Chapter 235

Ao Ling nodded, even without deliberate cultivation she could reach Father King's long-held Taiyi realm; I suppose Senior Brother's cultivation time has also been quite long.

Thinking of this, Ao Ling spoke: "Senior Brother, your innate talent is exceptional; even with cultivation, after thousands of years you have reached such a level—I, your disciple, am in awe."

In her view, to become a Taiyi Golden Immortal, even with extraordinary talent, requires thousands of years; guessing that Senior Brother cultivated for several thousand years is already a high estimate.

After all, Master said Senior Brother is not diligent in cultivation.

"Wukong went from no cultivation to his present Taiyi Golden Immortal state in ten years."

Chen Nuo said lightly.

His tone held no pride or satisfaction, merely a simple statement.

"Ten, ten years?"

Ao Ling's face filled with shock, nearly jumping up.

She flicked her hand, directly striking the stack of bowls; the stack wobbled, threatening to topple, Ao Ling's heart pounded, and she hurried to steady it.

But she was still a step too late.

Ao Ling's face turned pale; before the bowls could fall, she hastily closed her Dragon King's Eyes, not even thinking to use her magical control.

Crack!

Clap!

A series of crisp sounds—oh no, Ao Ling's heart jumped; so many bowls, she would surely be punished!

If Master forbids her food for days, what shall she do?

In that instant, Ao Ling's mind flashed with thoughts of Master's punishments; yet none involved forbidding food as severely.

Not being allowed to eat is truly terrifying!

If Master punished her so, she'd surely be driven mad by starvation.

Seeing Ao Ling's frightened state, Chen Nuo shook his head helplessly; still wanting to grow stronger despite this disposition, he rubbed his brow and said: "Still keeping your eyes closed? Heard enough of the sound? Shall I fetch a few more stacks for you to smash for fun?"

Hearing this, Ao Ling cautiously opened her eyes; seeing the mess on the floor, she exhaled in relief, her eyes showing gladness.

"It didn't break?"

Ao Ling remarked in surprise; from such a height she expected them to shatter, yet not a single one broke.

"You wanted them to break?"

Chen Nuo was somewhat speechless.

"No, no."

Ao Ling shook her head like a rattle drum.

Seeing her disciple's obedient awareness, Chen Nuo smiled helplessly; the items in Chaos Residence, if he does not wish it, none can be broken.

This bowl looks porcelain, but if aimed at something hard, even a high-grade treasure cannot chop it, let alone a light drop.

He can freely alter the sturdiness of Chaos Residence objects by his will.

Seeing Chen Nuo showed no anger, Ao Ling hehe laughed; no punishment, no food deprivation—how wonderful.

Ao Ling then recalled what Chen Nuo had just said, her face showing disbelief, and hurriedly asked: "Master, is what you just said true?"

"Is Senior Brother really able to attain Taiyi Golden Immortal in ten years?"

Chen Nuo nodded: "Of course."

Good heavens!

Ao Ling widened her Dragon King's Eyes, stunned by this news—ten years to Taiyi Golden Immortal, this cannot merely be called exceptional talent.

Clearly, it is an unparalleled monstrosity; just how terrifying is Senior Brother's foundation? Foundation means innate talent; usually, innate foundation far surpasses acquired foundation.

Innate foundation—let alone ten years to Taiyi Golden Immortal, she had read in the Dragon Clan secret tracts that many contemporary masters, even Holy Persons, are born as Great Luo Golden Immortals.

Terrifying indeed.

But that applies to innate foundation; today's beings all have acquired foundation, and cultivation must progress step by step.

Senior Brother reaching Taiyi realm in merely ten years shows the terror of his talent.

"Master, how exactly did Senior Brother achieve this?"

"Could it truly be that talent decides everything?"

Chen Nuo shook his head, speaking against his conscience: "Of course not."

"Thus I tell you the importance of applying knowledge across domains."

"Your Eldest Martial Brother greatly loves culinary art; he studied it here for a full ten years, not only mastering culinary art but also, along the way, attaining Taiyi Golden Immortal cultivation."

"Now do you understand Master's painstaking efforts?"

Chen Nuo's smile was plain, bearing the air of an exalted person.

Wukong's growing stronger is indeed related to me, but this cultivation progress has little to do with me.

Sun Wukong, as the Heaven-Mending Stone, dwelling in merit, has long absorbed the essences of sun and moon.

The increase in cultivation speed is mostly his own profound accumulation leading to sudden breakthrough.

Sun Wukong's talent is mostly combat talent,

but Ao Ling does not know Sun Wukong's nature, nor can she let him speak recklessly; seeing Ao Ling shaken into deep thought, Chen Nuo nodded satisfied.

Now you should understand what is truly important—the system had him take disciples solely to teach culinary art.

If this Ao Ling remains fixated solely on cultivation, he will have to wait until the year of the monkey and horse for her to graduate, and how would he obtain the system's mysterious reward? "Master!

Do you mean that if I cultivate more diligently, I will surely surpass Senior Brother's cultivation progress?"

Ao Ling spoke with eyes full of hope.

This mental loop… Chen Nuo was utterly speechless; how could this disciple be so dead-headed? Is cultivation inseparable from him? "Obstinate and dull."

Chen Nuo gave a cold snort.

"Which of your Senior Brother's sword techniques in combat, or the divine abilities he awakened, can be separated from eating?"

"Cooking skill is your capital for becoming stronger."

"Being a chef may not be unable to change your longing for the Dragon Clan's current state."

Chen Nuo opened his mouth to speak.

"Is this really true, Master?"

Ao Ling let out a surprised exclamation.

A chef and changing the Dragon Clan's current state—no matter how you look at it, they don't seem to connect at all.

"Did you see how crazy those people were about the food just now?"

Ao Ling nodded excitedly: "I saw it."

Those people just now, each one of them, ate so eagerly they forgot themselves, and their attitude felt exactly the same as hers when facing Master's cooking!

Flocking like ducks!

Seeing Ao Ling's emotional fluctuation, Chen Nuo smiled slightly and delivered another potent remark: "Those people, four quasi-saints, two Great Luo Golden Immortals."

"Quasi-saint"

Ao Ling opened her mouth wide, somewhat incredulous: "Were those people just now all quasi-saints? Thinking back to her own earlier absurd behavior of guarding the crystal ball, Ao Ling couldn't help but shiver."

She, a mere Golden Immortal, actually dared to clash with quasi-saints—and wasn't even slapped to death—truly fortunate.

Before Ao Ling could react, Chen Nuo added: "As long as you follow me, study cooking diligently, and achieve mastery in cooking, you too will achieve the same."

"Eating is the most primal longing; if you cannot move them, it's not because others have strong willpower, but because your cooking skill hasn't reached perfection."

"Entering the Dao through cooking—this is the essence of my lifelong learning."

Chen Nuo guided patiently and skillfully.

"Think carefully: if you someday attain supreme cooking skill, even those of high cultivation will seek your favor for the sake of food, and the Dragon Clan's current state will also be readily resolved."

"Moreover, studying cooking will not hinder your cultivation progress; overzealous training only leads to diminished returns."

In order to change this foolish disciple's mindset, Chen Nuo has already begun speaking his mind freely.

After all, he was never good with words.

Ao Ling furrowed her brows, carefully pondering Chen Nuo's words, and thought, "Master's words make perfect sense!"

Strong strength is merely that of one person, but if one could master Master's culinary skill, it would be easy to befriend those stronger than oneself.

The Dragon Clan's problem could likewise be readily resolved.