CHAPTER 373: 373 SURRENDER

Long Tianxi suppressed the fear in his heart and threatened Lin Bai, "Do you know that I am a professor from the Prosperous World Academy? If I disappear, the academy will launch an investigation, and you will ultimately not escape death..."

"Professor Long, we’ll talk in a bit." Lin Bai looked at him, a smile in his eyes. A Star Diamond-rank expert had foolishly stumbled headfirst into his trap; there was nothing more satisfying than this.

If Lin Bai didn’t happen to need no sleep at this moment, he would have woken from laughter in his dreams.

The cleaver in the hand of the Body of the War God danced up and down unceasingly.

After a while, all of Long Tianxi’s personal effects were stripped clean.

Lin Bai, having learned from experience, first secured Long Tianxi’s Storage Bracelet.

He considered himself a benevolent person. He decided to lift the restriction on the bracelet only after Long Tianxi was sealed into the Card, ensuring his puppet would suffer less harm.

Lin Bai’s dismissive attitude only increased Long Tianxi’s fear. His eyes widened. "Lin Bai, we can talk. I have disciples all over the world. If you want to become a Heavenly King, I can help you... Ah... Stop... Stop..."

A horrific scream rang out as his arm was chopped off by the Body of the War God.

"Stop! You can’t treat a teacher like this!" Nan Lingtian’s forehead veins bulged in frustration, but because his movements were restricted, he was anxious yet helpless.

Lin Bai steeled his heart and watched the Body of the War God operate. He had to complete the Cooking God System’s task this time; being perpetually stuck on it wasn’t sustainable.

Qing Yun watched impassively.

Their species and allegiances differed, so she felt no sympathy for these Celestials. A great battle with the Fairy World was inevitable sooner or later. Besides, she also knew that Long Tianxi wouldn’t truly die; once the Card sealed him, he’d be alive and kicking again.

...

Without the need for threats or negotiations, the ingredient processing speed didn’t have to be reduced.

The Body of the War God possessed masterful butchery skills. Its cleaver danced skillfully over Long Tianxi’s body, and in the blink of an eye, Long Tianxi’s other arm and both legs had been dismantled...

Nan Lingtian’s eyes nearly burst with rage.

"Stop... Stop! I’m willing to submit to you, like Nan Lingtian, and be turned into your puppet. I am at the Star Diamond Realm. I am much more useful than Nan Lingtian..."

Long Tianxi was clueless about the Card-sealing process. He watched, his terror palpable and his voice hoarse from screaming, as his limbs were neatly arranged to one side.

But soon after, as the Body of the War God continued to disassemble him, Long Tianxi’s voice gradually diminished, "...Lin Bai, you and I cannot coexist... I curse you to have no place to be buried when you die... May your soul fall into the Nine Hells, never to rise again... Nan Lingtian, you traitor to the Celestials, I curse you to be controlled by others, never to be free in all your lives to come..."

Even an expert of the Star Diamond Realm, with his Spiritual Power sealed, could not withstand the agony of being dismembered alive.

The moment Long Tianxi’s heart was removed from his body, his voice abruptly ceased, and the light in his eyes dimmed instantly...

The Body of the War God immediately relinquished its absolute control.

A golden Card flew from Lin Bai’s hand, enveloping Long Tianxi’s mangled remains.

A flash of gold.

Long Tianxi was absorbed into the Card.

With a flick of his hand, Lin Bai released him again. A pristine, albeit dazed, Long Tianxi stood to one side, fully restored.

Nan Lingtian was dumbfounded, unable to utter a word.

The process of being made into a puppet hadn’t affected him much, but from an outsider’s perspective, Lin Bai’s Card-sealing technique was simply too terrifying.

Was the golden Card also a Control Law Holy Artifact? Just how many Control Law Holy Artifacts are there?

At this time, the Body of the War God did not cease its work. It swung its arm, felling a section of a tree trunk. The cleaver whirled, fashioning it into a wooden platter. Then, it reached out, drew up a column of water from the mountain stream, and with a hand seal, cast a spell. The water condensed into ice, and crystal-clear ice shards scattered onto the wooden platter.

Subsequently, the cleaver in its hand swiped across the limbs severed from Long Tianxi, carving slices of meat as thin as cicada wings from various parts.

Streaked with red and white.

Glistening and translucent.

They were methodically arranged on the crushed ice covering the wooden platter...

GULP!

Nan Lingtian subconsciously swallowed.

Then, he sobered up, remembering Lin Bai’s previous mention of the essential procedures in cooking. His soul nearly fled his body. "What... what are you doing? You’re not actually going to cook the professor, are you?"

"Stop making a fuss over nothing." Lin Bai was captivated by the Dazzling Cooking, unable to tear his eyes away. He grunted, trying to suppress his unease, "Isn’t your master standing right there, perfectly intact? Xingtian is merely practicing his knife skills..."

The Body of the War God was also under his control. However, by assigning this task to the Body of the War God, Lin Bai could rationalize it to himself. Although it felt like a flimsy excuse, it eased his conscience; he could tell himself that *he* wasn’t the one turning a humanoid being into a dish!

