C5 In the Kitchen

Gu Xiaoxing hoisted the axe high with both hands and brought it down with a mighty chop, the blade slicing deep into the wood.

"It's working!"

Elated, Gu Xiaoxing swung the axe repeatedly. Channeling his cultivation, the axe glowed radiantly, sending wood chips scattering. What would have taken a hundred swings to notch the log now took only a dozen to split it in two.

Yet, Gu Xiaoxing could feel the toll it took on his cultivation, depleting it rapidly. Using his powers to chop wood was efficient but costly. Still, it was better than being unable to chop at all, so he persevered with vigorous strokes.

Eventually, his cultivation drained, Gu Xiaoxing collapsed with a clang alongside his axe, utterly spent. Lying there, gasping for air, he was too exhausted to even twitch a finger.

But then, his eyes snapped open, a sudden suction force emanating from his brow. That familiar sensation brought fear and rage—it was the Devouring Spirit Insect, craving his flesh and blood.

In a flash, he realized that his cultivation was linked to the Devouring Spirit Insect. With his spiritual energy depleted, the insect was left empty and naturally sought to replenish itself from his flesh.

"You dare...! I've worked hard to put on that bit of flesh; you're not taking it!"

Furious, Gu Xiaoxing found strength from somewhere deep within, sitting up as if snatching life from the jaws of death. Without a moment's delay, he activated the spirit control spell, frantically drawing in the Spiritual Qi from the world around him to restore his cultivation and thwart the Devouring Spirit Insect's hunger for his flesh.

As the Spiritual Qi poured into him, transforming into spiritual energy for the insect to consume, the Devouring Spirit Insect ceased its assault on his flesh, seemingly preferring the richer essence of the Spiritual Qi.

Half an hour later, Gu Xiaoxing's cultivation was fully replenished. Strength surged through him once more, and he exhaled a sigh of relief. The hard-earned flesh he had gained was, thankfully, preserved.

Gu Xiaoxing's spirits lifted slightly as he picked up his axe and resumed his chopping. With each relentless strike, his cultivation drained and replenished, time and again, until the sun dipped below the horizon.

Casting a glance at the sixteen crates of firewood at his side, Gu Xiaoxing's face soured. Despite his best efforts, he had only managed to split eight logs, falling short of his task.

Just then, Du Siyu approached with a disdainful snort. "You can't even chop firewood properly. You'll go without food today. Now, take this firewood to the kitchen, quickly."

Gu Xiaoxing's eyes widened in defiance, ready to protest, but catching the slight squint in Senior Brother Du's eyes, his heart lurched. He realized Du Siyu was baiting him, looking for an excuse to reprimand him.

Such a malicious intent!

"What's wrong?" Du Siyu raised an eyebrow elegantly. "If you have something to say, speak up."

"I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare!" Gu Xiaoxing managed a strained smile and bowed respectfully. "I'll follow Senior Brother's orders and deliver the firewood at once."

With that, Gu Xiaoxing hastily stuffed all sixteen crates into his storage bag and bolted toward the summit of Spirit Peak as if escaping.

Watching Gu Xiaoxing's retreating figure, Du Siyu's frown deepened, and she huffed, "He's quite the slippery one. Since Taoist Bai brought him into the sect and assigned him to the firewood yard, I can't just expel him. But it seems I must teach him a lesson, let him taste hardship, and see if he'll back down..."

On his way to the mountaintop, Gu Xiaoxing passed by ornate pavilions and towers amidst a thick haze of spiritual energy. He marveled at a medicinal garden filled with exotic herbs and blossoms he had never encountered. A pond caught his eye, where green lotuses swayed, clearly no ordinary flora.

Fish glided through the pond, blowing bubbles leisurely...

Gu Xiaoxing gazed, entranced, his mouth watering at the thought of catching a couple to roast. But with sect disciples guarding the sacred pond, he could only clench his jaw in frustration, forcing himself to look away from the tantalizing fish.

Atop Spirit Peak, nestled a large courtyard with a plaque bearing three bold characters — Inner Kitchen!

