Chapter 260: Mortal Delicacies
This old man had not a trace of Spiritual Energy.
But a mortal with no Spiritual Energy couldn’t possibly enter this place.
To be able to hide one’s power so completely as to seem like a mortal only proved that the old man before her was countless ranks higher.
Chen Miaomiao stood there in silence, contemplating the potential consequences if her secrets about the Spirit Grass were discovered.
The old man acted as if he hadn’t noticed Chen Miaomiao’s arrival.
He was circling her experimental field, clucking his tongue in amazement at the thriving Spirit Grass.
Although the entire back mountain of the Feique Sect had been planted with Second-rank Spirit Grass, only the stalks in the experimental field received Chen Miaomiao’s most meticulous care.
They grew far more densely than the Spirit Grass in an ordinary Spirit Field.
Generally, the root systems of Spirit Grass absorb so much Spiritual Energy that they cannot be allowed to intertwine.
Chen Miaomiao had shattered that convention.
Because the Second-rank Spirit Grass was a grafted hybrid, she had already changed the underlying principle.
As for the Spiritual Liquid the old man mentioned, she knew how to produce it. However, the ingredients were far too expensive, and the final product was only low-grade.
Using it to promote the growth of Spirit Grass on a large scale was impossible; it would be putting the cart before the horse.
After standing there for a moment, Chen Miaomiao composed herself and slowly approached. "Sir, are you interested in this Spirit Grass?"
Only then did the gray-robed old man straighten up and turn to look at Chen Miaomiao.
His face was ancient, but a closer look revealed that his eyes were bright and full of spirit. His vitality was excellent.
Upon seeing Chen Miaomiao, he showed no awareness that he was trespassing. Instead, he brazenly looked her up and down and asked probingly, "You planted all this Spirit Grass?"
Chen Miaomiao nodded. "Yes."
The old man pointed to the Spirit Grass. "Neither wild nor cultivated Spirit Grass could possibly grow this densely, and the survival rate in this mu of yours is astonishingly high. I see you haven’t used any Spiritual Liquid to feed them, either. How did you manage it?"
Chen Miaomiao stared at the old man.
She looked into his eyes, which held a genuine curiosity.
She was weighing her options.
This was a man who could destroy the entire Sect with a wave of his hand.
As she thought, the nape of her neck grew taut.
After a long moment, Chen Miaomiao said softly, "Sir, this is the very foundation of our Sect’s survival. How could I possibly share it with an outsider?"
The old man’s eyes narrowed. After a moment, he clicked his tongue. "Fine. If you won’t talk, then forget it."
He was the one prying into another Sect’s secrets, yet he acted as if he were completely in the right.
Only after hearing this did Chen Miaomiao let out an imperceptible sigh of relief. As the tension in her neck eased, she realized a few drops of cold sweat had formed.
This was the first time in all her time in the game that she had encountered a threat greater than a demon beast.
’One wrong move, and our game might be over today.’
"If you won’t talk, I can at least look, can’t I?"
He said as much, but Chen Miaomiao was helpless to stop him.
After all, he was already looking. What could she do about it?
She could only pray that he wouldn’t discern the finer points of the grafting technique she had developed through countless experiments.
Seeing the old man was still staring at the Spirit Grass with relish, Chen Miaomiao thought for a moment and bought a bottle of Spiritual Wine from the Sect.
She also had a player at the foot of the mountain buy a few side dishes and bring them up.
Next to the experimental field was a simple hut with a bamboo table and stools set out.
It was where Chen Miaomiao usually took her breaks.
She placed the Spiritual Wine on the table and said in a warm voice, "Sir, would you care for something to eat and some Spiritual Wine? It’s a local specialty."
"Hmm?" The old man wasn’t particularly interested in the food.
He wasn’t completely committed to Fasting and would occasionally eat to satisfy his worldly cravings.
But the last time he had eaten was several years ago, at least.
However, his interest was piqued when he heard the words "Spiritual Wine." "Spiritual Wine? What kind?"
"It’s a Spiritual Wine brewed from Spirit Grass and mortal grains. The flavor is excellent. You’re welcome to try some."
"Brewed from Spirit Grass and mortal food?"
The old man was somewhat surprised.
He had truly never seen anything like it.
He walked over for a closer look and, sure enough, saw faint wisps of Spiritual Energy seeping from the wine jug.
It wasn’t dense, but it was definitely there.
Chen Miaomiao explained, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "This bottle is made with Blood Pearl Grass. The one made from Qi Benefiting Grass is always a bit bitter, so unless you’re a real enthusiast, most people don’t care for it."
The old man’s interest was piqued. He plopped down on a stool and said bluntly, "Let me have a taste."
He wasn’t the least bit surprised by Chen Miaomiao’s natural hospitality.
’A clever person could see what he was after, and he liked clever juniors.’
Chen Miaomiao took out a cup and poured him some wine. The side dishes on the table had been personally prepared by one of the chef players.
Stir-fried Mixed Vegetables.
Sweet and Sour Pork with Pineapple.
Mapo Tofu.
Di San Xian.
Braised Pork Belly.
And an incredibly savory Crucian Carp Soup.
Since she didn’t know his specific preferences, she had ordered a variety of dishes with different flavor profiles.
The Yunzhou Continent wasn’t lacking in cuisines, but many modern seasonings were the product of long evolution.
Here, aside from the basic oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, one could only occasionally find spices like pepper.
So even with high-quality ingredients, the flavors inevitably grew monotonous after a while.
Many of the new flavorings had been developed by the current players.
Not to mention that a master chef had joined the ranks of later players. He hadn’t been selfish with his skills, teaching his unique techniques to the locals upon arrival.
—Mainly because Fan Guzhou was paying in Spirit Stones.
The restaurant needed a wider variety of dishes to attract customers.
Relying on information from the internet alone wasn’t enough, and the few "life-skill" players who were willing to cook weren’t necessarily any good at it.
The master chef’s presence was exceptionally important.
This mortal food, once considered beneath the notice of Cultivators, now tempted many who came to Wang’an County to slip into a restaurant for a few hearty meals.
The rich aroma wafted into his nostrils. The powerful, complex techniques inherited from a later era made even this old man’s nose twitch.
He, who so rarely ate, picked up his chopsticks first and plucked a piece of the Sweet and Sour Pork.
Instantly, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he didn’t hold back his praise. "Not bad. I have traveled far and wide, and the flavor of this meat is among the finest—truly top-grade."
Chen Miaomiao smiled faintly. "Please, try the other dishes."
So the old man tried another dish.
He also began to drink the wine Chen Miaomiao had poured for him.
They were just a few simple dishes, yet their complex flavors made the old man’s eyes widen in surprise.
’He’d eaten his fair share of mortal food before, so how were the flavors here so incredibly rich?’
Compared to the exotic ingredients he had consumed—things others couldn’t even dream of—this method of seasoning, which drew out and amplified the inherent flavors of mortal food to their absolute peak, was something he had never encountered.
’Delicious!’
’To think that a little accident today would lead me to such an interesting place.’
The old man polished off every single dish.
He even ate the carp from the soup in one go, bones and all.
For a Cultivator, such things weren’t an issue; their Spiritual Energy would simply dissolve the bones.
After finishing, the old man, still wanting more, asked, "Are there any other dishes?"
"There are."
A brilliant smile spread across Chen Miaomiao’s face. "In the restaurant at the foot of the mountain, there are hundreds of dishes, each with a different flavor."