“Finally outside!” Yuan expressed his surprise, “I didn’t expect that we stayed the whole night underground!”
As Yuan, Anna, Grace, Emma, Lily, and Xi Meili emerged from the ancient treasury, they were greeted by the sight of the sun high in the sky. They had unknowingly spent the entire night underground in their pursuit of treasures.
“Strangely, even though a whole night has passed, I don’t feel tired or sleepy at all. In fact, I feel perfectly fine and brimming with energy.” Lily muttered, as she wasn’t feeling sleepy or tired after spending the whole night inside the underground ancient treasury without having any sleep.
Anna nodded in agreement, “I feel the same way. Despite the intense battle against those grandmaster-level puppets, I don’t feel a trace of exhaustion. It’s as if I could run tirelessly for the entire day.”
“I don’t know if you’ve all noticed, but we haven’t eaten anything since yesterday morning, and yet we don’t feel hungry at all.” Grace remembered very clearly that they had their last meal yesterday morning, as they had breakfast at the tavern in Roth City after they had acquired the information about this ancient ruin from the old stall owner.
Emma paused for a moment before recalling, “Now that I think about it, our last meal was at the tavern in Roth City yesterday morning. It’s truly unbelievable that we don’t feel hungry.”
Unbeknownst to them, cultivators had the ability to sustain themselves for months without food or water. Their bodies drew nourishment from spiritual energy, enabling them to function without the need for physical sustenance.
Yuan turned his attention to his wives and explained, “We don’t feel hungry because we are now cultivators. Once a person becomes a cultivator, they break free from the shackles of mortality. Unlike mortals, we can go on for months without food or water, relying solely on spiritual energy as a source of nourishment for our bodies.”
“It also means that we can go without sleep for extended periods, even weeks or months. As we grow stronger and advance through realms, we move closer to immortality.”
Shocked, Lily exclaimed, “Oh my God! Living for months without food, water, or sleep?”
Xi Meili nodded and approached them, saying, “Indeed! In the Nine Heavens, most cultivators view food as a luxury and delicacy. Some may have a meal once a month, while others might only eat once a year. And there are even those who abstain from eating or drinking for hundreds of years. For many cultivators, food is simply unnecessary.”
Hearing Xi Meili’s explanation, the group found themselves even more astonished. The idea of people willingly abstaining from food for extended periods seemed almost unfathomable to them, surpassing the shock of discovering the existence of the Nine Heavens.
“It’s mind-boggling to think that people can go without food and water for months, or even years,” Grace remarked, her voice tinged with disbelief. She shook her head, attempting to process the newfound knowledge.
Anna, who thoroughly enjoyed eating delicious meals, couldn’t fathom the idea of going even a single day without food and water. She exclaimed, “I can’t even imagine living without eating. How can they resist the temptation of all those delicious foods? Cooking and savoring meals bring me so much joy. It’s unimaginable to go without eating for months.”
Xi Meili nodded, understanding their surprise, and explained further, “They believe that eating is a waste of time and effort. Instead, they prefer to focus on cultivating and gaining strength because strength is everything in the Nine Heavens. You’ll understand what I mean once we arrive there in the future.”
Although Xi Meili appeared to speak about it casually, she, too, had a fondness for delicious meals, just like Anna. Being a real dragon, she possessed a hearty appetite.
Despite her slim figure with perfect curves, Xi Meili could devour enough food for ten people without a second thought. Initially, her voracious appetite shocked the group as she consumed plate after plate, but now they had grown accustomed to her extraordinary hunger.
Yuan contemplated the idea of going to the Nine Heavens, expressing his thoughts aloud. “Hmmm, going to the Nine Heavens, huh?” He paused for a moment before continuing, “I think it’s too early for us to consider going there. Besides, we don’t even know how to get there.”
Yuan had a strong desire to explore this new world with his two mothers, Anna and Grace, his elder sister Lily, and his beloveds, Emma and Xi Meili. He wanted to uncover every secret and search for a way that would lead him back to Earth.
However, he hadn’t yet disclosed anything about his previous life to his wives, unsure of how they would react.
Moreover, Yuan noticed the deep connection this world had with the Nine Heavens. The abundance of spiritual energy, ancient ruins, and the presence of the massive Flying Island, which existed only in the cultivation world, all pointed to a connection between this world and the Nine Heavens. It intrigued him and fueled his curiosity.
