Chapter 11

*Hiss!*

A sword light like a ribbon of silk flickered, the sharp and fierce sword qi splashing in all directions, slicing through the air with a series of sharp whistles.

Chen Hao held the sword in his left hand, his slender figure enveloped in a mist of sword shadows. His face was resolute, his eyes calm and clear, and he executed the *Little Heavenly Star Sword Technique* learned from the Tianxing Academy to its utmost perfection. His movements were smooth and natural, graceful and agile, and he was thoroughly immersed in the practice.

Watching his younger brother in the courtyard, Chen Xi felt a sense of nostalgia, as if he had been transported back five years.

Back then, he was also so determined and devoted, so passionate about sword practice, repeating each sword technique thousands of times without ever feeling bored or tired.

At such times, Grandpa would stand by the side, not saying a word, but with a smile on his wrinkled face, full of satisfaction.

Grandpa's mood back then must have been the same as his now, right?

Watching his brother practicing sword techniques under the sunlight, Chen Xi's emotions were complex and indescribable.

"Good! This level of sword technique has already reached the *Zhiwei* stage. What's remarkable is that he uses his left hand, and his sword techniques are imbued with a hint of unpredictable and mysterious elements. With a bit more training, he will surely become a great talent!"

Meng Kong clapped his hands in admiration, a rare look of appreciation appearing on his resolute face.

If before he had decided to test Chen Hao out of courtesy, now he was thoroughly convinced by this left-handed, slender youth.

In Chen Hao, he saw a firm and unwavering dedication to the sword, the most basic quality required to become a qualified sword practitioner. Especially since Chen Hao was only twelve years old and had already reached the *Zhiwei* stage in sword techniques, his extraordinary talent meant that he was destined to achieve greater heights in the path of the sword!

Bai Wanqing secretly heaved a sigh of relief, looking at Chen Hao in the courtyard with a sense of pride. She knew how strict Meng Kong was in choosing disciples, and for Chen Hao to receive his unreserved praise was a matter of great pride!

...

Leaving the Songyan Academy, Chen Xi remained silent.

His younger brother, as expected, became a disciple of Instructor Meng Kong and a member of the Songyan Academy. He was naturally very happy, but the thought of the annual tuition fee of four thousand yuan stones made him a bit anxious.

Relying solely on making talismans, even without eating or drinking, he probably couldn't afford the tuition. It seemed he needed to find another way to earn yuan stones.

"You should be happy. Not everyone can enter the Songyan Academy, and to become a disciple of Instructor Meng is even rarer. Chen Hao will be able to develop his potential further under his guidance, which will greatly benefit his future path as a sword practitioner."

Bai Wanqing seemed to have read Chen Xi's thoughts and smiled. "As for the yuan stones, don't worry. I'll lend you some, and you can pay me back later."

Chen Xi shook his head. "That won't do. Instructor Meng already promised to cover the tuition by the end of the year, which is a big help. I plan to find another job and try to earn four thousand yuan stones by the end of the year."

Bai Wanqing smiled and didn't insist. "What else do you plan to do besides making talismans?"

Chen Xi pondered. "Naturally, the more profitable, the better."

Bai Wanqing exclaimed, "Oh, I've been thinking about this for a while. How about you come to the Qingxi Restaurant? Since you're good at making talismans, controlling spirit fire should be easy for you. I know a spirit chef who doesn't have any disciples yet. Why don't you give it a try? Once you become a spirit chef apprentice, earning thirty yuan stones a day shouldn't be difficult. If you can handle it independently, you can earn even more."

Chen Xi hesitated. "A chef?"

Bai Wanqing laughed. "Don't underestimate spirit chefs. Each dish they cook not only tastes great but also has various wondrous effects, such as solidifying the foundation of cultivation, enhancing true essence, and healing injuries. Wealthy families all have dedicated spirit chefs, and their status is no less than that of talisman masters."

Chen Xi was taken aback. "So spirit chefs are similar to alchemists?"

Bai Wanqing smiled. "Indeed, both need to be familiar with the properties of various materials and use spirit fire to operate. However, there are differences. Spirit chefs focus on taste, with effects as a secondary consideration; alchemists prioritize effects and never consider taste. If you ask which is better, it depends on the individual's skill."

Chen Xi nodded, understanding. After some thought, he finally made a decision. "I'll give it a try."

Bai Wanqing smiled. "You'll do great. Making talismans requires wrist strength, and so does cooking. The preparation of talismans involves mixing various materials in the right proportions, and cooking is similar. The only thing to pay attention to is the control of spirit fire, but since you're skilled at precise control from making talismans, it shouldn't be difficult."

Chen Xi hadn't expected Bai Wanqing to be so confident in him, feeling a bit embarrassed. He wasn't really good at making talismans; he had only mastered basic first-grade talismans.

"Let's go, I'll take you there now." Bai Wanqing said enthusiastically.

"Uh, now?"

