69: Chapter 69 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (Seventeen)

Only after the footsteps of the two Utility Disciples had completely faded at the end of the alley did Chu Shi turn around to close the courtyard gate and slide the bolt into place.

With a soft click, the clamor of the outside world was completely shut out.

Only then did he have the time to carefully inspect every detail of this small courtyard.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Elder Zhang's arrangements, but the life-and-death experiences from his several reincarnations had long since engraved the six words "Caution never leads to major mistakes" into his very bones and blood.

No matter when or where, thoroughly understanding one's surroundings and eliminating hidden dangers was always the top priority.

After conscientiously inspecting the corners of the courtyard, the house, and even the gaps in the window lattices one by one, he confirmed there were no anomalies or traces of surveillance.

Only then did he set down his baggage, simply make the bed, and organize his luggage before heading straight for the cultivation room.

When it came down to it, this was merely a temporary residence.

Three days later, once the disciples from Diming Province arrived, the Great Sun Holy Land's entrance trial would officially begin.

By then, all prospective disciples would be reassigned based on their trial results:

Those with mediocre aptitude would enter the Outer Sect courtyards, those who stood out could enter the Inner Sect, and if one had peerless talent, they might even have the opportunity to directly apprentice under an elder and become a Core Disciple.

Once the trial results were out, his residence would naturally change, so there was no need to spend effort decorating it for now.

Pushing open the wooden door of the cultivation room, what met his eyes was an elegant room with thickened walls on all four sides, offering excellent soundproofing.

In the center of the room sat a thick meditation cushion, with a small bronze incense burner placed in front of it. Beyond that, there were no other furnishings, perfectly suiting the tranquility required for cultivation.

Chu Shi took a piece of mind-calming incense from his pouch and lit it in the incense burner.

A faint, clear, and peaceful fragrance slowly dispersed, which could stabilize the mind and spirit, preventing the agitation of vital energy and blood, or deviation into demonic cultivation, during practice.

He then sat cross-legged firmly on the meditation cushion, eyes slightly closed, fingers forming a seal, and began to circulate the Great Sun Body Refining Technique.

Vigorous yet restrained vital energy and blood rose from his dantian, slowly circulating throughout his body along his meridians.

Like warm water, it washed over and refined his skin and membranes time and again, polishing the foundation of the Ox-Skin Realm, which he had just broken through to, making it increasingly solid bit by bit.

He intended to take advantage of this three-day window to completely stabilize his realm and, while he was at it, push his cultivation further, so he naturally focused with single-minded devotion.

This sitting lasted for an entire day.

It was not until the horizon was dyed through by the setting sun, and the orange-red evening glow spilled over the window lattice and onto his hem, that Chu Shi slowly withdrew his vital energy and blood, sinking all his strength back into his dantian, and slowly opened his eyes.

As soon as he stood up, a clear and urgent rumbling came from his stomach, and a strong sense of hunger surged up instantly.

This was only natural, as Body Refining martial artists relied on grains and meat to nourish their vital energy and blood.

Moreover, he had been circulating his cultivation technique to refine his skin and membranes for the entire day, consuming a great deal of vital energy and blood, so his stomach was long since empty.

Not to mention that for the half-month on the flying ship, he had barely left his room, relying entirely on dry rations and supplements to fill his stomach while cultivating, so he had long been craving a hot meal.

He remembered the two Utility Disciples who had led the way mentioning that the canteen at Trial Peak was very close to the Canglan Courtyard; after leaving the courtyard gate and walking west, it was only a few hundred steps away.

Chu Shi casually smoothed out his slightly wrinkled robes and pushed the door open to step out.

When he arrived at the entrance of the canteen, it was just in time for mealtime.

Along the way, there were prospective disciples dressed in uniform attire, walking into the canteen in twos and threes, the place bustling with noise and the lively atmosphere of everyday life.

Stepping inside, what met his eyes was an extremely spacious hall, clearly divided into two areas.

