Chapter 2446

All that could be seen was the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit, appearing as an innocent child, its gaze fixed on Ye Zhangqing at the stove.

Translation: "Only see the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit, with an innocent childlike face, its gaze fixed straight on Ye Zhangqing at the stove."

All that could be seen was the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit, looking like an innocent child, its gaze fixed on Ye Zhangqing at the stove.

That gaze already explained everything.

Translation: "That gaze already explained everything."

As expected, in the end it couldn't resist Elder Ye's cooking and obediently came out on its own.

Translation: "As expected, in the end it still couldn't resist Ye Zhangqing's culinary skill, and obediently came out on its own."

However, being able to last three days, the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit is already doing quite well.

Translation: "However, being able to hold out for three days, this Myriad Souls Banner Spirit is already quite impressive."

Asking oneself honestly, if it were them, they probably couldn't even handle one meal; that aroma is truly hard to resist.

Translation: "Asking oneself honestly, if it were them, they probably couldn't even withstand one meal—that aroma is truly hard to resist."

When faced with the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit's gaze, Ye Zhangqing gave a slight smile and said.

Translation: "Facing the gaze of the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit, Ye Zhangqing gave a slight smile and said."

"Want to eat?"

Translation: "\"Want to eat? \""

"Mm."

Translation: "\"Mm. \""

Hearing that, the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit didn't hesitate, nodding truthfully—it really did want to eat; otherwise it wouldn't have risked appearing.

Translation: "Hearing that, the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit didn't hesitate, nodding truthfully—it indeed wanted to eat; otherwise it wouldn't have risked appearing."

Everyone present wanted to catch it, knowing it was dangerous yet unable to harm it, so hiding was obviously the best option.

Translation: "These people before him all wanted to capture it; knowing there was danger yet unable to harm them, hiding was obviously the best option."

Unfortunately, it couldn't resist; upon smelling the aroma again, it inexplicably showed up here.

Translation: "Unfortunately it couldn't resist; upon smelling the aroma again, it inexplicably showed up here."

Seeing the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit nod, Ye Zhangqing's smile widened; he personally served a bowl of rice, though not much—just a small bowl—and then beckoned to the spirit.

Translation: "Seeing the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit nod, Ye Zhangqing's smile widened; he personally served a bowl of rice, though not much—just a small bowl—and then beckoned to the spirit."

"Come on."

Translation: "\"Come. \""

Hearing that, the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit obviously hesitated a bit, but seeing the tempting food, after an internal struggle, it still couldn't help stepping forward.

Note: The Chinese term could be a misspelling of the word for 'struggle'. Translating: "Hearing that, the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit obviously hesitated a bit, but seeing the tempting food, after an intense internal struggle, it still couldn't help stepping forward."

Throughout the process, at Ye Zhangqing's indication, nobody made a move.

Translation: "Throughout the process, under Ye Zhangqing's indication, nobody made a move."

They simply watched quietly as the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit approached Ye Zhangqing, carefully took the rice bowl, and then vanished in a flash.

Translation: "They merely watched silently as the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit walked up to Ye Zhangqing, carefully took the bowl, and then vanished in a flash."

"Elder Ye..."

Translation: "\"Senior Brother Ye………………………\""

Seeing this damned thing grab the food and run without a hint of hesitation, everyone panicked, thinking they'd lost another chance.

Translation: "Seeing this damned thing grab the food and run without a hint of hesitation, everyone grew anxious—this meant they lost another chance."

However, Ye Zhangqing showed no concern, waving his hand with a smile.

Translation: "However, Ye Zhangqing was completely unfazed, waving his hand with a smile."

"No problem, let it go."

Translation: "\"No problem, let it go. \""

He then called everyone to eat; some things can't be rushed, we have to take it slow.

Translation: "He then called everyone to serve the meal; some things can't be rushed, they must be done slowly."

With me here, how could that Myriad Souls Banner Spirit possibly get away?

Translation: "With me here, could it still let the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit get away?"

As expected, not long after, the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit reappeared before Ye Zhangqing, holding an empty bowl.

