AZI Volume 6 Chapter 50

Taking another step forward, Qing Yue says—

"Maybe we should… Just rest up for the day?"

Scaling down the zigzagging pathway has drained the majority by a considerable amount. And with how slippery the ground is from the rain, the task itself required extra effort.

"Agreed."

More times than she could be bothered to count, Shen Le had nearly slipped.

"Fine, let's set up tent."

As everyone gets their tents out, Long Hua turns to Yao Ying, and asks—

"You even have a tent?"

"…Nuo'er made sure to prepare some supplies ahead of time."

"…She's basically your mom at this point."

"…"

Having her mother brought up, Yao Ying casts her eyes downwards. And recalling the slip of paper that she had received, she thought—

(My two siblings really were the ones to have plotted against me, then what about the guesses related to my mother? …Was her death also something that was planned?)

"…Ai."

Recalling that Yao Ying's mother had already passed away, Long Hua heaves a sigh. As someone who had grown up without receiving much attention from his own mother—according to his current memories, even he had to say that remark was uncalled for.

"In any case, I'm assuming you don't even know how to set a tent up?"

"Un…"

"You can stay in ours for the night."

"…Thanks."

...…

As night falls, the rain halts.

Sitting within the large tent, Long Hua, Tian Cheng, Yao Ying—each of them held a bowl of instant ramen in their hands.

"…"

Feeling somewhat unsatisfied with this simplistic meal, Yao Ying takes out a plate of youtiao, and picks one up to dip it into the broth.

"…?"

Seeing the plate of youtiao, Long Hua raises an eye—somewhat lost as to what to make of this situation. Judging by how crude its appearance is, it's definitely handmade.

Feeling a bit awkward to be the only one eating the youtiao, Yao Ying says—

"…You're both welcome to have some."

Taking one, Long Hua asks—

"You learned to make this in the café?"

"Originally, I was supposed to learn how to make pancakes, but midway the Owner said, let's change it to youtiao because it's more unique."

"…Typical of that guy."

Shaking his head lightly, Long Hua soaks the youtiao into the ramen broth.

"…"

Taking one herself, Tian Cheng does the same.

And as soon as the youtiao softens up, Long Hua bites into it.

The taste is normal, and since it's merely fried dough—it's quite difficult to get it wrong.

"…How is it? I think, it's decent?"

Among the people that Yao Ying is familiar with, only the Owner and Zhou'er had taste tested it. Their reviews are on the positive side, and the only complaint they had was its odd shape.

"Aside from its shape, it's good enough."

"Same opinion as master."

"The Owner and Zhou'er said the same thing."

Finishing the youtiao, Long Hua asks—

"You planning to make steamed buns after getting the shape right?"

"That's the plan."

Towards Yao Ying's reply, Long Hua raises a soft laugh of amusement, and remarks—

"Ai, the young lady of a rich household making commoner food, quite comical."

"…"

Slumping her shoulders, Yao Ying frowns, to which, Long Hua says—

"I'm not saying it to be rude. Do you know how much a single steamed bun is worth in the mortal realm's currency of taels?"

"…"

Towards the question, Yao Ying shakes her head, while Long Hua answers—

"Not even one tael. With just a single tael, you could probably buy three or four steamed buns. The bun itself is worth so little, and yet, some people's livelihoods depend entirely on selling them. It's a recipe that requires time and effort, but rewards so little—since you might not even be able to sell all the buns out in a single day, causing you to have wasted your ingredients."

"…?"

Blinking her pale pink eyes, Yao Ying tilts her head, unable to understand why Long Hua is bringing this matter up.

"However, foods of this nature are typically the sort that I like the best."

Foods of this nature are typically the sort that Long Hua had eaten during his travels with Dao He Tian Xue. At the same time—

(I think, there was a time in my life when I had craved for a single steamed bun, but wasn't able to have one.)

Taking another youtiao, and soaking it in the broth, Long Hua adds—

"I like people who fail and try to pick themselves back up. In my opinion, foods of this nature represent those people the best—because they put in so much time and effort into picking themselves back up, despite knowing that they could potentially fail again. Watching those people who dream of one day accomplishing their goal is amusing to me—regardless of whether or not they succeed at the end."

"…Un?"

Despite not understanding Long Hua's point, Yao Ying nods, while the former remarks—

"Ai, rambling matters like this to a little girl, seems like I've really gotten old."

Finishing his meal quickly, and setting the emptied bowl aside, Long Hua shrouds the tent in a sound containment barrier, and asks—

"Little girl, what's your cultivation base?"

Downing the broth, Yao Ying answers—

"Foundation Establishment realm, mid-stage."

"How many pillars? Are they cracked or perfect?"

"Four pillars, all cracked. …How is perfect even possible?"

In the Foundation Establishment realm, a practitioner draws in spirit Qi, and condenses them into pillars within their spiritual sea.

Typically, these pillars would have cracks on them, but if they don't, then they are considered "perfect."

Possession of perfect pillars would allow the practitioner to be able to demonstrate greater strength than a peer of the same level; and make it easier for them to form a higher quality core when ascending to the Core Formation realm.

One to three pillars mean early stage.

Four to six pillars mean mid-stage.

Seven and nine pillars mean late stage.

Upon creating the ninth pillar, the practitioner is generally ready for Core Formation realm ascension. All they needed then was more spirit Qi to make the final push.

Towards Yao Ying's question, Long Hua replies—

"In my previous life, my nine pillars were perfect."

(Oh? *-laoban, you planning to accept her as your disciple? Instead of being the Chosen Child of the Heaven, you plan to turn yourself into their cheat instead? Talk about shameless now that you've realized there's benefits to be had by taking her in.)

"Tai Xuan Emperor, shut your whore mouth."