12 Compelled To Join

"Let me tell you. I'm just going to find out what a bowl of porridge that costs 1 mid-grade spirit stone tastes like and prove to you that it's not worth this price!" Elder Zhao exclaimed insistently.

"Okay. Please, wait." Su Yu walked to the kitchen expressionlessly and scooped a bowl of porridge for Elder Zhao.

Soon, Su Yu placed a bowl of porridge in front of Elder Zhao.

"Please, enjoy your porridge."

"Indeed, it's just rice and water," said Elder Zhao, holding the bowl and scrutinizing its content. He initially thought that Su Yu had added some kind of seasoning, but it turned out that it was just plain porridge with nothing else at all.

"No, this rice… is different." As a martial artist, Elder Zhao was naturally good at observing. He could vaguely sense that the rice was rhythmically expanding as if it was alive and breathing.

"This rice… is so spiritual!"

Elder Zhao had been to every corner of the Five Deltas Continent and tasted all sorts of delicacies. However, he had never tasted any type of food that could be compared to that simple bowl of porridge.

Gu-gu…

His stomach began grumbling. The appetizing porridge would make mortals, but also martial artists, and even an Elixir Saint hungry! He had never heard about it before!

Elder Zhao picked up the blue-white porcelain spoon and licked his lips. He slowly scooped a spoonful of porridge and looked at the sticky and viscous porridge shreds that appeared when he pulled the spoon up. As the spoon pulled away the layer of skin on the porridge's surface, the rich aroma wafted up to his nose and infiltrated his taste buds before surging into his stomach.

Elder Zhao could not be bothered to be reserved, and he simply placed the spoonful of porridge in his mouth…

In an instant, the porridge that lingered around the tip of his tongue began bursting with flavor, and the rice grains were jumping around in his mouth like mischievous goblins. The intense fragrance was stimulating his senses, and it had a bombarding mouthfeel1.

Elder Zhao felt like every cell in his body had become lively, and he seemed to have become 20 years younger in age as the lusciousness awakened his entire body.

"Oh my god! There's actually such an ambrosial delicacy in this world! Is this really only plain porridge?"

Elder Zhao felt a sudden urge to cry as he was immersed in the porridge's deliciousness and couldn't help himself. He had already put everything aside and forgotten about restoring his pride and dignity. As he scooped spoonful after spoonful of porridge into his mouth, all he could think about was porridge.

Huff!

"Amazing!" Elder Zhao exclaimed in pleasure. He, an esteemed Elixir Saint, actually began to lick the bowl clean, making sure he polished off all the remaining porridge residue.

Su Yu, who was standing at the side, watched everything calmly. Elder Zhao's reaction was completely within his expectations.

As a person who had transmigrated, he had had plenty of scrumptious delicacies in his previous life, but he was greatly amazed by the bowl of porridge too, let alone them. This world's people did not place much emphasis on the pursuit of enjoyment, so they did not have high standards for food. The so-called delightful delicacies here were only considered, at best, average, in Su Yu's previous life. It would be strange if Elder Zhao did not lose his composure after tasting the porridge.

After licking the bowl clean, Elder Zhao finally heaved a sigh of satisfaction, feeling extremely gratified.

The unprecedented bliss was surging through his body. Indeed, it was bliss, and it was as if the bowl of porridge would bring him happiness.

"Is this plain porridge!? This is unbelievable. I've traveled across the Five Deltas Continent, but I've never tasted such a wonderful delicacy. No, in fact, I've never heard of it or even seen it before!" Elder Zhao's nerves were stimulated by the delicious porridge and were now in a state of exhilaration.

Su Yu remained calm and composed as he asked, "Is this bowl of porridge worth 1 mid-grade spirit stone?"

"Yes! It's definitely worth it! It's worth it even if it costs a superior-grade spirit stone!" Elder Zhao laughed and handed a superior-grade spirit stone to Su Yu. "I'll take the remaining portion too! From now on, I'll have my meals here. Besides, your environment is not bad, either. Your bed is comfortable and staying here is a good option." Elder Zhao had clearly taken a liking to Su Yu's couch.

"If you want to stay here, you have to pay me 1 superior-grade spirit stone per day."

"You're charging me again? 1 superior-grade spirit stone per day?" Elder Zhao asked in shock as he glared at Su Yu.

"Of course. Don't you have to pay for staying in an inn too?" asked Su Yu, appearing a little embarrassed. He did charge a high price, but at the thought that numerous people would come flocking to the Great King Mountain after it became even more impressive, he decided that he had to increase the prices to avoid chaos!

Su Yu had a flash of inspiration and said, "However, if you join the Great King Mountain, you can naturally stay here for free."

"Great King Mountain? What's that? Is it your sect?" Elder Zhao asked with a frown, as he had no recollection of the Great King Mountain.

"The Great King Mountain is the mountain that we are on now, and I'm the Mountain Great King," said Su Yu despite blushing in embarrassment because the names 'Great King Mountain' and 'Mountain Great King' were too tacky.

