Spirit Meal

In their Wutong District, there was a place specializing in Spirit Meals. Usually, only disciples in the Late-stage Qi Refining would occasionally go there, as the prices were exorbitant.

Just a plate of stir-fried Demonic Beast meat and two bowls of Spirit Rice cost the two of them one Low-grade Spirit Stone.

"So expensive!"

Lin Shiyu picked up a piece of meat, her heart aching.

"Junior Sister! This is Demonic Beast meat, not ordinary meat. This rice is also Spirit Bamboo Rice from Qingzhu Workshop, it contains spiritual energy, it's not expensive."

A Servant Disciple nearby patiently explained.

Lin Shiyu took a bite, and it was indeed good.

As for Zhou Er, although his Taotie was stirred, since Lin Shiyu was treating him, he couldn't be too greedy. He focused on eating his own bowl of Spirit Bamboo Rice, rarely taking any meat.

This small bowl of Spirit Bamboo Rice, he didn't know if it weighed half a catty, was finished by Zhou Er in three bites.

Lin Shiyu still had more than half a bowl. Seeing Zhou Er's bowl was already empty, she said:

"Senior Brother, I can't eat anymore, you eat it for me!"

Even Spirit Meals, the spiritual energy contained within was very limited. Especially the ones they were eating, their main purpose was to fill the stomach. Only by eating them frequently could they have some effect.

Lin Shiyu had already eaten a Bigu Pill, so she didn't have a big appetite.

Although this Spirit Rice did emit a faint bamboo fragrance and tasted good, Lin Shiyu wasn't that eager for it.

"Junior Sister Lin, no need."

Zhou Er felt a little embarrassed.

"If Senior Brother doesn't eat it, it will only be wasted."

Lin Shiyu said, feigning helplessness.

The Servant Disciple who was cleaning nearby heard this and secretly rejoiced. Usually, if guests couldn't finish their food, they, the Servant Disciples, could secretly take care of it.

However, Spirit Meals were expensive, not only did few people eat them, but even if guests came to eat, they would finish every last bit.

"Alright!"

Seeing this, Zhou Er took Lin Shiyu's bowl.

"Hehe!"

Lin Shiyu watched Zhou Er eat with great joy, and she herself was also very happy.

At this moment, Zhou Er suddenly noticed that there was a hint of ambiguity between him and Lin Shiyu. He stopped his chopsticks and paused.

"What's wrong, Senior Brother? Did you eat something bad?"

Lin Shiyu said curiously as she saw Zhou Er stop.

"It's nothing, I just choked a little."

Zhou Er pretended not to notice the ambiguous atmosphere and said.

"Here! Senior Brother, have some water."

Lin Shiyu handed Zhou Er some tea.

"Thank you, Junior Sister Lin."

Zhou Er nodded and said.

After finishing everything, the two left the Spirit Restaurant.

The Servant Disciple dejectedly cleaned the spotless tableware.

Zhou Er returned to his Courtyard. After cultivating three times as planned, he lay down on the small bed.

Suddenly, Zhou Er thought about what happened today.

His relationship with Lin Shiyu had indeed become much more ambiguous.

Zhou Er was a normal man, and his body was in its prime. He didn't reject emotional interaction.

However, he had some reservations: did Lin Shiyu truly like him?

Zhou Er remembered that when they first met, Lin Shiyu paid special attention to him because of his Connections.

This gave Zhou Er reason to suspect that Lin Shiyu's current kindness towards him wasn't fundamentally because she liked him, but rather because she wanted to leverage his Connections.

After spending three months together, Zhou Er found Lin Shiyu to be a pretty good girl. She came from a good family, was well-mannered, didn't covet others' small advantages, and lived frugally.

Her social circle was also very clean. Besides him, her neighbor, she only occasionally interacted with friends she used to know from the Spirit Herb Garden as a Servant Disciple.

In short, if Zhou Er were to view her from the perspective of blind dates in his past life, she was a perfect woman.

Moreover, she was young and beautiful.

Having lived two lives, Zhou Er knew that love without reason didn't exist.

Lin Shiyu was so good to him, and there must have been considerations about his background and Connections. But it wasn't necessarily without a trace of liking him.

If they became Dao Companions and grew together, it might not be a bad thing.

Zhou Er thought for a long time and finally figured it out.

"Let nature take its course! If the feelings are there, it will happen naturally. If not, forcing it will yield no good results."

Zhou Er decided not to dwell on these matters. His focus still needed to be on cultivation. As for matters of the heart, he would let them develop freely.

If it worked out, having a Dao companion to accompany him on the Great Dao would be a good thing.

After all, wealth, companions, dharma, and land were all aids to cultivation.

If it didn't work out, his Dao Heart was firm. He could still steadfastly walk the path of eternal life without despairing over a failed relationship.

Moreover, time could test a person's sincerity. Zhou Er could use this time to observe what kind of person Lin Shiyu truly was.

For the next few days, Zhou Er focused on his cultivation. During his free time, he would find an open space and practice the Fireball Technique, constantly reviewing his progress.

Even without Lin Shiyu's help, Zhou Er could conjure a passable fireball. It was just that its power and launch speed were not ideal.

