The warm glow of sunset cast long shadows across the training grounds as Xiang Yu and Li Yao continued their rigorous practice. Their weapons clashed rhythmically, each strike and parry flowing into the next with increasing precision as they pushed each other to new limits. Only when dusk fully settled did they finally lower their weapons, acknowledging it was time for the evening meal.
As Xiang Yu approached the dining area, ready to begin his culinary preparations, a sudden gust of wind swept through the area, announcing his martial aunt's arrival. Elder Huang descended gracefully from the sky, her robes billowing around her. In the next moment, Elder Guo appeared as well, his curiosity evidently piqued by her dramatic entrance.
Elder Huang produced a lamp from her spatial storage, its appearance deceptively ordinary save for one remarkable feature—a black flame burning steadily within the glass enclosure. With deliberate movements, she removed the lid, and immediately the black flame attempted to escape. Acting swiftly, she summoned a bright red flame from her palm, enveloping the black fire within its grasp. Despite her obvious power, a slight tension in her face revealed the effort required to contain it.
"I don't know what flame this is since I've never seen a black flame before," she explained, her eyes never leaving the dancing darkness in her grasp. "When I got it, I thought it was a special flame. I have the phoenix bloodline which allows me to absorb flames to enhance myself, but when I tried to absorb this flame, it also tried to absorb my flames. I thought it was because my bloodline was weaker, so I waited to enhance my bloodline so I could be able to absorb it."
A sigh of disappointment escaped her lips, her expression momentarily clouding. "Although I've had a few chances to advance my bloodline, it's only advanced a little each time, nowhere near what I'd need to be able to consume this flame."
Her demeanor brightened suddenly, as if shaking off past regrets. "Instead of letting it rot there for god knows how long, you should have it," she declared, pushing the flame—still wrapped in her own crimson energy—toward Xiang Yu.
Xiang Yu watched the approaching black flame with fascination, his eyes capturing every detail of its mesmerizing dance. Though dark, it wasn't completely so—tiny sparks of white flickered throughout its core, appearing and vanishing in an instant, reminiscent of stars twinkling in a night sky. As he mentally questioned what level this mysterious spirit flame might be, he cautiously extended his hand.
The moment his fingers drew near, the black flame leaped from Elder Huang's control, wrapping around his hand with startling eagerness. Alarmed, Xiang Yu stumbled backward, frantically shaking his arm in panic, certain he would burn to death. Yet the expected agony never came, and as suddenly as it had appeared, the flame vanished entirely.
"Where did it go?" he asked, bewildered, examining his unmarked hand. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
Elder Huang smiled knowingly. "This flame is really fond of you. It seems I made the right choice giving it to you."
From the sidelines, Elder Guo stroked his beard thoughtfully. It was highly unusual for a spirit flame to show such affinity for anyone—even now, it had tried to escape Elder Huang, who by all accounts should have been its ideal match with her phoenix bloodline. Why would the flame be so attracted to Xiang Yu, someone without even basic spiritual roots? Could his disciple be concealing something? Yet the genuine confusion on the young man's face suggested he was as mystified as anyone.
Elder Guo released a contemplative sigh. His disciple, it seemed, was more special than anyone had imagined.
...
"What do I do now?" Xiang Yu asked, breaking the momentary silence that had fallen over the gathering. His voice held a mixture of curiosity and caution—understandable reactions to having a mysterious flame seemingly disappear into his body.
Elder Huang's expression brightened with enthusiasm as she stepped closer, her robes rustling softly in the evening breeze. "Usually, refining a flame takes a long time, but since it seems attracted to you, it shouldn't be that big of a problem," she explained. Her eyes gleamed with interest as she observed her martial nephew. "Just try to feel the flame throughout your body and bring it out."
Nodding, Xiang Yu closed his eyes, his expression settling into focused concentration. The world around him faded away as he turned his awareness inward, searching for the mysterious fire that had so eagerly bonded with him. At first, there was nothing—just the familiar sensations of his own body, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, the flow of blood through his veins. Then, gradually, he sensed something new—a subtle warmth unlike his natural body heat, concentrated somewhere deep within his core.
Several seconds passed as he familiarized himself with this foreign presence, mentally reaching toward it, attempting to coax it outward. Suddenly, as if responding to an unspoken command, a dark flame materialized on his palm. It danced silently, casting no heat that would harm him, yet he could feel its power humming through his fingers. Unlike ordinary fire, this flame made no sound—no crackling, no gentle roar—it burned in eerie silence, its darkness occasionally punctuated by those fleeting white sparks.
