Chapter 279

Ao Ling nodded; she was literate, and this poem was simple and easy to understand.

Could the aroma of this dish really be so powerful as to tempt even a Buddhist into breaking precepts and eating meat? The Buddhist Sect forbids meat, after all!

Ao Ling was utterly shocked, but in the end she still chose to believe — after all, this came from Master's own hands!

With Master's cooking skill, anything is possible.

Chen Nuo, who was handling the ingredients, paused and said, "A guest has arrived; go receive them."

This early? Ao Ling was a little surprised, but she did not hesitate.

"Yes."

"Peng Brother, this Chaos Residence looks much better than before."

Xiong Dao Ren looked around, his face full of admiration.

Tianpeng frowned and rebuked him in a low voice.

"What nonsense!

When was Shopkeeper Chen's Chaos Residence ever not good-looking? Before it was called simple and weighty; now it is noble and elegant.

They are fundamentally incomparable."

Tianpeng's face didn't redden and his breath didn't quicken.

Xiong Dao Ren scratched his head foolishly and said with a hearty laugh, "What Peng Brother says is absolutely right."

Walking out from the back kitchen, Ao Ling saw Tianpeng and Xiong Dao Ren; she was not frightened by Xiong Dao Ren's true black bear form, but rather stunned by that mismatched yellow Daoist robe.

She pursed her lips, barely suppressing a smile: "Welcome, what would you like to eat?"

This was what Master taught her to say when guests arrived.

Looking at the pretty woman before him, Tianpeng was deeply puzzled.

"Who are you? Where is Shopkeeper Chen?"

"Master is cooking in the back kitchen."

Ao Ling explained.

Master? Tianpeng's mouth gaped wide, an expression of utter disbelief.

"Shopkeeper Chen has taken another disciple?"

Ao Ling nodded and explained, "I am Ao Ling, Master's newly accepted Recorded Disciple."

Her words naturally revealed a trace of pride — not pride in becoming Chen Nuo's disciple, but pride in having such a powerful and peerless Master.

"Ao Ling!

You are of the Four Seas Dragon Clan?"

Tianpeng cried out in surprise.

Although she did not understand why Tianpeng reacted so strongly, Ao Ling still nodded and explained, "I am the daughter of the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea."

Hu!

Tianpeng let out a long breath; as long as she wasn't from the South Sea, it was fine.

He had taken ten Golden Immortal treasures from the South Sea Dragon King; the South Sea side probably hated him to death by now.

Tianpeng's face instantly switched to a beaming smile; he cupped his hands and said, "I didn't know Elder Sister Ling had come; please forgive my offense."

"Your cultivation is higher than mine; why call me Elder Sister?"

Ao Ling was very puzzled.

She couldn't sense Tianpeng's cultivation at all; everyone who could come here had never been an ordinary person.

It was imaginable that her own cultivation was not as high as this burly fatty before her.

Tianpeng waved his hand, still wearing a fawning air: "As long as they are Shopkeeper Chen's disciples, males are called Elder Brother, females Elder Sister — no problem."

Ao Ling: "..."

In the East Sea she was still the youngest dragon, yet here she could actually become an Elder Sister.

Ao Ling knew this had nothing to do with her; it was entirely Master's prestige.

"You stupid lump, not a shred of discernment — hurry up and greet Elder Sister Ling."

Seeing Xiong Dao Ren standing there motionless, Tianpeng reached out and smacked his bear head in exasperation.

"Greetings, Elder Sister Ling."

Xiong Dao Ren came back to his senses and said with a silly grin.

He had just been carefully examining the layout of this Chaos Residence, natural yet imbued with profundity.

He had used the Profound Heaven Array Armor Divine Communication, yet still couldn't see it clearly.

From this it could be seen that Shopkeeper Chen's attainment in formation arrays and geomancy was even higher than his, who had inherited Divine Communications — truly worthy of being Shopkeeper Chen!

Xiong Dao Ren secretly admired him; originally he only revered Tianpeng most, but now he had to add another person.

Looking at the massive Black Bear Spirit, Ao Ling's eyes held a hint of astonishment; she couldn't fathom this bear's cultivation either.

