All around, the villagers stared wide-eyed, mouths agape, some even drooling without realizing it. Stomachs rumbled incessantly, their appetites fully awakened. Watching Yi Tianxing savor the delicacies, many couldn't help but wish they were the one seated in his place.
"Thick and glossy sauce, rich red hue, tender and soft texture, savory and full-bodied flavor… every bite carries the same depth of taste, the seasonings perfectly fused into the fish palm itself. Now this is true gourmet cooking."
Even Yi Tianxing, after finishing, couldn't help but close his eyes and sigh in satisfaction.
But within his body, the transformation was still underway.
Ding!!
A massive influx of heavenly energy surged into his body, flowing into his flesh and blood, triggering a natural transformation. With each breath, his physique grew stronger, his strength climbing rapidly. Unknowingly, he had reached a strength of ten thousand jin.
And as he crossed that threshold, a phantom cauldron suddenly manifested within his body—an ethereal, translucent treasure cauldron. The moment it formed, it let out a clear and resonant clang.
Clang!
The sound echoed through his flesh and bones, as if his entire body was being purified by the cauldron's vibration. Muscles, bones—every fiber trembled. From the cauldron emanated an incredibly dense and powerful force, one that anchored itself to his entire body.
That immense strength—ten thousand jin—seemed to converge entirely within this black cauldron. With a single thought, he could now unleash boundless power. Even a solid rock could be crushed into dust with a swipe of his bare hand. His skin now shimmered faintly with a protective glow—ordinary blades and swords could no longer pierce his defense.
A remarkable toughness now lay within his skin and flesh.
The cauldron… was black.
[Qi and Blood Cauldron – "Black Cauldron" (黑鼎)]A manifestation of the fleshly body's refined power and vitality. This cauldron is the hallmark of a Body Refiner (炼体士). When strength exceeds a critical limit, the excess qi and blood congeal into a cauldron to contain it.
Its emergence gave his once free-flowing strength an anchor, a home—gathered, concentrated, and concealed within the cauldron. Though phantom, it could merge seamlessly with his flesh, hidden from outside perception.
"A black cauldron… and its first clang. Only after reaching ten thousand jin of strength did I form this cauldron and hear its first call. My physical foundation must be quite exceptional—and it's likely due in part to these gourmet cells I possess. Normally, an average Body Refiner would manifest their cauldron at just five thousand jin."
Indeed, to become a true Body Refiner, one must forge this Qi and Blood Cauldron—a vessel born purely from the strength and vitality of the body.
The stronger the body, the more vigorous the qi and blood. But once that vitality exceeds the body's limits, it must evolve—or risk collapse. And thus: the cauldron is born.
"Where there's pressure, there is transformation."
This transformation marks the start of a true Body Refiner's path.
The system of Body Refiners is divided into Nine Cauldrons (九鼎). The first cauldron, the Black Cauldron, corresponds to the Spirit Sea Realm (神海境) of traditional cultivators.
Black Cauldron, First Clang — this equals the first layer of Spirit Sea Realm.
Yet clearly, Yi Tianxing's body was far beyond that realm. Could any Spirit Sea cultivator withstand a full strike carrying ten thousand jin of brute force?
Even an ordinary Body Refiner at Black Cauldron, First Clang, with just five thousand jin, could crush most Spirit Sea cultivators. Let alone a monster like Yi Tianxing, whose strength was double that.
This is the sheer dominance of a Body Refiner.
Moreover, this cauldron would also serve as the conduit for awakening divine bodily abilities.
Yi Tianxing took a deep breath, and with a single thought, drew most of his qi and blood into the cauldron, which then merged into his body and vanished from view. Only he knew where it was—it could appear in any part of his body, at will.
No one could detect it.
Experienced Body Refiners, if they didn't reveal their power, looked like ordinary people from the outside. Their ability to conceal their strength was second to none.
All of this had occurred in just a few breaths—and all inside Yi Tianxing's body. No one else knew what had just transpired.
