“Second Miss Shen, you…” Wen Shao fixed his gaze on the wok spatula in Mingming’s hand and froze as well.
This wok spatula, which could barely be considered a magic artifact, had come from…
Lord Wuya.
“My nephew is burdened by an obsession deep in his heart.” The day before, Lu Wei had come to visit Wen Shao and said this.
“Young people tend to act on impulse. Lord Wuya needn’t worry too much,” Wen Shao comforted him.
“It was only a competition. Once one steps onto the trial platform, life and death are no longer considered. Every Ascension Gathering claims the lives of one or two cultivators. On the path of cultivation ahead, such things are impossible to avoid.”
“That is not it.” Although Lu Wei did not know what Lu Xuan’s obsession was, he could clearly sense that Lu Xuan was willing to resort to any means necessary to accomplish something, something that was far from good.
“The Changxiao Palace has invited me several times before, but I never came. I think… it would be better if I stayed at Changxiao Palace to keep him in check.” Lu Wei’s voice was low and solemn.
“Does Lord Wuya mean that you intend to teach at Changxiao Palace?”
“Yes,” Lu Wei replied.
“Ah, Lord Wuya, Lord Wuya. I’ve invited you for decades, and you’ve finally come. Looking across the Immortal Realm, which one of those mighty figures hasn’t been persuaded by me to serve as an elder here for a few years? You’re the only one who has never once set foot within Cangwu.”
“I’ve seen the original Cangwu. Why would I be willing to come here?” Lu Wei’s fingers trembled slightly.
Perhaps he simply… did not wish to touch anything connected to the Wilderness of Eternal Night.
“What token do you plan to prepare for the younger generation of the Immortal Realm this year?” Having settled the matter in just a few exchanges, Wen Shao quickly asked.
Lu Wei asked, “Are the rules of Changxiao Palace that each elder must present a token representing the path they excel at most to receive and guide their disciples?”
“That’s right,” Wen Shao replied.
The pure white sleeve of Lord Wuya’s robe fluttered as he silently raised a magic artifact in his open palm after a long pause.
The moment Wen Shao saw it, he was taken aback. “Lord Wuya, I’ve heard that Wentian City has gathered the finest spirit chefs from across the entire Immortal Realm. So it turns out you truly are interested in this path.”
Lu Wei’s voice was icy cold. “My cultivation is mediocre. My spells are mediocre. Only my culinary skills are passable.”
There was one more sentence he did not say.
Only my culinary skills are passable, enough to win the favor of the pickiest diner in all the world.
‘Mediocre cultivation? Mediocre spells?’ Wen Shao fumed inwardly. If Lu Wei said such things, what were the rest of the Immortal Realm supposed to think?
He had reached the Deity Transformation Stage in barely a hundred years, an achievement unprecedented in the past and impossible to surpass in the future, yet he still called his cultivation mediocre!
With that thought in mind, Wen Shao looked at Mingming again, his gaze becoming gentle and kindly. “This path has yet to be given a name, because Changxiao Palace only received it yesterday.”
“Since Second Miss Shen was able to resonate with it, it means the two of you are fated.” Wen Shao smiled.
After the incident during the second round of the Ascension Gathering, who in the Immortal Realm did not know that the Young City Lord of Wentian City had been “exceptionally attentive” to Second Miss Shen?
Only Wen Shao knew that the wok spatula had been provided by Lu Wei. Guarding that secret in his heart, he nearly burst into laughter when he turned his head away.
Mingming turned the wok spatula over in her hands, thinking that once she reached Changxiao Palace, she would probably never have to worry about food again.
Her future master clearly excelled at cooking.
He truly had impeccable taste.
There was nothing in this world more wonderful than eating.
Inside the great hall, Lu Wei pressed his thin lips together, no one knowing what was on his mind.
With Mingming, every cultivator qualified to enter Changxiao Palace for cultivation had now been decided.
They would cultivate here for the next ten years.
Mingming followed Lu Xuan into Changxiao Palace. Beyond the mountain gate and the grand hall stretched an endless expanse of mountain peaks.
Beams of light, born from the concentrated spiritual energy, shimmered between the mountains. Each one marked the place where a high-level cultivator was in meditation.