...

Practicing knife skills? He’s clearly plating the dish!

Nan Lingtian’s brow twitched. Watching War God Xingtian calmly prepare the food, his will to resist suddenly vanished.

This fellow was born in the Lower Realm, the only Celestial from his Progenitor born with such a flawed physique, lacking even a Nameplate. His brethren were all New Celestials, each unique. Yet Lin Bai had seized his Magic Artifact. He had endured so much anguish and had likely been indoctrinated with Lin Bai’s strange ideas. His psyche must have long been twisted! How ridiculous of me to even consider collaborating with him against Lin Bai. I must have taken leave of my senses...

A small flower, plucked from the roadside, was placed on the wooden platter.

The exquisite dish instantly took form.

Golden light burst forth from the wooden platter, shooting straight into the sky.

Immediately after, an enticing aroma diffused into the air.

Qing Yun couldn’t help but sniff appreciatively, his gaze fixed on the wooden platter held by the Body of the War God, unable to look away.

Why does it smell so good?

Nan Lingtian swallowed again. He knew the plate held his master’s flesh, yet for some unknown reason, he couldn’t suppress the urge to take a bite.

Why is this happening? Is this also the Control Law? Control over taste? The Tenth Heavenly King’s Control Law seems exceptionally tyrannical!

...

[...Use cooking to vanquish an enemy of the same rank (Completed); Cooking is Sacred and Inviolable (Granted)...]

"Congratulations. You have overcome your psychological barrier and passed all the trials of the Kitchen God, truly becoming a Kitchen God. In the days to come, I hope your cooking skills will continue to help you grow. I also hope you will spread the art of cooking in this world, and make everyone fall in love with cooking and the joy of preparing food. I wish you a promising future and smooth sailing. Goodbye."

The moment the dish was complete, a notification of mission completion sounded in Lin Bai’s mind.

Afterward, he didn’t receive a new mission; instead, the Cooking God System came to an end.

After delivering its final message, the Cooking God System dimmed and then vanished from his mind.

However, the skills the system had rewarded him with remained: knife skills, recipes, the Slaughtering Technique, and more. These skills fused with Lin Bai seamlessly, as if he were born with them, ready to be used effortlessly at his command.

That’s it? What about the promised Body Snatching invasion? It’s gone! So, does that mean there won’t be any problems with the Heart of Sky Demon, or the master’s heart? Was the system truly a ’golden finger’ meant only to help him grow?

The Cooking God System’s abrupt departure left Lin Bai somewhat bewildered, feeling a sense of emptiness and a touch of disappointment...

However, the full set of skills awarded to him by the Cooking God System was quite useful.

The final reward, ’Cooking is Sacred and Inviolable,’ increased his defense thirtyfold while cooking. Although the condition was somewhat restrictive, it was almost equivalent to an invincible golden body. It seemed that the cleaver and ingredients would become standard tools in his arsenal.

Thinking this, Lin Bai waved his hand, storing the ingredients processed by the Body of the War God into his Storage Bracelet.

You don’t necessarily need to capture an enemy to cook; anything can be cooked. Although cooking on a battlefield might seem bizarre, as long as it’s practical, who cares!

Witnessing Lin Bai’s macabre act of storing the dismembered limbs, Nan Lingtian’s eye twitched. He decided that from now on, he would tuck his tail between his legs and behave. He no longer harbored ambitions of becoming a Heavenly King or possessing any Holy Artifacts. This was a ruthless individual he couldn’t afford to provoke...

...

The golden light and fragrance from the finished dish startled the Celestials in Pine Stone City.

Groups of Celestials rushed out, following the aroma.

Seeing this, Nan Lingtian’s expression changed, and he quickly said, "Alliance Hierarch, perhaps you should withdraw for a moment while I handle these Celestials. Exposing your presence prematurely might affect your plans to become the Heavenly King! Rest assured, I will not betray you again!"

"There’s no need." Lin Bai glanced back at him, took out an Enlightenment Pill, and pushed it into Long Tianxi’s mouth, helping him regain his senses. Then, full of vigor, he declared, "Tiptoeing around is not my style. From the moment I decided to send millions of New Celestials into the Fairy World, I resolved to go all out."

"..." Nan Lingtian was stunned.

"Professor Long, you’ll keep your word and help me, right?" Lin Bai turned to Long Tianxi and asked with a smile.

Their eyes met, and Long Tianxi shuddered violently. When a puppet recovered its senses, its memories remained intact.

Having taught countless students, Long Tianxi naturally understood that Lin Bai’s various tortures were intended to make him submit.

But understanding was one thing; overcoming such psychological trauma was incredibly difficult.

The scene of his disembowelment was deeply seared into Long Tianxi’s memory.

His courage had long been shattered by fear. That feeling of life helplessly slipping away, bit by bit, was something he never wanted to experience a second time.

