Chapter 24: Pulling Out All the Stops

After cultivating for a while and taking a nap for half an hour, Qian Youcai finally delivered the ingredients Ye Changqing needed.

Ever since Hong Zun spoke up last time, this outer sect deacon, Qian Youcai, had completely become Ye Changqing's subordinate. Whatever he needed, Ye Changqing didn't need to do it himself; as long as he said a word, Qian Youcai would take the initiative to deliver it.

Regarding this, Qian Youcai had no dissatisfaction. His thoughts were the same as the other disciples: as long as Ye Changqing was responsible for cooking, he didn't need to worry about other things.

"Sorry for the trouble, Deacon Qian."

Brewing a pot of tea and looking at the high-quality red-striped pig trotters delivered by Qian Youcai, Ye Changqing smiled.

"Why be so polite with me? By the way, is there a new dish tonight?"

"Hmm, stewing some pig trotters."

"I'll help."

Hearing that there was a new dish to eat at night, Qian Youcai's eyes lit up. It would be one thing if he hadn't eaten it, but after tasting Ye Changqing's craftsmanship at noon, Qian Youcai couldn't stop thinking about it.

An outer sect deacon rushing to help—Ye Changqing was also helpless and could only let Qian Youcai chop some firewood.

After washing the pig trotters clean, Ye Changqing began to prepare them.

Because braised pig trotters need to be stewed until the flavor is absorbed, it takes a long time, so Ye Changqing started working early.

First, he blanched the pig trotters, removed the impurities and blood foam after boiling, and then fished them out. Then he poured oil into the pot, added rock sugar, and stir-fried over low heat.

Afterward, he added various spices, then added an appropriate amount of clear water, brought it to a boil over high heat, and then turned to low heat to stew.

As Ye Changqing worked, a fragrance gradually filled the entire courtyard, and Qian Youcai beside him was drooling.

"So fragrant."

The fragrance constantly stimulated Qian Youcai's nerves, making him suffer immensely.

"Kid Ye Changqing, that..."

"Not yet, wait a moment."

This guy wanted to steal a bite, but he was directly refused by Ye Changqing. Regarding this, although Qian Youcai was helpless, there was no other way.

He could only stare fixedly at the large pot that was constantly emitting fragrance, as if he were looking at some rare treasure.

In the courtyard, Ye Changqing lay lazily on a bamboo chair, while Qian Youcai kept guard by the pot, unwilling to leave even a step.

The afternoon passed quickly, and before he knew it, it was almost mealtime.

Looking at the time, Ye Changqing stood up unhurriedly, came to the pot, and opened the lid. In an instant, a fragrance countless times richer than before rushed toward him.

Qian Youcai smelled this rich fragrance, and his eyes went wide.

The next step was the final step: reducing the sauce.

On the other side, in the outer sect disciple area, because an elder was giving a lecture today, the main hall was overcrowded.

Every time an elder gave a lecture in the past, it was highly valued by the outer sect disciples.

After all, as outer sect disciples, such opportunities were rare, and the quota was limited, so everyone valued it very much.

This time was no exception; for the whole afternoon, the numerous outer sect disciples listened attentively.

But as time passed, a small portion of the disciples began to lose their patience.

Looking at the three prayer mats in the back, the three disciples clearly had no mood to listen to the lecture and were transmitting their voices to each other.

"What should we do? Mealtime is almost here."

"That's right, according to the nature of those animals, if we go late, there certainly won't be anything to eat."

"Then what should we do? The lecture hasn't ended yet."

"Do you still want to eat after the lecture ends? Are you dreaming?"

"Holy crap, there's less than half an hour left, what should we do?"

"I don't know."

"I'm not going to worry about you guys anymore, I'm going to leave first and grab a good spot."

All three were a bit anxious, and as for the reason, it was very simple: mealtime was almost here.

One of the disciples had his mind completely occupied by the stir-fried meat and Mapo Tofu from noon, unable to contain anything else. Without thinking too much, he quietly slipped out of the hall.

For such an elder's lecture, under normal circumstances, no one would say anything if you wanted to leave; you decide for yourself.

But in the past, no disciple had ever left in the middle of a lecture.

Are you kidding? It was already extremely difficult for an outer sect disciple to get a chance to listen to a lecture; how could they leave halfway?

But now, there was one person who left right under everyone's noses.

Regarding this, the numerous disciples present were all stunned, looking at this outer sect disciple one after another, thinking, "Has this guy gone crazy?"

You have to know that the quota for listening to the lecture was obtained at a huge cost; this guy just left like that?

However, before everyone could think too much, two more outer sect disciples stood up and left the hall, following this disciple.

At this, even the elder giving the lecture was a bit strange. What's wrong with these little brats?

Is my lecture not good? Why are they all leaving one by one?

The departure of the three disciples made the elder lose his confidence, as such a thing had never happened before.

The atmosphere in the hall became a bit strange, but those three disciples didn't care at all. After leaving the hall, the three of them didn't hesitate at all, directly utilizing their movement techniques and heading straight for the kitchen at the foot of the mountain.

The three figures chased each other, moving like lightning.

At the same time, such scenes were appearing all over Divine Sword Peak. On the top of the mountain, several streams of light flashed past, each faster than the last.

Even the miscellaneous disciples were running wildly for their lives.

At the same time, at the same place, the meal-eating army arrived as scheduled, and Ye Changqing in the kitchen had also prepared dinner.

Everyone who arrived from different directions met at the kitchen courtyard gate.

The numerous disciples looked at each other, and for a time, sparks flew, with no one willing to retreat even half a step.

"Hmph, watch my Flowing Light Step."

"Small trick, Cotton Palm."

"Holy crap, you're making a move?"

Some people utilized their movement techniques for the first time, while others were even more exaggerated, directly utilizing martial arts.

Of course, it wasn't an attack martial art, but a control-type martial art.

Temporarily controlling the other party's actions so that they could take a step forward and grab a good spot.

This was also the result of an afternoon of deep thought. In order to grab a good spot, the numerous disciples had evolved again.

Seeing someone make a move, the others naturally wouldn't be outdone. For a time, various martial arts emerged one after another outside the courtyard.

The outer sect disciples and inner sect disciples were completely crazy, and this made it pitiful for the numerous miscellaneous disciples.

Not being the opponents of these outer and inner sect disciples, these miscellaneous disciples could only watch from the sidelines.

"Watch my Cotton Palm."

"I dodge."

"Want to leave? Did you ask me? Absolute Hand, I absorb."

"Golden Bell Cover."

"Inch Step."

Various methods—everyone was blocking the entrance, all wanting to be the first to enter. But just at this moment, several figures flashed past; it was the three personal disciples, Lu Youyou, Xu Jie, and Liu Shuang, who had arrived.

"Oh no, it's Senior Brother Xu and the others."

Some inner sect disciples recognized the identities of the three. Hearing this, the numerous disciples locked their eyes on the three. The next second, someone shouted:

"Attack together, stop them."