Divine Master Chef

After taking an anti-alcohol pellet, Xiao Jiantian returned home fresh. He went over to the courtyard to find Xia Qingyue in complete concentration. Nodding approvingly, he did not disturb her and simply laid down on his bed.

Eventually, she left her state of comprehension and joined him.

"How is it?" He wondered.

"Difficult, just as you said. I haven't come close to comprehending even the first Style..."

"I believe that you will get the hang of it eventually, Qingyue." He stated reassuringly.

"And when you do, no one at your level of profound strength will stand a chance at beating you. As a matter of fact, you'll be able to ascend several realms. In the case that you master it... well, I won't say too much."

Xia Qingyue took a deep breath as her eyes focused on him.

"Tell me something... the name of this profound art is the Mighty Heavenly Sword God Art, Xuanyuan Jiantian's most sacred treasure and the envy of the land. He put so much pride into it that he did not even consider passing it down to his successor at the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region. Yet... you, of all people in the Profound Sky Continent, have it?"

Just as Xiao Jiantian was going to speak, Xia Qingyue continued.

"Your aura and prideful temperament is something that could only belong to someone who has experienced being a mighty figure for a long period. It's as if you're a heavenly emperor in the body of a young master. Also, the people of the Floating Cloud City have witnessed you rely on unarmed techniques in fights and spars, similar to Xuanyuan Jiantian who never drew his sword. There were cases where you used a bow, spear, shield and the like... but never a sword. Yet, you know the mightiest sword art in all of the Profound Sky Continent."

"Then, don't think I forgot when you mentioned the Sword Region on our wedding night. You were drunk, of course, but with the clues you've given me... it would only make sense. Absurdly knowledgeable in the profound way, mastery of the Mighty Heavenly Sword God Art, extremely proud to the point of refusing to bow to anyone, some relation to the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region, a tendency to seek amusement as you've 'done it all before'... and even experienced in the bedroom despite being a virgin."

"With all that being considered, you wouldn't happen to be the reincarnation of Xuanyuan Jiantian himself... would you?"

"Well done, Qingyue." He clapped, somewhat impressed by how quickly she had come close to the truth.

"With all those clues I was giving you, it was only a matter of time till you'd piece it all together. Yes, I was once the legendary Xuanyuan Jiantian."

He took a deep breath, wondering if he should state the entire truth. As he had always been so mysterious, not a single person had gotten close to him since his first wife... except Ying'er. Even then, he did not tell her the truth directly.

'Why not? My wife should be able to keep my secrets...'

"Xuanyuan Jiantian himself was not fully self-made. If you search through the records of the Profound Sky Continent, you'd find three people that I used to be."

"First! Li Chen, the kind medical saint trained by Xuanyuan Xiang and lived roughly six thousand years ago. Second! Jun Zhi, the mighty expert who opposed the Divine Phoenix Sect in its rise four thousand years ago. Third! Xuanyuan Jiantian who was invincible wherever he went, even forcing god emperors to bow to him. He was born over two thousand years ago, living one thousand and six hundred of those years."

"But... there are many more names in between Jun Zhi and Xuanyuan Jiantian. Though, all of these countless names are so forgettable as I kept doing essentially the same thing over... and over... and over again. My last life as Xuanyuan Jiantian... was the very first time I ascended into godhood."

"Now that I think about it, I've surely reincarnated through the ages. Not just going progressively forward, but probably backwards or even far into the future too. Or maybe separate dimensions?" He stroked his chin. "This Blue Pole Star... is the only place where I've lived more than one life. I suppose it could be considered my 'main timeline'."

Xia Qingyue sat in silence, absorbing every piece of knowledge he sent her way. It all seemed quite absurd that there was a being who could endlessly reincarnate but seeing how confidently Xiao Jiantian spoke, she couldn't dare doubt him. "How many people share this secret?"

"Only you."

"... To think that my idol was always so close..." She rested her head on his chest.

"... You're not going to start fangirling over me, are you? If you start worshipping me, I might have to seriously file for a divorce." Xiao Jiantian joked.

"Then how do you want me to treat you?"

"As equals... or rather, the exceedingly handsome and alluring husband that I am."

"I've already been doing that."

"Is that a compliment, I hear?"

This time, Xia Qingyue did not shy away and nodded. "You're not without your merits."

"Eh..." Xiao Jiantian watched as she jumped on top of him. "Growing feisty, are we?"

