Protect Our Clan Leader-Chapter 1574 - 93: Greed! I Want It All

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Immortal Palace.

[Phoenix Pavilion].

The Immortal Palace holds a revered position within the Immortal Dynasty, but with countless disciples residing within its halls, visitors are a common sight. Naturally, accommodations for esteemed guests have been thoughtfully arranged.

The Phoenix Pavilion is a refined retreat designed specifically to host distinguished female guests.

Behind the Phoenix Pavilion lies a rare grove of fire-based phoenix spirit wood, their stout trunks imposing and rugged. Their fiery red leaves sway in the wind, emanating a scorching aura akin to blazing flames.

These phoenix spirit trees are all cultivated by the Immortal Palace, with the most formidable among them having already reached Peak Level Ten.

Amidst this sprawling grove, several fire-element spirit phoenixes roost. The most powerful among them, though only Level Nine, possesses an incredibly pure bloodline, with the potential to ascend to Level Eleven—or even Level Twelve.

Even among the Immortal Palace’s myriad paradises, the Phoenix Pavilion is considered a rarity under heaven. Cultivating here not only ensures rapid progress but also nurtures one’s inner peace.

Yet within this treasured haven, smoky aromas are curling upward, reaching toward the clouds, as the air is suffused with a tantalizing sweetness of roasted meat.

"Elder Fire-Wutong," Wang Licui’s expression was tense, her face full of solemnity. "The heat is somewhat lacking. To ensure this rare 11th-grade squid tentacle cooks perfectly, I must ask you to supply another two thousand jin of Peak Level Ten deadwood."

Two thousand jin?

The one addressed as "Elder Fire-Wutong" was a burly old man with fiery red whiskers, emanating an intense and robust aura of flame.

Upon hearing this, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets: "Licui, girl, you’ve only been staying at the Phoenix Pavilion for less than two months, and you’ve already burned through tens of thousands of jin of Fire-Wutong deadwood. The stockpile I’ve amassed over the years is completely emptied by you!"

It was quite evident that this Elder Fire-Wutong was the grand overseer of the Fire-Wutong phoenix grove, being none other than the Peak Level Ten Fire-Wutong spirit tree. Within the Immortal Palace, everyone respectfully addressed him as "Enlightened Fire-Wutong."

"Elder Fire-Wutong, that’s not fair. During these days, you’ve indulged in plenty of gourmet dishes, from hot pot to teppanyaki... It’s just a matter of providing some useless deadwood, isn’t it?" Wang Licui puffed her cheeks with indignation, then sighed deeply. "Fine, fine. If this batch of jade-plate roasted squid tentacles turns out undercooked, then no one should blame my lack of culinary skill."

Over the past few months, Licui’s face seemed to grow rounder, and her complexion had visibly brightened, clearly showcasing the exceptional fare within the Immortal Palace.

"How can that do?"

Just as Elder Fire-Wutong was about to breathe a sigh of relief, a fiery red-haired girl, who appeared no older than her teens, objected with fervor.

Swallowing audibly, she clung to Elder Fire-Wutong’s arm, shaking it vigorously. "Licui-sister said the best ingredients deserve the finest spirit wood material for cooking. If it’s improperly roasted, the flavor won’t be exquisite. Grandpa Fire-Wutong, why don’t you transform into your true form and shake off more deadwood for us?"

Shake it off?

Elder Fire-Wutong couldn’t help but laugh while crying.

Rendered dizzy by her shaking, he ultimately relented, unable to refuse the plea of this fire spirit phoenix, whom he cherished like a granddaughter. With a reluctant swipe of his aged hand, he conjured an enormous pile of Fire-Wutong spirit wood.

"There’s no more deadwood. These are all premium materials trimmed during my usual maintenance. Licui, girl, use them sparingly..."

This heap of Fire-Wutong spirit wood was undoubtedly of superior quality, each piece as thick as a barrel, its crimson bark glimmering with a faint, fire-like energy.

Such high-grade Fire-Wutong spirit wood was incredibly rare—not something comparable to mere deadwood.

These materials were not only ideal for crafting fire-elemental magical treasures or high-end fire-elemental furniture and cultivation chambers but could also be converted into Fire-Wutong spirit charcoal. A small piece of such charcoal could burn endlessly, making it a beloved resource among pill masters, artifact refiners, and spiritual chefs.

Their market value was exorbitant, often difficult to obtain even for those with wealth.

"Gulp!"

Wang Licui discreetly swallowed, then smoothly brushed her hand across the Fire-Wutong spirit wood, causing the entire pile to vanish into her palm.

Sneakily, she pulled out some ordinary deadwood and tossed it into the bonfire instead.

As the flames roared to life, the squid tentacles on the jade cooking plate began sizzling audibly.

Immediately, she retrieved her cherished collection of jars and containers. Expertly, she sprinkled a variety of treasured spices and her custom-blended sauces onto the tentacles, all while skillfully flipping them with a large spatula. Her voice rang out brightly: "Here we go, top-grade jade-plate charcoal-roasted squid tentacles are about to be served!"

The overpowering aroma wafted through the air, instantly drawing the attention of everyone nearby.

Among them was Zhang Huaibing, a talented disciple of the Immortal Palace. He too was captivated by the fragrance, his nostrils twitching as his mouth began to water, momentarily forgetting his usual mantra of "This isn’t mere squid tentacle—it’s the arm of an 11th-grade deep-sea overlord, the King Squid itself!"

As the saying goes, prolonged indulgence fosters mastery; a gourmet is often a top-tier chef.

With nearly two centuries of culinary experiences under her belt, Wang Licui had become a discerning connoisseur, her kitchen skills honed to perfection, capable of adeptly preparing even the rarest ingredients.

"Delicacy is ready—everyone dig in."

Wang Licui divvied up the squid tentacles into six large bowls, ensuring Wang Ying Xuan, Lan Wan’er, the fiery-haired phoenix girl, Elder Fire-Wutong, and Zhang Huaibing each received their share.

The arm of the 11th-grade King Squid was exceptionally plump, meticulously sliced into chunks by Wang Licui for ease of cooking. Even still, each portion remained about the size of a fist, with a satisfying heft sure to please the appetite.

The squid’s tentacles were tender and juicy. With each bite, its juices exploded across the palate, mingling with the specialty sauce to deliver an unparalleled burst of flavor to the taste buds.

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