章節 48: Preparation Begins! (3)

Trying his best to complete most of his unfinished task, Zhang Wu Ji returned to the Seven Star Sect as he delayed his return by three days. The moment he reaches his courtyard, he was greeted with a group of between twenty to twenty-five disciples. From the look of it, they're probably the loitering disciples that were sent to the kitchen department about two weeks back.

Now, each of them was carrying the expression of a proud disciple of the Seven Star Sect. Compared to before, none amongst them possess such a stable and firm aura from their eyes. They were thoroughly trained in this one week by working as a kitchen helper, which surprised Zhang Wu Ji for a few times because some of the food that was served to his courtyard came to form these twenty-something people.

"Master Senior Ninth! We're back from your task." all of them greets him the moment they noticed his return. As he was already late for six days, Zhang Wu Ji can easily guess that all of them must be waiting here every day until he returned. It might be foolish from the other's point of view, but this kind of composed mindset was what he needed to further his faction's influence throughout the sect.

"Each one of you changed. I'm seeing a group of fellow disciples, and not a group of loitering trash like before, don't you agree with my words?" Zhang Wu Ji questioned them the moment he steps right before their view.

"We agree!"

"Thanks to Master Senior Ninth's instruction, all of us went over to the Kitchen Department to accept their training to mold our character. We're too immature, demanding, lack of confidence, and void of a proper mindset before, but all of this changed now. We have an aim in our mind now, we're confident, and we understand that to be demanding, first, you need to strength to do so, and not asking without a proper foundation to support your request!" the group replied at the same time to answer his question.

"Good! Follows me into the courtyard, I will give all of you the rewards you deserve." Zhang Wu Ji leads them into his courtyard and ordered Tang Yuan to withdraws a stack of completed manual out from his room. It seems that he already prepared everything for them, expecting that nobody will fail in his test. But if they know the fact, perhaps they will laugh at their own foolishness.

[What will they think if they know Zhang Wu Ji purposely made some extra copies for the sake of giving it to others? He's just lazy to rewrite a new book whenever he needs to give somebody a copy of the book he refined, thus, he makes about five copies for those educational books and more than fifty copies for the three main cultivation and martial arts.

The Fighter Grade Collapsing Fist, [Early] Compendium of Martial Arts, and the Body Nourishment Technique.

After calculating their numbers, it seems that their number is exactly twenty-five disciples. When all of them collected the reward they deserved, Zhang Wu Ji gave them the reason to leave by mentioning that he was too tired from his journey to the Apprentice Hall, and wanted to get a rest until tomorrow morning. Only after all of them left Zhang Wu Ji summoned his five trusted attendants.

Since the three disciples of his already know his intention, it was time for him to speaks about it with the five of them. At this moment, except Liu Yanni that still at her 55 strands of Inner Qi, the others were all in their 1st Stage of Inner Qi Fighter, with the exception of Zhao Xiao Hua at her early 2nd Stage, and Tang Yuan at his peak of 2nd Stage. Although the sudden burst of strength in their cultivation is closely related to two of the three Cultivating and Martial Arts manual he gave to them, but their own effort is still important.

Filled with the intention to push their strength further than expected, Zhang Wu Ji distributes a total of five Fighter Chasing Dans to each of them, with Liu Yanni received the instruction to not consume the pills before she entered the cultivation stage of 1st Stage of Inner Qi Fighter. The moment he distributes the pill to them, nobody actually knows what is this pill, until Zhang Wu Ji describes them. Worst of all, the moment they heard about its effect and also the difficulties to get one from the public, it further enhanced their impression on this master of theirs.

Of course, Zhang Wu Ji did not mention that after giving three to each of them, he still has 1,185 pills in his Clay-Made container. After he released them back to their own room, Zhang Wu Ji returned to his own and took a good rest, with the Clay-Made container in his hand. Only after all of this matter is settled he can peacefully inspect the pills he made.

Fighter Chasing Dan

-Usage 1: Creates 20 strands of Fighter Qi upon consumption (Effect only applicable for the first three pills)

-Usage 2: Reduce the requirement to creates a strand of Inner Qi by ninety percent, allowing the consumer to enjoy the beneficial effect for one hour.

-Usage 3: Upon consumption, recovers all exhausted Fighter Qi. (Limit to 200 Strands / a day)

-Durability: 9/9 (Decaying Process starts the moment pill is in contact with Natural Energy)

Fighter Chasing Dan +6

-Usage 1: Creates 26 strands of Fighter Qi upon consumption (Effect only applicable for the first three pills)

-Usage 2: Reduce the requirement to creates a strand of Inner Qi by ninety percent, allowing the consumer to enjoy the beneficial effect for one hour.

