Tofu, which is usually bland, can be made truly satisfying when eaten this way.
Then he tasted the golden-brown, square-shaped fried tofu on the plate next to him. He immediately tasted the delicate yet concentrated rich flavor of the tofu, along with the sweet and savory sauce made with soy sauce, sugar, and wine. These flavors blended perfectly with the fragrant oil, giving the smooth, warm, and light tofu a unique taste he didn't usually experience, deeply penetrating his tongue.
Angela's everyday creations, though perhaps not particularly special in appearance, possess a regal air and a divine, otherworldly quality, perhaps due to the infusion of secret fire. Just like Angela herself, the food she creates is not of this world.
The meal that Hongye cooked today, no matter how you look at it, couldn't possibly reach the level of the extraordinary. However, even Hayden, who was used to divine cuisine, couldn't belittle the quality of this mortal dish.
But speaking of which, why is it all tofu? Is it really because Momiji is a fox spirit?
"How is it? Is it to your liking?"
Hongye, standing to the side, asked somewhat nervously.
Hayden didn't answer directly. After finishing his meal, he rubbed his temples and thought for a moment before asking, "During the time of Dakini, did you really work as a servant in my household?"
This eight-cup tofu looks simple to make, but it's quite remarkable that it's made so beautifully. She was a female ninja who was once a samurai's daughter; if she hadn't served as a servant in Dakini Ten, how could she possibly be able to cook proper Japanese cuisine?
"Rather than being a servant to Lord Dajini, it's more accurate to say that as a ninja, I honed my skills by disguising myself and infiltrating various places."
Hongye said with a wry smile
"The rise and fall of the Wu family is nothing more than the fate of the times. Since we have been defeated, we should submit to the victor. It is already fortunate that no one in the clan was exterminated. Perhaps fearing that I would commit suicide, Lord Tujini did not send me to work as a prostitute to entertain customers... It is not certain that the other girls in the clan will be the same."
Although she said it with a bitter smile, Hayden could see how sad she was.
From a noble lady of the old gods to a servant and maid of the new gods, it was truly a twist of fate. Although feudal aristocrats inevitably decline, Hayden had no intention of being a fool and uttering any harsh words about class struggle at this time. That would have been far too naive.
Adding to this, the fox demon, though at least five hundred years old, looked only fourteen or fifteen or sixteen. Hayden couldn't help but reach out and pat her head.
Judging from Hongye's words and actions so far, it's clear that she has been working diligently for Dajini Tian ever since Bo Xun's defeat.
As a result, Hongye was stunned for a moment after being patted on the head, but immediately pressed her hands to her head and shrank back from Hayden's side: "...Please allow me to refuse the service tonight."
"Damn it, who asked you to do that kind of thing!?" Hayden couldn't ignore this. "How many times have I told you? I'm not interested in loli attributes!?"
Hongye immediately shook her head vigorously: "Then please don't touch my head. It's embarrassing."
It seems that the "head pat" gesture is indeed nonexistent.
"Alright, let's get back to the point. Although your cooking doesn't have the same mysterious power as Angela's dishes, it still has a very reassuring taste."
Hayden had no choice but to adopt a more serious attitude and give some feedback.
"However, consuming the secret fire is part of my body-refining process, so it's impossible for you to take care of all the meals at home. From now on, you and Angela will take turns cooking. As for the daily cleaning and laundry, that's your responsibility, how about that?"
Hongye immediately nodded happily.
However, just as Hayden was about to discuss salary with her, Hongye immediately disagreed. Instead, she suggested that she could have a meal with her in lieu of payment.
Keeping a legitimate fox spirit loli servant, only requiring him to provide her with food and shelter... this development is a bit too much like a classic fantasy legend. Although she clearly refuses sexual contact (which Hayden sees as a good thing), Hayden still feels somewhat guilty about it.
However, compared to Hayden, who was only slightly troubled by his conscience, Angela's reaction was more perplexing.
"Master, while I respect your independent judgment most of the time, Miss Hongye is far too unsuitable as a potential partner. You should at least be more selective!"
When Hongye went to wash the dishes, Angela said this to Hayden in a very serious manner.
This was the first time Hayden had ever seen her react like this.
