Chapter 18: Was This Also Part of Your Plan?

Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Was This Also Part of Your Plan?

"Manipulating objects with Spiritual Power..."

Liu Chen opened his eyes. His gaze fell on an empty bamboo stool nearby. He pointed a finger, and a stream of Spiritual Power slowly enveloped it. The stool wobbled as it rose into the air.

"Senior Brother, you’re amazing!"

Ji Suyao cried out in amazement, while Ye Linglong’s eyes widened beside her. ’Didn’t he just get the Magic? How can he use it already?’

[Artifact Manipulation Technique Proficiency +1]

The moment the prompt appeared, Liu Chen didn’t even have time to feel pleased before he saw the Spiritual Power on the bamboo stool rapidly deplete. It then dropped straight back into place.

"It’s still a bit difficult. I’m afraid the Body Tempering Realm isn’t enough to sustain it for long."

Liu Chen seemed lost in thought. Ye Linglong and Ji Suyao exchanged a glance, their expressions a little odd.

"It’s getting late. Linglong, let’s go move the bed over."

Ji Suyao yawned and pulled Ye Linglong away, leaving Liu Chen to study the new Artifact Manipulation Technique by himself.

’I can cultivate while building the Bamboo Garden. It seems I need to reschedule my time.’

Liu Chen shook his head, deciding not to delve deeper into the Artifact Manipulation Technique for now. With such low Proficiency, he wouldn’t discover any special tricks anyway. It was better to obediently finish the cultivation he hadn’t completed for the day.

"Isn’t Senior Brother’s cultivation Talent a bit ridiculous?"

In the bamboo grove, Ji Suyao couldn’t help but ask. She was quite dedicated to her cultivation, but after three days, she still couldn’t cast the full Withering Skill. She hadn’t even reached the Beginner level.

"There’s a gap between people. We just need to focus on our own cultivation."

Ye Linglong shook her head. Although she was also shocked, when she thought about it, compared to him mysteriously becoming a Spirit Chef, learning some basic Magic didn’t seem like such a big deal.

"That’s true. From the moment I first saw Senior Brother, I had a feeling he was very strong."

Ji Suyao recalled their first meeting. Her master had brought her here back then, and she was still struggling with leaving the mortal world behind. Then she saw Senior Brother eating alone in the Bamboo Garden, looking just like a reclusive master from a storybook.

"You don’t have any other ideas about him?"

Ye Linglong turned to look at Ji Suyao. They had both heard about the potential marriage alliance before coming here, but Ji Suyao clearly hadn’t given it much thought. But now, with Senior Brother’s cultivation Talent and his status as a Spirit Chef, he was more than enough to make their families’ hearts flutter.

’Besides, after spending this time with him, Senior Brother has such a dependable way of doing things. Even I, who wanted to solve my family’s crisis on my own, have felt my resolve waver.’

"What ideas?"

Ji Suyao turned to look at Ye Linglong, confused. What ideas could she possibly have about Senior Brother? He was the one who prepared their three meals a day and guided them in their Magic and Cultivation Techniques.

"What ideas, indeed."

Ye Linglong pursed her lips. Seeing the Bamboo Garden was just ahead, she quickened her pace. Ji Suyao was a bit baffled, but followed her anyway.

-----------------

"I suppose this was within your expectations as well?"

Bai Qiulan looked at the somewhat dazed Mo Xuan with a smile. The Cultivation Technique for the Artifact Manipulation Technique had just been delivered, so of course they were watching.

And what they saw was Liu Chen merely glancing at it before casting the Artifact Manipulation Technique. Even though he could only move the stool a short distance and it couldn’t even be considered the Beginner level, the fact that he could use it so easily was a testament to his Talent.

Ever since accepting Liu Chen as a disciple, Mo Xuan had insisted the boy’s Talent was poor. Yet it seemed that every time they observed Liu Chen’s cultivation, her Dao-companion—once so full of vigor, the undisputed master of his generation in both Realm and Magic—would end up sitting down to contemplate the meaning of life.

