Early in the morning, as soon as the inn's door opened, new news from the marketplace swept in like a gust of wind.

"Have you heard? Mr. Shu Yun from Shiquan Lane recently acquired an ancient inkstone. It's said that this inkstone contains a puzzle related to the path of immortality, and if anyone can solve it, Mr. Shu Yun will reward them with a thousand gold pieces!"

"A thousand gold pieces for a reward? That's so common. It's said that Mr. Shu Yun will present the solver with a personally painted artwork.

Mr. Shu Yun's paintings are reputed to have the essence of life, priceless beyond measure."

"Hah, a bunch of ignorant commoners, fixated on Mr. Shu Yun's reward. They don't know that breaking this puzzle might reveal a longevity secret technique."

"Hiss..."

Instantly, the sound of gasping spread through the streets and alleys.

Such strange news reached Wu Zhengze's ears, but he merely shook his head and sighed, "People spread rumors endlessly. No wonder the ancients said, 'Three people form a tiger, and public mouth melts gold.'"

Every day, various strange and rare news circulated in the marketplace.

If you truly believe every single one, you will eventually lose your ability to discern and become a fool with a muddled mind.

As the news began to spread on the street, Chen Xu, with his exceptional hearing, had already heard five different versions of the "puzzle reward."

At that time, he stood by the window, having just stored the Bright Heart Gourd in the Fire and Smoke Kitchen.

He closed the window and, taking advantage of the undisturbed early morning, spent 100 Fireworks Value to enter the Fire and Smoke Kitchen again.

In the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, aside from the originally preserved Demon Flowing Juice, there was a used Puppet Mask.

And there was also an unused Puppet Mask.

The used Puppet Mask could be refried. The explanation reads: "After unlocking the mask, refry it again, knead it into a crispy ball, its aroma rich. If consumed by a demon or ghost, it has a certain chance of explosion and death."

Such strange and peculiar use truly exemplifies using a material to its fullest potential.

And in Chen Xu's possession, this isn't the only material that can be used to the fullest.

For example, "Life-Reflected Fiend" and "Spiritual Cicada Jade Robe" are spiritual materials that can be reused, even repeatedly.

Extremely intriguing.

Furthermore, the spiritual materials obtained from Pufeng Mountain include:

"Thousands of Tribulation Ashes, a handful of ashes left behind by an Evil Ghost of Bone Evil Level, kneaded with honey, maltose, brown sugar, and other sweet substances.

Steam it thrice to obtain a Tribulation Pill.

If fed to a demon, those friendly to the pill maker can gain energy to nourish their body. The closer they are, the better the effect, limited to not exceeding the effect of a Yellow Level Soul Nurturing Pill.

Each individual can only consume one.

If given to a demon hostile to the pill maker, it will bring misfortune, leading to calamity, with unpredictable effects."

This handful of "Thousands of Tribulation Ashes" is truly marvelous and peculiar.

There is also: "Ghost-Bidding Pearl, after absorbing moonlight essence for ten days, upon ghost's consent, can establish a connection with a ghost, hire it for work, and drive it once a month.

It can also be roasted into ashes in a pot, used as filling to make pastry. After ghost spirits consume it, they weep bitterly, recalling the sorrows of their previous life, unable to stop for a moment."

Additionally, there is the "Death-Seeking Tree Species."

Chen Xu currently has no opportunity to plant it, nor has he decided whether to plant it or simply steam and eat it in the future.

The "Ghost-Bidding Pearl" is the same.

Whether to consume or use it can be decided after entering the Ghost Market in early May.

Only the "Tribulation Pill" is something Chen Xu can immediately create.

One quarter of an hour in reality equates to twelve hours in the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, ample time to make a few Tribulation Pills.

Chen Xu then spent another 200 Fireworks Value to unlock the detailed method for creating the Tribulation Pill, with special focus on the Spirit Roasting Eight Techniques Fire Control Secret needed during the re-steaming.

If he relied solely on his own guesswork for this, it would be easy to make mistakes.

Now, Chen Xu, following the recipes in the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, is learning the various details and applications of the Spirit Roasting Eight Techniques, and always finds something to gain.

He anticipates that his current cultivation is still at the Meridian Passage Realm, and many spiritual materials, once obtained, can often be successfully crafted once the recipe is unlocked.

In the future, if he breaks through to the Core Formation Realm and encounters higher-level spiritual materials, he might face new challenges in crafting.

From knife skills to managing heat, to the diverse methods of frying, roasting, and boiling, among others.

What Chen Xu can think of might also be something he hasn't yet imagined.

In any case, enhancing his basic culinary skills at this stage can never go wrong.

There are still many things Chen Xu has yet to fully learn from the inn's chef, Master Hong.

Time permitting in the future, he can continue learning from him.

Preparing Spiritual Food is akin to cultivation.

During these twelve hours in the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, Chen Xu simultaneously cultivates while carefully using the small handful of "Thousands of Tribulation Ashes" to eventually craft three nut-sized "Tribulation Pills."

It's truly a small handful of ashes, made into three small pills.

The materials are so scarce, they're incredibly precious.

Once the "Tribulation Pills" were crafted, Chen Xu's cultivation progressed marginally further.

"Cultivation: Late Stage of the Meridian Passage Realm 15.6%"

It's a minor step forward, yet it's an essential part of the foundational accumulation.

Chen Xu left the Fire and Smoke Kitchen with an invisible aura of fire and smoke. He activated the Life-Reflected Fiend once more to perform a Qi absorption on the sleeping little mouse, Ah Shi, by his pillow.

Ah Shi woke up drowsily. This time Chen Xu didn't dare delay, promptly taking out a Tribulation Pill and offering it at Ah Shi's mouth.

Instructing it, "Ah Shi, eat quickly."

With half-closed eyes, the little mouse instinctively reached out with its tiny paws to hold the peanut-sized Tribulation Pill.

It opened its mouth, using its conspicuous teeth to nibble and munch on the Tribulation Pill, closing its eyes more contentedly as it ate.

"So tasty, how could it be this good? So sweet!"

Its eyes blinked as if to awaken, but shortly after chewing and finishing the Tribulation Pill, it dizzily said:

"Oh, so sweet, so lovely, Ah Shi is swoon by sweetness..."

Squeak—

The little mouse collapsed back onto the pillow, but this time, it drifted into sleep with sweet dreams in mind.

In its dream, the little mouse occasionally smacked its lips, murmuring intermittently, "So sweet, truly delicious, the Scholar's craftsmanship is excellent..."

Chen Xu chuckled.

"Like +100"

"Like +60"

"Like +30"

...

Despite the little mouse's frailty and weakness, even after consuming the Tribulation Pill, it didn't grant Chen Xu a significant amount of likes.

Yet, the little mouse's incessant praise, even in dream, eventually awarded Chen Xu a total of 350 likes, which was considered a decent gain.

Chen Xu discovered that after the little mouse consumed the Tribulation Pill, its body was indeed subtly improving, as if the hidden vitality energy had increased.

It's precisely this enhancement that lulled the little mouse back into slumber.

Chen Xu carefully tucked the little mouse into his sleeve pouch, and with the little creature in tow, left the room.

Afterward, he freshened up, had breakfast, and went with Master Wu and the others to the Prefecture Government to collect seals.

The collection of the Scholars' Seal was without any obstacles; on the contrary, the clerks at the Prefecture Government were quite helpful to Chen Xu and his companions.

Once they had received their seals, the clerk amusedly commented to Chen Xu, "Mr. Chen, tomorrow, at Qihai Mountain, Mr. Shu Yun is holding the Ancient Inkstone Literary Society. Will any of you be attending?"

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