“Darling, you’re right. It’s too early for us to consider going to the Nine Heavens. And from what Meili mentioned, it sounds like a dangerous place.” Grace agreed with Yuan’s assessment, acknowledging the potential dangers of the Nine Heavens.
Xi Meili clarified her statement, saying, “I’m not talking about going there now. I’m talking about the future. I want to enjoy this world to the fullest before we even think about going to the Nine Heavens.”
“Well enough about the Nine Heavens. Mom, let’s prepare a meal. We still have a journey to continue.” Yuan redirected the conversation, focusing on the present.
Anna, eager to replenish their energy after the intense battle with the puppets, happily responded, “We’ve expended a lot of energy fighting those puppets. Now, it’s time to replenish ourselves with a delicious meal.” She promptly retrieved the necessary tools and ingredients for cooking.
For Yuan, discussing the Nine Heavens felt like a waste of time. They were still searching for a way to reach that realm, but Yuan’s ultimate goal was not the Nine Heavens—it was finding a path back to Earth.
Yuan took the initiative to help start the fire, while Anna and Emma began preparing the meat of the violent red boar.
The boar’s massive size of over 200 kg meant they had an ample amount of meat. Storing it in a storage ring would keep the meat fresh for an extended period since time had minimal influence within the ring.
Anna skillfully roasted the boar meat over the hot flames, while Emma prepared the accompanying side dishes. The enticing aroma filled the air, making their mouths water in anticipation.
Before long, the meal was cooked to perfection and they gathered together to eat. Each bite was savored, and they ate until their stomachs were comfortably full.
With a contented expression, Yuan exclaimed, “That was delicious!” He leaned back, feeling a sense of satisfaction after finishing his meal.
Anna, sporting a satisfied smile, agreed. “Indeed, the meat was tender, crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside, bursting with flavor.”
“Grrrr!” Xi Meili, her stomach filled with food fit for ten people, let out a satisfied growl as she stretched out on the grass, spreading her legs.
Yuan observed his wives sitting on the grass, their bellies content, and suggested, “Let’s rest for a few minutes before we continue our journey toward the capital.” .
Anna nodded in agreement, adding, “Coming here was a good choice. We’ve gained a lot from this place.”
As they enjoyed their brief respite, the significance of their recent gains became clear to them.
“Indeed! We’ve not only obtained valuable resources for our future cultivation but also gained profound insights into the world of cultivation itself. It’s truly miraculous. Until today, I couldn’t have fathomed that people could live without food and water. It’s an unimaginable concept for a normal human.” Grace said this in a daze as she looked at the sky above.
Anna chimed in, agreeing with Grace’s sentiment. “Certainly, just a week ago, I could barely lift a leg from my bed. But now, after immersing myself in cultivation, I find myself capable of facing fearsome monsters that I couldn’t have imagined fighting before. At times, it still feels unreal to me, but it’s undeniably real.”
Reflecting on her own journey, Anna thought how just a week ago, she and Grace had been one entity, clinging to life. It was thanks to their son, Yuan, that she had become a cultivator and regained her health.
Yuan rose to his feet and turned to Lily, asking, “Where is our next destination before reaching the capital city of this kingdom?”
Lily, also standing up, replied, “We are currently in the territory of Marquis Rothsey. Our next stop is the Monbrook city, which lies 497 miles to the north. It is the second-largest city within the Windfall Kingdom, surpassed only by the capital.”
Yuan was familiar with Marquis Monbrook from the memories of his past life. Marquis Monbrook held the highest noble rank in the kingdom, with the largest territory among all the nobles in the Windfall Kingdom.
“Alright, then let’s head to Monbrook city,” Yuan declared confidently. He summoned the Empyreal Oblivion, his sword, and tossed it into the air, watching as it hovered effortlessly.
Anna, Grace, Lily, Emma, and Xi Meili followed suit, retrieving their swords and tossing them into the air as well.
With their swords suspended in mid-air, they swiftly jumped onto the flying blades, utilizing their cultivation prowess to stabilize themselves.
They headed toward the north, soaring through the sky with remarkable speed on their flying sword.