Translation: "As expected, not long after, the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit reappeared before Ye Zhangqing holding an empty bowl."

Seeing that, Ye Zhangqing still wore a smile.

Translation: "Seeing this, Ye Zhangqing still wore a smile."

"Still want to eat?"

Translation: "\"Still want to eat? \""

"Mm."

Translation: "\"Mm. \""

He nodded firmly without the slightest hesitation—this food is never enough.

Translation: "It still nodded firmly without the slightest hesitation—no amount of this food would ever be enough."

Moreover, the portion Ye Zhangqing gave earlier was already small; it finished it in a few bites, clearly still wanting more.

Translation: "Moreover, the amount Ye Zhangqing had just given was already small; it finished it in a few bites, clearly still wanting more."

Seeing the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit nod, Ye Zhangqing said nothing more and served it another bowl.

Translation: "Seeing the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit nod, Ye Zhangqing said nothing more and served it another bowl."

However, the amount was the same as before—not much, just a small bowl.

Translation: "However, the amount was still the same as before—not much, just a tiny bowl."

The Myriad Souls Banner Spirit took the small bowl and vanished in a flash, and Ye Zhangqing paid it no mind.

Translation: "And the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit took the small bowl, then vanished in a flash, while Ye Zhangqing paid it no mind."

And so another three days passed; each mealtime, the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit would appear.

Translation: "Thus another three days passed; each day when the meal was served, the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit would appear."

And under Ye Zhangqing's signal, the others also refrained from acting, even ignoring its intentions.

Translation: "And under Ye Zhangqing's indication, the crowd also refrained from acting, even ignoring its intentions."

Seeing that, the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit gradually lowered its guard; when it took the small bowl, it didn't disappear, but kept its distance, found an empty spot, and began to eat heartily.

Translation: "Seeing this, the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit gradually lowered its guard; when it took the small bowl, it didn't disappear, but kept its distance, found an empty spot, and lowered its head to feast heartily."

When finished, it would come back to Ye Zhangqing for another bowl.

Translation: "After finishing, it came back to Ye Zhangqing for another bowl."

And Ye Zhangqing never refused.

Translation: "And Ye Zhangqing never refused each time."

Thus, they seemed to have found a way to coexist, until one day the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit returned to Ye Zhangqing, wanting another bowl of rice.

Translation: "Thus, the two seemed to have found a way to get along, until one day the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit came to Ye Zhangqing again, wanting another bowl of rice."

Ye Zhangqing took the small bowl, but instead of serving it, he crouched down.

Translation: "Ye Zhangqing took the small bowl, but instead of serving it, he squatted down."

Faced with this sudden action, the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit's first reaction was to flee, but feeling no danger, combined with its recent familiarity and the tempting aroma of the food, it ultimately submitted.

Translation: "Faced with this sudden action, the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit's first reaction was to flee, but feeling no danger, plus the familiarity of the past few days and the tempting aroma, it ultimately submitted."

It merely stepped back, then froze, looking at Ye Zhangqing with suspicion.

Translation: "It merely stepped back a step, then ceased moving, regarding Ye Zhangqing with wary eyes."

With a smile on his face, Ye Zhangqing spoke.

Translation: "With a smile on his face, Ye Zhangqing spoke."

"Don't be afraid; I don't mean to harm you—I just want to ask, do you like the food I make?"

Translation: "\"Don't be afraid; I mean you no harm. I just want to ask—do you like the food I make? \""

"Like it."

Translation: "\"Like. \""

He nodded firmly; of course he likes it—if he didn't, how could he show up punctually every mealtime?

Translation: "It nodded firmly; of course it liked it—if it didn't, how could it show up punctually every mealtime?"

"Then, would you like to keep eating my food from now on?"

Translation: "\"Then do you want to keep eating my food from now on? \""

"Yes."

Translation: "\"Yes. \""

That's from the heart; even as a spirit, it wants to enjoy such delicious food every day.

Translation: "This is from the heart; even as a spirit, it wants to enjoy such delicacies every day."

