Chapter 3002

The aroma has already drifted up to the city walls; even the two Xiāntiān rénzú Old Ancestors outside the city have caught a whiff—one can imagine how strong the fragrance inside the city must be.

Breakdown: "That aroma has already drifted up to the city walls, even the two Xiāntiān rénzú Old Ancestors outside the city have smelled it; one can imagine how strong the fragrance inside the city is."

We need to use Ye Zhangqing? Not here.

We must use Xiāntiān rénzú exactly as given—so Xiāntiān rénzú Old Ancestors, the city walls, outside the city, we have smelled it; one can imagine how strong the fragrance inside the city is.

Let's craft: "That aroma has already drifted up to the city walls; even the two Xiāntiān rénzú Old Ancestors outside the city have smelled it, so you can imagine how strong the fragrance inside the city is."

Make sure it's one line.

At this very moment, quite a few people throughout the Heaven‑Beyond Immortal City have indeed been dazed by the fragrance.

Translate: "At this very moment, throughout the Immortal City Beyond the Heavens, quite a few people have indeed been dazed by the fragrance."

We need to use Immortal City Beyond the Heavens exactly. So: "At this very moment, throughout the Immortal City Beyond the Heavens, quite a few people have indeed been dazed by the fragrance."

Not to mention those on the streets; even some people stuck at home couldn't help cursing.

Translate: "Not to mention the people on the streets, even those indoors couldn't help cursing."

Damn it, this life is unbearable—even the formations can't block it!

Translate: "\"Damn it, this life is unbearable; even the formations can't keep it out. \""

We need to keep quotes? The Chinese includes quotation marks. We should keep them as part of translation? Probably keep the quoted speech with quotation marks. We'll output the line with the quotes.

In the Heaven‑Beyond Immortal City, almost every residence, including inns and shops, has its own formation.

Translate: "In the Immortal City Beyond the Heavens, almost every residence, including inns and shops, has its own formation."

However, these are limited to defensive formations; offensive formations and illusion formations are not permitted.

Translate: "However, this is limited to defensive formations; offensive formations and illusionary formations are not permitted."

At a glance, one can see that many places have activated their formations.

Translate: "At this moment, a glance shows that many places have activated their formations."

These formations are not meant to defend against enemy attacks; they are merely intended to block the aroma coming from the kitchen.

Translate: "These formations are not meant to defend against enemy attacks; they are merely to block the fragrance coming from the Fire Room."

After the ingredients were transported back, several Old Ancestors of the Barbarian God Tribe and the Feather God Tribe could hardly wait to eat them.

Translate: "After those ingredients were transported back, several Old Ancestors of the Barbarian God Tribe and Feather God Tribe could not wait to eat them."

The Old Ancestors of the Barbarian God Tribe and the Feather God Tribe.

Especially the Old Ancestors of the Feather God Tribe—they had never before tasted any legendary‑grade ingredients, but now that they've got their hands on some, they simply have to give them a proper try.

Translate: "Especially the Feather God Tribe Old Ancestors—they had never tasted such legendary ingredients before; now that they have them in hand, they certainly want to give them a good try."

Having just gone through a major battle, Ye Changqing naturally wouldn't be stingy at a time like this; he immediately smiled and nodded his agreement.

Translate: "Having just gone through a major battle, Ye Zhangqing naturally wouldn't be stingy at a time like this; he immediately smiled and nodded in agreement."

We must use Ye Zhangqing exactly.

He then started cooking.

Translate: "He then began to cook."

But with the kitchen preparing the meal, it's the whole city that ends up suffering.

Translate: "But with the Fire Room doing the cooking, it's misery for everyone in the city."

If it were merely ordinary ingredients, the aroma would exist, but it would be confined to the kitchen's vicinity—so much so that even the Tian family manor couldn't let it escape.

Translate: "If it were merely ordinary ingredients, the aroma would exist, but only around the Fire Room—it wouldn't even reach the Heavenly Family manor."

We need Heavenly Family exactly.

Since the people inside the city couldn't smell it, out of sight, out of mind, as they say.

Translate: "Since the people in the city couldn't smell it, out of sight, out of mind, as they say."

But now, with this primordial demon race ingredient, once its aroma is released, it immediately fills the entire city.

Translate: "But now, with this primordial demon race ingredient, once the aroma comes out, it immediately fills the entire city."

primordial demon race

Everyone in the city has smelled this aroma, and those who are craving it are drooling.

Translate: "Everyone in the city smelled that aroma, and those who were made hungry by it drooled."

Some people couldn't help gathering outside the Tian family manor, but as expected, they couldn't even get through the gate, let alone have a meal.

Translate: "Some people couldn't help but gather near the Heavenly Family manor, but as expected, they couldn't even get through the gate, let alone have a meal."

