The Self-Cultivation of Leeks

Lin Feng swallowed the yawn that was about to escape his lips, nearly choking himself to death in the process!

What the hell?!

Lin Feng's pupils shrank to the size of dangerous needlepoints beneath his eyelids!

Outside the shop door, Ghost Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo, Spirit Kite Douluo, Tuoba Xi, Demon Bear Douluo... one familiar face after another stood there as neatly as a row of terracotta warriors on guard duty!

Their gazes, their postures—they looked exactly like fanatical believers waiting for a divine decree to descend from the heavens!

Lin Feng's brain crashed for a full three seconds.

The next second, he let out a roar in his mind that nearly overturned his own soul.

[System! Get your ass out here!]

[What the hell is going on?! When did this bunch of leeks get here?!]

The system's electronic voice, tinged with a hint of amusement, arrived fashionably late.

[Ding! Trash host, please mind your language.]

[This system has monitored that this group of devout leeks has been standing guard at your door for two hours and thirteen minutes.]

Two hours?!

Lin Feng felt his heart skip a beat.

[Then why didn't you wake me up?!]

The system responded in a tone that was matter-of-fact, even bordering on disdain.

[Why would I wake you up?]

[You are the host of this system.]

[And they are merely a group of leeks waiting to be harvested.]

[Is the sleep quality of a noble host not worth more than the waiting time of a bunch of leeks?]

Lin Feng was left speechless by this twisted logic.

Yet, in the very moment he was locked in a mental tug-of-war with the system, his subtle movement—the slight shift of someone just waking up, still laced with laziness—was keenly captured by Ghost Douluo, who had been maintaining the highest level of vigilance outside the door!

Ghost Douluo's body, hidden beneath his black robes, jolted violently!

He immediately signaled everyone behind him with his eyes, a silent warning filled with the utmost solemnity!

The Senior... is about to awaken from that supreme state of cultivation!

In an instant!

Every Title Douluo's breath hitched!

They all bent their waists lower in unison, their postures becoming increasingly humble, every one of their faces etched with absolute piety and fanaticism, as if they were about to witness a miracle!

They were waiting... for the awakening of a god!

Lin Feng forcibly suppressed the embarrassment that nearly surged up his throat.

Getting caught red-handed by a group of top-tier leeks after oversleeping—what kind of situation was this?

If they found out that he, this "Senior," had simply slept in, wouldn't the image of a master he had worked so hard to maintain for so long collapse in an instant?

No.

Absolutely not!

It's not me who is wrong; it's the world.

In a flash of inspiration, Lin Feng had already found a perfect, god-tier excuse for his behavior.

He slowly opened his half-lidded eyes.

There was not a shred of the confusion typical of someone who had just woken up, nor a hint of surprise at being watched.

His gaze was as calm as an ancient well, as if he had just returned from a dream spanning eons, carrying the indifference and vicissitudes of one who had overlooked the passage of time.

He did not look at any of them; his indifferent gaze fell casually, lightly, upon the cold figure leading the group outside the door.

"You lot..."

Lin Feng's voice paused slightly, as if he were somewhat helpless.

"...are a bit early."

BOOM!!!

A simple sentence, yet it exploded in everyone's minds like a thunderclap!

Early?

Does the Senior mean...

That we, mere mortals, have disturbed his cultivation as he wandered the river of time, contemplating the ultimate truths of heaven and earth?!

A sin!

A grave, unforgivable sin!

Ghost Douluo's heart, which had long been as still as an ancient well, gave a violent twitch at this moment!

A wave of terror and self-reproach, rising from the very depths of his soul, instantly flooded his gloomy face!

He abruptly lowered his head even further, his voice hoarse yet filled with an unprecedented tremor and awe.

"Senior, please forgive my transgressions!"

"It is we who are dull-witted; unaware that you were wandering the Great Void, we have disturbed your quiet cultivation here!"

"We... deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

The group behind him also knelt on one knee in perfect unison, their faces deathly pale as cold sweat instantly soaked their backs.

Behind them, Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and even Yan, who had been beaten into a pig's head, didn't even have the courage to lift their heads.

The three of them pressed their foreheads firmly against the cold floor, their bodies trembling violently from fear, wishing they could dig a hole right there and bury themselves!

They were terrified that a casual glance from this deity would cause them to... be annihilated, body and soul!

Within Lin Feng's heart, a stormy sea was already raging!

What the hell?

I was just casually putting on an act, isn't your reaction a bit too exaggerated?!

Wandering the Great Void, my ass...

I just fucking overslept!

[Tsk, look at you, acting like a small-fry who has never seen the world.]

The system's cold, electronic voice, laced with a hint of disdain, rang out precisely in his mind.

[This system already told you, this is a group of leeks with the highest level of self-cultivation.]

[You only need to be responsible for the harvest; they will sharpen the sickle themselves and lie flat for you to cut, understand?]

[They might even fertilize themselves voluntarily; this system is very gratified.]

The corners of Lin Feng's mouth twitched wildly in his heart.

This damn system, though its mouth was a bit poisonous, its summary was... truly fucking incisive.

His thoughts raced, but on the surface, he maintained that same indifference, as if looking down upon the ages.

Finally, he simply lifted his hand slightly.

"Enough."

"The ignorant are not guilty."

That light, airy sentence, falling into the ears of the crowd, was no less than a divine decree of pardon.

"Many thanks, Senior!"

Ghost Douluo's heart, which had been hanging in his throat, finally dropped back into his chest, the gratitude and lingering fear in his voice nearly overflowing.

The others also felt as if they had been granted amnesty, their tense bodies instantly relaxing, yet they dared not show the slightest slack, maintaining their most humble postures.

"Come in."

"Today's business begins now."

Upon hearing this, Ghost Douluo's withered hand remained firmly gripping the back of Ghost Leopard Douluo's collar.

Dragging a level-94 Title Douluo like a dead dog waiting to be slaughtered, he stepped forward.

"Thud!"

A muffled sound rang out.

Ghost Douluo, showing no mercy, forced Ghost Leopard Douluo down, pressing both his knees onto the ground, facing that lazy figure, and made him kneel heavily!

This action was filled with an unquestionable decisiveness!

It was as if he were declaring through his actions—in front of Senior, you don't even have the qualifications to stand!

"Senior."

Ghost Douluo's hoarse voice, carrying a devotion bordering on sacrifice, echoed in the silent shop.

"This is Ghost Leopard."

"Yesterday, he was ignorant and foolish, his eyes blinded by the mundane, daring to question your miracles and offend your divine majesty."

He turned his head slightly, his eyes hidden in the shadows casting a cold glance at the shivering Ghost Leopard Douluo beside him, his voice growing even more chilling.

"But today, he has awakened and repents for his past wrongs."

"This junior dares to... implore Senior, for the sake of his return to the right path, to grant him... an opportunity to atone!"

As his voice fell, the air in the entire restaurant seemed to freeze.

Everyone's heart jumped into their throats!

They knew very well that the true reason for obtaining opportunities in this Maple Dye Pavilion was by no means as simple as a mere transaction.

That was a grace bestowed upon mortals by Senior!

Every draw was a sacred ritual!

And the qualification for this ritual depended entirely on a single thought from the Senior!

Whether or not you were qualified to be "acknowledged" by the Senior—

That was the key!

(Lin Feng: ???)

Ghost Leopard Douluo was quick to react, immediately realizing that Ghost Douluo was helping him.

He lowered his head deeply at once: "Senior, I know I was wrong. I beg you to give me a chance! I am willing to pay any price! Please, Senior, show mercy!"