Deposed Crown Prince: After three years of service on the frontier, the entire court knelt and begge

Soon, a clearing was cleared at the edge of the training ground, and several newly lit bonfires replaced the torches for lighting. The crackling firelight illuminated the curious and expectant faces of the soldiers.

Frank and his men laboriously carried over several large bluestone slabs and placed them firmly on sturdy logs next to the fire.

Xiao Ce rolled up his sleeves and started doing it himself.

He instructed Atie to use a short knife to quickly carve shallow and fine grid-like grooves on the scorching hot stone slab, and then lit a pile of glowing red charcoal fire next to it.

Then, he picked up several slender, flexible oak branches that Frank handed him, and with nimble fingers, he bent, wrapped, and tied the branches into several sturdy "well"-shaped wooden frames, which were then steadily placed across the stone slab and charcoal fire.

When the kitchen staff strode in carrying large wooden basins of marinated meat strips, skewered thick mushrooms and emerald green wild vegetables, neatly cut square pieces of wild boar belly, and whole salted pheasants, almost everyone in the valley who hadn't yet rested was drawn over by the increasingly rich and exotic aroma, forming a thick circle around them.

Xiao Ce remained calm and composed. He first vigorously rubbed a thick piece of wild boar fat on the scorching hot stone slab!

"Sizzle..."

With a loud bang, the rich aroma of burnt oil exploded out instantly, overwhelming everyone's sense of smell and making their stomachs rumble wildly.

And Xiao Ce's performance began!

He picked up several skewers of venison and skillfully laid them on the hot, grid-like grooves of the stone slab.

The high temperature instantly kisses the meat strips, making a pleasant "sizzling" sound, and fine oil bubbles happily emerge, with the edges quickly curling up into beautiful golden brown crusts.

He then picked up several skewers of marbled wild boar meat and large skewers of chicken oil mushrooms, suspending them on a wooden frame above the charcoal fire, allowing the flickering orange flames to gently lick the ingredients.

What's most dazzling is the row of small ceramic bowls beside him.

Golden honey, fine white salt grains, deep red chili powder, vibrant green wild onion blossoms, creamy white and fragrant minced garlic, and squeezed-out purplish-red wild berry juice...

Xiao Ce moved like a wizard concocting a secret elixir, his fingers flying so fast that the proportions were impossible to discern.

He quickly stirred and mixed the honey, wild berry juice, minced garlic, chili powder, salt, and finally some of the clear wild boar oil he had just rendered.

A unique sauce flavor, unlike anything before, combining salty, sweet, spicy, fruity, and caramelized oils, acts like an invisible hook, instantly dispelling the single aroma of meat and dominating the entire space.

"Spread the sauce! Flip it over quickly!"

As Xiao Ce shouted, he quickly used a small brush to evenly spread the freshly prepared bright red sauce onto the sizzling venison strips grilling on the stone slab.

The sauce bursts forth with an even more intense and complex aroma upon contact with high temperatures, carrying a hint of caramelized sweetness!

Frank and Jones Snow hurriedly took the brush to help, but the pungent smell made them sneeze twice. With tears in their eyes, they grabbed the open jar of mead next to them and took a big gulp. The sweetness of the mead barely suppressed the urge, which drew good-natured laughter from those around them.

Morgana couldn't wait any longer and smiled as she accepted the skewer of venison that Xiao Ce handed her. The venison was grilled until the skin was crispy and the inside was juicy. The meat was evenly coated with tempting sauce, the edges were slightly charred, and the aroma was irresistible.

She carefully blew on it and took a small bite. The piping hot meat juices, mixed with the savory, slightly sweet, fruity, and garlicky sauce, burst in her mouth. The slightly crispy outer layer contrasted wonderfully with the tender inside, and the complex flavors she had never experienced before instantly won over her taste buds.

Even though Morgana had already eaten it once, eating it again still gave her an experience.

Frank, who was helping out, had already noticed Xiao Ce's barbecue.

It's completely different from his barbecue.

After finishing his meal, Frank, unaware that it was hot, had an incredibly bright eye!

"You absolutely must keep this sauce recipe!"

"Haha!" Xiao Ce laughed, flipping another batch of mushroom skewers in his hand. The plump caps were soaked with sauce, their edges curling slightly, emitting a rich aroma unique to mountain delicacies. "Enough is enough! Everyone eat as much as you want today!"

Then Xiao Ce asked the cooks who were watching, "Have you learned everything yet?"

