This Grass-Colored Ground Can't Compare to the Shade Above My Head

There is no problem that a barbecue cannot solve.

If there is, then two will do.

Before the noble cause of barbecue, the crisis facing the Bamboo Spring Sect was merely a minor setback.

Lu Ya thought to himself that it was time to bring the great cause of barbecue to the Immortal Realm.

Establishing a one-stop barbecue industry was the best solution to the current predicament.

There are three reasons for this.

First, the Floating Mountain here is vast and flat, with rich spiritual energy and fertile soil, suitable for planting various Immortal Grain, spiritual wheat, and spiritual vegetables; thus, the vegetarian options for the barbecue are secured.

Second, the deep lake at the summit can raise large fish, the streams below can raise small fish, and the large-scale spiritual plantations will attract beast tides; thus, the meat options for the barbecue are also secured.

Third, Immortal Grain can be used to brew rice wine, the specialty spiritual wheat can be used to brew immortal beer, and various spiritual fruits can be juiced and mixed with the spring water from the summit; thus, the drinks are secured.

Meat, vegetables, and drinks—the barbecue trifecta is complete!

Under his guidance, the Bamboo Spring Sect can prepare refined seasonings, and by teaching the villagers barbecue techniques comparable to alchemy, the industry can certainly be developed.

Using delicacies comparable to medicinal pills to attract nearby loose immortals and refugees, a "Barbecue Street" can be established.

Once it becomes popular, it can attract more commercial ventures and lead to the establishment of a small commercial town.

The constant consumption of ingredients by this commercial town will attract a large number of immortal citizens to settle down and farm.

The Bamboo Spring Sect will thus embark on the path of a prosperous and powerful immortal city.

From then on, Lu Ya can enjoy a life of pure leisure and happiness without ever stepping out of his door.

How wonderful!

Muyu Feifei was completely immersed in the grand vision Lu Ya painted, willing to abandon her dignity and submit to his every command.

Ning Zhongzi, however, was amazed by Lu Ya's imagination.

After all, the Immortal Realm had no tradition of eating barbecue, and this was her first time seeing such a cooking method.

Because she had not personally tasted Lu Ya's perfect craftsmanship, she remained somewhat skeptical of his grand vision.

But she understood that as long as she could mobilize Lu Ya's enthusiasm, it would be far more beneficial than harmful to the Bamboo Spring Sect.

Before the Partner Sealing Ceremony.

Lu Ya tasked Ning Zhongzi and the two girls with three things.

First, he had Ning Zhongzi prepare a large quantity of high-grade seasonings.

Since his transmigration, the seasoning fruits Lu Ya used were merely common, low-grade items he picked at random, failing to bring out the full flavor and spiritual nourishment of the ingredients.

In the Immortal Realm, immortals consume immortal pills directly, so there is no use for seasonings, and no high-grade finished products exist.

He needed Ning Zhongzi to purchase high-grade salt stones, oil fruits, seafood, mushrooms, chili, cumin, yeast, and wine-scented grass from the loose immortals, then carefully blend them according to his requirements.

Second, he had Muyu Feifei purchase some spiritual wheat from the foot of the mountain, and combined with the yeast, diatoms, and wine-scented grass collected by Ning Zhongzi, Lu Ya would use his max-level brewing skills to personally craft immortal beer.

Third, he had Muyu Feifei go down the mountain to cut bamboo, shaving it into pieces two inches long and one inch wide.

Using his max-level engraving skills, Lu Ya directly inscribed defensive restrictions onto the bamboo pieces to withstand the restrictive sword intent of Liu Xuanye, solving the safety concerns for the guests.

In reality, Lu Ya was fully capable of temporarily sealing the restrictive sword intent within Liu Xuanye, but that would consume a vast amount of his spiritual power, which is why he specifically crafted these defensive bamboo pieces; it seemed complex, but it was actually more labor-saving.

That night, after everything was settled, Lu Ya collapsed onto the bamboo bed in the Sword Terrace sleeping quarters.

The bamboo bed Ning Zhongzi built for him was small and hard, intended to force him to sleep in the Sect Master's chambers.

But Lu Ya did not fall for it, and he drifted off to sleep using his max-level self-hypnosis skill.

"I have truly worked myself to the bone."

Taking advantage of Lu Ya's deep sleep, Muyu Feifei sprawled across him in a star shape.

"You have the nerve to talk about being tired? Do you know how exhausted we are?"

"Only by using a human as a bed can one steal a moment of pleasure."

"Feifei, do you think if Nanny sees us like this, we'll get a beating again?"

"She wouldn't dare! I heard there's a wedding night after the Partner Sealing Ceremony; this guy will definitely bully the Sect Master then, so we can consider this getting revenge for the Sect Master in advance!"

The following evening.

The sky was filled with red clouds.

The Partner Sealing Ceremony was held as scheduled.

The time was set for the evening because it was difficult to see Liu Xuanye's figure and features clearly at night, which was relatively safer for the guests.

