A Change in Attitude

A 'perfectly ordinary' spiritwood core could actually be exchanged for a designated spirit fruit two thousand years old. Even to the firework Daoists, this was rather astonishing.

There was no shortage of such spiritwood in the wilderness; it practically covered the ground. Spirit fruits and spirit medicines, however, were far rarer. Most were occupied by evil spirits and demons, and only by driving them away could one obtain them.

Every spirit fruit and spirit medicine might seem worthless, but each was stained with blood.

Qingli merely sat at the entrance of the kitchen, yet he could obtain such resources.

Meanwhile, they had to toil endlessly in the depths of the kitchen, skimming off a portion of the profits to earn this share. Or else they had to brave danger outside, helping other tribes slay evil spirits before receiving any benefits.

"Everyone says that among this batch of Daoist youths, Qing Xian and Daokongzi stand head and shoulders above the rest. Looking at it now, our kitchen is no worse!"

A firework Daoist beside them smiled faintly.

Flame Daoist immediately said,

"Of course. The Slaughter Hall's sole inner disciple cannot possibly be lacking. Otherwise, I would not have taken a fancy to him!"

He stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes full of composure. The other firework Daoists could not help but laugh inwardly at the sight.

As fellow kitchen Daoists, who did not know that he had hoodwinked Qingli into joining the Slaughter Hall? If he had not moved quickly enough, Qingli might not have been willing to stay.

Still, it had to be said that Flame Daoist had struck treasure this time.

Watching the scene, Hou Feng Daoist also felt a trace of regret.

Amid the crowd, Yang Huai merely smiled at Qingli's words. Then he took a Composite Cloud-Pattern Wood Carving from his robes and tossed it to Feng Ying.

"I saved one for you, but I won't be giving you a discount!"

Feng Ying stared at the wood carving in his hand. With a single glance, he could no longer look away.

The Suiren Sacred Statue before him brimmed with vast Dao charm. It was as though the sacred will of the Sui King had descended into the world. A radiant intent, almost tangible, blossomed from within it, capable of washing away inner demons and stray thoughts. Even more wondrous divine charm and power evolved and gestated inside, possessing extraordinary might.

At a single glance, Feng Ying felt an intuition rise from the depths of his heart: even if evil spirits or demons comparable to the rank of Celestial Being invaded and possessed him, he could still hold out for a while with this wood carving.

Its preciousness was obvious!

Especially since he was about to reach the great completion of Foundation Establishment and condense his innate qi. At that stage, inner demons and delusive thoughts would inevitably plague him. With such a wood carving in hand, his confidence in refining the Dao into qi would rise by thirty percent.

Moreover, among all these wood carvings, such a Sui King Wood Carving was likely among the finest. It was absolutely worth far more than three millennium-old spirit fruits.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind. He glanced at Yang Huai and said,

"You're determined to make me owe you a favor!"

"But since you've already given it to me, there's no reason for me to return it!"

He accepted it readily, then took out a jade box he had prepared long ago and handed it to Yang Huai.

Yang Huai smiled faintly at the sight.

Although Feng Ying had a sharp tongue, he had offered help before Yang Huai had risen to prominence. That alone showed he was someone worth befriending.

"I'll take this wood carving!"

At that moment, a Daoist dressed in luxurious robes and wearing a jade crown stepped forward from the crowd. At the sight of him, the expressions of the kitchen's firework Daoists shifted slightly.

This man was no simple figure. He was an exceptionally gifted individual who had emerged from the previous batch of Daoist youths. His status was no different from that of Qing Xian and Daokongzi back then.

He was now an inner disciple under the head of the Trough Hall. In truth, his status did not fall below that of several firework Daoists present, such as Wu Feng Daoist and Yun Zheng Daoist.

He was only slightly inferior to Cloudmist Daoist and Flame Daoist.

Naturally, the most distinguished person in the kitchen was its head, Hou Feng Daoist.

Yang Huai merely inspected the spirit medicines and spirit fruits the man offered before smiling.

"Deal!"

He handed one of the Composite Cloud-Pattern Wood Carvings to the other man.

This time, he had prepared more than ten Composite Cloud-Pattern Wood Carvings. Two were of exceptional quality and contained Dao charm from the minor mastery of the Sui King. One had gone to Feng Ying.

