Panshi Cave Mansion.
On the circular stone table, five or six delicious dishes were arranged.
Yu Heye sat in the main seat, leaving the position for the guest of honor to Ning Zhuo. Besides the two of them, there were Shen Xi and Su Lingkou, the cousins.
"Young Master Ning, please taste this dish."
"It is called Nine Mountains Sea Calming Soup, made from flour using Nine-colored Spirit Rice, and blue sea water to ferment the dough. Then simmer the Nine-colored dough using a Magic Treasure level pottery jar, and stew it with golden rock marrow. If the Spirit Chef is skilled, Earth Essence can be formed during the cooking of this Spirit Food."
Yu Heye smiled as he introduced, then stretched out his hand to remove the lid of the Pottery Jar.
In the next moment, yellow-brown mist entwined with nine-colored rays burst forth. Within this mist, three mountain shadows emerged and then disappeared instantly.
Shen Xi, a noble from a great family, was somewhat astonished at the sight and said, "These are three mountain shadows, indicating that there are at least three pieces of Earth Essence in the Pottery Jar."
"To create such Spirit Food requires more than an ordinary Spirit Chef."
"May I ask, Senior Yu, which master chef from the sect did you invite?"
Yu Heye laughed heartily, seemingly pleased at Shen Xi’s discernment, and said, "It is Tao An from Warm Pot Residence."
Su Lingkou immediately praised, "So it’s the Golden Core level Chef Tao, no wonder such Spirit Food can be made."
Though she had just arrived, she had some knowledge of Tao An’s reputation.
Spirit Chefs at the Golden Core Level are almost always main chefs or head chefs.
There are Spirit Chefs at the Nascent Soul Level, but they do not serve the market. They are often limited to small circles. In regular markets, stable benefits to the public typically come from Cultivators at the Golden Core Level.
"Young Master Ning, please take a taste." Yu Heye personally picked up a long spoon, stirred around in the Pottery Jar, and served a soup along with a piece of Earth Essence into the bowl before Ning Zhuo.
The soup was thick, like honey, clear and transparent.
Ning Zhuo took a spoonful and immediately felt like he swallowed a mouthful of warm quicksand. Initially, a rich salty taste accompanied by a hint of bitterness was profound, but soon, a refreshing sweetness emerged from the root of his tongue, like mountain spring water mixed with honey from wild flowers.
Ning Zhuo swallowed, and as the soup slid down his throat, his spine straightened instantly.
A torrent of Earth Spirit seemed like a waterfall from the heavens, reaching his stomach, bringing an intense sense of gravity.
Subsequently, the Earth Spirit stream continued to evaporate, transforming into warm yellow light, permeating Ning Zhuo’s entire body.
His muscles were strengthened, his meridians widened, his heartbeat became steady, and accumulated toxins within his body were expelled along with the yellow light.
After eight breaths, Ning Zhuo fully digested, feeling considerable enhancement in defense and endurance, he couldn’t help but nod slightly with satisfaction.
Yu Heye was astonished.
He often consumed such Spirit Food dishes and knew well: though they had good effects, they also had the drawback of being difficult to digest.
Unexpectedly, Ning Zhuo had digested it in such a short time.
"At least by my own observation, he seems to have digested it."
"I take at least six breaths to digest this Spirit Food."
"Don’t be deceived by his Foundation Establishment stage; his physical foundation is strong!"
Yu Heye suppressed his surprise with a broad smile toward Ning Zhuo, "Young Master Ning, how do you feel?"
Ning Zhuo commented, "Not bad, not bad."
Then, he looked at Shen Xi and Su Lingkou, "You two might also want to try, it’s quite effective."
Shen Xi and Su Lingkou each took a spoonful, their expressions changed, and they promptly closed their eyes at the dining table for breathing control.
Shen Xi took over thirty breaths, while Su Lingkou reached fifty-six breaths to finish digesting.
Su Lingkou’s face even shone with a hint of yellow light, she felt genuinely delighted and praised from the heart, "Indeed, a dish forged by a Golden Core chef!"
Shen Xi reacted afterward, looking at Ning Zhuo, his pupils flashing with a gleam.
"Ning Zhuo’s physical foundation seems exceedingly strong!"
"At the very least, his ability to digest far exceeds mine."
"Does he specialize in Lower Dantian Essence Sea cultivation?"
Upon thinking this, Shen Xi began admiring Ning Zhuo’s physical cultivation openly.
Ning Zhuo shook his head, "Alas, I’m still far from it. This level of physical cultivation is nothing."
Shen Xi, Yu Heye: "..."
Ning Zhuo’s expression was sincere, his lamentation heartfelt.
His physical cultivation level lags far behind his soul foundation!
Ning Zhuo’s soul already possessed a million Human Souls, while his physical cultivation was insufficient, causing his soul cultivation to be stagnant for a long time.
A while ago, his skin had turned a greenish-grey color, unable to bear the strong soul.
The situation now is only somewhat alleviated; Ning Zhuo still has a long way to go!
"Young Master Ning, here is the Thousand Needle Golden Firming Cake, please evaluate the taste of this." Yu Heye picked up the communal chopsticks and placed some golden needle mushrooms before Ning Zhuo.
The mushrooms were long and slender, coated with a layer of golden powder, dazzling.
Ning Zhuo ate them, the Spirit Food entering his mouth, transforming into a slow, continuous stream after chewing.
The stream quickly spread throughout Ning Zhuo’s body, cleansing and clearing all congestion and blockage within.
Shen Xi and Su Lingkou were secretly surprised.
They had never heard of Yu Heye being so enthusiastic in hosting a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
This was very unusual!
Shen Xi couldn’t help but speculate, "What method did Ning Zhuo use for Yu Heye to treat him this way?"
"And... is it my illusion?"
"I always feel that this egalitarian attitude is mixed with many attempts at ingratiation?"
Shen Xi’s mind was sharp, his insight quite exceptional.
He thought of this level but couldn’t convince himself to believe it, as it was quite unbelievable indeed.