Moreover, Xingtian was still holding the dish made from his flesh. This cast an even greater psychological shadow over Long Tianxi, eradicating any thought of resisting Lin Bai.

"Of course," Long Tianxi replied righteously. "I am at the Heavenly King’s command and will follow without hesitation."

Nan Lingtian felt a wave of dejection. He took a deep breath. Alright, my perspective was too narrow!

...

"It’s the City Lord."

"And that Celestial without a Nameplate."

"Why are there two mortals with the City Lord? Are they newly ascended?"

"The City Lord is truly fortunate. It’s been so long since Pine Stone City has seen any Ascenders. This time, getting two Ascenders, he’s going to make another fortune."

...

The Celestials were swift, arriving before Lin Bai in an instant. However, upon seeing Nan Lingtian, they all halted.

Yet, the gazes of most Celestials were irresistibly drawn to the sashimi held by the Body of the War God, their mouths watering.

Several Celestials of the Golden Realm stepped forward from the crowd and bowed to Nan Lingtian, "Greetings, City Lord."

Nan Lingtian glanced awkwardly at Lin Bai. "Alliance Hierarch..."

All the Celestials were stunned.

Lin Bai took a step forward, activated his Enlightenment Skill, and declared loudly, "The Tenth Progenitor has descended! I have mastered the path of laws and am henceforth the Tenth Heavenly King. Effective immediately, the Celestials of Pine Stone City are under my command. Those who submit will prosper; those who resist shall perish!"

A commotion erupted among the Celestials.

"The Tenth Progenitor? What kind of joke is this?"

"A mere mortal thinks he can order us around? What new trick has the City Lord devised to toy with these clueless Ascenders?"

"Hahaha, the Tenth Heavenly King! Submit and prosper, resist and perish! That’s hilarious!"

"When this mortal learns the cruel truth of Ascension, he won’t even be able to cry!"

...

"Silence!" Nan Lingtian’s face darkened as he stepped forward. "The Alliance Hierarch’s words are my words. I have already submitted to the Tenth Heavenly King. I advise all of you to join me under the Heavenly King’s banner and conquer the world together!"

"City Lord, are you serious?" a Celestial of the Golden Realm asked in astonishment.

CRACK!

A bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking the Celestial who had spoken. He shrieked and spiraled downwards. Long Tianxi, his aura fully unleashed, stepped forward and said, "I am Professor Long Tianxi of the Prosperous World Academy. I have already submitted to the Tenth Heavenly King. If I hear any further disrespect towards the Heavenly King from any of you, this man’s fate shall be yours."

"Star Diamond Realm!"

"Professor Long Tianxi!"

Cries of alarm rose from the Celestial crowd.

Some Celestials, realizing the situation was dire, began to sneak away from the group, attempting to retreat to Pine Stone City.

But Long Tianxi was faster. Without any apparent movement, several bolts of lightning materialized out of thin air, striking them down and sending them plummeting to the earth.

Being in the Star Diamond Realm was almost equivalent to possessing one’s own domain. Within the range of his domain, all his attacks could be instantaneous and arrive without warning.

Lin Bai only knew this after sharing Long Tianxi’s strength.

Long Tianxi’s domain covered a radius of over fifty li. His cultivation was in the Lightning System Rules. Within that fifty-li radius centered on him, no one could escape his attacks.

If he (Lin Bai) and the Body of the War God had attempted to use the same tactics on Long Tianxi as they had on Nan Lingtian, they would likely have suffered a great loss. Lin Bai’s strong recovery ability might have allowed him to withstand a few rounds and perhaps escape, but the Body of the War God would probably have been destroyed...

Within Pine Stone City, there was likely no one stronger than Long Tianxi. With two Star Diamond Realm experts (Lin Bai, sharing Long Tianxi’s power, and Long Tianxi himself), plus Nan Lingtian of the Platinum Realm, controlling the small Pine Stone City was no problem at all.

With Long Tianxi taking charge, Lin Bai naturally didn’t need to act personally. He gazed at the dense crowd of Celestials before him, also released his Star Diamond Realm aura, and stated calmly, "I am not a Celestial, and I harbor no particular fondness for you. If you insist on resisting, taking over an empty city is perfectly fine with me too."

The might of two Star Diamond Realm experts suppressed the restless hearts of the Celestials.

Although being lorded over by a mortal was deeply humiliating, the Celestials knew what was best for them at that moment.

Those who understood the times were wise. Survival came first.

All the Celestials knew what they had done to Ascenders in the past; their positions could be said to be irreconcilably hostile.

If this newcomer was truly determined to avenge those the Celestials had wronged in the past, they might genuinely face a massacre.

And as long as they lived, they would have a chance to witness that mortal’s eventual downfall.

This was, after all, their home ground.

In the past, there had been no shortage of astonishingly talented Ascended mortals who had caused considerable disturbances in the Fairy World. Yet, in the end, weren’t they all suppressed and reduced to playthings for powerful figures?

The more extravagantly he postured now, the more tragic his downfall would be... City Lord Nan and Professor Long must be thinking the same way, right?