Barbecue (Please Follow)

"Ding Character District, Number 57... this should be the place, right?"

At the foot of the mountain, in the shack district.

When Fang Xing arrived, he saw a row of shacks scattered along the edge of a Red Leaf Forest.

Not far away, a clear little stream trickled past.

The shacks were all built from wood, with house numbers nailed above their gates.

He found his own place and saw that it was locked. He immediately took out the brass key and opened the chain lock.

With a creak, the door opened, and a wave of dust mixed with mildew rushed at him.

"The environment isn't great, but at least it's private..."

Fang Xing put on a mask and began cleaning.

Half an hour later, he had finished cleaning the room and went out carrying a basketful of trash.

The door next door opened just as someone came out.

"Huh? It's you?"

A startled cry rang out.

Fang Xing turned and saw a striking young woman in her twenties staring at him in surprise.

"You're... the youngest of the Five Heroes of Cangshan, Shen Yuxin?"

He recognized her at once. She was one half of that married couple, and he could not help inwardly sighing at this cursed coincidence.

"That would be me. So, Fellow Daoist lives next door?"

Thinking of her eldest brother's assessment of him, Shen Yuxin found the situation rather strange.

"I just moved in today. We'll be neighbors from now on, so let's look after each other if anything comes up."

Fang Xing smiled. Then he spotted a little head poking out from behind Shen Yuxin. The child looked sturdy and adorable. "Is this your son?"

"That's right. Zi Jin, hurry and greet Uncle."

Shen Yuxin pulled the child out, a trace of pride on her face.

"Uncle..."

Meng Zijing called out.

"Good boy. Uncle will buy you candy another day."

Fang Xing smiled, but inwardly grumbled, Am I that old? Calling me Uncle? Big Brother would be more like it...

After exchanging a few polite words with Shen Yuxin, he returned to his shack, closed the door, and went into the kitchen.

"Food cooked over firewood feels pretty nice too..."

When he lifted the pot lid, he found it full of Spirit Rice, giving off an enticing fragrance.

Fang Xing considered it for a moment, then instead of eating right away, he sliced off a strip of beef.

The beef was demon beast meat bought from the market. It was thick and firm, covered in snowflake-like marbling. One glance was enough to tell it was top-quality stuff.

"What a waste to have rice without any dishes."

Fang Xing took out a bottle containing barbecue seasoning from the Blue Star Federation.

He cut the beef into small pieces, skewered them with Red Tree Root, and slowly roasted them over the fire, sprinkling spice mix over them from time to time.

Before long, waves of earthshaking fragrance billowed out of the kitchen and drifted toward the neighboring shacks.

Next door.

"...Honey, that young man we met today actually became our neighbor."

Shen Yuxin was telling Meng Yi, who had just returned home, about what had happened.

"What?"

Meng Yi's good mood instantly vanished. He touched the money pouch at his waist.

The Five Heroes of Cangshan had finally managed to kill a demon beast and had earned quite a few Low-Grade Spirit Stones from selling it. Could someone have already set their sights on them?

"Do you think... he came here because of us?"

Meng Yi lowered his voice, unconsciously carrying a hint of killing intent.

"I don't think so... A single piece of his clothing is worth more than everything we own put together..." Shen Yuxin thought about it, then shook her head.

"It's better if that's true. But if it isn't, we're not easy prey either!"

Meng Yi thought for a moment. "We should still tell Big Brother about this... Right, let Zi Jin come out. We're having Demon Tiger meat and Spirit Rice tonight. Keep an eye on these few pounds of Spirit Rice and cook some Spirit Rice porridge for Zi Jin every day. He's already five this year. Next year, he can officially undergo a Spirit Root test. Even if he doesn't have a Spiritual Root, he can still build a solid foundation and train well in martial arts..."

Most martial artists in the market had no path forward, so all they could think about was their descendants.

"Zi Jin was born smart. I think he'll definitely have a Spiritual Root."

Shen Yuxin comforted her husband before heading to the kitchen to cook.

Suddenly, an unusual aroma of grilled meat drifted over.

"What is that? It smells so good!"

Meng Yi unconsciously swallowed.

He had eaten plenty of grilled meat, but this was the first time he had smelled grilled meat this fragrant.

It was no wonder.

There were only so many cooks in Green Forest Market, and they were among the lowest class. Usually, being able to add a pinch of salt to grilled meat was already a luxury.

How could that compare to barbecue seasoning specially formulated in the Interstellar Age?

It contained dozens of spices alone, an unimaginable extravagance in ancient times.

"Could that little brother have ordered food from Heavenly Cuisine Pavilion? Those are delicacies made by Spirit Chefs. Only Qi Refining Late Stage experts have the spare money to try them..."

Shen Yuxin was also puzzled.

"Dad... I want grilled meat!"

At that moment, Meng Zijing poked his head out. "I want to go next door to Uncle Fang's house for grilled meat... Waaaah..."

"Mm, as expected, this demon beast meat is incredibly high-quality... And with barbecue spices from the Interstellar Age, it's simply unbeatable."

Fang Xing picked up a beef skewer threaded on Red Tree Root and took a savage bite. A satisfied expression immediately appeared on his face. "It tastes even better than the barbecue stall food I had on my birthday... As expected, ingredients are everything!"

