Chapter 153: The Two Junior Sisters Are So Lively

Chapter 153: Chapter 153: The Two Junior Sisters Are So Lively

"Sorry to trouble you, Senior Brother."

Ye Linglong spoke apologetically, while Ji Suyao nodded vigorously. Eating bamboo shoots every day might get tiresome, but when it was Spiritual Cuisine, everyone would only wish there was more.

"It’s no trouble, no trouble at all."

Liu Chen nodded. In truth, he needed to use Spiritual Cuisine to recover his stamina and Spiritual Power for his next Cultivation Technique cycle. Besides that, Liu Chen also wanted to test out his brand-new combination.

If the Fire Lotus Technique and the Mystic Cauldron Technique could be integrated into the usual magical procedures for making Spiritual Cuisine, then Liu Chen’s cooking would no longer require any utensils.

The three waited in the courtyard for a while. The Flying Ship gradually slowed down and then descended gently, bringing the Purple Cloud Valley’s plaza into their view.

The Purple Cloud Valley disciples disembarked from the Flying Ship one after another. Liu Chen and the others followed Mo Xuan and Bai Qiulan back to Purple Bamboo Peak, returning to the familiar bamboo forest on the rear mountain.

"For the next few days, focus on your cultivation here. We have to go deal with all the matters that have piled up during the trial."

Upon returning to Purple Bamboo Peak, Mo Xuan left them with these words and departed directly on a cloud with Bai Qiulan. Liu Chen, who had wanted to ask if his Master and Mistress wanted a late-night snack, shook his head and went straight back to his bamboo house.

Liu Chen changed out of his Inner Sect Disciple robes and cleaned himself with a Purification Technique before heading toward the kitchen. When he arrived, a few bamboo shoots were already on the table, but his two junior sisters were nowhere to be seen.

Liu Chen shook his head and began preparing the Spiritual Cuisine. From the initial washing to the final cooking, he didn’t use a single utensil, at most adding a pinch of ordinary seasoning.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a large plate of stir-fried bamboo shoots with meat landed on the table, its fresh aroma wafting through the bamboo forest.

After finishing this step, Liu Chen used the Artifact Manipulation Technique to draw over some Spiritual Spring water and wash the Spirit Rice. He then placed the Spiritual Spring water and Spirit Rice into a Profound Cauldron formed by the Mystic Cauldron Technique. After sealing the Profound Cauldron with the Solid Spirit Technique, Liu Chen conjured a Fire Lotus beneath it.

Under Liu Chen’s observation, it wasn’t long before he saw the Spirit Rice gradually absorb the water and swell. In just a few breaths, the rice was thoroughly cooked.

The Solid Spirit Technique dissipated. Liu Chen opened the Profound Cauldron, and the clean scent of rice slowly drifted into the distance.

Ji Suyao, who had just finished changing in the bamboo house, didn’t wait for Ye Linglong, who was still adjusting her outer robe, and ran straight out of the building.

"Linglong, take your time! This smells even more fragrant than usual. I can’t wait!"

Leaving these words behind, Ji Suyao ran off. Inside the bamboo house, Ye Linglong, who was still agonizing over whether it would be improper to appear before her senior brother like this, sighed in resignation.

’Linglong, oh Linglong, what are you even thinking? It’s always been like this in the past. When has Senior Brother ever cared!’

In the end, Ye Linglong patted her head in frustration and slowly walked out of the bamboo house, heading for the kitchen.

By the time Ye Linglong arrived at the kitchen, Ji Suyao was already eagerly scooping up rice. Liu Chen gave her a startled glance. He felt this junior sister seemed much more reserved. ’It seems giving a Soul Slave as a gift was a bit too forward,’ he thought.

Dinner was very harmonious. It was already late, so the three of them didn’t chat much and returned to their own quarters after the meal.

"Did you feel like tonight’s Spiritual Cuisine was more fragrant than before?"

Ji Suyao couldn’t help but ask as they walked. Beside her, Ye Linglong slowly nodded. After realizing that her senior brother hadn’t paid any mind to whether her attire was inappropriate, Ye Linglong had relaxed considerably and was naturally able to focus on the Spiritual Cuisine.

