324: Founding Master

For ordinary people, crossing the Eastern Region and the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains is fraught with difficulties, and it is inevitable to encounter many natural disasters and man-made calamities along the way.

"But with this competition, it won't be so difficult anymore."

"The scope of this competition covers the four regions, and even some friendly neutral lands outside the four regions."

"Although not everyone might actually show up, most will still be people from within the three regions."

"However, this is enough to influence the Karma of the four regions."

"As long as you participate, the possibility of encountering danger along the way will be greatly reduced."

"This is the purpose of our competition. As for why it's limited to twenty people, it's also to give Loose Cultivators and small forces some opportunities. After all, a monopoly is ultimately immoral, and this is the difference between us and the Demonic Sects."

The Grand Elder finished speaking with an expressionless face throughout, making Zhou Yan realize once again that living a long time indeed has a profound impact on one's perspective.

Could even someone as upright as the Grand Elder speak of these things so nonchalantly?

"Ding, the Main Quest has been activated: Chapter Two, 'Tracing Secrets, Proving Immortal Opportunity'."

The voice echoing in his Sea of Consciousness allowed Zhou Yan to instantly clear his mind, though his breathing faltered for a moment.

But he quickly suppressed his emotions.

"Thank you for the explanation, Grand Elder. I will begin preparing for the Three Sects Martial Competition."

"If there is nothing else, this Junior plans to enter seclusion immediately to polish my cultivation."

Seeing Zhou Yan so diligent, the look of satisfaction in the Grand Elder's eyes grew even stronger.

However, he felt more and more regretful in his heart—why hadn't he been more forceful back then?

If he had taken advantage of the Second Elder's absence and directly fought with the Fourth Elder to snatch this Disciple, he could have at least maintained some semblance of a bond.

After all, the relationship between the Fourth Elder and Zhou Yan was obvious to everyone.

They had the title of master and Disciple, so it was natural for them to gift and help each other. But he could only watch as the Fourth Elder constantly built up favor, until now, when the two were of equal status, they still addressed each other as master and Disciple in private... Just thinking about it made him feel unwilling.

"Ahem, well, there is indeed one thing."

The Grand Elder coughed lightly, his expression becoming serious once more.

"Regarding the matter of establishing a lineage that the Second Elder and the others mentioned to you before, how are the preparations coming along?"

"Even if you don't take on Disciples, it's good to pass down the lineage. This is beneficial to your cultivation and can also save you a lot of trouble."

Oops, I forgot about that.

Only then did Zhou Yan remember that he still bore the responsibility of establishing a lineage.

But what could he teach?

His wood Spells were only considered proficient, his water Spells relied entirely on Divine Ability enhancements, and his lightning Spells were purely based on Divine Abilities and random tinkering, lacking a System.

The only thing he could teach was wind Spells, but wind Spells were even more troublesome. His own understanding was still shallow; although he could use many Moves, he didn't quite understand their true meaning.

Even the true killing Moves in this set of Spells had limitations, requiring the power of time for enhancement; even he only knew their names but not how to use them.

If he rashly passed down an incomplete Legacy, others might not be able to directly comprehend it without repercussions like he did.

While he was troubled, a previous thought resurfaced, and he finally remembered his original plan.

"Grand Elder, is it acceptable regardless of what kind of lineage is taught?"

Seeing Zhou Yan suddenly change from a worried face to a spirited one, the Grand Elder nodded.

"As long as it's not a Demonic Path or an evil Cultivator inheritance, anything can be taught."

Zhou Yan's smile grew even wider upon hearing this.

"Don't worry, Grand Elder, it's definitely not the Demonic Path, just a bit unconventional."

"That's fine... wait."

Before the Grand Elder could finish, Zhou Yan had already flown back to his Immortal Cave in a flash, only leaving behind a sentence from afar.

"This Disciple will go into seclusion first to organize the content to be taught."

"In such a hurry?"

"I haven't even asked what Dao you're going to pass on?"

"He just said it was an unconventional inheritance. Could it be archery or that enemy-tracking Divine Ability?"

"It couldn't possibly be a pupil technique, could it?"

However, the Grand Elder himself was also tied up with affairs and needed to make early preparations for next year's events, especially finding a suitable Disciple to take one of the spots.

He had a faint feeling that with Zhou Yan's participation in this Secret Realm exploration, there might be unexpected gains. If his own Disciple went along, they might also obtain some Opportunity.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yan had already begun studying the new tasks.

Main Quest:

Chapter Two: "Tracing Secrets, Proving Immortal Opportunity"

"Sorrow of Time II"

"Seeking Truth I"

Side Quest: None

Encounter Quest: "The Beholder"

The quest log was full, and they were all series quests, gated by both Rank and requirements. This familiar feeling was truly nostalgic.

