[{"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-24":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},2313147,4524,"Chapter 24","lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-24",24,"\u003Cp>On the fifth day of the eighth month, the weather finally cleared; sunlight pierced through the clouds and flooded the small town, dissolving the damp chill that had lingered for two days. After the storm washed everything clean, the county of Fenghuai was lush with green grass and fresh air, eaves gleaming, tiles black, and the hazy distant mountains seeming much closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Pei Ye opened his eyes, he was in the county magistrate’s bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar yet strange sense of ease spread through his body—his limbs brimmed with coiled strength, each breath flowed freely to the very bottom of his lungs, and his chest and abdomen lay quiet and obedient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye stared blankly at the ceiling, taking long moments before realizing this state was called health.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat up with a straight back; the houses outside the window still lay in ruins, but the courtyard had been cleared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the door opened and the nimble boy bowed his head as he entered with tea, his eyes still red. He looked up and exclaimed, “Brother, you’re awake? I’ll go call the county magistrate right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye’s mind was still sluggish; he watched the boy set down the tea and leave before remembering to ask about the safety of the other boys who had fled in other directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rolled out of bed, his body clean and crisp. Pulling up his sweat-stained shirt, he saw his lower abdomen smooth and unmarked by any scar. The veins along his right forearm still pulsed with a thick, deep blue flame, and the surge of power made him clench his fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lifted the lid of the tea cup and looked down—his forehead’s fire talisman had vanished entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door opened again, and Chang Zhiyuan’s deep, calm face entered. The old man’s white hair was disheveled, his features weary, his left arm immobilized in a splint and suspended from his neck, as if it had not yet been properly treated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the upheaval, three of Fenghuai’s four officials were gone; only Chang Zhiyuan remained to manage the aftermath, and one could imagine the crushing weight of duties on his shoulders that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you rested well? Any discomfort?” The old man’s voice remained as low and gentle as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All better. Master Chang, how is things now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks to your divine might, the enemies were all slain last night. Masters Zhang Xiu and Zhao Yi arrived this morning; we’ve already inventoried the western cellar and are now wrapping up. The other six victims also survived. Three were maimed by the killer, but fortunately, Zhao Yi brought several precious pills and treated them promptly—they should all recover fully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye exhaled in relief: “That’s good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The prefecture has confirmed this is a heretical sect calling itself ‘Shu Shi.’ It was nearly eradicated fifty years ago and had been silent for years—never expected it to suddenly appear here.” Chang Zhiyuan leaned on the armrest as he slowly sat down, drained his tea in one gulp, “During your encounter with them, did you hear what their goal was?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye shook his head and extended his right arm before Chang Zhiyuan: “Turning the killer into me—that seems to have been their aim.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Zhiyuan said: “While you were unconscious, I had both masters examine you. Neither had any idea—does it hurt?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye shook his head: “No sensation at all. In fact, my strength has increased greatly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Zhiyuan frowned slightly and sighed: “Well, I understand nothing of such matters. But this case will certainly be transferred to the prefecture—let’s see what they say then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you have any plans for your future?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Plans? Not yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The path of martial cultivation is limited to sects, the military, or the court. Your dantian seems unusual now—sect affiliation is out of reach for now, but the other two paths remain open. I have a formal document right now recommending local talents for the Autumn Martial Competition at month’s end. You know, next year’s Divine Capital Martial Examination grants Bo Wang Prefecture three slots, and this Autumn Competition will determine the first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye froze, then realized—he was standing at the threshold of the moment countless martial cultivators across the land yearned for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chance he had dreamed of two years ago—to test himself against the strongest in the entire prefecture—suddenly lay before him. Before his mind could fully consider it, his body nodded: “Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Nothing else then.” Chang Zhiyuan smiled faintly, gently tapping his leg. “We’ll handle the rest of the affairs. Go rest for now. When the prefectural office and Immortal Platform arrive tonight, you’ll need to appear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm. If you have any thoughts, come to the county office anytime.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two walked side by side out of the county office. As Pei Ye turned to leave, Chang Zhiyuan slapped his forehead: “Oh, wait a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned back into the office and returned holding a sword and a basket. “Old age, sleepless nights—memory fades. Here’s your sword. And the pear tree in the back courtyard broke last night, scattering pears everywhere. Take a basketful—they’ll spoil if left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye took the spotlessly polished sword and the glistening, water-washed pears, and thanked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking five or six paces, a frail voice called out behind him: “Little Pei!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye turned. Chang Zhiyuan still stood on the steps, his posture slightly stooped. Seeing Pei Ye look back, the old man struggled to raise his left hand, clasp his right thumb, bowed low, and performed a deep, solemn bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pushing open the weathered wooden door, he saw a thin, rigid jujube tree standing in the courtyard. Since Pei Ye could remember, it had never borne fruit, and its withered, parched appearance matched perfectly the black-clad old man beneath it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After so many brushes with death, this day of reunion felt stretched long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandpa Yue.” Pei Ye called.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?” The old man lifted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye gripped the hilt and drew the blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The small courtyard fell silent. The old man’s body trembled violently. Pei Ye clearly felt the body’s instinctive reaction—perhaps twenty ways to counter this strike—but severed tendons and broken bones dragged that impulse back. The old man merely shuddered, then coughed twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you see it?” Pei Ye asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ice sky, jade night, flying snow; old geese reflect silver mirrors; white horses enter reed flowers.” The old man closed his eyes and smiled. “Good. That is precisely the first form.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye smiled happily too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have talent. This sword form is hard to enter—now that you’ve grasped the first, the rest will come easier.” The old man spoke slowly, “This sword has five sword intentions. You’ve understood ‘Fear of Lost Feathers.’ Next come the chill of bitter winter, the loneliness of separation, the stillness of snow-lit night, and the desperate flight from utter despair. Remember: sink your heart into the sword, and progress will follow…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye watched the old man, head held high, laboring yet enraptured as he described the sword art he had created in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye had always held a reverent, almost fearful respect for the old man’s past—but now that he truly understood the heart of this sword, he felt a sudden urge to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snowy night, flying geese—geese migrate in autumn. Why, then, was a lone goose flying in the sky during a heavy snowstorm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why had the old man created such a sword art? With such brilliance, how had he fallen into such a state? Was he still striving to fly, even now, in the coldest, loneliest despair? And where, in his heart, was the south?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Pei Ye swallowed his questions, waited quietly as the old man finished his teaching, took two pears to the well, washed them clean, and gave one to the old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back inside, Pei Ye picked up the small black bundle curled in the basket, staring into its clear, emerald eyes: “Is it you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kitten merely gazed at him quietly. The longer he looked, the more that stillness revealed a dullness—as if it lacked a soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye recalled He Chi’s words: “Not entirely.” Lacking the knowledge, he could not yet understand its current state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following instructions, he removed the bandages. The wound on its belly had healed completely. Pei Ye, amazed, reached out to touch it—perfectly restored, not a scar. But the softness of its belly made him reluctant to let go; he couldn’t help cradling it and rubbing it gently twice more.\u003C\u002Fp>",1426,"2026-06-20T13:17:09.438Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","98324f7b81c9008e681375369f68e171e9eae53c415bd9d70bc0a58f0540366b","lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-25","lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-23",771,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-immortal-food-cover.jpg"]