Chapter 214: Wang Baole — Full Army, Advance!
Blade Edge City.
A city under the jurisdiction of Tiandao Villa.
In the past, this place was a sacred destination for many blade cultivators. People came to Blade Edge City just to catch a glimpse of the famed style of Tiandao.
However, ever since Tiandao Villa experienced a major upheaval a century ago, Blade Edge City had declined along with it.
The once-great city that held several million inhabitants had shrunk to a small city of only a few hundred thousand.
Since Wang Baole declared his intention to contest the rightful inheritance of Tiandao Villa against the Demonblade King, Blade Edge City had grown increasingly lively.
Numerous rogue cultivators and disciples from sects large and small flocked to the city, eager to witness the upcoming great battle.
On this day, outside Blade Edge City, dark clouds pressed down upon the sky.
When the soldiers atop the city wall saw an immense army surging toward Blade Edge City, their expressions changed dramatically.
One soldier shouted, "Enemy attack, enemy attack!"
But the leading general, Mo Xiu, interrupted him, "Silence. What kind of conduct is this panic? First confirm whose banners they carry."
At his words, the once-panicked wall instantly fell quiet.
Mo Xiu stared at the army and the large banner bearing the character for Yu fluttering among their ranks. He murmured, "They've finally arrived."
A soldier beside him respectfully asked, "General, what should we do?"
Mo Xiu replied sternly, "What else? Naturally, we go out and welcome Young Lord Wang into the city. We only get a few hundred spirit stones a month—no need to die for it."
That soldier, somewhat concerned, said, "But what if the higher-ups blame us?"
"Hmph!"
Mo Xiu snorted coldly. "They can't even take care of themselves right now—how could they have the mind to worry about us?"
"Your Excellency speaks wisely."
The soldier replied, then quickly called for someone to bring the general's cloak and helped him put it on.
Not long after, under Mo Xiu's lead, the city guard assembled neatly outside the city gates.
As the approaching army drew closer, Mo Xiu was the first to speak. "We respectfully welcome Young Lord Wang's return!"
"No need for ceremony. Take us to the southern camp and arrange the encampment."
Wang Baole spoke in the same casual, calm tone his master usually used.
"Yes, sir!"
Mo Xiu immediately led the army into the southern camp within the city.
As soon as the combined forces of Wendao Academy, Dayu, and the Wang Clan entered Blade Edge City, word reached Mo Wuxin in Tiandao Villa.
Yet there was not the slightest trace of anger on Mo Wuxin's face, as if he had expected the gatekeepers to behave that way.
He summoned one of his close aides and said, "Send a letter to Blade Edge City. Ask that old man Mo Yu and that little bastard exactly where they plan to face us in battle."
"Yes, my lord!"
The aide accepted the order and quickly withdrew.
Mo Wuxin then walked into a secret chamber and opened a stone box sealed with chains and talismans.
Inside was the Demonblade—a blade that had helped him seize the position of villa lord of Tiandao Villa a century ago.
"Old friend, we meet again at last. This time, we'll drink blood together and shake the world once more!"
…
In the southern camp of Blade Edge City—
Someone from Tiandao Villa delivered Mo Wuxin's letter. After reading it, Wang Baole said flatly, "Let the old thief Mo Wuxin choose the location. Just inform us when it's decided."
His tone was calm, but it carried an overwhelming confidence.
The messenger cupped his hands and said, "I will deliver Young Lord Wang's message to the villa lord. Farewell."
As the envoy departed, Mo Yu frowned and asked, "Le'er, doesn't this give that old fox Mo Wuxin the chance to set a trap?"
Wang Baole smiled. "Grandfather, any scheme is worthless before absolute power. Oh, by the way—do you have a good blade?"
"Of course I do."
As he spoke, Mo Yu took out a gleaming treasured blade from his storage ring.
"A top-grade spirit blade."
With just a glance, Wang Baole identified the blade's rank.
"Don't worry, Le'er," Mo Yu said excitedly. "I haven't been idle this past year. Not only did I refine that millennium spirit herb, I also mastered the Saint-level technique you gave me. I'm more than enough to deal with Mo Wuxin!"
He spoke with eagerness, clearly itching to face Mo Wuxin in battle.
Wang Baole murmured, "That still won't be enough."
???