-Usage 3: Upon consumption, recovers all exhausted Fighter Qi. (Limit to 200 Strands / a day)

-Durability: 14/15 (Decaying Process starts the moment pill is in contact with Natural Energy)

Zhang Wu Ji compared the two different quality pills in his hand but hesitates to upgrade them further. After a moment of consideration, he took another two pills out from the container and begin to upgrade them. Both successfully entered their +6 stats, but different only in the 2nd usage, where the reduction percentage is 0.5% higher. Then, he dares himself to upgrade them into +7, but the results end up with three piles of Ashes of Failure.

"It seems that +6 is still possible, but +7 is more difficult." Zhang Wu Ji mood did not change as he roughly knows the possibility before starting, but with so many of the Fighter Chasing Dan, he decides to try his luck with twelve more, and this time, one of them were a success +7 pill!

Fighter Chasing Dan +7

-Usage 1: Creates 27 strands of Fighter Qi upon consumption (Effect only applicable for the first three pills)

-Usage 2: Reduce the requirement to creates a strand of Inner Qi by ninety-one percent, allowing the consumer to enjoy the beneficial effect for 90 minutes.

-Usage 3: Upon consumption, recovers all exhausted Fighter Qi. (Limit to 250 Strands / a day)

-Durability: 15/16 (Decaying Process starts the moment pill is in contact with Natural Energy)

"Still not having any special abilities..." Zhang Wu Ji tosses the pill into his mouth and swallows it as he started to meditates. But after the increment of 27 strands of Fighter Qi, the reduce requirement effect are completely worthless to him, as his still trash Martial Body are not capable to cultivates on its own. Without letting his mind went into sadness, he went ahead with his rest.

Unknown to himself, the benefit brought by the pill enhanced his advancement smoothly as he entered the 3rd Stage of Inner Qi Fighter while sleeping. With 210 strands of Inner Qi on him, Zhang Wu Ji is now qualified to upgrade his weapon into +8 status, if he remembered about it when he wakes up from slumber.

After a thorough night of good rest, Zhang Wu Ji wakes up just a little earlier before breakfast. With only 23 more days left before the gathering starts, Zhang Wu Ji was left with another thirteen days to make sure all the preparations he needs is ready on his departure date. Knowing that today will be another busy day once more, Zhang Wu Ji dressed properly before he made his way out to the Dining Hall.

But today, one additional guest came uninvited with twenty-two different dishes that none of them ever tried before. As the Master Chef of the Kitchen Department for many years now, this was the first time they saw him personally came to a disciple's courtyard without prior appointment.

"Master Chef, what a rare occurrence to meet you here in the Ninth Disciple's Courtyard. Is there anything you need from the Master Senior Ninth?" Li Jing steps forward to greet the Master Chef that held the similar position like himself. With his brightness, Li Jing can easily deduce the reason the Master Chef is here so early in the morning, and his twenty-two Chef's specialties further strengthen his deduction on this Master Chef's arrival.

"Yes, this humble chef do have a request that requires the Master Senior Ninth's help. Did Elder Li Jing heard the existence of the [Golden Tusk Black Hog] before?" the Master Chef revealed a part of his reason to come here, and that was for this precious food material.

"Golden Tusk Black Hog, aren't their meat is one of the main ingredients of your finest dishes, the [Golden Braised Black Pork Belly]? I heard that this dishes can increase the taste bud of a cultivator, allowing them to enjoy the depth of the cuisine's taste permanently." Li Jing expressed his point of view and words he knows when the Master Chef mentioned the living ingredient.

"Yes, that Hog is exactly one of my main ingredients to prepare the Golden Braised Black Pork Belly, but unfortunately, the effort to taking care of the Golden Tusk Black Hog is extremely difficult, which is why I pay the Master Senior a visit." the Master Chef explained his part of difficulties, where Zhang Wu Ji unintentionally heard as he came into their sight.

"Master Chef, welcome to this junior's humble courtyard." Zhang Wu Ji cupped his hand together to greets the Kitchen Department head. The former then invited the Master Chef to join him and his attendants for a breakfast as they discussed the important matters as they eat. Perhaps in a different point of view, talking about business during a meal wasn't a proper manner back in his world, but in this realm, the habit of discussing business during a meal is widely practiced.

