Chapter 745: Chapter 145: The Holy Land of Wen Ancestor, Eighth Extreme Realm_4
“What do you have here? The Dragon Demon just now looked rather tasty; how about a roasted dragon claw?” Li Hao asked.
Zhan Tan remembered that Li Hao had mentioned that he also enjoyed cooking, and couldn’t help but laugh, “Sure, then I must taste your cooking skills and be the gatekeeper for Bai Zu.”
Li Hao laughed heartily, waiting for Zhan Tan to bring out the Dragon Demon they had just caught. After severing its claws, Li Hao set about descaling and cooking it.
Before long, the fragrance wafted across the mountaintop.
In the front courtyard, several disciples who were reciting scriptures suddenly sensed something and took a deep breath.
“Wow, it smells so good. Is it mealtime yet?”
Following their noses toward the scent, they realized it was coming from their master’s courtyard, and they dared not disturb.
Inside the courtyard, Li Hao sliced the dragon meat and tasted it with Zhan Tan.
Such ease reminded Li Hao of the days spent in the little courtyard at Heavenly Gate Pass.
Zhan Tan had little interest in the strong-smelling dragon meat, but now, as prepared by Li Hao, it was fragrant and irresistible. She gently bit into a piece, her eyebrows involuntarily dancing, and said, “Your culinary skills seem to be even better than Bai Zu’s.”
“Have you tried his cooking?”
“Yes, the taste was extraordinary, and I indulged in it with delight. It’s a pity that the guy likes to tease my palate; once he knew I was fond of his food, he stubbornly refused to cook for me anymore, hmph!”
As Zhan Tan spoke, she let out an annoyed hmph.
Li Hao, seeing her dignity and elegance mixed with a touch of coquettish charm, couldn’t help but take a few more glances.
Zhan Tan also realized she had revealed some of her true nature and, while eating, asked, “You’re not even 30 years old; how do you know everything, and how did you cultivate it all?”
Li Hao smiled. If you had my connections, you’d be able to as well.
After eating, Zhan Tan took Li Hao to appreciate her past paintings, adopting a humble and open-minded attitude, and asking for Li Hao’s guidance.
Li Hao was not shy to comment, pointing out the shortcomings in her work.
He discovered that he could actually gain Artistic Path Experience while giving guidance.
When he pointed out the shortcomings, he received prompts of experience increase ranging from a few hundred to a thousand, not a huge amount, but a considerable sum over time.
The two of them, one speaking and the other listening, Zhan Tan, a Semi-Saint from the Saint Land of Cultural Ancestors, unexpectedly became like a student, following behind Li Hao asking for advice, and occasionally posing questions that Li Hao answered with the depth of Daoist level in the Artistic Path, making Zhan Tan feel as if her meridians were clearing and her horizons broadening.
“So that’s it, my painting was too obsessed with complexity. From the utmost complexity comes utmost simplicity; this phrase is amazing!”
Li Hao cited a line from a Daoist Scripture, gaining tens of thousands of experience, yet these words shook Zhan Tan’s Sea of Consciousness, giving her the impression that her understanding of the Artistic Path might even loosen her own cultivation on the Saint Path.
A Semi-Saint has already begun to glimpse the Saint Path, forming their own Dao. If they can perfect it, coupled with abundant Incense Fire, they can ignite three sticks of Incense Fire, achieving ascension to Saint upon the spot!
“Both complexity and simplicity are a matter of adapting to the situation, never to be forcibly pursued.” Li Hao said.
Zhan Tan’s eyes shone brightly, gazing at Li Hao intently, the more they conversed, the higher she regarded Li Hao’s State of Mind, unreachable even for a Semi-Saint like her.
It was unimaginable that he was under 30 years old. She would believe it if he claimed to be a Supreme Saint who had already awakened part of his memories.
But she knew that if this were true, Li Hao would not be wasting time here with her; he’d be following his own Dao and returning to his origin.
Li Hao settled down at Tiantan Peak, spending his days painting and discussing with Zhan Tan. She also brought out some famous paintings for Li Hao, three of which could be added to his collection. When Li Hao requested them, Zhan Tan agreed without hesitation.
Li Hao did not rush to include them in his collection immediately, as once included, the famous paintings would burn away and disappear, which would be a pity.
Besides painting, Li Hao also painted over a dozen scrolls for Zhan Tan, the initial Artistic Path Experience he gained was close to 60,000!
This surprised Li Hao; other Semi-Saints were around 50,000, but Zhan Tan surpassed that by 10,000, meaning she could potentially overwhelm others of the same realm in a clash.
No wonder she could be the Vice-President of the Flower Travel Association, considered top-tier in her level.
During this period, Zhao Qingshu came to ask Zhan Tan about Cultivation matters, but she dismissed him casually. Zhao Qingshu saw his master laughing and talking with Li Hao, feeling a tinge of unpleasantness, an inexplicable discomfort.
He simply stopped seeking his master and went into seclusion instead.
On the Artistic Path, Zhan Tan was completely convinced by Li Hao. Apart from that, she also asked Li Hao about previous battles when she had spare time.
The more she admired him, the more she believed Li Hao would go further. Although the Immortal Path was severed, with Li Hao’s talent, becoming a Saint was not difficult; it would be a pity to waste such potential.
“Whatever you need, just ask me,” Zhan Tan said to Li Hao. “Your advice during this time has advanced my painting skills to a higher level, although they still can’t compare to yours.”
Hearing this, Li Hao didn’t beat around the bush and thought for a moment before saying, “I don’t lack anything else but Cultivation Techniques. Do you have any leads on that?”
“Cultivation Technique?”
Zhan Tan was startled, somewhat surprised, as Heavenly Prides generally don’t lack Cultivation Techniques, with continuous refinement and development of their techniques being the norm.
She smiled gently, “That’s a trivial matter. Tell me what Cultivation Techniques you want; although the Cultivation Techniques of the Saint Land of Cultural Ancestors are quite unique and unsuitable for you, I can find other Cultivation Techniques for you, feel free to choose.”
Li Hao’s eyes brightened; indeed, the vice-president of the Flower Travel Association had broader connections than him and, with longer cultivation, Cultivation Techniques were not a hard thing for her.
“Then I thank you in advance, the more Cultivation Techniques, the better, as I wish to integrate the best of various schools,” Li Hao said.