Chapter 21: Cat Food Earns the Title of Daluo Golden Immortal

It was once again the familiar dinner time. Chen Xi opened the water mirror right on schedule, beginning the live broadcast. However, unlike his usual style, there was a more serious expression on his face today. The food he prepared also differed greatly from his usual dishes.

In the past, Chen Xi’s meals were always made with exceptional delicacy, with every detail covered. From the preparation of ingredients, everything was open and public, with no attempt at secrecy. But this time, it seemed somewhat mysterious. Not only were the ingredients completely hidden, but even the cooking process began midway.

Indeed, what was placed before the audience were half-finished meals. Many of the ingredients were chopped into tiny pieces, making it hard to recognize their original form. These fillings were placed into different small bowls, along with two types of white powder and four small bowls of unclear soup stock.

What is he making? The crowd was puzzled. Even some immortals who usually didn’t care couldn’t help but be drawn to the water mirror, their minds filled with curiosity. As for the celestial beasts, they were wide-eyed, afraid of missing any detail.

But the result was disappointing.

There were no elaborate and dazzling techniques like before. Chen Xi simply and roughly tossed all the fillings into one large bowl. After adding a proper amount of cornmeal and flour, he continued with his simple method, kneading the mixture. Finally, he divided the dough into small pieces and placed them into a stone tray filled with holes, declaring the job complete.

There was nothing that would wow anyone. It wasn’t something that made one’s mouth water just by looking at it. Who would have thought that after all the buildup, Chen Xi would end up making something like this?

Was it finished? Watching as Chen Xi placed the stone tray over the fire to roast, the crowd fell silent, unable to snap out of their daze.

In fact, Chen Xi’s live broadcast had become well-known throughout the Lower Three Immortal Realms. The rumors circulating about him had only added to his fame. Despite titles like “the greatest beast tamer of the Lower Three Immortal Realms” and “descendant of an ancient beast master family” sounding somewhat arrogant, Chen Xi’s daily broadcasts of mouth-watering dishes had made these titles a fact, leaving no room for refutation.

After all, across the entire Lower Three Immortal Realms, who could claim that their dishes were so irresistible that celestial beasts would be unable to take their eyes off them just by looking at them? Even the powerful beings from the Middle and Upper Three Immortal Realms wouldn’t dare boast like that. But Chen Xi could easily do it.

As a result, the attention on Chen Xi was growing like a snowball, more and more people tuning in.

Currently, almost all the celestial beasts from the Lower Three Immortal Realms would watch Chen Xi’s broadcast at a fixed time every day. But because of this, Chen Xi’s sudden return to something so plain and simple made those who were used to his magnificent meals feel a little disappointed. Some immortals who had only recently heard of him found it laughable.

“Is this the beast master you’ve all been hyping up to be nearly a god?” an immortal, who had just heard about Chen Xi from a friend before the broadcast started, sneered in derision. His friend, unable to do anything else, had to replay the previous scenes from the water mirror to prove that what he had said wasn’t false.

“Looks like he’s run out of ideas!” the immortal shrugged indifferently, continuing to mock. “Chen Xi is just a mortal who hasn’t even lived twenty years. He’s just a little person who got lucky. Even if he truly has some innate talent and inherited knowledge from the womb, how much can he comprehend in such a short time?”

Speechless… His friend could only remain silent, listening as he continued to mock Chen Xi. The same scene was unfolding in other parts of the Lower Three Immortal Realms as well. Even some immortals who had come seeking help to cultivate their celestial beasts began to have second thoughts, doubting that Chen Xi might not live up to their reputation.

But just at this moment, Chen Xi added fuel to the fire.

“Previously, some respected individuals discussed buying my recipe for cooking meals. Although the price was tempting, I had no intention to sell. But recently, I’ve encountered some troubles, so I’ve had a change of heart.” Pausing for a moment, Chen Xi pointed to the stone tray beside him. “I have ten copies of this recipe for celestial beast food, but I’m not selling. I will only trade.”

“Ha! This thing is for sale? For trade? This mortal must be out of his mind.”

“Not just out of his mind, he’s completely dreaming. If his previous recipes were worth something, maybe. But this… Who in their right mind would trade with him?”

