Chapter 56: 56 | 9th Heavenly Flames
Suddenly—
’BOOM!’
A violent surge of mana erupted from the far end of the hallway, specifically from the bedroom.
The air in the corridor rippled visibly, carrying a warm, dry draft that rustled the small calendar hanging on the kitchen wall.
Before Dexter could even turn his head—
’BOOM!’
Another distinct explosion of energy rattled the living room windows. The faint layer of dust on the ceiling fan drifted down as a cool, dense wave of shadow-like energy swept across the floor, making the shadows under the furniture lengthen and twist for a brief second.
And then, right in front of him—
’BOOM!’
The air directly around the dining table trembled.
Dexter slowly turned his gaze toward Selene.
A pale, beautiful blue light was radiating from beneath her skin. The wood of the dining table beneath her fingers began to frost over, thin patterns of white ice spreading out like delicate spiderwebs from her hands.
All three of them had broken through.
The Superhuman Realm. First Stage.
Dexter stood there in the middle of the kitchen, a clean dish towel in his hand, completely stunned.
When he had consumed his own portion of the Grade Four meal, the effect wasn’t as immediate and even now he still hadn’t felt it.
But for the girls, whose cultivation bases had been severely damaged and suppressed, the concentrated, gentle energy of the ’Celestial Origin Star Rice’ had acted like a spark in a dry forest.
It had cleared the blockages in their primary pathways, repaired the initial structural damage, and allowed them to easily step over the massive barrier dividing the Awakened Realm from the Superhuman Realm.
[Ding!]
The clear, ringing sound echoed in his mind, followed by a detailed display of text.
[You invested: Grade 4 Celestial Origin Star Rice into your wives.]
[Investment Multiplier Triggered: 100x!]
[Calculating rewards...]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the following rewards:]
[1. Professional Rank Promotion: Great Grandmaster Foodsmith (Early Stage) ➔ Great Grandmaster Foodsmith (Middle Stage)]
[2. Special Physical Constitution: Heavenly Gastronomy Body]
[3. Elemental Evolution: Alchemist Flame ➔ 9th Heavenly Flame: Emperor Void Flame]
[4. Raw Materials: 1,000kg of Premium Diamond Rice]
[5. Rare Liquids: 100kg of Cosmic Star Origin Nectar]
[6. Premium Alcohol: 100kg of Burning Sun Lava Wine]
[7. Talent Evolution: Mana Affinity (SS-Rank) ➔ Mana Affinity (SSS-Rank)]
...
Dexter immediately focused his mind.
He wanted to check their current conditions.
Three names and status panels materialized in his field of vision. He focused on Selene first.
[Name: Selene Frostborn]
[Age: 20]
[Relationship: Wife]
[Affection: 41%]
[Talent: Eternal Winter Frost (S-Rank)]
[Cultivation Status]
- Previous Realm: Ultra Realm (Peak)
- Current Realm: Superhuman Realm (First Stage)
- Current Mana Level: 12% (Sealed / Restricted by physical condition)
- Activated Star Nodes: 4 / 12
[Body Condition]
- Meridian Damage: 77% (Improved: 12% healed and actively stabilizing)
- Vision: Complete Blindness (Optic nerves damaged)
- Chronic Illness: Severe elemental imbalance. Infected by an unknown object Sit constantly generates high-density cold energy that her damaged meridians cannot safely export. This results in regular, painful frost seizures and gradual internal freezing.
[Mental State]
- Quietly relieved
- Highly focused
- Comfortable (soothed by the warmth radiating from the Host)
- Slightly Aroused
[Warning: Danger Level: High]
The built-up frost energy inside her lower meridians has reached a critical density. The temporary suppressant serums are no longer capable of neutralizing the cold source. If this imbalance is not resolved, her body will slowly begin to crystallize from the inside out, starting with her extremities and eventually leading to complete physical stasis and death.
[Estimated Time Before Next Major Crisis: 14 Days]
[Possible Solutions]
1. Locate and refine a Grade 7 Heavenly Treasure: [Ice Warm Cocoon]. This rare artifact can absorb and balance the extreme frost constitution, permanently stabilizing her meridians.
2. Acquire and integrate a high-grade Heavenly Flame: [Abyssal Demon Heart Flame]. This legendary flame, born in the deepest trenches of the Demon Abyss, possesses the unique thermal properties required to melt her internal ice without harming her physical organs.
’’’
Dexter’s chest tightened as he read the detailed warnings. His heart felt heavy.
A Grade 7 Heavenly Treasure?
Grade 1 and 2 items were common, sold if you used your hero license to purchase it in various high end shops.
Grade 3 items were considered luxury goods, reserved for wealthy families and mid-level guild leaders.
Grade 4 items, like the meal he had just cooked, were rare enough to cause a massive sensation in the entire city and even auctions.
Grade 7 was a mythical tier and it had never even been heard of in the city.
As for the ’Abyssal Demon Heart Flame’...
He had no idea either but he could stretch the internet on how to get it.
The task ahead of him was incredibly difficult. It felt like trying to climb a mountain made of smooth glass.
But as he looked at Selene’s calm, pale face—her blind eyes closed as she sat quietly at the table, enjoying the simple warmth of the kitchen, Dexter’s determination hardened. He would not let her freeze. He would find a way, step by step, using the system’s investments to bridge the gap.
He shifted his gaze to the second panel.
[Name: Lyra ]
[Age: 18]
[Relationship: Wife]
[Affection: 42%]
[Talent: Shadow Manipulation (A-Rank)]
[Cultivation Status]
- Previous Realm: Ultra Realm (5th)
- Current Realm: Superhuman Realm (First Stage)
- Current Mana Level: 9% (Sealed)
- Activated Star Nodes: 2 / 12
[Body Condition]
- Meridian Damage: 62% (Improved: 12% healed and stabilizing)
- Hearing: Completely destroyed eardrums
- Speech: Destroyed vocal cords
[Mental State]
- Deeply satisfied (feeling physically full for the first time in days)
- Shaken by the rapid breakthrough
- Highly protective of her immediate surroundings
- Faintly embarrassed about her table manners
[Warning: Shadow Corruption Level: 5%]
Because she has spent years in dark, damp environments without proper medical care or cultivation guidance, her rare Shadow Manipulation talent has begun to turn inward.
The dark mana has started to corrupt her physical cells.
If this corruption level reaches 100%, her physical body will collapse and transform into a permanent, open portal to the Shadow Realm.
This will allow high-level shadow entities to pour directly into the physical world, resulting in her immediate death.
[Recent Changes]
- The Grade 4 Celestial Origin Star Rice has successfully reduced her shadow corruption level by 3% (down from 8%).
- Consistent consumption of highly pure, light-aligned or neutral spiritual food can continue to suppress and eventually cleanse the corruption entirely.
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