Chapter 208: The Dao of Cooking

"Master, Xiao Qi has told me everything. Thank you, Master, for your care of Xiao Qi during these days." Hu He's eyes were as alluring as silk, and her face flushed slightly as she spoke; having the same master as her own daughter still made her feel a bit shy.

She had already verified it: after becoming Lin Bai's disciple, her speed in absorbing the Spirit Qi between heaven and earth had indeed increased by fifty percent. This immediate effect made her believe everything the little white fox had said, including the laws.

At this moment, in her eyes, Lin Bai had evolved into a peerless expert, and the Justice Alliance had become the most formidable hidden sect.

Being captured by sects like the Beast Taming Studio and forced to be a pet was unacceptable.

But the fact that her family could rely on such a powerful sect filled Hu He with anticipation for the future.

The most crucial point was that she could not feel even a shred of malice from Lin Bai.

Even if Lin Bai had directed people to catch her from the mountain forest, she now felt it was only right and proper. The mountain forest was so vast; without using some methods, how could they have found her family?

As for the things Lin Bai had done, from the little white fox's perspective, they were all self-inflicted by others. Lin Bai had always been kind to others, and everything he did was to save the world. Lin Bai hadn't even punished those bad people, and had even established the Justice Alliance to guide them toward goodness...

Returning evil with virtue.

There was no one in the world more noble than Lin Bai.

Being able to follow such a person was her honor, and the honor of her entire family.

"Young Master, we also want to take you as our master."

"Young Master, please accept us; we are very obedient."

"We also want to undergo Form Manifestation like Xiaobai..."

Six little foxes surrounded Lin Bai, chirping and calling out.

In name, they were the older brothers and sisters of the little white fox, but in reality, they were born in the same litter.

To be precise, they were septuplets.

Born of the same mother.

They looked almost indistinguishable, all covered in soft, snow-white fur without any impurities, forming a sharp contrast with the foul-smelling Demons outside.

"My comprehension of the Law of Masterhood is not yet profound enough; taking you as disciples would be of no benefit to your cultivation. When my cultivation level improves, I will take you as disciples."

Lin Bai looked at the little white foxes circling him, his tone gentle. He did not dislike these little fellows. Although their cultivation was not high, they would absolutely never betray him, and that was enough.

Lin Bai now had a large household and a big business; what he lacked were his own people to manage things.

Moreover, he relied on Puppets to fight now; if it came down to disciples and pets going into battle, it would probably have collapsed long ago.

With his reputation, who would dare to bully this group of foxes?

Even if someone did bully them, given how cute they looked, the players would risk their lives to protect them.

Therefore.

Compared to Loyalty, things like cultivation level were the least important.

"If it doesn't increase cultivation, can we still become disciples?" Hu San asked timidly.

"The Teacher Dao has strict requirements for disciples. Indiscriminately taking disciples is of no use to my cultivation," Lin Bai glanced at him and said sternly.

"Then when Young Master's cultivation improves, you must remember to take us as disciples!" said Hu Si.

"Hmm," Lin Bai nodded.

"It's a deal." Hu Yi blinked, his tail swaying behind him.

"It's a deal," Lin Bai smiled.

"Young Master, can we undergo Form Manifestation?" Hu Yi asked shyly.

"..." Jiang Qingqin watched Hu Yi pushing his luck and couldn't help but frown.

One little white fox was already eyeing her man all day long, trying to snatch him away. Now there was Hu He, with natural charm that even she found a little bit tempting. If a few more like Xiaobai kept pestering Lin Bai, with so many people dividing his attention, would she still be able to cultivate the Love Dao?

After all.

Lin Bai had said that to love him, one must love everything about him—to be pure and selfless!

But she couldn't do that.

Was she destined to have no connection with the divine ability of the Love Dao for the rest of her life?