The cooks all nodded in agreement.

Xiao Ce then gestured for them to join in, and more and more people were drawn over.

Xiao Ce adopted an approachable demeanor, inviting the people who came over to eat together...

These people were initially a little reserved, after all, Xiao Ce was a god in their eyes.

But this god-like figure actually did just like an ordinary person, cooking barbecue for them with a down-to-earth attitude.

Xiao Ce greeted them, but the people were still somewhat reserved.

Xiao Ce knew that it would only be effective if Morgana spoke up.

Xiao Ce then went to greet Morgana...

Morgana, understanding the unspoken message, said to the somewhat reserved group, "Everyone, please don't be shy or reserved."

"Xiao Shen is our guardian angel; he came to save us, not to be aloof and distant. Tonight's barbecue is his way of thanking everyone for their efforts. It's barbecued by Xiao Shen himself; after you eat it, I believe you'll be blessed by him... Come on in! But please keep order..."

While Xiao Ce was busy grilling, he watched Morgana give a speech that resembled that of a pyramid scheme leader.

Xiao Ce smiled to himself, thinking to himself, he really does possess similar talent...

Sure enough, Morgana's words completely ignited the atmosphere.

The venison and pheasant pieces on the stone slab, caramelized and fragrant with sauce, were incredibly delicious...

The wild boar belly pieces roasting on the wooden rack release their rich fats from the charcoal fire, and as they drip onto the embers, a wisp of smoke carrying the aroma of meat rises. The large mushroom skewers ooze delicious juices under the high temperature, while the wild vegetable skewers turn emerald green and glossy.

People imitated Xiao Ce, clumsily yet excitedly trying to spread sauces and flip the skewers. Mead was passed between rough earthenware bowls, a mingling of spiciness and sweetness...

Laughter and cheerful chatter accompanied the sizzling sound of oil...

The "crackling" sound of ingredients being flipped...

The sounds of various delicious foods and people's laughter echoed in the night sky over the valley.

The glow of the campfire illuminated every shiny, contented smile on their face.

Frank was sweating profusely from the spiciness, but he couldn't stop eating. The spiciness and meaty aroma brought him a wonderfully satisfying experience.

Jones Snow, on the other hand, focused on a skewer of crispy roasted pork belly, the fat rendered out and soaking into the lean meat. Paired with that magical sauce, he ate with gusto, nodding repeatedly, his mouth greasy.

Even if Xiao Dingshan were a robot at this moment, he would feel cravings after seeing it.

Unfortunately, he is a robot and doesn't have the function of eating. Even if he did eat, he wouldn't be able to experience that feeling.

He could only watch Guoguo's antics from the sidelines...

This is no longer a camp for fugitives; it is a home by the campfire, a place of warmth after calamity, a warm star that Xiao Ce lit up in the ancient valley with the wisdom and everyday life of a modern person.

After a satisfying meal, the warm, slightly tipsy feeling from the mead had not yet dissipated.

Xiao Ce stood up, patted the ashes from his robes, and turned his gaze to the dark mountain wall deep in the valley that was swallowed by the night.

“Let’s go!” he said to Morgana and Frank.

"Take me to see that 'big treasure'."

Actually, Xiao Ce wanted to go see it first, but then he saw night falling and it was time to eat.

I was thinking of checking things out after I'd had my fill of food and drink...

Upon hearing Xiao Ce's words, Morgana's smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression that combined reverence and caution.

She nodded and picked up a kerosene lamp with a thick, windproof shade that she had prepared in advance.

Frank, carrying the other lamp, gestured for Jones Snow to follow.

The group left the bright place where the campfire was blazing, and no one noticed them at that moment.

They walked silently toward the mountain wall, their steps treading on the grassy path damp with dew.

The night breeze rustled through the treetops, carrying the warmth of the day and a damp coolness.

The bustling atmosphere of the training ground was left far behind, and all that remained were the chirping of insects and the rustling of footsteps on the grass, creating a somewhat oppressive silence.

Soon, they arrived at an inconspicuous mountain hollow.

Thick vines almost completely covered the mountainside, allowing only a few dappled rays of moonlight to filter through. Morgana walked to the far left, parted what appeared to be a naturally draped curtain of vines, and behind it was revealed a massive stone slab that seemed almost integrated with the mountain rock.

She nodded to Frank.

Frank and Jones Snow stepped forward together, putting all their strength into their shoulders and backs, and braced themselves against the edge of the stone slab!

