“Sounds good, if there are no customers later, we’ll continue with the contract, Kurome.”
’Whenever you wish, Master.’
Even though she spoke so calmly, Hao still wasn’t over the shock of her real identity.
So that’s why those two elders bowed and called her ’Senior’ before…
Everything made sense now. They weren’t going senile or crazy!
They were just following their instincts. They just knew how strong Kurome really was!
His eyes moved to the two tiny black kittens.
’They’ll also grow up to be… uh, something in Kurome’s level too, right?’
Pumbral Void Lynx.
That was what Kurome was, as far as he knew. Just the name alone sounded like a beast that could swallow cultivators whole.
He tried to picture her true form. There was no way she was her real form looked an ordinary black cat.
If she revealed her real size, would she be as large as a tiger?
No, maybe even bigger. Massive enough to cast a shadow over the entire street!
The thought sent a shiver down his spine. And to think, Kurome had been sleeping on his counter like a regular house cat.
Meanwhile, in the corner of the store, Elder Tang Sheng and Elder Feng sat in silence, staring at the steaming cups of instant noodles in their hands.
Neither of them spoke. They were skeptical. Not just because they couldn’t sense even a trace of spiritual qi in the food, but because the cooking process itself was too simple.
Pour hot water, wait a few minutes, and it was done?
Forget enlightenment or hidden mysteries. Right now, they were more worried about the taste!
As high-level cultivators, eating was unnecessary for them. Their bodies were sustained by spiritual qi alone.
If they ever did choose to eat, it would be at the most prestigious dining pavilion in the city, where each dish was carefully refined with spiritual ingredients.
Yet here they were, about to eat something that had been prepared in a way that completely ignored all the principles of high-class cuisine.
Was this really edible?
Before they could continue discussing, Lin Yijun glanced up and spoke.
“Master, Elder Feng, it’s ready now.”
Without another word, Lin Yijun turned his attention back to his cup, lifting the lid. The others followed his lead.
The two elders hesitated, exchanging uncertain looks.
But as soon as they caught a whiff of the steam rising from the cup, everything changed.
The scent…
It was rich, savory, and far more complex than they’d ever thought possible. The aroma alone made their stomachs growl with hunger, and they couldn’t help but inhale deeply.
The strangest part was – they shouldn’t even be hungry. Cultivators at their level no longer needed regular food to sustain themselves.
Hunger is only a thing of the past. And yet, this scent awakened an irresistible desire within them, something even their refined cultivation couldn’t suppress!
However, there was something even more astonishing.
The noodles, which had been plain and simple moments ago, now appeared to radiate faint traces of spiritual qi!
How could this be? It made no sense at all.
Their eyes darted to their disciples, who were already eagerly digging in. The sight of them so blissfully enjoying the meal made the two elders feel a strange sense of urgency.
Both elders quickly picked up their chopsticks, and took their first bites.
And the moment the noodles touched their tongues –
Snap!
The explosion of flavor hit them like a tidal wave.
The broth was rich and full-bodied, bursting with deep umami flavors that seemed to explode with every sip.
The noodles themselves were perfect – not too soft, not too chewy, but just the right texture.
Their minds reeled. How could something so simple taste so good?
It was beyond anything they had ever tasted. The so-called ’delicacies’ from the finest pavilions seemed like nothing more than tasteless junk compared to this.
For years, they’d spent their time and money on the most high-class meals, thinking they were the best… but this? This was in a league of its own.
And the realization hit them hard.
How many crystals had they wasted? How many meals had they eaten that didn’t even come close to this?
The thought was almost too absurd to bear.
All those fancy dishes? This ’Beef-Flavored Instant Noodles’ was far superior!
In this moment, it didn’t matter what their cultivation levels were. All of their hearts and stomachs seemed to cry out in unison:
“We want more!”
It was as if their powerful cultivator hearts, usually so disciplined, had been swept away by the sheer power of the meal.
Before they even realized it, they had emptied their cups within minutes. The once steaming noodles were gone, the broth completely drained, yet their hunger for more remained.
“…”
As they looked up, they suddenly noticed Lin Yijun, Hua Feixue, Yue Xueyan, and Xiao Lianfeng had all stopped moving. They sat still, their eyes closed.
It was as if the meal had triggered something deep within them.
“…”
Elder Tang Sheng and Elder Feng Yuhan’s eyes narrowed in shock. They immediately extended their spiritual senses, probing the small shifts in their disciples’ qi.
The flow of their spiritual qi had become smoother, more natural.
There was no mistaking it.
These four had entered the state of enlightenment!
But even more surprising was what the two elders themselves felt.
There was a change within their own bodies too!
Their spiritual qi moved with greater ease, and their understanding of their own techniques seemed clearer.
But unlike the disciples, they weren’t able to fully enter the state of enlightenment.
It wasn’t enough. Not yet.
’Elder Feng… How many cups do you think we need to eat to reach enlightenment?’ Elder Tang Sheng asked.
After a brief silence, Elder Feng Yuhan answered.
“Three cups. At least three cups, maybe more.”
Tang Sheng thought for a second, nodding. ’Three…’
They fell silent again, each lost in their own thoughts.
They weren’t disappointed. They weren’t dissatisfied.
No.
They were in disbelief!
Because what they were experiencing was beyond anything they could have imagined.
A simple meal that could push them toward enlightenment?
For cultivators at their level, reaching enlightenment wasn’t something you could just stumble upon.
It took years of hard work, super rare opportunities, or a miracle!