A smile of satisfaction spread across Xiang Yu's face. This unexpected gift represented more than just a rare treasure; it was another tool for survival in this dangerous cultivation world. As the thought of survival crossed his mind, he wondered whether this new acquisition would manifest in his system. With practiced mental focus, he summoned his status screen, and there it was, neatly catalogued among his other abilities:
[Spirit Flame: Abyssal Void Flame: 7th Grade (1/30,000)]
Surprise flickered across his features as he processed this information. A seventh-grade flame! The revelation stunned him. From Elder Huang's casual demeanor, it seemed she hadn't realized the true value of what she had given away. This wasn't merely a valuable treasure—it was the kind of treasure that would provoke bloody conflicts even among top-tier sects.
Even more astonishing was the experience bar attached to the flame. In all his research about cultivation resources, Xiang Yu had never encountered any mention of spirit flames being upgradeable. The common understanding was that a flame's grade remained fixed eternally—a seventh-grade flame would always remain seventh-grade. Yet here was his system, suggesting otherwise.
The experience requirement was daunting, second only to Battle Instinct in magnitude. Still, this didn't diminish Xiang Yu's excitement. If anything, it intensified his anticipation. What might this flame become if upgraded? What powers would it possess if he somehow managed to elevate it to first grade? The possibilities sent a thrill of anticipation through him.
Yet as he considered the flame's name—Abyssal Void Flame—an inexplicable uneasiness settled in his stomach. Something about the name gave him an ominous feeling, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Across the courtyard, Li Yao observed the black flame dancing on her senior brother's palm with widening eyes. "Do you know that flame?" she silently asked the ancient empress residing within her.
The empress, who had been uncharacteristically quiet during this entire exchange, released a subtle sigh. [Yeah, I do,] came the reluctant response.
"Is it good?" Li Yao asked enthusiastically, hoping for confirmation that her senior brother had received something truly beneficial.
[Well, that's hard to say,] the empress replied with uncharacteristic hesitation. [That flame seems to be a fragment of the Abyssal Void Flame, which is one of the ten original flames. It's quite rare to get a fragment this big even in the immortal realm.]
"Then why is it a bad thing?" Li Yao pressed, confusion evident in her mental voice. A powerful, rare flame sounded like an unequivocal blessing for her senior brother.
[Well, the appearance of such a big fragment is bound to attract attention from some people who want it for themselves,] the empress explained, her tone grave.
"Huh? But didn't martial aunt always have it? Why hasn't anyone ever appeared?" Li Yao questioned, struggling to understand the sudden shift from fortune to potential danger.
[Well, there are probably many interested parties, so they keep each other in check,] came the empress's cryptic response.
"Then what has changed?" Li Yao pressed, her concern mounting.
[Well, if you had something you really wanted, but there were others like you so you kept each other in check, what do you think would happen if someone random suddenly took the thing you were eyeing?] the empress asked pointedly.
Realization dawned on Li Yao's face as understanding clicked into place. While the flame remained unrefined, competing interests maintained a stalemate. But now that Xiang Yu had successfully bonded with it, that fragile balance would shatter. The various parties would no longer concern themselves with keeping each other in check—they would simply pursue the flame and, by extension, her senior brother.
A fierce protectiveness surged through Li Yao. Things were becoming truly dangerous. She needed to accelerate her own cultivation, to grow stronger faster so she could shield her senior brother from the troubles that would inevitably come.
...
Meanwhile, in an unknown location dimension beyond mortal comprehension, an entity of unfathomable size floated in an endless void. This creature, so vast that neither beginning nor end could be perceived, suddenly opened its eyes—ancient orbs that had witnessed the birth and death of countless worlds.
"Hmm, someone seems to have refined a fragment of mine," the creature's voice resonated through the emptiness, a sound that could shatter planets yet somehow remained confined to this isolated pocket of nothingness.
The being's consciousness stretched across incomprehensible distances, focusing on a specific point in the endless void. "That direction... a mortal world?" Surprise colored its ancient voice for a brief moment before shifting to a tone of unmistakable excitement.
"Interesting,"
Since his martial aunt had been so generous, gifting him a flame whose true value she might not have fully comprehended, Xiang Yu felt compelled to express his gratitude. What better way than through his greatest talent? With his newly acquired spirit flame, he could finally create the genuine spirit food she so desperately craved.
