Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 722 Hidden Mission 8

Yun Chu was already busily at work. She took out the beast meat, which had been cut up by sword energy and still faintly exuded a chilling aura, from her storage ring.

With a flick of his wrist, a small pile of top-grade cold iron charcoal, entirely black but emitting a ghostly blue flame when burned, appeared on the open ground.

With a flick of the fingertips, a spark leaps into the charcoal, making a soft "crackling" sound. The leaping blue flames lick the air, bringing a rare and comforting warmth.

The firelight reflected on her focused face, appearing especially warm against the surrounding dark blue background.

She skillfully skewered the processed, finely textured, bluish-tinged animal meat and placed it on a specially made spirit iron grill.

As the temperature rises, the glistening grease begins to sizzle and drip merrily onto the charcoal fire, stirring up bursts of mouthwatering, fragrant white smoke and a sizzling sound.

From the exquisite storage pouch at her waist, she magically produced several small jade bottles containing chili powder, fine salt, and several finely ground special spiritual plant spice powders—these were recipes she had specially researched.

With deft finger movements, the spices were evenly sprinkled onto the gradually turning golden-brown surface of the roasted meat. The rich aroma of the spices instantly mingled and exploded with the fragrance of the meat, forcefully breaking through the soundproofing array and dispelling the cold, deathly silence nearby.

The rich aroma of meat was so pronounced.

The True Lord Yueze, who was sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed and adjusting his breathing at the center of the formation, twitched his long, slender fingers, which were as delicate as jade bamboo.

Then, his thick eyelashes, which looked as if covered with ten thousand years of frost, trembled, as if disturbed by the extreme human warmth, and his deep eyes, as cold as a pool, slowly opened.

His gaze did not immediately fall on Yun Chu, but instead remained fixed on the several skewers of golden-brown, glistening, and irresistibly tempting roasted meat on the rack. His cool eyes reflected the flickering firelight, revealing a hint of "warmth" that was inconsistent with his usual icy demeanor.

Yun Chu carefully handed over a perfectly grilled skewer: "True Lord, would you like to try it?"

Yueze Zhenjun accepted it silently, his posture remaining elegant and composed. He lowered his head and took a small, very natural bite.

chew.

A brief silence.

A moment later, a very subtle ripple crossed his eternally icy and aloof face—a ripple of surprise, understanding, and even a faint, almost imperceptible hint of admiration.

He spoke for the first time ever, his voice still clear and sharp, yet it seemed to dispel some of the chill from outside the formation:

"Not bad." He paused slightly after saying just two simple words. "The heat control... is much better than before. Your grilling skills... have definitely improved."

Without flowery words, this affirmation from "God of Cookery" Yueze Zhenjun is already the highest praise.

"I'm glad you like it, True Lord!" Yun Chu smiled, a hint of mischief and smugness in her eyes. "I'll bake for you every day from now on, as much as you want!"

This blunt statement made Yueze Zhenjun pause slightly, and he tightened his grip on the skewers a little, but his face remained calm and composed.

His Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly, but he didn't speak. He simply lowered his head and continued to savor the unexpected delicacy in his hand with meticulous care.

Yun Chu sat down to enjoy the fruits of her labor. The crispy on the outside and tender on the inside meat burst with juice between her teeth, the rich aroma of meat and the flavor of the secret spices blending perfectly, soothing her tired body and mind from the cold.

After a hearty meal, the night in the Frozen Realm seemed even longer.

Yun Chu did not rest immediately. She waved her hand and took out a small, exquisite ebony table with cloud patterns, engraved with intricate and complex runes, from her ring.

Next came several talisman brushes of different colors and textures, and a delicate white porcelain bowl.

She took out a few low-level ice-type monster cores she had just collected, scraped off a little blue crystal powder that emitted a chilling aura with a knife, mixed it with some powder ground from the Fiery Sun Grass and spiritual spring water, and gently stirred the bright red, viscous talisman ink in the bowl with her little fingernail.

It was made from fresh demonic beast heart blood, special mineral powder, and a small amount of her fire-elemental spiritual power, exuding a unique spiritual charm and a slightly fishy-sweet scent.

She composed herself, her aura instantly becoming as calm and steady as a deep pool.

I pick up my brush, dip it in ink, and concentrate!

The soft nib, dipped in blood-red ink, flows smoothly across the specially made talisman paper that subtly glows with a jade-like sheen.

The wrist appears gentle, but it actually contains immense strength. Every turn of the lines and the infusion of spiritual energy are precise and without the slightest hesitation.

As the runes extended, beneath the jade talisman paper, an equally intricate array of tiny runes flashed by, forming an incredibly stable support field.

"I didn't expect you could draw talismans." Yueze Zhenjun's voice suddenly rang out from the other side.

He had finished his brief meditation and his gaze fell on the complex runes that were gradually taking shape under Yun Chu's brush. For the first time, a genuine and undisguised interest and scrutiny appeared in his cold eyes.

This kind of high-level talisman requires extremely strong mental focus and micro-management of spiritual power, and it is difficult for those who have not been immersed in it for many years to master it.

Yun Chu's movements didn't pause for a moment. Only after completing the outline of a key point did she slightly loosen her grip on the brush, raise her head, and meet Yue Ze Zhenjun's gaze, revealing a relaxed yet subtly confident smile:

"Yes, I know a little. In the world of cultivation, having more skills always gives you more confidence. I have some knowledge of the four arts: weapon crafting, alchemy, formations, and talismans." Her tone was calm, without boasting, as if she were stating a fact.

Yue Ze Zhenjun's handsome brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He has seen too many people who try to do too much and end up with nothing to show for it.

"You've mastered all four arts? Your talent is decent, but breadth is not as good as depth. The path of cultivation ultimately lies in the level of your cultivation. Don't let these unorthodox and miscellaneous studies delay your fundamental path." His tone was as aloof as ever, but the advice in his words was genuine concern.

"Rest assured, True Lord," Yun Chu's smile faded, her eyes revealing unwavering clarity and determination. "I understand the reasoning. I know my talent is far inferior to yours, True Lord, which is unparalleled throughout history, but..."

She paused slightly, her tone carrying an undeniable firmness, "My aptitude for a single fire-type spiritual root is also top-notch. Reaching the Core stage at thirty-one is no fluke. My pursuit of the Dao has never wavered, nor have I ever slackened in the slightest."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it sounded exceptionally clear and powerful amidst the howling wind:

"I will surely achieve Nascent Soul before I turn sixty!"

These words carried an unwavering confidence, as if the Nascent Soul realm was already within reach. The resounding declaration even caused the bowl of blood-red ink on the table to tremble slightly.

True Monarch Yueze stared intently at her. The strong confidence and sharp Dao heart emanating from the woman before him were like a ray of brilliant sunlight suddenly shining in this icy domain, causing even his long-dormant Dao heart to stir slightly.

After a moment of silence, his perfectly sculpted jaw seemed to relax for a moment, and a faint, almost imperceptible warmth seemed to flow through the depths of his icy eyes, which seemed capable of freezing everything.

He looked into Yun Chu's eyes, which sparkled like stars, and unusually, instead of pouring cold water on her enthusiasm, he solemnly nodded:

"Hmm. Looking at your current state of mind..." He paused, seemingly considering his words, before finally affirming:

I believe you can succeed.

This simple recognition, in the howling cold wind, was as warm as a campfire that had just dispelled the chill.