Chapter 2497

Xu Jie's words left the three of them silent, and for a moment the atmosphere grew somewhat heavy.

Yeah, since coming to the Immortal Realm, many things have subtly changed in flavor.

Ye Zhangqing continued to advance triumphantly, quickly making a name for himself in the Immortal Realm and even becoming one of the present era's five great Yāoniè.

As for Xu Jie, Zhao Zhengping and the others, they seemed to have faded into the midst of ordinary people.

They could only hear from afar the glorious rumors about Ye Zhangqing.

The overwhelming sense of helplessness made Xu Jie feel terrible, and he found it increasingly hard to accept.

So this time, after learning by chance of an opportunity to go Beyond the Heavens, he couldn't help but follow the Bei Ming family along.

Perhaps it was to see Ye Zhangqing once, or perhaps it was the resentment and anger in his heart that made him lose his reason.

But no matter the reason, hearing Xu Jie's words left Ye Zhangqing with mixed feelings.

Looking at the smile still on the other's face, Ye Zhangqing could see a hint of forced cheerfulness.

「Third Shī xiōng................ 」

「Haha, I just had some resentment in my heart, I'm venting a bit, it means nothing else. 」

Xu Jie forced a smile as he spoke, but Ye Zhangqing said it with utter seriousness.

「Third Shī xiōng, I will definitely find a way to obtain enough heavenly treasures and earthly riches for your cultivation. 」

This simple sentence, to Ye Zhangqing, felt like a kind of promise.

Since Xu Jie and the others lack talent, we'll pile up heavenly treasures and earthly riches, just like the legendary Nine Heavens Treasure Tree.

Wouldn't that also allow a rapid breakthrough?

If talent is lacking, we'll make up for it with treasures.

As for this, Xu Jie didn't say much, just smiled, not wanting to put too much pressure on Ye Zhangqing.

Afterwards, the three sat together drinking and chatting.

They talked mostly about past events, and when the conversation got lively, they couldn't help but burst out laughing.

「Haha, you're still talking about me; back then it was Third Shī xiōng who tricked you. 」

「How could that be called a trick? Back then the ingredients were precious; you had to find a way to get more and store them. I was doing this for everyone's sake. 」

In the small courtyard, laughter filled the air.

The next morning, Ye Zhangqing woke up slightly absent-minded, not having forgotten what Xu Jie had said the day before.

After returning to his room following the drinks, he also gave it serious thought.

The only thing he could think of now was to guarantee Xu Jie and the others' cultivation speed through various heavenly treasures and earthly riches.

After all, treasures that can enhance talent do exist in the Immortal Realm.

But without discussing quantity, just speaking of the degree of improvement, it's hard to forcibly raise Xu Jie and the others' talent to the level of Heavenly Pride.

This is too difficult, too difficult.

Precisely for this reason, even in the Immortal Realm there is a saying that talent is innate—whatever you are born with, that's what you are.

Besides that, it seems there is no other way.

After thinking, there seemed to be no better solution for a while; this was all that could be done.

Meanwhile, inside a cave dwelling within the Heavenly Palace.

Beyond the Heavens, it is impossible to construct a cave dwelling; this is everyone's consensus.

After all, the strength of space differs greatly; even a supreme expert acting would find it hard to open up an independent cave dwelling.

Yet within the Heavenly Palace there do exist cave dwellings, although even in the vast Heavenly Palace their number is few and far between.

At this moment, inside this cave dwelling, a white-haired old man lightly exhaled a breath of turbid qi, gazing at the sleeping youth on the bed before him, and spoke softly.

「At last it's stabilized—you really are courting death, even eating an Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon? 」

This old man turned out to be none other than the Vice Palace Master Zhao of the Heavenly Palace, and also the master of the youth and maiden.

After returning yesterday to the Immortal City Beyond the Heavens, the two went straight to the Heavenly Palace, immediately seeking their master to have him treat their senior brother.

Just as Ye Zhangqing had guessed, Vice Palace Master Zhao also didn't know how to treat it.

After all, who would casually eat an Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon? Naturally, no one would study how to deal with poisoning from consuming one.

For a moment, he was completely at a loss, with no idea what to do.

In the end, with no other recourse, Vice Palace Master Zhao could only rely on his own formidable cultivation realm to forcibly help his disciple detoxify.

Fortunately this method worked, though it was extremely taxing, at least it was effective.

For his own disciple, Vice Palace Master Zhao could indeed be considered commendable; after expending great effort, he barely managed to pull the youth back from the gates of death.

Once he confirmed the youth was no longer in danger, Vice Palace Master Zhao finally had the leisure to scold the worried maiden beside him.

Upon hearing this, the maiden gave a meek smile and said.

「Master, it's not our fault; mainly it's because Young Master Ye's culinary skill is too superb—who would have thought an Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon could taste so delicious? 」

「Still talking about the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon? 」

Upon mentioning the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, Vice Palace Master Zhao was filled with displeasure—after all this, you're still thinking about that Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon? Are you really that oblivious to danger?

Vice Palace Master Zhao felt frustrated, wishing the maiden would improve, but she gave it little thought, speaking with a face full of aftertaste.

「It's true, Master, you weren't there then—that aroma was absolutely the most fragrant thing I've ever smelled in my life, my saliva just wouldn't stop flowing................ 」

Describing that food's fragrance as a subtle, faintly uplifting scent, his eyes were full of longing.

But as she finished speaking, the maiden added a sentence with a hint of disappointment.

「But in the end, neither I nor my senior brother got to eat any; those seniors snatched it all away, which is why my senior brother thought of going for raw meat. 」

「Back then we didn't know that this Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon ingredient needs careful handling—many parts are poisonous and cannot be eaten. 」

After hearing the maiden's account, even Vice Palace Master Zhao became interested.

With a somewhat strange expression, he glanced at the vividly described maiden, her face full of aftertaste and regret, and secretly thought to himself.

"Really, is it that delicious?"

Vice Palace Master Zhao has lived so many years, seen everything, but is there really such delicious food in this world?

If that's really the case, then he'd better give it a try.

Just that brat named Ye Zhangqing is a Yāoniè of the Immortal Realm, Huang Lao is his Protector of the Way, and his connections to the Heavenly Family are not shallow—what excuse could we find?

Vice Palace Master Zhao was secretly calculating: if he just went to demand it, he couldn't bring himself to lose face.

After all, he is the Vice Palace Master of the Heavenly Palace; even if Huang Lao and the Heavenly Family's patriarch stood before him, he could only regard himself as a junior.

Someone of his stature—how could he go begging for a meal? It would be disgraceful.

Then he could only think of another excuse, but for a moment Vice Palace Master Zhao had no good ideas.

But unintentionally, he caught sight of the unconscious youth on the bed from the corner of his eye, and an idea struck him—this could be the perfect excuse to rescue him.

"My disciple has been poisoned; he was almost dead."

Come to his place to accuse him of wrongdoing? Good disciple, as your master I can only borrow your name for a moment—don't blame me.

Having an idea, Vice Palace Master Zhao couldn't help but grin, while beside him came the girl's doubtful voice.

"Master, what's wrong with you? You're smiling so sinisterly."