Chapter 2027

After experiencing a series of previous events, the canteen operated by Ye Zhangqing instantly became the focus of everyone's attention, its popularity exploding to an astonishing degree.

Each morning, as the sun just rose and the first light of dawn appeared, the canteen doors had just opened when countless diners surged in like a tide.

However, these diners clearly understood the rules here; they voluntarily formed neat lines, patiently waiting for their turn to get a meal.

Although the number of people was astonishing, the whole scene remained orderly, with not a trace of chaos.

Even the residents of Prison Immortal Town joined the massive queue, lining up properly to await the delicious dishes.

And what about Ye Zhangqing, hard at work in the back kitchen? He had already been busy nonstop since before dawn, wielding his spatula like a mighty dragon, his movements skilled and swift, full of vigor.

The diners came in an endless stream, and the praise for Ye Zhangqing's cooking skills rose and fell without cease.

Thus, days passed one by one, and Ye Zhangqing led a stable, peaceful life in the Four Directions Immortal City; his cultivation steadily improved through daily accumulation and precipitation, continually achieving new breakthroughs.

Meanwhile, in the distant Cooking King Immortal City, time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, five full years have passed since Ye Zhangqing set out alone on his training journey.

You must know that for cultivators, especially those at high realms, a mere five years is hardly considered long.

Sometimes, a single closed-door Xiūliàn can take ten or even eight years; as for those who choose dead‑closed seclusion to break through a bottleneck, spending a hundred or eighty years in seclusion is utterly ordinary.

Yet, within this seemingly brief five‑year span, for the people of Cooking King Immortal City each day felt endlessly stretched, becoming extraordinarily long and hard to endure.

The key reason is that the central figure, Ye Zhangqing, is absent from the city.

He is like a lighthouse; once its light is gone, the whole city falls into deep longing and unease.

Within the city, many disciples and Elders constantly miss Ye Zhangqing's figure, his smile, and the warmth and food he brought.

Under this strong emotional drive, days became increasingly difficult, leading many to simply opt for secluded Xiūliàn to escape reality.

After all, since they cannot enjoy the dishes personally cooked by Ye Zhangqing, pouring themselves wholeheartedly into Xiūliàn might at least divert a bit of their endless longing for him.

What is gratifying is that this situation unexpectedly spurred a significant boost in the overall strength of Cooking King Immortal City.

Many disciples, under such diligent and arduous cultivation, made leaps and bounds in progress, achieving remarkable results.

Their cultivation grew ever more refined, their skills ever more proficient, and the speed of their power increase was truly astonishing.

Faced with this situation, Bai Yuan and the other two felt a mixture of emotions—both pleased and inevitably worried.

On one hand, seeing their disciples achieve such great accomplishments naturally brought genuine joy; on the other hand, their concern for Ye Zhangqing lingered, hard to dispel.

"Do you know where Ye Zhangqing is now?"

One of them could not help but ask.

The other two exchanged a glance and helplessly shook their heads.

"I don't know; back when he left, he expressly forbade us from following him."

A long sigh rang out.

"Sigh, in the blink of an eye five full years have passed; I truly don't know how this lad is faring now, or whether he has encountered any danger."

In their words, worry showed plainly on their faces.

"Don't worry, in my view danger is unlikely. But just how long must we wait for his return?"

Another person said, his face likewise showing a trace of bitterness and helplessness.

Exactly, no one knows when Ye Zhangqing will return to Cooking King Immortal City, and this uncertainty has become the heaviest burden on everyone's heart.

Five years have already flown by, but for those awaiting him, each day of waiting feels as agonizing as a year.

Time flies by, often catching people off guard; it sometimes resembles a white steed dashing through a narrow gap, fleeting in an instant.

Especially for the vast, boundless Immortal Realm, whose expanse is like a sea of mist, a mere hundred or thousand years is like an insignificant grain of sand in the ocean, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Suìyuè flies like a shuttle, and unnoticed another five years have passed.

Counting from when Ye Zhangqing resolutely left Cooking King Immortal City, setting out alone on a journey of unknown challenges, a full ten years have quietly elapsed.

Just a year prior, starting from Yun Xiantai, the strong ones from Dao Yi Shengdi—Qi Xiong, Hong Zun, and others—also emerged like a phoenix from Nirvana, breaking out of their cocoons; after enduring countless hardships, they finally succeeded in raising their cultivation to the admirable Ancestral Realm.

However, when these joyful, eager-to-share-their-achievement individuals stepped out of their seclusion, they were shocked to hear that Ye Zhangqing had actually ventured out alone into the world, and to this day there has been no word of him.

The excitement and joy that had surged from their cultivation breakthrough instantly vanished, as if doused with a bucket of cold water, leaving their delight largely gone.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye nearly a year had slipped away.

At this moment, everyone has successfully broken through into the Ancestral Realm.

After a period of deep thought and lively discussion, Hong Zun was the first to voice a proposal.

"If we just stay put in Cooking King Immortal City, doing nothing, that's hardly a long‑term plan. Since we are fortunate to have come to this legendary Immortal Realm, we must go out and explore, to take in its wondrous scenery."

His words had barely fallen when the others responded enthusiastically.

Senior Brother Hong is absolutely right; this trip to various places in the Immortal Realm will not only broaden our horizons and expand our vision, but we might even be able to follow the vine to learn the whereabouts of that rascal Ye Zhangqing.

Someone echoed his words, and thus everyone immediately agreed, deciding to set out at once, embarking on a journey through the Immortal Realm filled with peril, excitement, and endless possibilities.

As soon as Hong Zun spoke, his words quickly gained everyone's approval.

Everyone agreed, and soon Yun Xiantai and Qi Xiong, representing the group, went to request an audience with Bai Yuan and the other two.

Having expressed their desire to go out and sightsee, Bai Yuan and the other two did not obstruct them; instead they showed support and even gifted some treasures for everyone's protection.