Chapter 59: I’ll Have to Trouble Junior Brother to Ask for Me

Chapter 59: Chapter 59: I’ll Have to Trouble Junior Brother to Ask for Me

"Senior Brother, what is this for?"

In the Bamboo Garden, Ye Linglong looked hesitantly at the fifty Spirit Stones in front of her. Ji Suyao, at her side, felt the same. This time, their Senior Brother had not only brought them hot water but had also taken out Spirit Stones—fifty for each of them.

"This is your payment for digging up the Bamboo Shoots. Just go ahead and take them."

Liu Chen sat casually across from the two of them. He had originally planned to give them one hundred Spirit Stones each, but on second thought, he figured they would be unlikely to accept that much.

"This doesn’t seem right, does it?"

Ji Suyao couldn’t help but speak up. She wasn’t an idiot; earning fifty Spirit Stones for digging up a few Bamboo Shoots was an incredible deal. If word got out, the line of Cultivators wanting to dig up Bamboo Shoots would probably stretch from here all the way to her front door.

"What’s not right about it? Don’t tell me you two think it’s too little?"

Liu Chen narrowed his eyes. Ji Suyao and Ye Linglong quickly shook their heads. Too little? Digging just two extra Bamboo Shoots per person was worth fifty Spirit Stones. By that math, a single Bamboo Shoot was worth twenty-five Spirit Stones—an astronomical price.

"Then it’s settled. This will be the arrangement for all three meals from now on. Thank you for your hard work, Junior Sisters."

Liu Chen didn’t give them a chance to say anything else. He left them with those words and promptly turned and walked away.

"Linglong?"

After Liu Chen left, Ji Suyao couldn’t help but speak. She really didn’t know how to handle the situation and could only pin her hopes on the ever-decisive Ye Linglong.

"Let’s take them. We shouldn’t let our Senior Brother’s kindness go to waste."

Ye Linglong collected the Spirit Stones. Their Senior Brother had already left, so it wasn’t like they could return them now. More importantly, they didn’t even have a use for Spirit Stones.

They had Spiritual Cuisine for all three meals a day, followed by Body Tempering supplemented with Purple Bamboo Grass. Spirit Stones might be useful to them after they reached Body Tempering Great Success, but they definitely had no need for them before then. As for daily living expenses, they needed them even less.

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’Now that I’ve reached the Beginner stage of the Sword Control Technique, controlling the Bamboo Sword is much more intuitive. My Basic Sword Skill now has about thirty percent of its full power. Two months should be enough to achieve mastery in the Sword Control Technique.’

Inside his bamboo house, Liu Chen sat cross-legged, studying the Bamboo Sword resting across his lap. He had no idea how this sword was forged; despite such a long period of training, it remained as good as new. It would be more than enough to serve as a deadly weapon during the trial.

’In two months, when I face those true prodigies, I hope I’ll at least be able to put up a fight.’

Liu Chen narrowed his eyes. Senior Brother Yang was strong, but he had yet to become an Inner Sect Disciple. The trial in two months, however, would pit him against senior brothers and sisters who had already passed the Inner Sect assessment. On top of that, there would likely be enemies like demons and monsters of comparable strength. It was best to improve his own power as quickly as possible during this time.

As the morning sun cast its glow into the bamboo house, Liu Chen slowly opened his eyes. It was already the fourth day of the seventh month, bringing the trial one day closer.

After his Body Tempering practice, he needed to prepare breakfast for eight. Liu Chen used a series of Magic techniques to finish the cooking. He then used the newly learned Solid Spirit Technique to preserve the three portions meant for Senior Brother Yang. Liu Chen’s Solid Spirit Technique could currently only maintain its effect for one hour. ’Once I reach the Beginner stage, the duration should get longer,’ he figured.

"Senior Brother, from now on, just bring the Spirit Stones when you come to pick up the Spiritual Cuisine. No need to make a special trip."

