"Trash, they're both useless trash. Over a million rat soldiers, wiped out just like that—by a bunch of scarecrows, no less! Even Ratcorrosion got hooked like a dead fish. Pathetic."
"And Shadow Thorn, that failure too—what a joke, 'Three Kills a Day'? If you've got the ability, kill as much as you can! The more you kill, the more terrified they become. What's this nonsense about toying with people's minds like it's a game? Does she think she can treat Xuanhuang City like her playground? Assassins should aim to kill in a single strike! What kind of assassin plays games? A game-minded assassin is one that's courting death."
"One strike, then retreat a thousand miles"—that's the true code of a proper assassin.
Playing games? That's laughable.
A failure of an assassin.
The werewolf practically exploded in rage, cursing at the top of his lungs.
Their deaths weren't the worst part. The problem was they had disrupted the entire operation.
"All this talk is useless now," the scorpion demon snapped. "Ratcorrosion and Shadow Thorn both failed. They're imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison. That place is said to be formed from a heaven-and-earth treasure. Once you go in, there's no way out. No one has ever made it back alive. It's full of deadly traps—life and death determined in a blink. Rescuing them? Impossible. You can't even find where the prison actually is."
He was blunt and merciless.
He wasn't noble enough to risk his own life for someone who wasn't even from his race. They had been allies, yes—but once captured, they lost all value. That was the cruel truth.
"So what do we do now? Without that failure Shadow Thorn, sneaking into Xuanhuang City is almost impossible. Outside the city, we've got those damned scarecrows. Inside and out, it's sealed tight. There's barely a flaw to exploit. Unless… we use poison."
The werewolf grinned viciously, his expression twisted with malice.
"How would you even use it?" the scorpion demon asked, frowning.
"No matter what, people can't live without water. According to my observations, Xuanhuang City draws a lot of its water directly from the Evergreen River. If we poison the river… If we succeed, most of the city's population will be wiped out."
The werewolf sneered coldly.
"Then you do it," the scorpion demon replied without hesitation, turning around and leaving.
The Evergreen River? That's a massive waterway stretching for tens of thousands of miles. And it's not stagnant—it's flowing.
In a river like that, even if you managed to avoid detection by whatever powerful water-dwelling beasts lurk below, the poison would be diluted instantly. The river's flow would spread the toxin so thin it'd be undetectable.
What kind of poison could taint the whole Evergreen River?
And how much of it would you need?
Only an idiot would come up with such a plan.
To the scorpion demon, the werewolf had clearly lost his mind.
Poisoning a live river of that size? The success rate was infinitesimal. This was a fantasy. An impossible task.
If they wanted revenge on Xuanhuang City, they'd need to find another way—there were many other methods.
"Master, the Lady is already waiting for you in the Moon-Viewing Pavilion to share breakfast. Mr. Lai He is preparing the dishes now—today's breakfast will be noodles," reported Cao Zhengchun respectfully outside the meditation chamber.
"Noodles? Made with golden wheat?" Yi Tianxing's eyes lit up. "I've been looking forward to this!"
The meditation chamber opened instantly. Yi Tianxing waved his hand, smiling as he stepped out, excitement shining in his eyes.
He had great expectations for this meal—no ordinary food, but one made from golden wheat, a divine-tier grain.
To him, both beauty and cuisine were not things to be missed.
And now, the beauty awaited, and the delicacy was soon to arrive—his heart brimmed with anticipation.
The Moon-Viewing Pavilion stood in the rear courtyard—a perfect place to admire the moon at night or the sunrise at dawn. It was also their usual dining spot, surrounded by lotus ponds and floral fragrances.
When Yi Tianxing arrived, he saw Cai Yan already seated and waiting quietly.
"Tianxing, you're here," she greeted with a radiant smile.
Just that smile alone lit up Yi Tianxing's whole world.
A feeling that defied description.
"Yes," he said, taking a seat beside her and naturally wrapping his arm around her slender waist. "I gave the golden wheat to Lai He yesterday, and he said we'd get to taste it today. This is a divine-tier grain—any dish made from it is bound to be extraordinary. We're in for a treat."
"Then it must be absolutely delicious," Cai Yan said with visible excitement.
Ever since becoming the Lord's wife, her meals were all personally prepared by Lai He. Over time, her taste had become increasingly refined—ordinary food no longer satisfied her.
The traits of a foodie… are contagious, Yi Tianxing mused with a smile, chatting quietly with Cai Yan.
Not long after, Lai He arrived with a group of chefs, each carrying trays of food.
"Greetings, my Lord," Lai He said respectfully.
"No need for formalities. Let's eat," Yi Tianxing replied with a wave.
"Yes!"
With a gesture, the chefs quickly set the trays on the table.
Three dishes in total—three kinds of food.
"My Lord, the first noodle dish—Golden Dumplings!" Lai He announced, unable to hide his excitement.
"These golden dumplings are made using flour ground from golden wheat for the wrappers. The filling is a three-flavor blend: chive and pork, mixed with Dream Mushrooms. The chives are premium quality, carefully selected and rich in spiritual energy. The pork comes from the Wild Blazing Chrysanthemum Pig—its meat is packed with power. And the mushrooms give a dreamlike, otherworldly flavor. Together, they create a unique combination: the freshness of chive, the juiciness of pork, and the ethereal taste of mushrooms."
"The golden wheat wrappers contain purified spiritual energy that seals in and enhances all three flavors. A perfect fusion. Please enjoy."
As he finished speaking, one of the chefs lifted the metal dome covering the plate.
Woosh!
Light!
A flood of golden light burst forth the moment the dome lifted.
In that light, one could almost glimpse illusions of dreamlike landscapes. A heavenly aroma filled the air, intoxicating all who inhaled it.
It stirred something primal inside—a hunger beyond control.
"So fragrant… I think I just saw a glimpse of paradise," Cai Yan murmured, eyes closed in bliss.
"I can't wait to taste this," Yi Tianxing said, practically glowing.
His inner gourmet cells were rebelling, screaming with hunger, their craving thundering through his soul.
No resistance necessary—nor possible.
The golden dumplings were steamed. As the golden glow faded, what appeared before them were dumplings shaped like tiny golden boats—works of art.
They shone with radiant luster, their delicate wrappers translucent. Inside, golden soup sparkled.
He gently picked one up with his chopsticks, lifted it to his lips, but didn't eat it in one bite.
These dumplings were bursting with soup—it required a different approach.
He nibbled a small hole at one end and gently sucked.
A burst of golden broth rushed into his mouth—an explosion of bliss on the tongue.
The chive's fragrance, the pork's rich flavor, the mushroom's delicate taste—all melded perfectly into a symphony of flavor. It lit up his taste buds and electrified every cell in his body.
The world itself seemed to fade away, leaving only the taste.
Heaven and earth's spiritual energy surged into his body like a storm, flowing through flesh, bone, and meridians.
His physical power began to skyrocket—increasing by thousands of pounds with every breath.
He could feel it—his strength rising with impossible speed.
"Incredible. I've never tasted anything like this. The wrapper seals the flavors perfectly—nothing leaks. The fusion is flawless. A single sip of broth… worth its weight in gold."
Yi Tianxing exhaled, full of awe.
Without hesitation, he devoured the dumpling. As he chewed, he felt himself drift into a dreamlike paradise of birdsong and flowers.
Astonishingly, there was no impurity within—the dumpling was pure, nourishing energy. Even more, it left behind a mysterious force in his body, spreading through his bones and blood.
"Delicious."
Cai Yan's eyes closed in bliss, lost in a world of pure delight.