Chapter 129: Anticipation

Dragon Phoenix Soup, hearing this, Zhao Zhengping and the others looked at that big pot, and their eyes all flashed with golden light.

Even the smell is this fragrant; if one were to take a bite, they'd surely soar straight away.

Before, Ye Zhangqing had never experienced such a thing when cooking; the aroma directly filled the entire camp.

"Junior Brother Changqing, will we be eating this Dragon Phoenix Soup tomorrow?"

Xu Jie looked at Ye Zhangqing with an expectant expression and asked, but Ye Zhangqing shook his head.

"At least three more days are needed; this dish takes some time."

「Three heavens........... 」

He felt a bit disappointed, but then shook his head; three days are three days, waiting a bit is no big deal—good things take effort.

Anyway, at the Jinhai Yingdi camp, no one could compete with these few inner disciples for food; every meal was guaranteed to be eaten.

They left reluctantly, and the news that they would eat Dragon Phoenix Soup in three days quickly spread among the disciples.

As the most complex and time-consuming dish Ye Zhangqing had ever made, everyone was immensely looking forward to it, and they put in all their effort to vie for a spot.

Thus the disciples' cultivation became even more arduous.

However, over the next two days, it's unclear whether it was coincidence, but the disciples who had originally gone out for training gradually returned to the Jinhai Yingdi camp.

Originally, when fellow brothers meet, it's certainly a joyous occasion.

"Junior Brother, you're back?"

"Hehe, I went to the sect, but upon learning that our Divine Sword Peak was all at the Jinhai Yingdi camp, I rushed over."

"You've been gone for several months; hurry up and tell Senior Brother where you've been."

"Nothing much, just went for a stroll around Yuan Mountain."

These disciples who went out for training had gone to the Monster Clan Territory or the Forbidden Land; in short, they had experienced countless life-and-death trials.

The reunion of fellow brothers was truly moving, but soon this touching scene completely changed.

Just an hour ago, the two were still exchanging pleasantries, but now they had drawn weapons against each other.

"Junior Brother, you're weary from travel; you'd better rest a few days—skip this meal."

"Nonsense; what did Junior Brother risk life and limb for if not for this bite to eat? Now that he's returned from training, as Senior Sister Jin Min said, from now on, every meal in this mess hall ought to include a share for me."

Jin Min, who was also competing nearby, was full of question marks: "You guys fight, just leave me out of it, okay?"

"So you're saying Junior Brother isn't giving face?"

"Let's see the real skill, Senior Brother."

Immediately the two started fighting, and the result could be said to be expected yet unexpected.

The disciple who returned from training won, successfully defeating his own senior brother.

Watching the elated junior brother enter the mess hall, the senior brother's eyes were filled with astonishment.

"Is he really that strong? Can such life-and-death training really have such a great effect?"

He didn't know just how many crazy things Junior Brother had done to attain his present strength.

The disciples who returned from outside each displayed extraordinary strength, completely incomparable to before.

"Their progress is no small matter."

Zhao Zhengping and the other inner disciples, while eating, also secretly admired those disciples who had returned from outside.

However, although these people's strength had increased, they still posed no threat to them.

"Ah, that feels great; these past few months I've survived just by thinking of that bite of Junior Brother Changqing's food."

"Who says otherwise? If it weren't for thinking of Junior Brother Changqing, I wouldn't know how to have persevered."

"Wish fulfilled."

Having not eaten a hot bowl of rice for several months, each of the disciples who returned from training sighed deeply.

But however Ye Zhangqing listened to their words, he felt something was off.

As these disciples who had gone out for training returned, the competition at mealtime was suddenly reshuffled and became even more intense.

The senior brothers who had previously been able to secure their meals easily have now become those who struggle to get food.

Therefore they could only cultivate harder, madly boosting themselves.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed; that evening, inside the camp, all the disciples closed their eyes and focused, as if waiting for something.

"There's still half an hour."

"Mealtime is coming up soon."

"I've decided to have today's Dragon Phoenix Soup."

Everyone adjusted their condition to the best, the purpose being to wait for mealtime to arrive.

Tonight's dinner is completely different from before; today it's Dragon Phoenix Soup.

That Dragon Phoenix Soup, simmered for three days, had its aroma wafting throughout the camp for three full days, making the disciples' mouths water—this Dragon Phoenix Soup.

Without a doubt, today's competition will be extremely fierce; everyone will bring out their best condition and strongest means, and those hidden trump cards will also be revealed.

A killing aura permeated the entire Jinhai Yingdi camp, so much that even Ye Zhangqing, inside the mess hall, felt it strange.

"Strange, why is it so quiet today?"

Before, the disciples' training sounds could not be heard at all; the whole camp was eerily quiet.

But now mealtime is imminent; Ye Zhangqing didn't dwell on it, and the Dragon Phoenix Soup he had spent three days simmering made him greatly anticipate it, after all, it was the fruit of his considerable effort.

As time passed bit by bit, the disciples gradually opened their eyes, and upon meeting each other's gazes, sparks flew.

"Junior Brother, mealtime is upon us."

"Yeah, I used to be able to let Senior Brother have a little, but today I can't."

"Same; if I end up hurting Junior Brother later, don't blame Senior Brother."

"Senior Brother feels the same."

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense; all the disciples held their breath and focused, waiting for the final signal.

The air at this moment seemed to stagnate, faintly carrying a sour stench.

"What a heavy aura."

"Yeah, it feels more oppressive than even the Demon Race war."

Clang...... clang...... clang..........

"What sound is that? So low."

"The atmosphere is even more oppressive."

"I feel like the air's taste has changed."

"This is destined to be an epic battle."

"Shī xiōng, that was me just letting out three loud farts."

"You're fucking sick, at a time like this you go and make the bell clang three times with loud farts."

"I couldn't help it."

"Get lost."

Just as the disciples were clenching their fists and preparing to strike, outside the Formation two figures flew over and quickly landed at the Formation's entrance.

The two Outer Door Disciples tasked with guarding the Formation had originally been displeased, muttering complaints, but the moment they saw who had arrived, they were stunned.

"Peak Master, Grand Elder, how did you come here?"

"What, you're surprised to see this old man?"

The arrivals were none other than Hong Zun and the Grand Elder; hearing this, Hong Zun laughed, then paused, his smile turning cold as his eyes narrowed.

"Look at your rosy faces; you've been eating well lately."

「No....... us........... 」

"Heh, abandoning your own Peak Master and instead coming here to Jinhai Yingdi to eat well and live it up—you're truly fine disciples of my Divine Sword Peak."

Facing danger, the two unconsciously stepped back; facing Hong Zun's off expression, only this Formation could give them a sense of safety.

Anyway, the Peak Master and Grand Elder can't get into the Formation; as long as they don't go out looking for trouble, there's no problem.

Having made up their minds, no matter what the Peak Master says, they will absolutely not step out of the Formation, even if it means death.