From a country cook to a master chef

Zhao Xiaoyao chanted an incantation, her orchid-like fingers sending out strands of spiritual light that merged into the runes around the giant ship. As a wave of magical power rippled outwards, rows of oars, each several meters long, extended from both sides of the spaceship that was suspended above the inner courtyard.

Faced with such a colossal creature, the ten disciples of Tianwu Mountain, including Lin Jue, who were at the Divine Power Realm, couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

As martial artists, they couldn't understand how this large ship without wings could fly in the air.

The cause can only be attributed to the alchemist's magic.

"Fellow senior brothers of Tianwu Mountain, please follow me aboard the ship." Zhao Xiaoyao smiled broadly, gently waved her sleeve, and once again cast a stream of magical energy towards the large ship. Immediately, the ship's mechanism activated, and a long wooden ladder descended from the side, allowing everyone to board the ship.

Zhao Xiaoyao and her fellow disciple Zhen Jian lightly touched the ground with their toes and flew to the platform above the ship's cabin.

"That's the allure of a Qi cultivator. With just a thought, their powerful magic can control everything. Even a behemoth like this can be manipulated with ease. It's so enviable!"

Lin Jue was now completely impressed by the methods of the Second Miss Zhao, whom he had not seen for a long time, and secretly resolved to find a way to refine the Reversal of Five Elements Pill as soon as possible.

The path to becoming a martial arts master is extremely difficult; only those with great perseverance can persist to the end.

Although martial arts masters who reach the pinnacle can possess overwhelming supernatural powers and can contend with Qi cultivators with their own martial strength, becoming such a martial artist is extremely difficult and requires going through countless hardships.

Previously, Lin Jue had spent his days in the Scripture Cave of Tianwu Mountain, where he read through a large number of classic texts and scriptures about the general situation of the Great Wu Kingdom. He learned about the Six Sects Alliance, which had a great reputation in the cultivation world of the Great Wu Kingdom, namely, one sect, two factions, and three clans.

Among them, the Yin Kui Sect is skilled in puppetry and is located in Qinglan Prefecture of the Great Wu Kingdom, while the Hengyue Sect, famous for its swordsmanship and supernatural abilities, is located in Haoran Prefecture. The Beast Taming Sect of Baiyue Prefecture, one of the three sects, is located in the Tianlu Mountain Range.

The two factions are the Spirit Talisman Faction of the Divine Mirror Mansion and the Crescent Moon Faction of the Wenren Mansion.

As the strongest of the six sects, the Yanxia Sect established its mountain gate within the territory of the Great Wu Xiaoyao Prefecture.

To counterbalance the power of the six factions, Emperor Wu ordered the Imperial Preceptor and the Grand General to jointly establish the Tianwu Academy. With Pingzhou as its coordinate, the academy would protect the capital city of Tiandu while radiating outwards in all directions, thus effectively restraining the six factions.

Tianwu Academy encompasses almost all martial artists in the Great Wu Kingdom who can rival Qi Refining Masters, possessing over four thousand Divine Power Realm martial artists who can rival Qi Refining Masters.

Hundreds of Divine Illumination Realm warriors capable of fighting Foundation Establishment cultivators, and nearly thirty Divine Union Realm elders strong enough to contend with Core Formation cultivators.

As for the Nascent Soul stage monsters of the six sects, they are naturally restrained by the Grand Master of the Great Martial Kingdom and the Grand General.

The strength of Tianwu Academy is unmatched by any other sect among the six factions. This is why the six factions formed an alliance to maintain a wonderful balance between the immortal and martial arts worlds.

Unlike other places outside of Dawu, where immortality reigns supreme and cultivators control everything.

As a disciple of Tianwu Academy, one can naturally address the cultivators of the six sects as brother and sister.

"Please stand still, fellow disciples. The spirit ship may experience some turbulence when it takes off."

Zhao Xiaoyao stood at the helm, reminded everyone to stand properly, and then took out a yellow talisman and stuck it on the helm.

Just as the spaceship was about to take off, a powerful voice suddenly came from the depths of the inner courtyard, "Friends of the Misty Clouds Sect, please wait a moment. This academy will accompany you."

A figure came running from the inner courtyard and, to everyone's disbelief, leaped several dozen feet into the air and landed steadily on the deck.

"This disciple greets the Dean!" ×10

The newcomer was dressed in a long, gray-blue robe. He was broad-shouldered and burly, with his robe fluttering in the snow. His white hair was tied into a braid and hung down. Although his face was full of wrinkles and he was already in his fifties, he had red lips and white teeth and an imposing presence. No one dared to underestimate him in the slightest.

This person is Zhong Liang, the vice dean of Tianwu Academy. Among the many elders of the academy, his martial arts strength is second only to Dean Pei Fei.

"Zhao Xiaoyao, a disciple of Li Xuanying of the Yanxia Sect's Xieyue Cave, pays respects to Uncle-Master Zhong."

