She nodded, “Senior Brother, the spiritual qi in the cultivation world is sparse, and the spirit veins are occupied by the Five Great Sects. Without spiritual qi or resources, it’s extremely difficult for disciples from small sects like us to cultivate. At this rate, it’ll take forever to reach Foundation Establishment.”
“I want to open a shop so our sect can have a stable source of income. Only with spirit stones and spirit crystals can we obtain resources and cultivate properly.”
As she spoke, she suddenly lifted her small face and looked at the two with hopeful eyes: “Senior Brothers… do you think A-Ci’s cooking… tastes good?”
“More than just good!”
Shi Zhouzhou slapped his thigh, “Calling it ‘good’ is an understatement for your skills! Those unique and exotic dishes – I’ve lived for decades and never seen anyone else who can make them!”
Shen Ci’s eyes curved into crescents, but then she heard Bu Ranchen say hesitantly: “But… most cultivators don’t pay much attention to culinary pleasures…”
“Red Cloud City does have a few spirit food restaurants, but they sell things like spirit dew that can help cultivation, calm the mind, and soothe the soul.”
Shen Ci shook her head, “Not at all.”
Her cooking wasn’t just liked by her senior brothers – even Senior Mo enjoyed it, though he maintained a neutral expression, Shen Ci could still tell.
She smiled slyly, “How about this: let’s first go to Red Cloud City to do some research? Besides, what A-Ci makes isn’t ordinary food – it’s spirit food that can assist cultivation!”
“Senior Brothers, didn’t you both break through after eating A-Ci’s hotpot?”
The two looked at each other.
Shi Zhouzhou scratched his head: “To be honest, I felt like it was because of your advice that I had that sudden enlightenment.”
Bu Ranchen also nodded in agreement: “Yes, that enlightenment came so suddenly – was it really because of the meal?”
How could it not be related? Who ever heard of someone gaining sudden enlightenment just from listening to a few words!
Shen Ci’s little head immediately drooped, but she quickly perked up again: “Then… when Senior Sister returns, we’ll conduct another experiment!”
Shi Zhouzhou stroked his chin, “When I was training in Central Continent before, there was actually a Culinary Sect that opened a restaurant in Central Continent City – what was it called again?”
Bu Ranchen: “You mean Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion?”
“Ah, yes, that’s the one.”
Shi Zhouzhou leaned in closer and said mysteriously: “I don’t know if it’s true or not, but there’s a rumor that a cultivator drank two servings of spirit dew at Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, something called Drunken Dream Immortal Dew. They say that after drinking it, the cultivator immediately entered a dream state and comprehended the Dao.”
Shen Ci and Bu Ranchen widened their eyes and spoke in unison: “Really?”
Shi Zhouzhou spread his hands: “I only heard it through the grapevine. They say that Drunken Dream Immortal Dew is brewed from the spirit marrow at the bottom of Illusory Moon Sea, then refined by the Culinary Sect Leader using a secret method. One pot costs five hundred spirit crystals.”
“Spirit marrow from Illusory Moon Sea?”
Bu Ranchen rolled his eyes, “That’s nonsense. Who would dare go to Illusory Moon Sea?”
Shen Ci became thoughtful. Illusory Moon Sea was considered a secret realm that the entire cultivation world feared to approach. It wasn’t because of any fierce beasts lurking there, but because that sea area naturally created illusions. Once cultivators stepped in, they would inevitably face their deepest heart demons. In her previous life, Rong Yuan almost died there…
Shi Zhouzhou continued, “Even if it’s intentionally exaggerated to scare people, countless are still willing to give it a try. After all, those who can afford to spend five hundred spirit crystals on a pot of spirit dew definitely aren’t short on money.”
Bu Ranchen let out a scoffing laugh. “Anyway, I don’t believe it. If one bite of food could really make someone break through on the spot, what would be the point of us cultivating? We might as well all switch to being culinary cultivators.”
Shen Ci: “…”
He’d made her lose confidence in herself.
