Chapter 58: Not Hard at All

Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Not Hard at All

"Step right up, take a look! Freshly made Second Grade Spiritual Cuisine, yours to take home for only two thousand Spirit Stones..."

At the center of Purple Bamboo Peak, where its seven great bamboo forests converged, Yang Haichen held up a food box and shouted with all his might. The other disciples who also had stalls set up nearby stared at him, utterly stunned. It was one thing for this guy to steal their business by buying up Purple Bamboo Grass here in the past.

But what was with him today? Had he suddenly gone mad?

’Spiritual Cuisine? Purple Cloud Valley doesn’t even have any Spirit Chefs, let alone Spiritual Cuisine that costs two thousand Spirit Stones per serving!’

The other two renowned Spirit Chefs sold their Spiritual Cuisine for two hundred Spirit Stones at most, and that was already an inflated price.

Filled with such confusion, more and more Outer Sect Disciples gathered. Seeing that enough time had passed, Yang Haichen opened the food box.

Instantly, a dense golden light surged from the box. The light, accompanied by a rich aroma, began to spread, captivating the disciples who had only come to watch the spectacle.

"Two thousand Spirit Stones. I’ll take it."

Just then, a figure descended from the sky, landing directly beside Yang Haichen before he could even react.

Before Yang Haichen could process what was happening, a large pile of Spirit Stones appeared before him.

"The transaction is complete. Enjoy your meal, Senior Brother."

Yang Haichen was quick on the uptake. After counting the Spirit Stones, he handed the food box right over. The box itself only cost a few pieces of silver; what did it matter if he threw it in for free?

"Junior Brother, would you be interested in introducing me to this Second Grade Spirit Chef?"

The Senior Brother closed the lid of the food box and cast a Solid Spirit Technique on it to prevent the Spiritual Qi within the Spiritual Cuisine from dissipating. Only then did he place it into his Storage Ring.

"Please forgive me, Senior Brother. It’s not that I’m unwilling, but that Spirit Chef lives on the back mountain."

Yang Haichen already had an excuse prepared for this. The back mountain was the territory of the acting Peak Master. Regardless of whether you were a True Disciple or an Inner Sect Disciple, would you dare go there directly and demand a Spirit Chef cook for you?

If you went in without permission, by the next day you would be branded a traitor to Purple Cloud Valley.

"The back mountain, huh... In that case, Junior Brother, do you have any more Spiritual Cuisine for sale?"

Huang Haixuan pursed his lips. He’d originally thought he could bypass this junior brother and contact the Spirit Chef directly, but if the person was on the back mountain, then their identity was obvious. Just a few days ago, the sole pre-decided spot on Purple Bamboo Peak had been taken by someone from the back mountain.

He had felt it was a shame before, since watching the Outer Sect Disciples compete in the arena was a form of amusement for him. Now, it seemed that making this person an Inner Sect Disciple was a conservative move. Becoming a True Disciple in a single step was the only status worthy of a Second Grade Spirit Chef.

"Three servings of Spiritual Cuisine for sale daily, one for each meal."

Yang Haichen said frankly. Huang Haixuan’s eyes lit up, but just as he was about to say something, he sensed numerous strands of Spiritual Sense probing from the surrounding bamboo forest.

Clearly, quite a few people had been drawn by the pillar of golden light to investigate. If he started negotiating with this junior brother under the watch of so many, he would become the public enemy of Purple Bamboo Peak.

"Tch! A bunch of cowards, hiding and sneaking around. Junior Brother, you’d better be here on time tomorrow."

In the end, Huang Haixuan gave up on the idea. His Body Technique was the fastest, after all. When the time came, it would be a matter of everyone fending for themselves.

"I’ll do my best, but this isn’t something I can decide."

Yang Haichen nodded. Huang Haixuan nodded back, said nothing more, and vanished from the sight of the assembled Outer Sect Disciples.

Huang Haixuan departed, but he had only taken a few steps before he felt numerous strands of Spiritual Sense spying on him.

"Apprentice, hurry back."

The Grand Elder’s voice arrived at the perfect moment. Instantly, Yang Haichen felt all the Spiritual Senses vanish.

