After gathering all the necessary materials, Li Yi immediately returned to Taiqing Peak with Tongtian.
Li Yi asked Tongtian to make a stove, which Tongtian didn't understand but did as Li Yi instructed.
Once Tongtian's stove was ready, Li Yi set up the large pot and asked Tongtian to summon everyone to Taiqing Peak. Tongtian, unsure of the reason, went and gathered everyone.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Li Yi announced to the crowd,
"Today, I'm treating you all to a grand feast!"
The crowd looked at the large pot in front of Li Yi with confusion.
Yuan Shi asked Li Yi,
"Big Brother, what are you doing!"
Li Yi smiled without answering and said to Yuan Shi,
"You'll understand in a moment!"
Saying this, Li Yi picked up some branches to make chopsticks.
He distributed the chopsticks to everyone, sliced the meat taken from Zulong's claw and put it into the pot, adding various seasonings. He picked up a slice of meat with chopsticks to taste, and finding the flavor satisfactory, he immediately said to everyone,
"It's ready, dig in!"
The crowd, following Li Yi's example, picked up a slice of meat from the pot and put it into their mouths. Instantly, they felt it was the most delicious food they had ever eaten.
Tongtian ate heartily and said to Li Yi,
"Big Brother, I didn't know you were such a good cook!"
Li Yi smiled to himself and thought,
"It's not my cooking that's good, it's that the food you've been eating is too abysmal. Once Nuwa creates humans, you'll be awestruck by their creativity."
Li Yi said aloud,
"As long as it's delicious, that's what matters. This is called hot pot, and there will be even tastier things to come! When we're not busy, I'll slowly make more delicacies for you!"
The crowd's eyes lit up. This thing called hot pot was already so good, and there were even better things?
Li Yi said proudly, "Hmph, it's not your fault. We're not on the same wavelength. Stick with me, and you'll enjoy a good life. People shouldn't be confined to their current existence; they should look far ahead, into the future, and experience the myriad aspects of life. Whether it's food or cultivation, one must aim high and look far. As the saying goes, 'When one stands at the highest peak, one can see all the lesser mountains.'"
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, their faces etched with confusion and question marks. However, after a moment, applause erupted, and one of them said, "Well said, you've said a lot, but I didn't understand a single word." Indeed, they couldn't comprehend his words, but coming from Li Yi, whether they understood or not, they resolutely believed his words to be the truth and wholeheartedly supported him. They had already witnessed too many of Li Yi's unbelievable feats. This man was worthy of their trust.
After a rousing speech, Li Yi took a bowl of water and walked to the side. Seeing his brothers happy and trusting him so much, he resolved to strengthen his cultivation even further. One day, he would stand at the pinnacle of this world and lead his brothers toward an infinitely glorious future. With this thought, he crushed the bowl in his hand.
Tongtian saw Li Yi on the side and wanted to run over to call him to continue eating the delicious food. But halfway there, he saw the shattered pieces of the bowl on the ground and stopped. Looking at Li Yi's back, Tongtian thought, "Big Brother might have his own troubles. We've come so far together, facing life-threatening dangers, sharing hardships, and experiencing shared joys. Perhaps Big Brother is also carrying a heavy burden. Let him vent for a while." With this thought, Tongtian turned back.
Tongtian, who was usually slow on the uptake, understood a lot after seeing Li Yi's back.
As for Yuan Shi, seeing Tongtian return with a pensive look, and then glancing towards Big Brother Li Yi, whose back stood like a majestic mountain, as grand and unyielding as Pangu himself, he knew this was the imposing aura forged by countless experiences. Yuan Shi also understood more clearly Li Yi's contributions and sacrifices for them. Though Li Yi often acted carelessly, always saying he was on a different wavelength and always thinking of rapid advancement, he had never broken his promises.
The moments he and Li Yi had experienced together flashed through Yuan Shi's mind. His eyes moistened. After drinking a large bowl of water, he smashed the bowl.
The crowd was startled, but only Li Yi did not turn around. The other brothers looked at Yuan Shi in confusion. Tongtian, who had just returned, also looked at Yuan Shi in shock. When the other brothers asked him what was wrong, Yuan Shi simply said, "It's nothing, I'm just happy to eat such delicious food." The crowd, relieved of their confusion, returned to their enthusiastic enjoyment of the large pot. Only Tongtian noticed Yuan Shi's unusual behavior and walked towards him.
Yuan Shi was still immersed in his memories when he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Tongtian, who nodded at him. Yuan Shi immediately turned and grabbed Tongtian's hand, gripping it firmly. Indeed, few people could understand his feelings; only Tongtian and Big Brother could truly comprehend him. This was perhaps the tacit understanding between brothers. Looking at Tongtian's resolute gaze, Yuan Shi met his eyes and responded with an equally determined look.
