Chapter 46

The early‑morning canteen remained a throng of heads, with many disciples employing every means for a bowl of stewed noodles.

Disciples with high cultivation relied on superior body techniques to seize spots, while lowly Menial Disciples competed on time, arriving early to wait outside the courtyard.

Thus, among the crowd, some Menial Disciples still managed to get breakfast.

The same stewed noodles as before, but this time, upon tasting them, the Menial Disciples' eyes widened instantly.

They could clearly feel their physiques strengthening.

「Holy shit, these noodles.......... 」

「Is this actually eating noodles? I feel like I'm holding a bowl of Body‑Refining Pill. 」

「Or rather, a especially tasty Body‑Refining Pill. 」

If before it was merely an irresistible deliciousness, now this bowl of stewed noodles is practically a treasure, at least for Menial Disciples at the Body‑Refining stage.

Even for Outer Door and Inner Door Disciples the effect isn't huge, but while enjoying the tasty food they can still improve a bit—who would refuse such a boon?

Noticing this change, many disciples became even more frenzied.

This isn't just deliciousness; it truly does help cultivation.

After eating a big bowl of noodles, the disciples were still wanting more, but since the crowd grew, getting seconds was completely impossible—just getting a serving was already a blessing.

「Junior Brother Ye Zhangqing, your cooking's gotten better. 」

「Exactly, not only is the taste better, but the effect is also different from before. 」

Facing the disciples' praise, Ye Zhangqing smiled and nodded.

「As long as you Shī xiōng like it. 」

After breakfast, Ye Zhangqing found Hong Zun; seeing this, Hong Zun already knew his purpose and smiled as he spoke.

「You kid, your cultivation speed is unmatched. 」

At a glance, Hong Zun saw that Ye Zhangqing had broken through the Meridian‑Opening Realm, and even he was stunned.

He pointed a finger, just like last time, and a Meridian‑Opening Realm cultivation method appeared in Ye Zhangqing's mind.

It was called the Nine Meridians Technique, its grade likewise reaching Middle Tier Heavenly.

「Thank you, Peak Master. 」

「You kid, you were offered to become an Inner Disciple but refused, insisting on staying in the canteen. 」

Facing Ye Zhangqing's thanks, Hong Zun laughed and scolded; Ye Zhangqing likewise replied with a smile.

「I'm afraid even if I agreed, the senior brothers and sisters wouldn't agree either. 」

Upon hearing that, Hong Zun glanced around at the nervous‑looking disciples; it was obvious they were worried about where they'd get meals if Ye Zhangqing became an Inner Disciple.

After all, if Ye Zhangqing really became an Inner Disciple, he couldn't possibly still cook for them.

As for the Menial Disciple status, who on Divine Sword Peak still regards Ye Zhangqing as a Menial Disciple now?

Facing the disciples' tense gazes, Hong Zun laughed and scolded.

「That's true; if I really forced you to become an Inner Disciple, this bunch of brats would probably rebel. 」

After breakfast ended, many disciples left, and Ye Zhangqing also began his daily Xiūliàn.

Xiūliàn resources were nothing to worry about; many senior brothers and sisters gave plenty, and so did Hong Zun.

In short, Ye Zhangqing now has no need to worry about Xiūliàn resources.

Even Xiao Bai was eating Body‑Refining Pills like candy, there were too many to do anything about.

Ye Zhangqing was the same; although Body‑Refining Pills now do little for him, they still taste good and can continue to strengthen his physique—idle, having a bit does no harm.

Of the same grade, however the Nine Meridians Technique is considerably harder than the Bright Heart Technique.

It took Ye Zhangqing a whole day just to barely get started, but getting started was enough; afterwards the system will improve on its own.

No need to worry about thresholds or bottlenecks; this is what makes Ye Zhangqing feel most at ease.

Over the next few days, Ye Zhangqing's life returned to calm again, proceeding in an orderly fashion.

But the number of people coming to the canteen each day kept growing, after all all the disciples knew about it; such a commotion at mealtime could hardly be hidden.

Some Inner Sect Elders living on the mountain peak also became regulars at the canteen.

Looking over the entire Divine Sword Peak, the only ones who haven't yet come to the canteen are the Senior Brother and the Fourth Senior Sister.

The Fourth Senior Sister has always been away from the sect, out on tempering.

As for Senior Brother Zhao Zhengping, his mind is filled only with Xiūliàn; he stays behind closed doors all day, not interested in outside affairs, and due to his own personality he also has never come to the canteen.

Besides those two, whenever Fàn diǎn arrives, the entire Divine Sword Peak becomes like a battlefield—intensely fierce.

Starting from the mountain summit, streams of figures rushed down the mountainside like madmen, various body techniques pushed to the extreme, occasionally paired with some petty tricks.

Especially after the Inner Sect Elders joined in, the competition became even more fierce.

Don't think those Inner Sect Elders are just old‑generation strongsters; when they scramble for spots they are the very picture of vigor in old age—young disciples are not only weaker in strength, they also have fewer tricks.

Ginger is still spicy when old; in terms of tricks, these old fogies surely have the upper hand.

This is easy to see from Hong Zun—when has he ever come to the canteen empty‑handed? Every time he secures a spot, never missing.

But this has caused great suffering for many disciples.

Not only Menial Disciples, but even Outer Door Disciples and Inner Door Disciples now, with a moment's carelessness, can end up empty‑handed, getting nothing to eat.

After all, each meal only serves a thousand; no spot means no food.

Another fierce struggle unfolded; at the front were Hong Zun and the mass of Inner Sect Elders, followed shortly by Liu Shuang, Xu Jie, and Lu Youyou, these three Inner Disciples, then behind them came the Outer Door Steward, Inner Sect Disciples, Outer Door Disciples, and Menial Disciples.

Many who failed to secure a spot looked ahead with resentment, unable to stop themselves from complaining.

「What a bunch of beasts—how can their body techniques be so fast? 」

「Not just body techniques—just now someone used Binding Hand to suck me in; how could their tricks be so foul? 」

「Damn it, I haven't eaten in three days—do these beasts know nothing of yielding? What happened to the Dao Yi Sect's tradition of virtue? 」

「Bah, yielding—better to just cultivate properly; I've heard lately many people are risking everything in their Xiūliàn, just to have a better chance when scrambling for spots. 」

Who could have imagined that, just to eat, Divine Sword Peak from top to bottom was thrown into an uproar.

Whether inner sect, outer sect, or even menial disciples, they all began cultivating desperately, the only reason being to get a bite of mess hall food and be able to snatch a better spot.

Now, all disciples of Divine Sword Peak, aside from eating, have practically nothing left but cultivation; each one so diligent it's simply despair-inducing.

But there's no choice; if you don't work hard, you won't even get a mouthful of rice, and can only watch others eat while you drool on the side.

A disciple sighed.

"Damn, it's getting harder and harder; I just want to eat a bite of rice."