"Actions speak louder than words..."

~

A hundred years after Xuanyuan Jiantian's death, over three hundred years before the current timeline.

Sitting in what used to be her master's cultivation hall, Qianye Ying'er stared at the sword in front of her. Further ahead of the sword, to the right, hanged his black cape with an azure lone wolf on the very back. Right beside the heavenly sword laid the Lord Trickster's plague doctor mask. There were other belongings, of course. His Brahma Monarch God Realm robes he would rarely wear and even recordings of all of his fights she could get her hands on, for example.

In front of the sword was a massive, somewhat accurate glorious painting of Xuanyuan Jiantian in all his grace and pride.

Even after all this time... she couldn't let go, recalling many of Xuanyuan Jiantian's memories.

It only hurt her more when she realised that her master, in fact, did develop special feelings for her but simply suppressed them... just like she, his disciple did.

"Master... I've learned the Fifth and Final Style of the Fire Branch... are you proud of me?"

She imagined his cheerful smile as he'd head pat her as usual.

'Remarkable work, Ying'er. Haha... keep going at this pace and you'll probably surpass even me someday!'

She found herself crying irresistibly before slowly regaining focus.

"Master... lend me your strength."

She grasped his cross-guard sword by the hilt and raised it from its place. Suddenly, its magnificent white blade began to shine with majesty and even the azure sword pattern across it began to glow. It looked as if the sword of the mythical Xuanyuan Jiantian was coming alive.

Under its tyrannical aura, even the Brahma Monarch God Realm's air grew heavy. Every person below the Divine Master Realm was forced into the ground in its presence... and even Divine Master's could not look upwards as Qianye Ying'er marched outside of Xuanyuan Jiantian's divine hall.

It was not long until she reached Qianye Fantian, who had been immersed in his meditation. She tabbed Xuanyuan Jiantian's sword into the ground.

"I, Qianye Ying'er, the only true disciple of Xuanyuan Jiantian and the successor of the Brahma Monarch God Realm, challenge you for the title Brahma Heaven God Emperor!"

"This day came sooner than I expected it to... didn't Xuanyuan teach you patience?" He withdrew the Brahma Soul Bell but, just as he grasped it, his entire hand exploded in flames. When he blinked at the figure of Qianye Ying'er, it was she who held the Brahma Soul Bell.

"I was about to grant it to you, Ying'er... but I see you took it for yourself."

"You have no right to protest." Qianye Ying'er spoke coldly, her eyes burning with killing intent. "A despicable man such as yourself only deserves a cruel death."

Flames emerged, engulfing the entirety of her sword. With every graceful step forward, the flames grew more ferocious. Qianye Fantian attempted to fight back with his one arm but it was a futile effort. Her flaming sword dance led to him having a hundred or so deep cuts... all constantly burning him from inside out.

"To have such a strong successor... I am quite pleased. I've completed my duty as the Brahma Heaven God Emperor." Qianye Fantian managed a smile. "One day, even the Dragon Monarch will be no match for you."

"For all of his defects... Xuanyuan was a teacher with no equal." He admitted.

"Don't you dare speak ill of my master!" With one flaming strike from Ying'er, Qianye Fantian lost his other arm.

"My... he truly is a sensitive subject. It's a great shame that he died so young. I might've disliked him but I would be a fool if I didn't admit that he would've been the perfect match for you." He laughed. "It's quite ironic that my act of convincing Xuanyuan to mentor you eventually led to my death by his very own Sword Art..."

"My master only enabled me to kill you." Qianye Ying'er stated. "Killing my dear mother for your own selfish reasons... that is the reason why you're going to die today."

"I've already forgotten how she looks and even her name. In the end, her only worth was giving birth to you." Qianye Fantian explained without a shred of remorse. "You sought strength only to give your lowly mother a higher status and better life. Her being the source of your ambition... in my eyes, was a clear weakness that I had to remove to forge you into a worthy successor."

He coughed, his body slowly burning up.

"One thing that I did not foresee was your affection for Xuanyuan Jiantian and the way he would care for you.... alas, it did work out in the end."

"Perish... fiend!"

She dragged out his Brahma inheritance before turning around and walking off, leaving him in flames. The three Brahma Gods had all gathered as soon as she left the hall, bowing their heads low. Behind them were the Brahma Kings and even behind them were countless Divine Master Realm experts.

