The fireball exploded in front of Ethan, turning into scattered fragments of flame before dissipating into nothingness.

But Ethan stood quietly.

Unscathed.

Not a strand of hair was burned. Not even his robe fluttered.

"So… so powerful…"

The young man loosened his grip on the stone he had been hiding behind and exhaled shakily, his heart pounding like a drum.

"An Immortal… he must be the legendary Immortal!"

In the villages, there were also people who practiced martial arts.

He had heard the elders say that once martial cultivation reached a certain height, one could transcend mortality—fly through the skies, halt aging, and live for hundreds or even thousands of years.

The person before him—

Was exactly that kind of existence.

A being spoken of only in legends.

Ethan waved his hand.

Demon flame surged outward, dark and violent, instantly enveloping all twenty flame giant loaches that were still struggling midair.

Zila—zila—zila.

The sound of flesh meeting fire rang out, and a rich aroma of roasted meat slowly spread through the mountain valley.

Flame giant loach was a rare delicacy.

Perfect for barbecue.

Its flesh contained mild yet pure energy and blood essence, a top-grade tonic even for ordinary cultivators. Even common people could strengthen their bodies and increase their vitality after eating it.

The Desolation-Annihilating Sword appeared in Ethan's hand.

With a single precise swing—

Slash.

One roasted flame giant loach was cleanly separated.

Huh.

The sword landed beside Ethan, sinking slightly into the ground.

Ethan sat down cross-legged, took out various seasonings, and calmly sprinkled them over the roasted loach in his hand.

Then he waved his sleeve.

A gentle wind rose.

The remaining nineteen roasted loaches were swept up effortlessly.

In the next instant, Ethan appeared before the young man on the cliff above.

Bang—bang—bang.

Nineteen massive roasted loaches landed in front of the boy like a small mountain.

The young man was so shocked that his legs gave out, and he sat directly on the ground.

The aroma rushed straight into his face.

His throat bobbed uncontrollably.

Hunger—primal and fierce—erupted from his stomach.

"Boy," Ethan said calmly, "I'll treat you to barbecue. No need to be polite."

"…!"

The young man's eyes widened to the limit.

An Immortal.

Treating him.

To roasted monsters.

"Try it," Ethan's voice echoed gently in his ears.

"It tastes good."

"T-thank you… Immortal."

The boy did not dare to disobey.

He scrambled forward, tore off a piece of meat from one loach, and stuffed it into his mouth.

The moment he bit down—

"Σ(⊙▽⊙)!"

"Wow—!"

His eyes lit up instantly.

The meat was tender, rich, and overflowing with flavor. The seasoning was perfect—salty, fragrant, and filled with a warmth that spread throughout his body.

It was… unbelievably delicious.

He ate.

And ate.

And ate.

Before he knew it, his belly was round and tight.

The boy sat on the ground, patting his stomach, dazed.

At that moment, a scorching heat surged through his limbs.

His bones crackled softly.

His muscles tightened, filled with explosive strength.

"What… what's happening?"

Feeling nowhere to release the power, the boy turned and punched a thick tree behind him.

Bang—bang—bang!

The trunk shook violently, bark splintering.

The boy froze.

"My strength… it's increased several times!"

Ethan watched quietly.

"This kid's spiritual root grade is quite high," he thought.

"Not bad."

"It's getting late," Ethan said casually. "Go home. Take the roasted loaches with you."

"Thank you for the hospitality, Immortal!"

The boy suddenly knelt down and kowtowed three times with sincerity and reverence.

"I'll give you a blessing," Ethan said calmly.

Before the boy could react—

Ethan appeared beside him.

A hand rested lightly on his shoulders.

White light poured into the boy's body like a gentle tide, forcibly opening his meridians and awakening his dormant spiritual roots.

From this point on—

How far he could go would depend on his own fate.

"Go," Ethan said.

When the boy looked up again, Ethan was already gone—back by the lake.

"Blessing… what blessing…?"

The boy didn't understand.

But he obeyed without hesitation.

Carrying a roasted loach in one hand, he hurried toward home.

His strength was now so great that even two loaches felt light.

Two hours later, he returned once more, taking away the last two loaches.

By then, dusk had fallen.

Ethan sat by the lake, eyes closed, quietly meditating.

The boy did not dare disturb him.

He bowed deeply one last time, then vanished into the afterglow of sunset.

For Ethan, this was merely a fleeting episode.

But for that boy—

It was the turning point of destiny.

...

Thousands of years later.

A peerless powerhouse, gazing back through the river of time, recalled that day.

The roasted loach he ate back then was the most delicious thing in his entire life.

A pity—

It could never be tasted again.

...

"Vita lemon tea… restoring half of physical strength in a short time."

Ethan examined the reward thoughtfully.

"Too useful."

He put the rewards away and began studying the formation he had just obtained.

"The Heaven-Burning Ten Thousand Fire Formation…"

"A top-tier holy-grade killing formation."

Perfect for him.

This formation's power depended entirely on the flames wielded by the caster.

And Ethan—

Possessed multiple innate flames and even a Original flame.

With four terrifying flames as its core, the Heaven-Burning Ten Thousand Fire Formation could annihilate ordinary Ultimate Supremes outright. Even Perfect Supremes would be forced to shed layers of flesh to escape.

"Wonderful," Ethan said softly.

He stood up.

It was time.

To lay the net.

Flames of four different colors bloomed in his palms and shot outward, disappearing into the terrain around the lake.

Seals shifted.

The formation took shape in silence.

Prepared in advance.

Waiting.

"Thousand Faces is coming this way," Onyx Orchid's voice sounded in his mind.

"Very good."

Ethan smiled faintly, put on the Onyx Orchid mask, and sat back down by the lake, continuing to fish—calm, ordinary, harmless.

Fifty miles away.

A man wearing a gray-blue mask moved swiftly through the jungle, aura concealed to the extreme.

Thousand Faces communicated with the cowardly mask within his consciousness.

A/N:

Extra chapters

100 power stones - 1 Extra chapters

200 power stones - 2 Extra chapters

Massage Chair - 1 Extra chapters

Luxury Car - 2 Extra Chapters

Dragon - 5 Extra Chapters

Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters

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