Chapter 32: Refining Equipment, I'm Also a Chef

  "Lingming Shidi, our Zero Boundary Spirit has only one continent, a single island. The island is where the inner door of our Lingtian Sect is located, while the outer door controls the countries on the mainland. Now, we're going to play around in these mortal nations and eat some delicious food along the way. Although as cultivators, we don't need to eat, but human delicacies are still not to be rejected. Look at Lingxu Elder, isn't he also fond of wine?" Tiankui said to Sunming, who was gradually catching up on his flying sword.

  "Sister, you like good food, this is something the whole Ling Tian Sect knows about, what's there to explain? Just say it directly, Ling Ming isn't an outsider anymore." Yun Lei said as he caught up.

  "Hmph, what are you talking about, Yun Lei! I won't leave your side." Tian Kui said in a flustered tone, and then swiftly rode off on his sword.

  "Ah yo, no way! My senior sister is actually shy too?" Yun Lei said in dismay as he watched Tian Kui walk further and further away.

  "Lingming Shidi, let's go, we'll follow them. This entire Zero Boundary Star is a place with delicious food that this Shifu of mine is most familiar with." Yun Lei called out.

  All the way without a word, Sun Ming and his three companions stopped in front of a rather grand city under Tiankui's lead. Sun Ming raised his eyes and was speechless for a moment. He had thought that Huoyun City was already prosperous enough, but today he realized what it meant to have mountains outside mountains and cities outside cities.

  From the city gate that was several zhang high, looking inward, a main street stretched across the south and north. Although the street was wide, it still looked somewhat crowded due to the throngs of people rushing about. What made Sun Ming even more depressed was that he couldn't see the end of this main street, and as a Golden Dan period cultivator, his eyesight was supposed to be much better than ordinary people's.

  "This is the imperial capital of the Outen Empire, the largest country in the mortal world. Isn't it huge, Lingming?" Tiankui said with a pleased smile, seeing Sun Ming's astonished expression.

  "Yes, indeed it looks quite magnificent. The bustling streets are also considered prosperous." Sun Ming replied perfunctorily.

  "What's considered prosperous! This Yun Cheng is many times stronger than your Huo Yun City, it can't even be compared!" Tian Kui said with a tone of reason that didn't allow for argument as soon as he heard Sun Ming's humble words.

  "It's not that there aren't any, it's just that Yunxuan Star is fundamentally a different type of city. Our population was never large to begin with, and for Huoyun City to have formed such a scale is already quite impressive. But you're from Lingjie Star, where the population has given rise to several empires - if there aren't even a few decent cities, it's just not convincing!" Sun Ming replied, showing no weakness.

  "Alright, alright, Master Sister Lingming, you two should say a few less words. Weren't you going to take us to taste some delicious food? Why haven't we left yet, I'm getting impatient." Yun Lei glanced at Tian Kui who was about to speak again and quickly changed the subject.

  "Hmph, today let's see what good food is all about. Come on, let's go to Tian Xiang Ju to taste the delicious dishes." Tian Kui didn't care and turned around to leave with Sun Ming following closely behind.

  "Lingming Shidi, don't blame Shijie, my Shijie broke through to the infant stage before she was thirty and has always been praised as the number one genius of our sect. Your achievements in alchemy are also outstanding, it seems like Shijie wants to compare with you, but she expressed it in the wrong way, don't take it to heart." Yun Lei said.

  "Hehe, how could I possibly treat you like a little girl? Don't worry about it." Sun Ming comforted Yun Lei.

  "This is between you and me, junior brother, but whatever you do, don't say it in front of senior sister. She hates it when people call her a little girl." Yun Lei said with a tense face.

  "Alright, alright, I know. Let's hurry up and go to that Tianxiangju place. I'm quite the connoisseur of good food, you know." Sun Ming said with a mischievous tone.

  Sun Ming and Yun Lei slowly walked towards the center of Yuncheng City with the crowd. Sun Ming couldn't help but size up the surrounding scenery, although he didn't quite agree with Tian Kui's claim that Huoyun City was inferior to Yuncheng City. However, upon closer inspection, Yuncheng City indeed had its own unique charm. The crowded streets seemed to be free of congestion, and a subtle yet omnipresent spiritual energy filled the city, nourishing every resident. Looking at the rosy faces of these ordinary people, Sun Ming couldn't help but sigh in admiration. In this world where spiritual energy was so dense, it truly was a case of "the sky is not the limit" and "there's always another mountain beyond this one". He couldn't help but feel a little envious.