"Your impression of Hongye has always seemed a bit strange. Why? Because she has a devilish quality?"
So Hayden asked tentatively.
Mara is a Nephalem, a hybrid of demon and god, while Momiji is Mara's grandson and descendant, thus also possessing some demonic qualities. But upon closer reflection, this shouldn't be the main point—Kallen is the daughter of the Peacock King and Hela, a pure Nephalem, and Angela has never seen anything wrong with her.
Thinking of this, Hayden joked again, "Or do you feel like your job has been stolen?"
He was really just joking when he said that.
Unexpectedly, Angela paused for a moment after hearing this, then tilted her head and replied, "My job was stolen? Not at all. My purpose and mission haven't been affected; quite the opposite, in fact. But Miss Kureha doesn't meet the basic requirements for being a master. Rather, I'd rather be myself..."
She stopped abruptly, frowned, and fell silent, as if lost in thought.
Hayden, on the other hand, was completely baffled, more confused than anyone else.
If Karen, who had discussed this issue with Angela before, were here now, she might be able to guess the logic behind Angela's words. Unfortunately, she's busier than everyone else right now and doesn't have time to go to Hayden's house for a meal.
A few days later, another loli character appeared.
After tasting the teriyaki chicken made by Momiji, Panya was both shocked and deeply worried: "I never expected that an old man would suddenly have a permanent, legally-owned loli character by his side, and a virtuous wife at that. If this continues, won't my character attributes be replaced? My only advantage will be gone! What will be the point of my existence?!"
Hayden, who was also eating chicken nuggets nearby, immediately retorted, "A person who has just become a true god saying such things, are you planning to go to Versailles?"
Having ascended from mortal to goddess, Pania now stands among the top 1% of the world's elite. If she's lost her status and reason for existence, then surely everyone else is doomed?
Besides—though Hayden's own words are a bit...unconventional—if we're talking about legal loli characters, Hayden already had one in his social circle long before Pania and Momiji, and she was a legal loli old lady. It's just that she hasn't appeared in a long time.
...On another note, isn't Momiji older than Abigail? However, neither her appearance nor her personality made Hayden realize that Momiji was actually that old.
Abigail was, after all, only a human who had lived for over four hundred years; her mindset was that of an old person.
Hongye was almost not human, and Hayden couldn't tell that her mental age was actually in the hundreds.
As Hayden ate his teriyaki chicken, he couldn't help but ponder—could the mindset and psychological maturity of immortals truly differ from humans? Professor Albion was over two hundred years old, and Abigail was over four hundred; both displayed considerable maturity and sophistication. Yet, the estimated five-hundred-year-old Red Leaf Autumn Flower didn't reflect such age in her mindset.
...As for the Peacock King, Hayden could indeed see that he was very mature. But he had lived for thousands or tens of thousands of years, so there was no comparison.
What about the other ancient gods?
Thinking of this, Hayden couldn't help but turn his head and secretly glance at Angela next to him.
He still doesn't know who Angela is.
But if Angela is truly an ancient god, or a being similar to her, then what exactly was her mindset when she viewed and treated Hayden?
Pania had joked before that if she and Hayden married, Angela would be a great mother-in-law, and Angela herself hadn't denied it. Hayden was somewhat annoyed, but things had come to this point, and he knew very well that although he had crafted and summoned Angela with the goal of making her his "bride," she didn't consider herself his bride, nor did she treat Hayden as an equal spouse; instead, she seemed more like Hayden's mother.
Perhaps she truly loved him, unconditionally. Perhaps Angela was genuinely trying to fulfill his wishes literally.
But... but sometimes what a perfect deus ex machina (AI) gives you is not necessarily what you want.
Everyone understands this principle, and what Hayden himself wants, right?
————————————————————————
Page of Wands - Upright
[Minor Arcana, Fire element, Wands deck, Court deck]
[Keywords: enthusiastic, active, new message, fool]
New challenges, new news, new opportunities, and dreams ready to be realized.
Volume Six: The Tower of Fallen Gods
189: The Great Refinement of Immortal Elixir
Outside New Yatu, to the west, lies New Sprouts.
Hayden has recently built a large, tripod-shaped house on the mountain.