Without waiting too long, their breakfast started. Although the number of dishes was only twenty-two varieties this time, the taste brought by each dishes were ten times more delicious compared to the other dishes they tried before meeting this twenty-two dishes that only the Master Chef know how to prepares them.

"So, your meaning is the Golden Tusk Black Hog only feast at Qi Sensing Pills, and the more Qi Sensing Pills they ate, the better is the quality of the meat?" Zhang Wu Ji's eyes are shining in expectations after he heard what the Master Chef shared with him. Like a Master Chef that handles his own ingredient directly, he was one level above the others in term of his perfectionist attitude towards the ingredients.

"Yes, unfortunately, this poor man here wasn't capable to support the requirement to take care of the Golden Tusk Black Hog, this I am forced to let it go. But after considering how much the affection between Master Senior Ninth and my Kitchen Department, may I be shameless to request Master Senior Ninth to take in this Golden Tusk Black Hog on my behalf?" he clapped his hand twice as the indication to his people to bring that hog into the courtyard.

When it came into the view of everyone present, the Golden Tusk Black Hog were timid, but a glutton. It sneakily went around the dining table, uninterested with the foods that attract the attention of everyone present, but went straight to Zhang Wu Ji's side. But instead of approaching him directly, the Golden Tusk Black Hog went behind him before it sneaks to his side to sniff his waist pouch. After making sure that there was a great number of Qi Sensing Pills inside that pouch, the Golden Tusk Black Hog become much more obedient and shows its belly in order to beg for some pills.

But that little act was caught by the Iron Scale Bull as the beast quickly came into the dining hall after it noticed a different smell came from the inside. The two beasts, one a boar another a bull, is staring at each another before everyone presents decided that they might need to stop the two from fighting. When the two finally took their move forward, it disappoints everyone present as the two end up showing their belly for their portion of Qi Sensing Pills.

"I got one glutton to handle earlier, and another one now. Aii..." Zhang Wu Ji sighed as he looks at the two Money-Eating beasts. But when he considered the fun they two might bring to him, Zhang Wu Ji agreed.

"Master Chef, please felt at ease, I will allow my attendants to take care of the Golden Tusk Black Hog. But may I dare to ask, won't we need to slaughter the beast in order to obtain their meat?" Zhang Wu Ji questioned. But his lack of knowledge in this part made the chef laughed for a second before he returns to his strict demeanor. Still, that wasn't everything.

"Master Senior, this chef still have one more thing to request." he cupped his hand together as he decided to make another request.

"Master Chef, please tell, if this is related to the Kitchen Department's improvement, this junior will not hesitate to give his all to help the department." Zhang Wu Ji replied made him felt at ease.

"This chef dare himself to request for Master Senior's approval and help to build an Elemental Crystal Fountain and Crystal Pond so we can utilize the water source to cultivates our first product that will improve the cultivation speed of those that eat the fishes."

"The fishes that I wanted to obtain the support from Master Senior to cultivates is the Jining Freshwater Trout! The Jining Freshwater Trout is well known for their amazingness in turning the strands of Inner Qi they formed to increase the tenderness of their flesh. Of course, this means that after consuming the cooked fish into their stomach, a portion of their Strand of Inner Qi will assimilate with the core of the cultivator to increase a part of his strength." the Master Chef explained.

"What? A fish that can increase a small part of Inner Qi when eaten? Why didn't I read about this information before?" as a bookworm even after transmigrated into this world, Zhang Wu Ji is completely empty from any information when it was related to foods. But from what he heard from the Master Chef, it seems that even the Culinary Profession does has their own part of Profound Knowledge, but it was hidden from most of the people's view.

"Yes! And we've chosen the location that most suitable to rear and cultivates the fishes. The location will be the Tian Village! In fact, we already trained a few Inner and Outer Disciples, included the twenty-five disciples that you sent to us for a little bit of training two weeks ago." the Master Chef explains his plan and also location he has chosen to begin the project, but as for now, all he needs is the support of this Master Senior.

First of all, were due to the monetary support Zhang Wu Ji possess, which is at least a hundred time stronger than the whole Kitchen Department after they sell all their valuable properties, ingredients, and of course, livestock and other treasure ingredients. But if that were to compared with Zhang Wu Ji's hard earn cash, how can the perishable wealth the Kitchen Department possess can compete with?

