Chapter 50

Chapter 050: Sword Pressure

However, the Golden Chest was ultimately a matter for tomorrow.

Yan Cang didn't dwell on it further.

After briefly entertaining the thought that "maybe opening the chest tomorrow could bring a turnaround," he set the matter aside for now.

He looked up at the sky outside the window.

Twilight had deepened, leaving only the last traces of sunset.

"It's about time for dinner."

No sooner had he spoken than the Food Zone on the Fate Net sent a timely pickup reminder—the pre-ordered "Boiled Cabbage in Supreme Broth" and its full set of side dishes were ready.

Yan Cang instinctively touched his stomach.

In truth, he wasn't hungry.

Because during the afternoon, while playing games, he had been snacking on various treats, barely stopping.

His stomach was still quite full.

However, with "Refining Essence into Qi" constantly converting energy to temper his body,

and the "As You Wish Body" talent allowing him to finely control his digestive system, greatly accelerating absorption efficiency,

his metabolism was now astonishingly fast.

In theory, he could eat continuously for 24 hours and still manage it.

"Thank goodness for the 'As You Wish Body,' or with this eating habit, I'd balloon into a ball in no time,"

Yan Cang muttered to himself.

Turning into a fat guy in the Trial Ground would be somewhat awkward.

As for now, being able to enjoy food freely without any burden, he felt genuinely happy.

He silently gave a thumbs-up to the "As You Wish Body."

Though his stomach wasn't hungry, his appetite was still excellent.

He could definitely eat.

Besides, tonight was the long-awaited "Boiled Cabbage in Supreme Broth."

This was a State Banquet dish requiring meticulously prepared broth simmered for eight hours, with an extremely intricate process!

Compared to the lion's head meatball at lunch, he was familiar with this dish, so naturally, he looked forward to it even more.

Yan Cang eagerly completed the pickup.

A flash of light, and the long-anticipated meal appeared on the table.

Lifting the insulated lid, there was no overwhelming aroma as imagined, only an extremely elegant, fresh fragrance wafting up.

The broth was crystal clear, like plain boiled water.

Only a pure white "cabbage heart," carved like jade, bloomed quietly in the center.

Alongside it were several refreshing cold dishes, delicately shaped pastries, and a bowl of rice.

Just the presentation alone was a pleasure.

He couldn't wait to scoop up a spoonful of the clear broth and bring it to his lips.

In an instant, an indescribable, richly layered umami flavor exploded in his mouth!

It was a freshness far beyond ordinary MSG—the essence of countless ingredients, slowly simmered over low heat for a long time to achieve the ultimate taste.

Light yet rich, with a lingering aftertaste.

After swallowing, a faint sweetness and warmth remained in his throat.

"So delicious..." Yan Cang squinted his eyes in contentment.

Then, he gently picked up a corner of the cabbage heart.

It melted on the tongue, incredibly sweet.

He couldn't help mixing it with the rice, finding it even more fragrant.

"Really good."

Yan Cang sighed with emotion as he ate.

And this Boiled Cabbage in Supreme Broth required a wide variety of ingredients, so naturally, not all of them could have come from supply crates.

It seemed that Chef Song had skillfully substituted local ingredients with similar properties found in the Trial Ground.

The final flavor was equally exquisite, showcasing the chef's profound skill.

Of course, he had never tasted the original version.

So naturally, there was no basis for comparison.

But one thing was certain—this was the most delicious soup he had ever eaten in his life.

Chef Song had truly put his heart into it.

Devouring this supremely delicious dinner like a whirlwind sweeping away clouds, Yan Cang let out a satisfied sigh.

After resting for a moment.

Just as he finished cleaning up the utensils, he received a routine satisfaction survey from Chef Song on the Fate Net.

Without hesitation, Yan Cang immediately replied with a "thumbs up" emoji.

Then, feeling it wasn't enough, he added another line: "Absolutely superb!"

As a gluttonous youth who hadn't tasted many fine dishes, encountering such top-tier cuisine left him thoroughly pleased.

After dinner.

Yan Cang first browsed around the Fate Net.

He found only everyday survival exchanges, nothing noteworthy happening.

So, he went to take a shower.

After coming out feeling refreshed, he pulled out that [Strange Game Console] again.

Curled up in a chair, he focused intently on playing.

Time spent immersed in the game world always flew by quickly.

As night deepened.

The once-silent forest outside the wooden cabin began to emit faint rustling sounds and low growls.

The noises drew closer from afar.

It seemed like wild beasts were prowling nearby, approaching.

"?"