The Inner Kitchen, true to its name, was where inner sect disciples prepared meals and cooked rice.

Upon his arrival, Gu Xiaoxing followed a senior brother into the courtyard. The senior brother's expression turned peculiar when he learned Gu Xiaoxing was freshly recruited to the firewood yard. His sympathy was palpable, especially upon seeing Gu Xiaoxing haul out sixteen crates of firewood.

The plump chefs, previously bustling about, paused to witness the scene, their faces mirroring the same sympathy.

Yet in that moment, Gu Xiaoxing was oblivious to their stares. Overwhelmed, tears betrayed him, trickling down his face. All the exotic flavors and sumptuous dishes seemed trivial now.

The sight of the succulent meat, shimmering as if a single bite might transport one to the heavens, entranced him. Gu Xiaoxing, as if under a spell, moved to snatch a piece, only to have his hand swatted away by a greasy palm, snapping him back to reality.

"Junior brother, these are spiritual delicacies reserved for inner sect disciples. You can't just help yourself. What if the higher-ups hold you accountable? Can you handle that?" a chef reprimanded with a stern voice.

Gu Xiaoxing offered a sheepish smile, wiping the tears from his face. Yet, his eyes brimmed anew at the sight of the delectable spread.

"Hey! Third Fatty, this disciple is new and unfamiliar with our ways. We're all part of the same sect, so let's not be too harsh."

Another even rounder chef approached, eyeing Gu Xiaoxing curiously before saying, "Seeing how gaunt our junior brother is, he's clearly endured much suffering from the Devouring Spirit Insects. These exquisite spiritual dishes could quickly alleviate the woes of his frailty, but the sect has its rules, and even we in the Inner Kitchen must abide by them."

"But..." The chef's tone shifted as he leaned in, lowering his voice, "In cooking, there are always scraps, and there's bound to be leftover spirit rice and dishes each day. Remember, even these scraps are no ordinary fare. They're not only delectable but can also aid in enhancing one's cultivation. If junior brother has some spirit stones..."

At that point, the chubby man paused mid-sentence and turned to Gu Xiaoxing with a grin. His smile seemed warm and simple, yet the squint of his eyes suggested a slyness that was unmistakable.

Sadly, Gu Xiaoxing was a newcomer to the sect and lacked spirit stones. The mere five he possessed were obtained only by invoking the name of Taoist Bai, and he had already spent them on his cultivation.

If he had any, he would gladly trade them away, even in the thousands. After all, spirit stones were external possessions, far less vital than one's own well-being.

Noticing Gu Xiaoxing's forlorn look, the chubby man arched an eyebrow, quickly grasping the situation. His smile faded as he spoke with a hint of indifference, "If you're out of spirit stones, Junior Brother, there's no use fretting over it. The firewood's been delivered; you should head back now."

Gu Xiaoxing offered a sheepish smile, bowed respectfully, and took his leave. Yet, as he crossed the threshold of the kitchen, his eyes darted slyly, leaving behind a faint whisper.

"Just as Taoist Bai said, the kitchen holds a treasure trove of exotic culinary delights. I must commit to my training and aim to ascend to the inner sect soon. I can't let Uncle Bai's high hopes for me go to waste!"

His voice was barely audible, seemingly meant more as a personal pep talk than for anyone else to hear.

But the six chefs in the kitchen shuddered; their cultivation at the fifth or sixth level of Qi Condensation was more than enough to catch even the softest of murmurs.

Once Gu Xiaoxing was out of sight, the chubby man quickly gathered his fellow junior brothers and pondered aloud, "What's the story with this kid? The Taoist Bai he mentioned... could it be the Great Elder Bai?"

The others exchanged wide-eyed looks, sensing the likelihood. In the Devouring Spirit Sect, there was only one Taoist Bai. The realization made them inhale sharply.

Reacting swiftly, the chubby man signaled to one of the juniors, instructing, "Sixth Fatty, take a trip down the mountain. Something about this kid doesn't sit right with me. His words might have been intended for our ears. Check with the deacon's office and dig into his background."