Siheyuan: A master brewer starts with a jar of bone-strengthening wine!

Qiao Yuanmu casually joked, "Captain Huang, is it common for you to entertain guests in this house?"

"Absolutely!" Lei chimed in. "With so much stuff, we can't possibly leave that day. Where else would we sleep if not at your place?"

The Huang family was indeed honest. Without saying a word, they brought out several kinds of dried fish and shrimp, salted sea urchins, and freshly roasted dried squid, and put them all on the table to serve Liu Dong and his group.

Vido picked up a crispy piece of grilled squid and said to Liu Dong with a smile:

"Brother Liu, the food from this little fishing village is really to my liking."

Liu Dong chewed on the savory, slightly sweet taste in his mouth and nodded:

"Well, the food isn't expensive, but it's satisfying."

The dragonfly came closer, its eyes curving into crescents:

"But I still love the way Brother Liu skewers them up and grills them, sizzling and dripping with oil!"

Ding Lai glanced at her sideways and bluntly exposed her:

"You're not craving barbecue, you just want Brother Liu to grill it for you a few more times, right?"

"What's wrong?" Ting'er tilted her head back. "Anyway, which of them doesn't want to eat? And who can pretend better than me?"

As he spoke, he winked at Wang Zhonggui one by one, bumped shoulders with Lei, and stuck his tongue out at Zhang Yuxian...

No one was wrongly accused.

Regardless of Ding Lai, Wei Duo, Zhang Yuxian, or Wang Zhonggui, Lei, and Qiao Yuanmu.

As soon as Liu Dong sets up the charcoal fire, the aroma of roasted meat fills the air, and everyone immediately gathers around. It's a race against time, and the plates are emptied cleaner than if they'd been washed.

After a hot meal of local seafood, it was late at night, and everyone went back to their rooms to rest.

Liu Dong never needs to sleep to "recharge".

He habitually uses meditation instead of rest, which is highly efficient and keeps his mind clear.

Of course, if I'm with Ding Lai, I'll stay with her and sleep for a while.

We're staying at the Huang family's house today, and since we each have our own rooms, it's not appropriate for us to stay any longer.

He chatted with Ding Lai for a few minutes, and seeing that her breathing had become even and her eyelids were closing heavily, he quietly sat down on the futon by the bed and began to meditate.

Everyone understands the principle: practice makes perfect.

But very few people can truly stick to it every day without ever slacking off.

Liu Dong is one of those very few.

The moonlight outside the window was faint, like a thin veil covering the window frame, and it also reflected his quiet face.

Cultivating oneself in this stillness leads to a calm mind, smooth breathing, and high efficiency.

pity.

Now that he has broken through to the late stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, the speed of absorbing spiritual energy is becoming more and more like drawing silk threads, so fine that it is almost imperceptible.

He knew in his heart that if he accumulated another 300 progress points, he would hardly notice it at all.

"As expected, the higher the realm, the slower the ascent," he thought silently.

With a calm mind and a tranquil heart, spiritual energy flows gently like a spring stream, quietly converging into the meridians.

Time seemed to stretch out and fade, and consciousness had long since sunk into a state of clarity.

After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly stiffened and opened his eyes.

In the distance, on the horizon, a faint red glow lingered.

"Huh? Fire?!"

He glanced at Ding Lai, who was still fast asleep, got up, and leaped lightly outside the door.

The firelight wasn't in the village, but across the bay.

Just as I was about to go find Huang Rujiao to ask him what was going on, I suddenly heard a hurried shout coming from the direction of the village entrance:

"Brother Huang! Brother Huang, something's happened!!"

The person ran very fast, and rushed to the front in just a few steps. He was indeed a cultivator, with solid footwork.

At the same time, Huang Rujiao rushed out of the house wearing an overcoat and immediately saw Liu Dong standing in the courtyard. He paused for a moment:

"Immortal Master? You... haven't rested yet?"

"I haven't been idle; I've been practicing diligently."

As Liu Dong spoke, he waved his hand, "Don't ask me about my business yet, quickly check what's going on outside!"

