From a country cook to a master chef

Tianwu Mountain is located in the southern part of Tiandu Prefecture, the capital of the Great Wu Kingdom.

In the past, Emperor Wu conquered the south and the north, unified the world, and divided the Great Wu into seven prefectures and one hundred states.

Tianwu Mountain is located in Pingzhou, Tiandu Prefecture, which ranks third in size among the Hundred Prefectures of Dawu.

Pingzhou is characterized by numerous mountains and ridges, serving as a natural fortress connecting the Baiyue region to the imperial capital, Tiandufu. Since ancient times, it has been a strategic location fought over by military strategists.

The Nanhua Mountains are located in the central part of Pingzhou, stretching for thousands of miles like a giant dragon.

Although wild beasts and birds often roam the mountains, this does not diminish people's longing for the Nanhua Mountains, because deep within the mountains, on Tianwu Mountain, lies the sacred land of martial arts, established by special order of the Martial Emperor.

Tianwu Academy.

Standing at the foot of Tianwu Mountain and looking up, this mountain is no different from other mountains.

But once you step onto that cobblestone mountain path, your body will be instantly suppressed by a tremendous force, and with each additional step, the pressure on your body will increase.

As you ascend the steps, every three hundred steps you will see numerous pavilions and palaces built along the cliff face, as well as martial arts practice platforms used by the disciples of Tianwu Mountain for their daily training.

Every winter is the time for Tianwu Mountain to recruit disciples.

At this time of year, countless talented young men from Dawu would come from far and wide, secretly praying that they could successfully join Tianwu Mountain.

Compared to ordinary people, cultivators can extend their lifespan as their cultivation level increases.

Martial artists cultivate their physical body and qi, and as their strength improves, they can also extend their lifespan to some extent.

Although Pei Fei, the current dean of Tianwu Mountain, is over 130 years old and looks like a withered old man leaning on a cane, everyone in the mountain knows that once he gets serious, even a strong martial artist in his thirties will not be able to gain the slightest advantage over him.

He was once a vanguard general under the Grand Marshal of the Great Wu Kingdom, a true third-realm Divine Integration martial artist.

Whether in the army or in the mountains, Pei Ye enjoyed extremely high prestige.

However, the usually composed and calm Dean Pei was now frowning with worry as he sat in the main seat of the living room because of an imperial edict.

Looking around, a dozen or so high-ranking officials from Tianwu Mountain sat on both sides of the hall, their expressions varied, exchanging bewildered glances.

Pei Fei stood up, leaning on his cane, and walked to the center of the hall. He cleared his throat and said, "Gentlemen, please feel free to speak your minds about His Majesty's decree. There's no need to be so timid."

"Dean, the imperial court has never interfered in the management of Tianwu Mountain. This time, His Majesty suddenly issued an order for us to distribute all the Yellow Dragon Pills to the elite disciples of the inner academy. If this is implemented, it may cause dissatisfaction among the lower-level disciples."

"Although the Yellow Dragon Pill is precious, it can only enhance the strength of martial artists and masters who have not yet entered the realm. Most of the elite disciples of Tianwu Mountain are Divine Power Realm martial artists. Even if they take a large number of Yellow Dragon Pills, it will not be of much benefit to their cultivation. This is really..."

……

"The number of Blood Bone Staffs in the Great Wu territory has decreased sharply, resulting in fewer and fewer finished Yellow Dragon Pills. Since the war in the western part of the Great Wu is urgent, we might as well distribute these Yellow Dragon Pills to the Hundred Rank Martial Masters in the mountains to help them break through to the Divine Power Realm. It is better than wasting them on Divine Power Realm disciples."

The crowd was filled with righteous indignation and talked incessantly, most of them expressing their incomprehension of the imperial decree.

Since the emperor is unaware of the true situation on the ground, he inevitably issues some orders that are difficult for people to understand.

"Gentlemen, I think I know how to inform His Majesty." Pei Fei pondered for a moment, then sat back in his chair and smiled. "The Zhanbo Kingdom has come with great force. In just a few months, it has conquered nearly ten prefectures and counties of Dawu. Since neither side has sent any experts above the Divine Illumination Realm, the key to this battle lies in supernatural powers and Divine Illumination Realm warriors."

"Therefore, this academy has decided to prioritize the distribution of the few remaining Yellow Dragon Pills to the martial arts masters of the hundred levels in the mountains, and do everything in our power to help them break through to the supernatural realm."

Pei Fei stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said righteously, "At this critical juncture when the survival of our nation is at stake, we martial artists should do our utmost to resist foreign enemies and share the burden of our country."

"After you all return, remember to reassure your disciples. As for the next batch of Divine Illumination Realm warriors to be sent to the front lines, I will arrange it as soon as possible. After submitting it to His Majesty for approval, we will still need your personal assistance in leading them to the front lines to fight the enemy."

