TLed by Serena Love

Edited by Liya

Chapter 33 Carved Longevity Plum

Outside the Meditation Hall, there were only a few people around.

The disciples of Nanxun Academy had to stay inside the hall for three to five days every time they entered. Therefore, the disciples came and went far less frequently to the Meditation Hall than the Wanjian Mountain.

At this moment, in broad daylight, no, at noon when the sun was shining brightly, all the brothers and sisters of Zhiqiong Peak couldn't help but feel cold.if you are reading this on a site other than puretl(.)com then this chapter has been stolen

The old man standing in front of their second senior sister was Elder Zhang, who was at the peak of the Nascent Soul level.

Before they could run away with their flying sword, his fierce sword energy could tear apart the sky and attack them. Even Golden Core disciples dared not look directly at him.

However, their slender Second Senior Sister, whose cultivation base was only at the Qi Refining level, stood still. At this moment, her shoulders were flat and her back was straight. Her eyes did not waver and she boldly looked at the old man in front of her.

"What is peak contribution point?"

Elder Zhang couldn't hide his complicated expression.

When looking at Su Yu, he couldn't help but feel that this girl was extremely daring. Not only did she look directly at him without dodging, but she also spoke loudly when facing him.

Among the Qi Refining disciples, he never met someone with such audacity.

However, instead of being annoyed, he somewhat appreciated her.

His swordsmanship also relied on power and invincibility!

The girl's spirit was very in line with his temperament.

Elder Zhang immediately smiled and said, "Niece Su, don't get me wrong. I'm not questioning you. I just want to figure out how to exchange your pills. How can I get Zhiqiong Peak's contribution points?"

The junior brothers and sisters standing behind Su Yu suddenly looked strange.

'How to get it?'

Even Yan Yan, who had always been expressionless, couldn't help but look up at Elder Zhang.

In the big competition before, they had to battle in the ring on behalf of their peak to get contribution points.

One fight was one hundred contribution points. If they performed excellently, they would get additional rewards.

This... would this elder do the same?

"So?" Elder Zhang nodded after hearing this. "It's not too difficult. I have a few disciples under me. I can't fight for you, but they can."

Everyone: ...

Happiness came so quickly.

"No."

A veto sounded, like cold water that extinguished their eagerness.

"Give a man a fish, will only let them eat one meal. Teach a man to fish and they will enjoy it for a lifetime."

Su Yu put her hands behind her back. Her eyes swept across the faces of her junior brothers and sisters, who were delighted when they heard about this foreign help. Especially Yu Dong, who was the most eager to try. Yu Dong's body stiffened sharply.

'Why not!'

"How long do you want to be protected by your elders? This year's big competition, next year's competition?"

The junior brothers and sisters who were swept by her eyes were shocked.

The smile on Yu Dong's mouth froze.

Wei Zhao, who was in the wheelchair, was even more ashamed. He immediately folded his fists and lowered his head. "Second Senior Sister is right. I will not be confused."

Hearing that they could obtain the help of an elder at the peak of Nascent Soul, they were in high spirits.

They forgot that the root of the martial arts competition lay in the discipline of each disciple.

Elder Zhang was watching with a smile in his eyes, but when he heard this, he was also solemn.

He looked at Su Yu again. His expression changed from being eager to get elixirs to becoming serious.

"Okay, it's good to teach someone how to fish. If my Nanxun disciples have such a heart, why would they be afraid of the difficulties ahead?"

Elder Zhang touched his beard, but two or three white hairs fell off in an instant, which hurt the corners of his mouth.

His gaze swept over the disciples of Zhiqiong Peak, and finally, his eyes solemnly fell on Su Yu.

"Little Niece Su, I see that you have nearly fifteen or sixteen sword-cultivators in your peak. Other disciples are also not very high-level. If you don't dislike it, when I'm not on duty, I will come to Zhiqiong Peak to answer your questions?"

Su Yu pondered, then smiled and nodded after a while.

A well-equipped kitchen staff had to specialize in art, not just relying on the master chef.

The white case and the red case had their own fields. All eight major cuisines had their own talents. Finding a master to bring up the apprentices was part of the head chef'’s responsibility. After a few years, each chef's talent would come out in large numbers, with specialized skills and improved dishes.

[T/N: Red case & white case refer specifically to Chinese cooking. The chefs in the red case mainly focus on processing chicken, duck, fish, and non-staple food, including stir-frying, frying, making cold dishes, and steaming. In contrast, chefs in the white case are responsible for making noodles, dough, cakes, and pastries. They do not participate in cooking work themselves and are also sometimes called pastry chefs or bakers.]

Once everyone learnt properly, she would finally have a healthy staffing distribution.

