Chapter 45: The Master and Disciple of the Fire Realm Eatery

Under the falling snow, the Fire Realm Eatery was bustling with guests.

Inside the kitchen pavilion, Suo Zi was focused on cooking; after more than twenty cycles, he had become one of the Fire Realm Eatery’s chief chefs, for the owner, “Black Butcher,” rarely cooked himself—most dishes were prepared by the top chefs and their disciples.

“Alright, serve it up.” Suo Zi finished preparing a Fire Realm Banquet.

“Yes.” The waiting server immediately carried the prestigious “Fire Realm Banquet” to the guests.

Suo Zi then relaxed.

As a chief chef, he only needed to prepare key dishes; ordinary ones could be handled by his junior brothers and sisters.

“Now that I’m a chief chef, I earn far more chaos crystals. A few more cycles, and I’ll have enough resources to attempt a breakthrough.” Each time he counted his growing savings, Suo Zi felt hopeful for the future.

“Suo Zi, your brother’s here—he’s calling for you.” A voice came from outside the kitchen pavilion.

“Alright.” Suo Zi walked out; as a chief chef, he wasn’t overly busy.

Suo Zi walked familiarly into a hall, where dozens of guests sat scattered; Suo Yun was seated in the main seat.

“Suo Zi.” Suo Yun called out.

Suo Zi walked over.

“Today I’m hosting all my brothers in the building,” Suo Yun laughed heartily. “You must cook personally! Your skills are loved by all of us in Qianshan Building.”

“We all know the Young Master’s cooking.”

“Thanks a lot, Brother Suo Zi!”

The surrounding guests laughed; nearly everyone invited by Suo Yun was a Void True God from Qianshan Building.

Suo Zi smiled naturally—he had long grown accustomed to dealing with guests over the long years: “I’ll make sure you’re all satisfied. I’ll go prepare the dishes now.”

“Go ahead, then come join us for drinks after you’re done,” Suo Yun ordered.

“Alright.” Suo Zi immediately left the hall.

“Young Master Suo, why don’t you bring your brother to join Qianshan Building?”

“Qiu, you don’t understand—my brother is devoted to learning cooking from his master. He refuses to come to Qianshan Building.” Inside the hall, members of Qianshan Building ate, drank, and chatted; Suo Yun, one of the thirty-nine hall masters of Qianshan Building, clearly held high status.

Suo Zi returned to the kitchen pavilion and reviewed the detailed menu on his message tablet: simple dishes were assigned to junior brothers and sisters, but many main courses required his own hands.

“After over twenty cycles in Hu Yang City, Suo Yun has changed completely.” Suo Zi had grown up with Suo Yun in their tribe and could sense the transformation in him: “I can no longer tell which of his words are true and which are false.”

“He often comes to the Fire Realm Eatery not for me, but to chance upon Luo He Shenjun.” Suo Zi knew this well: “He was recruited by the Dark Force Qianshan Building and promoted to hall master because of Luo He Shenjun.”

Over the past twenty-plus cycles, Suo Zi had welcomed countless guests and sensed Luo He Shenjun’s invisible influence.

Because of Luo He Shenjun, many Eternal True Gods were willing to come to the Fire Realm Eatery.

Because of Luo He Shenjun, the Fire Realm Eatery expanded several times its size and saw far greater business.

Because of Luo He Shenjun, Suo Zi himself had received strong support from the owner.

“Luo He Shenjun has arrived.” Suddenly, the waiters of the Fire Realm Eatery perked up, passing the news among themselves.

“Luo He Shenjun has arrived?” Suo Zi looked outside the pavilion and saw three figures descending in the distance—Luo Feng, Mo Luo Sa, and Mo Yu Qingyan. The owner, “Black Butcher,” had already stepped forward to greet them.

…

“Your Eminence,” Black Butcher said warmly and respectfully.

He too had crossed the Cycle to reach the Origin Continent, struggling hard to survive this long—because Luo Feng liked to visit the Fire Realm Eatery, his life had improved greatly, allowing him to rapidly accumulate resources over these past twenty-plus cycles.

He didn’t care about humility; what he feared was the absence of hope. For countless ages, running the eatery had meant exploitation by the Dark Forces, often earning little, sometimes even losing money.

These past twenty-plus cycles of good fortune had brought him more wealth than all his previous years combined, enabling him to purchase resources to aid his cultivation.

“Black Butcher, your Fire Realm Banquet has gotten even better. I’ve missed it so much I’ve been craving it.” Luo Feng smiled.

“It’s my honor that Your Eminence enjoys it. I’ll go cook now—I’ll strive to make it even better.” Black Butcher grinned, his smile simple and sincere. “Shang Zun and the others are at their usual spot.”

Luo Feng nodded and flew toward the familiar secluded pavilion.

Along the way, many waiters of the Fire Realm Eatery bowed respectfully to Luo Feng; many guests also showed deep reverence, including the obsequious Suo Yun.

“Suo Yun—he’s joined the Dark Forces. His path is completely different from Suo Zi’s.” Luo Feng’s gaze swept over them; he remembered every face.

Luo Feng still paid close attention to Suo Zi and Suo Yun.

They were among the first beings he had saved upon arriving on the Origin Continent, and they had come to Hu Yang City alongside him—he still hoped for their future development.

