The Cook with the Giant Barbarian Physique
"Pingyang City is quite a way off. With just the two of you going, I can't help but worry."
Before they left, Cang Wenyu stopped them.
"Here's what I'll do. I'll arrange for some people to accompany you, in case anything happens."
"Wait here a moment."
Soon, Xu Kun arrived with four elders.
Lu Changzhi was taken aback.
Wasn't this a bit of an extravagant lineup?
They were only making a trip, yet the master of one of the five great peaks was personally protecting them.
"Changzhi, let's set off."
Xu Kun spoke with a smile and took out his flying boat.
It was a rather large, low-grade Spirit Rank flying boat.
Gu Chen hesitated, then said:
"Senior Xu, how about we use my flying boat instead?"
With that, a Spirit Rank High Grade flying boat suddenly appeared.
Luxurious and imposing.
"Spirit Rank High Grade?!"
Xu Kun and the elders were all a little startled.
Though Gu Chen was a disciple, he actually possessed a flying boat of such a high grade.
Cang Wenyu also gave a soft exclamation and remarked:
"Gu Chen certainly has quite a few good things."
As expected of a disciple who could produce Dao Comprehension Tea.
Once their surprise had passed, everyone boarded the flying boat and headed toward Pingyang City.
"Congratulations, host. You have completed the mission and received:" "High-grade Heaven Rank protective formation disk ×1." "Experience points ×300."
After they had flown some distance, the system's voice rang out.
"Not bad."
Including what he had before, he now had 850 experience points.
He needed only 150 more to unlock the shop.
"But this high-grade Heaven Rank protective formation disk isn't all that useful."
Lu Changzhi spoke softly.
A formation disk was a simplified version of a great formation, with the advantage of being portable and saving time.
But it was somewhat inferior to a fixed great formation.
At most, it was equivalent to a fixed Mid-Grade Heaven Rank great formation.
Hidden Origin Peak had several Mid-Grade Heaven Rank great formations.
Without dwelling on its value, Lu Changzhi put it into his storage ring.
Pingyang City lay within the Five Symbols Sect's sphere of influence.
But it was relatively far away.
By ordinary means, even traveling day and night would take nearly half a month.
At the speed of a Spirit Rank High Grade flying boat, it took a little over a day.
However, for cultivators,
a day wasn't very long.
That afternoon, the flying boat arrived near Pingyang City.
To avoid causing too much of a disturbance, the flying boat was put away before they got too close.
Gu Chen walked ahead, leading the way.
The elders restrained their presence and followed on either side.
"I wonder if there are any promising youngsters in this city. Since we're here, we could take them back with us."
One of the elders spoke.
Another elder shook his head:
"Not likely. When it comes to something that depends on luck, I suggest you not even think about it."
"Kong Ling, are you saying I have bad luck?"
"Don't overthink it. You don't have any luck at all."
Hearing their exchange, Lu Changzhi couldn't help smiling.
The atmosphere among the elders of the Five Symbols Sect was quite good.
But something that depends on luck...
Lu Changzhi said inwardly:
System, search Pingyang City and see if there are any geniuses.
"Master, your current detection range is limited. The search has been initiated. Please proceed farther in."
At the same time, Xu Kun released his spiritual sense.
It instantly enveloped all of Pingyang City.
A moment later, he shook his head gently.
There were no youngsters in the city who met the requirements for taking on a disciple.
Following Pingyang City, they made their way into the city.
Soon, the group arrived near the city lord's manor.
"Master, seniors, please wait a moment."
After saying that, Gu Chen walked toward the city lord's manor.
Gu Chen came to a stop in front of the manor.
At the same time, the system's voice rang out in Lu Changzhi's mind:
"Congratulations, host. Your disciple Gu Chen has completed a sign-in mission. Disciple Gu Chen has received the reward: the mid-grade Spirit Rank cultivation technique Spirit Concealment Art. Host has received: the Spirit Rank Peak Grade movement technique Hidden Trace Steps; experience points ×100."
"Spirit Rank Peak Grade?"
Lu Changzhi raised an eyebrow.
His disciple's system gave out some seriously impressive things.
Its sign-in rewards started at spirit rank.
As far as he knew, the Five Symbols Sect didn't seem to have many Spirit Rank cultivation techniques.
As for Spirit Rank Peak Grade ones, they were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.
And now, with the system's help, he had obtained a supreme-grade movement technique just like that.
If word of a movement technique of this grade got out, it would be enough to send the major powers into a frenzy fighting over it.
"Master, seniors, I'm done."
While Lu Changzhi was thinking,
Gu Chen walked back.
The excitement in his eyes was plain to see.
Lu Changzhi didn't ask him about it.
As long as it was useful, that was good. If you grow stronger, so do I.
"Since you're done, let's head back to the sect," Xu Kun said with a nod.
Lu Changzhi was about to leave.
Suddenly, a group of children ran past nearby, playing and laughing.
A system notification suddenly sounded:
"Master, a person with a special physique has been found."
"Hm?"
Lu Changzhi's expression changed, and he immediately asked:
"Where?"
As his voice fell, a light stretched out, pointing toward a young girl.
The girl wore her hair in two ponytails and looked less than ten years old. She was quite pretty and bright-eyed.
"A child?"
Somewhat surprised, Lu Changzhi used the system to examine the girl's information.
[Name]: Luo Ling'er [Realm]: Body Tempering Realm, First Level [Aptitude]: High-grade yellow-rank (unawakened) [Physique]: Giant Barbarian Physique (unawakened) [Talent]: Extraordinary culinary skill
Could this be the unexpected gain you mentioned, system?
What does "unawakened" mean?
Lu Changzhi was a little taken aback.
"Master, a special item is required to awaken it. The current target requires: the spirit core of any earth-attribute spirit beast ×1. After awakening, the target's aptitude will also improve."
"A spirit beast?" Lu Changzhi thought for a moment.
That didn't seem difficult.
After all, Xiao Ming was a sacred beast.
Lu Changzhi lowered his gaze to the [Extraordinary culinary skill] talent.
[Extraordinary culinary skill]: An innate aptitude for cooking, with a keen intuition for balancing flavors and controlling heat. On the culinary path, she could be called a genius. Ordinary people can envy her, but cannot surpass her.
Lu Changzhi's expression grew somewhat peculiar.
The Giant Barbarian Physique was renowned for its domineering strength.
And then there was this talent for cooking.
He really couldn't reconcile those two identities with the girl before him.
Although there's no disciple recruitment mission right now, with this talent... and a hidden physique too, I could consider taking her back as a cook.
Lu Changzhi pondered aloud.
Special physiques were exceedingly rare, and those who possessed them had exceptional advantages in their respective areas.
It could be said that they were certain to accomplish something in some field.
In the past, even a Heaven Rank special physique was enough to spark fierce competition among the relevant powers.
Let alone this Giant Barbarian Physique, which was a Spirit Rank physique.
Although it had yet to awaken, the potential was there all the same.
Of course, the main reason was-
The Five Symbols Sect's food wasn't exactly inedible, but for someone from Blue Star like him, it was hard to describe.
Eating, drinking, playing, and having fun: eating came first among life's four great pursuits.
He already had tea to drink, but as for food...
How could he treat himself poorly?
Now there was a promising seedling right in front of him.
Yes, she was worth nurturing.
"Changzhi, what are you standing there thinking about?"
Xu Kun called out to him.
Hearing this, Lu Changzhi smiled and said:
"Peak Master Xu, please wait a moment."
"I'm going to find a cook."