Master Su was satisfied, "Zhiqiong Peak welcomes Elder to come to guide us. When can Elder start?"

Her back kitchen always paid attention to efficiency.

Elder Zhang put down his beard-stroking hand and wished he could experience the beauty of Four Spirits Liver Pill again.

After all, his lifespan was constantly reducing every minute.

After he consumed one, now he only had less than four years of life left.

Elder Zhang was very understanding. "Why don't we go now?"

Su Yu's eyes suddenly brightened up. "Please."

She waved and asked Hang Wan'er to lead the way.

The crowd of Zhiqiong Peak was stunned. Their eyes only flickered halfway through.

After the disappearance of their master, Elder Mu, there was no Nascent Soul at their peak.

Other peaks could get a Nascent Soul's guidance, but they couldn't.

Now... they could get it again!if you are reading this on a site other than puretl(.)com then this chapter has been stolen

This extra guide was completely different from taking a big class at other peaks.

They could still crawl forward before the next round of third-class peaks challenges.

Everyone was excited.

Who would have thought that with only a few words, a Nascent Soul guidance would be theirs?

When they landed on Zhiqiong Peak, Su Yu didn't care about trivial matters.

Wei Zhao immediately arranged for Yu Dong to clean up a small courtyard for Elder Zhang to answer questions.

Elder Zhang guarded the Heart Interrogation Sword Formation and could only leave Wanjian Mountain for one day every ten days.

Even so, it was enough for their group of disciples to rejoice.

Yan Yan ranked sixth. Although he now had some understanding of swordsmanship, his swordsmanship was special. He usually couldn't give advice to his junior brothers and sisters.

At this moment, when an elder of Wanjian Mountain came to guide them, little Sixteenth, Zhao Ran, was the most courageous. He took the lead in asking about his doubts.

The other sword cultivators saw his courage and followed suit.

Soon, the inquiring disciples queued up at the gate of the small courtyard.

Su Yu glanced at it from a distance and was very relieved. "That's right. This elder is very active and has done hard work."

Hang Wan'er: ...

Wei Zhao: ...

Yu Dong's mouth twitched.

Su Yu put her hands behind her back and briefly glanced at Yu Dong. "Some cultivators also have to work harder, Fifth Junior Brother—"

Yu Dong: ...

In the novel, Zhu Ying's family was hunted down by an enemy.

Zhu Ying's parents were at the Nascent Soul level and were invincible at their peak. However, they couldn't protect the whole family. Zhu Ying knew that she could not escape death, so she reluctantly broke off her Taoist relationship with Yu Dong. After all, his cultivation level was weaker than hers. Not to mention protecting her family, she might not even be able to protect Yu Dong.

Even when Zhu Ying died, she did not let her senior brother and master tell Yu Dong the truth.

Yu Dong always thought that she had dumped him. He lost his motivation and lost his mind. Finally, he accidentally heard the truth in the battle between demons and humans. He collapsed in an instant and blew up his dantian to pull the demons to death.

'Hey, so it's not so good to eat soft rice.'

If he could stand up for himself earlier, it might not be impossible to avoid this tragedy.

She needed to discipline him more.

Su Yu raised her eyebrows and looked at Yu Dong. "Come here and help me."

"Second Senior Sister," Hang Wan'er's eyes lit up. "Are you going to refine the Longevity Pill for Elder Zhang?"

Su Yu shook her head. "No hurry. Elder Zhang is so diligent, so I can't neglect him.

"?"

"In order to show our sincerity, we should invite him for a snack or two. Then he will officially take his seat, which would then make it formal."

This was according to the Su family's rules handed down by her grandfather. When a distinguished guest arrived, the first thing you needed to do was to serve one appetizer and two snacks. In addition, three cups of tea should be served before they could invite guests to sit down and officially have a meal.

This elder's work attitude was good and positive. He did not even talk about future salaries and benefits.

This kind of old master, with both integrity and talent, was a rare consultant for her kitchen. She should respect him more.

The two snacks served in the beginning were usually one salty and one sweet.

Because time was tight, Su Yu didn't plan to make very complicated snacks. She decided to simplify it.

When they came out of the Meditation Hall, the Mid-Autumn Festival had passed.

The world of the cultivation of immortals no longer cared about the Mid-Autumn Festival. They only sought breakthroughs.

However, Master Su thought that this was impossible.

Food followed the seasons and traditions, and there were thousands of changes throughout the years.

Talking only about delicious food and not about customs and traditions was hooliganism.

Today, she planned to make fresh meat mooncakes with carved green plums, which was considered to make up for this year's Mid-Autumn Festival.

These two snacks, the former was salty, fresh and meaty, but easy to feel bloated after eating too much. The latter were carved green fruits. The finished products would be exquisite. The taste would be refreshing and sweet. The juice from the carved green fruits would be sufficient to relieve a little greasiness of the meat mooncakes and complement each other.

