Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation-Chapter 731 - 441: Stand Out from the Crowd_2

In the end, everyone took a group photo in front of South Heavenly Gate, but it was a pity that Guo Kunnan wasn’t there.

"Jiang Ning, I’m hungry, I want to eat something." After hiking for over four hours, it was almost 3 AM, Xue Yuantong felt like she had used up a lot of energy.

She wanted to open her backpack, but Jiang Ning caught her wrist.

"There’s still a bit of a walk, let’s sit down and eat when we get to the place to watch the sunrise," Jiang Ning said.

Xue Yuantong had no choice but to give up, reluctantly gazing at Jiang Ning’s bulging backpack.

Yu Wen was both tired and hungry, seeing Xue Yuantong’s cheerful demeanor, she couldn’t help but wonder why.

"Class leader, let’s grab a bite to refuel," she suggested.

Huang Zhongfei nodded, "Alright."

Then everyone entered South Heavenly Gate and came to a square with breakfast on sale for ten yuan per self-service portion, Yu Wen planned to try it, but Huang Zhongfei stopped her, claiming it was really awful.

Yu Wen curiously asked, "How awful?"

Huang Zhongfei grimaced, "Imagine our school cafeteria’s food before the reform, it’s ten times worse."

Hearing this, Yu Wen awkwardly gave up the idea.

At the roadside, there were grilled sausages for sale, Dan Kaiquan bought one for three yuan, the same kind that was sold in school for one yuan.

He also spent five yuan on a bottle of water, but this time it wasn’t Nongfu Spring, but Kangshi Master water which normally sold for one yuan per bottle.

After eating a grilled sausage, Dan Kaiquan felt even hungrier, and with pain, he bought another one.

Yu Wen went to ask about instant noodles and was shocked by the exorbitant price. A tub of Kangshi Master beef noodles cost a whopping fifteen yuan!

Yu Wen bought it grudgingly, there was no way out; she was both cold and hungry, and even though she had snacks in her bag, she preferred something hot.

Xue Yuantong watched enviously, she also wanted to eat.

Seeing her expression, Jiang Ning said with a chuckle, "Hang in there, there’ll be nice food soon."

Yang Sheng and Tang Fu simply had some snacks to fill their stomachs.

The four of them wandered around while waiting for Huang Zhongfei and the others to eat.

Dan Kaiquan shared photos in the class group, taking some of South Heavenly Gate’s bustling scene, but since it was late, most classmates were asleep, and not many replied.

He also got in touch with Brother Nan, reestablishing communication with him.

After Yu Wen finished her instant noodles, she finally felt some stamina returning. Seeing Jiang Ning and the others hadn’t eaten, she suggested:

"I reckon you should buy some instant noodles as well, don’t skimp on the money, you’ll feel warm all over after eating."

She had the illusion, "The fatigue from hiking before has disappeared."

Jiang Ning: "Let’s keep going."

Yu Wen was stunned for a moment, "Aren’t we at the top when we reach South Heavenly Gate?"

Huang Zhongfei explained, "There’s still Jade Emperor Peak."

Everyone set off again, the journey had some distance, exhausting Yu Wen like a dog, wishing she could just crawl along the ground.

The wind blew fiercely, and she couldn’t stand the cold any longer; her jacket was of no use, so they all rented coats together.

Only Jiang Ning, Xue Yuantong, and Dan Kaiquan were left.

Dan Kaiquan was so brave he naturally didn’t need one.

After a few people walked away, Dan Kaiquan shivered and chattered, "Hahaha, coat, I don’t need one!"

Jiang Ning wasn’t the only one, even Xue Yuantong saw through his bravado.

The others came back wrapped up tightly, Yu Wen commented, "Much warmer."

Jiang Yanan saw Xue Yuantong wearing just a T-shirt and asked with concern, "Aren’t you cold?"

"I don’t feel it." Xue Yuantong was puzzled, why did everyone else seem so cold?

The mountain breeze felt cool and refreshing to her, she felt clear-headed and very comfortable.

The group continued upwards as the mountain was packed with tourists. Originally they wanted to ascend Jade Emperor Peak, but the path was jam-packed.

It was now past 3 AM, with sunrise expected around 5 AM, and many tourists who came to see the sunrise had already staked out spots.

Yang Sheng said, "It’s too crowded, that hill over there looks good, doesn’t it look the same from anywhere?"

Huang Zhongfei nodded, "No difference."

"Then we won’t go to Jade Emperor Peak," Yang Sheng motioned to the north.

They headed towards the north, and along the way, they saw a sign for Gongbei Stone.

Continuing inside, the brightly lit area was filled with many people, with stalls selling soy milk and eight-treasure porridge, with lots of people surrounding them. In any case, it was very crowded everywhere.