Liu Chen added as he handed the food container to Senior Brother Yang. ’Anyway, unless this guy’s an idiot, he wouldn’t just run off with a mere two thousand Spirit Stones. And even if he did, the Grand Elder probably couldn’t afford the loss of face.’

"Don’t worry, Junior Brother."

Yang Haichen nodded in agreement. While he didn’t think making an extra trip was a big deal, since Junior Brother Liu had said so, it was probably best for him to just go along with it.

This time, Yang Haichen didn’t put the food container he was selling into his Storage Ring. With the Solid Spirit Technique, he didn’t have to worry about the taste of the Spiritual Cuisine being affected. Besides, based on his experience, he wouldn’t even make it to the plaza before the Spiritual Cuisine was sold.

"Junior Brother, please wait."

In fact, Yang Haichen had been too conservative. The moment he stepped out of the back mountain area, a figure appeared right in front of him, almost pressing up against his body. If Yang Haichen hadn’t anticipated it, the food container in his hands would have likely fallen to the ground.

"Two thousand Spirit Stones."

Yang Haichen said, steadying himself. He didn’t recognize the senior brother before him, but the price was the price; it didn’t matter who he sold it to.

His master had told him not to make things seem unfair, so he would sell to whoever appeared before him first. The rest was up to the True Disciples to compete among themselves.

"Don’t worry, Junior Brother. I understand."

Bai Zefeng floated two thousand Spirit Stones in the air. After Yang Haichen confirmed the amount, he swept the Spirit Stones into his Storage Ring and handed the food container over.

"Thank you, Junior Brother. Could I trouble you to ask if ’that person’ accepts custom orders for Spiritual Cuisine?"

After the transaction was complete, Bai Zefeng couldn’t resist asking. Although the effects of the Spiritual Cuisine were undeniable, he still wanted to eat something else if possible.

Yesterday, Huang Haixuan had naturally not shared his Spiritual Cuisine, but after finishing it, that guy had bragged about it all day long. The few True Disciples on Purple Bamboo Peak were on the verge of ganging up to beat him in the middle of the night.

However, Huang Haixuan had been farsighted enough not to spread the news too far. Otherwise, the ones showing up wouldn’t just be the True Disciples of Purple Bamboo Peak, but the True Disciples from all of Purple Cloud Valley.

The True Disciples alone couldn’t have contained the news. The Stewards and Elders of the various Bamboo Gardens must have also been doing everything in their power to stop word from leaving Purple Bamboo Peak.

"I’ll ask for you, Senior Brother, but ’that person’ may not agree."

Yang Haichen readily agreed. In the end, it was Liu Chen’s decision to make anyway. He was more than happy to just ask a question.

"Thank you, Junior Brother. If you run into any trouble in the future, you can come find me at Bai Ze Garden in the Sixth Bamboo Forest."

Bai Zefeng left after saying this. Yang Haichen collected his thoughts and headed toward the Grand Elder’s Bamboo Garden. After rounding a bend, he saw the senior brother from yesterday.

"Junior Brother..."

Huang Haixuan strode over, but after a few steps, he felt something was wrong. This junior brother hadn’t taken out the food container, which gave him a bad feeling.

"You’re too late, Senior Brother."

Yang Haichen was very matter-of-fact. Huang Haixuan nodded silently, said nothing to Yang Haichen, and vanished on the spot.

’How pragmatic,’ Yang Haichen thought with a purse of his lips. A flicker of longing appeared in his eyes. Perhaps in a few years, he too could become a True Disciple. Before, he would have definitely set that goal for ten or even twenty years in the future.

But now, with the help of Junior Brother Liu’s Spiritual Cuisine, there was no need to set his sights so far.

While Yang Haichen was steeling his resolve, Liu Chen was watching his two junior sisters practice Body Tempering.

Of course, it was also the perfect time for him to practice some Basic Magic Techniques.

Liu Chen was currently practicing the Recovery Technique. This was the second Basic Magic Technique he was on the verge of bringing to the Great Success stage.