Chapter 314
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Chapter 314: Li Yian
The weather in the mountains was unpredictable. Just moments ago, the sky was painted with a splendid evening glow, but in the blink of an eye, dark clouds gathered, and thunder rumbled ominously.
Raindrops the size of beans pattered down on the black toad tent.
The black toad tent was one of the magical tools commonly used by cultivators for camping outdoors. Crafted from the skin of black toads that had grown for over fifty years, it was normally only the size of a hand, but when activated with spiritual energy, it could rapidly expand to several feet in size.
This special tent could withstand extreme cold and heat, had excellent wind resistance, and was impervious to water and fire, so every cultivator in the expedition team carried one, ensuring they had their own space when setting up camp at night.
Wang Chen lit the Obsidian Lamp and hung it on the tent’s support frame.
The black toad tent had eight support rods made from the toad’s backbone—thin and lightweight yet incredibly strong.
The soft light evenly illuminated the space within.
Outside, thunder crashed and heavy rain poured down, which clearly highlighted the value of this small private space.
Wang Chen pulled a charcoal stove from his storage bag.
The charcoal stove resembled a coal stove from his past life, serving the same function; however, instead of coal balls, the charcoal stove used wood charcoal as fuel.
It was said that the charcoal stove was simplified from an alchemy furnace, later improved for convenience, allowing ordinary people to use it for outdoor cooking.
Wang Chen snapped his fingers, igniting the charcoal inside the stove.
This charcoal was kiln-burned, made from over a hundred years old camphor wood, burning without smoke and producing a strong flame, while also giving off a pleasant aroma.
As the charcoal began to burn, Wang Chen placed a double-handled copper pot on the stove.
Next, he added fresh water and seasonings, creating a soup base to his liking, then took out choice meats, river fish, tofu, vegetables, fried crumbs, and pig skin…
Many cultivators, after breaking through to open a house, no longer consumed meat.
They often absorbed the purple aura of the morning and the moonlight at night, taking yellow essence and ganoderma to meet their bodies’ needs.
This significantly reduced the impurities within them, benefiting their cultivation.
But Wang Chen was different; his practice of the Heavenly Dragon Vajra True Method required a large amount of food rich in spiritual energy and blood essence for nourishment. Even if his cultivation level did not further improve, he needed those spiritual foods to maintain his realm.
Otherwise, his physical strength would decline.
Moreover, there was one crucial point: although Wang Chen was gradually forgetting everything from his past life, the genes of being a citizen of the great Food Empire were firmly etched in his soul.
Even if he were reborn countless times, it would not disappear!
Wang Chen believed that even if he refined his Golden Core and formed his Yuan Ying, he would still enjoy the pleasures of food.
Cultivating should be about living freely and happily, not about shackling oneself!
The rich soup in the double-handled copper pot bubbled and whispered enticingly.
Wang Chen took a deep breath, picking up his ivory chopsticks.
Sizzle!
Just as he was about to indulge, the tent’s entrance curtain was suddenly flung open from the outside.
“Fellow traveler Wang!”
In the next moment, a graceful and tall figure darted in.
Wang Chen, a bit annoyed, put down his chopsticks and asked, “Fellow traveler Li, what brings you here?”
The newcomer sat down opposite him, his eyes sparkling like stars as they fixated on the bubbling pot on the charcoal stove, revealing a mouth-watering expression. “Fellow traveler Wang, you are really too unkind, hiding here all alone to enjoy a feast!”
Wang Chen was both amused and embarrassed. “We’re not having a grand feast; how can cooking for myself be considered unkind?”
The cultivator sitting across from him wore a sky-blue robe, with skin as white as snow and features like a painting. His delicate nose and cherry lips revealed dimples, and although he was dressed as a man, his stunning beauty could not be hidden.
With his hair tied in a bun and a long sword on his back, he carried an air of heroism.
Li Yian, a male cultivator at the initial stage of the Purple Palace, had an unclear background and age.
In the Mountain Crossing Society’s expedition team, the number of female cultivators was quite small, and Li Yian, as a second-grade Purple Palace cultivator, was undoubtedly among the best, often drawing attention.
Due to his extraordinary beauty and poise, some of the Purple Palace cultivators in the team openly and covertly expressed their interest in him.
On the path of cultivation, there are teachers, friends, and partners; the term “partners” refers to those closest to one, including one’s companions.
The journey of cultivation is long, and friends and teachers may not accompany you to the end, but a partner can.
Outstanding cultivators like Li Yian are welcomed and pursued wherever they go! Everyone loves a beautiful person, and Wang Chen was no exception.
However, he admired Li Yian without any desire to be his admirer.
Love would only slow down his cultivation speed!
Strangely, Li Yian treated others coldly but looked at Wang Chen with a different perspective.
Throughout the journey, he had approached Wang Chen repeatedly.
Wang Chen was puzzled.
The expedition team had over a hundred Purple Palace cultivators, and his cultivation level was insignificant among them.
Right now, Wang Chen was using a true appearance that was just slightly better than an average person; he wouldn’t even consider himself handsome.
As for his background, he had even less to boast about.
The question arose: why would Li Yian favor him?
If he liked someone unique, he could easily find other Purple Palace cultivators!
But if Li Yian had ulterior motives, Wang Chen’s powerful soul and keen intuition would surely sense it.
It felt like he was genuinely attracted to Wang Chen!
Wang Chen didn’t think he had such charm.
He didn’t even possess a charm attribute!
Li Yian, with a firm tone, replied, “If you don’t invite me to eat, that’s just unkind!”
He waved his delicate hand, and suddenly, two jars of spiritual wine appeared beside the charcoal stove. “You invite me for hot pot, and I’ll treat you to Hundred Flower Brew. How about that?”
What could Wang Chen say? He silently took out a new pair of ivory chopsticks and handed them to him.
Hundred Flower Brew was a second-grade spiritual wine, and the price of a cup was worth more than the entire feast of food ingredients.
In any case, Wang Chen was benefiting from it.
Li Yian accepted the chopsticks, happily picking up a thin slice of magical beast meat and dipping it into the boiling rich soup for a few moments. Then, unapologetically, he took some sauce prepared by Wang Chen.
“Hmm~”
The beautiful cultivator’s eyes curved into crescent moons as he smiled, showing his dimples. “Fellow traveler Wang, you are the most gluttonous cultivator I’ve ever seen!”
Wang Chen shook his head, reached for a jar of Hundred Flower Brew, and poured a cup for both himself and Li Yian.
The Hundred Flower Brew, filled with the essence of a hundred flowers, emitted a fragrant aroma bursting with spiritual energy, warming him from the inside out.
On such a rainy night, with delicious food, fine wine, and beautiful company, even Wang Chen’s rock-solid will couldn’t help but entertain some romantic thoughts.
Unable to resist, he asked, “Why?”
Li Yian smiled gently, “Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?”
Wang Chen shook his head. “Forget it.”
It was just a chance encounter; after passing Yulong Mountain, they would part ways. Why seek unnecessary troubles?
He was being too sentimental.
