The Psychology of Xuanyangzi

Meanwhile, Fatty Wang, drooling so much it practically looked like tears, stared with wide, round eyes and a slightly open mouth, completely dumbfounded.

He secretly tugged at Xiao Ruobai's sleeve beside him and asked in a low voice, "Eldest Martial Brother? Who is this Senior Bull...?"

Xiao Ruobai looked at the chubby boy's confused expression and couldn't help but smile. He explained in a low voice, "This is Lao Huang, a great demon under Master's command who takes care of the spirit fields. His true form is the Azure Heaven Bull King, and his cultivation is profound."

He paused, a slightly strange smile appearing on his face, and added, "He works diligently on normal days and is a great hand at managing the spirit fields. However, occasionally, he also works part-time as an ingredient."

"Works part-time as an ingredient?!"

Fatty Wang's small eyes instantly widened into perfect circles as he looked at Lao Huang.

"Part-time ingredient?" he muttered, repeating the phrase. His mind spun rapidly, instantly connecting all the previous oddities. No wonder this Senior Bull had such a huge reaction when a celebration was mentioned, getting so scared he directly burrowed into the dirt.

An indescribable wave of sympathy surged into Fatty Wang's heart like a tide.

When he looked at Lao Huang's massive body again, his eyes were filled with sighs and pity.

Then he remembered that just a moment ago, Senior Bull seemed to feel wronged... because Master didn't cut off his meat?

"Sigh, this old bull is truly too pitiful. Even his brain has become abnormal."

To be a bull on this Purple Bamboo Peak, just how strong must one's psychological fortitude be!

Gu Changge took in everyone's reactions. The corners of his mouth lifted imperceptibly, but he didn't say much.

With a light flick of his sleeve, clear spring water poured into a jade basin. The Purple Flame Spirit Rice automatically washed itself and flew into the cauldron like purple fireflies, boiling together with the rolling meat broth.

Instantly, the unique fragrance of the rice perfectly blended with the rich aroma of the meat broth. The exotic scent assaulted the nostrils, making it even more tempting.

"Alright, everyone sit down."

Gu Changge's gaze swept over the disciples and his senior brother who were gathering around to sit, and his fingertips flicked lightly and imperceptibly a few times.

Several barely detectable, subtle streams of light silently entered the cauldron, accurately acting on the portion of food that was about to be served to each person.

That was a meticulous refinement performed with supreme magic power, smoothing out the overly aggressive energy impacts. It ensured that the essence and spiritual energy in the meat were suitable for each disciple's different cultivation level, while perfectly preserving the ultimate flavor and texture.

Fatty Wang, who could no longer hold back, immediately squeezed to the table and carefully took the bowl handed to him by his Master.

The meat chunks in the bowl were crystal clear, the rice grains were plump, and the broth was as rich as jade marrow. The aroma drilled straight into his nose. He couldn't wait to scoop up a spoonful and put it in his mouth.

In an instant, an indescribable deliciousness exploded in his mouth!

The mellowness of the venison intertwined with the chewiness of the rabbit meat. The spirit rice was soft, glutinous, and sweet. Following that, a gentle yet majestic warm current surged into his limbs and bones, nourishing his Cave Heaven.

It was so comfortable that he narrowed his small eyes, mumbling indistinctly, "Mmm... delicious... too delicious..."

He ate rapidly, stuffing his cheeks until they bulged.

However, after eating only less than half a bowl, wisps of pure spiritual energy began to emanate from his body, like a steamer opening its lid. His entire chubby face turned flushed, and fine sweat even seeped from his forehead.

Obviously, even after Gu Changge's refinement, the essence contained in the flesh and blood of this Saint King-level great demon and the top-tier spirit rice was still a tremendous burden for his current Cave Heaven Realm cultivation.

Yet Fatty Wang seemed completely unaware of this, or rather, he simply couldn't stop.

While burping slightly from being stuffed with spiritual energy, he stubbornly continued to shove meat and rice into his mouth. His small eyes stared intently at the remaining delicacies in his bowl, and he mumbled vaguely, "No wonder, no wonder even Third Senior Sister was looking forward to this. I have to finish it even if I stuff myself to death..."

Gu Changge glanced at him. Watching his little disciple's eating appearance that seemed ready to risk life and limb, a helpless smile flashed in his eyes. He shook his head gently and spoke in a peaceful tone, "Little Fatty... Oh, wait, it's Yuechen. Never mind, let's stick to Fatty."

Fatty Wang was currently struggling with a plump and tender piece of rabbit leg meat. Hearing the voice, he looked up blankly, a few shiny grains of rice still stuck to the corner of his mouth.