The person who shouted had already rushed into the courtyard and blocked Ku Rufeng's way, panting heavily.

"Brother Huang! The boat is on fire! Quick, come and check it out!"

"What?!"

Huang Rujiao shuddered, his neck drenched in cold sweat. "Who's got a death wish, daring to burn our ship?!"

He knew perfectly well that Liu Dong and his group were no ordinary people; they were people who could doze off even while riding on clouds.

If the ship were to burn down and he were unable to sail out to sea, not only would all the spirit stones he had spent be wasted, but if he angered these powerful figures, he might not even be left with any bone fragments.

"Let's go! Lead the way! We're there right now!"

He took off running, his feet almost smoking.

Liu Dong frowned and immediately shouted to the group of people who had just been awakened:

"Don't just stand there, let's go take a look!"

He grabbed Zhang Yuxian's wrist: "Yuxian, come with me. The fire will be extinguished as soon as it appears, the faster the better!"

"Alright, Brother Liu!"

Zhang Yuxian was originally the master of the Water Spirit Pearl, so she could summon water, condense mist, and suppress flames with a wave of her hand. Extinguishing the fire was even easier for her than pouring a basin of water next to the stove.

She swiftly moved to stand next to Liu Dong.

The next second, Liu Dong gripped her hand tightly, and with a light tap of his toes, the two of them soared into the air, tearing through the night and flying away.

Ding Lai and Wei Duo didn't dawdle either, and they ran to catch up, but they were a bit slower.

Huang Rujiao hadn't run far from the village entrance when he saw two shadows whizzing past overhead, their clothes billowing in the wind.

His home wasn't far from the bay, and Liu Dong, pulling Zhang Yuxian along, landed above the fire in the blink of an eye.

Looking down by the blazing firelight, oh my goodness, it really was their five spirit stone ships, all engulfed in flames, like five torches stuck in the sea!

"Yu Xian, take action! Smother all the fires first; save as many ships as you can!"

"Understood, Brother Liu!"

Zhang Yuxian knew perfectly well that these five boats were the vessels Liu Dong had approved for sailing, powered by spirit stones, making them stable and fast.

Should we switch to another ship? That would probably take at least half a month longer!

She had barely landed, her hands still clenched, when her fingertips were already forming a hand seal with lightning speed.

In an instant, the surrounding air hummed and vibrated, and the water in the bay surged and churned, turning into dozens of water dragons that precisely coiled around each fire ship.

The water was turbulent but not reckless; Zhang Yuxian maintained extremely steady control.

The water curtain licked at the hull of the boat to extinguish the fire, suppressing the flames but not soaking the wood. Excess water was suspended in mid-air, like a transparent cover enveloping the boat.

Don't underestimate her just because her cultivation level is only at the peak of the late stage of the Celestial Immortal realm; she is indeed no match for a Great Luo Golden Immortal.

Dealing with this little fire? It's as easy as blowing out a candle.

A large crowd had already gathered below, their eyes practically popping out of their sockets:

"Good heavens! Has the Dragon King sent his daughter to put out the fire?!"

"We've met a god! Brother Huang didn't bring back a human, he brought back a living ancestor!"

"A miracle! How could mortals command the entire sea?"

"Quick, quick, look at how badly the ship is burned... We can't let it all be destroyed!"

At this moment, Huang Rujiao arrived with his men, stumbling and staggering.

He looked up and saw Zhang Yuxian finish her incantation, the last flame extinguishing into white smoke with a "hiss".

Without saying a word, Huang Rujiao knelt down with a "plop," his forehead touching the ground:

"Immortal, you saved my life! I kowtow to you in gratitude! If it weren't for you, the ship would have been reduced to ashes long ago!"

Liu Dong quickly reached out to help him up: "Captain Huang, please get up! We're counting on you to take us out to sea, thank you so much! Now, quickly check the ship!"

"Yes, yes, yes! I'll go right now!"

He scrambled to his feet and called to his men to rush onto the boat.