Chapter 23: An Unforgettable Taste

"You!" Taiyi Shen's face turned ashen, and he etched Shi Hao's image deep in his mind.

"I only agreed to withdraw, with a deadline of one hundred years." After saying so, he turned and left, and the Demon Race army surrounding the valley also retreated.

"Won... won?" someone in the crowd muttered in disbelief.

"We really won, the Demon Race has retreated." The shout shattered the valley's silence, followed by cheers roaring like thunder, as if to overturn the valley.

Millions of Human Race youths cheered exuberantly, their faces radiating the joy of surviving a calamity. They had nearly been cornered before, yet miraculously survived in the end.

From despair to hope, the massive shift poured people's emotions out like a flood.

Some, overwhelmed, fell to their knees and kowtowed toward Zhou Yi, constantly giving thanks; others raised both arms, celebrating the victory. Though chaotic, the scene brimmed with vitality.

Fuxi and the others, witnessing all this, let out long sighs of relief. Though they hadn't fought directly, their hearts had been on the battlefield. At this moment, their lingering worries finally eased.

"The Human Race now is not to be underestimated," Zhenyuanzi thought as he watched the celebrating crowd. As a neutral in Honghuang, he had always kept a tentative distance toward the Human Race.

But the strength the Human Race displayed this time forced him to reassess. These people are exceptionally gifted geniuses, each having achieved considerable feats on their own paths.

Zhou Yi dares to challenge the Saint, his unyielding will evident; and Yao Yan, Shi Hao and others also shine in their respective fields, their futures boundless.

"Perhaps I should lend them a hand; if he were still here, he would have acted long ago," Zhenyuanzi mused, full of hope for the Human Race's future.

After a sigh, his figure gradually faded.

As the incident concluded, the other great beings also departed one after another.

However, many began to take notice of Shi Hao; the abilities he displayed in battle were too mysterious, even these great beings could not fathom them, making such an incredible being naturally worthy of special attention.

"He actually..." Nüwa murmured, her aura instantly spiraling out of control, surging like a tide.

Taishang, seeing this, was horrified and hurriedly grabbed Nüwa to flee that Chaos.

At the instant they withdrew, a massive force erupted, and deafening booms reverberated through the Chaos space.

To the eyes of the Vast Wilderness World, it was merely a few extra shining stars on the horizon, unaware that the explosion's aftershock could shake the entire Honghuang.

"Junior sister, take a deep breath, calm down," Taishang, anxious, soothed Nüwa while fully casting a spell to steady her emotions.

"He has been stripped of the Human Race's destiny; how can he still possess such astonishing power?" Taishang thought helplessly, his cultivation already slightly inferior to Nüwa's, further weakened by Zhou Yi's influence.

Unintentionally, Nüwa's power recovered slightly; facing her agitated self, Taishang felt unprecedented helplessness.

After a long while, Nüwa's aura finally steadied.

"Senior brother, if the Human Race continues this way, great chaos will ensue. We must act," Nüwa's eyes showed resolve.

Taishang replied with a wry smile: "The Witch‑Lich calamity approaches; disaster's aura between heaven and earth grows denser, largely due to the Human Race's slaughter."

"If we intervene now, we may also sink into the mire. That's why I suggest first consulting the Demon Race," Taishang explained.

After hearing Taishang, Nüwa, though reluctant, understood the stakes and ceased her impulsiveness.

"Then we shall trust Taiyi Shen once more; a hundred years passes in an instant. This grievance settled, next time they'll give their all," Nüwa nodded in agreement.

The barrier on the city wall silently vanished, and the warriors battling in the sky gradually descended to the ground.

This sight thrilled the crowd below; they watched the god‑like figures intently, calling out their names.

When Shi Hao landed, the crowd automatically cleared a space for him, because the massive body of the fire raven lay like a small hill in the center. To prevent it from crushing the surroundings, the area had to be cleared quickly.

"Today we go on a massive slaughter; handling this kind of ingredient is my specialty," Shi Hao shouted excitedly, then set to work.

The blade in his hand flashed as he plucked feathers, dissected, and cut pieces with practiced, seamless motions. The huge carcass was swiftly divided into uniform chunks, neatly placed aside.

Zhou Yi watched from the side, silently praising; Shi Hao indeed lived up to his words. He not only sliced the meat precisely but also roasted each portion on separate fire pits according to its part.

Soon, flames roared, the meat sizzled, and an enticing aroma quickly spread throughout the valley.

Originally, the fire raven's imposing body commanded awe even in death. Yet as the scent drifted, people's reverence gradually gave way to a craving for the delicacy.

Even Zhu Song, who had intended to leave, saw Shi Hao's busy figure and grew curious. Remembering a story his sister told, he halted his steps.

When the aroma hit his nose, the rich scent seemed to seize his heart.

"Human Ancestor, this..." Fang Yun whispered, glancing at Zhu Song.

Zhu Song's gaze was wholly captured by the sizzling meat, his eyes full of anticipation.

"They're all foodies, it's fine," Yao Yan laughed, shaking his head, then joined the barbecue.

With his seamless cooperation with Shi Hao, the fragrant grilled meat was soon ready.

Yao Yan took on the role of meat‑distribution ambassador.

Shi Hao and Zhu Song, already famished, each snatched a large piece of meat and devoured it greedily.

Juices splattered, running down their mouths to the ground, yet they ate joyfully, paying no heed.

They were fully immersed in the culinary world, smiles of happiness on their faces, oblivious to the dripping juices.

At first, others who saw the Demon Race's meat pieces felt uneasy, daring not to take a bite.

But encouraged by Yao Yan, they mustered courage to try a bite, instantly stunned by the unprecedented flavor.

The taste danced on their tongues, making it an unforgettable bite, and they instantly fell in love with the texture.

Soon, everyone scrambled for more, and their fear of the Demon Race vanished.

Suddenly, a resonant dragon roar split the valley as a massive jade dragon emerged, its form grander than before.

【Human Ancestor summons three Human Race masters; the Ability Disc is about to activate】

Immediately after, the scenery around Zhou Yi shifted rapidly, as if a mysterious force whisked him into another wondrous realm. Before him stretched a brilliant starry sky, speckled like a dream.

A massive blue disc slowly materialized, etched with mysterious runes that emitted a faint blue glow.

Zhou Yi approached for a closer look and saw the disc displaying Yao Yan and three others' signature techniques: Fang Yun's Flourishing Literary Art, Yao Yan's Burning Decision and Alchemy, and Shi Hao's various powerful treasure arts, each arranged in separate sections.