Chapter 81: Devouring Bright Rabbit

Zhao Peng chuckled, his expression peculiar. "My young friend, don't let my youthful appearance deceive you. I'm actually over a thousand years old. I just took a beauty-preserving pill when I was young, which is why I still look like a teenager."

Xu Yang blinked and replied, "Actually, I'm just like you. I'm also 100,000 years old. I'm not sure why, but I've also kept my youthful appearance."

"My young friend, you must be joking..." Zhao Peng said, speechless.

Xu Yang pouted. Why was it that no one believed him when he told the truth?

Meanwhile, the expressionless Ling Qingshu's mind was in turmoil. She knew Ancestor Xu had lived a long time, but 100,000 years — that was an incredibly terrifying span of time. She looked at Xu Yang, wondering if his words were true or false.

The group chatted and laughed as they quickly walked out of the forest, returning to where the others were gathered. Many people looked at Xu Yang with expressions of curiosity and scrutiny. At this moment, the white-robed young man had once again concealed his cultivation, so no one could discern that he was a Cavern-Heaven realm cultivator.

"Holy crap, this guy actually survived? Interesting."

"What about those three Nascent Soul cultivators? Why didn't we see them come out?"

"Are you an idiot? They must be dead. If these three came out alive, then the other three are definitely gone."

"Damn, I didn't realize he was a hidden master! The fight ended so quickly; it must have been an instant kill."

Many people whispered amongst themselves, then cautiously distanced themselves from Xu Yang. Xu Yang rubbed his nose and gave a wry smile.

"My young friend," Zhao Peng asked Xu Yang, "I've been staking out this area for two days, and there are no powerful cultivators here. How about we look elsewhere?"

Xu Yang was indifferent. "Whatever you decide is fine with me," he said casually.

"Sigh, we only have one day left before we must enter that place. I've been looking for teammates for days, but I haven't found any strong cultivators on this island to join me." As he spoke, Zhao Peng's face was filled with melancholy.

Xu Yang shook his head, speechless. "Thirty miles ahead, there's a cultivator in the Cavern-Heaven realm. I think you could try approaching them."

Zhao Peng looked at Xu Yang incredulously and asked, "My young friend, are you serious?!" He was astonished because even he, a Cavern-Heaven realm cultivator, hadn't detected any cultivators of that realm ahead, yet Xu Yang had found one so easily. Didn't this imply that Xu Yang's divine sense was even stronger than his own?

"Why would I lie to you? That Cavern-Heaven cultivator has concealed his cultivation and is barbecuing in a cave," Xu Yang said lightly. "If you don't believe me, go see for yourself."

Zhao Peng nodded, thinking Xu Yang had a point. He figured he'd know if there was a Cavern-Heaven realm cultivator ahead simply by going to check.

Under Xu Yang's guidance, they indeed found a cave on a steep slope ahead. Blue smoke was rising from the cave, and there was a wafting aroma of roasted chicken.

Xu Yang chuckled softly and murmured, "This person is quite interesting. Everyone else is preoccupied with the Deep Sea Blue Heart, yet he, a Cavern-Heaven realm cultivator, is here barbecuing."

As they approached the cave entrance, they looked inside and indeed saw an old man with frost-white hair and beard, yet full of vigor, grilling. The old man's aura was restrained, making him appear like an ordinary mortal, but his bright eyes occasionally gleamed with sharp light. This old man's name was Huang Tian, and he was a cultivator at the second layer of the Cavern-Heaven realm!

"What brings you here, gentlemen?"

Huang Tian stroked his long, silvery-white beard with one hand while flipping the roasted chicken with the other. A keen glint flickered in his seemingly cloudy eyes. A pile of seemingly ordinary firewood burned on the ground, emitting faint blue sparks and an astonishingly high temperature. The roasted chicken cooked over the flames for a while longer, gradually turning golden brown and emitting an enticing aroma that made mouths water.

"Your roasting isn't very good," Xu Yang said, shaking his head with a smile.

Hearing this, the old man immediately puffed out his cheeks and glared at Xu Yang. "What did you say? You dare to say my roasting isn't good?"

Xu Yang nodded. "Of course, it's not good. Although it has excellent color, aroma, and taste, it lacks soul."

"Lacks soul, you say? Hmph, I've lived for over a thousand years and roasted for just as long. Do I really need a junior like you to lecture me?" Huang Tian's face showed displeasure; the drooling, eager expression he'd had earlier was completely gone. Looking at the golden-brown, perfect-looking roasted chicken, Huang Tian felt a knot of frustration in his chest.

"Alright, you three have successfully ruined my enjoyment. Now, tell me, why are you here?"

"You're also looking for the Deep Sea Blue Heart, aren't you? I've found clues that suggest it should be in a certain place, but that place is extremely dangerous, so I'm trying to gather a few people to go together," Zhao Peng explained.

Huang Tian listened with an indifferent expression that clearly stated he wasn't interested. Zhao Peng talked for a long time, but Huang Tian remained silent.

"I've said all this, so are you coming or not?" Zhao Peng finally lost his temper and asked.

Huang Tian stopped what he was doing, wrinkles gathering on his brow, and chuckled slightly: "You want me to go with you? Alright, it's not impossible." He paused, then continued. "Just now, this young man said my roasting wasn't good. So, let him roast one for me. If what he roasts can truly impress this old man, then I'll go with you."

As he spoke, Huang Tian's gaze turned to Xu Yang, his face showing a benevolent smile. A faint aura of pressure emanated from him, pressing down on Xu Yang.

*Crack...* Several large rocks nearby instantly shattered into powder under the oppressive force.

"What do you want?" Xu Yang lifted his head calmly, a fierce glint appearing in his narrow eyes.

"Oh? You're quite strong, young man. You can actually withstand my pressure." Huang Tian said, startled and uncertain, immediately retracting the pressure he had just released.

Xu Yang's lips curved into a smile. "Alright, it's been a long time since I've roasted wild game myself. I'll give it a try."

Huang Tian handed Xu Yang a Life-Devouring Rabbit, then gave him all the necessary supplies, watching him expectantly from the side.

"A Life-Devouring Rabbit?" Xu Yang looked at the plump rabbit in his hands, a little surprised. The Life-Devouring Rabbit was an ancient fierce beast! Although it wasn't a top-ranked one, it was quite tragic for it to end up as barbecue ingredients.