Upon hearing Pei Fei's words, everyone immediately stood up, bowed to him, and took their leave, exiting the hall.

Pei Fei sat back down and had just picked up his teacup when a cold wind suddenly blew in from outside the hall, carrying with it a long-lost fragrance of peach blossoms.

Pei Fei remained calm, slowly looking at the fair-faced woman who had suddenly appeared at the window on his left. He shook his head, sighed, and teased:

"With the battle at the front so intense, Fellow Daoist Red Peach still managed to take the time to grace our humble abode with your presence. It truly brings honor to Tianwu Mountain."

"This large-scale attack by the Zhanbo Kingdom is backed by many Zhanbo Kingdom wizards. If the Great Wu falls, the Great Wu cultivation world will surely be plunged into dire straits." The woman gently brushed her long hair aside, her delicate brows furrowed as she said, "I have come here on the orders of the Six Sects Alliance, and wish to borrow ten disciples of your esteemed academy who are at the Divine Power Realm."

"When is it needed?"

"About a hundred days later."

100 days?

Pei Fei was taken aback, then, as if realizing something, asked in surprise, "Do the six sects perhaps intend to enter that place?"

The female cultivator in the peach-colored jacket nodded slightly and said, "That place can suppress the magic power of Qi cultivators, so it is necessary to have a martial artist accompany and protect them. The experts from the six sects have deduced that a great treasure will definitely appear there. This matter is of great importance, so we hope that the dean can personally select some clever disciples."

"Since this is a matter of great importance concerning the survival of the Great Wu, I, Pei, will naturally take it seriously. Fellow Daoist Hongtao, please rest assured," Pei Fei said solemnly, patting his chest.

Seeing his expression, the female cultivator smiled and nodded, then transformed into a streak of light and flew into the sky.

Pei Fei sat in his chair, calculating the number of remaining Divine Power Realm warriors on Tianwu Mountain.

We need to arrange a team to support the front line, and now we also need to select ten people to go to that forbidden area to protect the Dharma.

This is really a difficult situation.

"The Netherworld Ghost Land is only accessible to martial artists at the Divine Power Realm. However, it contains a large number of treasures that Qi Refining cultivators can use. This matter concerns the fate of the nation, so I must personally report to the old dean."

Pei Fei stroked his long beard and slowly walked out of the hall...

Meanwhile, in a yellow-character disciple's bedroom at the lowest point of Tianwu Mountain, a young man was lying on the bed, gazing out the window in a daze.

Guided by that Hengyue Sect disciple, he traveled north to meet up with Zhang Kuang and Yuan Rou, and together they arrived at Linjue in Tianwu Mountain.

After the three of them left the territory of Yucheng, they spent more than two months traveling through several prefectures and counties of Xiaoyao Prefecture. After going through all kinds of hardships, they finally arrived at the Nanhua Mountain Range in Pingzhou, Tiandu Prefecture, and participated in the Tianwu Mountain Martial Arts Talent Test with a large number of young martial artists.

Lin Jue possesses the golden pages of the Heavenly Martial Mountain's elixir book, allowing him to become an ordinary disciple of the Heavenly Martial Mountain without needing to take a test.

Zhang Kuang, with his amazing talent, not only successfully entered Tianwu Mountain, but was also promoted to a Yellow-rank elite disciple and lived on a cliff hundreds of feet above Lin Jue.

As for Yuan Rou, she did not pass the test, but given her relationship with Lin Jue, she was able to share a bedroom with him. At this moment, she was squatting by the pool outside, washing several dirty clothes covered in mud.

Lin Jue has been staying here for five or six days. In addition to his daily cultivation, he often goes to the scripture cave used by the Huangzi disciples to read books, and each time he reads for several hours.

This wasn't Tianwu Mountain's request; it was just that Lin Jue felt he could better understand this world, learn about the martial arts trends of this era, and obtain reliable information about the war in the rear from the book.

He has now reached the level of a 45th-level martial artist and has been a member of Tianwu Mountain for six days.

According to the disciple's manual, he is entitled to receive a Yellow Dragon Pill today.

On their journey north, he and Zhang Kuang hunted various wild animals to satisfy their hunger. With the energy boost from the various animal meats and the Qi and Blood Powder refined in Yucheng, their strength increased by leaps and bounds.

After reaching the 30th level of martial arts master, Lin Jue used his martial arts master status to obtain a Yellow Dragon Pill from the local government and took it, breaking through to the 40th level of martial arts master in one fell swoop.

Huanglongdan was of great help to him, and after entering Tianwu Mountain, he looked forward to this day.

Lin Jue was lost in thought when he suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps outside the door, and it sounded like there was more than one person.

Lin Jue's spirits lifted, and he immediately jumped out of bed.

After waiting for many days, the Huanglong Pill I had been longing for finally arrived.