Lee Tao stared at the monster core for another few seconds before dumping it aside.

The monster core rolled around the ground for some time before landing close to Deng Lijuan, who had her eyes closed in cultivation.

It was a mere coincidence, and Lee Tao had already moved on to roasting the tenderized meat.

“Is it done yet?” Xiao Chu asked from the side. 

Saliva had been dripping down from her mouth for some time now.

“Where’s your dignity?” Lee Tao asked in disgust as he adjusted the placement of the meat a little bit, just in case her saliva dripped on the meat.

“Food is justice, and who needs dignity in front of good food?”

“Seriously… how are you even able to eat?”

Xiao Chu was just a manifestation from the necklace he was wearing, so he couldn’t understand how she could eat and enjoy food.

Meanwhile, Xiao Chu made a growling sound at Lee Tao. 

“Don’t compare me to those low-life items!” She roared in anger. “Xiao Chu is the most powerful item in the vast universe that everyone wants to get their hand on.”

Lee Tao shrugged his shoulders.

“Powerful yet stingy item.” 

Sometime later, Lee Tao added the final seasoning on the meat before slicing a piece off into a plate.

“What about mine?”

“Cut it yourself.”

Xiao Chu clicked her tongue in annoyance. He had already cooked enough meat for the two of them yet he was still being vengeful and did not do the final portion cut for her.

‘Seriously… how does he even get any women with such a snobby attitude?’ Xiao Chu wondered silently.

She then embedded her finger with profound qi before slicing a delicious and thick size of meat on a plate.

Afterward, she stopped floating in the air and sat down on the ground as she began munching on the meat. 

Her way of eating made it seem like she had never eaten anything before.

As Lee Tao and Xiao Chu began feasting, Deng Lijuan’s aura suddenly began rising up.

The wind current started to circulate around her, causing the campfire that Lee Tao had created to be vaporized.

“What the?” Lee Tao raised an eyebrow at this sudden change of phenomenon. 

Turning around, Lee Tao noticed Deng Lijuan was greedily absorbing the profound qi embedded on the monster core that he had thrown away before.

“…”

Seeing how Deng Lijuan’s cultivation was rising up at a rapid rate, Lee Tao was somewhat speechless and jealous of her.

“You have got to be kidding with me…” Lee Tao said in disbelief.

“As expected of a descendant of the Dan Clan. As soon as they receive proper training, their cultivation base would instantly soar.” Xiao Chu praised.

And she continued, “It’s a shame that Deng Lun was unable to see this talent from her and only thought of her as a pawn to cover his disguise.”

Lee Tao nodded his head.

Sometime later, Deng Lijuan’s cultivation soared to an unimaginable height as she directly broke through multiple stages.

Within a few minutes, Deng Lijuan directly advanced into the 8th Stage Elementary Spirit Realm, just one stage above Lee Tao.

“Motherfucker, that’s some cheat!!!” Lee Tao cursed aloud when he witnessed such unfairness.

“I mean like- she’s cultivating your modified technique, which means your modification is just next level.” Xiao Chu patted his back, hoping to comfort him a little bit.

After all, he had spent a long time reaching the 7th Stage Elementary Spirit Realm yet Deng Lijuan only spent a few hours to surpass him.

“Enough Xiao Chu, I’m not a sissy or weak-willed person that would take this to heart.” Lee Tao said as he glanced at Deng Lijuan’s condition.

Advancing too quickly could be bad for some cultivators, so Lee Tao wanted to make sure that this breakthrough would not affect her future.

Checking the aura she exuded and the serene expression of her, Lee Tao determined that the breakthrough she received had gone according to the technique he provided.

Hence, Deng Lijuan’s talent was simply too frightening- to the point that he could no longer tell how far she could reach in the cultivation world.

After a while, Deng Lijuan resided her aura as she opened her eyes in joy.

“Master, I feel like my body has become stronger,” Deng Lijuan shouted happily.

Meanwhile, Lee Tao held a nonchalant expression as he nodded his head.

“Good, now strip your clothes.” Lee Tao said.

“S-S-Strip my clothes?”

Deng Lijuan unconsciously covered her chest area with her hand as she eyed him suspiciously.

‘Could it be that he wants me to repay him with my body?’ She thought.

Seeing her overreaction, Lee Tao already knew she was thinking something disgusting again.

“You just had a breakthrough, shattering your mortal shackles. That means there are impurities leaking out of your pores at this very moment. If you don’t take off your clothes to shower, then very soon, you’ll be smelling like some stinky pigs.” Lee Tao snorted coldly. 

“I-I see…”

After regaining her composure, Deng Lijuan noticed a bathtub not far from her and it was clear that Lee Tao had already prepared it for her.

Laughing awkwardly, Deng Lijuan hurried her way toward the bathtub, but would occasionally turn around to see Lee Tao.

To her disappointment though, Lee Tao seemed to have no interest in watching her undress as his vision was focused on the roasted meat.

“This is why I hate breakthroughs.” Lee Tao clicked his tongue. 

“As soon as they experience a breakthrough, some phenomenon would always occur that would affect the environment. And thanks to that, I’ll have to recook all my perfect meat again.”

Xiao Chu nodded her head in agreement.

“If I had been more meticulous instead of being blinded by the juicy meat, then I would have created a barrier around the campfire.” Xiao Chu said regrettably.

She was a foodie and seeing the food being wasted hurt her feelings.

“It is what it is…”