[Fire Attribute Amplification (White): Increases the power of fire attribute spells by 30%.]

[Solidification Condition: Master Fireball Technique to Great Completion. (Minor Completion 26%)]

However, his Fireball Technique had now reached minor completion. At the very least, it could be used in actual combat to inflict some damage.

Unknowingly, it was time for Lin Shiyu's break again.

"Senior Brother Zhou, do you still need me to teach you the Fireball Technique?"

Lin Shiyu found Zhou Er and asked with a smile.

"Sure! I still need Master Lin's guidance."

Zhou Er made a small joke.

"Then let me test the learning results of my little disciple Zhou."

Lin Shiyu played along.

The two then exchanged a smile and headed to the Dojo together.

This time, Zhou Er demonstrated the results of his practice over the past ten-plus days.

Lin Shiyu was stunned by Zhou Er's rapid progress. She then said:

"Senior Brother Zhou, you've reached this level in such a short time? When I was practicing, it took me several months to reach your current level. I feel like I have nothing left to teach you."

"Junior Sister Lin is too kind. I'm still far behind you."

Zhou Er replied.

In these past days, besides his daily fixed cultivation, he had been practicing the Fireball Technique. He even dreamed about how to construct spells faster.

Although the Fireball Technique's current casting speed is slow, it can already deal some damage.

Lin Shiyu saying there was nothing to point out was modesty. Zhou Er's spells still had some issues. After Lin Shiyu's guidance, Zhou Er's Fireball Technique improved by leaps and bounds, almost catching up to Lin Shiyu's level.

The remaining gap was only in proficiency. There were no obvious deficiencies in technique.

"I didn't teach Senior Brother Zhou anything today, so let's forget about the payment!"

Lin Shiyu said.

Zhou Er was willing to learn, and his comprehension from two lifetimes was good, so he learned quickly. He understood as soon as he was taught, and it didn't take much effort.

"That won't do. Junior Sister Lin wasted her time with me, I can't let Junior Sister Lin leave empty-handed."

Zhou Er said.

"It wasn't a waste of time. I like being with Senior Brother Zhou."

Lin Shiyu said softly.

Hearing this, even with his two lifetimes of experience, Zhou Er became a little nervous. Was this a hint?

"I also like practicing spells with Junior Sister Lin. After all, we're good friends!"

Zhou Er laughed it off.

"Yes! We're good friends."

Lin Shiyu nodded, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes.

"If Junior Sister Lin insists on not taking the Spirit Stones, then let's do what we did last time and go eat a Spirit Meal!"

Zhou Er changed the subject.

The last time they ate a Spirit Meal, it directly added thirty jin to Zhou Er's Taotie Attribute and increased his cultivation by one percent. It had been very helpful to him.

"Okay! Okay!"

Lin Shiyu quickly put away her disappointment.

When they arrived at the Spirit Restaurant from last time, they originally wanted to order the same dishes. The waiter recommended a new dish:

"Senior Brother, Senior Sister, our Wutong District Spirit Restaurant has launched a new Spirit Meal: Seven-Colored Spirit Pheasant Noodles. The original price is seven Spirit Fragments per bowl, but it's on new product discount now, only five Spirit Fragments. This noodle is made from Fire Wheat grown by the Earth Fire, which is very beneficial for cultivators with Fire Spirit Roots."

Ten Spirit Fragments equaled one Low-grade Spirit Stone.

Two bowls of Seven-Colored Spirit Pheasant Noodles would cost exactly one Low-grade Spirit Stone. And Lin Shiyu also had a Fire Spirit Root. Zhou Er nodded and said, "Alright! We'll have two bowls of this."

Zhou Er nodded.

"Alright! Senior Brother, Senior Sister, please wait a moment!"

After the waiter took down the order, he went to the back kitchen.

While waiting, Lin Shiyu chatted about her work:

"My Fire Control Technique is very proficient now. Elder He said I'm very diligent and can try purifying Essence of Food and refining Bigu Pills to practice."

Bigu Pills are refined by extracting Essence of Food and are the most basic pills.

"Then, I can help Junior Sister Lin test the medicine."

Zhou Er said with a smile.

"But Elder He won't let me use her alchemy furnace at all. I don't have a chance to practice."

Lin Shiyu said somewhat dejectedly.

"I remember the Alchemy Hall seems to rent out alchemy rooms, and they have Earth Fire you can use."

Zhou Er said, thinking.

After all, he had been in the Xiayun Sect for almost three months and knew a little about the Alchemy Hall.

"But renting for three hours costs one Spirit Stone. I can't afford it at all."

Lin Shiyu said helplessly.

Her monthly income, besides the basic Monthly Stipend, Elder He only paid her eight Low-grade Spirit Stones as wages.

Even if she spent it all on renting alchemy rooms, she couldn't rent for even a day.

She couldn't learn much in a day.

"If only I had my own alchemy furnace."

Lin Shiyu said.

"You will, sooner or later."

Zhou Er comforted her.