As for the second, it will be the material support Zhang Wu Ji possess. Not many people know, but the fact his attendants harvested a total of fifty bulbs of Crystal Rock Flower is one of the reasons that brings the Master Chef here. For the building of the Crystal Fountain and Crystal Pond, how can it be lacks of crystals? Even if they reinforce the sides of the Crystal Pond and built the Fountain using normal materials, the water that was to be filled and flow through the fountain until it reaches the pond will need to have a considerable amount of High-Quality Elemental Crystals. And at this moment, who possess the crystal in hand, and did not have a mean to use them for now?

"Master Senior Ninth, this chef hope master senior will give this project a chance to greets the sunlight and bring grace to the moonlight. I know, based on my words alone, the possibility of success is quite low for now, but I am sure, given the opportunity, this project will only get better in the future!" the Master Chef tried his best to convinced Zhang Wu Ji in sponsoring the project he will personally look after, but in Zhang Wu Ji's mind, he was having a different thought.

"If one fish able to give us about a fifth of Inner Qi, that's mean from eating five fish in a roll, one will get a free strand of Inner Qi without giving out any effort! What a great way to cultivates!" Zhang Wu Ji was having the best thought in his mind until the Master Chef interrupts.

"Master Senior..." he tried to ask for his decision.

"Of course! The idea is extremely good and beneficial, and perhaps with such a great product made possible from the Tian Village, their improvement will become much more significant." Zhang Wu Ji agreed with the brilliant idea without considering too much. And standing by the side, his opinion and answer gave the youngest of the eight attendants, Liu Yanni to smiles in happiness seeing how much her master cares about the Tian Village.

"First thing first, Are we going to slaughter the Golden Tusk Black Hog when it came to the time we need the belly part?" Zhang Wu Ji repeated his first question as it wasn't answered.

"Master Senior... We don't slaughter the hog when it matures. We feed it with a large bowl of Qi Sensing Pill until it was stuffed to death. When the Boar is dead, we will then proceed to harvest their meat. The spawning process of the Golden Tusk Black Hog is nothing difficult, but we usually control their reproduction until the time we need to stuff the hog to death." the Master Chef answered.

"And why do we have to control their reproduction? Won't it be better if we're able to rear more Golden Tusk Black Hog?" Zhang Wu Ji questioned.

"Master Senior Ninth... I'm afraid if one of the pregnant boars really give birth, I'm afraid our cost of feeding them will increase by at least fifteenfold to twentyfold..."

Author's Note:

[1]. I am thankful for my dear readers to keep on reminding me in many different things and stuff I might miss in the earlier chapters. Thank you for your support and I hope you will maintain your support on my novel so I can continue this story with full motivation.

[2]. I believed some people may ask, "Why Zhang Wu Ji don't spam the pills he concocts to increase his strength?" The answer is very simple, In chapter 10, Torturing Demon, there is one sentence mentioned that "If I eat them and cultivates, it won't be a problem for me to get 2 strands immediately, but what can the six hours do for me, since the former brat can't even successfully get a single strand of Inner Qi after eating this like water for fifteen years?" Indicates that Zhang Wu Ji's current body was still a trashed body that equals to was no matter how much he pops the pill. I hope this little hint clear the confusion for a moment.

[3]. There is some question related to the weapon and why did his senior accept things like normal after realizing that the sword has hidden ability. Please do take note on Chapter 15, Yi-Jia Swords, there is a part he leaves notes to his senior brother and sisters to tell them the way to activate the hidden technique he includes in their swords. Of course, this means that except their Yi-Jia Swords, some other weapons such as their master's seven swords, and many other cultivator's weapons might have some special effect in it, only because they don't possess the ability to discern it, thus it ends up becoming unknown.

[4]. Upgrade on a certain item, such as the Longfeng Ruler, the Bronze-Grade Nourishment Art, the Eight Diagram Jade, Etc Etc? Please expect their upgrade soon but not so soon. Try to remember... What happened when he upgrade the Iron Ruler for the first time? POOF! (side note: yes I am sure the attendants will remain eight, like... Long... Long... Time?)

[5]. I agree I need an editor. (Never tried to deny that but I know my English Sucks), I do take my reader's advice as an improvement, and also tried my best to reduce my mistakes, but do take note that not everyone can afford for investment, nor easily finding an editor to help me in various kind of stuff. Comment taken, advise taken, I will try my best to improve.

[6]. This is the most important stuff. You guys love bricks? Alright, I'll make some bricks later on. But please leave Guan Qing Han alone. (HAHAHA) the story between them will get better, it was a misunderstanding for now, as Zhang Wu Ji is not informed of anything between him and her at this moment.