“Ridiculous! Does he think immortals are fools?”

A wave of mockery stirred.

These derisive comments from different immortals became a barrage of text flashing through Chen Xi’s mind. Although it was just text, the system amplified the tone, perfectly replicating the expressions and thoughts of those immortals. Chen Xi raised an eyebrow, completely unfazed. His tone became even more casual.

“As for the terms of the trade, I have special requirements. First, the person must be unaffiliated. Second, the person must be at least a Daluo Golden Immortal. Third…” He deliberately deepened his voice, “The person must cooperate with me to obtain the qualification to enter Beast Island’s secret realm in the near future.”

Silence.

When Chen Xi made the first two demands, many of the immortals sneered. But as soon as they heard the third requirement, they all fell silent.

The system displayed that all the immortals who had been mocking Chen Xi earlier were completely stunned. At the same time, it wasn’t just the system’s barrage of comments that was silent, but also the entire immortal domains where these immortals resided. Unfortunately, it wasn’t because of Chen Xi wanting to sell his recipe, it was simply due to his shamelessness.

Requiring solitary cultivators, wanting the Daluo Golden Immortal level, and asking for ten of them. The most shocking part was that Chen Xi was planning to enter the Beast Island Secret Realm! A mere mortal, wanting to enter the Beast Island Secret Realm—did he think he was going to become the master of the island?

One second, two seconds, three seconds…

After a brief moment of silence, all the immortals burst into laughter.

“Hahahaha, this is utterly ridiculous! A mere mortal wants to enter the Beast Island Secret Realm? Why doesn’t he try to ascend to the heavens instead?”

“No, hasn’t he already ascended? He’s a mortal who’s already ascended to the Immortal Realm!”

At this point, it wasn’t just mockery, it was personal attack-level ridicule.

For these immortals, Chen Xi’s origin as a mortal, his ability to use formations, his suspected comprehension of the Heavenly Dao, and his skill in beast taming had once made him seem mysterious and even somewhat intimidating. However, the arrogance and disregard he displayed in this live broadcast almost completely overturned his previously low-key image, making him seem foolishly conceited.

What was the Beast Island Secret Realm like? What level of cultivation was required to enter? How could a simple recipe make them submit and accept his conditions? Chen Xi was clearly overestimating himself.

These immortals, who believed they understood the limits of the world and the power of the heavens, saw Chen Xi’s actions as nothing but a daydream—a tale of fantasy.

But just when they were about to continue their malicious words, reality slapped them hard in the face.

Just like the ever-changing formations within the Beast Island Secret Realm, Chen Xi’s dish could not be judged until it was fully tasted.

No one could have expected that the seemingly ordinary baking tray would change instantly after Chen Xi placed a small fish on it. The fragrance that quickly filled the entire cave like a deep-water bomb was overwhelming.

As the heat of the stone plate slowly cooked the fish, it expelled excess moisture, leaving behind the most nutritious fish meat. The steam, infused with the unique freshness of the fish, returned that freshness fully, creating a rich, fragrant aroma that made everyone salivate.

And this was just the beginning. After placing the small fish, Chen Xi filled the remaining spaces with thinly sliced meats.

Beef, chicken, shrimp, shellfish, and even intricately carved flower-shaped cherry fish. The different types of meat, separated by the fish, occupied their respective spaces. The dough beneath them gradually absorbed the oil released during the cooking process, and its flavor was thoroughly enhanced.

The rich taste of beef, the delicate texture of chicken, the freshness of shrimp, the tenderness of shellfish, and the unique softness of cherry fish blended together perfectly, each complementing the other. Under the influence of heat, they transformed into a stunningly delicious feast. Even the stone tray, which had looked rough and ugly before, became full of charm with the arrangement of the ingredients.

It almost gave the illusion that those regular patterns on the stone tray were part of an intricate formation, designed by Chen Xi himself, mesmerizing those watching. Even though they were ashamed, they couldn’t help but watch in awe, saliva dripping.

Several Moonshadow Celestial Beasts obediently sat in front of their bowls, waiting for Chen Xi’s feeding. The Moonlight Celestial Beast jumped onto the stone table to get a closer look at the dish, which was so different from the usual ones. As for the immortals who had mocked Chen Xi, they were now wide-eyed, unable to speak. They couldn’t even come up with a phrase like “maybe he’s just pretending.”

