Chapter 2086: That Meal Has a Problem

Why not set a rule for defending the arena, where the winner continues to defend and the loser steps down—wouldn't that be convenient?

All the disciples of the Dao One Immortal Sect thought this way.

By then, after they win a few matches in a row, Elder Yè Chánglǎo will be pleased and give a box of dry rations for each victory—wouldn't that be great?

However, the rule was set long ago and cannot be changed now.

The disciples can only wait patiently, but they will eventually get their turn to fight.

As the Four-Sect Sword Discussion continued, the remaining eight disciples eventually took the stage one after another.

What puzzled the other sects present was that the Dao One Immortal Sect's disciples on the arena were each fiercer than the last.

The time taken for each battle grew shorter and shorter; in the later rounds, they ended almost as quickly as an instant kill.

They couldn't even last ten moves before the outcome was decided.

And after each battle, the Dao One Immortal Sect's disciples reacted in exactly the same way.

They didn't even have time to cheer; immediately they turned and returned to their own sect's area, then stared intently at the youth named Ye Zhangqing.

Finally, they joyfully held up a box of dry rations, shouting thanks to the Elder for the gift, then returned to their seats and wolfed it down.

They showed not the slightest sign of joy at their victory.

After a day of continuous sparring, it ended quickly.

As the time came to dusk, the first day's competition ended.

The Sword Immortal Sect naturally prepared a grand banquet, after all, as the host responsible for this Four-Sect Sword Discussion; if it were too shabby, the sect would lose face.

All the major sects present were on the invitation list, and the Dao One Immortal Sect's people were no exception.

The banquet was not small in scale, and the ingredients, wines, and spiritual fruits were all top-notch, of high grade.

The people of the other major sects enjoyed themselves immensely, after all, the Sword Immortal Sect had specially invited an Immortal-grade spiritual chef from Cooking King Immortal City to prepare this banquet.

Only here in the Dao One Immortal Sect, Ye Zhangqing was fine—the drinks were good, the spiritual fruits were passable, and the dishes were up to standard, so his expression remained calm, with nothing special about it.

But aside from Ye Zhangqing, the other disciples all looked listless.

Each of them looked at the delicious dishes before them, yet had no appetite at all; instead, they drank a lot of wine.

"Alas, the food is tasteless."

A disciple sighed aloud; hearing this, the senior brothers nearby felt the same and nodded in agreement.

"What Senior Brother Shī xiōng said is true—the flavor of this food truly can't even be matched by flattery, let alone Elder Yè Chánglǎo's."

"Is this really an Immortal Chef? I used to think they were not bad."

"Alright, you're talking as if you've tasted an Immortal Chef's cooking several times."

It's not that only Cooking King Immortal City has Immortal Chefs in the Immortal Realm; some Immortal Chefs prefer tranquility and thus live in seclusion.

Just going to Cooking King Immortal City to find an Immortal Chef is certainly the most convenient, after all, you don't have to search everywhere.

You just need to agree on a time in advance, and that's enough.

However, the Immortal Chefs of Cooking King Immortal City are also the most expensive; it can be said they are outrageously pricey, starting at more than ten times the cost of a Saint-grade spiritual chef.

Adding the consumption of various ingredients, the Sword Immortal Sect's expenses for this occasion are not small.

However, the disciples of the Dao One Immortal Sect aren't impressed by it at all—simply because the taste doesn't compare to Ye Zhangqing's.

And as today's most prominent figure, the Dao One Immortal Sect naturally attracts the most attention; every move of its disciples is watched by those with keen interest.

After the banquet, all sects returned to their lodgings to rest; but after night fell, every one of the other major sects was without exception discussing the affairs of the Dao One Immortal Sect.

In the Sword Immortal Sect's main hall, the Sword Immortal Sect Alliance Leader and Grand Elder Zhao Baiyun sat facing each other, with other Sword Immortal Sect Elders also present.

The Sect Leader calmly looked at Zhao Baiyun and said:

"This Dao One Immortal Sect is truly unfathomable; its disciples' strength is each stronger than the last, yet what they do is so...................."

"Yes, and almost all of them come from great clans of the Immortal Realm; I don't know why they would choose to join the Dao One Immortal Sect."

It's not strange for Immortal Clan Descendants to join an Immortal Sect; the Sword Immortal Sect itself has many Immortal Clan Descendants, and there's no conflict between the two.

The problem lies in the conduct style of these Dao One Immortal Sect disciples—it's quite problematic.

Everything about them seems strange.

After he finished speaking, there was a brief pause, then Zhao Baiyun continued:

"I think this problem should lie in those dishes."

When the disciples of the Dao One Immortal Sect received the dishes, their expressions were excited.

But at the banquet, they were listless; even when it ended, Zhao Baiyun had specifically observed that the Dao One Immortal Sect's disciples hadn't eaten their dishes at all.

It was completely unlike before, as if they were two different people.

Upon hearing Zhao Baiyun's speculation, the Sword Immortal Sect Sect Leader nodded in agreement, though exactly what the problem is remains uncertain for now.

"Do you think our Sword Immortal Sect has a chance to win this time?"

After a moment of silence, the Sword Immortal Sect Sect Leader asked; in response, Zhao Baiyun's face showed some helplessness as he said:

"It's difficult; aside from the Dao One Immortal Sect being an exception, the disciples of the Ten Thousand Beasts Immortal Sect are also very strong."

"Hmm."

The Sword Immortal Sect naturally hopes to secure victory in this Four-Sect Sword Discussion in one fell swoop; after all, it's taking place within its own sect, and if it wins the championship, it will certainly be a great thing.

Unfortunately, the difficulty this time is too great.

The Dao One Immortal Sect's strength exceeded everyone's expectations; on the first day's matches, all ten of its disciples won without exception.

Moreover, their victories were overwhelming; just from these rare instances, it's easy to see that the Dao One Immortal Sect's disciples are not weak—each one is very strong.

In just a single day, the Dao One Immortal Sect has become the arch‑enemy of the other three major sects.

No one dares to underestimate them anymore; instead, they regard them with utmost gravity.

Therefore, taking advantage of the night's rest, the three major sects are all devising ways to counter the Dao One Immortal Sect.

As for the Dao One Immortal Sect, after returning from the banquet, everyone simply went their separate ways—there was nothing worth studying.

Mainly, Wu Shou doesn't understand either; with his Ancestor Realm cultivation, he's not even as good as his own disciples, so what good plan could he devise?

Rather than have Wu Shou toil here, it would be better to let the disciples themselves come up with ideas.

In terms of eyesight, these disciples from the immortal clan are no weaker than Wu Shou, and possibly stronger.

So there's nothing worth studying.

As for Ye Zhangqing, he's simply lazy, too lazy to think about these things; after all, winning shouldn't be difficult—can't ten disciples even secure one championship spot?

So, for the Dao One Immortal Sect, from top to bottom, everyone slept soundly that night, with no pressure at all from the Four Sect Sword Discussion.

The disciples only thought about having food again tomorrow, plus the reward.

Moreover, after winning, they would even get a free meal ticket—when they return, the other fellow disciples will be dying of envy.

Nothing else needs consideration; the only problem to consider is winning, getting the reward, and eating—this is the proper, serious business.

Everything else is irrelevant.