But joining the Dark Forces? That he did not like.

“Huh.”

Luo Feng landed before the secluded pavilion. “Luo He Brother.” Shang Tianyan and another Eternal True God, Sang Shuiyun, waited at the door to greet him.

Mo Yu Qingyan stood guard outside the pavilion.

Mo Luo Sa relaxed, walking alone to a nearby pavilion and instructing Black Butcher: “Prepare some food and drink—I know your taste.”

“Don’t worry, I know your preferences.” Black Butcher immediately arranged it; after so long together, he sensed this servant, “Luo Sa,” had an unusual relationship with Luo He Shenjun.

Then, with renewed determination, Black Butcher adjusted his mindset—he would give his all to prepare a Fire Realm Banquet. After all, “Luo He Shenjun” was his most important guest—he must serve him perfectly.

Suo Yun, watching from afar as Luo Feng entered the pavilion, narrowed his eyes in thought.

“Young Master Suo, is that Luo He Shenjun?” Qiu, watching from afar, had admiration and awe in his eyes. As a core member of the Dark Force “Qianshan Building,” Qiu knew well—Luo He Shenjun was among the supreme beings in Hu Yang City; even the Five Great Families had to show restraint before him.

“Yes. Long ago, Luo He Shenjun saved my life. Without him, my brother and I would have been dead.” Suo Yun sighed in admiration.

…

Inside the secluded pavilion.

!.

Luo Feng, Shang Tianyan, and Sang Shuiyun sat down separately.

Shang Tianyan smiled: “Luo He Brother, when you sought me out, I happened to be here at the Fire Realm Eatery with Sang Shuiyun.”

“You two are close—always together.” Luo Feng teased.

In all of Hu Yang City, only two Eternal True Gods were infatuated with the Dream Flower Mistress—Shang Tianyan and Sang Shuiyun. They were rivals, yet got along well.

“Back then, in Hu Yang City, we were both alone, unattached. That’s how we met,” Sang Shuiyun shook his head. “Now, I’m still carefree and unattached, but he? He founded Tianyan Gate, burdened himself with countless disciples, and made his life exhausting.”

Sang Shuiyun had wings and always carried an air of lethargy, with a reclusive temperament.

“I’ve poured countless efforts into forging—I must pass it on,” Shang said.

“Why must you pass on your own skills? There are far more skilled forgers on the Origin Continent. Losing your technique would be a trivial matter,” Sang said. “Don’t think yourself so important—we’re all just insignificant ripples on the Origin Continent.”

Shang replied: “Even small ripples have their moment. You’re not even a ripple—just dust.”

“I’m dust. You’re a ripple,” Sang shook his head. “Even if you want to pass on your skills, a few disciples would suffice. Why establish a whole sect? With a sect’s burdens, how can you ever be truly free? Luckily for you, you met Luo He Shenjun—only in these past twenty-plus cycles have you finally enjoyed freedom.”

“Ha, I do owe thanks to Luo He Brother,” Shang Tianyan looked at Luo Feng. “In the past, I couldn’t escape many obligations—I had to consider the entire sect. Now, no faction dares to overstep.”

Luo Feng said: “Shang Brother, if you didn’t care about your sect or disciples, you could be as carefree as Sang Shuiyun.”

Sang Shuiyun nodded: “He’s foolish.”

“If you can’t speak properly, just shut up. I’m going to discuss important matters with Luo He Brother—you can leave now,” Shang Tianyan urged.

“Leaving.” Sang Shuiyun was straightforward—he rose and walked away calmly.

Luo Feng watched Sang Shuiyun go.

He sensed Sang Shuiyun’s solitude—nothing in this world seemed to truly matter to him; he was like a passing stranger.

“You became friends with someone as reclusive as Sang Shuiyun,” Luo Feng mused.

“He’s just like me,” Shang said.

“Like you?” Luo Feng was surprised.

To him, Shang Tianyan and Sang Shuiyun were utterly different—one loved making friends, taught disciples earnestly, and nurtured a sect; the other was profoundly reclusive, caring for no one.

“In Hu Yang City, I understand him best—he understands me best,” Shang Tianyan smiled. “Perhaps that’s why we’re both infatuated with the Dream Flower Mistress.”

“I don’t understand you two,” Luo Feng shook his head.

Over twenty-plus cycles, Luo Feng and Shang Tianyan had grown very close, their temperaments aligned. Luo Feng pitied the weak; so did Shang Tianyan—otherwise, why would he teach his disciples so diligently?

They ate, drank, and chatted, relaxed and at ease.

Suddenly—

“Hum.”

A small universe domain appeared within the Fire Realm Eatery.

Luo Feng and Shang Tianyan turned to look; their gazes pierced through the walls and saw Black Butcher, who had just finished preparing the Fire Realm Banquet—suddenly, he had awakened, breaking through his final bottleneck.

The source of the laws he mastered naturally formed a domain.

“I didn’t expect the owner of the Fire Realm Eatery to break through—becoming an Eternal True God,” Shang Tianyan was astonished.

“He broke through just by cooking us a Fire Realm Banquet. That banquet must be delicious,” Luo Feng felt a craving.

(End of Chapter)