The immortals who had ridiculed Chen Xi lowered their heads in shame, their faces turning red. It was only now that they realized their mistake.

What is the limit of the heavens and earth? In the realm of cooking for Celestial Beasts, Chen Xi was the true master of the heavens and earth!

—

As time passed, the dish on the stone plate was finally cooked. The small fish, after being roasted, became a delicate strip with its silver skin perfectly preserved, shimmering in the light, giving off an unexpectedly luxurious aura. The thinly sliced meats, after losing moisture, became as thin as cicada wings. Even without tasting it, one could sense its crispy texture that would melt in the mouth.

But these were not the most shocking parts. What truly amazed everyone were the small dough pieces that had seemed so ordinary at first. After Chen Xi removed them from the stone tray, they turned into crisp little morsels, neatly gathered in a jade bowl, with the silver fish and various dried meats adding more layers to the crispiness.

Although each piece is only about the size of half a fingernail, their round and plump appearance is incredibly cute. The key is that each one contains a rich broth, and just one bite is enough to have your tongue and taste buds completely conquered by the natural and delicious flavor. With just a few pieces, one would instantly be hooked.

“Meow~” The impatient Moonshadow Celestial Beast had already lifted its small bowl and buried its head inside, eating with abandon. As for the Moonlight Celestial Beast, it too, rarely indulged in this kind of “common food” that didn’t appear to be very fancy.

Chen Xi watched as it slowly rolled the cat bean into its mouth, and immediately noticed that the Moonlight Celestial Beast wasn’t particularly fond of it. It was simply going along with the live stream. This little, adorable thought made Chen Xi’s heart soften, and he couldn’t help but whisper near its ear, “Eat a little, and I’ll make you a big feast later.”

Perhaps because of his good mood, Chen Xi’s originally gentle voice became even more soothing, like a spring breeze. The smile in his eyes and brows was far gentler than his tone, making one feel immersed in it. The Moonlight Celestial Beast turned its head upon hearing the sound, gazed into his eyes, and somehow, its ears turned red.

It tilted its head slightly to the side, then raised its front paw and gently pressed it against Chen Xi’s face.

Smile, no matter how pretty the smile is, it won’t charm this lord! Today’s meal is lacking, so you must be severely punished.

—

While the Moonshadow Celestial Beast was eating happily, the situation among the immortals was in complete chaos.

It wasn’t until the final product was revealed that they finally realized what Chen Xi’s words about the “cat’s staple food” really meant.

This was a beast ball.

Chen Xi’s previous meals had mostly been prepared on the spot, but for immortals who needed to cultivate, most of them didn’t have the time to stay by their celestial beasts every day for meals like Chen Xi did. This cat’s staple food completely solved that problem.

From the entire process that Chen Xi demonstrated in the live stream, it was clear that the method of making it was quite simple. As long as they had his recipe, they could easily produce it in large quantities and carry it around. As for the celestial beasts, it was clear that compared to the beast ball, they preferred Chen Xi’s staple food.

Even those high-level celestial beasts who didn’t need daily meals would probably not mind having some as occasional treats to chew on.

Moreover, the most important point, and the reason why the immortals were so flustered, was the immense economic value that these recipes could bring.

For immortals in the immortal realm, celestial beasts were the most important part of their expenses. Many people would spend their entire savings to buy a bottle of premium beast balls. As for Beast Tamers, they were one of the wealthiest professions recognized throughout the immortal realm. Therefore, whoever could get Chen Xi’s recipe would have the potential to make a huge fortune in the future.

Even if they couldn’t make a meal as mouthwatering as the one shown in Chen Xi’s live stream, as long as Chen Xi’s name was on it, there would definitely be buyers.

With this thought, almost all the immortals couldn’t help but feel envious. Especially those rogue immortals with the cultivation of Daluo Golden Immortals, who were eager to act. As for the mockery they had made earlier about whether a mortal like Chen Xi could enter Beast Island, all those trivial matters had long been forgotten.

What mattered to them now was Chen Xi’s soon-to-be-released staple food recipe.