Li Yi came back to his senses and looked at his brothers, also seeing the determined expressions of Yuan Shi and Tongtian. He knew they had probably grasped his thoughts, which further strengthened his resolve. No matter what, he could not let his brothers, who had faced life and death with him, live in regret in the end.
Turning back, Li Yi thought he shouldn't talk about these things when everyone was happy, nor should he dwell on them now. Others might not understand his inner thoughts, but Yuan Shi and Tongtian were his brothers through thick and thin, and they understood each other deeply. He shouldn't let them be disheartened along with him during happy times. So, he quickly walked back towards his brothers, adopting a cheerful demeanor.
"Brothers, brothers," Li Yi called out, clapping his hands. "Are you all enjoying your meal? Come on, now I'll take you to have something delicious to drink. I guarantee you'll feel like immortals with just one sip!"
The crowd looked at Li Yi. There was a moment of silence, followed by joyous cheers. With their bellies full, they clapped their hands in applause. Yuan Shi and Tongtian also looked at Li Yi, wondering what new trick he had up his sleeve. But after a moment, they too joined in the cheers. For they knew that Li Yi was not only their Big Brother but also the source of their joy, their strength, their spiritual pillar, and their eternal Big Brother. To always believe in Big Brother was their unchanging conviction.
"Come, come, brothers, bring all the leftover fruits into the house. I'll show you how to drink like the immortals," Li Yi said with a grin. Everyone bustled about, bringing in all the leftover apples, grapes, bananas, and other fruits. After their efforts, the house was piled high with fruits. Li Yi asked in surprise, "Why are there still so many left?" The crowd exchanged smiles and said, "Big Brother, your hot pot was too delicious! We were so focused on eating it, we didn't have any room for fruit. Although the fruit was also quite good, hahahahahaha!" Everyone laughed. Li Yi also burst into laughter. Indeed, for them, hot pot was the true delicacy, while fruits were common; hot pot was not. Hahaha.
"Big Brother, please start. We're waiting to drink what the immortals drink," one brother said impatiently. "Yes, yes," the other brothers echoed. Only Yuan Shi and Tongtian looked at Li Yi with their firm gazes, but they did not join the others in their clamor. Li Yi saw them and nodded, saying, "Alright, I'll start now. Now, Yuan Shi, take a few brothers to remove the fruit stems. Tongtian, take a few brothers to prepare some airtight jars that can be sealed and opened at any time. Remember to wash them clean. The rest of you, go fetch plenty of clean water."
As quick as lightning, everyone rushed to follow Big Brother's instructions and began working in an orderly fashion. Li Yi watched his brothers cooperate and work diligently, his conviction to lead them to the peak of their lives growing stronger, his eyes filled with overflowing confidence.
After some time, the brothers had completed their respective tasks. Li Yi then placed the washed fruits into the jars, added the clean water brought back by his brothers, and sealed the lids.
"Huh????" Li Yi's eyes flickered. He felt like something was missing. After pondering for a long time, the brothers watched Li Yi with anticipation, thinking they would soon be drinking like immortals. But the next moment, Li Yi clapped his hands in astonishment, "It's no good, we're missing yeast!" The crowd was bewildered. Yeast? This word was another unfamiliar term to them. "May I ask Big Brother, what is this yeast? Whose mother is it? Do you need this mother to make the drink of immortals?" Seeing the confused looks of his brothers and hearing the question, Li Yi burst into laughter, "Hahahaha, yeast is not anyone's mother, it's a microorganism." "Microorganism? What is that, Big Brother?" "Oh, oh, you don't know this word either. Let me explain it to you. They are very, very small animals, animals that our eyes cannot see. They are also living beings, not someone's mother." The crowd was even more confused and asked, "Since we can't see them, where do we find this mother?" Li Yi said, both exasperated and amused, "I've told you, it's not a mother, but very small animals, also living beings. They are called yeast, not mothers. Also, yeast, theoretically, is everywhere. For example, when you get sick, it's unseen little creatures causing trouble in your body, attacking your heart, intestines, making you uncomfortable. They are the culprits. Although your bodies recover with true energy when you feel unwell, in my past, I had to rely on medicine to drive them away, meaning plants or something that could kill these little creatures." "Oh~~~" The crowd seemed enlightened and said, "We understand. So, we add something that makes us uncomfortable into this, is that right, Big Brother?" Li Yi was also taken aback and nodded, replying, "You can understand it that way, but what we need to use are not the little things that make us uncomfortable, but something else that is just as small."
"Then... Big Brother, where can we find these things?" Tongtian asked at this moment. "That's simple. Go to the storeroom and get all the fruits that have been stored for a long time, especially those that are no longer edible but haven't completely spoiled. Hurry!!! Go, go, go!!"
Upon hearing this, everyone rushed to the storeroom, and soon people were rummaging for decaying fruits.
After another half day of work, all the nearly spoiled fruits from the storeroom were brought out.