Zhantian Qingxuan nodded.
"Brother Liangping, did you hear that? The last bowl... Xiao Ye, see your Grandpa Liangping out."
Ji Liangping didn’t respond; he just watched Wen Ping’s back as he went up to the second floor, then glanced around the kitchen. He was sure that the rice must be some celestial material, judging by its exotic fragrance. However, he couldn’t recall any celestial material that looked like grains of rice.
No, to be precise, he had never even heard of such a thing.
He had lived for nearly 200 years, and there was nothing in his memory.
At this moment, he couldn’t bother with the issue of avoiding too much interaction with others. He immediately said to Zhantian Qingxuan beside him, "Qingxuan, what kind of celestial material is the rice your Sect Leader is eating?"
What he meant was, what kind of celestial material is that rice?
Zhantian Qingxuan chuckled softly and replied, "You’d have to ask our Sect Leader, but Brother Liangping, let’s stop here. This isn’t your Celestial Academy, why ask so many questions? If there’s nothing else, go back. I’ll send you ten Vortex Maps in a couple of months, guaranteed top quality."
Wen Ping allowing Ji Liangping to stay was already a favor. How could she let Ji Liangping inquire and explore the Sect’s secrets so insensitively?
But Ji Liangping acted as if he hadn’t heard the unspoken words and continued, "Why the rush? I want to make friends with the Immortal Sect’s Sect Leader. Besides, I was originally a guest, shouldn’t you have kept me for a meal? Just one bowl won’t hurt; you eat it every day, give it to me, and I’ll leave after eating."
Zhantian Qingxuan shook her head helplessly.
Then Wen Ping’s voice came from upstairs, "Elder Zhantian, tell your friend not to push his luck. If this continues, I’ll have no choice but to issue an order to leave."
Zhantian Qingxuan forced a smile and said to Ji Liangping, "You see."
"This young lad has guts." Ji Liangping wasn’t annoyed; as someone nearly 200 years old, he wasn’t so petty. Instead, Wen Ping’s actions were a refreshing change for him. Other Sect Leaders would be sycophantic, eager to be his offspring, but Wen Ping was quite the opposite.
However, this made his desire for the rice even stronger.
His cultivation of the Spirit Body had seen little progress for decades. After reaching Great Success, the Realm of Perfection seemed increasingly elusive. But the rice from this Sect made him feel it might be a breakthrough opportunity. If the Anomalous Spirit Body ranked 2800th on the Spirit Body Ranking reached Perfection, he could compete with the Anomalous Divine Profound within the same realm.
At that time, the Sect Leader of the Mitian Sect would no longer be able to boast in front of him.
Just then, from the second floor, Wen Ping saw that everyone had mostly finished eating, put down his bowl and chopsticks, and said, "Those going to the Thousand Layers Stair, go to Elder Yun Liao to sign up."
Everyone was delighted.
Finally, it was here.
Especially Yu Mo, who was the most excited.
When all those wanting to go had signed up, Zhantian Qingxuan began to eat, but she ate straight, without need for accompaniment. Yet, Spiritual Rice can’t really be called a main dish; it’s more like Spiritual Cuisine, so side dishes are irrelevant. Once Zhantian Qingxuan finished eating, Wen Ping prepared to lead everyone to the Thousand Layers Stair.
But upon descending, Ji Liangping blocked him.
"Kid, want to make a friend? The name’s Ji Liangping, Dean of the Inner Courtyard at the Three-star Celestial Academy at Bright Mirror Lake." Ji Liangping stood up straight as he spoke.
Since he had already introduced himself, he had to make an impression.
Letting people know, befriending him was a chance to rise like a Phoenix.
However, Zhantian Ye murmured, "Wow, Grandpa Liangping is really... speechless."
Where’s the reserve of the Divine Profound Upper Realm?
While wondering what Zhantian Ye meant, Wen Ping said, "Dean Ji, if you’re looking for Elder Qingxuan, go talk to her. I still need to take the disciples for cultivation."
Ji Liangping was stunned.
He, Ji Liangping, introduced himself to make friends and was turned down.
No, he must not know my realm.
"I’m in the Divine Profound Upper..."
Midway through his words, Wen Ping suddenly turned to Zhantian Qingxuan and said, "Oh, Elder Qingxuan, come to the Main Hall later, I have something to discuss with you."
Zhantian Qingxuan nodded.
As everyone headed toward the Thousand Layers Stair, Yu Mo sidled up, feeling vague since there were outsiders present.
"Sect Leader, is that white flame also a reward for reaching the top?"
Meaning: The white Anomalous Vein is also a reward for reaching the top of the Thousand Layers Stair?
Wen Ping shook his head, "No. Why, don’t you like the crimson one?"
Yu Mo smiled awkwardly.
How could he dare dislike it?
It’s just that after seeing that white flame, he felt it was stronger than the crimson. Who wouldn’t like stronger things?
Beside him, Qin Shan chimed in, "Sect Leader, I’m telling you, Yu Mo is about to reach the summit, so he’s starting to have more thoughts."
"It’s still early; next time, maybe he’ll make it to the top."
Yu Mo chuckled and quickened his pace.
As everyone was conversing, Ji Liangping caught up to Wen Ping again and, without wasting words or making small talk about wanting to make friends, directly said, "Kid, how about selling me some of that rice you’re eating?"
Wen Ping replied straightforwardly.
Ji Liangping hurried to speak, barely naming a price before continuing to raise it upon seeing Wen Ping’s unchanged expression, "I can give a White Crystal per pound... If you feel that’s not right, you can name your price, and I promise not to haggle. While I’m not exceedingly wealthy, I can gather up a hundred or two White Crystals."
Wen Ping remained unfazed, "It’s for personal consumption, not for sale."
"Our Celestial Academy can directly support you to become a pseudo-Three-star Sect. If you want, I could immediately give your Sect ten or eight spots for Inner Courtyard Disciples... Our Celestial Academy only accepts three Inner Courtyard Disciples per year." To avoid making the Inner Courtyard Disciple spots seem cheap, he immediately explained the intake numbers.
Yet this time, Wen Ping left without even a response.
Ji Liangping hurriedly pleaded to Zhantian Qingxuan, "Qingxuan, help me..." This text is hosted at Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
"I can’t help you." Zhantian Qingxuan smiled helplessly, feeling speechless at Ji Liangping.
What kind of Divine Profound Upper Realm Inner Courtyard Dean is this? Doesn’t he seem just like a city market vendor?
Reflecting on Ji Liangping’s first time acting this way, she found it amusing.
If word spread, probably no one from Bright Mirror Lake would believe it—how could the esteemed Dean of Celestial Academy, Ji Liangping, act like a market vendor?
As they walked, they reached the Thousand Layers Stair.
As they descended, Ji Liangping quickly approached Wen Ping and said, "Kid, are you going to sell it or not? If not, be careful I might tear this place apart!"
Zhantian Qingxuan’s expression changed at these words.
She quickly moved to intervene, knowing that Ji Liangping wasn’t the kind of brute to say such threatening words, understanding it was spoken in desperation.
But she feared Wen Ping would take it seriously!