After the "study accident" uproar, Lin Shen's life became more and more comfortable.
The three masters thoroughly carried out the educational policy of "going with the flow and staying away from knowledge."
Nothing related to profound Dao arts could be seen anywhere on Kunlun Mountain Peak anymore.
In its place were all sorts of novel and interesting toys.
Tongtian Jiaozhu used his sword qi to carve an entire set of "spirit beast figurines" for Lin Shen.
From dragons, phoenixes, and kirins to mountain spirits and wild monsters, they were lifelike and could even move on their own.
The little azure dragon would dance around Lin Shen's wrist, while the little phoenix would chirp in his palm.
Yuanshi Tianzun, meanwhile, put his expertise in formations to use and built a massive "illusory realm maze."
Inside were mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, singing birds, and fragrant flowers.
Every day, Lin Shen rode Ink Qilin through it on adventures, having the time of his life.
Whenever they encountered little monsters in the illusion, Ink Qilin would even cooperate by roaring twice, making Lin Shen giggle with laughter.
Taishang Laojun was the most straightforward.
He transformed a small hill beside Eight Sceneries Palace into a "Hundred Herbs Garden."
It was filled with exotic flowers and rare herbs that were still young and lacked overly powerful Dao resonance.
Lin Shen could roll around inside, pull weeds, play in the mud—whatever made him happy.
Lin Shen had completely become a little rascal surrounded by love.
Of course, the "cooking competition" between the three masters did not stop because of this.
Instead, it only grew more intense.
This was especially true for Taishang Laojun and Tongtian Jiaozhu.
Ever since Yuanshi Tianzun's Five Flavors Immortal Mountain had dealt them a Dimensional Strike last time, both had been holding back their frustration, eager to erase their humiliation.
Tongtian Jiaozhu still followed his bold and unrestrained style.
But he began paying more attention to ingredient combinations and heat control.
He even went to the Sun Star and fought Di Jun and Tai Yi, his two "neighbors."
He snatched a wisp of Solar True Fire to use specifically for stewing soup.
This elevated his One Pot Wonder by several levels in both aroma and energy.
Taishang Laojun, on the other hand, threw the rigor and creativity he used in pill refinement entirely into culinary research.
That day, Lin Shen had just gotten himself covered in mud while playing in Hundred Herbs Garden.
Yuanshi Tianzun cast a Cleaning Spell on him, leaving him spotless, then carried him to the dining table.
Tongtian Jiaozhu and Yuanshi Tianzun had already set out their dishes.
Tongtian Jiaozhu's was a pot of golden, gleaming Solar True Fire Stewed Green Bird.
The fragrance had nearly condensed into tangible flames dancing around the pot.
Just smelling it made Lin Shen feel as though he were about to drool.
This time, Yuanshi Tianzun had not made any elaborate decorative dish.
Instead, he returned to simplicity and made Nine Treasures Glazed Rice.
It was steamed from nine kinds of spiritual rice with different attributes, and the rice displayed nine colors.
It was as crystal-clear as glazed glass, enough to whet anyone's appetite at first glance.
Just as Lin Shen was struggling to decide which to eat first, Taishang Laojun emerged from behind them with a smile.
He held a plain-looking little purple clay stew pot in his hands.
Its lid was tightly sealed, making it impossible to see what was inside.
"Big Brother, what did you make today?"
Tongtian Jiaozhu asked curiously.
"Why isn't there any aroma at all?"
Yuanshi Tianzun also cast him a puzzled look.
With Big Brother's abilities, even a bowl of plain porridge should have radiated countless rosy rays and auspicious vapors.
Yet today's dish was far too simple.
"Hehe, today's dish emphasizes one word."
Taishang Laojun smiled mysteriously.
He placed the little stew pot before Lin Shen, then gently lifted its lid.
At the instant the lid was opened!
There were no soaring rosy lights as expected, nor did a rich fragrance rush forth.
There was only a faint, elegant medicinal scent carrying an ancient aura...
Lin Shen curiously leaned his little head over and peered into the stew pot.
In the crystal-clear broth lay a little... fair and plump baby?
That little baby was about the same size as Lin Shen!
It had arms and legs, distinct facial features, and even an honest-looking smile on its face.
Its eyes were closed as it floated quietly in the soup.
Lin Shen's eyes instantly widened into perfect circles!
He nearly fell out of his baby chair.
Eeya! Are they going to make me eat a child?!
He looked at Taishang Laojun in terror, his little eyes full of accusation.
First Master, you've changed!
You used to only feed me pills, but now you're feeding me my own kind!
Tongtian Jiaozhu and Yuanshi Tianzun were also stunned.
"Big Brother, this is..."
Tongtian Jiaozhu pointed at the little baby in the soup, his face filled with shock and suspicion.