The ordinary area near the outside occupied the largest space, with thousands of seats arranged neatly, and by now, seven or eight out of ten disciples were already seated.

All the staple foods like rice and flour, meat and vegetable dishes, meat soups, and dry rations here were provided for free, with enough to eat one's fill.

Although they were mundane ingredients, they were all top-fresh produce, sufficient to support the daily vital energy and blood consumption of the prospective disciples.

Walking further in, there was the premium area with only a few hundred seats, and at the entrance stood a wooden sign clearly indicating that meals here required payment.

The wooden sign also listed the types of meals, mostly medicinal food prepared with low-level spirit rice, spirit vegetables, and the choice meat of demonic beasts, paired with ten- or twenty-year-old mild tonic herbs.

Not only was the taste far superior to mundane food, but it could also assist in nourishing vital energy and blood, which was greatly beneficial for Body Refining cultivation.

As Chu Shi stood at the entrance, slightly hesitating, he heard a familiar, loud call from the direction of the window in the premium area, directed straight at him: "Brother Chu! Over here!"

He looked up and saw that at a large round table near the window, Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan was standing up and waving vigorously at him, his face full of enthusiastic smiles.

Sitting beside that table was also a group from the Canglan Princes Mansion.

Princess Xiao Xiao, Yun Mengyao, and several young men and women dressed in the attire of the Princes Mansion.

They seemed to be the guards and maids who followed Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan and the Princess.

However, in reality, these people were also prospective disciples selected this time.

After all, the Holy Land had strict rules and absolutely did not allow outsiders to enter at will.

These people were mostly collateral descendants of the Princes Mansion or loyal servants born into the household, so naturally, they followed the lead of Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan and Princess Xiao Xiao.

Hearing Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan's greeting, Chu Shi paused for a moment, hesitated slightly in his heart, but still walked toward the premium area.

After all, the two of them could be considered to have some acquaintance now; after the gambling duel in Canglan City, Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan had taken the initiative to show goodwill and even sent a generous gift, so they could be considered half-friends.

Since the other party had specifically invited him, if he were to just turn around and leave, it would be too cold and unfeeling.

Walking to the table, Chu Shi first nodded slightly to the people at the table and greeted them in turn: "Seventh Prince, Princess, Miss Yun."

Princess Xiao Xiao glanced at him, raised an eyebrow slightly to acknowledge the greeting, but showed no intention of standing up at all.

One of her hands was resting casually on Yun Mengyao's waist, while the other held silver chopsticks, picking up a piece of translucent, soft, and glutinous osmanthus medicinal cake and delivering it to Yun Mengyao's lips.

Her tone carried a hint of casual playfulness: "Come, Mengyao, open your mouth, and taste this. It's sweet but not cloying, just right for your taste."

Yun Mengyao's cheeks were instantly dyed crimson. She darted a quick glance around, then looked timidly at Chu Shi, who had just sat down, her eyes full of shyness. Yet, she still obediently opened her mouth, ate the medicinal cake, and thanked her in a soft, delicate voice: "Thank you, Princess."

"Good girl." Princess Xiao Xiao smiled and rubbed the top of her head, her fingertips brushing against her earlobe, the doting in her eyes impossible to hide.

On this side, Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan had already hurriedly pulled out the chair beside him, enthusiastically inviting Chu Shi to sit: "Brother Chu, sit quickly! We've been here for a while and checked the entrance several times but didn't see you. We figured you would come around mealtime, so we specifically had the guards keep an eye on the entrance and call you over as soon as we saw you."

"Thank you for your trouble, Seventh Prince." Chu Shi sat down, his tone carrying a hint of polite gratitude.

"Hey, why so polite?" Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan waved his hand, laughing heartily. "We all came from Canglan City together. Being away from home, we should look out for each other, not to mention that we are friends."

Chu Shi smiled and didn't say anything more, but his gaze inadvertently swept over the two people interacting intimately opposite him.