"The Brahma Heaven God Emperor was slain by me in single combat for his treacherous act of killing my mother and dispersing the blame on the Crown Prince, whom he too killed along with his mother!"

The crowd of mighty experts exploded into a wide array of discussions but they stopped when Qianye Ying'er raised her sword.

"As the named successor and the strongest Brahma Heaven Clan inheritor, I, Qianye Ying'er, declare myself the 32nd Brahma Heaven God Emperor! For my first order as the God Emperor, all of the former Brahma Heaven God Emperor's concubines along with their families are to be immediately banished from the core of the Brahma Monarch God Realm!"

"It will be done, God-Emperor!" All of the Brahma Monarch God Realm's experts scattered.

'It is the weak who are at the whims of the strong...' isn't that right, Master?"

~

This time, Xia Qingyue woke up Xiao Jiantian a little earlier using the same method of sending chilling energy.

"Ow... that tickled." Xiao Jiantian chuckled before getting up and dressing up. "I wanted to give you a special gift the night before. You see, naturally, you have exactly twenty-one profound entrances open. That's great and all, worthy of the title genius, but it just so happens that your dear husband is a heavenly medical saint!"

"By far the most arrogant medical saint alive." Xia Qingyue remarked.

Xiao Jiantian chuckled. "It's not arrogance if I can back it up. But for this to work, I need you to lay down on your back."

She did as he said, leading to him brandishing his "One finger Divine Opening". He had mastered it to the point of being capable of opening all fifty-four profound entrances in a mere instant.

But... where was the fun if he did it instantly?

Xiao Jiantian traced his finger across her clothed chest, opening one entrance after another. Xia Qingyue's profound entrances were opened with such efficiency that even the greatest medical experts of Primal Chaos would die from envy upon witnessing his skill!

Though, as his finger was travelling across Xia Qingyue's body, he did put a little 'spice' to it.

"All done!"

He announced with pride before laying down and closing his eyes. Meanwhile, Xia Qingyue felt the clogged cold energy accumulated from Frozen Cloud Arts usage start to flow. She felt free as a fairy... as if reborn anew.

"You'll probably want to ask me what I just did... well, it's quite simple really. I opened all fifty-four of your profound entrances to their absolute purest form."

"All fifty-four..."

"Your cultivation speed has easily doubled, if not tripled with this simple act. Enjoy it."

He yawned, almost returning back to sleep. He had a case of morning wood which he had to contain.

"You're going to miss breakfast two days in a row?"

"When you're at my level, food is just an extra luxury." Xiao Jiantian explained. "And no offence to Floating Cloud City... but ABSOLUTELY no one can cook here. It makes me want to cry to sleep..."

"Can you cook any better, then?"

"Is that a challenge?" Xiao Jiantian questioned. "You know, I miss good food so I'll show you what I'm truly capable of!"

Xiao Jiantian spent an hour preparing one of his more simple yet flawless dishes. A cheese-crust meat feast pizza! Now, it wasn't exactly a breakfast meal but he did not care. Wherever he lacked in resources, Xiao Jiantian simply made up for it through the Law of Nothingness.

(Using the Law Of Nothingness to make pizza... surely, the Ancestral God would be proud.)

In the end, he invited all of his close family to enjoy it since he had made two. Xiao Lie, Xiao Lingxi, Xiao Che and Xia Qingyue all sat patiently as the smell of heavenly pizza drifted in the air. Once ready, Xiao Jiantian's dragged out both pizzas out of the oven and placed them both onto plates on the table. With one wave of his hand, each pizza had been cut into eight equally sized slices.

"What is this dish, Jiantian? I've never seen anything like it..." Xiao Lie observed the heavenly pizza with keen interest.

"I never knew Jiantian was a chef..." Xiao Lingxi remarked. "It looks and smells so delicious!"

Putting a slice on his own plate, Xiao Che cut the edge of the pizza slice and put the triangle piece into his mouth. "Brother... this is... by far the best thing... I've ever tasted!!"

Upon chewing and swallowing the piece, Xiao Che exploded with delight.

"I'm glad you like it." Xiao Jiantian smiled, seating himself right next to Xia Qingyue. He could still feel his little brother rising up in rebellion. 'Fuck, this sixteen-year-old body is so damn horny.'

"Mnn... Jiantian's cooking is heavenly!!"

Xiao Lie nodded. "I did not know your genius extended to cuisine, Jiantian. This is a pleasant surprise. What is the name of this dish?"

