Chapter 32: The Self-Cultivation of a Foodie

Inside the basket were nothing but wild mountain fruits.

One by one, the fruits looked misshapen and ugly, like twisted, withered vegetables.

These were a special kind of wild fruit found on Falling Immortal Mountain.

They tasted bitter and had a terrible texture.

Zheng Tuo picked up a fruit and weighed it in his hand.

He looked toward Shen Xian'er, who had already picked up a fruit and begun eating.

"Junior Sister, have you been eating only this for the past three years?"

Zheng Tuo was astonished!

A prestigious cultivation sect shouldn't be so destitute that they lack even decent meals!

Especially for someone with talent like Shen Xian'er.

In any other sect, someone like her would be treated like an ancestor to be worshipped.

There was no reason for her to be subsisting on wild fruits every single day!

"Senior Sister said that cultivators don't actually need to eat food. If I want to eat, I can just have some wild fruits. Over time, I will gradually forget the taste of delicious food, thereby achieving the effect of fasting. That's how Senior Sister did it."

As she spoke of forgetting the taste of delicious food, Shen Xian'er's expression turned somewhat lonely.

She loved delicious food more than anything.

She believed that the greatest happiness in the world was eating something tasty.

But she could not disobey her Senior Sister's teachings.

Therefore...

Every day when she ate the wild fruits, she tried to imagine they were some kind of rare mountain delicacy.

She was trying her best to delay forgetting the taste of good food.

Uh...

Zheng Tuo thought for a moment.

Why did he get the feeling that Senior Sister Lan Caicai was just tricking Shen Xian'er because she didn't want the trouble of cooking?

It was true that cultivators could survive on spiritual qi alone and didn't strictly need food for energy.

The unique nature of spiritual qi was sufficient to ensure the normal functioning of the human body.

However, eating did not interfere with cultivation.

Some people chose fasting simply because eating was a waste of time.

Most cultivators were people of average talent.

They needed vast amounts of time to cultivate and could not afford to waste a single second.

But Shen Xian'er possessed a Grade Seven Spiritual Root.

Her talent was so high it was second only to his own.

He could achieve a breakthrough just by stretching; surely, with just a little cultivation, Shen Xian'er would achieve incredible heights.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that Senior Sister Lan Caicai had hoodwinked her.

As expected.

She was indeed a woman who walked the same path as Senior Brother Du Ming.

Completely unreliable.

"Senior Brother, why aren't you eating? It's very delicious."

Shen Xian'er picked out a fruit and carefully placed it in front of Zheng Tuo.

"This one tastes like chicken. I can't even bring myself to eat it. You should try it, Senior Brother."

Looking at the dead-serious Shen Xian'er, Zheng Tuo was speechless.

Just what kind of Senior Sister was she?

She had tricked the child into having hallucinations.

These were clearly terrible wild fruits, yet she claimed they tasted like chicken.

"Don't you like chicken, Senior Brother? Then eat this one. This one tastes like fish; it's incredibly, incredibly fragrant."

As if presenting a treasure, Shen Xian'er produced another fruit and placed it before him.

Then, she went back to eating her own fruit with gusto.

The way she enjoyed it, as if she were eating a divine delicacy, left Zheng Tuo with an indescribable feeling in his heart.

A peerless foodie—that was exactly what she was.

Fine.

It's your own fault for running into me.

"Junior Sister Xian'er, stop eating those wild fruits. I've brought you something good."

Zheng Tuo gave a mysterious smile and summoned his Bronze Treasure Mirror.

He reached his hand into the mirror and pulled out a food box.

The moment the food box appeared, a terrifying surge of spiritual qi erupted from Shen Xian'er.

Like a small lion with its fur standing on end, she instantly locked onto the food box.

Her eyes were wary!

Her whole body was tense!

Her movements were cautious, as if she were afraid of startling her prey.

She poked her little nose out to sniff.

Then, her large eyes began to sparkle with excitement.

She shuffled her little bottom closer toward the food box.

"Senior Brother, what's inside your food box? It smells so good!"

Shen Xian'er stared intently at the box.

Her aura had completely locked onto it, as if she feared the box might grow legs and run away.

Little did she know, her saliva was already flowing like a small river, soaking her chest.

"Junior Sister Xian'er, this is my specialty: Braised Green Fish. It's a gift I brought specifically for you. Speaking of which, I feel ashamed. I shouldn't have left you alone during the assessment; I should have brought you along. I hope you can forgive me."

Such words caused the little white cat on the table to roll its eyes.

