Chapter 6: Abundant Harvest

Watching the senior brother slurp noodles heedlessly, oil dripping from his mouth, the two girls drool.

Coupled with that irresistible aroma, they even more regret not having done so earlier.

Why did I agree to him, sob sob............

Junior Brother Changqing, really none left? Just one bowl—can we have one?

Unable to hold back, the younger girl pulled Ye Zhangqing into a bout of coquettishness; the soft touch from her arm felt pleasant, but Ye Zhangqing still shook his head.

Senior Sister, really none left—why don't you come earlier this afternoon?

He absolutely refuses to work overtime; even beauty is useless. Though the girl is unwilling, she can do nothing about it.

After the meal, everyone washed their own bowls; this too is Ye Zhangqing's rule.

In his previous life, Ye Zhangqing already dreaded washing dishes, and even after transmigrating, it remains the same.

As for this, the many senior brothers have no objections; with such delicious food before them, washing a bowl is trivial.

Even while washing bowls, many people call out.

Helping wash bowls—one bowl of noodles means washing bowls for three days.

Senior Brother, I'll wash for you; for tonight's stewed noodles, just let the junior disciple have it.

Get lost, I'll wash it myself.

Watching everyone go to extremes for a bowl of stewed noodles, Ye Zhangqing smiles.

After finishing washing and putting things away, the disciples reluctantly left, leaving only Ye Zhangqing alone in the courtyard.

Actually, although Ye Zhangqing is a menial disciple, his workload isn't heavy; two meals a day finish his work, and the rest of his time is free to arrange.

Just then, the system's notification sounded.

【Host received one positive review, reward: physique +1, cultivation +1.】

【Host received one positive review, reward: talent +1, cultivation +1.】

【Host received one positive review, reward: foundation +1, cultivation +1.】

【Host received one positive review, reward: comprehension +1, cultivation +1.】

【Host received one positive review, reward:........................】

Dense with dozens of notifications, Ye Zhangqing's cultivation surged like rising water, directly breaking into the entry level of the Body Refining Stage and reaching minor accomplishment in the Body Refining Stage.

Open the panel.

【Host: Ye Zhangqing.】

【Identity: Dao Yi Sect Menial Disciple.】

【Cultivation: Body Refining Stage Minor Accomplishment (23/200).】

【Reputation: Obscure and Unknown.】

【Talent: Lower Medium Grade (70/100).】

【Foundation: Lower High Grade (41/100).】

【Comprehension: Upper Medium Grade (28/100000).】

Cultivation successfully broke through; although talent and foundation haven't broken through, they're not far off—another day or two should see them break through.

After all, at noon only over forty disciples came to eat.

Feeling the growing strength within him, Ye Zhangqing nodded in satisfaction; having bound the system less than half a day ago, he already succeeded in breaking through his cultivation.

You should know, the previous owner trained for a full year just to break into the entry level of the Body Refining Stage, whereas now he reached it in half a day.

In the afternoon there was nothing much, so Ye Zhangqing planned to cultivate a bit.

The Body Refining Stage mainly focuses on forging the flesh, eliminating internal impurities, making the body more in tune with heavenly and earthly spiritual energy, preparing for later absorption of spirit into the body.

On the path of cultivation, each major realm is interlinked; the Body Refining Stage lays the foundation for the Spirit Sensing Stage, and the Spirit Sensing Stage likewise lays the foundation for the Meridian Opening Stage.

Sensing the heavenly and earthly spiritual energy, to prepare for later using spiritual energy to cleanse the meridians.

Therefore each realm must be built step by step, laying a solid foundation; only then can one go further.

For Body Refining Stage cultivation, the best method is to use Body Refining Pills together with medicinal baths.

Ye Zhangqing still had a few Body Refining Pills; after swallowing one, he soon felt a surge of heat coursing through his body.

Knowing this was the effect of the Body Refining Pill taking hold, this heat was the medicinal power cleansing his flesh.

Generally, the higher one's talent, the better they retain the medicinal potency; the lower the talent, the more the potency is wasted.

This is why, with the same resources, those with high talent progress much faster than those with low talent.

However, after just one heavenly cycle, Ye Zhangqing felt the medicinal effect of the Body Refining Pill disappear.

This is damn absurd—others need at least three to five heavenly cycles for one Body Refining Pill, and even outer door disciples start at ten cycles, yet here it's gone after just one cycle?

It means that from one Body Refining Pill, Ye Zhangqing absorbed at most one-tenth of its efficacy, the other ninety percent wasted.

What the hell is this cultivation? Even taking ten Body Refining Pills only equals one pill for others, and it's not a simple additive matter—there are many complexities.

In short, his talent truly isn't suited for cultivation.

This is why cultivation looks at talent—it's not enough to have perseverance; if talent is lacking, even relentless day-and-night training ends up meaningless.

Because a mortal's lifespan is only a few dozen years; you may have perseverance, but do you have enough time?

You should know that the three foundational realms—Body Refining, Spirit Sensing, and Meridian Opening—hardly increase lifespan at all; only upon reaching the Golden Core Stage does lifespan greatly increase.

If your talent is poor, you cannot cross the three basic foundations in your lifetime, leaving only waiting to die.

The previous Ye Zhangqing was the same, but now it's different; after cultivating for an afternoon, his talent hasn't improved much, yet he's not discouraged—having cheated, what's there to fear? Just hang on.

Checking the time, it's time to prepare dinner—still stewed noodles.

This time, even before mealtime, many disciples rushed to the kitchen; they were the ones who had come to eat at noon.

After tasting Ye Zhangqing's stewed noodles, upon returning, everyone could hardly sit or stand still, that bowl of noodles constantly on their minds.

After finally checking the time and seeing it was about right, they hurried over without delay.

Smells great!

When the first batch of senior brothers arrived, Ye Zhangqing hadn't even finished stir-frying the sauce yet, but the aroma permeating the courtyard still made everyone's mouths water.

They stood one by one in the courtyard, craning their necks toward the kitchen, just waiting for that bite of braised noodles.

The sauce was done, and he set the pot to boil water.

Ye Zhangqing, we'll take care of these chores.

I'll fetch water.

I'll go chop firewood.

I'll tend the fire.

Without Ye Zhangqing saying anything, everyone voluntarily took care of these chores, just so they could quickly get a taste of that braised noodles.

Ye Zhangqing could only smile helplessly.

Shī xiōng, don't worry, it'll be ready soon.

All right, all right, we're not in a hurry.

Drool dripping from their mouths, they nodded repeatedly, but their appearance was utterly unconvincing.

Not long after, the other senior brothers also arrived, hearing shouts before even entering the courtyard.

Brothers, charge on—if we're late we won't get to eat Ye Zhangqing's braised noodles!

What Shī xiōng said is right—if we're late, there won't be any left.

A group rushed into the courtyard, only to see more than a dozen people already waiting there; everyone was stunned, then filled with regret—damn, we're still late.