"Hey yo..."

With a low growl and the sound of heavy stones grinding together, a deep cave entrance, barely wide enough for two people to pass side by side, was revealed!

A cold wind, mixed with rock dust, moss moisture, and a faint smell of oil and iron, wafted out from the depths of the cave entrance.

Morgana lit the windproof lamp in her hand first, and the dim but steady beam of light pierced the darkness of the cave entrance.

"Watch your step, it's slippery," she whispered, bending down to step in first. Frank followed closely behind, then Xiao Ce, with Jones Snow and Atie bringing up the rear. The heavy stone slabs slowly closed behind them, cutting off the last light and sound from the outside world.

The passage was narrow and winding, with steep, slippery stone steps covered in damp moss.

The light from two kerosene lamps was the only source of light, casting huge, distorted shadows on the uneven stone wall and barely illuminating a short stretch of wet stone steps ahead.

The footsteps echoed in the enclosed space, sounding exceptionally clear.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the slope gradually eased, and the view suddenly opened up before us.

The light illuminated a vast, clearly man-made, natural cavern space. The air suddenly became dry, carrying a heavy, unyielding smell of engine oil, cold metal, and a strange mixture of sulfur—pungent yet exuding a certain power.

The first thing that catches the eye is the rows of heavy alloy supports fixed to the rocks on both sides of the cave wall, most of which are empty.

Only at the innermost part of the cave, near the bottom, were several shelves neatly stacked with hundreds of brand-new assault rifles, their bodies wrapped in thick, moisture-proof tarpaulins. Next to them were dozens of sealed wooden crates of varying sizes, clearly containing ammunition and spare parts. Frank explained in a low voice, "These were moved here earlier for emergency use."

Xiao Ce nodded, but his gaze hardly lingered on the modern weapons. His eyes, as if drawn by an invisible magnet, instantly fixed on the enormous creature at the deepest part of the cave!

A thick, dark gray canvas covered it, outlining an imposing silhouette. Morgana and Frank exchanged a glance, quickly stepped forward, each on one side, and carefully together lifted the heavy canvas.

The light instantly captured the cold metallic luster.

Xiao Ce's attention was quickly drawn to it...

A weapon with a striking design lies quietly lurking in the shadows!

It has a broad, thick base similar to an old mortar, but with smoother, sharper lines, full of the cold, hard aesthetics of futuristic industry.

The short, thick cannon barrel was not smooth, but covered with some kind of mysterious spiral pattern and protruding energy conduit interfaces, gleaming with a cold, eerie blue metallic light.

The most peculiar feature of the cannon is that its rear is connected to a heavy metal box, which is as big as a small cabinet. The front of the box is inlaid with an irregular prismatic purple crystal that is larger than a human head!

Inside the crystal, there seemed to be a viscous liquid energy flowing and rotating extremely slowly, emitting a chilling, pure energy fluctuation.

"Starlink Type 1 Traction Energy Cannon (Prototype/Experimental Code Name: Lynx)!"

Next to it, an alloy plaque fixed to the base clearly outlines Common Language and another ancient and beautiful script through etching.

But Xiao Ce's gaze was fixed on another spot on the edge of the base!

It was a pattern drawn with extremely simple and refined lines.

Within the design, the double-eaved hip roof and flying eaves and brackets clearly form a miniature outline of the Xiao Kingdom's imperial palace! Next to this mark, a miniature star map is etched with even finer lines that almost blend into the metallic texture!

The way the stars are arranged and their orbits are connected...

Xiao Ce found it familiar... The script of Xiao Kingdom, and the imperial palace of Xiao Kingdom, could this thing have been produced by the Tianji Academy of Xiao Kingdom?

That's unlikely...

If they really had such advanced weapons, they would definitely follow Xiao Ce's advice...

Just as Xiao Ce was racking his brains trying to figure it out...

Meanwhile, Xiao Dingshan's pupils suddenly contracted to pinpoints! A chill instantly shot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head!

Immediately, Xiao Dingshan, who had been silent until now, exclaimed in surprise: "This...this is the Heavenly Yin Star Chart!"

Xiao Dingshan's sudden voice made Morgana and her group immediately turn their attention to Xiao Dingshan behind Xiao Ce.

At this moment, although Xiao Dingshan was dressed in the same clothes as A Tie and the others, he seemed to have a more human touch...

At this moment, Xiao Ce disregarded the surprise of those around him and asked Xiao Dingshan, "You know him?"