Mo Yu felt his grandson was underestimating him and was about to prove himself—until he saw Wang Baole take out a Saint-grade blade from his storage ring.
The blade was still sheathed, yet even so, Mo Yu could already feel the fierce edge emanating from within.
Wang Baole said, "This blade is called Jingji. It was my spoils from the Taixu Secret Realm. I'll lend it to you for now, Grandfather."
Upon hearing this, Mo Yu's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets and locked onto the blade named Jingji—he had never wielded a Saint blade in his life.\Although Baole was only lending him the blade, even just using a Saint blade once in his life made it all worthwhile for Mo Yu.
"Then I won't be polite, grandson."
After Wang Baole handed Jingji to Mo Yu, he said, "Grandfather, I plan to continue cultivating over the next few days. Unless it's something urgent, please don't disturb me."
"Alright, alright."
Mo Yu, fixated on the Saint blade in his hands, didn't take Baole's words to heart at all.
After sending his grandfather off, Wang Baole entered his personal kitchen. During the past half-month of travel, he had carved out time every day to practice cooking.
He could feel that his Yin-Yang Taiji Harmonizing Hand was on the verge of reaching perfection. With half a month left before the agreed duel, it was enough time to break through.
Wang Baole first closed his eyes and waited until he entered a meditative state, then began cooking.
Day by day, time passed.
In the southern camp, aside from Nangong Yu, Wang Yufei, and Nie Xiuyuan, no one else saw Wang Baole again.
However, the influential elders who accompanied them were still able to eat the exquisite meals Wang Baole prepared daily.
This left all the elders in an excellent mood, and many of them thought to themselves with pride—what an extraordinary son-in-law they had!
Ten days later.
Inside the kitchen, Wang Baole finally achieved perfection in his Yin-Yang Taiji Harmonizing Hand while making a particular dish.
At that moment, Wang Baole felt a sense of elevation in both his culinary mastery and his soul.
It was a feeling he had never experienced before—not even when his blade intent reached perfection.
At the same time, thousands of miles away, in the Miscellaneous Dao Institute—
Chu Feng had just finished some work at the brewery when a familiar mechanical voice suddenly rang in his mind.
"Disciple Wang Baole's Yin-Yang Taiji Harmonizing Hand has reached perfection. Icefire Immortal Chef mastery achieved. Rewarding host with +8 in Great Dao Truth."
Upon hearing this, Chu Feng looked toward the sky and murmured, "A breakthrough right before the battle… Little Fatty plans to make a name for himself across the world this time."
"Achoo!"
Wang Baole sneezed, rubbed his nose, and muttered, Why did I suddenly choke?
Well, I should still finish today's dish first.
An hour later, Mo Yu, the Wang Clan's ancestor, and the Eighth Prince of the Dayu Empire sat together, staring at a table filled with beautiful and aromatic dishes. In unison, they exclaimed:
"In just a few days, Baole's cooking has improved again!"
The three filled their cups and picked up their chopsticks.
With just a single taste, they realized these dishes were worlds apart from anything they had eaten before.
They exchanged glances, then threw aside all decorum and began wolfing down the food.
Once they were full, the three suppressed their internal shock and immediately sat down to cultivate. The spiritual energy within that one meal was equivalent to a Path Union realm pill. While it wouldn't significantly raise their cultivation...
For Wang Baole, who was only in the Heavenly Origin realm, it meant that if he grew stronger and could eventually create Saint-grade spiritual cuisine, it wouldn't be impossible. Compared to pills, the advantage of spiritual cuisine was that it carried no pill toxins. This child's future was limitless.
Moments later, the Eighth Prince, who had finished refining the spiritual energy first, sighed, "I never thought Baole's culinary skills would surpass even the spirit chefs of my Dayu Imperial Palace. Congratulations to both of you."
The other two also opened their eyes and said, "Likewise, likewise."
Wang Baole's breakthrough didn't cause much of a stir in the camp. Everyone was secretly conserving strength, awaiting the day of the great battle.
In the blink of an eye, the day of the duel arrived.
Wang Baole rose early and, accompanied by Nangong Yu and Wang Yufei, appeared atop the command platform.
He didn't waste time with unnecessary words. With a sweep of his arm, he shouted loudly:
"By my command—full army, advance!"
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