Chapter 23: Numbers Surge

Outside the dining hall courtyard, many disciples each displayed their supernatural abilities, with one after another afterimages sweeping through the crowd.

Those disciples with poor movement skills, faced with this situation, in desperation directly reached out to block.

"Holy shit, where's my belt?"

"Who the fuck pulled down my pants?"

"Each rely on your own ability, don't use dirty tricks."

Qian Youcai in the distance had already arrived early, but when he saw this scene he was stunned; why are there so many people today?

However, having yesterday's experience, Qian Youcai was only slightly dazed for a moment, then immediately snapped back to consciousness, his whole body instantly turning into an afterimage as he rushed into the courtyard.

I didn't get to eat yesterday; today I must have a bite no matter what.

Don't look at Qian Youcai's somewhat plump figure; at this moment his burst of speed is not slow at all, even Inner Door Disciples cannot compare.

Indeed, to become an Outer Sect Steward, one's cultivation has reached the Nascent Soul Realm.

After a few flashes, Qian Youcai rushed into the courtyard; although there were already more than ten Inner Door Disciples ahead, he still managed to grab a good spot.

"Damn, these guys are really crazy."

Hearing the noise from behind, Qian Youcai, still feeling uneasy, lamented that just now he too had been surrounded and blocked by many disciples.

If it weren't for his decent cultivation, he really would have struggled to break out.

Getting a meal has become like a battle, but there's no helping it; with so many people today, there probably isn't enough food, and given this outcome, it's no wonder the disciples are going crazy.

Even Ye Zhangqing didn't expect this, but the food was only prepared this much; for now there's no other option, so it's first come, first served.

As the mealtime arrived, the disciples who had secured spots were all excited, especially those Outer Sect and Inner Door Disciples who had never tasted Ye Zhangqing's cooking.

They filled a big bowl to the brim, and upon taking a mouthful, these disciples were instantly stunned.

Their hearts filled with regret, why didn't they know earlier that the food at Divine Sword Peak's dining hall was so delicious? They used to eat pig feed.

They simply couldn't stop.

As disciples passed by one after another, the food quantity quickly dwindled; after more than two hundred disciples had finished, there was nothing left.

The disciples behind, seeing this, all wailed in despair.

"Holy shit, it's all gone?"

Yesterday they were lucky enough to get seconds, but today they can't even get a bite—this is the downside of having too many people.

Among the crowd, Qian Youcai also held a large rice bowl, eating with great delight; it's delicious—when did this Changqing Xiaozi's cooking get so good?

Some are happy, naturally some are sad; those disciples who didn't get to eat stare longingly at those wolfing down their food, unable to help but constantly swallow their saliva.

It smells so good, I really want to eat—what should I do?

"Senior Brother, let's make a deal—give me a bite, just one bite, I'll give you ten low-grade spirit stones."

"Get lost."

"Twenty, twenty low-grade spirit stones."

"Senior Brother, don't wash the bowl, I'll come, I'll lick a mouthful to taste the flavor."

Even worse, they don't let even the bottom of the finished bowl go.

This meal's scale far surpassed the past few days, and all the Outer Sect and Inner Door Disciples who had tasted Ye Zhangqing's cooking were completely crazy without exception.

It's easy to imagine that the number of people in the dining hall will only keep increasing.

And regarding this, Ye Zhangqing is actually also helpless.

The more people eat, the better it is for him—more praise, and his cultivation and talent naturally improve faster.

But there's a problem: he simply can't make that much food.

Moreover, Ye Zhangqing doesn't want to wear himself out, being busy in the kitchen all day.

According to Ye Zhangqing's own estimate, he can now make at most enough food for seven or eight hundred people in one meal.

This amount is obviously a drop in the bucket for Divine Sword Peak disciples, but Ye Zhangqing himself doesn't want to do more—it's too exhausting.

Therefore, facing the many disciples who didn't get to eat, Ye Zhangqing's answer can only be first come, first served.

Everyone relies on their own ability, lines up; when it's your turn and there's food, you eat; if there isn't, there's nothing to be done.

The meal brought mixed joy and worry; the disciples who got to eat were extremely happy, and even when leaving they basically offered some elixirs and spirit stones to Ye Zhangqing.

"Changqing junior brother, take these spirit stones; senior brother heard you lack cultivation resources, just tell me what you need later."

"Exactly, Changqing junior brother doesn't need to worry about other matters; just call us if anything comes up."

"Not bad, not bad; this dining hall can't do without Changqing junior brother."

They do this simply to let Ye Zhangqing cook in peace; as for other matters, they don't need to worry.

Regarding this, Ye Zhangqing is also helpless, feeling as if he's being kept.

Moreover, those brother disciples who didn't get to eat are also offering spirit stones while saying.

"Changqing junior brother, can you make more this afternoon?"

"Yeah, yeah, we simply can't get any."

Facing these disciples' requests, Ye Zhangqing replied.

"I'll do my best, but relying solely on me it's impossible to satisfy everyone, so it's still first come, first served."

Regarding this, although many disciples are helpless, they can also understand, after all Divine Sword Peak has tens of thousands of people up and down, and Ye Zhangqing alone certainly can't satisfy them.

As people left one after another, the dining hall quickly emptied; Hong Zun was the last to leave, and before departing he smiled at Ye Zhangqing and said.

"Changqing Xiaozi, I estimate it won't be long before your dining hall is overcrowded."

Nowadays more and more disciples know Ye Zhangqing's cooking; it will surely spread, and you can't keep it hidden.

By then Ye Zhangqing will be annoyed.

However, Ye Zhangqing replied quite calmly.

"Just do your best; people always have limits, and as for the rest, there's nothing to be done."

Ye Zhangqing took it in stride; even though he had a system that could boost his cultivation, he also didn't want to let himself become a tool of the system, and with three meals a day, he'd do as much as he could.

Hearing this, Hong Zun laughed and said.

"Haha, you kid, you take things in stride."

At lunch that day, Ye Zhangqing's gain was enormous—over two hundred points of good reviews, and the system gave him two new dishes.

Now he could almost unlock a new dish with each meal, and the speed was rapid.

Nothing much changed; Ye Zhangqing didn't change just because there were more people, and afterward he cultivated as he should, rested as he should.

But the other disciples, especially the Outer Door Disciples and Inner Door Disciples, were not so calm at this moment.

Having just left the kitchen after lunch, not long had passed before he was already thinking about dinner.

They were clearly people who should be fasting, yet they couldn't help thinking about it—there was no way around it, simply because the taste was too good, making it impossible to bear.