The spiritual energy evaporating around him became even more intense. His small face was bright red, looking exactly like a steaming human-shaped meat bun fresh out of the steamer.

He responded vaguely, "Mmm? Mas... Master... You called me?"

Gu Changge looked at his appearance and said calmly, "You have just entered the Cave Heaven Realm, and your foundation is not yet stable. You must absorb the essence of this food according to your capacity. Being greedy for more will only cause it to stagnate in your body, which is unbeneficial to your cultivation. Stop while you are ahead."

Fatty Wang blinked his small eyes, seemingly just understanding his Master's words. He looked down at the rabbit leg in his hand, then at the spirit rice in his bowl that haunted his dreams. An extremely struggling expression instantly appeared on his face. On one side was his Master's warning, and on the other was supreme deliciousness. This choice was too painful.

He finally swallowed the food in his mouth hard and, with extreme reluctance, whispered, "This disciple... this disciple understands..."

Seeing his Master look away, as if no longer paying attention to him, Fatty Wang had a thought.

Like a thief, he quietly formed hand seals under the table with his greasy hands. After a barely detectable fluctuation of magic power, the leftover food on the table instantly disappeared, stealthily moved into his storage ring without anyone knowing.

After doing all this, he immediately straightened his back, wiped his mouth, and put on a well-behaved and obedient appearance. However, his bulging cheeks and the hint of secret delight at succeeding in his eyes completely betrayed him.

This scene naturally couldn't escape the corner of Gu Changge's eye. He watched his little disciple's self-deceiving little actions, a knowing smile flashing in his eyes, but he didn't point it out. He just casually turned his gaze elsewhere as if nothing had happened.

Right at this time, Xuanyangzi swallowed the food in his mouth, looked at Gu Changge, and asked with concern in his tone, "Junior Brother, now that Yuechen has also joined the sect, do you have any arrangements for these disciples under your command next? Will you have them cultivate quietly on the peak, or..."

Gu Changge's gaze swept past Xiao Ruobai, Fang Hanyu, and Ling Xi in turn, finally pausing slightly on Fatty Wang, who was emitting spiritual energy all over his body, and said softly:

"Let them all stay on Purple Bamboo Peak for the near future. The previous battles require time to digest, and Fatty also needs to build a solid foundation. They have been running around outside for a long time; it is time for them to calm their minds and settle down."

Hearing Gu Changge's words about all of them staying on Purple Bamboo Peak, Xuanyangzi inexplicably let out a long sigh of relief in his heart. Even he himself didn't fully realize where this rejoicing came from; he just subconsciously felt a heavy stone fall from his heart.

He couldn't help but mutter to himself, "This is good, this is good! Staying at home is the safest!"

As soon as this thought arose, some recent memory fragments uncontrollably surfaced in his mind.

The first time these kids went out for experiential learning, the Demon Heaven Sect and the Blood Soul Sect were gone!

The second time they went out, the scale was even larger and the involvement deeper. The Glazed Holy Land was gone, and an Ancient Supreme from a forbidden life zone was dragged down with it...

Although there were sufficient reasons every time and it wasn't the disciples actively causing trouble, this momentum of wherever they go, major events happen truly made Xuanyangzi, the Sect Master, feel a bit creeped out in his heart.

Now that his Junior Brother decided to keep them all on the peak for a period of time, Xuanyangzi practically wanted to clap his hands in celebration.

He hurriedly picked up his bowl and took a massive gulp of soup to hide the look of relief that might have slipped onto his face. He chanted silently in his heart: Tempering themselves is good, tempering is great! It would be best if they stayed on the peak to temper themselves for three to five years! Let the outside world have a good tempering too!

"However, regarding the Great Emperor's tomb that trapped the Third Patriarch... calculating the time, its weakest opening window will be in about a month. When that time comes, Ruobai and the others can go have some fun."

Gu Changge thought for a moment and added.

"Pfft—"

The meat broth Xuanyangzi had just swallowed nearly spurted out of his nose.

He snapped his head up, disregarding his image entirely. His eyes were wide as copper bells, and his voice pitched up several degrees, carrying a tone of sheer disbelief:

"What?! Going in a month?! Junior Brother! You... you just said to let them temper themselves, and the next second you are going to let them out?!"

Today's writing about the daily life at Purple Bamboo Peak is to prepare and lay the groundwork for the disciples' cultivation and growth, as well as the exciting plots later on.

Depending on the situation before nine o'clock, there might be another chapter update. If there is no update by nine, everyone doesn't need to wait anymore.