When he had broken through to 8th Grade cooking, vast repositories of knowledge about spiritual cuisine had materialized in his mind. Until now, this knowledge had remained purely theoretical—lacking either spiritual roots or a spiritual flame, he couldn't apply these techniques. But everything had changed. The Abyssal Void Flame now nestled within him like a loyal companion, waiting to be called forth.
Xiang Yu held his hand near the cooking vessel, summoning the black flame. It danced across his fingers without burning him, responding to his mental commands with remarkable precision. Unlike cooking with crude firewood, the spirit flame offered unprecedented temperature control. He could adjust its heat with mere thoughts, perfect for the delicate preparations spiritual cuisine demanded.
The gathered audience watched in silent awe as he worked. The dark flames leapt and twisted above the pan, occasionally punctuated by those tiny white sparks that resembled distant stars. Sensing their rapt attention, Xiang Yu incorporated flourishes into his technique. He tossed ingredients high into the air, expertly cooking them with controlled bursts of flame as they descended, before catching them perfectly in the pan.
Elder Guo's eyes widened at the spectacle. Elder Huang leaned forward, entranced by the performance. Even Li Yao, who had witnessed his cooking numerous times before, found herself mesmerized by this elevated display of culinary artistry. The sweet, complex aroma rising from the dishes intensified their anticipation, causing involuntary salivation.
Though he secretly enjoyed their attention, Xiang Yu recognized his audience's growing impatience. He completed his preparations and began serving, presenting the first dish to Elder Huang with a respectful bow.
"You brat! You dare serve outsiders before your own master?" Elder Guo couldn't help but curse, his beard quivering with indignation.
Elder Huang smirked triumphantly. "No need to be so riled up. Martial nephew simply knows how to treat a guest, unlike someone else." Her teasing tone only intensified the elder's frustration.
Elder Guo could only respond with a dismissive scoff as Xiang Yu quickly served him next, followed by Li Yao.
When they finally began eating, identical expressions of wonder bloomed across their faces. The moment the food touched their tongues, extraordinary flavors cascaded throughout their mouths—complex, harmonious notes impossible in ordinary cuisine. As they swallowed, the spirit food's rich qi spread throughout their bodies, rejuvenating every cell and marginally enhancing their cultivation.
Even Xiang Yu, as he sampled his own creation, marveled at the sensation of qi briefly infusing his qi-less body before quickly dissipating as he didn't have spiritual roots. Was this what cultivators experienced continuously? Many claimed cultivation brought pleasure exceeding even carnal delights, and he could now understand why. Still, this fleeting sensation paled in comparison to the mental tsunami of his system's enlightenment doubling.
They devoured every morsel, leaving their plates spotlessly clean, unwilling to waste even a single grain of the precious spirit food.
As Xiang Yu and Li Yao cleaned the dishes afterward, the ancient empress spoke into the young woman's mind.
[You're quite lucky to have a spiritual chef as a senior brother. Now you can enjoy spirit meals every day,] she observed with rare appreciation. [Although his skill level remains modest for now, as he improves, it will become a tremendous advantage. Your breakthrough speed will surpass most cultivators.]
[Except for truly powerful immortals, few can consume spirit food twice daily,] she added thoughtfully.
Li Yao couldn't suppress her smile. Her senior brother truly was the best. With his cooking accelerating her cultivation, she would grow stronger even faster—exactly what she needed to protect him from the dangers that would inevitably come seeking his newfound flame.
...
After the hearty meal, everyone went their separate ways. Xiang Yu and Li Yao returned to their training, their movements energized by the qi-infused food they had consumed. The spiritual nourishment had restored their vitality and nearly doubled their stamina, allowing them to train with an intensity that surpassed even their morning session.
Steel clashed against steel as they sparred beneath the stars, their silhouettes illuminated by the moon's gentle glow. Only when midnight arrived did they finally sheathe their weapons, exchanging respectful nods before retiring to their separate quarters.