But seeing one person and one bear acting so obsequiously, Ao Ling felt a bit helpless — inexplicably she had gained two little followers.

Because he had witnessed Sun Wukong's power and cooking skill, Tianpeng knew full well the potential of Shopkeeper Chen's disciples.

Even if Ao Ling had just entered the sect, even if she wasn't a pure-blooded Dragon Clan member.

Under Shopkeeper Chen's instruction she could still undergo a qualitative transformation.

"Elder Sister Ling, where are Ox Brother and the others?"

His eyes rolling, Tianpeng asked about the whereabouts of Ox Demon King and Peng Demon King.

Ao Ling frowned, a little puzzled, "What Ox Brother?"

She had only seen beef, ox bones and such at Master's place.

"It's Ox Demon King, of course!

"Chaos Residence, aside from Shopkeeper Chen and Ling Jie, could there really be no one else?"

"No.

"

Ao Ling shook her head.

When she arrived, the shop only had Master, and although she had heard the great name of the Ox Demon King like thunder in her ears, she was indeed the most renowned great demon king of the Demon Race.

A flash of astonishment crossed her eyes: "He also came to Master's shop?"

Tianpeng nodded his head, explaining: "Not just the Ox Demon King, but also the Peng Demon King; the two of them previously worked as miscellaneous laborers at Chaos Residence."

Rubbing his chin, Tianpeng pondered: Could it be that they performed their work too poorly, and were dismissed by Shopkeeper Chen? Tianpeng nodded his head, indeed this possibility exists.

After all, demon kings are usually big and rough; who would carefully do chores?

Shopkeeper Chen wouldn't care about what status; that bit of power to him is like a thin sheet of paper—one poke and it breaks.

Titles and such are even more like floating clouds.

Demon kings as miscellaneous laborers—Ao Ling wore a look of surprise; this is too strong, isn't it? That Ox Demon King is a renowned Taiyi Golden Immortal-level powerhouse, yet here he can only fall to being a miscellaneous laborer.

Then her father, with early Taiyi Golden Immortal cultivation, coming here wouldn't even qualify as a miscellaneous laborer—Ao Ling couldn't help but sigh, only able to say: truly worthy of Master!

Everything unbelievable at Master's place becomes reasonable and proper.

Ah!

Tianpeng felt a slight disappointment.

The past few times he came to Chaos Residence to dine, he always chatted happily with the Ox Demon King and the Peng Demon King.

These two demon kings of fearsome reputation were not as cruel and violent as the Three Realms legends say; they are both principled demons, and now they can also be considered acquaintances.

Originally intending to come today for another hearty drink, he didn't expect everyone to have left.

"Ling Jie, how is your cooking skill?"

Xiong Dao Ren suddenly spoke up coldly.

Ling Jie is Shopkeeper Chen's apprentice; surely her cooking skill must also be superb!

After all, Peng Ge said that in cooking, Shopkeeper Chen's apprentices are also top-tier.

"My cooking skill?" Ao Ling pointed at herself in surprise, a flash of embarrassment crossing her face.

"I only just became Master's disciple not long ago.

Now I'm only practicing some basic knife skills; I haven't formally learned cooking yet."

Ao Ling did not pretend to be fat by swelling her face; instead, she spoke truthfully.

"That's not right."

Xiong Dao Ren let out a soft "yi": "Peng Ge told me that Shopkeeper Chen's apprentice's cooking skill is indeed superb."

Hearing this, Tianpeng became so angry he wanted to slap Xiong Dao Ren flying.

Didn't you hear people say they just became disciples? How could one learn everything all at once? You're treating Shopkeeper Chen as if his Divine Power Awakening? He glanced sideways at Ao Ling's face, inwardly relieved—good thing there was no change.

Ao Ling was not annoyed, smiling slightly: "You're talking about Wukong Senior Brother, right?"

"Wukong Senior Brother's cooking skill is indeed superb; he is still the head chef of the Heavenly Court's Imperial Kitchen."

Ao Ling said proudly.

In her heart there was no imbalance; if it weren't for Wukong Senior Brother's recommendation, she fundamentally could not have, nor did she have the qualification to become Shopkeeper Chen's disciple.