Chapter 1941: I, the Money‑Giving Old Man

City Lord, Dragon Heart Fruit—this kind of treasure is still best kept in the Sect's treasury.

Hearing Zhang Xiaohai's words, Bai Yuan and the three immediately showed helplessness and said, "We knew it would be like this."

The greatest effect of the Dragon Heart Fruit is to increase a cultivator's foundation; moreover, the younger the cultivator, the greater the increase.

Conversely, the older they are, the smaller the effect; and what age are Bai Yuan and the others?

Furthermore, when they were young, Bai Yuan and the others had all eaten Dragon Heart Fruit, and the first time eating it yields the most noticeable effect.

After that, it continually decreases, and the decrease is significant.

Eating a second Dragon Heart Fruit yields only half the effect of the first.

So, this thing isn't of much use to Bai Yuan and the others, but who would have known that hearing this, Zhang Xiaohai laughed indifferently.

"Haha, just tasting it is fine."

"Huh?"

"You hear what kind of talk this is? Dragon Heart Fruit, a top-tier immortal fruit of the Immortal Realm, and you actually dare to just taste it?"

"With a dark face, Bai Yuan said seriously."

"City Lord, should we just taste the Dragon Heart Fruit?"

"Now the city is in a period of development; the Dragon Heart Fruit is very useful, so we should leave it for the younger disciples."

"Then, Ye Xiaozi, I'll give you the remaining four."

"City Lord.........."

"Didn't you say you wanted to give it to the younger disciples?"

"What I mean is, when a disciple achieves merit in the future, it can be used as a reward; moreover, Ye Xiaozi eating five Dragon Heart Fruits would also be a waste."

"This won't work, that won't work either; forget it, you guys handle it yourselves."

After Bai Yuan's repeated objections, Zhang Xiaohai, displeased, flicked his lips and casually threw the remaining three Dragon Heart Fruits to Bai Yuan, letting him arrange them himself.

But he also threw one to Ye Zhangqing.

This time, although Bai Yuan was helpless, he did not stop it again; two Dragon Heart Fruits are still acceptable.

Afterwards, everyone just chatted, as there were no major events in the city recently.

However, while speaking, Zhang Xiaohai produced many more treasures to give to Ye Zhangqing.

Immortal fruits, ingredients, magic artifacts, and robes—he basically gave Ye Zhangqing everything needed.

"Ye Xiaozi, this magic artifact is something I happened to obtain this time; take it for self-defense."

"This robe is not bad either; it keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer."

"This talisman seal is passable; keep it."

"Also there is this formation disk; although it's an illusion formation, you can define the illusion's content yourself, and play with it when bored—you get it, kid?"

"Also there is this................"

"Huh?"

In less than half a Shíchén, Ye Zhangqing had already collected over twenty treasures; collecting so much left him somewhat dazed.

Bai Yuan and the others beside him showed helplessness throughout, and finally couldn't help but say:

"City Lord, that's about enough."

"What's wrong? This isn't the first time we've met; as City Lord, can't I give a greeting gift?"

"That's about enough too."

"Boring."

Seeing Zhang Xiaohai flick his lips, Bai Yuan and the others were speechless; "Is this what you call a little?"

But they were also used to it; their city lord's personality is like this—positively called generous, negatively called a total money‑giving old man.

You send these treasures to the city's treasury, giving them away to anyone you meet.

Toward one's own people, there's nothing to say; he never makes empty promises, and at the slightest disagreement he just gives treasures.

But the problem is some of these treasures are truly top‑tier; if they ended up in someone else's hands, they could be passed down for three generations.

But when it comes to Zhang Xiaohai, he just gives them away casually; even Bai Yuan and the others watching felt their hearts bleed.

Sometimes they felt that Cooking King Immortal City, compared to Pill King Immortal City and Weapon King Immortal City, has a weaker foundation, not solely because of the Immortal Chef.

As City Lord, Zhang Xiaohai also bears great responsibility.

After being repeatedly stopped by Bai Yuan and the others, Zhang Xiaohai lost some interest.

"Then, having met Ye Xiaozi for the first time, sharing a drink should be fine, right?"

"That's fine, but you can't take the wine from the treasury."

"Okay, okay, okay, there are really many rules."

Bai Yuan and the others clearly had experience; Zhang Xiaohai, displeased, nodded in agreement.

Just as Zhang Xiaohai was planning to arrange the banquet, Bai Yuan suddenly received news, his expression changed, and he said in a deep voice:

"City Lord, the Palace Master of Extreme Joy Palace has arrived and already entered the city."

Extreme Joy Palace is one of the top powers of the Immortal Realm, on par with the Heavenly Family.

Moreover, Extreme Joy Palace has always been at odds with Cooking King Immortal City, basically having no interaction.

At this time, the Palace Master of Extreme Joy Palace came in person, and Bai Yuan always felt that the visitor had ill intentions.

On the other hand, Zhang Xiaohai, upon hearing this, snorted contemptuously.

"This old thing can't be played with."

"Huh?"

Hearing this, Bai Yuan doubted.

"Does the City Lord know his purpose?"

I guess it's just for this dragon heart fruit; this time out, we few people unintentionally found this dragon heart fruit tree, and that old thing happened to be there too.

He also wanted the dragon heart fruit; what could I give him? I immediately fought him and ended up driving him away.

Huh???

Hearing Zhang Xiaohuai's words, Bai Yuan wore a helpless expression; it turns out that's the situation.

That means the newcomers are not friendly.

However, before Bai Yuan could speak, Zhang Xiaohuai waved his hand and said.

"It's boring; I won't meet that old thing—you handle it yourselves."

"Ye Zhangqing, let's go drink."

Having said that, he gave Bai Yuan no chance to refuse, waved his sleeve, and directly took Ye Zhangqing away, disappearing in the hall.

Ye Zhangqing had no chance to react at all; he only felt his vision go dark and then he was gone.

Watching Ye Zhangqing and Zhang Xiaohuai vanish without a trace, Bai Yuan and the other two exchanged glances, finally sighing helplessly.

We're Deputy City Lords.

It's just Zhang Xiaohuai's character; the three of us are used to it, it's always been like that.

In Cooking King Immortal City, the City Lord is basically just a mascot.

They don't want to handle small matters, don't want to handle big ones, see no need for simple things, and dislike troublesome ones.

So, in Cooking King Immortal City, basically all big and small matters are handled by Bai Yuan and the other two, while Zhang Xiaohuai is in charge of giving away wealth at the end.

Yet in Cooking King Immortal City, Zhang Xiaohuai's prestige is the highest; even the now-rising Ye Zhangqing cannot compare to him.

There's no way around it—he's truly generous; while strolling through the city, he can casually give away dozens of treasures along the way.

As long as one is a disciple of Cooking King Immortal City, performing a cupped-fist salute can earn them an immortal pill or something similar.

Many times, when Zhang Xiaohuai's personal treasures ran out, he simply issued a note, letting disciples go to the city's treasury to pick whatever they wanted.

And the treasury guards, upon seeing a note from Zhang Xiaohuai, didn't think twice and just let them in.

In the end, the Sect's treasury mysteriously lacked many items, and only then did Bai Yuan and the other two learn of this.

Now, the city's treasury no longer accepts notes from the City Lord alone; only a note jointly issued by the three Deputy City Lords allows entry.

The City Lord's note is as good as blank in the treasury; without the seal of the three Deputy City Lords, no one can enter.