Zhou Er couldn't solve this problem. After all, an alchemy furnace wasn't something that could be solved with one or two Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Although Zhou Er didn't know the exact price of an alchemy furnace, he had seen the price of a Low-grade magic artifact.

Even the most basic Low-grade magic artifact would cost hundreds of Spirit Stones.

The shittiest alchemy furnace, its price is definitely higher than a magic artifact, Zhou Er guessed it would cost five hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones.

To be honest, Zhou Er also wanted an alchemy furnace to put into his Equipment Slot to see what Attribute effects it had.

If possible, he would also be willing to buy an alchemy furnace with Lin Shiyu. As long as he solidified his attributes, he could give the alchemy furnace to Lin Shiyu.

However, even if the Spirit Stones they had together were added up, it probably wouldn't even be a fraction of the alchemy furnace's price.

Everyone knew that the Hundred Arts of Cultivation could earn Spirit Stones, but setting aside the skills that needed to be learned, just the aspect of purchasing production tools had stumped countless people.

Lin Shiyu was just complaining and didn't really want to buy an alchemy furnace right now.

After all, she knew the price. Even the most basic Purple Cloud Furnace required five hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones, which was something disciples like them in the Outer Sect could not even dream of.

"Goodbye, Senior Brother Zhou!"

After eating the Spirit Meal, Lin Shiyu and Zhou Er parted ways.

Lin Shiyu knew that ordinary disciples like her could only learn slowly, save money slowly, and then see if they had a chance to become an Alchemist and change their fate.

Zhou Er bid farewell to Lin Shiyu and returned to his Courtyard, looking at the Taotie Attribute.

[Taotie (White): Hollow Abdomen, Greatly Increased Appetite, can become stronger by eating.]

[Solidification Condition: Eat and digest ten thousand jin of food. (1207/10000)]

The Spirit Meal he ate today had not been digested yet. By tomorrow, it would be almost digested, and the progress of the Taotie Attribute would increase by another thirty jin.

Normally, Zhou Er could only increase his progress by ten jin per day with one Bigu Pill.

But one Spirit Meal directly added three times that amount.

If Zhou Er could eat a Spirit Meal like this high-nutrition food every day, he could solidify the Taotie Attribute within a year.

However, he couldn't afford it at all.

"In the end, it's still poverty!"

Zhou Er thought.

However, Zhou Er's progress was also rapid every day.

In at most half a month, his Fireball Technique would reach Great Accomplishment.

At that time, he could temporarily remove the Spirit Gathering Pill from his Equipment Slot and replace it with a Fireball Talisman to solidify the Fire Attribute Amplification Attribute.

In short, take it step by step, improve steadily.

Half a month later.

[Name: Zhou Er]

[Cultivation: Qi Refining Second Layer (33.81%)]

[Equipment Slots (3/3): Five Animals Health Technique, Spirit Gathering Pill, Bigu Pill.]

[Unsolidified Attributes: Spirit Gathering (White), Five Animals Health Technique (Mastered), Longevity, Taotie (White).]

[Solidified Attributes: Fire Attribute Amplification (White), Spirit Qi Purification (White), Qi Induction, Strength Increase (White).]

Fireball Technique has reached Great Accomplishment. Zhou Er has successfully solidified the Fire Attribute Amplification attribute, and his cultivation has reached one-third of the progress. With two more months, he will be able to break through to Qi Refining Third Layer.

Zhou Er counted the Spirit Stones in his hand. Including the monthly stipend he just received this month, he has six Low-grade Spirit Stones left.

One of them was spent on buying Bigu Pills.

Lin Shiyu was working as a Fire Control Attendant in Elder He's alchemy room and got to know some of Elder He's disciples. These people would practice refining some Bigu Pills, and Zhou Er could buy two hundred Bigu Pills for one Spirit Stone at the internal price. He would not be short of Bigu Pills for at least half a year.

However, the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, represented by alchemy, artifact refining, formations, and talismans, truly made Spirit Stones, which made Zhou Er a little envious.

Alchemy, artifact refining, and formations required a very large initial investment, and most people could not afford to play them.

Without a noble family background or resources, the only path that ordinary people could take was talismans.

Zhou Er then thought about learning to draw "ghosts and charms" like others.

"I heard that Zhu Shunyang, Senior Brother Zhu, is a First-tier Talisman Master. I can go visit him."

Among the Outer Sect disciples in Wutong District, there were only a few Talisman Masters. The deacon who managed this area, Zhu Shunyang, was a First-tier Talisman Master.

Although Zhou Er did not want to use Master Jide's name, he was currently in great need of resources and someone to guide him into the path of a Talisman Master.

Compared to that insignificant face, it was more important to quickly seize resources and strengthen himself.

And to visit, Zhou Er didn't even have a decent gift to offer, which made it difficult to speak.

"Give him a Spirit Gathering Pill? But Spirit Gathering Pills are useful to early-stage Qi Refining disciples like me, and may not be useful to Senior Brother Zhu, who is at Qi Refining Tenth Layer. Giving it away would be a joke."

Zhou Er thought.

This was like Zhou Er asking for a favor in his previous life and giving a box of Wahaha drinks. Not only did the matter not get done, but it also caused resentment.