—

For the next three days, the atmosphere in the Lower Three Immortal Realm changed dramatically.

Chen Xi’s high-profile declaration in the live stream had stirred up the previously calm waters of the Lower Three Immortal Realm. The Beast Island Secret Realm, which had originally not attracted many top-tier experts, had now become the focus of everyone’s attention. After all, Chen Xi had made his intentions clear. He demanded that the ten Daluo Golden Immortals who exchanged recipes must ensure his entry into the secret realm.

As a result, all the Daluo Golden Immortals who were eyeing the recipe now focused their attention on Beast Island. The vast majority of them symbolically sent invitations to Immortal Wuyi, and before even receiving a reply, they had already gone straight to Beast Island to settle in.

This caused the already crowded Beast Island, which was preparing for the opening of the secret realm, to become even more chaotic. In the end, more than forty Daluo Golden Immortals arrived! Nearly half of the rogue immortals in the Lower Three Immortal Realm had gathered at Beast Island. This place, which was rarely visited by even Golden Immortals, suddenly became a gathering spot for top experts from the Lower Three Immortal Realm.

At this point, Immortal Wuyi, who had previously dominated Beast Island with his cultivation, had become rather ordinary.

After all, though he was the master of Beast Island, he couldn’t match so many experts of the same realm all at once. Furthermore, those rogue immortals weren’t even from Beast Island, they operated independently, with no factions, and some of them were even his seniors. Immortal Wuyi had to treat them with respect.

This situation made Immortal Wuyi extremely uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Chen Xi made use of two instances of the 【Aura of Misfortune.】

The trusted immortal being sent by Immortal Wuyi to pressure Chen Xi had, under the influence of the aura, become utterly flustered. He believed he had been struck by divine punishment. In his panic, he spilled everything about Wuyi’s actions over the years on Beast Island, including how he had secretly placed spies, eliminated those who resisted joining the Qingyun Sect, and destroyed proud immortals who didn’t want to conform.

Especially the things related to Chen Xi—he confessed everything, leaving nothing out, detailing everything in full, causing Immortal Wuyi’s image to be utterly shattered, with no way to refute it.

On this day, within Immortal Wuyi’s immortal residence, he paced anxiously through his cave abode.

He had just received an order from his superiors, saying that the matter had escalated too much. If he didn’t handle it well, his position as the lord of Beast Island would no longer be guaranteed. Yet, even so, Immortal Wuyi saw no better way. Originally, he had planned to find a scapegoat to shift the blame and clear his name. However, with so many powerful figures on Beast Island now, he felt completely restrained. After all, no one could be sure if a powerful immortal would suddenly step out and interfere.

“It’s all that damned mortal!”

Furious, Immortal Wuyi threw the communication jade slip in his hand, nearly choking on anger. He had originally thought that after being warned, Chen Xi would calm down. As for the Xianji Immortal Domain, there shouldn’t have been any strong resistance. So, he only needed to wait for Chen Xi to either bow down or be eliminated. But to his surprise, Chen Xi had proved utterly ungrateful, even planning to forcibly enter the Beast Island Secret Realm and seize control of Beast Island. He intended to replace him.

And the condition that the recipe exchanger must be at least a Daluo Golden Immortal? Ha, that was clearly a provocation!

Thinking of this, Immortal Wuyi ground his teeth in anger and cursed, “Good one, Chen Xi. Let’s see if you even survive this!”

—

Meanwhile, in the Immortal Palace of the Nine Heavens, Emperor Qing Yang also learned of the news through the water mirror.

Taking a sip of the clear wine in his cup, he involuntarily frowned.

He had previously entered the Beast Island Secret Realm, and it indeed had some danger. The requirement to recognize a master was also quite bizarre. But Chen Xi himself was an enigma, and with his many peculiar techniques, it might actually be destined by fate.

Forget it, it’s better to go see it for myself. After all, as the Emperor’s chef, if I lose to a few foolish immortals, it would be quite embarrassing.

Emperor Qing Yang thought to himself, waving his hand to dismiss the image in the water mirror before disappearing from the Immortal Palace. As for the wine jug left on the table, if Chen Xi were here, he would immediately recognize it as the lotus wine that had mysteriously disappeared after being buried underground half a month ago.