Others ran back home and immediately activated their formations, hoping to hide from the smell.

Translate: "Others ran home and directly activated their formations, hoping to hide a bit."

But once the formations were activated, they discovered that the aroma could not be blocked at all—it kept seeping into their noses, leaving them dazed by the fragrance.

Translate: "But after activating the formations, they discovered that the aroma could not be blocked by them either; it kept seeping into their noses, leaving them dazed by the fragrance."

For a moment, everyone in the city had their cravings stirred up.

Translate: "For a moment, everyone in the city had their cravings stirred."

Some clever folks realized that the kitchen was hopeless—Ye Changqing's personally cooked dishes weren't something just anyone could get a chance to eat.

Translate: "Some savvy ones realized there was no chance at the Fire Room; the food personally prepared by Ye Zhangqing is not something just anyone can get a chance to eat now."

As a second‑best option, many people headed straight for the cafeteria.

Translate: "As a second choice, many people simply headed straight for the canteen."

The cafeteria founded by Ye Changqing has long since changed beyond recognition; it now has branches in all the major cities of the immortal realm, and this Heaven‑Beyond Immortal City is no exception.

Translate: "The canteen founded by Ye Zhangqing has long since changed beyond recognition; major towns throughout the Immortal Realm have branches, and the Immortal City Beyond the Heavens is naturally no exception."

Usually it's already packed with people, but right now it's a sea of humanity.

Translate: "Usually it's already packed with people, but now it's an even greater sea of humanity."

The line had already stretched out onto the street, and there were still plenty of people rushing to join.

Translate: "The queue had already stretched out onto the street, and even more people were still on their way."

Everyone was craving it desperately, which is why they rushed to the cafeteria.

Translate: "Everyone was craving desperately, which is why they rushed to the canteen."

In the past, to save money, I wouldn't eat more than a few times a month, but today I just can't hold out—this damned city‑wide aroma makes it unbearable if I don't put something in my mouth.

Translate: "In the past, to save money, one wouldn't eat more than a few times a month, but today I simply can't bear it—this city-wide aroma makes it unbearable not to put something in your mouth."

this damned city-wide aroma

Those at the front of the line have already managed to buy the cafeteria's dry rations.

Translate: "Those at the front of the line have already bought the canteen's dry rations."

What surprised everyone, though, was that the cafeteria's dry rations hadn't gone up in price at all—they're still the same as usual.

Translate: "However, what surprised everyone was that the canteen's dry rations had not increased in price; they remain the same as usual."

This came as a great surprise to many cultivators; given today's crowds, even if the price were raised, plenty of people would still be scrambling to buy.

Translate: "This came as a great surprise to many cultivators; given the crowds today, even if the price were raised, plenty of people would still rush to buy."

Yet the cafeteria hasn't raised its prices by a single cent.

Translate: "Yet the canteen hasn't raised its price by a single cent."

Actually, since Ye Changqing founded the cafeteria, the dry rations it sells have indeed been expensive—quite expensive.

Translate: "Actually, since Ye Zhangqing founded the canteen, the dry rations it sells have indeed been expensive, and still are very expensive."

But there's never been any talk of temporary price hikes; all prices are clear and fixed, regardless of how many people are there or when.

Translate: "But there has never been talk of a temporary price hike; all prices are clear and fixed, regardless of how many people there are or when it is."

On the contrary, the city's other taverns, unable to resist the aroma's allure, are also packed to capacity today.

Translate: "On the contrary, the city's other taverns, unable to resist the aroma-induced cravings, are also packed to capacity today."

But more than half of those taverns are price‑gouging, hiking their rates compared to normal by outright multiples.

Translate: "But more than half of those taverns are price‑gouging; compared to normal days, their prices have directly doubled."

This has caused many customers to lash out in anger, yet there's nothing they can do about it.

Translate: "This has caused many customers to lash out in anger, yet there's nothing they can do."

Although the spiritual food served at those taverns can't even compare to what the cafeteria offers.

Translate: "Although the spiritual food served at those taverns simply cannot compare to the canteen's."

But the problem is that the cafeteria is so packed you can't squeeze in at all; left with no choice, they just grab a quick bite somewhere else.

Translate: "But the problem is that the canteen is so crowded you can't squeeze in at all; with no alternative, people just find another spot to grab a quick bite."

Even while smelling this city‑wide aroma, they can't help swallowing it down.

Translate: "Even while smelling the city‑wide aroma, it's not that they can't swallow."

But raising the price by multiples is truly sickening.

Translate: "But raising the price by multiples is truly sickening."

All the taverns inside the city are packed to the rafters, while outside, the two Xiāntiān rénzú Old Ancestors, after a brief moment of shock, slowly came to their senses.

