Spirit Rice

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A timekeeping bell suddenly rang out in the courtyard.

Its sound spread through the entire Outer Disciple Courtyard.

Su Bai looked toward the source of the bell in confusion.

Zhou Chang explained at just the right moment, "At the rising sun and at each of the day's three meals, the bell will ring on time."

"So in the Outer Disciple Courtyard, you needn't worry about losing track of time while cultivating in seclusion. The sect has considered everything for you; the entire routine is extremely regular."

Su Bai nodded slightly. "Senior Brother Zhou, then this is the bell for the evening meal?"

"That's right." Zhou Chang nodded.

At that moment, the magic array outside the courtyard rippled. After the bell sounded, a plump Labor Disciple dressed in gray pushed open the courtyard gate and entered on schedule, wheeling in a cart loaded with food boxes.

The cart appeared quite heavy, and the Labor Disciple seemed to struggle as he pushed it.

"Senior Brothers, today's evening meal has arrived," the plump Labor Disciple announced.

As soon as he spoke, waves of spiritual power came from the doors of Rooms 2 and 3.

Two Outer Disciples around Su Bai's age emerged from within.

Zhou Chang waved them over. "Perfect. Let's get acquainted. This is Su Bai, who arrived at the courtyard today."

After Zhou Chang's introduction, Su Bai learned that the occupant of Room 2 was Zhang Yanshen, while the one in Room 3 was called Li Daniu.

Both were New Disciples who had joined Courtyard 32 over the past few days.

Under the influence of Zhou Chang, a Housekeeping Disciple of good character, the atmosphere in the courtyard was quite pleasant.

The two of them took the initiative to greet Su Bai.

Su Bai also cupped his hands to them and addressed them as Senior Brothers.

"Let me see what side dishes we have today."

After greeting him, Li Daniu swallowed hard and strode toward the cart.

Zhang Yanshen, standing to one side, shrugged helplessly. "What a disgrace to cultivators."

"Be understanding. Before entering the Immortal Sect, Junior Brother Li came from a poor family." Zhou Chang smiled and led Su Bai and Zhang Yanshen toward the cart.

Once they reached it, Zhou Chang introduced the food to Su Bai. "The sect provides Outer Disciples with Spirit Rice. This is one of our benefits as Outer Disciples."

"Spirit Rice?" Su Bai was slightly curious.

Zhang Yanshen explained in his stead, "Spirit Rice is a special grain that contains Spiritual Energy. Only cultivators can grow it, and eating it benefits cultivation."

"Although its benefits are not as obvious as those of Cultivation Spirit Pills, it can be eaten every day. Over time, it is greatly beneficial to the cultivation of Low-Level Cultivators like us."

Su Bai nodded in understanding. "I see."

By then, the lid atop the cart had already been opened.

"There are currently four Senior Brothers in Courtyard 32, so there are four large boxes of Spirit Rice."

The Labor Disciple first carefully took out four large boxes of Spirit Rice and distributed them among the four of them.

Spirit Rice had to be grown by cultivators, so its supply was naturally rationed.

The side dishes, on the other hand, were all Mortal Items and came in many varieties, so Outer Disciples could choose freely.

Zhou Chang and Zhang Yanshen only took Spirit Rice and no side dishes.

They believed cultivators ought to cast aside sensual desire. Spirit Rice was Cultivation Materials, so it was another matter, but even tasting ordinary dishes was a waste of time.

Li Daniu was different. No matter what the dish was, he grabbed five boxes of side dishes in one go.

"Senior Brother, would you like a food box as well?" the Labor Disciple carefully asked Su Bai, the newcomer. He still had to deliver meals to other courtyards.

Su Bai did want to sample the skills of a Cultivation Sect's cooks. "What dishes are there?"

"Braised Tiger Meat, Iron-Eating Beast Hock, Koi Box..." the Labor Disciple listed the dishes.