  Just as Sun Ming was lost in thought, Yun Lei stopped in front of him. Sun Ming looked up and saw that they had arrived at Tian Xiang Ju.

  A rather luxurious three-story small building appeared in front of Sun Ming, although the three-story building looked quite large in terms of floor area, but upon closer inspection, it gave people a very delicate feeling, and from time to time, there was fragrance coming out from inside.

  "What took you two so long? Hurry up and come in, it's just in time that we arrived today. There are still a few empty seats on the third floor, let's go up." Tiankui said from inside. Sun Ming and Yun Lei exchanged a smile, Tiankui's expression changed quickly, just now he was ready to fight to the death with Sun Ming, but now he had this expression. The two of them didn't say anything else and followed Tiankui upstairs to the third floor.

  "Ling Ming, this meal is on me. A meal here costs two mid-grade crystal stones, remember that you owe me a favor now. In the future, when I come to you, this great alchemy master, don't try to decline." Tian Kui looked at Sun Ming with an expression of sly triumph.

  "Alright, Master Sister, you actually took the initiative to attack first. How about I pay for this meal? Let the Alchemy Master owe you a favor, impressive!" Yun Lei said with a defeated tone.

  "Hey Cloud Thunder, have you grown up? Have your wings hardened? Dare to shout at Shifu like that, do you know why Shifu is always Shifu and you're always the younger brother? Because you're too stupid!" Tian Kui said while pinching Cloud Thunder's ear.

  "Sister, I was wrong, isn't that enough? Let go, let go, it hurts!" Yun Lei said with a grimace.

  "Alright, alright, let go, Tiankui. I'll definitely help you refine the magic treasure in the future. Don't do this, it's not good for our image." Sun Ming reminded, looking at the strange gazes around them.

  "Alright, be good, sister will teach you well later, don't be too naughty or sister will pinch your ears." Tiankui seemed to have also noticed the strange gazes around them and said so in a covering manner.

  "Sister Shi, you!!!!!!" Yun Lei was about to explain when Tian Kui rushed over.

  "Alright, alright, consider this a favor owed to you by Sister Shifu. Hurry up and get ready to taste the delicious dishes!" Tian Kui said as she looked at the dishes being served.

  "Hmph, does Sister owe you a favor? So many years have passed, and she owes me so many favors too, yet I don't see her showing any gratitude, instead she bullies me every day." Yun Lei muttered in a low voice.

  "Come on, don't be angry, eat it while it's hot, or it will lose its flavor." said Tiankui.

  Sun Ming held his chopsticks, looking at the table full of so-called delicious dishes, not knowing which one to eat. It wasn't because there were too many dishes and he couldn't choose, but because Sun Ming smelled out the level of these dishes from their aroma and didn't want to pick up his chopsticks.

  "Lingming, why aren't you eating? Try some of this plum blossom delight. I heard it's made by filling seven lotus root holes with glutinous rice and steaming them, then cutting five pieces of carrot into a plum blossom shape. It's fragrant and sweet, really not bad." Tiankui handed Sunming a piece.

  "What's wrong, Lingming? Why aren't you eating? Don't tell me you don't want to owe us a favor?" Yun Lei teased.

  "This is not it, just..."

  "What's going on?" Tiankui and Yunlei asked in unison.

  "This dish is really not good, it's even worse than the dishes I usually cook for myself in the Qīng Líng Sect." Sun Ming said straightforwardly.

  "Haha, you say the dishes here are not as good as yours? Haha, Lingming, you're killing me!" Yun Lei seemed to have heard the most hilarious joke, laughing hysterically.

  "Honestly, Lingming, I admire your skills in refining equipment, but cooking and refining equipment are two completely different things! Who do you think can make dishes better than Tianxiangju? I really don't know if you're bragging or just talking nonsense."

  "It doesn't matter if you don't believe me, I didn't think you would anyway." Sun Ming said expressionlessly.

  "I believe that since the young master says his culinary skills are even better than those of us at Tianxiangju, then why not give it a try? A man in magnificent attire appeared out of nowhere beside Sun Ming and his group."

  "Tian Zhanggui, I was just joking with this friend of mine, don't take it seriously." Tian Kui said.

  "It doesn't matter. Let him try then," said the shopkeeper with a gloomy face.