Master Su immediately entered her small kitchen.

Aside from the filling, the Suzhou-style mooncake also focused on the crispness of the dough.

The puff pastry had to be folded layer upon layer so the texture was rich but not thick at the first bite. Each layer of puff pastry was as thin as paper.

She glanced at Yu Dong. "Look, I'll only demonstrate it once. I'll leave it to you to knead the dough in the future."

Yu Dong: ...

---

At the Zhiqiong Peak courtyard, Elder Zhang, who was sitting in the main room, gave guidance to the last disciple there and finally stood up.

"Thank you, Elder, for your guidance." Hang Wan'er endured the annoyance in her chest and said respectfully.

She was forced here.

"I know I'm not a sword cultivator, but the first round of the competition made me understand how weak I am. Unlike my Fourth and Sixth Senior Brothers, who are skilled in qin art and swordsmanship, I rely too much on magic tools. There is no other way."

In the earlier competition, she was nothing without her second senior sister and the Five Immortal Ropes.

In this way, she was truly ashamed to be a female cultivator who should be self-reliant and independent. She was not as powerful as her second senior sister.

"I want to become stronger. Elder, I want to be as strong as my Sixth Senior Brother." Hang Wan'er imagined the sword cultivator figure in black with a sword that had made her have nightmares for more than ten years. Disgust poured out on her face and she was pale, but she gritted her teeth.

"I beg Elder to teach me!"

Hang Wan'er didn't dare to look up. She was holding her hairpins in both hands, trembling faintly.

When she faced a powerful sword cultivator, not only did she feel coercion, but she also had to face her childhood trauma.

Elder Zhang heard her words, but he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "This old man will say that your practice is not in line with my swordsmanship. If I teach you, I'm afraid you can only use one or two in one hundred."if you are reading this on a site other than puretl(.)com then this chapter has been stolen

Hang Wan'er bit her lip. "It's okay. I'll double up my practice. If I could just learn one or two in one hundred, I will work ten thousand times."

Elder Zhang sighed, "With your backbone, it's a pity that you don't follow the way of the sword. Well, then do as you said."

Hang Wan'er's eyes suddenly lit up and she was overjoyed. "Thank you, Elder. I will go practice now."

"Cough, wait. Where is your second senior sister? Is she free now? This old man wants to see her." Elder Zhang wanted to ask when she could refine the Four Spirits Liver Pill again.

"Second Senior Sister—"

Before she could finish speaking, she saw Elder Zhang frowned and waved his hand. "Forget it. You don't have to look for her. You go and tell Yan Yan that all the disciples' questions have been answered today. This old man has completed it all."

Alchemy masters were all temperamental.

Besides, Junior Niece Su was only at the Qi Refining level. After only ten-something days, how could it be possible that she could refine another elixir that prolonged lifespan?

He was in too much of a hurry.

Elder Zhang told himself to be patient.

If the other party had any pills left, most likely, they would be given to him. If she didn't give it, or if she didn't want to give it, then she won't.

"Okay, but elder, don't go back to Wanjian Mountain yet." Hang Wan'er said in awe.

"Huh?"

Hang Wan'er said with a smile, "Second Senior Sister is making two snacks to welcome you. It should be almost finished."

Elder Zhang was startled. "Snacks?"

He suddenly narrowed his eyes. Junior Niece Su was so polite. She really had a good heart.

Thinking of his apprentice, who was only willing to spend three sticks of incense every day with him, Elder Zhang couldn't help but sigh.

Originally, he thought it was good for his disciples to work hard and cultivate wholeheartedly.

But now that his deadline was approaching and he was about to die, he had the mentality of an ordinary old man. He wanted to talk a bit more to a few of his direct disciples and had a drink with a few of his old friends.

However, his disciples wanted to raise their realm to find medicine for him. Every day, they enlightened themselves in Wanjian Valley and it was difficult for him to meet them.

He knew they were all well-intentioned, but wouldn't it be in vain if he didn't have much time?

He just wanted to give them all he could to guide them in his last days, talked more about his past cultivation experiences and let them listen to his experiences outside the sect.

'Hey.'

Elder Zhang sighed quietly.

Unexpectedly, even though his apprentices ignored him, he came to Zhiqiong Peak for half a day and made him feel the mood of an ordinary family man. Not only did the juniors surround him for half a day and talked to him, but they also made snacks for him.

Elder Zhang's heart was warm, but it was also slightly sour.

He and Elder Mu were in the Nascent Soul level, and his cultivation base was higher than that of Elder Mu. Why were his apprentices so much worse than him?

