487: Then regret

The Eastern Domain is vast, and Yanwang Prefecture is also immense. Even accommodating the Branch Sects of a hundred Sects would not make it seem cramped.

Moreover, outside the Prefecture Seat, apart from Sects that were in direct opposition, most Branch Sects had mutually agreed-upon territories, preventing interference from other Sects.

Thus, when Gui Fu Shen Gong saw a Cultivator flying openly in the air, he immediately became excited.

He quickly followed the flight trail, running swiftly, but soon frowned.

A Cultivator capable of flying in the air must be at least at the Foundation Establishment stage, likely an Elder in an Outer Sect Branch Sect.

But the place he was heading wasn't towards the mountain, but rather the foot of the mountain, specifically in the direction of the Kitchen.

Elders need to eat too?

Gui Fu Shen Gong only thought this for a moment before shaking his head and dismissing the idea.

Cultivators can abstain from grain; they only need to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, requiring no eating at all.

Furthermore, Gui Fu Shen Gong looked down on 'chef players' like Daoist Withered Wood, believing that using the same Materials directly for Alchemy would yield better results, and cooking only catered to gluttony.

He thought that the native Cultivators were not like players with many emotional considerations; they focused more on cultivation and wouldn't be greedy for sensory pleasures.

"Then why still go to the Kitchen?"

Gui Fu Shen Gong found it strange and dared not delay, running over quickly.

But he was still too slow.

By the time he reached the Kitchen, the Cultivator who seemed to be an Elder had already left, leaving behind only a youth who looked very well-behaved.

Li the Big Fat was entertaining the youth, cheerfully calling him 'Ninth Fatty' and telling the youth to choose a pot inside the Kitchen, while also teaching him how to cook.

At this moment, Li the Big Fat noticed Gui Fu Shen Gong and couldn't help but frown.

Before he could speak, Gui Fu Shen Gong had already run out again, chasing after the departing Cultivator.

Regrettably, that Cultivator didn't stop at all. After a certain distance, even the trace of him vanished. Gui Fu Shen Gong absolutely could not catch up.

He fiercely punched the air, feeling a sense of dejection.

"No, if I keep going like this, I'm purely wasting time..."

It had been a month. After venting his anger, Gui Fu Shen Gong finally calmed down.

He knew he was just being stubborn with himself, upset about losing face during the Ascension Assembly and his subsequent performance.

And there was one thing he was reluctant to think about: he was afraid of being called a disgrace by others, especially the players who were specially recruited.

Complex emotions kept him here, but the rationality that returned with calmness told him it was time to leave and stop wasting time.

"Acting emotionally is a major taboo; I must never repeat it..."

The more Gui Fu Shen Gong thought about how muddle-headed he had been recently, the more he slapped himself. He shook his head, preparing to completely leave the Nine Swords Dao Sect and try his luck at another Sect.

But just then, a sallow-faced, skinny youth walked angrily toward the Kitchen.

The person's face was ashen, and he was holding a wooden sword. He looked even angrier than Gui Fu Shen Gong had a month ago. It was unclear who had offended him.

Gui Fu Shen Gong's inherent love for gossip immediately surged. Out of curiosity, he no longer felt it was a waste of time and happily followed to watch.

He saw the youth run to the Kitchen entrance and angrily demand:

"Who is it?! Who exactly took my spot!"

The youth quickly spotted the young man who had appeared in the Kitchen and aggressively questioned:

"Did you take my spot?"

The young man quickly said no, putting on an innocent expression, but he was rebuked by the youth:

"You are so thin and small, you must be the new one!"

"This has nothing to do with me!"

The young man from the Kitchen looked wronged. He was apparently sent directly by an Elder and probably knew nothing about the spot issue.

"I don't care! You took my spot! In three days, at the South Slope, we fight to the death! If you win, I, Xu, will swallow this anger, but if you lose, this spot belongs to me!"

The youth, calling himself Xu, roared, pulled out a blood-stained note from his embrace and threw it at the Kitchen youngster, finally casting a vicious look before striding away.

Gui Fu Shen Gong watched. At first, he thought the new young man in the Kitchen seemed timid, but then a question suddenly struck him:

Damn, something isn't right!

Xu's attitude clearly indicated that the Kitchen spot was precious, not just anyone could get in, and perhaps there was some kind of benefit exchange involved.

Could it be that this Kitchen is some incredible, amazing place that people fight tooth and nail to enter?

The moment he considered this, Gui Fu Shen Gong felt his head buzz. He felt like he was about to become the clown again.

He quickly caught up with Mr. Zhang.

After some polite conversation, he learned that this person was named Zhang Youcai, and he was actually an Outer Sect Disciple currently in Spirit Nurturing, not a complete Mortal.

Gui Fu Shen Gong was even more shocked. He had assumed the Kitchen staff were all Mortals, and the most mediocre Mortals at that; anyone capable of cultivation would leave.

Unexpectedly, properly cultivating Disciples would try every means to get into the Kitchen, and even have their spots snatched away?

He quickly asked:

"Brother Youcai, is the Kitchen really that good?"

Zhang Youcai already had grievances he wanted to vent, so seeing Gui Fu Shen Gong inquire, he took the opportunity to complain:

"The Kitchen is naturally good! If it weren't, why would I spend Spirit Stones bribing people? It's just a pity that the spot was snatched away by someone else!"

Gui Fu Shen Gong led him into the wooden house to sit down and pressed for details.

Zhang Youcai explained while sipping tea:

"First point, working in the Kitchen only requires being responsible for tending the fire and cooking. Since we Spirit Nurturing Disciples eat three meals a day, the Kitchen Disciples cannot leave daily. Therefore, they don't need to take on any external fieldwork missions. Calculating carefully, it's actually leisurely, allowing them time to cultivate on their own.

"Second point, the Kitchen usually cooks Spirit Rice, which is inherently beneficial for cultivation. The chefs in the Kitchen steal and eat it daily, enjoying it even more than other Disciples! Furthermore, as far as I know, even the fat guys in the Kitchen don't really look down on Spirit Rice; they have other good things to sneak, and every single one is a treasure beneficial for cultivation."

Gui Fu Shen Gong frowned: "Just these two points?"

Zhang Youcai found it strange: "Aren't those enough? Just take the most tempting point: the chefs stealing food. I know some of those fat guys can eat sixth-grade Spirit Food daily. When affluent Disciples occasionally request extra meals, they must go through them, and they inevitably get some oil and water from the process.

"It's rumored that Li the Big Fat, who only has Spirit Nurturing cultivation, has actually eaten sixth-grade Spirit Food! Truly enviable!"

"Sixth-grade?!"

Gui Fu Shen Gong finally jumped up in shock.

Although players have a convenient trading System, not everyone is rich.

Most players couldn't afford sixth-grade Spirit Food, let alone ninth-grade Spirit Food. During Spirit Nurturing, they just made do with eating Spirit Rice.

Now that he learned about such benefits in the Kitchen, Gui Fu Shen Gong couldn't help but feel some regret.

He quickly asked again: "Then the higher-ups don't care about the chefs stealing food?"