The other was bought by this Daoist.

The remaining eight were somewhat inferior, but three millennium-old spirit fruits or spirit medicines for each was still an outstanding bargain.

"I want one too!"

Another Daoist, richly dressed and bearing an extraordinary air, spoke up. The Trough Hall Daoist's words seemed to have opened a floodgate. The many observing Daoists could no longer restrain themselves and began speaking one after another.

As the Daoists generously made their offers, Yang Huai's face lit up with delight, though he also felt a hint of regret. It seemed he had underestimated the purchasing power of the Daoist youths in the monastery. They were truly rich.

Poverty had limited my imagination. Next batch, I have to raise the prices hard!

Yang Huai mused inwardly.

More than ten wood carvings were snatched up in the blink of an eye, earning Yang Huai over thirty spirit medicines and spirit fruits at the millennium level.

The remaining twenty or thirty Single Cloud-Pattern Wood Carvings also drew many Daoist youths into a frenzied scramble to buy them.

Those present included not only people from the Alchemy Hall and Trough Hall, but also disciples from the Water Hall, Dormitory Hall, Cleansing Hall, and the other halls. The Daoist youths all recognized a bargain. In particular, the Water Hall cultivators—many of whom belonged to Jade Palace Immortal's lineage—cultivated foundational methods different from those of the other halls and had an even greater need for them. One inner disciple from the Water Hall bought more than five at once and even asked Yang Huai to custom-make a Composite Cloud-Pattern Wood Carving sacred statue for him.

The many Daoist youths were greatly stirred by what they witnessed.

Before long, Yang Huai had sold out all the Cloud-Pattern Wood Carvings. Beyond that, he also received a large number of preorder requests. Once he filled those orders, another great batch of spirit fruits and spirit medicines would be his.

Only after quite a while did the many Daoist youths who had gathered to watch finally disperse.

Yang Huai, however, had not forgotten the most 'important' matter. From the nearly sixty millennium-old spirit fruits he had obtained—including the two-thousand-year-old fruits—he took out half and handed them to Hou Feng Daoist.

"This is a token of filial respect for all the martial uncles!"

Though it pained him greatly, Yang Huai was willing to part with them. He knew perfectly well that such enormous profits were far too tempting. Trying to swallow them all alone was nearly impossible.

This was also the way to lasting prosperity.

Seeing Yang Huai take out more than thirty spirit fruits, divide them into thirty wooden boxes, and hand them to Hou Feng Daoist, the firework Daoists exchanged glances. Smiles appeared on their faces, and satisfaction gleamed in their eyes.

This inner disciple truly knew how to conduct himself.

Hou Feng Daoist swept his gaze over the boxes and merely smiled.

"You are indeed commendably filial. Rest assured, we will not take your benefits for nothing. Go ahead and conduct your business from now on. With our kitchen watching over you, no one will make trouble for you!"

After saying this, he divided the wooden boxes into five portions. He took one portion for himself, then gave the other four to Flame Daoist, Cloudmist Daoist, Wu Feng Daoist, and Yun Zheng Daoist.

The other firework Daoists all nodded at once. Wu Feng Daoist even said directly,

"Senior Brother Hou Feng is right. Whoever opposes you opposes us!"

Flame Daoist looked at the pile of wooden boxes in his hands and could not help nodding.

"Exactly. This is the kitchen's business!"

The firework Daoists spoke one after another. Having accepted the benefits, none pretended ignorance, which gave Yang Huai some measure of relief.

Hou Feng Daoist glanced at the others with an indifferent expression, then looked toward Yang Huai.

"How about this, Qingli? Stay and dine with us at noon. You are now an inner disciple of our kitchen, after all. Stop eating that dry, blood-stained cured meat. If word gets out, it will damage our kitchen's reputation!"

After a brief pause, he considered it, then suddenly changed his mind.

"Forget it. From now on, eat with us in the kitchen's small dining room. It will save trouble!"

"Yes!"

Yang Huai's eyes brightened at those words. He understood Hou Feng Daoist's unspoken meaning. It seemed those thirty spirit fruits and spirit medicines had not been given away for nothing.

The other firework Daoists were slightly surprised, but they all tacitly approved.

Qingli had already demonstrated sufficient value. He was now enough to be distinguished from ordinary inner disciples.