"It is the Mighty Heavenly Pizza!" Xiao Jiantian announced as if he was showcasing one of the Seven heavenly treasures.

Even the usually cold Xia Qingyue did express a sense of delight upon tasting Xiao Jiantian's dish. Eventually, this feeling of delight developed as she ate more than half of his large pizza! She actually managed to smile as she looked at Xiao Jiantian.

"Thank you for the meal, dear husband."

Xiao Jiantian ate two slices as did Xiao Lingxi. Meanwhile, Xiao Che and Xiao Lie ate three. The reason why Xiao Jiantian ate so little was that he wanted to enjoy something he hadn't tasted in a while.

'What the fuck... I made these two pizza's and I only got two slices!!'

'Qingyue... she had six! I didn't know she had an appetite like her younger brother's...'

Xiao Jiantian felt like crying himself to sleep for real.

"Did you hear, brother? Brother Xiao Yulong's health has been rapidly deteriorating and not even doctor Situ could do a thing about it." Xiao Che spoke with a concerned tone. After all, Xiao Yulong had treated him quite well on the outside.

"I'm not aware of this news..." Xiao Jiantian clenched his fists as if he was truly angered by the news. "Tell me... who would dare harm a young master of the Xiao Clan?"

"Rumours say it was the bird-masked demon who visited Floating Cloud City yesterday. They were even seen walking together... and after his business was concluded, he left as quickly as he entered." Xiao Lingxi stated, with some fear in her eyes.

"Xiao Yang has gone missing as well... without a single trace of him left behind." Xiao Lie showed a concerned expression. "All of you, avoid walking alone under any circumstance... especially at night. Is that understood?"

Everyone agreed, even Xiao Jiantian.

'Bird-masked demon, huh... most certainly not me.'

Once everyone but Xia Qingyue had departed, Xiao Jiantian cleaned everything up with the assistance of his wife.

'Man... I still miss one thing.' Xiao Jiantian channelled the Law of Nothingness, imagining his long-lost love; coca-cola. To his surprise... it worked! Well, the glass bottle looked exactly as he had faintly remembered it. Now for the taste...

Xiao Jiantian swallowed the entire bottle greedily within a mere instant.

'So good... it's even better than I remember!' He smirked happily. 'The Law of Nothingness pleases me to no end!'

...

Later during that day.

Xiao Yulong, after having been left alone, was approached by a familiar figure. The very same plague doctor who had given him the poison had appeared right before him. Xiao Yulong managed to look up at the mask's lifeless golden eye sockets.

"Isn't it ironic... that the very same poison you mixed for me panned out to be the reason for your slow death." Xiao Jiantian removed his mask, revealing a devilish smirk. "You were oh so gullible and easy to use... Xiao Yulong."

"I sincerely thank you for entertaining me and exposing your envious nature further."

"Xiao... Jiantian... you set me up!?"

"No point in shouting as no one can hear you. This is our little domain now."

"Our... domain?"

"Yes, I used that very same technique to switch our nearly identical cups except I stopped time for a second. That is why you're dying now..."

"Save me... I beg of you... I swear to be... a... changed man..."

"Hmm, I'm afraid that no witnesses can remain. You will be joining your little grunt Xiao Yang in the afterlife now."

"Curse... you... Jian...tian"

"Farewell, foolish young master. The poison will erupt at this very moment."

Xiao Yulong felt his body burning from the inside out... and it was, quite literally, burning away until he eventually died. Stabbing a wound, Xiao Jiantian used Xiao Yulong's blood to write a little message.

"All sinners, beware the Masked Saint of Death..."

Switching back to his ordinary clothing, he appeared back home. Not a single trace could be linked back to him. He had completed many more difficult assassinations before, of course. After this, all of the blame would go to the plague doctor... as intended.

Afterwards, Xiao Yunhai would explode into a rage no one had ever witnessed before. Even Xiao Jiantian could hear him from his own courtyard.

"MASKED SAINT OF DEATH... DO YOU DARE SHOW YOURSELF? THIS XIAO YUNHAI WILL FIND YOU AND TURN YOU INTO MINCEMEAT... IF I DON'T, THEN I'M NOT XIAO YUNHAI ANYMORE!"

'Sheesh... I know your son died and all but just shut up already...' Xiao Juntian created a sound-proof formation around his courtyard within an instant, bringing peace to it once more. 'Much better.'