Chapter 99: Wang Baole: I've Grown Stronger, and Hungrier Too
Silence.
Cao Youqian and the other two immediately fell silent as they sat around the table, casting puzzled glances at Chu Feng.
Master, you've changed. You weren't like this before.
Just then, Elder Bing's voice came from the private room: "Alright, I'll be right out."
The expressions on the trio's faces shifted from confusion to astonishment as they turned their gaze to the doorway.
Even Elder Bing, that aloof ice-cold beauty, has changed?
Their subtle reactions didn't escape Chu Feng's sharp eyes. He spoke up, "Why did you all suddenly go quiet?"
Cao Youqian grinned and gave him a thumbs-up. "Master, you're amazing as always."
Smack!
Chu Feng tapped Cao Youqian on the forehead with his chopsticks, annoyed.
"You're getting better and better at speaking in riddles."
"Hehe."
Cao Youqian chuckled and gave Chu Feng a look only men would understand.
Chu Feng didn't bother explaining—it would only make things messier. Silence was the best answer.
Creak—
The door opened, and Elder Bing appeared before them. She didn't look much different from usual. Even though her appetite had clearly been stirred, she still maintained her distant and untouchable demeanor.
With her arrival, everyone instantly became more reserved.
Given her naturally quiet disposition, the atmosphere at the table chilled.
But Chu Feng was skilled at livening things up. He was the first to raise his cup.
"Come, come, let's have a toast to celebrate Xiao Pang becoming a Dao Foundation cultivator!"
At his words, everyone raised their cups together.
"Cheers!"
After draining the cup, Chu Feng picked up his chopsticks.
Although Cao Youqian and the others weren't used to Elder Bing's presence, the moment they tasted the dishes, expressions of bliss appeared on their faces.
Only Elder Bing had yet to start eating. She wasn't accustomed to dining with so many people.
The last time she had eaten in such a setting was decades ago.
"Master, I have a question I want to ask," Cao Youqian said excitedly.
"Ask away," Chu Feng replied, taking another sip of wine.
"Do elders always favor the youngest?" Cao Youqian asked, a hint of frustration on his face.
Chu Feng put down his cup. "Why do you ask that? Have I not treated you well enough? Or do you just want another sparring session with Xiao Chen?"
"It's just that the dishes you made today are far more delicious than the ones you cooked when you were comforting me before."
As he spoke, Cao Youqian picked up a massive beast shank and, without hesitation, chomped it down in one bite.
The sudden move even left Chu Feng momentarily stunned.
Wang Baole, sitting nearby, looked at Cao Youqian in admiration. 'Senior brother truly lives up to the title. Even the way he flatters people is so unique. I need to learn from this.'
Qin Qin was already used to this. If second senior brother didn't act up at least once a day, she'd start to worry something was wrong.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, Elder Bing gracefully picked up a piece of meat and tasted it.
Hm?
This spirit beast was only at the True Fate Realm, so why did it taste this good?
Chu Shouzuo's cooking was even better than the famous chefs of Wendao City.
He really is full of hidden talents!
As the mood at the table warmed up, Chu Feng didn't say much else.
An hour later, everyone was full and slightly tipsy.
Even Elder Bing showed a rare expression of enjoyment. She subtly glanced at those around her and, seeing no one was watching, quickly returned to her usual composure.
"Xiao Pang, how do you feel after breaking through to the Dao Foundation stage?" Chu Feng asked.
In the Xuantian Continent, one only truly began the path of cultivation after stepping into the Dao Foundation stage.
The Body Tempering stage was more about refining the body and awakening its potential to absorb more spiritual energy from heaven and earth.
Some cultivators could awaken an acquired or even innate physique during Body Tempering.
If they failed to awaken one even after reaching the Dao Foundation stage, it meant their root and bones were lacking.
Such disciples were usually not accepted by Wendao Academy unless they possessed a unique talent.
Chu Feng knew that Wang Baole had a hidden bloodline, but his previous cultivation methods couldn't awaken it.
Now, he simply wanted to confirm whether the breakthrough had triggered that bloodline.
Wang Baole tilted his head in thought, then said with an exceptionally serious expression, "Master, I feel stronger now… and hungrier."
Elder Bing: "..."
She had assumed that Chu Feng accepting a Body Tempering stage disciple must mean the boy had some exceptional talent. And yet, that was the first thing he said?
Cao Youqian and Qin Qin were also speechless. The same thought flashed through both their minds:
'From how Junior Brother behaves, he's clearly not a complete waste, so how can he say something this ridiculous with such a straight face?'
Chu Feng didn't reply. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and activated the World-Destroying Eye. As he focused his gaze, he saw that this seemingly ordinary little fatty actually had a ferocious beast hidden within his body.
And it was a beast he had never seen before.
"You're still trying to hide your talent from me? I can clearly see you've awakened your bloodline."
"???"
Wang Baole was full of question marks. 'Even I don't know that… how does Master know?'
'No—if Master says I've awakened a bloodline, then I must have. I must just be too dim to realize it myself.'
Thinking this, the confusion on his face instantly vanished. He asked excitedly, "Master, can you explain it to me in detail?"
This kid really didn't know what kind of bloodline he had awakened.
Chu Feng instinctively rubbed his forehead. This disciple was getting harder and harder to manage.
Elder Bing, uncharacteristically, spoke up. "Could it be that even Chief Chu doesn't recognize the bloodline Wang Shizhi has awakened?"
Chu Feng nodded slightly. "That's right. We'll need to test it."
As he spoke, he took out a token from his storage pouch and tossed it to Cao Youqian.
"Da Qian, take this token to the storage hall and bring back the Bloodline Stone."
"Alright."
Cao Youqian picked up the token and stood up, about to leave—then paused.
"Master… where exactly is our Miscellaneous Dao Institute's storage hall?"
At that, everyone turned their eyes to Chu Feng.
Chu Feng replied with a straight face, "It's right next to the Library Pavilion, on the neighboring hill—the one with the most weeds. That hill is our storage hall."
"Please wait a moment, Master. I'll be right back," Cao Youqian said as he scratched his head and thought, 'Master, I really didn't mean to ask that. I've been in the Miscellaneous Dao Institute for years, and I genuinely didn't know we had a storage hall.'
Moments later—
Cao Youqian descended from the sky, holding a translucent stone the size of a large bowl.
"Master, I've brought the Bloodline Stone."
Chu Feng turned his gaze to Wang Baole. "Xiao Pang, prick your fingertip and place your hand on it."
"Yes, sir."
Wang Baole stood up excitedly. Following Chu Feng's instructions, he bit his index finger and placed his hand on the Bloodline Stone.
Everyone, including Chu Feng, fixed their eyes on the stone.
As Wang Baole's blood seeped into it, the originally clear Bloodline Stone suddenly emitted a brilliant light.
That light gathered and formed the image of a ferocious beast within the stone…
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