"According to Purple Cloud Valley’s talent assessment methods, Liu Chen would be Middle Grade at best. He wouldn’t even be able to join Purple Cloud Valley."

Mo Xuan shook his head. He had, of course, secretly tested the boy’s Talent, and the results had been disappointing. That was why he had taken a hands-off approach with Liu Chen in the beginning. In his mind, reaching just the Body Tempering Beginner level should have taken Liu Chen at least half a year, given his Talent.

But in just half a month, the boy had already reached the Beginner stage. And now he was progressing faster and faster. After just one cycle of the Cultivation Technique, the phantom of a bronze bamboo leaf was already starting to turn silver-white.

This was a sign that he was approaching Minor Success. Once this phenomenon appeared, achieving Minor Success was certain to happen within five days at most.

Even if Liu Chen got stuck on the final step for another seven or eight days, it would still only be a month in total. And reaching the Beginner stage in a month is already considered genius-level.

"Haven’t you always said that Talent tests aren’t accurate?"

Bai Qiulan shook her head. She wasn’t joking. The Talent tests themselves were known to be inaccurate. According to the data from the Elder in charge of improving them within the Sect, over ninety percent of the tests were generally correct.

But passing the test wasn’t the only way to join the Sect. For instance, none of their three disciples had been accepted through the official entrance test.

"They’re still very accurate in most cases."

Mo Xuan shook his head. Even in past cases where the tests were inaccurate, there were always reasons. For example, someone with decent Talent might be discovered by a wandering Steward or Elder in the Sect and begin their rise to prominence. Or someone with great Talent might lose all motivation after a sudden misfortune.

But Liu Chen’s case was just bizarre. The kid’s daily cultivation looked so unremarkable. When he first learned the Withering Skill, he made no progress for a long time. Then, one day, after finishing a training session, he just sat there looking dazed for a while, and suddenly he’d reached the Beginner level with the Magic.

There were absolutely no signs beforehand.

It was the same with becoming a Spirit Chef. When Liu Chen first started cooking, Mo Xuan had been rather hopeful. But after seeing the finished product, he’d opted to start scrounging for meals at his Dao-companion’s place.

He had observed him in secret after that and saw no obvious improvement. But then, half a month later, the kid had become a Spirit Chef.

"You said it yourself, ’in most cases.’ It’s getting late. I’m going to bed."

Bai Qiulan shook her head and walked straight into the house. Mo Xuan immediately got up and followed his Dao-companion inside, only to be promptly kicked out.

"Get cleaned up before you come back in."

The icy words drifted out. Mo Xuan shook his head and walked toward a nearby bamboo hut. He didn’t really care about his appearance, but it was probably best to tidy himself up if he wanted to get back inside.

The tranquil night soon gave way to the light of dawn. Liu Chen emerged from his bamboo hut and completed a round of Body Tempering in the bamboo grove. Seeing that his two junior sisters hadn’t appeared yet, Liu Chen went to pick some Bamboo Shoots by himself. It seemed breakfast couldn’t wait for Junior Sister Ye’s guidance today.

[Spirit Chef Proficiency +10]

[Spirit Chef: Second Grade, 0/1000]

As he finished making breakfast, Liu Chen felt his recent cooking experience and Junior Sister Ye’s lessons on heat control suddenly merge and crystallize in his mind. The sensation was marvelous, almost intoxicating.

When Liu Chen came to his senses and looked at the breakfast he had made—which he’d previously thought was decent—his eyes filled with disdain. He finally realized just how much his cooking skills were a criminal waste of good ingredients.

Liu Chen casually found two bowls, poured the Spirit Rice Porridge and stir-fried Bamboo Shoots into them, and set them aside.

Then, he went back into the bamboo grove to dig up a few more Bamboo Shoots.