Food System in Cultivation World-Chapter 462 - 428: Withered and Flourishing Are but Passing Clouds, All Within the Sect Are Good People
Chen Xu completed the True Inheritance Task and bid farewell to True Master Ye Ning.
Afterward, he went to visit Hong Xuanji.
The location of Hong Xuanji’s cave dwelling was still guided by True Master Ye Ning.
Although Chen Xu did not formally become a disciple of Hong Xuanji, he had taken his "Hong’s Purification Method," and Hong Xuanji promised to teach him the way of the Spirit Chef.
Since Chen Xu was leaving the sect to undertake the True Inheritance Task, he naturally had to inform Hong Xuanji.
In Hong Xuanji’s cave, this Golden Core cultivator, sitting in a wheelchair, turned his head and revealed a withered visage.
He smiled faintly at Chen Xu and said, "You’ve come, huh."
There was always an indescribable melancholy about Hong Xuanji, making his image seem unlike a chef; at times, he had the air of a fallen aristocratic child.
Meeting with Senior Brother Hong, Chen Xu always felt it wasn’t as relaxed and natural as when he was with Master Mao.
But it wasn’t that there was anything wrong with Hong Xuanji, just that everyone’s disposition was different.
Understanding Chen Xu’s intention, Hong Xuanji didn’t mince words and directly said to him:
"Since your True Inheritance Task includes participating in the Exotic Cuisine Banquet, I will gift you a volume of ’Introduction to Spiritual Cuisine.’
While you’re outside, you can leaf through it when you have time. Although it might not make your culinary skills soar, it will certainly benefit you.
If you can make a name at the Exotic Cuisine Banquet and return, I will have more rewards for you."
Hong Xuanji was straightforward. Though he wasn’t as jovial as Master Mao at times, he genuinely helped when needed.
Chen Xu didn’t expect to gain any benefit from his brief visit.
He couldn’t help but think, there are good people in Shenji Sect.
He expressed his gratitude to Hong Xuanji, but Hong Xuanji waved his hand and said:
"I failed to break through, and now I’m merely lingering on.
What’s the point of taking my skills to the grave?
Moreover, when cultivators like us die, we might not even be buried in the ground.
In a moment, the True Spirit may vanish in the long river, which is common.
Since ancient times, rise and fall are but illusions. You don’t need to thank me, it’s all of my own volition."
He sat in his wheelchair, withering lotus planted in the courtyard of the cave dwelling.
One couldn’t tell what species these dried lotus belonged to; despite wilting, their stems stood upright, never sagging in the pond.
Only the dry seedpods drooped slightly, reflecting the few yellowed lotus leaves in the pond, silent yet seemingly eternal.
The pond water was a deep green, exuding faint spiritual Qi.
At this moment, it seemed to mirror Hong Xuanji, the two merging as one.
Hong Xuanji seemed to be someone with many buried stories.
Chen Xu didn’t quite know how to respond, and after a silent moment, he said:
"Senior Brother said rise and fall are but illusions; I need not thank you because everything comes from your heart, and you choose to act as you do,.
Everything follows one’s heart, and there’s no need to care about outcomes.
Yet my thanks to Senior Brother are also from my heart.
Whether or not Senior Brother cares, even if you don’t, I must care."
These words, at first glance, seemed like quibbling, but they actually carried some reasoning.
Hong Xuanji looked over somewhat surprised.
Chen Xu bowed and smiled slightly.
Hong Xuanji was momentarily stunned.
Afterward, Chen Xu bid farewell and left.
The sunlight was oblique from the eastern sky, with the sun rising steadily.
The sky was vast, and the autumn air was crisp.
As Chen Xu left Hong Xuanji’s cave, the morning sun cast its light on his back, with a breeze brushing past him.
What Hong Xuanji saw was the steps of youth, vibrant and full of potential.
He seemed to be reminiscing about years gone by.
Many years ago, before he had experienced so many things, did he once have such a silhouette?
Hong Xuanji couldn’t quite remember, but as he sat beside the withering lotus pond, watching that silhouette fade away, the corners of his mouth involuntarily curled up slightly.
Suddenly, a voice sounded from beyond the courtyard wall:
"Old Hong, do you have some regrets? Look, yesterday I urged you to quickly accept a disciple, but you refused.
Dragging your feet wasted time.
In the end, you didn’t get the disciple, but gained another younger brother.
Hey, getting a younger brother is one thing, but the most annoying part is, you still have to teach your younger brother like a disciple.
Do you feel like you’ve lost out?"
Hong Xuanji turned his head to see someone standing on the courtyard wall; who else could it be but Ge Xing?
This unsavory fellow prefers climbing walls rather than using the main entrance.
Not only did he climb the wall, but he shouted, "Old Hong, quickly release the formation, I’m coming!"
Before the words were finished, Ge Xing swung his sleeve wide like a giant roc, swiftly leaping into the courtyard.
Bang!
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning rang out, flashing simultaneously.
Crack!
The lightning struck Ge Xing—
No, it was more like Ge Xing himself collided with the suddenly appearing lightning.
It was naturally the protective formation of Hong Xuanji’s cave dwelling operating automatically, due to Ge Xing taking the unconventional way.
He had a proper entrance but insisted on climbing the wall.
If not struck by lightning, who else?
Hit square, Ge Xing was momentarily covered in scorched smoke, glaring at Hong Xuanji.
Whew!
A small bolt of lightning sputtered from his mouth.
"Phoo, phoo, phoo!" Ge Xing spat out several small bolts of lightning continuously, furiously indignant.
He glared indignantly at Hong Xuanji saying, "Old Hong, that wasn’t fair; you didn’t deactivate the formation, you actually shocked me! Are we still friends?"
Hong Xuanji said helplessly, "You moved too fast; even if I wanted to deactivate the formation, how could I keep up?"
His expression was innocent, his demeanor sincere.
But for some reason, Ge Xing always suspected that this guy did it intentionally, wanting to see him as a joke.
Looking at each other, after a moment, Ge Xing chuckled.
A suddenly mischievous Hong Xuanji, surely that was his old Ge’s handiwork?
He knew that finding him a good successor was the best way to fix his gloomy appearance.
Though the successor was now a younger brother, who could blame him for dragging?
The younger brother had to accept it!
After leaving Hong Xuanji’s cave, Chen Xu went to see Ji Yang.
Ji Yang now resides in the courtyard where outer disciples gather.
Although he’s only an outer disciple, for Ji Yang who originally had mediocre talent, it’s a promising future he never dared dream of.
After all, Shenji Sect is a Sixth Grade sect.
In the Immortal City, a Sixth Grade sect seems insignificant.
Yet, in Bailiu City, a Sixth Grade sect is heavenly.
Before, Ji Yang couldn’t even dream of an Eighth Grade sect, let alone a Sixth Grade sect.
But for Chen Xu, merely being an outer disciple is still not enough.
Thus, when visiting Ji Yang, he deliberately appeared openly among many outer disciples and displayed his token, revealing his identity.
This act wasn’t for anything else but to lend support to Ji Yang.
Through this, the outer disciples knew Ji Yang had backing, so naturally, they would unconsciously give him some leeway. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
Preventing him from experiencing exclusion and oppression due to being new.