"The Transformation Pill is too precious to be bestowed upon you so easily. But since your family is reunited, I will give you one for the sake of Xiaobai. The rest depends on your performance. If you perform well, everyone will have a chance at Form Manifestation." Lin Bai did not refuse Hu Yi, but instead set a requirement.

This group of foxes was like children, with no ulterior motives; it was perfectly normal for them to ask for things from people they were close to, but he did not want to cultivate the mindset of getting something for nothing in these fellows.

The reason he gave them a Transformation Pill was because Lin Bai needed a newly manifested Demon to provide motivation for the Beggar Sect players, and besides, he really didn't have that many Transformation Pills left!

The system had only rewarded him with three Transformation Pills in total.

He still had to keep one in reserve, so he only had one he could take out.

The fox form was obviously not as suitable for getting things done as the human form, but now... it was necessary to start grinding the tasks for the shelved Pet System.

Of course.

The tasks for the Divine Doctor System could also be ground.

Perhaps when the time came, he could analyze the ingredients of the pills and refine them himself.

"Only one!" Hu Yi was somewhat disappointed.

"Ahem!" With a light cough, Hu He's face sank, and the chirping little foxes immediately went quiet. She looked at Lin Bai apologetically, "Master, I haven't disciplined these children strictly enough in the past. Please do not hold it against them. In the days to come, I will teach them. In this disciple's opinion, there is no need to give them a Transformation Pill. Let them follow Xiao Qi and do what they can; whoever earns merit, Master can reward them!"

"Mother!" Hu Yi was stunned, tears instantly welling up in his eyes, "I didn't mean that, I..."

"Shut up," Hu He scolded.

"It's alright, it's the nature of children," Lin Bai smiled and took out a Transformation Pill, handing it to Hu He. "I do not go back on my word. You see which child is suitable, and let it undergo Form Manifestation! Regarding the Form Manifestation, I have only one requirement: keep the ears and tail like Xiaobai."

"..." Hu He was stunned.

Jiang Qingqin pouted.

"Mother, listen to Master!" the little white fox smiled. "Master says that keeping the ears and tail better aligns with our Charm Technique. This is the future trend for the Demon Race, warning us that even if we transform into humans, we must not forget our roots."

"Oh." Hu He took the Transformation Pill, lost in thought, and said nothing more. Having cultivated for a thousand years, she had long seen that the Form Manifestation with ears and tails was clearly Lin Bai's personal preference and had nothing to do with any talent trends. But following such a powerful person, how could she not pay a price?

And.

Lin Bai seemed to carry a light about him, making her unable to help wanting to draw close, and she simply could not say a word of refusal.

"Dare I ask, Master, what can we do on a daily basis?" Hu He asked.

"You are new here and unfamiliar with the affairs of the Justice Alliance. In your spare time, follow Xiaobai around more to understand the temperament of the Heavenly Descended and the general structure of the Justice Alliance. Usually, cooperate with the Heavenly Descended of 'Justice Weekly' to do some publicity, striving to attract more of the Demon Race, preferably the Hu Clan," Lin Bai said. "The Ninth Ancestor of my Justice Sect is skilled in the Divination Technique. Before I came down from the mountain, he once told me that for millions of years, the Demon Race has struggled to survive. Now that the Heavenly Descended have arrived in the world, the Demon Race can take advantage of the trend to rise. Although they cannot replace humanity, they can earn a place for the Demon Race, and the Hu Clan can become the kings of all demons."

The little white fox's eyes suddenly lit up.

Jiang Qingqin looked at Lin Bai in astonishment, and in a trance, she understood the reason why he gave special preferential treatment to the Hu Clan.

"Master, is this true?" Hu He's breathing was a bit rapid.

"The theory of Heavenly Dao is full of variables, but the predictions made by the Ninth Ancestor have mostly come true so far," Lin Bai smiled. "Human effort is the decisive factor."

Heavenly Descended, Transformation Pill, Heavenly Dao Laws, the Way of the Master...

