The next morning, Li Ming strolled into the dining hall. For once, no one blocked his path. No one sneered. No one whispered "trash."
Instead, outer disciples rushed to clear a table for him. Inner disciples even gave polite nods.
"Senior Brother Li Ming, please, sit here!"
"This spot is clean!"
"Do you need water? I’ll bring it right away!"
Li Ming froze. He looked around suspiciously. "...Wait. Did I die? Am I in the wrong sect?"
"No, Senior Brother!" A nervous disciple waved his hands. "We just... respect you now!"
Li Ming grinned. "Respect, huh? Then... bring me ten buns."
The disciple sprinted off like his life depended on it. Moments later, ten steaming buns were placed in front of Li Ming.
He bit into one. The soft dough melted in his mouth. "Ahhh... this is the taste of victory."
Nearby disciples swallowed their saliva. One whispered, "He eats buns like a king."
Another nodded. "Maybe that’s his secret cultivation method..."
Li Ming heard it and coughed. "Of course it is! These are the legendary... Heaven-Buns. Eat one, and your qi flows smoother. Eat two, and you break through." Fresh chapters posted on novel⦿fire.net
The disciples’ eyes went wide.
Lan Yue, sitting nearby, pinched her forehead. "Li Ming, stop teaching nonsense."
He leaned closer and whispered to her, "Shhh... if they believe it, maybe they’ll buy me more buns later."
She sighed but couldn’t hide her smile.
After breakfast, Li Ming walked through the training grounds. This time, disciples didn’t just move aside. They actually bowed.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Li Ming!"
Li Ming waved casually. "Mm. Keep training hard. Don’t skip leg day."
The disciples froze. "...Leg day?"
"Yes!" Li Ming stomped his leg dramatically. "Strong legs mean strong foundation. Without legs, how will you chase buns?"
The disciples nodded seriously. "Senior Brother is wise!"
Even Lan Yue covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
Later, Li Ming went to his new inner disciple room. It was huge compared to his old shack. The bed was soft. The shelves were full of pills.
Li Ming’s eyes sparkled. "So this is how the other half lives..."
He picked up a shiny pill and sniffed it. "Smells like medicine. Probably bitter. Hah, buns are still better."
Still, he popped the pill into his mouth. His qi surged instantly. His body felt lighter, stronger.
He raised his fists. "Ho! With buns in my belly and pills in my mouth, who can stop me now?"
The room shook faintly with his aura.
Outside, disciples passing by gasped. "Did you feel that pressure?"
"That’s Senior Brother Li Ming’s room..."
"Even his aura smells like buns!"
That evening, Li Ming sat on the roof, munching happily. Disciples looked at him from below with awe. Some even whispered, "He looks like a young master from a great clan..."
Li Ming waved his half-eaten bun like a sword. "Listen well, juniors! Today you respect me. Tomorrow... even the heavens will respect me!"
The disciples below clapped. They actually clapped.
Lan Yue sighed again. "He’s hopeless..." But deep down, her eyes softened.
That night, a disciple knocked on Li Ming’s door.
"Senior Brother, I bought buns for you!"
Li Ming opened the bag. It was filled with burnt, ugly buns.
He looked at the disciple. "...Are you trying to assassinate me?"
The disciple dropped to his knees. "Forgive me! I don’t know how to cook!"
Li Ming sighed. He patted the poor guy’s shoulder. "Remember, brother. Pills heal wounds. Buns heal the heart. Never disrespect a bun again."
The disciple cried. "Yes, Senior Brother! I’ll practice baking!"