Chapter 101: This Is No Ordinary Cleaver
Miscellaneous Dao Institute, kitchen.
Wang Baole swiftly swung the cleaver in his hand, carving into a block of silken tofu.
Moments later, a lifelike white chicken appeared on the table.
Looking at the white chicken before him, a look of excitement spread across his face.
"I did it! I did it!"
His loud voice startled everyone in the courtyard.
Half-asleep, Chu Feng abruptly sat up from his bed. At the same time, a familiar mechanical voice rang out in his mind.
[Congratulations to the host. The youngest disciple has comprehended the Will of the Carving Knife. Host is awarded +1 to the True Meaning of the Culinary Dao.]
Hmm.
Chu Feng instantly shook off his drowsiness and muttered, "I didn't expect that little fatty to progress so quickly. It's only been two and a half months."
He tidied himself up, then pushed open the door and walked toward the kitchen.
When Chu Feng arrived, both Qin Qin and Elder Bing were carefully examining a tiny white chicken, no bigger than an adult's thumb.
Seeing his master, Wang Baole beamed and walked up, saying, "Master, I've already mastered the carving and slicing techniques. Can you check if I'm qualified?"
Chu Feng examined it closely and muttered, "Not bad. You're ready to graduate. If I had to point out a flaw, it would be that the chicken's hairstyle isn't parted in the middle, and its feet haven't been dyed black with soy sauce."
???
The three people present all looked at Chu Feng in confusion.
Elder Bing asked, "Chief Chu, why carve the chicken into such a strange appearance?"
Chu Feng smiled and explained, "No reason, I just like it that way."
Elder Bing: "…"
Chu Feng patted Wang Baole on the shoulder. "Little Fatty, finish your meal and go pack up. We leave tonight."
"Huh?"
Wang Baole hadn't expected his master to be in such a hurry to send him down the mountain.
"What's the matter? Don't you want to become stronger? Or are you planning to spend your whole life as an unknown little cook?"
Chu Feng pressed further.
Though Wang Baole was a bit frustrated, he still nodded. "Yes, Master. I'll go pack now."
With that, he set down the cleaver and headed for the kitchen door.
"Wait."
Chu Feng called out to him again.
Wang Baole turned back with a grin. "Master, do you need something?"
Chu Feng handed him the cleaver. "Why aren't you taking a weapon with you?"
"Uh…"
Wang Baole stared at the cleaver in confusion.
Chu Feng asked, "What, you think this cleaver isn't good enough?"
Wang Baole shook his head. "No, it's just that everyone else carries swords or blades when they travel. Carrying this feels kind of… ridiculous."
Even though he followed the Culinary Dao, he still dreamed of becoming a saint.
Walking around with a cleaver—how was that different from a clown?
Qin Qin and Elder Bing remained silent, but cast curious looks at Chu Feng.
Chu Feng explained seriously, "You really have no eye for things.
This isn't just any cleaver. This is a cleaver once used by a Half-Saint. Though it hasn't developed sentience, it's remained uncorroded for nearly a thousand years and is stronger than most magical tools.
If you can awaken its spirit, you won't be far from becoming a Half-Saint yourself."
Hearing this, Wang Baole's eyes lit up. He took the cleaver with great care, gently rubbing the spine of the blade.
"Brother Cleaver, I was blind before. From today on, you're my second life."
Then he noticed the three others in the kitchen were looking at him strangely.
He let out an awkward laugh. "Hehe… Master, I'll go pack up now."
Once Wang Baole's figure disappeared, Elder Bing asked with a puzzled look, "Chief Chu, did that cleaver really belong to a Half-Saint?"
Chu Feng nodded seriously. "That's right, that's exactly how the old dean introduced it to me."
Upon hearing this, a flash of astonishment appeared in Elder Bing's eyes. Was this Chief Chu really using his master's tricks to fool his own disciple? Wasn't he worried that the youngest disciple might get into trouble out there?
"Master, Little Junior Brother is only at the third level of Dao Foundation. Isn't it a bit inappropriate for him to leave with just a cleaver?"
Qin Qin kindly reminded him.
Chu Feng smiled. "Even a little girl like you can think of that. How could I possibly not? I told him to leave tonight so I could prepare a protective item for him."
Only then did the two women show a look of realization.
...
By evening.
Chu Feng brought his two disciples to see Wang Baole off.
Qin Qin took out a pile of spirit stones from her storage pouch.
"Little Junior Brother, I don't have much to give you. Once you're down the mountain, you'll need spirit stones for everything. Keep these with you."
"Thank you, Senior Sister."
Wang Baole accepted the spirit stones gratefully and placed them into the storage pouch his master had given him.
"Little Junior Brother, I know how much you can eat. Take these ten bottles of Fasting Pills with you. If you really get hungry, just take one."
Cao Youqian handed the pills to Wang Baole one by one.
"Second Senior Brother, you're the best."
Wang Baole was so moved, he nearly teared up.
Chu Feng then took a jade pendant from his waist and handed it over.
"This jade pendant contains three strands of my sword energy. If you ever face life-threatening danger, use your divine sense to activate it. The sword energy will protect you."
Wang Baole received the jade pendant with both hands. "Thank you, Master. I knew you cared the most about me."
To the side, Cao Youqian looked at the jade pendant in Wang Baole's hands and couldn't shake the feeling that it looked oddly familiar.
Chu Feng noticed his curious gaze. "Stop staring. That jade pendant is the same one you lost to me in a bet."
"No wonder it looked familiar," Cao Youqian muttered, as forgotten memories rushed back and his expression turned awkward.
Hearing his master and second senior brother's exchange, Wang Baole looked confused. His second senior brother actually dared to gamble with their master?
But in the end, he chose to keep that question to himself and bowed to Chu Feng.
"Master, this disciple is heading down the mountain now."
"Go on then. Remember, you have only half a year to cultivate. If nothing unexpected happens, you must return in time for the Outer Sect Tournament."
Chu Feng gave him special instructions.
Wang Baole nodded. "This disciple will remember Master's words."
With that, he slowly made his way down the mountain. The setting sun bathed his figure in golden light, casting a long shadow behind him until it finally disappeared.
Whoosh...
Watching the little junior brother disappear into the distance, Cao Youqian let out a long sigh of relief and turned to Chu Feng. "Master, now we don't have to keep going down the mountain every few days to restock."
"You're absolutely right. That little fatty eats way too much. And he's only at the Dao Foundation realm. Who could possibly afford to raise him in the future?"
Chu Feng couldn't help but sigh.
Even Qin Qin, who was usually quiet, nodded in agreement. "Little Junior Brother's Taotie Physique really lives up to its name. But his cultivation speed is ridiculously fast too."
Cao Youqian remarked, "Junior Sister, if you ate that much every day and could refine it all, you'd be just as fast."
Qin Qin shook her head. "Forget it. I don't want to get fat."
Hearing that, Chu Feng couldn't help but laugh. Truly, no matter what world you're in, girls all love being beautiful.
"Alright, let's go. You two should return to your cultivation. If Little Junior Brother catches up to you, it'll be your shame."
The moment they heard that, the two of them showed a surge of determination and responded in unison, "Master, we'll do our best!"
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