"Where did you catch this Ginseng Fruit?"
The Ginseng Fruit was an Innate Spiritual Root from Zhen Yuanzi's sacred ground.
It blossomed once every three thousand years, bore fruit once every three thousand years, and took another three thousand years to ripen.
It took nearly ten thousand years before it could be eaten.
Merely smelling one granted three hundred and sixty years of life; eating one granted forty-seven thousand years.
It was one of the greatest treasures of the primordial world.
But the Ginseng Fruit only resembled an infant in shape. It did not possess such lifelike facial features or expression.
"No, no."
Taishang Laojun shook his head, a trace of pride on his face.
"This is not a Ginseng Fruit. I used the methods of pill refinement, with my comprehension of the Great Dao as the fire and the qi of Heaven and Earth Yellow as the catalyst."
"I condensed the medicinal essence of a Ninety Thousand Year Old Humanoid He Shou Wu."
"It looks like a living creature, but it is actually a pill."
"Within it lies the purest Yimu Essence and Earth Qi."
"It is gentle and nourishing, making it most suitable for an Innate Spiritual Root of vegetation such as Lin Shen."
As he spoke, he gently scooped up the little "baby" with a jade spoon and brought it to Lin Shen's mouth.
"Come, Beloved Disciple. Try the Taiqing Pill Spirit Soup First Master specially made for you."
Lin Shen looked at the "pill" before him, which looked exactly like an infant, and his little face scrunched into a ball.
Although he knew it was not a real child, being asked to eat a little baby that looked so much like himself...
The feeling was far too strange!
He shook his head, pressing his little mouth tightly shut in refusal.
Taishang Laojun froze.
He had thought that, whether in creativity, efficacy, or technical sophistication, this dish would be enough to crush his two younger brothers.
It would surely win his little disciple's favor.
Yet Lin Shen would not eat it!
Why?
Could it be that he had not made it cute enough?
He looked at the adorably simple-minded "pill spirit" in the soup, utterly unable to understand.
Tongtian Jiaozhu burst into gleeful laughter beside him.
"Hahaha! Big Brother, you really buttered up the wrong person!"
"How can a child possibly take a bite out of something that scary?"
"My Green Bird is more down-to-earth. Come, disciple, eat some meat!"
As he spoke, he was about to feed Lin Shen some of his stewed Green Bird.
Yuanshi Tianzun also shook his head slightly, feeling that Big Brother had indeed overdone things this time.
Lin Shen looked at the meat Tongtian Jiaozhu held out, then at Taishang Laojun's somewhat disappointed expression.
He felt a little reluctant.
First Master must have put a lot of thought into making this dish.
Wouldn't refusing to eat it hurt his feelings too much?
Besides, it sounds like this stuff is really nourishing...
He struggled with himself for a moment.
In the end, he stretched out his little hand and pushed away Tongtian Jiaozhu's spoon.
Then he pointed at the "pill spirit."
Fine. I'll close my eyes and pretend I'm eating a steamed bun!
Taishang Laojun immediately went from sorrow to joy at the sight.
His face blossomed into a smile.
"Good disciple, you really know quality when you see it!"
He brought the "pill spirit" to Lin Shen's mouth again.
Lin Shen gathered his courage and opened his little mouth.
With one big bite, he chomped down on the pill spirit's head.
It melted in his mouth!
An indescribable sweetness and warm current instantly dissolved across his tongue.
It transformed into the purest life energy and surged into every corner of his body.
Lin Shen's eyes instantly lit up!
What heavenly flavor is this?!
He felt as if he were immersed in a warm sea of life.
Every cell in his body was cheering with joy.
The tiny deficit left behind from using Words Manifest Reality was instantly replenished.
A great deal of pure energy even settled within him, becoming nourishment for his future growth.
Delicious!
It was so delicious!
It was more delicious than anything he had ever eaten before!
With sparkling eyes, Lin Shen wolfed down the entire pill spirit in no time.
He even drank every last drop of the soup.
After finishing, he licked his lips with lingering satisfaction.
Then he let out a full belch.
Burp~
A rich Yimu fragrance drifted from his mouth.
Taishang Laojun watched Lin Shen's satisfied expression, stroking his beard as he smiled in boundless delight.
In cooking, he had finally won back a round!
Meanwhile, Tongtian Jiaozhu and Yuanshi Tianzun once again felt that familiar pressure.
What dish could they make next time to surpass Big Brother's "pill spirit"?
The two great figures once more sank into deep thought.
Lin Shen, meanwhile, secretly rejoiced to himself.
Oh my, First Master's move was ruthless!
It looked scary, but it tasted so good!
If there's more good stuff like this in the future, I'll definitely be the first to grab it!
Before you continue