering with a faint, cold light, and complex runes were engraved on its body, with faint glimmers of light flickering across them.

If those old fellows from the Artifact Refining Hall saw this, they would surely beat their chests and stomp their feet, cursing him as a wastrel—this was clearly a High Grade Profound Rank defensive Magic Treasure, the 'Black Water Mysterious Turtle Shield,' which had been forcibly hammered into the shape of a pot, with a ball of crimson flame burning insanely beneath it.

Samadhi True Fire.

This was a true fire that only Cultivators at or above the Golden Core Stage could condense by consuming their Origin. Right now, it was tirelessly licking the bottom of the pot, all just to stew a few chickens.

"Gurgle... gurgle..."

The golden broth rolled in the pot, and every time a bubble burst, it released a thick white mist of Spiritual Qi.

Su Ye held a giant soup spoon—casually carved from thousand-year-old Purple Gold Bamboo—and was slowly and methodically stirring the broth.

His expression was focused, as if he were refining a batch of peerless Medicinal Pills.

"Senior Brother, the feathers of this Five Spirits Brocade Chicken are so hard to pluck, and I have to keep the skin and meat intact. It's so much work."

Lin Waner squatted to the side, holding a water blade formed from Ruoshui, carefully processing the last brocade chicken.

Fine beads of sweat broke out on her forehead, and a few strands of hair stuck to her cheeks, making her look charmingly naive and cute.

"If it were easy to handle, how could it be worthy of the name 'Five Spirits'?"

Su Ye didn't look back. His soup spoon paused slightly as he scooped up a ladle of golden soup and poured it back in. "This chicken eats Spiritual Bamboo Shoots year-round, and its body contains Five Elements Spiritual Qi. Its skin and meat are as tough as iron. Without some special methods, you wouldn't be able to bite through it even after stewing for three days and nights."

"But Senior Brother..."

On the other side, Lin Qianxue sat cross-legged, with the 'Frost Cold' sword, which she usually cherished like her life, resting across her knees.

Only now, several pieces of sliced Spiritual Bamboo Shoots were skewered on the blade, and she was using Sword Qi to slice them into pieces as thin as a cicada's wing.

As the owner of an Innate Sword Heart, using her life-bound Flying Sword to slice vegetables was probably a first since the founding of the Taichu Holy Land.

A trace of confusion flashed across Lin Qianxue's cold face. "Why are we cooking at this hour? Cultivators have long since fasted. Coveting the desires of the palate, will it..."

"Shallow Snow."

Su Ye interrupted her, turning around with a gentle smile on his lips.

"The Great Dao has thousands of paths, but they all lead to the same destination."

"Who says that to Cultivate one must eat wind and drink dew, becoming a wooden person who doesn't eat the food of mortals?"

He pointed at the chicken meat rolling in the pot. "This Five Spirits Brocade Chicken has delicious meat and contains pure spiritual power. Eating it can strengthen the Foundation and nurture the Origin. More importantly..."

Su Ye paused, his gaze deepening slightly. "It makes one feel 'alive'."

"Only by feeling the taste of being alive can one avoid losing their original heart during the long years of cultivation."

These words were spoken with great dignity, perfectly embodying the style of a Senior Brother.

In reality, Su Ye was thinking: I'm not a real Cultivator anyway. I'm here to enjoy life and, by the way... discipline that disobedient Revered Master.

"Senior Brother is right!"

Lin Waner was a complete brother-con; whatever her Senior Brother said was law. She immediately threw the processed brocade chicken into the pot. "And this smell is really so fragrant, I'm already craving it."

Lin Qianxue nodded thoughtfully. Looking at the sword and Spiritual Bamboo Shoots in her hand, a flash of realization crossed her eyes.

So, slicing vegetables was also a form of cultivation.

Controlling Sword Qi to a hair's breadth, needing to slice the Spiritual Bamboo Shoots without damaging their spiritual charm—this was not only a test of swordsmanship but also a test of one's state of mind.

Senior Brother is indeed unfathomable.

"Alright, the heat is about right."

Su Ye glanced at the sky. The sun was leaning to the west, and the evening glow filled the heavens.

He raised his hand and cast a technique. The Samadhi True Fire at the bottom of the pot instantly surged, then quickly subsided, turning into a gentle fire for slow stewing.

The moment the lid was lifted—

Boom!

A visible pillar of Spiritual Qi shot into the sky, and the fragrance instantly swept across the entire peak of Purple Bamboo Peak.

