Chapter 32: I Never Thought of That

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: I Never Thought of That

"Please, Master."

Yang Haichen opened the food box, and the previously contained aroma immediately wafted out. The Grand Elder, who hadn’t been paying much attention, couldn’t help but look over.

Upon seeing the bamboo shoots, which were emitting a faint glow, the Grand Elder hurried over to the table, his eyes filled with astonishment.

"Kid, you’ve gotten a huge bargain. For the last batch of Spiritual Cuisine, five stalks of Purple Bamboo Grass was a fair price. But for this kind, even I would be tempted.

"The Spirit Chefs of Qingxu Hall and Thunder Mountain probably couldn’t make Spiritual Cuisine of this caliber. Forget five stalks of Purple Bamboo Grass; you likely couldn’t trade even a single stalk of Purple Bamboo for this."

After sitting down, the Grand Elder sized up his clueless disciple, who was only thinking about eating. ’Perhaps it’s a case of a fool’s luck,’ he mused. ’A young man who can surpass those two veteran Spirit Chefs has appeared on Purple Bamboo Peak, and these two have even struck a deal through a strange twist of fate.’

’If outsiders knew the caliber of the Spiritual Cuisine he’s making, and that it’s being sold for a mere five stalks of Purple Bamboo Grass, the price of Purple Bamboo Grass would probably skyrocket.’

"Master, what should we do then?"

Yang Haichen couldn’t help but ask. He only knew this was Spiritual Cuisine and that it was better than the first batch he’d received, but he truly didn’t know what Spiritual Cuisine of this quality really meant.

This was only their first completed transaction. If Junior Brother Liu found out the true value of his Spiritual Cuisine later, wouldn’t he see him as a scammer? Even though Junior Brother Liu had been the one to set the price, if he knowingly feigned ignorance of its real worth, he was bound to be resented.

"That fellow Mo Xuan can’t possibly be unaware of the Spiritual Cuisine’s true value. He’s waiting for me to show my hand. Remember that Swordsmanship technique I taught you? Pass it on to Liu Chen next time."

The Grand Elder narrowed his eyes. He could certainly offer something to make up the so-called price difference, but if he did, their relationship would at best remain as it was. That Swordsmanship technique was his signature, something he had originally intended to pass down only to his own disciple.

But now, he had to make a gesture. Besides, Yang Haichen had been studying the Swordsmanship for half a year and still hadn’t even reached the Beginner level. It seemed he truly wasn’t cut out for the sword.

"I understand, Master. But what happens after that?"

Yang Haichen couldn’t help but ask. The Swordsmanship was his master’s to give, so he could decide who to pass it on to. But what about the future? Junior Brother Liu intended to continue the trade, and he didn’t want to give up the Spiritual Cuisine either.

"Just be upfront with him about the price of the Spiritual Cuisine and see how he reacts."

The Grand Elder spoke slowly. His tacit understanding with Mo Xuan, the acting Peak Master, was a matter between elders. The affair between the juniors, Yang Haichen and Liu Chen, should naturally be handled by them. Even if the other party were to raise the price, it would be perfectly reasonable.

[Purple Bamboo Scripture Body Tempering Mastery +30]

In the Bamboo Garden, Liu Chen slowly opened his eyes, having just consumed another stalk of Purple Bamboo Grass. He felt utterly refreshed. At the same time, his earlier confusion intensified. With every stalk of Purple Bamboo Grass he consumed for his cultivation, the purple hue on the phantom bamboo leaf grew ever more vivid.

’Perhaps the legendary Purple Bamboo Realm, which only the founder was said to have reached, was achieved by consuming vast quantities of Purple Bamboo Grass.’

’I’ll find out if my theory is correct once I reach Body Tempering Perfection.’

Liu Chen muttered to himself. After tidying up a bit, he went straight into the Purple Bamboo Forest to begin practicing his Magic. All of his spells had reached the Beginner level; even for his fastest-progressing ones, the Purification Technique and Recovery Technique, he would need at least five more days of practice to reach the next stage.

Liu Chen didn’t dwell on it. The only answer was to keep up his daily cultivation.

