Chapter 179
While Zhang Qing and Wang Yue were lost in their internal struggles, the next participant in the selection—a plump, well-dressed young man—stepped up to the bronze mirror.
The youth, round-faced and sporting a noticeable beer belly, was none other than Li Fugui, the young master of the Li family.
The moment Li Fugui stood before the mirror, a deep, resonant chime echoed from its surface—a sound only heard when detecting an exceptionally rare spiritual root!
Zhang Qing and Wang Yue snapped back to reality, forcing their gazes away from the roujiamo and onto the mirror.
—The mirror trembled violently before emitting a golden light, settling on an image of fresh, fertile soil.
Zhang Qing’s eyes widened in astonishment as he announced:
“Earth attribute—Heavenly Spiritual Root!”
This year’s selection had been lackluster so far. After four hours of preliminary testing, not a single Heavenly Spiritual Root had appeared—even Three-Element Spiritual Roots were scarce. Most candidates had mixed or no spiritual roots at all. Yet now, out of nowhere, a Heavenly Spiritual Root had emerged!
Moreover, not all Heavenly Spiritual Roots were equal. While water and fire attributes were relatively common in a prestigious sect like Ten Thousand Spirits, an earth attribute was exceedingly rare—valuable for both herb cultivation and alchemy. If word got out, every sect would be fighting over this talent.
Discovering an earth-type Heavenly Spiritual Root during the preliminaries meant extra rewards for Zhang Qing and Wang Yue.
Their expressions instantly brightened, shedding their earlier indifference as they beamed at Li Fugui. “Congratulations! You’ve passed the preliminary test.”
…While the other candidates didn’t fully grasp the significance of an earth-type Heavenly Spiritual Root, Zhang Qing and Wang Yue’s reactions made it clear—this was a big deal. Envious and resentful glances shot toward Li Fugui.
Such is fate.
Li Fugui himself, however, showed little surprise.
Born into wealth, he had been raised on a steady diet of rare treasures and spiritual resources—this result was expected.
By tradition, when a Heavenly Spiritual Root was detected, one of the presiding disciples would personally escort the candidate into the sect for the second trial and introduce them to the pavilion masters.
Thus, Wang Yue remained at the mirror to oversee the remaining candidates, while Zhang Qing stepped forward, cupping his hands respectfully.
“Esteemed candidate, I am Zhang Qing. You may address me as Senior Brother Zhang. I will now escort you into the sect for the second stage of the selection.”
He waited for Li Fugui’s response.
But Li Fugui didn’t answer.
Zhang Qing: “?”
He repeated himself patiently, but Li Fugui remained silent, his gaze fixed intently in one direction—
…Right at Jian Yunlan, who was still munching on his roujiamo.
Li Fugui’s plump belly quivered beneath his silk robes.
Mopping his sweaty forehead with a handkerchief, he swallowed hard, muttering to himself as if already savoring the roujiamo in his mouth:
“That flatbread—perfectly thin, evenly golden, layered just right… One bite, and the crispiness alone would make crumbs rain down… And the meat—that marbling, that glossy sheen… The bread flaky, the meat tender, the juices overflowing… One bite, and the broth would drip all the way from the lips to the elbow… tsk tsk tsk…”
Zhang Qing’s face twisted in agony.
Li Fugui was clearly a connoisseur. Zhang Qing had barely managed to suppress his own cravings, but now, with Li Fugui’s vivid description, the hunger roared back to life.
Master, please stop talking!!!
No, no—focus.
“Esteemed candidate,” Zhang Qing said, forcing patience (after all, this was a rare earth-type Heavenly Spiritual Root), “please come with me at once. The second trial will soon—”
Li Fugui ignored him.
“Trials? What trials? Doesn’t matter. I need that roujiamo.” His voice trembled.
As he spoke, his feet began shuffling toward Jian Yunlan.
At first, it was a hesitant step—then a quick shuffle—then a full-on sprint. Despite his round physique, Li Fugui moved surprisingly fast. Zhang Qing nearly lost him.
…If this were an ordinary candidate, Zhang Qing might have let it go. But Li Fugui was an earth-type Heavenly Spiritual Root! Losing him would mean severe punishment from his master.
Gritting his teeth, Zhang Qing chased after him.
Soon, the two stood panting before Jian Yunlan, who was finishing his roujiamo.
Jian Yunlan: “?”
He looked up, bewildered.
Li Fugui’s face flushed red as he fidgeted, chubby fingers twisting together. “Brother, do you… do you have more of that roujiamo? Could you…?”
Jian Yunlan: “Oh, sure.”
Li Fugui & Zhang Qing: “……?”
Li Fugui had braced himself for extortion—whether gold, silver, or fine silks, he was prepared to pay any price for a bite. After all, something so delicious must be priceless.
To his surprise, Jian Yunlan agreed without hesitation.