"Wow—"

Lin Waner's eyes went wide. Ignoring the heat, she leaned close to the pot and took a deep breath. "So fragrant, so fragrant! I feel like my cultivation will increase just by taking a sniff!"

"Don't worry, there's enough for everyone."

Su Ye smiled and took out three small white jade bowls from his storage ring.

These bowls were no ordinary items either; they were carved from top-grade Warm Jade, capable of locking in the temperature and Spiritual Qi of spiritual food.

He served a bowl first, piled high with chicken leg meat and the finest Spiritual Bamboo Shoots, and handed it to Lin Waner.

"Waner, your Physique is on the gentle side. This chicken leg meat promotes blood circulation and removes stasis; it's most suitable for you."

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Lin Waner cheered, took the bowl, and without regard for her manners, impatiently took a bite.

Instantly, juices overflowed. The tender chicken meat melted on the tip of her tongue, turning into a warm current that rushed straight to her Dantian.

"Mmm... delicious! So delicious!"

The young girl squinted her eyes happily, her two little feet swinging joyfully.

Su Ye served another bowl, this time with more chicken breast and clear broth, and handed it to Lin Qianxue.

"Shallow Snow, you practice Ice-Attribute Cultivation Techniques, and the cold energy in your body is too heavy. I've added blazing sun grass to this soup. Combined with the warming effect of the chicken breast, it will perfectly neutralize your cold energy."

Lin Qianxue took it with both hands, her expression solemn. "Thank you for the food, Senior Brother."

She picked up a jade spoon and took a small sip.

It was hot upon entry, but not scalding.

That warm current slid down her throat, as if lighting a gentle fire within her frozen Meridians. Her body, which had been somewhat stiff due to cultivating the 'Ice Heart Art,' instantly became warm and cozy.

Lin Qianxue's cold eyes instantly lit up.

She looked up at Su Ye, her eyes full of admiration. "Senior Brother, this soup... is actually more effective than the Rejuvenation Pills from the Sect's Alchemy Hall."

"Naturally."

Su Ye served himself a bowl as well, drinking it leisurely. "Medicinal Pills are good, but they contain pill toxins. Only this dietary nourishment follows the Heavenly Dao."

The three of them sat around the large pot. The afterglow of the setting sun fell upon them, making the scene warm and beautiful.

As Su Ye ate, he watched his two Junior Sisters feasting heartily, feeling quite satisfied.

On the System panel, although the favorability of the two hadn't surged again, it remained stable at a very high value.

Especially Lin Waner; the way she looked at him was enough to melt someone.

"Senior Brother..."

After Lin Waner finished the meat in her bowl, she licked her lips longingly and looked at the pot with puppy eyes. "There's still so much in the pot. Can we... have a bit more?"

These Five Spirits Brocade Chickens were massive. Three chickens had dozens of pounds of meat. Even with the three of them eating, they had only finished less than half.

Su Ye put down his jade bowl, took out a silk handkerchief, and elegantly wiped the corners of his mouth.

"No."

He refused flatly.

"Huh?" Lin Waner's face slumped. "Why? Senior Brother used to spoil me the most and never let me go hungry."

"Silly girl."

Su Ye reached out and gently pinched the bridge of her nose. "These Five Spirits Brocade Chickens have immense spiritual power. You are only at the Early Stage of the Golden Core Stage. If you eat too much, your body won't be able to absorb the nourishment, and it will harm your Foundation instead."

"That bowl just now was already the limit of what your bodies can handle."

Saying so, Su Ye stood up and cast his gaze toward the Cold Jade Palace not far away.

That palace looked exceptionally lonely under the setting sun, surrounded by lingering cold mist, as if it were isolated from this world.

"The rest, I have a great use for."

Lin Waner and Lin Qianxue followed his gaze and immediately understood something.

"Is Senior Brother planning to... send it to Revered Master?" Lin Qianxue asked softly.

"Yes."

Su Ye nodded, his lips curling into a playful arc. "Revered Master has been working hard in seclusion and has 'fasted' for so many years. Her body is probably already weakened."

"As a Disciple, if I don't know how to show filial piety, wouldn't it be disheartening?"

He emphasized the word 'fasted' specifically.

Lin Waner shrank her neck.

Though she was simple-minded, she also vaguely felt that Senior Brother's so-called 'filial piety' didn't seem that simple.