This Ox Demon Meat was rather chewy, but it was just right for Fang Xing, a Second Realm Martial Artist.

Along with the beef, he ate an entire pot of rice, feeling pure Qi-Blood surge through his whole body.

"Spirit Rice paired with demon beast meat is even more effective?"

Slightly surprised, Fang Xing immediately assumed the Great Dragon Stance and slowly absorbed the streams of Qi-Blood.

"As expected, demon beast meat and martial artists are a perfect match? It feels similar to taking pills, yet there isn't the slightest trace of Pill Poison..."

"Hmm? Why is there crying? Who's beating a child? Next door? That Meng Zijing from today?"

"Forget it. Beating a child on a rainy day—might as well pass the time..."

The next day.

Fang Xing pushed open the door and breathed in the fresh air, inwardly nodding.

"Training here is actually more efficient than at the temporary camp... Cultivators speak of spirit veins. They say Green Forest Market was built on a spirit land. It seems that rumor is true..."

He stretched, about to practice a set of punches to warm up, when the neighboring door opened as well and Meng Yi walked out. "Brother Fang..."

"Brother Meng..."

Fang Xing returned the greeting. After some thought, he decided not to ask about the child.

It was someone else's family matter, after all. Besides, Biochemical Humans could hardly even find parents to hit them. That child should not fail to appreciate his blessings.

"Yesterday, I heard my wife mention that Brother Fang had just moved in. I have nothing of value to offer, but here are a few pounds of Tiger Bone, as a housewarming gift."

Meng Yi brought over several pieces of Tiger Bone. The smell of blood had not even faded, so they were clearly from yesterday's Demon Tiger.

"Thank you. I'll accept the Tiger Bone. It'll be excellent for soaking in liquor."

Fang Xing accepted the Tiger Bone and chatted with Meng Yi for a while.

Meng Yi then smiled wryly. "My son is mischievous. If he offends Brother Fang in the future, I hope you won't take it to heart..."

"Not at all, not at all..." Fang Xing thought for a moment, then ran back inside and brought out a packet of spice mix. "This is my own secret barbecue seasoning. Consider it a return gift."

"Thank you."

Only then did Meng Yi learn that the grilled meat from last night had been made by Fang Xing himself. He immediately praised him lavishly. "Brother Fang, with your skill, you could make a name for yourself even in the market. My boy fussed all night. At last, he'll settle down today."

At the mention of his son, a hint of pride surfaced on his face.

After asking around a little more, Fang Xing learned that in this world, a child's Spiritual Root would take shape by the age of six or seven, and could be detected by Spirit Test Talismans and Cultivator spells.

Naturally, Meng Yi and Shen Yuxin had high hopes for Meng Zijing.

"Alas... I don't expect the boy to be chosen by an Emissary sent by the Upper Sect for Spirit Root testing. I only hope he has a Spiritual Root. Even the poorest grade would satisfy me." Meng Yi sighed faintly when he mentioned the matter.

The Qingxuan Sect was a great cultivation sect. It had always been customary for it to gather children with outstanding Spiritual Roots from the lands under its rule and accept them as disciples.

Many martial artists could clearly live like tyrants in the mortal world, yet insisted on charging into the Cultivation World until they were battered bloody. A large part of it was because they placed their hopes on their descendants.

As long as a descendant had a Spiritual Root, and the line continued from generation to generation, it would become the inheritance of a small cultivation family.

The continuation of the spirit, the continuation of the bloodline... If one cannot attain Longevity, is this the only thing one can pursue?

Fang Xing could not help sighing inwardly as well.

In any case, there was no way he could enter the Qingxuan Sect.

Not only did he lack a Spiritual Root, but even if he had one, the Qingxuan Sect did not like adult Qi Refining cultivators unless they were exceptionally gifted or possessed a particular skill.

Fang Xing understood that much. It was nothing more than adults being harder to cultivate into loyal followers...

"Today, the Five Heroes are gathering for a little get-together. Would Brother Fang like to join us?"

Meng Yi found himself getting along better and better with Fang Xing, so he extended an invitation.

"No, I have other matters to attend to today..."

Just as Fang Xing refused, his expression abruptly changed and he looked toward the sky.

Chirp, chirp!

Bird cries sounded out. Then they saw an enormous black bird with a wingspan of over five or six meters, its eyes blood-red as it rode the wild wind into the bounds of Green Forest Mountain.

"There's a Demon Bird!"

Meng Yi looked up, and his expression changed sharply as well. "Yuxin, take Zi Jin and hurry to the market. The Grand Formation protects it, so you'll be safe there."

"What about you, honey?"

Shen Yuxin emerged carrying Meng Zijing, looking anxiously at her husband.

"I'm going to take a look..."

Meng Yi stared in the Demon Bird's direction, and there seemed to be a trace of excitement in his expression.

The people here really don't take human lives seriously, do they? Fang Xing watched Meng Yi's departing back, inwardly complaining wildly. Is he going to fight the Demon Bird? He clearly wants to take advantage of the chaos and pick up some gains... This market may look safe and can withstand minor disturbances, but if anything major happens, the closer one is to the center of the market, the more dangerous it becomes!

Living here may improve my martial arts training efficiency, but it really doesn't feel safe. I should visit the Black Market a few more times and save enough money to buy a Laser Gun...