If night were to fall, this vast mountain range would surely become even more breathtaking. The lights kindled by every cultivator in meditation would resemble the stars scattered across the heavens, glittering with brilliant radiance.
Such a magnificent sight could never have been seen in the ancient era. Back then, the human race had been plagued by the demon race, wandering in constant hardship. Before they had even cultivated enough, they were forced onto the battlefield, where death and injury were commonplace.
Only after the ancient war between the gods and demons did the number of cultivators ascending begin to grow. Who knew how many geniuses had perished before their time in that age?
Standing atop the grand hall on the mountain peak, Mingming lowered her gaze to look below. At the sight before her, she finally opened her eyes a little wider.
“It’s so beautiful,” she said to Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan replied, “It’s all because of her.”
Had the ruler of the Kingdom of Changxiao, Qing Ming, not slain the great demon Xiu, whom even the God of War Yan Shanyue could not defeat, such a magnificent scene would never have existed today.
Without Qing Ming, the human race would likely still be living in endless displacement. Or perhaps the entire Immortal Realm would have already been destroyed by that savage great demon.
Mingming knew who the “her” he spoke of was. She was the one Lu Xuan had truly admired, now sleeping forever within the pages of history, dissolved into heaven and earth, leaving behind no trace and forever beyond anyone’s reach.
The Bai Shaoning who had been receiving the cultivators outside Changxiao Palace earlier walked over.
“Young Lord Lu, Second Miss Shen, your situations are… somewhat unusual,” Bai Shaoning said with a wry smile.
Mingming had long known that their circumstances were rather peculiar. Every other cultivator who had resonated with a magic artifact had already been taken away by that artifact’s owner.
Some elders had given them passage tokens, some had sent spirit boats, while others had personally come to guide their disciples…
In short, nearly all of the newly arrived cultivators had already left and settled into their respective places.
Yet she and Lu Xuan had waited here for quite some time without the elder who was supposed to teach them ever appearing.
Lu Xuan’s case was understandable. The item he had received was a fragment of a dead person’s clothing. They certainly couldn’t expect that great general to crawl out of the Wilderness of Eternal Night to meet him.
As for herself? Her future master wielded a wok spatula, so they were probably a warm and approachable person. People who loved food could never have such bad tempers.
Over there, Lu Xuan had already nodded to Bai Shaoning. “I know who the owner of my fragment was. But what about her?” He pointed at Mingming. “Her master ought to come and receive her, shouldn’t they? I’ll accompany her.”
Bai Shaoning looked surprised. “Young Lord Lu… are you sure?”
“Mm,” Lu Xuan replied.
Bai Shaoning muttered under his breath, “I thought young masters from great clans usually wanted to stay as far away from their families as possible when they were young.”
Lu Xuan paid no attention to what he said, but Mingming heard every word clearly. She was utterly confused and could only feel that something was about to go very wrong.
At the same time, a brilliant streak of light appeared in the evening twilight as night gradually settled over Changxiao Palace. Someone was riding upon the clouds as he approached.
He seemed to have emerged from the heart of the rosy glow. Clad in white beneath the sunset, he shone like molten gold, while the trailing ends of the white silk covering his eyes caught the last rays of the setting sun, lending him a calm, solemn presence.
The drifting cloud beneath his feet was soft as mist and astonishingly swift. At a glance, it was clearly a top-grade magic artifact.
Mingming looked up at him and thought, ‘No way… He has to be here to pick up his nephew.’
To her surprise, after putting away the floating cloud, Lu Wei walked straight over to her and held out his hand.
“The magic artifact,” he said.
Mingming hugged the wok spatula tightly to her chest. “What?”
“I still need to use it,” Lu Wei replied.
Mingming: “…” ‘Ahhhhhhh… It really is him.’
She reluctantly placed the wok spatula into Lu Wei’s hand before quickly retreating several steps.
No matter what, Lu Wei had never imagined things would develop to this point. His original plan had simply been to take on the nominal position of an elder at Changxiao Palace so he could keep a constant eye on Lu Xuan.
He had given Wen Shao a wok spatula not only because he genuinely believed cooking was the only path he truly excelled in, but also because no proper cultivator would ever choose such a peculiar magic artifact. That way, he would have no disciples and could enjoy some peace and quiet.