Besides him and Angela, only five people in the world know about this house. Moreover, only those who understand alchemy, upon close inspection, can discover that this cauldron-shaped house is actually a pill furnace.
Indeed, it's a pill-refining furnace the size of a house! This furnace was a magical artifact that Hayden created over three months with the help of Karen, Abigail, and Professor Albion. They used pure gold and silver to forge the furnace body, connected it to the water and earth veins of the mountain, and dug a tunnel through the bottom of the mountain to guide the earth fire, all for the purpose of refining golden pills.
Some people might be wondering at this point: Hayden, Karen, Abigail, and Professor Albion—these wizards might be skilled in alchemy and potion-making, that's understandable. But how come they also know alchemy?
However, alchemy and alchemy are actually the same thing. Eastern alchemy originated from the immortal arts of the Hundred Schools of Thought, and was a method for mortals to pursue immortality and carefree life; Western alchemy originated from ancient Egypt and ancient India, and was also a magic developed by mortal priests and officials to obtain immortality, health and wisdom.
Gold is something that is hard, durable, and indestructible; cinnabar is something that is perfect, bright, and without flaw.
Alchemy, alchemy, alchemy is alchemy!
Just as pure mathematical axioms do not change with location, just as the Pythagorean theorem and the Pythagorean theorem are the same thing—alchemy/elixir making. Both of these techniques were developed in different places by mortals who longed for immortality and the ideal of "golden immortality."
Their methods may differ, but the principles are universally applicable, because truth is eternal. Ancient Egypt, ancient India, and the ancient East—three ancient civilizations in completely different locations—all developed their own alchemy/alchemy around the same time period, and there is no identifiable academic evidence to show their origins, which is quite strange upon closer examination.
Could it be that the ancient gods who fell from the heavens in the primordial era taught mortals the golden secret of immortality back then? Impossible, right?
In short, regardless of the truth, classical alchemy has evolved into modern alchemical art, and everything has been standardized. Naturally, there is no longer any distinction between alchemy and alchemy.
Hayden, after two years of accumulation and several months of learning and adapting to new technologies, has now mastered the alchemy of the ancient and modern, East and West.
Therefore, he will use this alchemy room and furnace to refine golden pills!
"Wipe the alchemy furnace to refine the marrow, fill the jade pot to extract the essence of gold."
Hayden, clad in a grey robe, sat cross-legged above the alchemy furnace, brandishing a yin-yang staff adorned with black and white snakes, and chanting loudly.
"If not forged by divine fire, how can gold be extracted from the ore? Earth Fire, come quickly!"
His words immediately flew out of his mouth like winged swords.
Taoist priests use a magic sword when performing rituals, symbolizing the divine authority and power bestowed upon them.
Then, wasn't Hayden's "sword of words" a divine gift? The sword comes from the mouth, and the words become law. The alchemy furnace immediately trembled, causing the entire mountain city to shake slightly. Then, extremely intense flames erupted from the large hole beneath the furnace, licking its outer walls.
Without needing to cast spells, relying solely on words, solely on powerful words, Hayden can now connect the mountaintop and the underground, communicate with the spiritual veins, and draw forth the earth's fire.
This is the magic that Hayden is now growing stronger with each passing year.
As he communicated with the earth's fire through words, Hayden's consciousness extended along the connection between the mountain and the earth. He could see endless magma and flames surging deep underground. The mountain peaks connected with the earth's spiritual veins, drawing upon the flames within with the power of Hayden's words to refine the elixirs in the furnace.
However, the fire from the earth's veins alone is not enough to refine the golden elixir.
"The Qi of the pure earth governs the dusty sky, the Qi of the partial earth governs the clear sky, the Qi of the strong earth governs the red sky, the Qi of the weak earth governs the white sky, and the Qi of the female earth governs the dark sky."
So Hayden continued to chant loudly.
"Draw upon the celestial light of the sun, moon, and stars; connect with the earthly essence of water, fire, and earth; unite with the true nature of my spirit, energy, and vitality. Gather the essence of the three elements; seize the creation of heaven and earth. From nothingness comes substance; yin and yang return to oneness. Heed my command!"