The wedding banquet was located on the eastern edge of the Floating Mountain.

This was far from Little Bamboo Spring Mountain and relatively safer.

The banquet site had an open view, lush flowers and plants, beautiful scenery, small waterfalls cascading into the void below, birds and beasts dwelling on the lower levels of the Floating Mountain, and immortals flying past on swords...

Ning Zhongzi, skilled in manipulating plant life, waved her sleeves and constructed a bamboo platform over a zhang high, the edges adorned with blooming immortal flowers and beast-shaped bamboo carvings.

Hundreds of long tables and bamboo chairs were arranged around the bamboo platform.

The long tables were laden with delicious immortal delicacies purchased from East Floating City.

There were exquisite dishes from the folk of Colorful Clouds, spirit teas and desserts abundant in the immortal city, and Ning Zhongzi had even prepared some self-produced Spirit-Moistening Pill.

At the edge of the Floating Mountain, an immortal orchestra played zithers and lutes, the grand ceremonial music drifting on the breeze.

Cyan immortal candles were lined up across the grass like scattered stars, their flickering flames blending with the colors of the sunset.

After finishing the wedding banquet setup, Ning Zhongzi wiped the fine sweat from her forehead, looked around, and sighed with deep emotion.

A feeling suddenly welled up in her heart, as if her own daughter were finally getting married—melancholy, reluctance, yet it was also the final glimmer of light in a desperate situation...

In truth, immortals rarely held celebrations when forming a partnership in the Immortal Realm. She had arranged the wedding scene according to the customs of the local immortal folk, sparing no expense to make the venue magnificent and impeccable.

According to her publicity, this Partner Sealing Ceremony guaranteed the safety of all guests; anyone could attend without the need for gifts, and there was an all-you-can-eat buffet of free delicacies, along with an endless supply of immortal brew.

Despite this, with night nearly falling, the number of guests attending the banquet barely exceeded a thousand.

Upon closer observation, seventy percent of them were immortal folk from the Floating Mountain, mostly women.

The remaining three hundred or so were refugees from the surrounding areas.

These people were essentially the lowest class of immortal folk in the Immortal Realm, mostly refugees displaced by the havoc wreaked by unscrupulous rogue immortals; among them were many women and children, as well as some outright beggars.

Not a single rogue immortal looking for a free meal had shown up.

The neighboring sects had sent congratulatory gifts, but after delivering them and exchanging a few polite words, they had hurried away, with not a single one staying for the evening banquet.

Ning Zhongzi felt disappointed, yet she had to force a smile.

Muyu Feifei, however, was quite jubilant, darting around everywhere and not forgetting to comfort Ning Zhongzi:

"Isn't it better that there are fewer people? That way, everyone can eat more!"

"Although this food is far inferior to Lu Ya's roasted falcon, we certainly won't let it go to waste!"

"..."

Looking closely at the surroundings, the thousand immortal folk at the scene were just as lively as Muyu Feifei.

Especially the refugees from outside, many of whom were barely clothed and starving.

These sallow-faced women and children, rarely getting the chance to eat a grand meal, no longer cared about any "demoness"; filling their stomachs was their only goal.

Ning Zhongzi was somewhat moved and hurriedly called out:

"Everyone, eat slowly, don't choke. There are few people today, so if you can't finish, you can pack it up to take home."

The children stared at her blankly, stuffing food into their mouths while their eyes remained fixed on her without blinking.

The local immortal folk also offered their congratulations to Ning Zhongzi and Muyu Feifei one after another; some took the opportunity to gossip, some sang and danced, and there were even children trying to scam extra food...

The children swarmed around Ning Zhongzi, making a ruckus as if it were the New Year, their innocent words uninhibited.

"Elder, the sect will get better."

"The Sect Master's illness will also get better."

"When I grow up, I want to join the sect and cultivate!"

"Elder, why are you crying..."

With the sunset reflecting on her solemn and beautiful face, Ning Zhongzi's eyes turned red as she smiled and said:

"Of course it will get better."

"When will the Sect Master and Lord Lu Ya come out?"

"They will come out when night falls."

"Why wait until night?"

"Because the Sect Master is even more beautiful at night."

"Really? I can't wait!"

Just at this moment—

A drunken, sect-level spiritual pressure spread out from the sunset, enveloping the entire scene in the blink of an eye, making people feel dizzy and faint, as if the entire Floating Mountain were shaking.

A moment later.

A wanton, uninhibited female voice, carrying a demonic, overlapping, and drunken resonance, drifted and lingered over the Floating Mountain like a sonic mirage.

"Clear springs in the mountains, paths outside the mountains; travelers outside, beauties laughing within. The laughter fades, the sounds grow quiet, the sentimental are troubled by the heartless..."

"I foolishly thought that since Sister Xuanye couldn't find a suitable partner, she would surely return to my side, yet she has given herself to a mortal?"

"To think that this grass-covered ground is not even worth a fraction of the green on my own head."