Chapter 650

I never expected these three old-timers to offer such a generous gift right away.

But Ye Zhangqing clearly understands that they're doing this simply to get him to join the Spirit Chef Alliance.

Over the past few days, Ye Zhangqing has also discussed these matters with Qi Xiong and Hong Zun.

Actually, whether he joins or not isn't a big deal; after all, the alliance's nature is completely different from a sect's, even looser than a merchant guild.

Seeing the three alliance leaders, Ye Zhangqing invited them to sit down and then spoke seriously.

"I have no objection to joining the Spirit Chef Alliance; I just wonder what requirements the alliance will have for me after I join."

No objection, but there are a few things I should say upfront.

Hearing this, the three alliance leaders' faces lit up with joy, and they couldn't help but speak excitedly.

"Young friend Ye, rest assured—joining the alliance will impose no restrictions on you, and the alliance will also regularly provide cultivation resources, various ingredients, and other benefits."

"As for Young friend Ye, he only needs to lend a hand when the alliance needs help; of course, the alliance won't ask him to do anything difficult."

"Even our Spirit Chef Alliance could ally with the Dao Yi Sect and become eternal allies."

To get Ye Zhangqing to join, the three have shown ample sincerity.

There's no way around it—the Pill Master Alliance, the Armorer Alliance, and the Talisman Seal Alliance all have Saint-level figures presiding over them.

Only their Spirit Chef Alliance has never produced a Saint-level Spirit Chef, let alone having one preside over it.

This has left Spirit Chefs in Zhongzhou in an awkward position.

And now Ye Zhangqing's appearance has given the three alliance leaders a glimpse of hope—a Saint-level Spirit Chef, and it seems even more than that.

But even if he's merely a Saint-level Spirit Chef, he's crucial to the alliance.

With Ye Zhangqing, the Spirit Chef Alliance could grow significantly in a short time, possibly breaking previous shackles and truly standing on equal footing with the Pill Master Alliance.

So, as long as the request doesn't violate their bottom line, the three alliance leaders can agree.

Hearing their words, Ye Zhangqing nodded in satisfaction—as long as he isn't restricted.

As for lending a hand, Ye Zhangqing can understand that.

You enjoy the benefits they provide, so when needed you naturally ought to contribute your own strength.

There's no such thing as a free lunch; if you want to gain something, you must certainly pay.

Without further hesitation, Ye Zhangqing immediately nodded and said.

"Good, then I'll join the Spirit Chef Alliance."

"Good, good, good—Young friend Ye, rest assured, the Spirit Chef Alliance will absolutely be your strongest backing."

"Yes, yes, yes—all Spirit Chefs in Zhongzhou will henceforth take Young friend Ye as their leader."

The three are so excited for another reason: Ye Zhangqing is the only one who could possibly guide them to break through to Saint-level Spirit Chef.

It can be said that Ye Zhangqing is now the guiding light for all Spirit Chefs—and that's no exaggeration.

After receiving the reply, the three immediately invited Ye Zhangqing to visit the Spirit Chef Alliance—to announce this publicly and to obtain the Chiyang Heavenly Flame.

At that time, the three old-timers will personally help Ye Zhangqing refine it.

Regarding that, Ye Zhangqing didn't say much, only indicating he'd need to consult the Sect Master first.

The three repeatedly nodded in agreement.

But just as Ye Zhangqing and the three alliance leaders were chatting happily, in Hong Zun's room we saw Hong Zun with a grim expression; before the teleportation array disk stood a girl clad in a gold robe, beautiful and noble‑looking, speaking with a dim countenance.

"Master, I am unfilial; please just pretend you never took me as your disciple."

Upon hearing this, Hong Zun's mouth twitched in anger.

"Rebellious disciple, damn it, a bunch of rebellious disciples—I've lived an upright life, yet every disciple I've taken turns out to be a damn two‑faced traitor; as for master‑disciple bonds, you say you don't recognize it, then you don't."

He shouted angrily at the girl on the other side of the formation, but she gave no reply—she merely remained silent, head lowered.

Finally she bowed deeply, after which the formation's connection was cut off.

Seeing the formation cut off, Hong Zun flew into a rage, his fury blazing, to the point he could barely control his breath.

"Rebellious disciple, you say you don't recognize it, then you don't."

A terrifying aura shot up into the sky, instantly startling everyone; Zhao Zhengping, Xu Jie, Liu Shuang, Lu Youyou and the others rushed over at once.

Seeing Hong Zun with his hair standing on end from rage, they exchanged bewildered glances.

Shīzūn, what's wrong with you? Such a huge temper first thing in the morning? Did the madam upset her again?

A doubtful gaze turned to Wang Tieshu beside them; Wang Tieshu innocently shook his head and sent a spiritual voice transmission.

"It's Little Old Four, saying she wants to sever the master‑disciple bond with her husband."

"Huh? Fourth Junior Sister?"

"Has she gone mad?"

Everyone was stunned; Fourth Junior Sister has been away from the sect for a long time, and among the fellow disciples she's also the most mysterious.

Zhao Zhengping and the others only know that Fourth Junior Sister is from the Great Wu Empire of Zhongzhou, and supposedly she's a grand princess; beyond that they know nothing.

Before, she said she had family matters and hastily left Dongzhou.

How could she suddenly want to sever the master‑disciple bond?

"A bunch of rebellious disciples, are you trying to anger me to death? And you, Xu Jie—are you that naturally rebellious troublemaker?"

Huh???

The people who were still puzzled suddenly heard this and froze, especially Xu Jie, "What the hell did I do? Why is it me again?"

"What are you looking at? Did you do it?"

"Shīzūn, I didn't do anything."

Xu Jie was really dumbfounded—why is everything blamed on me? I've never even been in contact with Fourth Junior Sister.

"So it's you, Zhao Zhengping?"

"No, I swear on heaven and earth, Shīzūn—I didn't do it."

"What's the matter with that old fourth?"

"We don't know."

"A bunch of rebellious disciples, and you still want to hide it from me?"

"Shīzūn, we haven't................"

The fourth junior sister provoked Shīzūn, but in the end it was Zhao Zhengping and Xu Jie who first got a violent beating from Hong Zun.

That showed no mercy at all, beating them until they screamed.

On the other side, in the imperial capital of the Great Wu Kingdom, inside the palace, Lin Luochen, who had severed the Formation, had no light in his eyes, and the whole person walked out of the great hall like a walking corpse.

Seeing her appearance, the maid who had been guarding outside the hall hurried forward to support her.

"Your Highness, be careful."

"What........ did he say?"

"Your Majesty........ His Majesty ordered the princess to prepare early, to depart in three days."

Upon hearing that, the maid lowered her head and spoke cautiously.

And Lin Luochen gave a bitter smile, originally thinking that by fleeing here and heading to Dongzhou, he could escape his fate.

But in the end he realized that all of this was merely his own delusion.

Many things are predetermined from birth; wanting to break free, to escape, is nothing but futile effort, a foolish fantasy.

As a member of the imperial family, she bears this responsibility, and this is also the fate that the Great Wu royal family has never been able to escape.

Lin Luochen had already resigned himself to fate; his heart as dead ashes, only when thinking of the Dao Yi Sect would a glimmer of color appear in his eyes.

"Shīzūn must be flying into a rage right now."

Thinking of how Shīzūn had just scolded him, Lin Luochen felt a warm feeling in his heart; although it was a rebuke, in his view it was the gentlest care in the world.