Chapter 177
Faced with Jian Yunlan’s hopeful gaze, Hu Qianye hesitated before shaking his head honestly.
“The ancient ferocious beast, Lord Taotie… Even we mortals have heard of his fearsome reputation.”
“But I don’t know his whereabouts.”
Jian Yunlan’s expression dimmed momentarily—but brightened again when Hu Qianye added, “However, I do know how you might find him…”
As he spoke, his eyes kept darting toward the roujiamo.
Jian Yunlan wasn’t dense.
He immediately offered another roujiamo with both hands, blinking eagerly. “Please, enlighten me!”
“…”
Under Hu Qianye’s guidance, Jian Yunlan finally grasped the rules of the Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai) Plane.
The entire Mountains and Seas Plane is divided into three parts: the Mortal Realm, the Cultivation Realm, and the Upper Realm.
Most inhabitants of the Mortal Realm are ordinary mortals, no different from Jian Yunlan. They possess no magical powers and experience the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death. To cultivators and deities of the Upper Realm, their entire lives pass in the blink of an eye.
Strictly speaking, the Mortal Realm and the Cultivation Realm are interconnected, almost indistinguishable from one another.
Among mortals, there occasionally emerge rare talents with spiritual roots. If they can join an immortal sect and become cultivators, their lives take a completely different trajectory.
For example, Dongyun Street is a gathering place for mortals, but just a few hundred miles to the west lies the famous Ten Thousand Spirits Mountain. The Ten Thousand Spirits Sect atop the mountain is the most powerful faction in the Cultivation Realm—and for good reason…
“The sect leader of Ten Thousand Spirits Sect is none other than the renowned Immortal Lord of the Spirit Realm—Mu Jue.”
When mentioning the Immortal Lord’s name, Hu Qianye suddenly paused, his tone turning stiff and his gaze chilling.
Hu Qianye’s usual demeanor was gentle and aloof—handsome and kind. It was unexpected to see such an expression on his face.
Jian Yunlan was surprised but, out of politeness, didn’t press further.
Hu Qianye coughed lightly, quickly masking his momentary lapse, and continued, “The Cultivation Realm and the Mortal Realm are connected, but the Upper Realm is different.”
Jian Yunlan repeated, “Upper Realm?”
Hu Qianye went on.
The Upper Realm is distinctly separate from the Mortal and Cultivation Realms—it is the domain of gods.
Strictly speaking, the Upper Realm is the true Mountains and Seas Plane, while the Mortal and Cultivation Realms are merely its appendages. Inhabitants of the Upper Realm include not only ascended cultivators but also countless powerful mythical beasts—such as the nine-tailed foxes of Qingqiu, as well as divine beasts and ancient fiends.
“The Lord Taotie you seek is also in the Upper Realm,” Hu Qianye said.
Jian Yunlan nodded and immediately asked the question weighing most heavily on his mind: “How can we reach the Upper Realm?”
“…” Hu Qianye sighed faintly.
“We mortals and the inhabitants of the Upper Realm are as far apart as clouds and mud. I don’t know why you’re so determined to find Taotie, but I advise you to let go of this obsession. Mortal lives last barely a hundred years—hardly a flicker in time. It’s better to focus on living well.”
After this advice, Hu Qianye took one look at Jian Yunlan’s expression and knew he hadn’t given up in the slightest.
“However,” he pursed his lips and reluctantly continued, “if you’re truly set on going to the Upper Realm to find him, there is a way…”
Jian Yunlan’s eyes lit up instantly. “What way?”
Hu Qianye:
“The first method is to start cultivating now, absorbing spiritual energy from heaven and earth. Though your spiritual roots aren’t pure, with enough luck and opportunity, it’s not impossible for you to ascend. Once you ascend, you’ll naturally reach the Upper Realm.”
“…” Jian Yunlan was silent for a moment before asking, “How long would that take?”
Hu Qianye answered matter-of-factly, “With your aptitude, at least a few thousand years.”
Jian Yunlan: “…”
That was far too long! By the time he ascended after millennia, it’d be far too late!
“Are there other methods?” Jian Yunlan pressed.
Hu Qianye fell silent for an even longer stretch.
“There is one—”
He looked at Jian Yunlan, no longer dragging it out, and said succinctly, “The sect leader of Ten Thousand Spirits Sect, the Immortal Lord of the Spirit Realm, has just emerged from seclusion. He’s at the peak of the Mahayana stage—half a step from ascension. In all the Mortal and Cultivation Realms, he’s the only one capable of reaching the Upper Realm.”
“If you can persuade him to take you along when he ascends, you’ll be able to go to the Upper Realm together.”
As he listened, Jian Yunlan nodded.
That actually sounded feasible!
Most importantly, it was fast—no need to wait thousands of years. If things went smoothly, it could be settled in a day or two.
“However,” Hu Qianye smiled self-deprecatingly, “the Immortal Lord of the Spirit Realm is the ruler of the Cultivation Realm. Countless people vie for his favor, and he cultivates the Path of Emotionlessness—desireless and detached. Over the years, followers have laid all manner of rare treasures before him, yet he remains unmoved.”
“For you to forge a connection with him, let alone convince him to take you along during ascension, is nothing short of a fantasy. You’d have better luck cultivating properly—wait, what are you doing?”
Hu Qianye was still speaking when the man in front of him suddenly stood up and walked away.
Jian Yunlan began packing his bags.
Hu Qianye: “?? Wait—?”