—

Time passed quickly, and the opening of the Beast Island Secret Realm drew nearer. Chen Xi was becoming thoroughly busy, as he had to begin selecting the Daluo Golden Immortals who would guarantee his entry into the Beast Island Secret Realm.

Although many had arrived, it was all driven by interests. Their personalities varied, so careful consideration was required. For those Daluo Golden Immortals, this process of being selected was a new and exciting experience.

Everyone present was a rogue immortal, and being able to stand firm beneath the two major sects meant they all had their own unique abilities. Of course, not all of them fully respected Chen Xi, and some even thought he was just a foolish, arrogant mortal who didn’t understand how to keep his wealth hidden.

However, when the actual evaluation began, they quickly realized how foolish their original thoughts had been. They once again realized that Chen Xi was meticulous and had profound skills in beast taming.

Since Chen Xi had come into contact with them, he was always accompanied by celestial beasts, sometimes just a few, other times a whole group. Not only were there Moonlight Clan celestial beasts, but even celestial beasts from other races showed him great respect. The selection process wasn’t even entirely done by Chen Xi himself, the celestial beasts were actually the ones doing the initial screening.

The Moonmend Celestial Beast, the one with the purest thoughts among the celestial beasts, was a clan without special racial techniques but possessed the “True Eyes,” which could read a person’s heart with a single glance.

Therefore, those who were unfit or harbored ulterior motives were completely excluded. The crucial point was that those with ill intentions weren’t just excluded, but also immediately expelled from Beast Island, never to be allowed entry again.

For many immortals, this was a heavy blow. The celestial beasts were highly united, and although they appeared to have been expelled from Beast Island, it essentially meant they were abandoned by a majority of the celestial beasts in the entire immortal realm. The reason for this was simply that they had bad intentions toward Chen Xi.

“Meow~” Stretching lazily, the Moonmend Celestial Beast, having completed the final evaluation of a Daluo Golden Immortal, lazily lay on the stone table, almost dozing off. Its deep blue eyes were half-open, and even in its drowsy state, it seemed to hold the entire clear sky and ocean within them, a beauty beyond words.

Chen Xi had the least resistance to such a delicate and beautiful big cat and couldn’t help but reach out to pet its head.

“Good job.”

“Meow~” The Moonmend Celestial Beast, enjoying the petting, instinctively turned its body and lifted its head.

It wanted its neck scratched too.

With its neck slightly raised, its soft long fur was as smooth as satin. Looking downward, its front paws, raised because it was lying down, revealed little pink paw pads, making them incredibly eye-catching and almost irresistible to pinch.

Chen Xi felt a sudden urge to do just that. But at this moment, a small figure suddenly leapt onto his shoulder. Chen Xi turned his head, and it was the Moonlight Celestial Beast.

“Back already?” Seeing his proud and aloof cat master appear, Chen Xi immediately abandoned the Moonmend Celestial Beast and began to circle around the Moonlight Celestial Beast instead.

Hmph! The Moonlight Celestial Beast hooked its paw around the collar of Chen Xi’s clothes, shifting to a more comfortable position while wearing a pleased look. Such a clingy chef, only I would indulge him.

Gentle fingers combed through the disheveled fur. The familiar warmth from the fingertips and palm made one feel drowsy. Stretching its front paws, the Moonlight Celestial Beast yawned, clearly ready to close its eyes for a nap. But in just a moment, it suddenly realized something important.

It had only been a brief moment away, yet Chen Xi had already grown so close to the Moonmend Celestial Beast. And thinking back to the Moonshadow Celestial Beasts that always clung to Chen Xi and acted spoiled, the Moonlight Celestial Beast’s mood suddenly darkened. It felt that it needed to have a serious discussion with its kin about Chen Xi’s ownership.

This is my person, how dare those foolish cats keep eyeing him!

—

While the Moonlight Celestial Beast was still mulling over the need to make rules with its clan, the formation in the Beast Island Immortal Palace suddenly activated. Immortal Wuyi, with a solemn expression, led his trusted subordinates to greet the arrival of what seemed to be a immortal being of significant importance.