[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-immortal-food":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-immortal-food-lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-108":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Lord of the Immortal Food",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2313231,4524,"Chapter 108: Chapter Eleven: The Martial School","lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-108",108,"\u003Cp>August 16.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Pei Ye opened his eyes on the bed, he saw the old, gray wooden beams laid straight and level across the ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a familiar sight brought comfort, as if nothing had happened, and the storm that had crushed the city had been only yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But upon closer thought, these past ten days had been packed with too many complex events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye rolled out of bed; no matter how desperate the situation, it would eventually pass, and when all settled into peace, those left behind must still walk their own paths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jinqiu Martial Competition in Bowang Province would begin on September 7—only twenty days away—and he needed to start preparing seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was no stranger to the name of this grand event; on his very first day at the martial school, his masters had told him: being chosen to compete in the provincial “Three Competitions” was the highest honor a small-town martial school could achieve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the Divine Capital’s martial examination was held in early summer, Bowang Province held three statewide martial competitions each year—in autumn, winter, and spring—to determine three candidates for the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Pei Ye knew the name well, he had never truly understood the event, as it had always been unrelated to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday he had spoken with Master Huang, arranging to visit the martial school today for guidance, and decided to train there every day before his departure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Huang had taught at the school for over twenty years and trained more than a dozen students who competed in the Three Competitions—he knew this system inside and out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After breakfast, he planned to leave the black cat at home for quiet cultivation, but the cat leapt onto his shoulder. So Pei Ye took it along, grabbed his sword, then paused and picked up Zhanxin Liuli as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the past few days, whenever he had a spare moment, he removed the dragon blood from this sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And since the dragon blood had solidified into a cold blade, the energy it contained had grown far denser; its natural absorption of xuan qi for growth was already rapid, and now with occasional “supplements” added, the two tiny sprouts in his dantian had thickened noticeably over just a few days—he felt that in another two days, they might transform into two lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye placed Zhanxin Liuli into his sword sheath and slung it across his back, kicked the crooked, dilapidated courtyard gate upright and locked it, then strode toward the northern part of the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After turning through several alleys, he reached the main northern street, where the sign “Old Lu’s Wine Shop” hung steady and firm on the roadside, as if untouched by the disaster—in fact, the moment the rain stopped, it reopened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye lifted the cloth curtain; inside, the patrons were noticeably fewer, the earlier noise and bustle gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The familiar figure was still busy behind the counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye walked over: “Uncle Lu, two gourds of wine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! Little Pei! You’re safe too—good!” Lu Youcai looked up; though his two knife-like eyebrows instantly lifted, Pei Ye still caught their original drooping, heavy expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine. What about you, Uncle Lu? Did the rain hurt your family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fortunate—we’re all safe.” Lu Youcai sighed lightly. “But the wine I stored in the courtyard… ah, nearly forty barrels, a full year’s stock—all ruined.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah…” Pei Ye let out a soft sigh of regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He roughly knew Lu Youcai’s circumstances: not poor, but far from wealthy, living steadily off the small wine shop passed down by his father. Just days ago, Old Zhang’s wine shop had closed, which should have been Lu’s chance to expand—but now, with all stock destroyed, not only could he not grow, he couldn’t even recover his capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the entire coming year, Lu Youcai would have to scramble to piece together enough to support his family, and borrow money to brew new wine. But with the disaster just passed, how many households had spare funds?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No choice…” Lu Youcai sighed, extending his hand. “Where are your gourds?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lost. Give me two new ones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Looks like you’re not tight on cash anymore.” Lu Youcai chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter how tight, you still have to spend what you must and drink what you must.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true—outside, everyone’s still wailing. Do you know why I reopened my shop so fast?” Lu Youcai pulled two gourds from under the counter, rinsed them, then turned to pour wine, muttering, “Since I was a kid helping out in this shop, the neighbors of northern street have drunk here. Over thirty years—they’re used to it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So no matter what happens, I keep the shop open. When others see it, they know life still goes on, and they feel less afraid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Youcai turned, placed two full gourds on the counter, and sighed: “But I won’t be open much longer. Once these two barrels are sold, I’ll have to find another way to survive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—it’s not a time when people starve to death,” Pei Ye reassured him. “You’ll make it through the year. When the new wine comes out, things will improve.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes… that’s true.” Lu Youcai let out a long sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re already doing well, Uncle Lu—your family is safe! Isn’t there a saying? If you’re blessed, you lose money; if you’re cursed, you lose yourself.” Pei Ye smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn! Brat!” Lu Youcai laughed and scolded. “You’re turning it back on me now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh.” Pei Ye counted out coins from his pocket. “This time it’s eight cash—oh right, the gourds. How much for the gourds, Uncle Lu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Last time you said you were too poor to Sheqian , now you’re a hero of Fenghuai, still poor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still poor, Uncle Lu.” Pei Ye smiled. He was, in truth, looking at a bright future—but now Lu Youcai was the one in hardship, so he refused to take advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Youcai rolled his eyes. “Poor your old man—I can’t even afford you? Get out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye smiled helplessly, put the coins away, picked up the two gourds, and took his leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he walked through more streets and alleys until he reached the North Bridge, where the boundary of frost damage ended; beyond it, the martial school had been spared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye arrived at the school gate and saw it wide open. Looking up, he immediately spotted Master Huang seated under the eaves, reading two pages of official documents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Huang!” Pei Ye called. “Why is there no one here today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These days, parents are reluctant to let their children go out. But we’ve agreed—tomorrow, training resumes.” Master Huang looked up at him briefly, then returned to his documents. “I just got the provincial martial competition documents from Constable Chang—this year, for the first time in years, no one from our school made it to the provincial level.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll restore our reputation.” Pei Ye walked over and handed Master Huang a gourd of wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true—but only wine? Bring some snacks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not for drinking now—isn’t this about the Jinqiu Martial Competition?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Talking doesn’t stop you from drinking.” Master Huang stood up, shuffled back inside, and soon returned with a bowl of peanuts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boiled this morning.” Master Huang set the documents aside, popped two peanuts into his mouth, and mumbled, “Let me think where to start.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye sat beside him, opened the sword sheath, placed his hand on Zhanxin Liuli, and began drawing out the dragon blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my! What’s this?!” Master Huang’s body lurched forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just a little thing. Hey, tell me first—then I’ll show you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine…” Master Huang pulled back his wide-eyed stare, yet couldn’t help glancing again. “Damn, it’s beautiful…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank you to Boss Kakteen for the tip!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1295,"2026-06-20T13:17:09.438Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c51f7da23df679f61a2e212ec94d4561a26acbe5edf6cd982cb3228f31f08acb","lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-109","lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-107",771,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-immortal-food-cover.jpg"]