However, what he was most concerned about was the Main Quest of the second chapter, "Tracing Secrets, Proving Immortal Opportunity."

Quest Objectives:

1. Participate in the Three Sects Martial Competition and achieve a top twenty ranking.

2. Go to the Eastern Extreme Secret Realm and complete the exploration.

3. Reach the hidden space of the Eastern Extreme Secret Realm.

Quest Reward: "Seeking the Dao" 3.0 Unlocked.

Other milestone rewards will be settled in real-time based on quest completion.

"No mandatory requirements, and this time the System update is actually set as a reward?"

"And it's milestone settlements... it's like New Year's; even the System is getting better."

Zhou Yan sensed that some force seemed to be pushing him toward the Eastern Extreme Secret Realm.

Whether it was Yu Kou, the Demon Venerable, or this System, it was as if everything had been arranged in the shadows.

"Is this what they call an Opportunity? Once it comes, you can't even push it away."

"Forget it, I'll take things as they come and see what this quest can bring."

"And now—" Zhou Yan revealed a mischievous smile, "my free high-end employees, you'd better work hard. My business Empire is still waiting for all of you to build it."

One week later.

"Senior Brother Liu, you've come too?"

"I didn't expect Junior Brother Fugui to be here as well."

Two Disciples arrived early at the foot of Holy Son Peak, looking at the newly built academy and its plaque.

New Left Cooking Academy.

Fugui looked at the gathering crowd ahead, his eyes filled with longing.

"I also didn't expect that the Saint would actually establish an academy to study the Dao of Spirit Food."

"I've loved cooking since I was a child. Back then, the travel expenses to Qingxu Grotto-Heaven were earned by working as a kitchen hand in a restaurant's back kitchen."

"How could I not be excited?"

Senior Brother Liu also looked toward the academy and said with emotion.

"If he didn't truly love cooking, how could he have researched the Dao of Spirit Food to such an extent?"

"Previously, many fellow Disciples rumored that the Saint was a Sovereign of Revival with a gentle character. I didn't believe it at first, since he keeps to himself and is rarely seen."

"But now it's different."

"How bad can a person who loves delicious food be? I'm full of anticipation now as well."

"Look, the door is opening! It's the Saint!"

"It really is the Saint!"

Zhou Yan walked out of the gate and was slightly surprised to see more than a hundred people gathered at the foot of the mountain; the number was higher than he had expected.

During this week, he had built this academy at the foot of the mountain, specifically to teach the Dao of Spirit Food.

As early as after the main city stabilized, he had begun organizing the recipes and standards for Spirit Food. Through theoretical and practical verification, he discovered that cooking could also enhance cultivation.

Zhou Yan immediately understood what Dao he should pass on.

Now that he was almost touching the level of Law with Spirit Food, there was absolutely no problem in teaching this method.

Of course, this was also related to the operation of Taiyi City.

Taiyi City currently mainly deals in pre-prepared meals, but the high-end categories cannot all be handled by him alone; otherwise, it would be putting the cart before the horse.

He would definitely still focus on Cultivating and couldn't actually become a full-time chef.

It was quite necessary to recruit some Disciples with higher cultivation; if someone could comprehend the Dao from it, that would be the icing on the cake.

Zhou Yan waved his sleeve and officially announced the establishment of the New Left Cooking Academy.

In the following months, he taught diligently, and the Disciples' progress was extremely rapid.

A Senior Brother surnamed Liu had even independently realized "Glowing Cuisine" before his lectures, giving the Spirit Food special effects.

Another Senior Brother named Fugui was also not simple; he could understand the original flavor of food just by touching it with a finger. Although it was a bit unhygienic, Cultivators shouldn't be bothered by trifles. Just say whether the taste is excellent and the progress is rapid.

The Spirit Food produced by the Disciples gradually became available for sale to the outside world, and Zhou Yan began to ship some goods to the Eastern Region, distributing most of the earned Spirit Stones to everyone.

This kind of life, where one could Cultivate, delve into what they loved, and earn Spirit Stones, soon attracted even more Disciples to join.

What surprised Zhou Yan the most was that the progress of his Law of Consumption comprehension, which had originally stalled, actually began to grow slowly again as the Disciples' skills improved and new recruits joined, rising from the previous low thirties to over thirty-five, and it was still increasing.

Just as everything was flourishing and Zhou Yan was almost too happy to think of home, an unexpected visitor came before him.

Zhou Yan looked at the Shi Suiyan in front of him, who broke into a smile.

"Senior Brother, it's been a long time. I missed you dearly."