In his simple dwelling, Xiang Yu reclined on his bed of leaves, summoning the familiar blue interface that had become his nightly ritual. The system screen materialized before him, its soft glow illuminating his contemplative features:
[Enlightenment: Low (50/1000) (+2/1000)]
[Battle Instinct: (20/100,000) (+4/100,000)]
[Spirit Flame: Abyssal Void Flame: 7th Grade (2/30,000)]
[Mountain Heart Sutra: Level 1 (1/1000)]
[Mountain Heart Scripture: 4th Layer (86/400) (+38/400)]
[Low-grade Iron Body Technique: Intermediate (200/300) (+100/300)]
[Basic Knife Technique: Completion (100/500) (+60/500)]
[Basic Sword Technique: Major Success (200/400)]
[Cook: 8th Grade (3/200) (+3/200)]
[Experience Points Doubled]
[Cook: 8th Grade (3/200) → 8th Grade (6/200)]
[Basic Sword Technique: Major Success (200/400) → Completion (0/500)]
[Basic Knife Technique: Completion (100/500) → Completion (200/500)]
[Low-grade Iron Body Technique: Intermediate (200/300) → Major Success (0/400)]
[Mountain Heart Scripture: 4th Layer (86/400) → 4th Layer (172/400)]
[Mountain Heart Sutra: Level 1 (1/1000) → Level 1 (2/1000)]
[Spirit Flame: Abyssal Void Flame: 7th Grade (2/30,000) → 7th Grade (4/30,000)]
[Battle Instinct: (20/100,000) → (40/100,000)]
[Enlightenment: Low (50/1000) → Low (100/1000)]
The first sensation to wash over him was the breathtaking doubling of his enlightenment. It crashed through his consciousness like a tidal wave, expanding his perception beyond anything he had previously experienced. It felt as if someone had peeled away a veil he hadn't even realized existed, revealing entirely new dimensions of understanding. Colors seemed more vibrant, sounds more distinct, patterns more evident. The mental tsunami persisted longer than usual before gradually receding, leaving behind crystalline clarity in its wake.
His thoughts seemed sharper, more focused—undoubtedly an effect of the Mountain Heart Sutra's influence, which had doubled once again. The mental discipline imparted by the ancient text complemented his growing enlightenment, creating synergies he was only beginning to comprehend.
Next came subtle insights regarding his cooking skills. Unlike previous revelations, these were modest improvements—minor refinements to techniques he'd already mastered rather than learning any new concepts. Given the mere three-point increase, this modest progression seemed reasonable. It hardly concerned him though; his cooking experience would accumulate rapidly with daily practice, especially now that he could create genuine spirit food.
The battle instinct attribute continued its impressive trajectory. What had once been his most stubbornly resistant stat was now accelerating at a pace that promised to reach its maximum threshold much sooner than he'd originally calculated. The exponential nature of doubling would make each subsequent increase more substantial than the last.
His newest acquisition, the Abyssal Void Flame, had already grown to two points during the day and now to four after doubling. Considering the daunting 30,000-point requirement for advancement, this progress might seem negligible to others. Yet Xiang Yu understood the power of exponential growth better than most—modest beginnings would eventually yield explosive results.
His Mountain Heart Scripture had nearly reached its halfway point, which his internal calculations suggested would be surpassed before the next reset. This trajectory placed him firmly on path to breakthrough to the fifth layer after the next settlement. Rather than encountering the diminishing returns common to cultivation, his advancement seemed to be accelerating as he got stronger.
The knife technique was similarly approaching its halfway threshold, likely to enter Great Completion after the next settlement. Meanwhile, his sword technique had successfully broken through to the Completion stage, resetting its progress bar in the process.
His iron body technique had advanced to Major Success level, and the effects were immediately apparent. His skin had developed a resilience that normal weapons would struggle to penetrate. He estimated that by the time he reached Completion stage, his body would indeed possess the durability of genuine iron.
As for the elusive mid-grade movement technique that had defied his comprehension, he sensed he stood at the precipice of breakthrough. Just one more insight, one more connection, and the technique would finally yield its secrets.
After methodically reviewing his progress, Xiang Yu summoned his complete status display:
[Name: Xiang Yu]
[Realm: Body: 4th Layer; Mind: Level 1]
[Species: Human]
[Spiritual Root: null]
[Enlightenment: Low (100/1000)]
[Battle Instinct: (40/100,000)]
[Spirit Flame: Abyssal Void Flame: 7th Grade (4/30,000)]
[Professions: Cook: 8th Grade (6/200)]
[Techniques: Low-grade Iron Body Technique: Major Success (0/400); Basic Knife Technique: Completion (200/500); Basic Sword Technique: Completion (0/500)]
[Scriptures: Mountain Heart Scripture: 4th Layer (182/400); Mountain Heart Sutra: Level 1 (2/1000)]
[System Function: Double Exp (Cooldown: 24hrs)]
...