"I'll take an Iron-Eating Beast Hock," Su Bai said.

"Coming right up." The Labor Disciple selected a food box and handed it to Su Bai.

"I'll take my leave now, Senior Brothers." After saying that, the Labor Disciple pushed his cart out of Courtyard 32.

Watching the Labor Disciple leave as the array closed again, Zhou Chang sighed. "These Labor Disciples have it hard too."

"Who would have thought that even after possessing Spirit Roots and joining a Cultivation Sect, they would still need to serve as laborers?"

Zhang Yanshen shook his head slightly. "With their Spirit Roots, if they want to join a major sect like the Jade Mist Sect, they have to give something in return."

"If they joined some Small Sect, I can't say they would have it better than here, but at least they would not have to be Labor Disciples."

"Still, the Jade Mist Sect has already given them a good enough opportunity. As long as they Condense Spiritual Power and advance to Qi Refining Layer One, they can be promoted to the outer sect."

"That threshold is already very low. The Jade Mist Sect's mountain gate has Abundant Spiritual Energy; even a Five Elements Spirit Root Cultivator should be able to successfully reach Qi Refining Layer One in three to five years."

"At that point, the treatment of Jade Mist Sect Outer Disciples is not something ordinary Small Sects can compare to."

Zhang Yanshen saw everything with perfect clarity.

"Alright, Junior Brothers, shall we eat together as usual?" Zhou Chang invited them.

"With pleasure."

"I'll follow your lead."

There were several stone tables beneath the bamboo, more than enough even if each person took one for himself.

This was where Courtyard 32 had eaten before.

Li Daniu had many food boxes, so he occupied one table alone.

Su Bai and the other two sat together at a table beside his.

Su Bai opened his food box. The Iron-Eating Beast Hock had been braised beautifully. When he bit into it, it was soft and glutinous, and the flavor was quite good.

This thing had been eaten so heavily in the mortal world over the past few years that it was nearly extinct. Even in the Yan Kingdom Imperial Palace, it was only served a few times.

But for a Cultivation Sect unafraid of Demonic Beasts, venturing deep into the mountains to catch a few Iron Eater Beasts for food was extremely easy.

Su Bai then opened his box of Spirit Rice.

The instant the lid came off, a wave of Spiritual Energy rushed into his nostrils.

Every grain of Spirit Rice in the bowl was crystal-clear.

Like pearls, they emitted a faint glow.

Su Bai took a deep breath and felt a gentle current of Spiritual Energy flow through his nasal cavity and into his body, instantly refreshing him.

Su Bai scooped up a spoonful of Spirit Rice, blew on it gently, and put it into his mouth.

In an instant, a warm, gentle current of Spiritual Energy melted across his tongue and flowed down his throat into his body.

The Spiritual Energy transformed from the Spirit Rice was like a trickling stream—gentle yet not lacking in strength—as it slowly nourished Su Bai's body and meridians.

Su Bai felt warm all over, as though every pore of his body was breathing in Spiritual Energy.

"Good stuff!"

Su Bai could not help speeding up. A full box of Spirit Rice disappeared into his stomach in barely two minutes.

Although Su Bai had once been a Prince, he had lost his virginity at a young age, causing severe essence depletion and leaving his body frail beyond measure.

If it had been ordinary rice, his previously weakened body likely would have struggled to eat even one-fifth of it.

Spirit Rice truly was extraordinary.

Zhou Chang was the first to finish his Spirit Rice. "The hour after eating Spirit Rice is the most beneficial for cultivation. Hurry and cultivate. All of you have Three Spirit Root talent; only by reaching Qi Refining Layer One within a month can you be considered outstanding!"

The three Disciples of Courtyard 32 obediently returned to their rooms to cultivate.

Su Bai sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion in his room. Following Zhou Chang's earlier instructions, he entered a meditative state and circulated his cultivation technique, drawing the Spiritual Energy within and outside his body into himself to clear his hundred meridians.