At noon the next day, the appointed time, Liu Chen placed the food box on the table and calmly observed Senior Brother Yang, who seemed a little off.

"Do you think the price is unfair, Senior Brother?"

Liu Chen asked nonchalantly. If that was the case, he supposed he’d just have to eat the extra portion of Spiritual Cuisine he’d prepared for dinner.

"That’s not it. Junior Brother, have you ever considered that the Spiritual Cuisine you make is worth far more than five stalks of Purple Bamboo Grass?"

Yang Haichen glanced over hesitantly. According to his master, you might not even be able to trade a single stalk of Purple Bamboo for this Spiritual Cuisine. The price of a Cyan Bamboo stalk was roughly ten times that of a Purple Bamboo Grass stalk, and a Purple Bamboo stalk cost ten times as much as a Cyan Bamboo stalk.

The crucial point was its rarity—you couldn’t buy it even if you had the money. While Purple Bamboo Peak did have the only Purple Bamboo Forest within Purple Cloud Valley, it wasn’t as if other Immortal Sects, or even various other powers, didn’t have their own bamboo forests.

And his master was certain that there wasn’t a single Spirit Chef in the entire Great Xia Dynasty capable of making such Spiritual Cuisine.

Under these circumstances, the true value of the Spiritual Cuisine would increase ten, or even a hundred times, beyond its already high worth.

"I’ve never really thought about that."

Liu Chen shook his head. He had just whipped it up casually. The ingredients were just common bamboo shoots from the forest and ordinary Spirit Rice that cost one Spirit Stone per pound.

"Then I’ll just be direct..."

Yang Haichen sighed helplessly. ’Just as Master guessed,’ he thought. ’This junior brother of mine, who could be considered the number one Spirit Chef in this entire region of the Great Xia Dynasty, has absolutely no idea what any of this means.’

"So, you’re saying you think the trade is unfair to me, Senior Brother?"

After hearing the approximate market price of the Spiritual Cuisine, Liu Chen stared in astonishment at the conflicted Senior Brother Yang. He put himself in the other man’s shoes. ’If I came across such a great deal with someone so oblivious, I’d probably choose to be honest too.’

’Of course,’ Liu Chen considered, ’my own decision would be based on weighing the pros and cons. I don’t know what Senior Brother Yang is really thinking, nor do I know if his master is motivated by his reputation as a master or some other factor.’

"That’s true. But I don’t have anything more valuable to offer."

Yang Haichen said helplessly. A Purple Bamboo stalk at least had a price; if he saved for a few years, he might be able to buy one for his Meridian Passage Realm cultivation. But the Spiritual Cuisine Liu Chen provided was simply priceless.

As long as he was unwilling to sell, with an acting Peak Master for a master, not even the other Peak Masters or the Sect Leader could force his hand. They wouldn’t risk creating conflict with another Peak Master just for a tasty meal.

"This is the Swordsmanship my master taught me. He told me to pass it on to you as compensation for the last batch of Spiritual Cuisine."

After explaining everything, Yang Haichen took out a manual and handed it to Liu Chen. Originally, there was no manual. But after his master demonstrated the technique once, Yang Haichen couldn’t remember a thing, so his master had no choice but to write it all down.

He still hadn’t learned it himself. Forget teaching Junior Brother Liu—it was much more reliable to just give him the manual.

"I have to go prepare a meal for Master now. Let’s just forget about the Spiritual Cuisine."

Yang Haichen took a deep breath, forcing his eyes away from the food box. He desperately wanted the Spiritual Cuisine, of course, but he simply didn’t have the resources to pay for it.

"Here’s your food box. And don’t forget the twenty stalks of Purple Bamboo Grass tomorrow."

After a moment’s thought, Liu Chen handed the food box directly to Senior Brother Yang. Price aside, he genuinely needed the Purple Bamboo Grass. Increasing his Body Tempering mastery was far more important than the Spiritual Cuisine.

’Besides, a whole month’s worth of my raw ingredients doesn’t even cost as much as a single stalk of Purple Bamboo Grass.’

"Junior Brother?!"

"Two junior sisters are waiting for me to join them for a meal. Forgive me, but I can’t stay."