All kinds of things she had never heard of before flashed through Hu He's mind in an instant. She seemed to have realized something and nodded heavily: "I understand, Master."

"Of course, the above are not important." Lin Bai looked around at the group. "The most important thing is to assist me in the practice of the Fazhe Zhidao. The Justice Alliance was cobbled together by me temporarily; most people are not of one mind with me, and some even wish for me to have an accident."

"After all, if I die, it won't have any impact on them. Without my constraints, they would be even more at ease. But you are different. Your lives and fortunes can be said to be tied to mine—if I suffer, you suffer; if I prosper, you prosper. Once I have an accident, none of you will be spared. Therefore, helping me cultivate is more important than anything else."

"I understand," Hu He said solemnly.

"Master, I will also always stand by your side," Jiang Qingqin hurriedly declared.

"Mm." Lin Bai glanced at her, nodded, and then looked at the little white fox, saying, "Xiaobai, you have been by my side the longest and are most familiar with the laws. In your spare time, explain them to your mother and the others."

"Mm." The little white fox nodded earnestly.

"... Big Bear, after your Form Manifestation, you are rough and burly, looking like a fierce and wicked god. When fighting others, the enemy will naturally raise their guard to the highest level, fearing to be hurt by you. But, what if you turn into a Beast-Ear Girl? Who would be on guard against a cute and adorable Beast-Ear Girl? Perhaps they might even want to come over and pat your head. At that moment, you suddenly give the enemy a claw—wouldn't they die without even knowing how they died?"

"You should have heard of us Heavenly Descended, right? Undying and Indestructible, Baimaicutong. Give us time, and in the future, we will be the most terrifying existence. Following us means you will have no worries for the rest of your life. Moreover, we are not like those inhumane guys from the Beast Taming Sect who treat you as combat tools. We cherish you exceptionally; we will spend money to buy you pills and equipment. It can be said that we treat you as partners and family, and it is even possible that we won't need you to fight. Think about it, isn't it much more comfortable than your life in the wilderness? We have given you such generous treatment, only asking you to change your image—that's not too much to ask, right!"

"Why can't you understand? The Beast-Ear Girl is a trend. In the future, every Heavenly Descended will have a Beast-Ear Girl. If you are so stubborn, in the end, no one will want you, and you will be treated by others as tools to practice Martial Art and Dao Method. Don't you think such a fate is very pathetic? Don't think I'm fear-mongering. The Heavenly Descended are Undying and Indestructible, and the meaning of our existence is to find fun. If we can't get the joy of a Beast-Ear Girl, we will get the joy of slaughter from you. Two paths are laid out before you. As a smart bear, making the right choice shouldn't be difficult, right!"

It takes about a day or more to travel from Qian City to the Chaoyuan Sword Sect.

The journey was dull and boring, but the addition of several demons allowed the players to find new toys.

A large group of players was keen on persuading them to accept the Beast-Ear Girl form, not hesitating to use coercion, inducement, and even self-deprecation. Especially after Hu San took the Transformation Pill and also turned into a cute Beast-Ear Girl, it stimulated them even more.

The players' enthusiasm was even higher.

Little did they know, the more attentive they were, the more unmoved the several demons remained.

They had already been tempted by the pills before, and even planned to just stall the players and get the pills first.

But after hearing about the players' Undying and Indestructible trait, their hearts all went cold.

They couldn't compete with them in growth or cultivation. If they went back on their word in the future, who knows what kind of torture they would suffer? It would be better to resist to the end; perhaps they could still find a glimmer of survival.

Especially when they saw the Beast-Ear Girl that Hu San had turned into, they became even more resistant.

It was too shameful; that was simply being a plaything, okay!

They had cultivated for at least a thousand years and were all Demon Kings who occupied their own territories. To ask them to pose and act like little girls—what kind of decorum is that?

Moreover, looking at how attentive these guys were, after they transformed into Beast-Ear Girls, who knows what disgusting things they would experience?