Chen Xi scratched his head, as he hadn't thanked Bai Wanqing for helping his brother enter the Songyan Academy. Now he was troubling her again, and even with a thick skin, he felt a bit awkward.

Bai Wanqing was taken aback, looking at the shy and uneasy young man with surprise. She had never seen Chen Xi's expression change so much, completely different from his usual calm and reserved demeanor.

She couldn't help but feel a bit sentimental. If not for the pressures of life, Chen Xi would probably be an open and optimistic young man, not always worrying about making a living.

...

The Qingxi Restaurant was built by the water, with a refined and elegant structure, and it was known as the best restaurant in Songyan City, boasting three three-leaf spirit chefs.

Bai Wanqing was a cook at the Qingxi Restaurant, responsible for purchasing food materials.

The kitchen of the Qingxi Restaurant was located behind the restaurant, covering a hundred-zhang area. Crystal-clear cooking stations lined up, and fresh meat from spirit beasts, vegetables, and grains emitting a faint aura, as well as various strange and exotic seasonings, were neatly arranged throughout the kitchen.

Apprentices were busy in various corners, some using spirit fire to cure meat, others slicing vegetables with knives, and some mixing seasonings. In front of the cooking stations, various colored spirit fires continuously spouted, and young spirit chef apprentices were busy cooking semi-finished dishes.

As Chen Xi followed Bai Wanqing into the kitchen, he was struck by the grandeur of the scene, seeing such a large-scale kitchen for the first time.

"Let's go to the second floor."

Without lingering, Bai Wanqing led Chen Xi up the stairs to the second floor.

"The first floor is where various ingredients are prepared, and the second floor is where the three spirit chefs cook."

As they walked, Bai Wanqing explained, "The spirit chef I mentioned is surnamed Ma, and everyone calls him Old Ma. He has a bit of a peculiar temper, but he's a kind person. When you meet him, make sure to perform well."

Chen Xi nodded silently.

"Xiaobai? Why are you saying bad things about me behind my back? Be careful, or I'll get the boss to fire you."

A hoarse and unpleasant voice came from a room on the second floor, sounding angry but with a hint of teasing.

Xiaobai...

Chen Xi glanced at Bai Wanqing beside him, feeling a bit strange. Bai Wanqing's daughter was already six years old, yet Old Ma called her Xiaobai, which seemed quite inappropriate.

Bai Wanqing noticed Chen Xi's gaze and felt a bit embarrassed, wishing she hadn't brought him here. However, she knew Old Ma was a blunt and straightforward person, so she wasn't too upset.

Leading Chen Xi into the room, they were greeted by a scene that seemed like a utopia.

The sky was like silk, the clouds like cotton, and a winding path ran through the flowers and trees. At the end of the path stood a green bamboo pavilion, hidden among the cypress and pine trees.

An illusionary array!

Chen Xi's gaze swept the scene, and he almost instantly recognized that everything was an illusion created by an array formation.

The scenery was vivid and lifelike, and such an illusionary array must have been set up by a master of illusionary arrays, a great talisman array master.

Breathing in the fragrance of the flowers and trees, Chen Xi couldn't help but marvel. Only those above the ninth-grade talisman master could be called talisman array masters, and he was currently only a first-grade talisman master. He wondered when he would reach such a level.

"This is a *Green Sky Flower Shadow Array*, a lower-grade illusionary array, with hidden dangers. Be careful and stay close to me; don't wander around on your own."

Bai Wanqing whispered, leading the way along the winding path.

Chen Xi was startled and followed closely behind Bai Wanqing, not daring to be careless.

Talisman masters were divided into nine grades, and the talismans they made were also divided into nine grades. Above the ninth-grade talisman master were talisman array masters, who made talismans and array formations divided into upper, middle, and lower grades.

According to Chen Xi's knowledge, even a *Zifu* cultivator would not dare to cross the boundary of an illusionary array. The *Green Sky Flower Shadow Array* before him undoubtedly possessed such powerful destructive power, so he dared not act rashly.

Entering the green bamboo pavilion, the scenery changed again. The large room was extremely simple, with only three cooking stations, and nothing else, far from the magnificent kitchen on the first floor.

At the moment, an old man, a man, and a woman were standing at the three cooking stations, skillfully cooking food. Behind them, lifelike puppets stood quietly, holding trays with various food materials.

"Hey, beautiful Bai."

With a loud whistle, the man at one of the cooking stations looked up and greeted Bai Wanqing with a grin. He was well-dressed, with a sword-like brow and star-like eyes, tall and handsome, and a charming smile on his lips.

"What a young and handsome boy, making my heart race. Oh, Wanqing, is this your boyfriend?"

The woman at another cooking station looked up, her chest high and her figure slender and fiery. Her watery, seductive eyes stared directly at Chen Xi, and her beautiful face wore a bewitching smile.

"Work!"

The old man at the last cooking station glared, banging his spoon loudly and roaring.

The handsome man and the seductive woman trembled and immediately buried themselves in their work, looking obedient and well-behaved...