’Although I no longer need to become a Spirit Chef to change my destiny, if I did, perhaps it would be a way to keep up with my senior brother.’

"Why do I feel like you’re acting weird? You’re not sick, are you?"

Ji Suyao turned to stare at Ye Linglong and reached out to touch her forehead. In the past, when the topic of Spiritual Cuisine came up, Ye Linglong would always speak with great enthusiasm, but today she was surprisingly silent.

"Of course not. We’re Cultivators now. If there was really something wrong, wouldn’t Master and the others have noticed?"

Ye Linglong slapped Ji Suyao’s hand away and continued walking forward on her own. Ji Suyao was silent for a moment before quickly catching up to her.

"It’s not because of Nangong Mu, is it? Are you planning to pledge yourself to Senior Brother in gratitude?"

Ji Suyao leaned in and whispered in Ye Linglong’s ear. Ye Linglong, who had just started to compose herself, instantly became like an enraged cat, looking ready to pounce.

Sensing that things were not going well, Ji Suyao’s expression changed, and she bolted.

"Ji Suyao, you get back here!"

Liu Chen, walking back on the path to his Bamboo Garden, heard the voice of Junior Sister Ye coming from the bamboo forest and couldn’t help but glance in that direction.

"My two junior sisters are so full of energy." ℯℯ𝘭.

Liu Chen shook his head and headed straight for his bamboo house. Elsewhere, Ye Linglong, who could normally be described as dignified, was chasing Ji Suyao, the two of them leaping and bounding around their own Bamboo Garden.

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[Spirit Chef Proficiency +50]

Inside the bamboo house, Liu Chen stared at the Proficiency notification that had appeared before him, his eyes filled with confusion. This was the Spirit Chef Proficiency he had gained after preparing dinner.

In the past, he would only get one or two points. This time, he had received a rare fifty points. Yet, he had used both the bamboo shoots and the Demon Beast flesh before; he had even made stir-fried bamboo shoots with meat several times.

"If the ingredients aren’t the issue, then it must be the cooking method. Before, I always had to rely on utensils to some extent, even in Fire Dragon Valley where I had the most basic tools."

Liu Chen narrowed his eyes, feeling as if he had grasped the key. If his Spirit Chef Skill’s Proficiency could increase like this from now on, then his Spirit Chef level could probably keep pace with his Cultivation. This would mean that in every subsequent Realm, he could use Spiritual Cuisine to recover the energy consumed from cycling his Cultivation Technique, allowing him to cycle it several more times a day.

"Whatever. I’ll know for sure when I make Spiritual Cuisine again tomorrow. It’s getting late. I’ll rest after one last cycle of my Cultivation Technique."

Liu Chen quickly made his decision. After finishing his Cultivation Technique cycle, he had just laid down on his bamboo bed when he drifted off to sleep.

In the main hall of Purple Cloud Valley, Mo Xuan stared at the list laid out before him, momentarily lost in thought.

During the Fire Dragon Valley trial, Liu Chen hadn’t activated many pillars of light himself. But according to the compiled information, Liu Chen had helped the Fire Dragon Valley participants secure the most slots. In fact, some of the higher-ranking Inner Sect Disciples had activated a portion of their pillars thanks to the Spiritual Cuisine Liu Chen sold.

"Judging by the number of slots secured, the first place in this trial goes to Liu Chen. On this point alone, he could be promoted to True Disciple ahead of schedule."

The Purple Cloud Valley’s Sect Leader spoke casually. Although some of the slots had already been traded for resources provided by various families, the sect still needed to rank the trial’s participants. The life-and-death trial was over, and by all rights, rewards should be distributed.

"It’s better to take things like this slowly. At the very least, we should wait until he advances to the Meridian Passage Realm."

Mo Xuan shook his head. While the available information proved Liu Chen’s outstanding performance in the Fire Dragon Valley trial, his performance, though dazzling, didn’t seem to align with his current level of Cultivation.