No one would imagine that a single meal had pushed him across the threshold—making him a true Body Refiner and forging his first Qi and Blood Cauldron.
This… was now his ultimate trump card.
"You truly are a culinary master, Lai He. This is the most delicious meal I've ever had. Thank you for your incredible cooking," Yi Tianxing smiled as he praised the chef, committing his face to memory.
"No need to thank me. We made a deal—I cooked in exchange for food. A fair trade," Lai He replied without hesitation. "And no top-tier chef would pass up the chance to work with such ingredients."
Yi Tianxing nodded. "I stand by my word. You gave me a true gourmet experience. So the rest of this crocodile meat is yours—do with it as you like. Make broth, roast it, it's yours now. This is an equal exchange. In this world, there's no such thing as free lunch. People must learn to survive—on their own terms."
Though his tone was relaxed, his final words carried weight.
This village might house many human survivors…
…but from the beginning, they had been too well protected by the Yang family soldiers. They lacked the baptism of blood and death, the pressure that forges resilience. Too many were used to relying on others rather than fighting for themselves.
Lai He's expression shifted slightly at these words. A spark of realization lit in his eyes, and he nodded inwardly. His gaze toward Yi Tianxing grew more respectful.
This was truth, laid bare.
Fight, and you eat. Fight, and you survive.
Just like Yi Tianxing—he had personally hunted that crocodile. He earned the right to feast. No one could question that. No one had the right to take what wasn't theirs.
In the modern world, some might call this selfish or immoral.
But here? Survival trumps morality. Food is everything. To fill your stomach is the ultimate priority.
Honestly, the fact that Yi Tianxing was willing to share the leftover meat had already made many feel deeply grateful.
This… was a man of honor.
Many villagers quietly took his words to heart, making decisions they had once been too afraid to consider.
But for now, the priority was still—filling empty stomachs.
Soon, several villagers began boiling large cauldrons of soup. Water, chunks of meat, bones—everything was tossed in and brought to a simmer.
They didn't have enough meat to go around, but a hot bowl of broth could still replenish energy and give everyone a bit of strength. At least this way, everyone would get something.
"General Yang!""Village Chief Yang, you're here!""General Yang!"
Just as the villagers were busy cooking broth, respectful cries rang out. People stepped aside, clearing a path.
Yi Tianxing looked up to see a middle-aged man in armor walking toward him. His steps were steady, full of commanding presence—the kind only a seasoned general could exude. Victorious generals, at that.
He bore a striking resemblance to Yang Yanping, only older, with streaks of age in his beard and a sharp gleam in his eyes.
He walked like a tiger and dragon—full of conviction.
"I am Yang Ye, father of Yanping. Warrior Yi, may I have a word?" the man said, his tone calm but respectful, with a glint of approval in his gaze.
"Of course," Yi Tianxing nodded, agreeing without hesitation.
The two stepped aside into a quieter spot, under the curious gazes of the villagers.
"I'm not sure whether I should call you Warrior Yi… or Village Chief Yi," Yang Ye said with a meaningful look. "When the world descended into chaos, I heard a voice from the heavens… about a man who founded a village named Xuanhuang Village, and his name was the same as yours."
"I gave my name when I entered the village. I never intended to hide my identity," Yi Tianxing replied calmly, smiling. "And yes, Xuanhuang Village was founded by me."
Yang Ye's eyes narrowed slightly. So it's true. He was indeed one of the first to found a village in this new world—a man of extraordinary talent.
Why had Yang Ye come?
Because after Yang Yanping returned and reported the arrival of a new outsider, it wasn't long before news of the crocodile feast and the glowing food reached Yang Ye's ears.
He commanded the entire Yang Army. Nothing within the village escaped his notice. The moment he heard the name "Yi Tianxing," he immediately recalled the celestial voice he had once heard. Though uncertain—after all, names could be common—it made him curious.
But now, having seen Yi Tianxing in person… he was nearly certain.