Huang Zhongfei and Dong Qingfeng went ahead to scout for a spot to watch the sunrise, but they couldn’t find a good place that could accommodate all nine of them.

Yu Wen proposed, "I suggest we watch in two groups."

Then she paired up with the class monitor.

Dan Kaiquan left the team to meet up with his good friend Guo Kunnan.

Yang Sheng and Tang Fu followed Jiang Ning.

Yang Sheng unfolded his military coat, the mountain wind lifting his short hair, adding a sharp edge to his handsome features. He cheerfully said, "Xue Yuantong, if you’re cold, you can snuggle into my arms."

Xue Yuantong glanced at her and declined politely, "No need, I’m not cold at all!"

Jiang Ning expanded his Divine Sense to find a flat rock that was quite close to the edge with a very good view, but the wind was strong.

"Follow me," Jiang Ning hesitated no more.

Along the way, there were people wrapped in military coats sleeping everywhere. They turned on their flashlights and carefully avoided stepping on anyone, at times having to climb onto a rock, which Xue Yuantong effortlessly ascended in two steps.

She was stunned by herself; when had she gained such strength?

Once they reached the clearing, Xue Yuantong looked toward a brightly lit building to the north:

"Jiang Ning, is that a hotel?"

"Yes."

"Can you watch the sunrise from there?"

"You can watch the sunrise from inside," Jiang Ning answered.

Xue Yuantong fell silent, looking around at the tourists sitting on the ground, then thought about those staying in the hotel.

Jiang Ning chuckled lightly, patting Xue Yuantong on the head:

"Sit down and have something to eat; we’ll wait for the sunrise."

Jiang Ning began to unpack his backpack, pulling out items. He first took out a mat and spread it out, about one square meter in size.

Yang Sheng, who had been uncomfortable sitting on the rock, found Jiang Ning’s mat to be a godsend. She marveled, "You’re well-prepared!"

She moved slightly to sit on the mat.

Jiang Ning’s backpack was quite large; next, he took out a thermos, which Xue Yuantong recognized.

"I’ve been wanting some hot water," she said delightfully.

Tang Fu was surprised, "There’s hot water?"

The mountain was so cold, and despite wearing military coats, it was still chilly. Having hot water to warm your stomach would indeed be very comfortable.

Xue Yuantong reached out to get water, but Jiang Ning said, "Don’t rush."

He then produced a glass jar, which left Xue Yuantong dumbfounded; wasn’t that the honey lemon slices she made at home?

Jiang Ning pulled out paper cups, used tongs to pick up honey lemon slices, and made everyone a cup.

The thermos had a capacity of 1.7 liters, quite large.

Xue Yuantong sat on the mat, with her knees up, holding the paper cup, and savoring the tea.

As they savored the tea, Jiang Ning was still busy; his backpack was like a treasure bag.

In the incredulous eyes of Yang Sheng and Tang Fu, he took out a mini electric cooker, a small milk pot, and vacuum-packed food like beef slices, tripe, raw fish slices, duck blood, kelp, mushrooms, baby bok choy...

These ingredients, chilled with ice blocks, were laid out, looking fresh and emitting a chill.

Yang Sheng was still shocked, while Tang Fu found a flaw, cleverly asking, "Although you brought an electric cooker, there’s no electricity now, right?"

Jiang Ning said, "It’s a battery-powered electric cooker."

Tang Fu had learned something new.

Indeed, Jiang Ning’s electric cooker came with a battery, but the bigger "battery" was himself, having cultivated the Thunder Decision Body Refining Technique.

Jiang Ning took a 1.5-liter bottle of distilled water, put on gloves, and elegantly sliced tomatoes. He had brought these tomatoes from Hu Qi Mountain to make an excellent tomato hotpot base.

After slicing the tomatoes, before even lighting the fire, the sweet and sour aroma reached their noses, causing everyone to swallow instinctively.

Jiang Ning poured the water, sprinkled the prepared spices into the pot, started the electric cooker, and began to cook the hotpot.

Jiang Ning, finding the electrical power insufficient, secretly activated a Spell, causing the small milk pot’s temperature to growl and rise. When the water boiled, the fragrance spread completely.

The tomatoes from Hu Qi Mountain were of excellent quality, rich and appealing, and the surrounding air seemed to turn sweet and tangy, which, carried by the mountain wind, filled the air with a delicious scent.

Half of the mountaintop’s visitors caught the aroma. Not only Xue Yuantong, but many other tourists waiting for the sunrise were stimulated by the thick aroma to salivate uncontrollably.

Even those who were asleep awoke from the smell.

Amidst a tumult, people looked toward the source of the fragrance and saw a guy and three girls cooking hotpot.

"What the hell?"

Many eyed them with envy and couldn’t help but complain, "That’s too much!"