"Zhen Jian, a disciple of Li Xuanying of the Yanxia Sect's Xieyue Cave, pays respects to Uncle-Master Zhong."

Upon seeing the newcomer, Zhong Liang, known as the Blood-Handed Buddha, Zhao Xiaoyao and his senior brother Zhen Jian dared not be negligent and quickly flew forward to pay their respects. This man was a powerful figure who could go toe-to-toe with Core Formation cultivators, and they absolutely could not afford to offend him.

Zhong Liang twisted his neck, shrugged his shoulders, and said awkwardly, "Sigh, old people are no good anymore. I almost strained my back running these few steps."

After speaking, the old man glanced at the two Qi Refiners from the Yanxia Sect, nodded and smiled, "Not bad, not bad. Fellow Daoist Li's disciples are indeed extraordinary. Although you look young, you have the cultivation of the thirteenth level of Qi Refining. You are truly a formidable young person."

By the way, will your masters be present this time as the six sects join forces to explore the Netherworld Ghost Land?

"Reporting to Uncle Zhong, for this trip to the Netherworld Ghost Land, the Misty Cloud Sect has assigned Uncle Hongtao from our sect to lead the team. My master has already gone to Golden Valley Plain to resist the evil cultivators from Wushan."

"In that case, let's set off. This place is thousands of miles away from the Divine Mirror Palace. We must get there as soon as possible to avoid delaying the important matters of the Six Sect Alliance."

Zhong Liang ignored the excited expressions of the inner courtyard disciples around him when they saw him, straightened his sleeves, called to the surprised Lin Jue, and went to the cabin to rest.

And so, the group stood on the flying ship of Yanxia Gate, traversing mountains and valleys, traveling day and night for two consecutive days, and finally arrived safely at an unnamed desolate mountain deep in the heart of Shenjian Mansion.

Lin Jue stood by the ship's railing, recalling the question his Uncle Zhong had asked him in the cabin when they set off. Even though two days had passed, he still felt lingering fear.

After entering the cabin that day, Uncle Zhong subtly inquired about Lin Jue's martial arts path. Zhong Liang was greatly surprised that such a young martial artist could join the inner courtyard so soon after entering Tianwu Mountain, and he could not believe that Lin Jue's cultivation had advanced so rapidly.

With arms like an ape, a waist like a wasp, and legs like a mantis, even with Lin Jue's innate superior aptitude, he shouldn't have been able to cultivate so quickly.

After practicing martial arts for half a year, one can advance from a martial arts apprentice to a martial artist at the Divine Power Realm, a speed that is surprisingly fast.

Faced with Uncle Zhong's suspicions, Lin Jue chose to feign ignorance, insisting that he was born with exceptional talent and had cultivated diligently all the way to achieve his current strength.

As for why he was able to advance to the Divine Power Realm so quickly, he attributed it to the various rare spiritual plants and fruits and ferocious beasts he had eaten.

Lin Jue recounted in detail his process of hunting wild beasts and gathering medicinal herbs, which made Uncle Zhong's eyes light up. He was impressed and kept marveling at it.

"A two-meter-long pig dragon, a red-scaled python with a human-like appearance, a golden lotus emerging from the precious medicinal ground, and a black bear as big as a hill... I never imagined you would have such experiences before you even entered the sect."

Before the giant ship landed on the desolate mountain, everyone noticed that cultivators from five sects, including Hengyue Sect and Yinkui Sect, were already stationed on the nearby mountain peaks.

Since it was within the territory of Shenjian Mansion, the Lingfu Sect, as the host, sent everyone talismans that could protect against wind and water.

This greatly surprised Lin Jue and the other disciples of Tianwu Mountain. They all sighed inwardly that it was indeed a celestial talisman. As long as it was worn on their bodies, no matter how heavy the snow was or how fierce the wind was, their bodies would not feel the slightest bit cold.

After disembarking and arriving at the Yanxia Sect camp, everyone learned that in addition to Zhao Xiaoyao and the other person, there were two other Yanxia Sect disciples at the Qi Refining stage who were also going to enter the Netherworld Ghost Land.

"You must be Fellow Daoist Zhong from Tianwu Mountain. It's been ten years since we last met at the Immortal Martial Gathering, hasn't it?"

An old, yet composed Taoist priest flew over from a nearby desolate mountain, looking at Zhong Liang with a broad smile and sizing up the ten disciples of the Tianwu Mountain Inner Court.

With just a glance, Lin Jue and the others felt as if a mountain had fallen on their heads, making them extremely uncomfortable and causing them to gasp for breath.

Zhong Liang took a step forward, smiled slightly, and a powerful aura rose from the ground, instantly dissolving the pressure on the ten disciples. Then, he stared at the Taoist and shouted, before suddenly raising his fist.

"You old devil, stop showing off here and come and take my punch."