Time passed.
A peculiar scene unfolded in a corner of the Sword Holding Department's cafeteria.
All LV3-ranked Sword Holders were seated stiffly at a long dining table, their expressions grave, as if sitting on pins and needles.
Even Bai Lian sat obediently, not daring to activate the team's voice channel—after all... the master would surely detect the fluctuations of their abilities.
So, she could only curse Gu Yan inwardly.
Damn it, how dare a mere mortal cook for my master?
Do you really think your cooking is any good?
Surely, the master is just humoring you to save your pride.
If she had tasted my cooking... she would have been moved to pat my head and say, "Bai Lian, you've worked hard!"
That should have been the script!
Shangguan Miaoyin also wiped the smirk off her face, turning utterly serious.
She couldn't quite grasp the master's intentions behind this move.
Unless...
Her eyes widened as a thought flashed through her mind.
She... understood now.
First, the Gu family had become the largest civilian martial force in Jianghai.
And since the master was the head of the Sword Holding Department, she was using this mundane servant in front of everyone to make it clear who held the higher status!
This would further emphasize the master's authority and command greater respect!
So that's it!
As expected of the master!!!
Shangguan Miaoyin was filled with admiration—the master's level of insight was truly beyond their reach.
Murong Ci and Liu Jianxing sat together. The two were old acquaintances, having fought side by side in the No. 5 Forbidden Zone.
Later, when the Sword Holding Department was established, Liu Jianxing joined the Jianghai branch.
They became comrades on the surface.
Liu Jianxing didn’t know Murong Ci’s true identity, but the oppressive silence at the table weighed heavily on him.
Sweat beaded on his forehead as he lowered his head.
Tsk...
So Brother Gu really is in a relationship with the head of the Sword Holding Department.
Long ago, Brother Gu had often boasted about how wonderful his wife was and how much he adored her.
Seeing it now... this pair is truly unique.
But the atmosphere here was downright eerie.
Department Head Leng was usually decisive and aloof.
It was hard to imagine her saying something like "I want to eat your cooking" to Gu Yan...
Unless!
Liu Jianxing clenched his fists and swallowed hard.
Was Department Head Leng using this as an opportunity to reprimand Gu Yan for disappearing for a month?
Brother Gu... you're in trouble...
However.
Contrary to everyone's expectations.
Leng Qingqiu's expression was calm, but inwardly, she was growing impatient.
Hmm? Why isn’t this damn man done yet?
He’s usually much faster.
Oh, right—it’s because there are more people now. How annoying! Why did you have to add that last bit about making extra?
Now I have no choice but to keep Shangguan and the others here!
Fine, let them all taste my man’s cooking!
Consider yourselves lucky.
[...]
[That’s enough...]
Little Cold, don’t rush me. I’ll let you out after I finish eating.
[?]
Time passed.
Finally.
As a tantalizing aroma filled the air, the tension at the table shattered.
Everyone turned toward the source of the fragrance—and froze.
Gu Yan flicked his fingers lightly.
Streams of true qi carried plate after plate toward the table.
Murong Ci’s eyes narrowed. Such precise control over true qi—impressive as always.
Liu Jianxing, relieved by Gu Yan’s arrival, was also astonished. So Gu Yan really could cook?
Bai Lian sniffed the air, her expression shifting. Huh?
This scent... was her nose playing tricks on her?
In moments, the plates landed gracefully on the table, arranged with impeccable precision.
A lavish spread of dishes covered the surface.
The sight alone made everyone’s mouths water.
Wait a minute.
This... wasn’t what they expected.
Gu Yan stepped behind Leng Qingqiu, resting his hands on her shoulders.
Under the stunned gazes of the others, he leaned down and murmured by her ear, "Dig in. I made all your favorites."
Then, glancing at the group, he added, "Don’t hold back. Consider this a special treat from our Qingqiu."
Leng Ling'er, used to this at home, didn’t hesitate to grab a fried chicken leg. "Hehe, Brother-in-law, you’re the best! You remembered I love these!"
Leng Qingqiu picked up her chopsticks and said calmly, "Let’s eat."
Only then did the others dare to move, sampling the dishes with cautious curiosity.
The presentation was exquisite, the aroma irresistible.
But!
Bai Lian picked up a bite with her chopsticks, sneering inwardly. Pretty plating means nothing if the taste is—
Her thoughts cut off abruptly.
Huh?!
Her breath hitched, her pupils contracting.
An indescribable burst of flavor exploded in her mouth.
What... what is this?
"Tsk!"
"This taste..."
"How is it so incredible?!"
"Brother Gu, your cooking is amazing!"
Liu Jianxing had guessed Gu Yan’s skills were decent from the presentation, but this was beyond expectations!
Department Head Leng... eats like this every day?!
Murong Ci savored a piece of foie gras and nodded approvingly. "Searred low and slow, golden on the outside, tender within. The balance of tart blackcurrant sauce and sweet figs is perfection."
"Gu Yan, your skills rival those of a state banquet chef."
"Though I’ve never seen foie gras of this quality. Where did you source it?"
Is it really that impressive?
Shangguan Miaoyin frowned skeptically and tried a cold appetizer.