After all, who shows filial piety by locking up their Revered Master, starving them half to death, and then sending chicken soup?

"Then... be careful, Senior Brother."

Lin Waner hesitated for a moment but still whispered a reminder. "Although Revered Master is currently... not in a convenient state, she is still a Great Power of Tribulation Crossing Realm after all, and her temper... isn't very good."

"A bad temper?"

Su Ye lifted the giant black pot with one hand as if he were carrying a light basket.

The chicken soup in the pot was still slightly boiling, emitting an enticing aroma.

"A bad temper is mostly due to hunger."

"Once she's full, she'll naturally become obedient."

Su Ye left behind these meaningful words, then stepped forward, heading toward the Cold Jade Palace.

The setting sun stretched his shadow long, and every step he took was steady and confident.

It was as if he were going to see not a Tribulation Transcendence Realm expert who could explode and kill at any moment, but a kitten waiting to be fed... in the Cold Jade Palace.

This was the coldest place on the entire Purple Bamboo Peak, and even in the entire Taichu Holy Land.

The palace was built entirely of ten-thousand-year-old Mysterious Ice, and it was surrounded by profound Restriction Formations.

However, these Formations that were meant to protect the owner had all been reverse-tampered with by Su Ye, turning into a cage to trap the owner.

The inside of the hall was empty and lonely.

Only a few Ever-Burning Lamps emitted a faint, cold light.

Yun Yuzhen sat cross-legged on the cold jade bed.

She was dressed in white as pure as snow, and her long black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, unbound, making her look somewhat languid.

On that peerlessly beautiful face, she was so pale that there wasn't a trace of blood.

Even so, it was still hard to hide her cold and noble temperament, like a vast cold fairy from the Nine Heavens, making one not dare to desecrate her.

Only now...

This vast cold fairy's stomach very uncharacteristically let out a soft sound.

"Gurgle—"

In this silent hall, the sound was exceptionally piercing.

Yun Yuzhen's tightly closed eyes snapped open, and a flush of ashamed anger appeared on her pale cheeks.

"Damn it..."

She gritted her silver teeth and cursed in a low voice.

As a Great Power of the Tribulation Crossing Realm, Tenth Heaven, she had long since fasted for hundreds of years. Let alone mortal food, even Top-Grade Spirit Stones were just external objects to her.

But that hateful Rebellious Disciple, Su Ye!

He had used some unknown malicious method—the so-called 'Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art'—to actually plant a Devilish Qi Restriction inside her body.

This Restriction not only sealed her spiritual power, but also continuously devoured her life force and essence.

This caused her current physical condition to degenerate to a Mortal realm, even worse than the Qi Refinement Stage!

Hunger.

This unfamiliar feeling was frantically eroding her sanity.

Especially... that damned, pervasive smell of chicken soup!

Even with the thick palace doors blocking it, that fragrance still seemed to have a life of its own, desperately drilling into her nose.

“Su Ye... you Rebellious Disciple!”

“If I ever escape, I will certainly skin you alive, pull out your tendons, and scatter your ashes!!”

Yun Yuzhen's hands tightly gripped the cold jade beneath her, her knuckles turning white from the exertion.

Just then.

“Rumble—”

The heavy dragon severing stone gate made a dull grinding sound and slowly opened.

A tall, slender figure walked in against the light.

Following him was that fresh fragrance, now ten times, a hundred times more intense.

Yun Yuzhen's delicate body trembled, and she subconsciously tried to hold her breath, but her body's instinct made her beautiful nose twitch uncontrollably.

Dammit!

It smells so good!

Su Ye carried the huge black pot in one hand and kept the other behind his back, strolling leisurely to the cold jade bed.

He didn't even look at Yun Yuzhen's murderous gaze, placing the black pot on the ground as if no one else was there.

“Revered Master, your Disciple has come to see you.”

Su Ye's voice was as warm as jade, sounding extremely respectful.

If one ignored the hint of playfulness in the depths of his eyes.

“Get out!”

Yun Yuzhen coldly spat out a single word.

Her voice was raspy, yet it carried an unquestionable majesty.

She looked up, her eyes like cold stars staring fixedly at Su Ye, “Who allowed you to enter? Take this filthy thing away!”

“Filthy thing?”

Su Ye raised an eyebrow, not getting angry.

He crouched down, took out the jade bowl and soup spoon he had prepared earlier, and unhurriedly ladled a bowl of chicken soup.