No one knows that, at this moment, beings like the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit—Tianxing Old Man and Tie Dan—have already been tearing up.

Translation: "No one knew that at this moment, beings like the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit—Tianxing Lao Ren and Tie Dan—had already been tearing up."

They want that too, but no one pays them any heed, and besides, they are Ye Zhangqing's own spirit tools—what kind of situation is this?

Translation: "They also wanted it, but no one paid them any heed; moreover, they are Ye Zhangqing's own spirits—what kind of situation is this?"

They should have been the first to eat the rice, yet now they haven't had a single bite.

Translation: "Originally they should have been the first to get to eat, but now they haven't had a single bite."

Inside the Heaven and Earth Pot and the Qiankun Shovel, Tianxing Old Man and Tie Dan wear faces of envy, jealousy, and hatred.

Translation: "Inside the Heaven and Earth Cauldron and the Qiankun Shovel, Tianxing Lao Ren and Tie Dan wore faces full of envy, jealousy, and hatred."

They keep thinking, why does that little brat of the Myriad Souls Banner deserve to eat Ye Zhangqing's cooking?

Translation: "They kept thinking, what gives that little brat of the Myriad Souls Banner the right to eat Ye Zhangqing's food?"

Why can't they get any?

Translation: "Why can't they get any?"

This food is fried from their own pots, scoop by scoop by them—so why don't they get a share?

Translation: "This food is stir-fried from their own pot, scooped out shovel by shovel by them—so why don't they get a share?"

Unfortunately, no one is paying attention to this pitiful father-and-son pair right now.

Translation: "Unfortunately, right now nobody pays attention to this pitiful father‑son pair."

Seeing the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit nod, Ye Zhangqing continued to smile and said.

Translation: "Seeing the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit nod, Ye Zhangqing continued to smile and say."

"Want to eat? Actually, it's simple: follow me from now on, and you'll be able to eat as much as you like. How about that?"

Translation: "\"Want to eat? Actually it's simple—follow me from now on, and you'll have as much as you want. How about that? \""

Ye Zhangqing coaxed the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit with gentle persuasion.

Translation: "Ye Zhangqing coaxed the Myriad Souls Banner Spirit with patient persuasion."

At that moment, everyone around perked up their ears, quietly waiting for the little thing's answer.

Translation: "At that moment, everyone around perked up their ears, quietly waiting for the little thing's reply."

Just one step away, just one step away; if one could capture the artifact spirit of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, that would be equivalent to capturing the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

By then, what other methods could the Ultimate Bliss Palace have? They would then naturally be able to come and go freely in this Myriad Soul Banner.

Nobody dared disturb the Myriad Soul Banner's artifact spirit, but this time the little thing did not nod as readily as before.

Instead, it stayed silent for a long while, then shook its head with a difficult expression.

No, I have a seal on me; if the seal isn't removed, I cannot change masters.

Huh???

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a wave of disappointment.

This seal must have been placed by the Ultimate Bliss Palace; in other words, without breaking the seal, even the Myriad Soul Banner's artifact spirit cannot do anything.

Moreover, breaking this seal is no easy feat—let alone other conditions, would the Ultimate Bliss Palace even give you that much time?

At the slightest sign of trouble, the Palace Master of the Ultimate Bliss Palace would likely resort to desperate measures.

For now, keeping them around is merely because they're still useful, able to serve as bargaining chips.

Especially Ye Zhangqing, who makes Huang Lao wary of acting, lest he harm him.

But if it ever comes to mutual destruction and the Ultimate Bliss Palace falls, the first thing they'd surely do is drag them along as a shield.

Since they're going to die anyway, what crazy thing couldn't they do?

The Myriad Soul Banner's artifact spirit is limited by the seal and cannot act on its own, leaving everyone feeling helpless, including Ye Zhangqing.

It seems there's no chance to directly subdue the Myriad Soul Banner now; if so, then………………………

Thinking this, Ye Zhangqing shifted his tone and said.

How about you temporarily act as an undercover agent………………………