Deep in the game world, Yan Cang suddenly felt a question mark pop up in his mind.

He looked up in confusion: "Something's approaching?"

"Is [Fate Protection] not reacting?"

"Could it be..."

A realization dawned on Yan Cang: The trigger condition for [Fate Protection] is sensing "danger that may or must occur, posing a substantial threat to oneself."

Now, though he had only been cultivating the [Sword Nurturing Art] for a little over a day, his Sword Qi had already formed, and all his Essence Orifices were fully opened.

Under the nourishment of the "As You Wish Body," his physical fitness had improved, and his five senses had become sharper.

To him, the creatures outside the cabin now were merely ordinary beasts, no longer a threat.

Naturally, they wouldn't be judged as dangers requiring avoidance.

However, when setting it up back then, various scenarios were considered, and the rules were fairly comprehensive.

If there were sneak attacks, poison...

In short, [Fate Protection] would still activate for any possibility of substantial harm to him.

"Setting it that way back then was to avoid triggering it for every stray cat or dog that got close, wasting energy for no reason."

Yan Cang thought it over and decided there was no need to modify this operating mechanism.

As long as it guaranteed his true safety baseline.

A little harassment wasn't troublesome to handle himself.

Consider it a bit of exercise, and it saved energy.

"Now's a good time to test out my newly mastered ability."

With a slight shift in his mind, he didn't stop playing the game.

But the Sword Qi within him began to circulate.

In an instant, all his Essence Orifices opened silently like countless tiny doors.

Strands of intangible yet razor-sharp Sword Qi emanated outward.

It wasn't an attack.

Instead, it spread like liquid mercury, silently dispersing outward from him toward the wooden cabin.

Wherever the Sword Qi passed, the air seemed to congeal and grow colder by several degrees.

A chilling sensation—grim, sharp, and piercing straight to the soul—spread without a sound.

It enveloped an area dozens of meters around the wooden cabin.

This was the "Dispersion" technique among the three methods of the Sword Nurturing Art—"Condensation, Dispersion, Control": releasing Qi outward to form a perception field.

However, due to the overly sharp nature of Sword Qi, this perception field also carried a strong sense of intimidation.

Outside the wooden cabin, the wild wolf pacing back and forth froze almost instantly.

It felt as if countless cold, invisible blades had pressed against every inch of its fur...

The fear of extreme sharpness and death washed over it like ice water poured over its head, a bone-piercing chill drowning it in an instant.

"Whimper—"

A short, terrified whine squeezed from the wolf's throat as its fur bristled all over.

In that moment, its desire to hunt vanished.

Tucking its tail, it scrambled away, rolling and stumbling as it fled.

In the blink of an eye, it disappeared into the pitch-black forest, leaving behind only a trail of foul, pungent marks.

"Tsk, it ran fast."

Yan Cang "saw" the panicked beast's escape and withdrew his released Sword Qi.

With that, the heart-stopping, grim cold quickly dissipated.

He mused thoughtfully: "This 'Dispersion' technique is convenient for driving away petty nuisances and clearing the area with intimidation."

"But wouldn't it be more fitting to call it 'Sword Pressure'? Sounds more imposing too."

He pondered, "Eh, whatever."

Having dealt with this minor interruption, Yan Cang immersed himself in the game world once more for a good while.

Only when the night grew deep did he reluctantly set down the game console.

He got up, completed a simple wash.

Changed into a comfortable set of pajamas, and slipped into the soft, warm bed.

However... perhaps maintaining the state of "Refining Essence into Qi" kept his bodily functions too active.

He found himself not sleepy at all, even overly alert.

"This is a new problem..."

Yan Cang blinked, then thought of the wonders of the "As You Wish Body."

With a slight shift of his mind, his consciousness began to regulate the relevant endocrine and nervous systems.

By gently stimulating the pineal gland, he promoted the synthesis and secretion of melatonin;

At the same time, he adjusted the parasympathetic nervous system, gradually slowing his heartbeat and breathing, relaxing his muscles...

The effect was almost immediate.

A deep, natural drowsiness, like the softest down blanket, swept over his consciousness.

His eyelids grew heavier, his thoughts gradually blurring.

The next second, his breathing had become even and long.

He sank into a peaceful sleep.

Inside his body, the Sword Qi circulated on its own, nurturing him without pause.

Within the wooden cabin, the Multifunctional Everlasting Light emitted a soft glow, illuminating the young man's calm sleeping face.

And also the Myriad Manifestation Mirror, which, beneath its pitch-black surface, continued its rigid screening of the vast starry expanse.

No words were spoken through the night.