This time, he specifically chose the two plumpest chicken wings; that was active meat, the most tender and smooth.

“Revered Master, you are mistaken.”

“This is a Five Spirits Brocade Chicken that your Disciple caught after guarding the back mountain for three days and three nights, then stewed with Samadhi True Fire for a full two hours.”

“Waner and Light Snow both drank two big bowls just now and were full of praise.”

Su Ye held the bowl, slowly stood up, and approached the cold jade bed step by step.

“They drank it too?”

Yun Yuzhen was slightly startled, then the fire of anger in her eyes grew even stronger, “You actually let them... you beast, not only did you betray your Revered Master and ancestors, but you also want to corrupt your Junior Sisters!”

“Revered Master, those words are quite unpleasant to hear.”

Su Ye sat down by the bed, completely indifferent to the piercing cold air emanating from Yun Yuzhen's body.

He scooped up a spoonful of golden chicken soup and blew on it gently at his lips.

“Your Disciple is doing this for everyone's good.”

“You see, after Waner and Light Snow drank the soup, their cultivation improved, and they became even more respectful and loving toward me, their Senior Brother.”

“Now the entire Purple Bamboo Peak is united and harmonious. Isn't this what you wanted to see, Revered Master?”

“What I want to see is you dead!” Yun Yuzhen gritted her teeth.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Su Ye shook his head and sighed, “Revered Master still has such a big temper.”

“Come, have a sip of soup to cool down.”

Saying this, he brought the spoon to Yun Yuzhen's lips.

The chicken soup in the spoon was still swaying slightly, emitting an enticing steam.

It was so close.

Yun Yuzhen could even clearly see the golden oil droplets floating on the surface and smell the meat fragrance mixed with the fresh scent of Spiritual Bamboo Shoots.

Her throat bobbed very unhelpfully.

Every cell deep within her body was screaming: Eat it! Eat it quickly!

But her reason told her she must not eat!

This was food given in contempt!

This was the humiliation of a Rebellious Disciple!

“Take it away!”

Yun Yuzhen abruptly turned her head away and tightly shut her mouth, looking like she would rather die than submit.

“Even if I starve to death, even if I die right here, I won't eat a single bite of your food!”

“Oh?”

Su Ye raised an eyebrow, seemingly having expected her to react this way.

He didn't force it down her throat, but instead unhurriedly pulled the spoon back and took a sip himself.

“Mmm... the taste is indeed not bad.”

“Since Revered Master isn't hungry, then your Disciple won't force you.”

Su Ye said, making a move to put the bowl down, “It's just a pity for this pot of good soup. If it gets cold and the Spiritual Qi dissipates, it will be a waste.”

“I heard that this Cold Jade Palace gets extremely cold at night.”

“Revered Master has now lost all cultivation. If there's no hot food to warm your body, this long night ahead might be hard to endure.”

As he spoke, he glanced at the System with his Divine Sense.

【Yun Yuzhen】

【Current Status: Unbearably hungry, willpower wavering.】

【Favorability: -99 (Fluctuating).】

【Psychological Activity: So fragrant... it's really so fragrant... even if I just take one sip... No! Yun Yuzhen, have some backbone!】

Su Ye laughed inwardly.

Playing tsundere with me?

He suddenly reached out and grabbed Yun Yuzhen's exquisite chin.

The movement was rough, yet it carried an overbearing power that allowed no resistance.

“Mmph!”

Caught off guard, Yun Yuzhen was forced to turn her head and look directly into Su Ye's deep eyes.

“Revered Master.”

Su Ye leaned closer, their noses almost touching, their breaths intertwining.

“You taught me that in the path of cultivation, self-deception is the greatest taboo.”

“Your body is clearly very honest, so why is your mouth so stubborn?”

Saying this, he scooped up another spoonful of chicken soup and, at the moment Yun Yuzhen opened her mouth to curse, sent it into her mouth like a flash of lightning.

“Gulp.”

The delicious chicken soup melted the moment it entered her mouth.

That instant explosion of taste buds caused Yun Yuzhen's originally tense body to instantly soften a bit.

So... so delicious!

The long-lost fragrance of food, accompanied by warm Spiritual Qi, slid down her esophagus into her already shriveled stomach.

That feeling of relief, like a long drought meeting sweet rain, made her almost unable to stop herself from moaning.

“How is it?”

Su Ye let go of her and looked at her with a smile, “Isn't it much more flavorful than your ice-cold Grand Yin True Scripture?”