Yang Haichen returned to the Bamboo Garden and ate with the Grand Elder. He’d originally thought it would take some time to sell the Spiritual Cuisine, but he hadn’t expected the whole affair to be over in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

"Master, who were all those people?"

After the meal, Yang Haichen couldn’t help but ask. He was quite curious about the matter. After all, he had never sensed so many Spiritual Senses locking onto him before. One gained Spiritual Sense upon reaching Body Tempering Perfection, and since he was now close to that stage, he was naturally able to perceive it when he was being targeted.

"Some True Disciples who are stuck in the Meridian Passage Realm."

The Grand Elder shook his head. "In Purple Cloud Valley, Outer Sect Disciples are unremarkable. Inner Sect Disciples are the ones who stir up trouble. But once they become True Disciples, they become unremarkable again. They either spend their days wandering around Purple Cloud Valley or they’re in seclusion seeking a breakthrough."

"Both paths lead to the same end. The Body Tempering Realm can be completed within twenty years at the latest. But for the Meridian Passage Realm, there’s no such time limit. You either make it or you don’t. If you don’t, you can either give up and coast, or you can try to brute-force a breakthrough with resources."

"This is an opportunity for them. A Second Grade Spirit Chef corresponds to the Meridian Passage Realm. This is also why your Body Tempering speed has increased so drastically lately."

As the Grand Elder finished speaking, Yang Haichen’s eyes lit up. ’If that’s the case,’ he thought, ’then as long as I keep cooperating with Liu Chen, won’t I have nothing to worry about my cultivation speed even when I reach the Meridian Passage Realm?’

’Becoming a True Disciple, or even advancing further to a Steward or something, would be a sure thing!’

"Take the Spirit Stones to him."

The Grand Elder glanced at Yang Haichen, knowing full well what his apprentice was thinking at that moment. But it was the truth. If he ate Spiritual Cuisine for all three meals, his apprentice could reach Body Tempering Perfection before the Inner Sect assessment. Becoming an Inner Sect Disciple was practically a foregone conclusion.

"Master, could you teach me the Solid Spirit Technique? Once Junior Brother Liu learns it, we’ll be able to eat our meals while they’re still hot."

Yang Haichen couldn’t resist asking. The Solid Spirit Technique on the Spiritual Cuisine earlier had been cast by his master. However, a significant amount of time passed between Liu Chen finishing the cooking and him bringing it back, which still affected the flavor.

"It’s rare for you to be so considerate."

The Grand Elder casually pointed a finger, and a pre-written sheet of paper flew out from the bamboo house and landed directly in Yang Haichen’s hand. The Solid Spirit Technique was just a basic Magic; Liu Chen would have gotten it sooner or later anyway, so he might as well grant the favor now.

Yang Haichen took it and saw that it was, indeed, the Cultivation Technique for the Solid Spirit Technique.

"Master, I’ll be right back."

Yang Haichen gave a sheepish laugh, then turned and left.

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"Junior Brother, here are the two thousand Spirit Stones, and this is the Solid Spirit Technique. Once you learn it, you’ll be able to make the Spiritual Cuisine stay as fresh as if it just came out of the pot for a very long time."

Yang Haichen dumped the Spirit Stones from his Storage Ring onto the table, then placed the paper with the Solid Spirit Technique on top of the glittering pile.

Liu Chen narrowed his eyes, examining the pile of Spirit Stones. A single Spirit Stone was about the size of a date; piling two thousand of them on a table was quite a feat.

"Thank you for your hard work, Senior Brother."

Liu Chen didn’t ask how Senior Brother Yang had managed it. Instead, he reached out and swept all the Spirit Stones into his ink-black Storage Ring, catching the paper as it fluttered down.

"No trouble at all, not in the slightest."

Yang Haichen waved his hand dismissively. That True Disciple had paid two thousand Spirit Stones for one serving of Spiritual Cuisine, but his own commission was two servings. ’How could this be called hard work? I made an absolute killing!’

"Senior Brother, what’s the price for this Solid Spirit Technique? I can’t let you take a loss on my account."

One glance at the Solid Spirit Technique and Liu Chen understood its importance to a Spirit Chef. That being the case, he would definitely have to pay for it in Spirit Stones.

"You jest, Junior Brother. Just accept it, don’t worry about it."