Chapter 87 - 36: Spiritual Cuisine, Golden Sun Stuffed Rice

Chapter 87: Chapter 36: Spiritual Cuisine, Golden Sun Stuffed Rice

"Allowed to challenge the peak?" Xie Hanyan’s words stunned Dong Hao, who subconsciously asked, "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"It’s nothing. Just Star Sword Peak looking down on a disciple with mediocre Talent like me." Jiang Xuan’s tone was incredibly calm as he spoke of being rejected by Star Sword Peak, as if he were talking about someone else. There wasn’t the slightest ripple of emotion in his eyes.

After briefly explaining the situation, he looked at Xie Hanyan and said crisply, "Thank you for your concern, Miss Xie, but there’s no need. I’ve already joined another Dharma Vein."

Xie Hanyan’s expression froze for a moment, then she apologized again. "I’m sorry."

Jiang Xuan could guess part of the reason for her apology. In her eyes, Star Sword Peak was a top-tier Middle-Class Dharma Vein within the Sect, far stronger than any Dharma Vein Jiang Xuan could have found on short notice.

She was naturally filled with guilt for causing Jiang Xuan to miss the opportunity to enter Star Sword Peak.

"If you encounter any difficulties in your cultivation in the future, feel free to come find me."

This was the compensation she could offer. Although Jiang Xuan had no need for it, her sense of responsibility still made him feel quite good.

This, in turn, made Jiang Xuan chuckle. "You don’t need to feel guilty. The Dharma Vein I’ve joined is very good, and I feel comfortable there. Besides, I don’t think my Dharma Vein is any worse than Star Sword Peak."

Xie Hanyan, of course, didn’t believe him. She simply assumed he was saying it to comfort her—just empty pleasantries.

Dong Hao, standing to the side, also didn’t believe that the Dharma Vein Jiang Xuan had chosen could compare to Star Sword Peak. But he couldn’t really comment on the threshold of a Middle-Class Dharma Vein, so he could only pat Jiang Xuan’s shoulder and offer some comfort. "Actually, going to a Lower-Class Dharma Vein is pretty good too. The Middle-Class Dharma Veins look glamorous, but we’re just probationary disciples right now. They don’t need to invest many resources in us, so it’s easy to get in."

"But after the hundred-day assessment, when it’s time to be officially accepted as an Inner Sect Disciple and they need to pour resources into training you, the requirements become incredibly strict."

"So, for us, going to a Lower-Class Dharma Vein is actually a much safer bet than scrambling to get into a Middle-Class one."

This string of consolations left Jiang Xuan speechless.

He never felt that missing out on Star Sword Peak was his loss.

But he knew very well that no matter what he said now, others would just think he was being stubborn. So, he decided not to explain any further.

"Forget it. Think whatever you want."

As they spoke, the bell for morning class faintly chimed. Jiang Xuan, however, had no intention of staying. After cultivating the Nine Breath Qi Ingestion Technique to the Third Realm, he was now cultivating whether he was walking, standing, sitting, or lying down. Last night, he had appeared to be fast asleep, but he had actually been circulating his Cultivation Technique all night without stopping. His stomach was now completely empty, and his face had an unconcealable pallor.

In his current state, he desperately needed to consume some Spiritual Objects to replenish himself.

After saying goodbye to Dong Hao and casting a Purifying Heart Spell on the Cheng Cultivator, Jiang Xuan walked straight out of the Chen Daoist School and boarded a Flying Ship heading for Four Seasons Valley.

On the way, as the Flying Ship sped toward Four Seasons Valley, Jiang Xuan’s expression suddenly faltered. It dawned on him:

’Wait a minute... Xie Hanyan and Dong Hao kept insisting I was upset and just being stubborn. Could it be because of this pale complexion from my depleted qi and blood?’

"..."

The thought flickered through his mind for just a moment before he dismissed it. To him, what others thought had never been important.

WHOOSH...

The Flying Ship continued to speed along, and before long, it landed outside Four Seasons Valley. To Jiang Xuan’s surprise, Xia He was already waiting there, and she had clearly dressed up for the occasion.

The girl who usually tied her black hair back casually now had it loosely gathered in a half-up style, fastened with an Ice Silk Lotus Green Ribbon. The rest of her long hair cascaded down her shoulders and back like a stream of black ink.

Of course, she wasn’t wearing much makeup—just a faint dusting of powder on her cheeks. Her lips were the color of cherries, and when she smiled, shallow dimples appeared. She looked as pure as the first melting snow on a mountain peak.

Spotting Jiang Xuan from a distance, she ran over cheerfully. This time, however, she carried herself with a bit of maidenly reserve and didn’t approach as unreservedly as she had the day before.

"I’ve already told Granny Lan about you. Shall we go over now?"

"No." Shaking his head, Jiang Xuan said, a little embarrassed, "Let’s eat first... You said that if I joined Four Seasons Valley, you’d let me eat my fill first."

Xia He couldn’t help but cover her mouth and let out a soft laugh at his words, but she quickly became serious. "Of course, that’s no problem. In Four Seasons Valley, we’ll never let you go hungry, no matter what."

With that, she led Jiang Xuan toward Huangni Village.

But unlike yesterday, Jiang Xuan wasn’t taken to Four Seasons Valley to pick vegetables, fruits, and grains. Xia He led him to Wu Shan’s courtyard and asked this Senior Brother to cook a Spiritual Cuisine for him.

Wu Shan naturally agreed.

Before rolling up his sleeves to prepare the ingredients, the tall, good-natured Senior Brother asked Jiang Xuan, "Junior Brother, what would you like to eat? Delicacies from the sea or treasures from the mountains?"

Jiang Xuan replied, "I don’t mind what it is, but I’d like something that replenishes qi and blood. And also, a lot of it. As you know, I have a big appetite."

"Hahaha..." Wu Shan slapped his chest and laughed heartily at that. "Don’t you worry! When I, Wu Shan, cook a meal, there’s no way I’d let someone not eat their fill!"

Saying this, he brought out a large basin of Spirit Rice, took out some Spirit Fruits, and pulled out a glossy black Spirit Bird and a Treasure Fish that shimmered with a golden-red luster.

After cleaning the ingredients, he brought out a heavy bronze cauldron as tall as a person and placed everything inside.