Yun Yuzhen's face was completely flushed.

Partly from shame and anger, and partly from the color brought by that sip of hot soup.

She glared at Su Ye, her eyes misting over. She wanted to curse him, but found her mouth full of the lingering sweetness of that damned chicken soup, making even her curses sound weak.

“You... you're shameless!”

“Thank you for the praise, Revered Master.”

Su Ye scooped up another spoonful, this time specifically including a piece of shredded chicken meat.

“Come, open up.”

“I won't...”

“Open up.” Su Ye's voice turned a bit colder, carrying a commanding tone, “If you don't eat, I don't mind feeding you with my mouth.”

“You dare!” Yun Yuzhen's pupils suddenly constricted.

If it came to that, she would rather die!

Looking at Su Ye's gradually approaching face and his half-smiling expression, Yun Yuzhen finally broke down.

Even if she was a high-and-mighty Holy Land Peak Master and a Great Power of Tribulation Crossing Realm.

At this moment, in this enclosed cold palace, before this Rebellious Disciple who held the power of life and death over her, she was just a starving woman.

She humiliatingly opened her cherry-like mouth.

Su Ye nodded in satisfaction and sent the chicken meat into her mouth.

What followed was a silent feeding session.

One spoonful after another.

From initial resistance to mechanical chewing, and finally to almost eager swallowing.

That usually high-and-mighty, invincible Revered Master was now like a wronged little wife, obediently eating the meal fed by her Disciple.

If this scene were to spread, the entire Taichu Holy Land would probably explode.

Soon, the bowl of chicken soup was empty.

Su Ye put down the bowl and looked at the bit of soup residue remaining at the corner of Yun Yuzhen's mouth.

He didn't use a handkerchief, but instead directly reached out his thumb and gently, slowly wiped it away for her.

His thumb pad brushed over those soft, warm lips.

Yun Yuzhen's whole body trembled, and she shrank back as if she had received an electric shock, her eyes full of terror and panic.

“Revered Master.”

Su Ye looked at the glistening drop on his fingertip and chuckled:

“You see, now that you're full, don't you have the strength to glare at me?”

“Today's chicken soup is just the beginning.”

“From now on, every day, your Disciple will come to ‘serve’ you your meals.”

“Until...”

Su Ye leaned into her ear and whispered softly, his warm breath blowing on her sensitive earlobe:

“Until you are willing and begging your Disciple to feed you.”

After saying that.

Su Ye laughed loudly, picked up the empty pot (there was actually more than half a pot left, but he didn't intend to give her more), turned around, and strode away.

Only Yun Yuzhen was left, sitting blankly on the cold jade bed.

Her stomach felt warm, a feeling of fullness she hadn't experienced in hundreds of years.

But her heart was in a tangled mess.

Looking at the slowly closing dragon severing stone gate, Yun Yuzhen's gaze was unpredictable.

Did she hate him?

Of course she did.

But... she subconsciously licked her lips, where the warmth from Su Ye's fingertip seemed to remain.

“Rebellious Disciple...”

She murmured softly, her voice carrying less murderous intent and a bit more complexity that even she didn't understand.

“For tomorrow's soup... can you put less ginger?”

As soon as those words left her mouth, she abruptly covered it, her face full of horror.

What am I saying?!

Yun Yuzhen, oh Yun Yuzhen, how can you, a dignified Great Power of Tribulation Crossing Realm, be bought off by a single bowl of chicken soup?!

This must be that Rebellious Disciple's Demonic Technique!

Yes! It must be a Demonic Technique disturbing my mind!

Inside the Cold Jade Palace, a deathly silence fell once again.

Only that empty jade bowl lay quietly on the ground, as if silently mocking the fall of this Taiyin Sacred Body.

And outside the palace gates.

Su Ye's footsteps became even lighter as he listened to the notification from the System.

【Ding! Yun Yuzhen (Revered Master) has successfully eaten.】

【Physical Status: Cold Poison slightly relieved, physical strength recovered by 1%.】

【Favorability: -98 (Increased by 1 point).】

【Note: Although she says no, her stomach has already begun to defect. Host, please keep up the good work. If you want to capture a woman's heart, you must first capture her stomach, even if she is an Empress.】

“Heh, as expected.”

Su Ye looked back at the towering cold palace.

“Revered Master, oh Revered Master, this is a long road, and we have plenty of time.”