Translate: "All the taverns in the city are overflowing, while outside the city, the two Xiāntiān rénzú Old Ancestors, after a brief moment of shock, slowly came to their senses."

They then remembered their purpose and hurriedly cupped their fists toward the guards on the city wall.

Translate: "Then they remembered their purpose and hurriedly cupped their fists toward the guards on the city wall."

"Please inform the lord of the city that we two have a matter we wish to discuss."

Translate: "\"Please, fellow cultivator, inform the authorities; we two have matters we wish to discuss with the city's leader. \""

Seeking shelter, they naturally showed no arrogance, completely unlike the previous two men and women.

Translate: "Seeking shelter, they naturally had no arrogance, completely unlike the previous two men and women."

But at this moment, the guards on the city wall were themselves dying of craving, so facing the request of the two Old Ancestors, they had no inclination to deal with it.

Translate: "But at this moment, the guards on the city wall were also ravenous with craving; facing the request of the two Old Ancestors, they had no inclination to deal with it."

Moreover, the palace lord and his entourage are busy waiting for their meal—who has the time to attend to these affairs?

Translate: "Furthermore, the Palace Master and others are busy waiting for their meal right now; who has the time to attend to these matters?"

Even if there were something, they'd have to wait until after the meal to talk about it.

Translate: "Even if there were business, they'd have to wait until after the meal to talk about it."

Immediately, the leader spoke with a blank expression.

Translate: "Immediately, the leader spoke with a blank expression."

"Right now it's mealtime; the palace lord is occupied, so any matter can wait until after we've eaten."

Translate: "\"Right now it's mealtime; the Palace Master is occupied, so any business can wait until after the meal. \""

Huh???

Translate: "Huh???"

Hearing that, the two Xiāntiān rénzú Old Ancestors were both taken aback—"There's a mealtime? You guys don't practice breath‑fasting?"

Translate: "Upon hearing that, the two Xiāntiān rénzú Old Ancestors both stared, surprised: \"There's a mealtime? Don't you guys practice inedia? \""

We need to keep the quoted speech.

As for the Xiāntiān rénzú, they practically begin breath‑fasting from birth, drinking at most a little milk; as they grow older, basically a one‑ or two‑year‑old child automatically enters the Qi‑Refining stage and then starts breath‑fasting.

Translate: "As for their Xiāntiān rénzú lineage, they basically practice inedia from birth, drinking at most some milk; as they grow older, even one‑ or two‑year‑old infants naturally enter the Qi Refining stage and then cease eating."

Indeed, among the Xiāntiān rénzú there isn't even a concept of breath‑fasting, since many of them have never eaten anything from childhood onward.

Translate: "Even among their Xiāntiān rénzú people, the concept of inedia doesn't really exist, since many have never eaten anything from childhood onward."

Just inhaling and exhaling the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is enough.

Translate: "Just breathing in and out the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is enough."

And yet the Human Race here still needs to eat meals? This is truly novel—I've never encountered anything like it.

Translate: "But the people here, the human race, still need to eat? This is truly novel; I've never encountered it before."

the Human Race here

Still strange as it may be, the two Xiāntiān rénzú Old Ancestors dare not question it; they can only chalk it up to regional differences in custom.

Translate: "Still, strange as it is, the two Xiāntiān rénzú Old Ancestors dare not question it; they can only chalk it up to regional customs."

Maybe the Human Race here just enjoys eating meals; it's not impossible, but what's the benefit of eating that stuff?

Translate: "Maybe the Human Race here simply enjoys eating; it's not impossible, but what good does eating that thing actually do?"

However, the smell of it is fragrant.

Translate: "However, the smell of it is fragrant."

He was stunned for a moment, then one of the elders immediately asked again.

"May I ask, fellow Daoist, when will this Fàn diǎn end?"

At present, the steward hasn't been seen yet, the two ancestors naturally cannot give up, this is seeking a way of survival for the clansfolk behind them.

If it doesn't work, then their situation will only become more difficult, so no matter how difficult it is, we must give it a try.

Isn't it just waiting for the meal to finish? They're just waiting.

Upon hearing that, the guard on the city wall didn't even think and directly replied.

"Have you smelled the aroma?"

"I've smelled it."

"Wait for the scent to fade, then it should be about over."

Huh???

Immediately, the two ancestors of the Xiāntiān rénzú had no choice but to wait patiently outside the city.

They have no intention of opening the door, and the two of them don't dare to force their way in; they already caused trouble before, and if they come again now, there might really be no hope left.

Therefore, even when facing those guards whose cultivation and strength are far inferior to their own, the two ancestors can only endure patiently, with no thought of forcing their way in at all.