"Great King Mountain? Mountain Great King?" Elder Zhao sized up Su Yu before laughing out loud. "Hahaha, how did you come up with that name? It's really tacky! You're so young, yet you're thinking of owning a mountain and becoming a king. Do you want to become a bandit? Hahaha, this is so funny!"

Su Yu watched him laugh uncontrollably, feeling a little speechless. "Are you going to join or not? If you join, you can eat for free in the future."

"Hahaha, of course not. What is the Great King Mountain? You don't even have a proper signboard, and you want me to join you? I'd rather just pay for it," Elder Zhao said while chuckling. If he really wanted to join a force, many massive forces would have invited him, and he wouldn't have waited until now. Besides, he had numerous spirit stones, and this amount was nothing to him.

"Brother Su, um… Can I join?" Mu Xiaoxiao asked timidly, feeling content at the thought of regularly eating those delicacies in the future.

Elder Zhao's laughter suddenly ceased, and it was as if there was something stuck in his throat. His face turned red immediately, and he looked at the two people whom he wanted to take in as disciples. One claimed to be the king of a mountain, and hence it would be impossible for him to become a disciple, while the other one suddenly wanted to join the sect. He suddenly felt a little melancholic.

"Of course you can!" Overjoyed, Su Yu glanced at Elder Zhao and continued. "Unfortunately, we're the only ones on the Great King Mountain now. You are very talented. When we rise in the future, I'll definitely find you a good master." He emphasized the word 'master'.

"It doesn't matter if I have no master. I want to join the Great King Mountain!" replied Mu Xiaoxiao in excitement.

Ding!

"Congratulations to the host for obtaining a disciple."

"Since you want the Great King Mountain to surpass the sacred lands, how can there be no disciples? The disciples' abilities directly reflect the sect's image. Host, please work harder and recruit more disciples. Make each and every one of them become a legend on the mainland!"

At that moment, many changes took place on the map in Su Yu's mind, and an additional character appeared. It seemed to be Mu Xiaoxiao.

He tapped to open the character icon, and just as he expected, Mu Xiaoxiao's information was displayed.

"Mu Xiaoxiao, female, 15 years old, natural-born spiritual being, has an innate affinity with botany, a heightened sense of danger, and superior aptitude."

"System comment: This girl is pure, kind-hearted, and was born with a spiritual body. She has just joined the Great King Mountain, and her future achievements will be extraordinary. As long as the host does not do anything outrageous, this girl has zero possibility of betraying the Great King Mountain. You can rest assured and take her in."

Damn it! This system is so narcissistic. Why would it say that she would make outstanding achievements now that she has joined the Great King Mountain? Mu Xiaoxiao joined the Great King Mountain at a young age, and there are no resources or teachers here. There aren't even any cultivation techniques, but she's going to be extraordinary? Since I've already opened the sect, you should at least give me a manual of techniques or something…

"Congratulations, you're now a member of the Great King Mountain," Su Yu said to Mu Xiaoxiao, smilingly.

The dumbfounded Elder Zhao asked, "Kid, what kind of master are you going to find for her in the future?"

"I don't know. I'll think about it after the Great King Mountain is developed." Su Yu shook his head mindlessly.

"Nonsense! Wait for the Great King Mountain to be developed? How long would that take? 10 years? Or 20 years? Do you know that you're letting her potential go to waste!? Besides, what kind of 'good master' can you find for her?" Elder Zhao questioned, clearly angered.

"What can I do then? I initially wanted to invite you to join the Great King Mountain and become Xiaoxiao's master, but…" Su Yu sighed.

Elder Zhao gaped a little with a conflicted expression.

"Elder Zhao, there will be a greater variety of food in the Great King Mountain in the future. At the same time, some delicacies will be exclusive to the Great King Mountain and not sold to the public. Are you sure you don't want to join?" Su Yu asked in a bid to compel Elder Zhao when he saw that the latter was hesitating.

"I guarantee that this porridge is of the lowest grade!" Su Yu said that with the utmost confidence because he had the Mountain Great King System. Once the Great King Mountain rose, he would be able to grow some holy fruit. The thought of cooking a holy fruit. seemed luxurious to him.

"Really?" Elder Zhao wanted to give himself an out.

"Absolutely! I guarantee that there will be new delicacies in a month's time!" Su Yu proclaimed confidently.

He had gone all out for the sake of the lucky draw!

Elder Zhao was a little tempted. He had finally found a disciple he liked after a long time. Since his potential disciple had joined the Great King Mountain, it was only right for him to join too. In addition, the Great King Mountain was not too bad in his opinion. He thought that it would be a good place for him to live in now that he was old in his years. He would be fed well and have a roof over his head. Su Yu also seemed like a reliable chap. Hence, he might as well stay and see how well Su Yu could develop the Great King Mountain.