Seeing Li Fugui frozen in shock, Jian Yunlan simply pulled another roujiamo from his pack and handed it over with a smile. “Here.”
After all, he’d brought so many roujiamo precisely to share with others!
“…”
Li Fugui’s hands trembled as he accepted the roujiamo, his eyes gleaming with ravenous delight. He inhaled deeply, savoring the mingled scents of wheat and braised meat.
Cradling the fragrant roujiamo like a priceless treasure, he didn’t hesitate—he took an enormous bite.
“Ah…”
Tears welled in the corners of Li Fugui’s eyes.
The moment his teeth sank in, the crispy shell let out a satisfying crunch, releasing a flood of savory juices.
The rich aroma of the braised pork exploded in his mouth—the lean meat tender yet firm, the fatty layers melting luxuriously on his tongue. Paired with the chewy, golden flatbread, the flavors were so divine they could dissolve a man’s soul!
Beside him, Zhang Qing watched with bulging eyes, veins throbbing in his temples as Li Fugui devoured the roujiamo.
He was forced to recite Buddhist sutras in his mind.
Zhang Qing, you’re an inner disciple! Don’t embarrass yourself! Resist the roujiamo’s temptation!!!
Meanwhile, Li Fugui—as if fearing someone might snatch his prize—wolfed it down at breakneck speed, cheeks puffed like a chipmunk’s. In just a few bites, the entire roujiamo vanished.
After meticulously licking every drop of juice from his fingers, he turned to Jian Yunlan with hopeful eyes. “Brother… could I have another…?”
This roujiamo was so delicious, he could easily eat ten in one sitting.
The first one had only whetted his appetite—not filling him but awakening every hunger pang in his body, now growling loudly.
But to his surprise, Jian Yunlan—who had been so generous earlier—hesitated this time.
“I can… but I have a small request. Is that okay?”
Li Fugui’s brain was entirely consumed by roujiamo. “Of course! I, Li Fugui, heir to the wealthiest family, don’t freeload! Name your price—spiritual treasures? Gold and jade? Just ask!”
Jian Yunlan hid his delight.
Glancing at Zhang Qing, he smiled amiably. “It’s nothing major. Just…”
“Take me with you to the second trial, and this roujiamo is yours.”
Yes.
This was all part of Jian Yunlan’s plan!
“That’s it?” Li Fugui didn’t even blink before turning to Zhang Qing. “Senior Brother Zhang, I’m taking him with me. Otherwise, I quit!”
Zhang Qing: “…”
Zhang Qing: “…………”
His expression froze as his brain went into overdrive.
—First, Li Fugui was an earth-type Heavenly Spiritual Root—incredibly rare and valuable. Every pavilion master in the sect would fight to take him as a disciple. If Zhang Qing drove him away, the elders would skin him alive.
—Second, judging by Li Fugui’s personality, Zhang Qing truly believed he’d abandon the selection if denied. Worse, other sects had likely already extended offers to him.
—Third, even if the roujiamo guy made it to the second trial, it didn’t guarantee inner disciple status. With his mixed spiritual root, the pavilion masters would likely dismiss him, relegating him to menial labor at best. Plus, a few “connection-based” candidates passed the preliminaries every year anyway…
Zhang Qing’s mind raced through all the pros and cons, though in reality, only three seconds had passed.
Three seconds later, a look of reckless determination flashed across his face. “Fine!”
Both Li Fugui and Jian Yunlan lit up with joy.
“However…” Zhang Qing’s tone shifted. “I have a condition.”
Jian Yunlan: “What condition?”
Zhang Qing looked at him, then at the roujiamo, then back at him—his gaze darting back and forth several times before he finally gritted his teeth and blurted out:
“Give me one too!”
“…”
*
Half an hour later.
The bizarre trio of Jian Yunlan, Li Fugui, and Zhang Qing stepped through the gates of Ten Thousand Spirits Sect.
Li Fugui and Zhang Qing both had greasy lips and round, satisfied bellies, their faces glowing with contentment.
Once inside, Zhang Qing cleared his throat, meticulously wiped his mouth, and presented his token before leading Jian Yunlan and Li Fugui toward the second trial.
“Senior Brother Zhang,” Jian Yunlan asked casually, “who’s overseeing the second trial?”
Zhang Qing replied offhandedly, “The second trial selects inner disciples, so the pavilion masters themselves will be choosing… Though if someone exceptionally talented appears, the Immortal Lord might even make an appearance.”
A flicker of interest passed through Jian Yunlan’s eyes.
Zhang Qing noticed but wasn’t surprised.
For the past century, Immortal Lord Mu Jue had been in seclusion. Now that he’d emerged—half a step from ascension—more than half the candidates had come specifically for him.
If one was lucky enough to be taken as a personal disciple, it would be like ascending to heaven in a single step.
But for a mixed spiritual root like Jian Yunlan to catch the Immortal Lord’s eye? That was nothing short of a pipe dream.
