Xiao Lianfeng felt like he had just glimpsed a profound truth.
He gulped. Standing so straight like a soldier who had just been scolded by a general.
Xiao Lianfeng did not dare to let his thoughts wander any further. He silently placed his Beef-Flavored Instant Noodles on the counter.
“One crystal.” Hao said casually.
“Yes, Senior!” Xiao Lianfeng blurted, his hands moving with the speed and precision of a well-trained disciple as he handed over the exact amount.
Lin Yijun gave Xiao Lianfeng a strange look, one eyebrow twitching.
‘What… are you doing?’
Xiao Lianfeng glared at Lin Yijun sharply. Was his sworn brother an idiot?!
This Senior could obliterate them with a mere stare! Did Lin Yijun not see the absolute, unshakable will in his words? A man who refused even an immortal emperor’s plea? They had to act right!
Lin Yijun, completely unaware of the storm brewing in Xiao Lianfeng’s mind, lazily placed his own cup of Beef-Flavored Instant Noodles on the counter and handed over his crystal.
Xiao Lianfeng nearly had a heart attack. Too casual! Too disrespectful!
He felt the overwhelming urge to give Lin Yijun a good smack on the head. But seeing that the Senior showed no reaction to his sworn brother’s disgracefully casual behavior, he exhaled in relief.
Calamity averted. At least for now.
It seemed Senior Hao was truly magnanimous, unwilling to lower himself to punish the ignorant. What a merciful existence…
The four of them soon found a spot in the corner, sitting in a neat row as they waited for their instant noodles to cook.
Xiao Lianfeng leaned in toward Lin Yijun.
“Brother Yijun, is this small cup truly the source of your progress?”
Xiao Lianfeng had only agreed to come here because of Lin Yijun’s insistence. At first, it sounded absurd, but the truth was undeniable.
His sworn brother had actually broken through. When they sparred yesterday, Lin Yijun manifested sword intent before his very eyes!
Xiao Lianfeng himself had already grasped sword intent. But that was because he dedicated his days and nights to wielding his sword. He had bled for it. Struggled for it. Sacrificed for it.
But Lin Yijun?
That rascal would rather travel than train!
Xiao Lianfeng knew Lin Yijun had the potential, but to grasp sword intent in just one day? Unbelievable!
He stared at the instant noodles. Could this be the key to his own breakthrough?
Was it possible? Could a noodles shatter his bottleneck and propel him into the Saint Realm?
Suddenly, an irresistible aroma drifted into Xiao Lianfeng’s nose.
He looked up and saw that Hua Feixue and Yue Xueyan had already opened their cups. Theirs were the first to finish cooking.
Xiao Lianfeng had heard Lin Yijun’s endless praises about the noodles, but how could something prepared in just three minutes be that delicious? It made no sense.
However, now that he smelled it himself…
His stomach growled.
He quickly turned away from Hua Feixue and Yue Xueyan as they started eating. If he kept watching, he might embarrass himself by drooling.
Time passed, and finally, his own cup was done.
Xiao Lianfeng peeled off the lid, and at that moment, a rich, savory fragrance hit him like a tidal wave. It was addicting.
“Brother Lianfeng, you have to stir it first before eating.” Lin Yijun reminded him from the side.
Xiao Lianfeng grabbed his chopsticks and stirred the noodles. But as he did, his eyes widened.
Qi…?
There was genuine spritiual qi flowing out of the noodles!
His movements subconsciously sped up. He had to mix it properly – making sure every strand of noodle was coated in that heavenly broth.
Once satisfied, Xiao Lianfeng lifted a portion with his chopsticks and slurped it down in one go.
His expectations did not betray him.
A burst of rich, meaty flavor exploded in his mouth. The broth was thick yet smooth, the noodles springy and perfect. The layers of umami were deep, complex, almost divine.
Xiao Lianfeng couldn’t stop himself. “This… this is incredible!”
Beside him, Hua Feixue, Yue Xueyan, and Lin Yijun all nodded in agreement.
They had already experienced the instant noodles yesterday, but somehow… it tasted even better today.
No words were exchanged after that.
The four of them simply sat there, their focus entirely on their cups, the only sound in the store being the synchronized slurping and sipping of their noodles.
…
With the last strand of noodles gone, the store fell deathly quiet.
Xiao Lianfeng barely had time to process the delicious aftertaste before an overwhelming sensation swept through him. His eyelids grew heavy, and without thinking, he closed his eyes.
Then –
Boom!
An explosion of insight surged through his mind. It was as if a great door had been thrown open, and knowledge, understanding, and pure raw qi poured in like a raging flood. His entire body went rigid as the force of enlightenment wrapped around him, dragging him into a trance.
He wasn’t alone.
The faint sound of a chair creaking told him that the others had succumbed as well. A barely audible gasp from Hua Feixue, the composed breath of Yue Xueyan, and Lin Yijun’s silence – one by one they had all fallen into the same state.
Their surroundings faded. The noise of the store, the soft sound of Hao wiping the counter – it all vanished.
Xiao Lianfeng felt as if he were floating in a vast, endless space, weightless and free. His mind became impossibly clear. The sword intent within him roared, reacting to unknown invisible force – sharpening, refining, strengthening.
He didn’t know how long he remained like this. Seconds? Minutes? Time had lost all meaning.
Then, all at once, the energy in his body surged.
His meridians stretched, his qi expanded, and something snapped.
Crack!
A shackle, one that had kept him bound for ages shattered to pieces.
Xiao Lianfeng’s body trembled. No way…
His cultivation was rising – no, breaking through!
The bottleneck that had plagued him for so long was completey broken. His realm soared to new heights, breaking past its limits in an instant.
Saint Realm!
Xiao Lianfeng’s eyes burst open, but he wasn’t the only one.
Across from him, Yue Xueyan’s cold expression had vanished. She had nearly broken through to the 3rd Stage of the Saint Realm.
Even with her talent, this should have taken at least a month. Yet, she had achieved it in under an hour.