No, she needed to find time to study the recipe book in her space more carefully.
Shi Zhouzhou stood up and stretched extravagantly, then said to Shen Ci, “But Little Junior Sister’s skills are truly exceptional. I still want to eat more. Among those old fogies in the Cultivation World, there are always a few who still yearn for the pleasures of mortal life. In my opinion, this idea is quite reliable!”
“Even the smallest mosquito carries meat—earning a little is better than nothing.”
Bu Ranchen also came over and casually ruffled Shen Ci’s hair. “Little one, anyway, all the Spirit Stones and Spirit Crystals your senior brother earns will go to you. Do whatever you want with them. But in half a month, we’re going to train in the secret realm. Your other senior brothers and sisters will probably go too, so we can ask for their opinions and by the way… hehe.”
Shi Zhouzhou immediately understood and also rubbed his hands together with a sly chuckle. “By the way, we can make them open their wallets too!””
Shen Ci suddenly felt a warmth in her chest, as if someone had placed a small sun there. She nodded vigorously, her hair tips swaying gently with the movement. “Mmhmm!”
Suddenly remembering something, she tugged lightly on Bu Ranchen’s sleeve with her small hand. “By the way, Senior Brother, can you accompany A-Ci to buy some things at the foot of the mountain tomorrow?”
She also wanted someone to accompany her to the market, like… like how she had once seen Rong Yuan and Luo Xingyao accompanying Shen Qingyao.
Bu Ranchen looked down at her upturned face, her big eyes shining eagerly, and felt his heart melt. He crouched down. “Of course. I’ve been traveling around these past days, so this time I’ll properly accompany my little one.”
Shi Zhouzhou also came over and casually ruffled her hair. “Whatever Little Junior Sister wants to buy, your senior brother will be your pack mule.”
Shen Ci smiled until her eyes curved into crescents. “There are still several acres of land in the Sect that haven’t been cultivated. A-Ci wants to buy some fruit trees and basic spiritual plants.”
She counted on her fingers: “We already have most fruits and vegetables now. A-Ci also wants to plant two lychee trees and build a grape trellis so we can make wine. The wine I brew is so fragrant! Oh, right! And mulberry trees—mulberries are delicious!”
She suddenly turned and pointed to the backyard. “There’s a dried-up pond over there. Can we plant some lotus flowers? Every part of the lotus is valuable, and fried lotus petals are so fragrant!”
She lifted her little face, her eyes shining as if filled with stars. “Also! Right now we only have Moon Glow Flowers as spiritual plants. A-Ci thought about it and needs to buy some basic Azure Spirit Grass to plant. Both Tao Shijie and A-Ci need to draw talismans, and it will be useful for Pill Refining later too.”
The little girl had everything clearly planned out: she currently only knew how to draw Healing Talismans and Explosive Talismans, and hadn’t tried Spirit-Locking Talismans or Puppet Talismans yet.
Both of those required mixing Azure Spirit Grass juice into the cinnabar, especially the Spirit-Locking Talisman, which also needed Buddha’s Tear Ginseng… that would be a bit expensive.
She’d worry about Buddha’s Tear Ginseng later! First, she’d buy everything she could afford.
The little girl’s eyes sparkled brightly. Shi Zhouzhou and Bu Ranchen exchanged a look and suddenly understood—understood why she said she wished this kind of life could go on forever, even if she couldn’t cultivate.
So firewood, rice, oil, salt, and the fragrance of fruits and melons were the most precious paradise in this little girl’s heart.
Because that was truly… too wonderful…
Bu Ranchen listened to her chattering plans, feeling warmth spread through his heart.
He affectionately pinched her nose. “Alright, this time your senior brother will accompany you to tidy up the entire Sect until it’s sparkling clean before we go out. Then we can give your senior brothers and sisters a huge surprise when they return. How does that sound?”
Shi Zhouzhou giggled. “Hehe, I can already imagine the expressions on their faces when they come back to the Sect.”