As dignified Demon Kings, a scholar can be killed but not humiliated!

The players were obsessed with "bending" the several burly demons, tireless and unwearied. It was not just to satisfy their own fun, but also for that damn desire to win...

There is nothing more fulfilling than this. Isn't playing games all about turning the impossible into the possible?

The players found things to do, and Lin Bai was not idle either. Why not grind quests when there is such great time?

Facts have proven that there is no useless system. Rewards that cannot be used in this place might play a decisive role at some critical moment.

The people from the Blood Shadow sect quickly gathered ten rare ingredients for Lin Bai.

Many hands make light work. Catching a few wild beasts in the mountains and forests is not difficult for these Golden Core cultivators.

To add some fun to the journey, they even specifically caught some Demon Beasts that had not yet opened their wisdom. After all, for cultivators, the meat of Demon Beasts is more nourishing.

The Chef God System's judgment of rare ingredients was very folk-oriented: bear paws, tiger tails, leopard gallbladders...

When these ingredients were placed in front of Lin Bai, the system quest was automatically completed, and Lin Bai mastered the magical skill of food that glows.

To test what specific effect this so-called "food that glows" had, Lin Bai personally took charge and prepared a sumptuous meal on the Hundred Flower Shuttle.

The moment the dishes came out of the pot, the light filling the sky pierced through the clouds, actually giving people a magical effect like a treasure being unearthed.

Both the players and the natives were shocked by the glowing dishes.

"What happened? A new skill?"

"It's not a skill; it's the food Shopkeeper Lin made that's glowing."

"This is f*cking ridiculous. If I didn't know I was playing a game, I would even think I was watching a gourmet anime. It's too f*cking exaggerated!"

"What kind of stuff has the Justice Sect collected! From the time we met Shopkeeper Lin until now, except for the Dragon Subduing Palm at the beginning, the subsequent skills are one more indecent than the other. I'm impressed."

"Wrong, the Dragon Subduing Palm is also indecent. Those dragons are all incomplete. I suspect that is a product of the Incomplete Dao."

"Dead wrong. I think cooking is Shopkeeper Lin's main profession. Remember the Kitchen God Rice Divination? Shopkeeper Lin started from a restaurant."

"Remember the competition between Shopkeeper Lin and those chefs in Qian City? I f*cking thought that was Shopkeeper Lin's hobby. I didn't expect it to be a skill too."

"The Way of Cooking is actually real!" Xin Shang was dumbfounded, sweating profusely. His worldview suffered a huge impact once again.

Whenever he scoffed at Lin Bai's Fazhe Zhidao, Lin Bai would inevitably bring out some extremely exaggerated things to shock him, as if specifically to slap his face!

Combined with the various bizarre deeds of Lin Bai collected by the sect, Xin Shang no longer had any doubts.

The practice of the Fazhe Zhidao was one hundred percent real, and the method of practice was just that peculiar. He had to start seriously considering which law he should choose to cultivate.

Although the practice of the Fazhe Zhidao was absurd, compared to the cultivation they had struggled for hundreds of years to achieve, it was simply not too simple...

Moreover, having witnessed the perverted behavior of the Heavenly Descended these past few days, Xin Shang felt he had to keep up with the pace of the changing world.

Only Laws can deal with a pervert!

The Cultivators from the Evil Five Sects and Hundred Flowers Valley held the same thought; they could not help but believe, as Lin Bai kept telling them with one ironclad fact after another that the Laws were real.

……

"Longxi, I missed out on a treasure." Staring at the light soaring from the dishes, Deng Li Buduo turned pale, his lips trembling. "When Shopkeeper Lin taught me knife skills, I didn't take it seriously and chose the Dragon Subduing Palm, which is like a chicken rib. Damn it, I picked up a sesame seed and lost a watermelon! I never imagined that what Shopkeeper Lin taught me from the very beginning was a hidden Skill!"

(End of this chapter)