Clearly, this pet had seen through the man's tricks.

Cliché.

Shen Xian'er, however, acted as if she hadn't heard him.

"Mhm, mhm, mhm... I won't blame you, Senior Brother. I understand your difficulties," Shen Xian'er agreed repeatedly.

Yet her eyes remained glued to the food box, and she swallowed her saliva several times.

"Alright, let this Braised Green Fish serve as my apology for today."

As he spoke, Zheng Tuo slowly lifted the lid of the food box.

In an instant!

An aroma wafted toward them.

It was visible to the naked eye.

Shen Xian'er's pupils dilated, and she swallowed hard.

Her image as a little fairy vanished instantly, replaced by a seasoned foodie.

"Is... is... is this really for me to eat?"

Shen Xian'er tried her best to restrain her hunger, but her trembling body betrayed her.

She was incredibly excited.

"Of course."

Zheng Tuo flashed a smile as bright as sunshine.

"Oh, right."

Zheng Tuo pulled another pot of steamed rice from the Bronze Treasure Mirror.

"Fish tastes twice as good when paired with rice."

"Twice as good!"

Shen Xian'er keenly caught onto the words that sent her appetite soaring.

"Eat, go ahead and eat."

At Zheng Tuo's gesture, Shen Xian'er no longer stood on ceremony.

It had to be said.

Shen Xian'er truly loved eating, and she knew how to eat.

She didn't rush to gorge herself immediately.

Even though her saliva was flowing uncontrollably.

She reached into her robes and pulled out a set of what appeared to be quite precious bowl and chopstick-type magical treasures.

That's right.

You didn't misread that.

They were indeed bowl and chopstick-type magical treasures.

And they looked to be of a high grade.

Upon closer inspection, they were actually comparable to his own Bronze Treasure Mirror.

An iron!

Rice!

Bowl!

Zheng Tuo didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Just how much did Shen Xian'er fear going hungry that her magical treasures were utensils?

Then, Shen Xian'er used the chopsticks to carefully tear off a piece of fish and put it in her mouth.

As she chewed slowly, her small face turned from white to red, then from red to pink, until her entire body seemed to radiate a rosy glow.

The way she enjoyed it seemed to infect every inch of the surrounding land, the air, every blade of grass, and every flower.

She was so happy that her little head shook with excitement like a rattle.

Watching Shen Xian'er completely immersed in her foodie world, Zheng Tuo felt as if he were seeing a reflection of himself.

They really were cut from the same cloth.

"Senior Brother, you're amazing!"

Eating the delicious braised fish, Shen Xian'er couldn't help but praise her senior brother.

She had never eaten such delicious braised fish; she wouldn't trade it for anything, even if a god offered.

"It's delicious, but eat slowly so you don't choke."

Zheng Tuo brewed a pot of clear tea and poured a cup for her.

He also picked up a cup for himself and took a sip.

The happiest moment for a chef is watching a guest happily consume the food they poured their heart into.

Eat up.

This is a flavor from another world.

It took me ten years to find this taste.

How could it not be delicious?

Once the meal was finished.

Shen Xian'er slumped into her chair without any regard for her image, her small hands constantly rubbing her bulging belly.

"This is the most, most, most, most, most, most delicious food I have ever eaten! Senior Brother, you are too great! You are my peerless hero!"

Shen Xian'er patted her round little belly and spoke with absolute conviction.

"Alright, the meal is over, and I've finished my visit. It's time for me to head back."

Zheng Tuo played hard to get, standing up to prepare to leave.

"Senior Brother!!!"

Shen Xian'er grabbed Zheng Tuo's arm.

"Senior Brother, are you coming back tomorrow?"

Shen Xian'er grinned, her large eyes blinking.

Her cute appearance was enough to charm anyone, young or old.

"Senior Brother has things to do tomorrow. However, if you miss me, you can come to my Falling Immortal Mountain to find me."

"Really?"

"Of course. I am your Senior Brother, after all."

"Okay, okay, okay... I'll come find you tomorrow."

"Not tomorrow. Come find me the day after tomorrow."

"Mhm, mhm, mhm..."

Shen Xian'er nodded vigorously.

As Zheng Tuo left, Shen Xian'er followed him closely all the way to the foot of the mountain.

She stared at him countless times, making sure he was definitely going home, because if he was, she would surely go to play with him.

Finally, after Zheng Tuo produced another food box and warned her that she could only open it tomorrow, Shen Xian'er hugged the box contentedly and waved goodbye to him.

(End of Chapter)