Elder Zhang sighed in his heart. That Old Man Mu disappeared, leaving these obedient disciples alone and helpless.

'It's really occupying the ditch but not shitting.'

'If you don't want them, give them to me!'

"Where is your second senior sister? Take this old man to her." Elder Zhang waved his sleeves immediately and his expression moved. "She just came back from the Meditation Hall. Why is she working hard without resting? This old man is already a Nascent Soul. Would she be afraid that this old man will be hungry?"

Even though he said so, the corners of his mouth raised a significant arc.

Hang Wan'er directly rolled up the cuffs of her robe and showed him the way.

"Lead the way. I'm not hungry. Ask her to stop making things."

Someone at the peak of Nascent Soul could reach a hundred meters instantly.

In an instant, Elder Zhang arrived at the small kitchen door.

Just as he was about to speak, he smelled a fragrant meat smell.

Su Yu was holding a silver knife, twisted the sharp tip and cut out the core of a green plum fruit that looked like an egg.

The blade then continued to rise and fall, and the plum fruit was turned upside down layer by layer with a rotation. Its golden flesh could be seen between the thin emerald green skin.

The aura from the flesh scattered and a white mist condensed faintly.

Then, the golden plum fruit in her hand stretched like petals, gradually showing the word - Longevity.

Su Yu felt that someone was coming. After finishing the last stroke, she put the plum fruit engraved with the longevity pattern on a white porcelain plate.

"Why doesn't Elder Zhang rest in your courtyard?"

She rinsed her hands with spiritual water.

When she stood up, she lowered her head and admired the plum carving she had just completed.

The round pattern of the "longevity" character was perfect without any breakage, which complemented the plumpness and fullness of the plum fruit. Each stroke was engraved with clear concave and convex, with uniformed depth, without any shrivelled discoloration.

'This is art.'

Su Yu held up the plate with satisfaction and Elder Zhang's eyes also swayed.

This plum fruit was golden and watery. It was cute at first sight and there was a trace of aura in the longevity pattern.

The fresh and fruity fragrance made the delicious meaty smell oozing from the small kitchen even more appetizing.

It was as if a person had climbed a great mountain and resisted this worldly greed, but he faced another mountain.

No matter where he moved, he couldn't get out of this fragrant little world.

Elder Daoist's 500-year Dao Heart couldn't help but shake.

In his last days, he didn't intend to abide by too many rules. He just wanted to relax.

'What about breaking the fast?'

His throat moved slightly.

When she saw that he didn't speak, Su Yu frowned and asked, "Is there any urgent matter that Elder came to see me?" No idler should enter her kitchen.

"Second Senior Sister, Elder Zhang said that he wants to stop you from making snacks for him."

Hang Wan'er replied respectfully on behalf of the elder.

"He doesn't need you to work hard. Don't do it."

Elder Zhang: ...if you are reading this on a site other than puretl(.)com then this chapter has been stolen

Su Yu raised her eyebrows, "Thank you, Elder, for being kind."

Elder Zhang's old face twitched.

No, he didn't want to be kind now.

He stretched out his hand and there was a sound of sword energy breaking through the air as fast as the wind.

He hurriedly stopped Su Yu, who was about to turn around and return to the small kitchen with the plate of golden plums with longevity patterns.

Hang Wan'er was stunned.

"Is this the snack that Junior Niece Su prepared for me?"

Elder Zhang concealed his embarrassment and coughed, "I'm... thirsty, so I need some fruits."

When they were treating an elder, the tea should keep coming.

Hang Wan'er couldn't help but cover her lips and chuckle.

In an instant, Elder Zhang reached out and picked up the longevity plum fruit in the tray. A golden halo swayed at the entrance of the kitchen.

The longevity pattern faintly emerged from the surface of the plum fruit.

In the blink of an eye, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was connected. The stroke of the longevity character actually became visible.

It quickly floated into the air and a golden halo fell on Elder Zhang.

Elder Zhang was shocked.

Every corner of his robe was shrouded in the brilliance of the golden "longevity" pattern.

His pale hair and beard were dyed with a little golden light.

He subconsciously reached out to stroke his beard but stopped.

Hang Wan'er was shocked by the vision in front of her. "Second Senior Sister, what kind of elixir is this?"

"This is not an elixir."

Elder Zhang quickly woke up from the epiphany and said solemnly.

"This is -- a formation!"

Hang Wan'er stared at him.

Su Yu stopped.

---

Translator Notes:

Carved plum is a traditional Bai minority group's special food. It was named after the practice of carving patterns on green plums. According to historical records, the custom of visiting relatives and friends and giving each other a gift of carved plums went as far back as the Tang Dynasty. The main producing areas are the Dali region in Yunnan Province.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSb38sXPcUI

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