317: travel

Jin Cui, Sect Leader of He Shui Sect felt that his Disciple had it too easy, that his life had gone too smoothly.

His current emotional knot, to use a somewhat inappropriate analogy, was this:

A Cultivation Genius from Duan Kong Cave suddenly learned that his Junior Brother's Cultivation Technique had a backdoor installed, and could be used by the Sect Master for Alchemy at any time.

He was instantly shocked, feeling that life was hopeless, and his Dao Heart collapsed for a time.

Jin Cui, Sect Leader of He Shui Sect felt this was entirely over-the-top.

Because that Junior Brother had known from the moment he joined the sect that the Cultivation Technique was definitely tampered with, yet he still cultivated it without hesitation.

Because cultivating the Cultivation Technique meant there was a chance of being used for Alchemy.

Not cultivating the Cultivation Technique meant directly becoming firewood for Alchemy.

Life is just that helpless; many times you have no choice, and all you can do is face these difficulties head-on.

But Ye Chun, precisely because he had such a good life, didn't realize how helpless everything in the world was. He still thought that as long as he followed a "correct path," he could reach the Peak.

What "correct path" is there?

Jin Cui, Sect Leader of He Shui Sect shook his head, sighing inwardly.

After their world was Sealed and cut off from the Immortal Realm, there was no longer a correct path.

Generation after generation of schemes ultimately filled the Cultivation world with deceit and treachery; even the righteous Heshui Prefecture was not as glamorous as it appeared on the surface.

But what of it? Should one stop cultivating?

As long as you keep cultivating, you will always find a way. What if you Breakthrough to Nascent Soul, Breakthrough to Soul Transformation, and suddenly break all constraints?

It was this 'what if,' this expectation, that made countless Cultivators, knowing the road ahead was arduous, still disregard everything.

But... Jin Cui, Sect Leader of He Shui Sect looked at the still somewhat confused Ye Chun and sighed.

Ye Chun, who had it too easy, seemed to have a stable Dao Heart and seemed willing to do anything for Cultivation. But in reality, he always stood on a high platform, unwilling to condescend; he lacked that ferocious Qi.

"My Disciple, go see the lower levels, go see the myriad forms of life, see how those ordinary players, who share your origin, play the game..."

...Ye Chun left Heshui Prefecture, soaring with his Golden Core Cultivation, without a specific destination, just flying aimlessly.

Unknowingly, he arrived at a large city in the north, bustling with people. Inns, restaurants, blacksmith shops, and everything else were readily available. He could even see small merchants walking the streets.

Ye Chun concealed his aura, disguised himself as an Immortal Foundation Cultivator, and strolled down the main street, finding a restaurant.

"Yao Taste House"

He asked the waiter for information.

It turned out that the Yao Race was counterattacked by the Immortal Dynasty, pushed all the way back to the northern mountains. Some members of the Yao Race who couldn't leave in time became captives of the Immortal Dynasty.

As a result, Yao Race mounts, Yao Race pets, Yao Race songstresses, Yao Race... in short, the Immortal Dynasty native Cultivators and player Cultivators deeply developed the Yao Race.

The most widely embraced development among them was Yao Race cuisine.

The waiter led Ye Chun to a private room on the second floor, bragging along the way:

"Our Yao Taste House was opened by a Yao Race member in the Foundation Establishment Realm. As a member of the Yao Race, his research into Yao Race cuisine is something the Human Race can't even come close to.

"Which members of the Yao Race taste delicious, which members of the Yao Race aid Cultivation, which members of the Yao Race are suitable for grilling, which ones..."

Ye Chun listened, feeling a bit strange: "Since he is a Yao Race member in the Foundation Establishment Realm, how can he view his own kind as ingredients?"

The waiter laughed heartily:

"They say 'Yao Race,' but within it, there are Fox Race, Tiger Race, Turtle Race, Ox Race... Oh, it's truly countless.

"Even within our Human Race, the same race, there are still various factions and schemes.

"How could so many Yao Race members be completely united?

"Before, they only united to resist the Immortal Dynasty. Now that their army has collapsed, many Great Demons have died, and the Yao Race members below have gone their separate ways.

"Many have pledged allegiance to our Immortal Dynasty, and our boss is one of them."

Ye Chun nodded, realizing there was so much to say about the lower-level Yao Race.

He sat down in the private room and looked around.

The decor had a strong Yao Race atmosphere: earthen yellow walls hung with some Yao Race skulls, tattered flags for atmosphere, and a horn in the center.

It looked like he was in a military camp.

After waiting for a while, the waiter shouted as he entered the room, carrying a large pot.

"This is stir-fried water snake meat, using the most essential parts of the water snake demon. We've also added some Water Virtue Spirit Medicine, which is a great dietary supplement even for Immortal Foundation powerhouses like Your Excellency, aiding your Cultivation."

Ye Chun glanced into the pot. The chef's skill was superb; although the water snake was cut, with various Spirit Medicine pieced together, it was reassembled into a miniature water snake. It looked a bit eerie and terrifying, but the aroma was very fragrant, making one's appetite soar.

Ye Chun picked up his chopsticks and took a bite. Indeed, a warm current flowed into his abdominal cavity. He tasted it carefully, not caring about the flavor, but about the benefits.

This meal's help to Cultivation was roughly equivalent to an eighth-grade Medicinal Pill.

It was nothing to him, but considering this was just a restaurant, it seemed somewhat surprising.

Could the Dao of cooking actually be so practical?

Ye Chun ate, feeling a bit emotional.

He realized that his understanding of the Xuanhuan World seemed to be somewhat limited. He had never paid attention to many "life professions," never explored many forms of entertainment, and never even bothered to look at various myths and legends.

Just then, a Sheep Demon walked in, wearing a chef's uniform and carrying a small pot.

He placed the small pot on the table and said with a smile:

"I am Kumu Daoren, the owner and head chef of this restaurant.

"I heard an Immortal Foundation powerhouse has arrived, so I specially brought a small dish—"

As he spoke, he lifted the lid of the small pot. Inside were perfectly braised pig trotters, more than three times larger than ordinary ones, indicating the enormous size of the original owner.

"This was a Yao Race member comparable to a Mortal Foundation Cultivator. It took some effort to capture him, but to be able to enter Your Excellency's mouth, it's worth it."

Ye Chun nodded, noncommittally, simply continuing his meal without any desire to chat with the other party.

Kumu Daoren then took out a pot of wine, filled Ye Chun's cup, and gestured for him to drink.

"This is Spirit Wine I brewed using Spirit Spring water mixed with various Spirit Medicine. It can dispel stagnant Qi in the body, heal hidden injuries, and also aid Cultivation."

Ye Chun raised the cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Kumu Daoren stood by like a waiter. After some time, he finally smiled and said, "Does Your Excellency feel dizzy, as if all your strength has been drained?"

Ye Chun felt nothing; he was a Golden Core after all.

But he thought for a moment, then feigned weakness and asked, "What did you do?"

Kumu Daoren laughed heartily:

"My culinary Dao can produce both dietary supplements and dietary poisons. Even seemingly non-toxic foods, when carefully mixed, can become lethal poisons.

"To be frank, my restaurant outwardly provides Yao Race delicacies to guests, but secretly, it provides Immortal Foundation delicacies to important figures... I wonder what kind of Immortal Foundation you possess?"