Lu Wei stood where he was for a moment before speaking in an icy, emotionless voice. “Let’s go.”
“Uncle Wei… why is it you?” Lu Xuan asked.
Lu Wei lifted his chin toward Mingming.
Lu Xuan: “?” ‘Wait… that wok spatula is yours?’
Mingming hurried after them, staying behind Lu Xuan the entire time. She was extremely nervous.
Anyone would have been fine. Why did it have to be him?
“I know the two of you were hoping it wouldn’t be me, but unfortunately, it really is,” Lu Wei said as he unfurled the floating cloud, his voice as indifferent as ever.
Mingming’s feet seemed glued to the ground, unwilling to step onto his magic artifact. Only after Lu Xuan tugged lightly on her wrist did he manage to pull her aboard.
Lu Wei’s brow arched slightly.
“As cultivators, you shouldn’t spend all day thinking about such things.”
Mingming: “?” ‘What ‘such things’ was he talking about?’
Lu Wei stepped between Mingming and Lu Xuan, separating the two of them.
Lu Xuan was well aware of his uncle’s peculiar temperament, so he simply went along with it.
Standing beside Lu Wei made Mingming even more nervous. With Lu Xuan between them before, she had at least felt somewhat at ease. Now, however, he had insisted on squeezing himself right into the middle.
Lowering her head to look at the hem of Lu Wei’s robes, she swallowed unconsciously. ‘He smells so good… How could there possibly be such a delicious human in this world?’
Beneath those abstinent robes that made him seem like an exiled immortal was such an exquisite flavor. In cooking, one strove for perfection in color, aroma, and taste. As for his appearance, it was like the finest plating adorning an exquisite dish.
A feast for the eyes, rich with irresistible fragrance, a taste beyond compare… Mingming could not help letting her imagination run wild.
Only when they arrived at the temporary cave abode prepared for Lu Wei deep within Changxiao Palace did Mingming come back to her senses.
For all these years, Changxiao Palace had actually kept a cave abode ready for Lu Wei. It seemed Wen Shao had truly hoped he would one day visit the palace, and now that wish had finally come true.
Looking at the verdant bamboo, the winding path leading into secluded tranquility, Mingming could not help sighing inwardly. It really was a peaceful place, perfect for sleeping.
She opened her mouth, about to yawn, forcing down the appetite that had just risen within her. Then she suddenly remembered that she used to yawn in front of Lu Wei all the time.
She could no longer indulge in those little habits from before. Otherwise, he might recognize her.
So Mingming widened her eyes, forcing herself to stay alert.
Lu Xuan turned to glance at her. Judging by Mingming’s usual habits, she should have been sleepy by now. So why was she still so alert?
The reason for this sudden change was…
Lu Wei, standing before them!
He raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
His heart was inside Mingming, so he could clearly sense every fluctuation in her emotions.
That day on Mount Jia, when Mingming saw Lu Wei, he had distinctly felt the heart that was usually so calm suddenly pound with excitement.
Lu Wei noticed none of the subtle changes between the two behind him. He remained utterly indifferent to everything around him.
He assigned Mingming the room at the very eastern end of the cave abode and gave Lu Xuan the room at the very western end.
“That’s too far from her. I’ll die,” Lu Xuan said.
Lu Wei tossed him a mechanical heart. In just a few days, he had somehow crafted yet another exquisitely intricate magic artifact.
Lu Xuan turned his head away. “No.”
Lu Wei rearranged the cave abode once more.
Mingming and Lu Xuan were placed on opposite sides, with Lu Wei’s own residence situated squarely between theirs. In short, he refused to let the two of them stay anywhere near each other.
“Old man…” Lu Xuan called out.
“Ten days in confinement.” Lu Wei had yet to settle the score with him over what had happened during the second round of the Ascension Gathering.
To Mingming’s surprise, Lu Xuan obediently went into seclusion. He listened to Lu Wei’s words far more readily than expected.
After Lu Xuan left, only Mingming and Lu Wei remained.
Mingming lowered her eyes without looking at Lu Wei, quietly waiting for him to speak.