Instantly!
A sensation of vibrant, natural vitality surged through her.
And more importantly—
"My cultivation... actually improved?!" she blurted out.
The others checked their own states.
"The boost is minimal, but it’s real?!"
"Good heavens, this isn’t just food—it’s spirit cuisine that enhances cultivation!!!"
Everyone stared at Gu Yan in awe.
This man... could cook spirit cuisine?!
Leng Qingqiu ate quietly, wholly focused on her meal.
Mmm, just like I remember.
After a month, I finally get to taste it again!
Gu Yan, while slicing a steak for Leng Qingqiu, explained to the group, "I used ingredients infused with true qi."
"For example, the foie gras comes from a mutated breed of demonic beasts cultivated artificially by the Gu family—we call them 'spirit beasts.'"
"The vegetables are edible spirit plants transplanted from the Forbidden Zone and grown by our family."
Gu Yan smiled and said, "By the way, the civilian martial artist factions under our Gu Family will soon introduce [Spirit Cuisine] that can improve meridians and enhance cultivation."
"We’ll also establish restaurants of this type. Everyone is welcome to visit, and we’ll prioritize offering these benefits to martial artists through their respective departments."
Hearing this, all members of the Night Organization turned their gazes toward Leng Qingqiu in unison.
Seeing her calmly eating without a change in expression, they exchanged knowing glances the moment they looked away.
So that’s how it is.
They... all understood now.
The reason for having Gu Yan cook wasn’t just to showcase his skills—it was to send a message: the Gu Family had now mastered the artificial cultivation of [Spirit Plants] and [Spirit Beasts]!
This was a groundbreaking technological advancement capable of reshaping the world’s current balance of power!
Which meant... their master’s true intention was to demonstrate just how crucial Gu Yan was. The next step would surely be to seize control of the Gu Family!
As expected of their master!
Once again, admiration swelled in the hearts of every Night Organization member.
his freshman year, Su Bai accidentally bound the "Indulgence Tycoon System." 【Sleeping in? Reward: +$1,000】 【Spent $288 at a street barbecue stall? Cashback: +$2,880】 【Dropped $14,396 on in-game skins? Special reward unlocked: A brand-new Porsche Panamera!】 Luxury cars, penthouses, corporate shares, financial empires… College life was all about living freely and doing whatever he pleased! … When the adorably naive academic genius faced family medical bills and financial struggles, Su Bai waved his hand dismissively: "Your future is on me." "Wuwu~ Big Brother is so good to me! I’ll become a scientist to repay you!" When the genius girl got bullied by a shady professor? Su Bai casually dropped a billion-dollar investment, forcing the university to grovel and beg for her return. A company’s funding chain collapsing? Su Bai smirked—cash was the one thing he’d never run out of. Years later, when people traced the rise of the AI prodigy beauty, who was the man behind her success? Not just that—Su Bai also became the tsundere campus belle’s unattainable dream, the contrast senior’s daily necessity, and the beautiful counselor’s emotional anchor…
transmigrates into the role of a villainous rich second-generation kid in an urban fantasy novel, and gets bound to a god-tier choice system. Right at the start, he catches the female lead stealing exam papers! This triggers the villain's choice options! [Choice 1: Pretend you didn't see anything] [Choice 2: Loudly call her out, drawing everyone's attention] [Choice 3: ...] And thus, a twisted villain is born. To avoid getting killed by the protagonist, he has no choice but to take down all the protagonists first. Jiang Che: Nobody understands being twisted better than me!
nd fell into a coma while saving his younger sister from an out-of-control car. He became a vegetable. No one knew that his consciousness had crossed into a world of cultivation. Over the course of sixty years, he began as the lowest kind of mine slave, struggling to survive amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood. By sheer chance, he eventually obtained the complete memories of a fallen Immortal King. Alchemy, medicine, formations, feng shui, physiognomy, artifact forging… Every great inheritance of the cultivation world was now his. But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that ten full years had passed in the modern world. To pay for his treatment, his father had sold the family’s shop and house, leaving himself covered in lasting injuries and illness. His mother had cared for him day and night, and more than half of her hair had already turned white. His younger sister, who had been only fifteen back then, was now twenty-five. To help repay the family’s debts, she had been forced to lower her head and put on a smiling face in places of glittering lights and endless revelry. Only then did Chen Xuan understand that what he had lost was not merely ten years. He had lost the life his entire family was meant to have. The good news was that he had brought back the memories of an Immortal King’s entire lifetime. The bad news was that his soul had returned alone—his cultivation had not come with him. Spiritual energy was scarce, resources were depleted, and the modern world still had firearms, surveillance, capital, and laws. If he wanted to protect his family, break free from everyone’s control, and become truly invincible beneath the heavens, he would have to start all over again.
to panic—he has a system. As long as an investment target dies, he can claim a reward. And since he is immortal, the one thing he has plenty of is time. ... Countless years later. “Immortal Emperor of Longevity? I invested in him.” “Supreme Celestial Venerable? I invested in him.” “Undying Empress? I invested in her.” “...” “Heh. Once they’ve all died, even the Heavenly Dao will have to kneel and call me Dad.”