In an instant, heaven and earth trembled, and ghosts and gods wept in terror. The vital energy of heaven and earth flowed continuously into the alchemy furnace, causing streams of light to rise from the furnace and an invisible wind to blow straight into the sky.
If it weren't for the protective barrier surrounding New Sprout City, many gods would have noticed the strange situation and turned their attention to investigate. Fortunately, most gods assumed that New Sprout City was a new asset of the Peacock King, so even if they discovered something amiss, they would probably just assume that Karen or her father were absorbing qi here.
Because this is a technique that no ordinary sorcerer could employ.
Several months have passed since the "World's Number One VTuber Tournament" ended. During this time, Hayden has worked hard, digesting his accumulated knowledge over the past two years, accepting the help of his three allies, the gods Karen, Pania, and Alastor, studying the technology sold to him by the goddess Mikt, and also consuming a great deal of Angela's secret fire.
So much knowledge, so much technology, so many treasures, so much money—with resources piled up like this, even a pig could become a piggy. And Hayden isn't a pig. With all this power combined, he has now achieved great mastery in his own "specialized" technology.
This so-called "original" technique refers to external alchemy.
That's right, it's external alchemy!
In principle, any technique that involves placing a furnace or cauldron outside the body to refine or ingest external medicines in pursuit of longevity can be considered external alchemy. Therefore, Hayden's ongoing research into creating low-cost magical potions certainly falls under the category of external alchemy. After all, ancient medicine based on Yin-Yang and the Five Elements developed from external alchemy!
Over the past few months, Hayden has been using the resources given to him by his allies and the techniques he has bought, learned, or stolen from various places to refine elixirs, and now he is about to achieve his goal.
His current magical power can be described as divine. It's unknown how he managed to levitate a furnace weighing tens or even hundreds of tons between the mountains and the sky using magic. At the same time, Hayden continuously manipulated various medicinal herbs, adding them one after another into the furnace, each time in a slightly different way.
Persian sulfur is a substance formed from the essence of pure Yang flint from the Southern Ming Dynasty.
Realgar is pure and without impurities, red like a rooster's comb, and shines brightly.
When using jade as bait, grind it into small pieces, wash it with water, and extract its essence to nourish the internal organs.
Brass, also an ancient Persian material, is golden in color and must be refined with water three times before being put into the furnace for further refining.
The white tiger, Geng and Xin metals and lead, must first be refined in fierce fire until they turn golden before they can be used to refine elixirs.
In addition, alchemy requires a large amount of "salt". Different types of salt are used: white salt is the bright salt produced in the raw stone mountain; red salt is salt from the South China Sea that needs to be refined into a red color with charcoal fire; black salt is also known as the Northern Emperor Xuanwu Marrow; yellow salt is the powder of soft gold true metal; green salt is produced under the stones in the water and looks like azure.
The above is only a small part of the elixir formula, and it is limited to mineral and medicinal materials. Hayden also needs to use different magical powers to grind, chop, and distill various herbs and aromatic oils, and add them to the elixir furnace drop by drop.
As time passed and the medicinal herbs were continuously refined, the alchemy process finally reached its final stage. Hayden picked up the last three medicinal herbs:
The first item was an orchid, but not an ordinary orchid; it was the dream orchid that Karen had cultivated on this mountain.
Orchids, or orchid fragrance, have always been a commonly used medicinal ingredient in alchemy. This is a celestial fragrance, capable of dispelling the three corpses and gathering spiritual essence. Moreover, this is the dream flower cultivated by Karen, making its medicinal power even stronger.
Hayden threw it into the alchemical furnace.
The alchemy furnace immediately began to emit a strong fragrance, and auspicious clouds drifted out.
Then Hayden picked up a small vial of refined, purified blood. It was the essence he had extracted after cloning and replicating Terasque's flesh and blood.
After being added to the alchemy furnace, a powerful life force began to surge, as if hundreds or thousands of lives were being conceived and formed within the furnace.
“Recognize the dragon and tiger, match them with Kan and Li, arrange the three powers, divide them into four symbols, reverse the five elements, and take the numbers of the sun and moon’s generation.”
So Hayden chanted the final incantation while taking out the last ingredient.
It was a silver apple.