“Mr. Hu, thank you for your hospitality and explanation,” Jian Yunlan bowed in gratitude. “Forgive me for being in a hurry—I need to go establish connections with the Immortal Lord, so I’ll take my leave now.”
Hu Qianye: “…” Damn, this guy’s determination is off the charts!
“Wait, you’re just a mortal—how exactly do you plan to cozy up to the Immortal Lord?” Hu Qianye asked, baffled.
Jian Yunlan solemnly held up the roujiamo in his hands.
Hu Qianye reflexively blurted out, “It’s just a roujiamo—”
Before he could finish, he froze.
Just a roujiamo?!
The deliciousness of this roujiamo was far beyond the word “just”!
Even a deity would struggle to resist its allure.
As someone who had tasted it, Hu Qianye knew this better than anyone.
“If it’s this roujiamo… it might actually work…” he muttered.
Seeing the unwavering resolve in Jian Yunlan’s eyes, Hu Qianye knew there was no talking him out of it.
After bidding farewell, Jian Yunlan turned to leave.
Hu Qianye quickly called out, “Brother Jian, hold on!”
Jian Yunlan turned back, puzzled. “?”
“Ten Thousand Spirits Sect is the top faction in the Cultivation Realm. Do you really think they’ll just let you waltz in and meet the Immortal Lord? Even if you go now, you’ll just be turned away,” Hu Qianye said urgently.
“Tomorrow happens to be the sect’s once-in-a-decade grand selection, where they recruit mortals with spiritual potential. Not only will the elders and pavilion masters be present, but Immortal Lord Mu Jue himself will also make an appearance.”
“Rest here tonight, make more roujiamo tomorrow morning, pack them, and go join the selection. Once you’re in the sect, you can find a way to meet the Immortal Lord. What do you think?”
As he spoke, Hu Qianye couldn’t help but swallow hard.
This plan wasn’t entirely selfless.
—If Jian Yunlan left now, who knew when they’d meet again? But if he stayed the night, wouldn’t Hu Qianye get to enjoy another round of roujiamo tomorrow morning?
Perfect plan!
Jian Yunlan saw right through his little scheme but didn’t call him out.
Besides, the plan sounded reasonable… Just as he was considering it, the God of Cookery System’s voice chimed in his mind:
[Side Quest: Participate in Ten Thousand Spirits Sect’s grand selection. Use your mouthwatering roujiamo to overcome all obstacles, pass the trials, and meet the Immortal Lord of the Spirit Realm in person! Don’t worry about ingredients—the God of Cookery System has your back~]
[Obtained: [Large Insulated Travel Pack] x1]
[Quest Reward: Upper Realm Pass]
“…”
The next morning, before dawn, Jian Yunlan was already up making roujiamo.
His original outfit was too conspicuous, so Hu Qianye lent him a plain set of clothes that fit well enough.
The system mentioned using roujiamo to “overcome all obstacles.” Though unsure how exactly that would work, Jian Yunlan prepared plenty of roujiamo, just in case.
In addition to yesterday’s braised pork version, he also made pork knuckle roujiamo today. The process was similar—blanching the knuckle, deep-frying it for a crispy skin, then stewing it in master stock until the meat fell off the bone.
For the broth, Jian Yunlan reused yesterday’s batch—this kind of aged master stock only gets richer and more flavorful with time. Before leaving, he stored the broth in his portable spirit field instead of discarding it, thinking it might come in handy for dishes like braised pig trotters later.
True to his wishes, Hu Qianye indulged once more, clutching his round, stuffed belly and letting out a satisfied burp by the door.
Aside from the portions for Hu Qianye and himself, Jian Yunlan packed all the remaining roujiamo into the large insulated travel pack provided by the system. Outwardly, it looked like an ordinary scholar’s bundle, but it was spatially expanded, with excellent heat retention—perfect for storing roujiamo.
“Mr. Hu, thank you for letting me stay. I’ll really be leaving this time, okay?”
After saying this, Jian Yunlan didn’t leave immediately but paused at the door.
Sure enough, Hu Qianye stopped him.
“Brother Jian—no, Master Jian,” Hu Qianye looked awkward, hesitating before finally speaking. “If, by some one-in-a-million chance, you pass the selection, enter Ten Thousand Spirits Sect, and meet Immortal Lord Mu Jue in person… could you deliver a message for me?”
Jian Yunlan: “What message?”
Hu Qianye said something.
Jian Yunlan: “???”
Though utterly confused, Jian Yunlan thought for a moment and agreed.
After all, he would meet the Immortal Lord. Passing along a message wouldn’t hurt.
Leaving the hut, Jian Yunlan followed Hu Qianye’s directions and headed west. Along the way, he saw many people dressed similarly—men and women, young and old, from babbling toddlers to white-haired elders—all walking eagerly toward Ten Thousand Spirits Mountain.
It was the day of Ten Thousand Spirits Sect’s once-in-a-decade disciple selection. Everyone wanted to try their luck.
What if they got chosen?
“Brother, what’s in your pack?” Someone, drawn by Jian Yunlan’s striking appearance, curiously approached. “Mine’s full of scrolls and spirit pills I bought at the market—they say they’ll help me pass the selection!”
Jian Yunlan answered truthfully, “My pack is full of roujiamo.”
“…” The person subtly took a step back.
After similar exchanges happened a few times, no one approached Jian Yunlan anymore.
After five hours of trekking, Jian Yunlan finally arrived at the gates of Ten Thousand Spirits Sect.
