Chapter 133: Chapter 131: Envy of "Losing One’s Entire Fortune

How could one freely switch between a cooking blade and a killing blade?

Mo Qi figured he should first understand what exactly a "killing blade" was.

With this in mind, Mo Qi wasted no more time and set off for the Martial Hall.

"Greetings, Honorary Grand Elder."

When the man in charge of the Martial Hall saw it was Mo Qi, his attitude was the picture of reverence, his smile the definition of sycophantic.

Mo Qi froze for a moment before it dawned on him: they were addressing him as the Honorary Grand Elder.

"Apologies for the trouble, Elder. I’d like to enter the Martial Hall," Mo Qi said, clasping his fist in a salute.

"Not at all, not at all! You honor me too much!" The man waved his hands frantically, looking flustered. "Please, go right in."

It was well past the Martial Hall’s operating hours, but who was Mo Qi?

He was someone to whom even the three great ancestors had to show deference!

Forget the Martial Hall—Mo Qi could enter even a Secret Realm whenever he pleased.

"Grand Elder, whatever type of Cultivation Technique or Martial Techniques you desire, just let this humble servant know. I’ll be sure to take care of it for you perfectly."

The sudden shift in status was still a bit jarring for Mo Qi. He glanced at the mountain of books in the Martial Hall and said, "I’m looking for Martial Techniques related to Sword Technique. They don’t need to be high-grade; basic ones will do."

"Right away! Please wait a moment."

In no time, the man returned, carrying a large stack of Martial Techniques all related to the sword.

"Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"No, that’s all. Thank you." Mo Qi shook his head and stored all the Martial Technique manuals away.

"Very good. Please see yourself out."

Hmm? Mo Qi asked, puzzled, "Don’t I need to check these out?"

"You jest, Grand Elder! Why would you need to check anything out? It’s not necessary. If you happen to remember, you can bring them back whenever. But of course, it’s no problem if you don’t."

Mo Qi was left speechless.

He finally understood why so many people would do anything to climb the ladder, to gain wealth and status and rise above everyone else.

This single experience of borrowing books from the Martial Hall showed that a difference in status meant a world of difference in treatment.

He remembered his first visit, when this very same man had explicitly stressed that any overdue books would result in severe punishment from the Punishment Hall.

’Then again,’ he thought, ’I still haven’t returned the *Medicinal Cuisine Record* or the *Basic Staff Technique* I borrowed.’

Mo Qi didn’t feel the least bit awkward, nor did he put on a show of principle and insist on checking them out.

After thanking the man, he returned to his restaurant and began to study the various Sword Techniques.

...

The news that Mo Qi was going to cook Medicinal Cuisine for the entire Void Sect spread in an instant, sparking a massive craze.

Starting from the dead of night, Mo Qi’s mountain peak was swarmed by Elders and disciples, packed so tightly that not a drop of water could pass.

Everyone knew that Mo Qi would soon be heading to the Mountain and Sea Empire. This chance for Medicinal Cuisine was a rare opportunity indeed!

Mo Qi, having spent the entire night studying Sword Techniques, had just opened the doors to his restaurant when the scene before him left him stunned.

As far as the eye could see, a dense sea of people stretched from the summit all the way to the foot of the mountain, winding for miles.

The strangest part was that despite the massive crowd, there wasn’t a single sound. In fact, their sheer numbers seemed to block the wind, making the area even quieter than usual.

The moment Mo Qi appeared, every gaze in the crowd locked onto him, filled with a burning, desperate intensity.

Then, to Mo Qi’s utter astonishment, every single person bowed in perfect, synchronized unison, paying their respects.

"We pay our respects to the Honorary Grand Elder!"

Their voices, speaking as one, thundered through the clouds. The aura was immense, the scene spectacular.

No matter how stable Mo Qi’s mental state was, he couldn’t help but be shaken at this moment.

It was a shock that struck him to his very core.

It was an unprecedented thrill, the feeling that he could rally millions with a single call.

’Is this what it feels like to wield immense power?’

Mo Qi took a deep breath, repeatedly telling himself, ’This is all transient, like floating clouds.’

’The path I must walk is still long and arduous, fraught with peril.’

After a long while, his mind finally settled. Mo Qi felt as if he had just endured an interrogation of the soul—exhausted, yet fulfilled.

He stepped forward, his gaze as calm as still water. "There’s no need for such ceremony," he said.

"Thank you, Grand Elder!"

Once again, they spoke in unison, but this time Mo Qi’s composure remained unshaken.

"I know why you’re all here. I have a few rules I hope you will all observe."

"First, form an orderly queue. Causing trouble is strictly prohibited. I don’t care what your status or identity is—if you break this rule, you can get the hell out!"

"Second, I will only prepare one portion of Elder-level Medicinal Cuisine per day. As for who gets it... it goes to the highest bidder! This does not apply to regular disciples."

"Third, you must provide your own ingredients!"

As soon as he said this, many of the Elders’ faces soured.

How could they not know why Mo Qi had established the second rule?

It was because they had foolishly picked the wrong side, their judgment clouded, and supported the verdict against him.

They had originally thought Mo Qi had magnanimously forgiven them. Who knew he was waiting to get back at them like this?

Only one serving of Elder-level Medicinal Cuisine per day, and yet there were over two hundred Elders present.

No one knew how long Mo Qi would remain at the Void Sect. A day? Two days? A month? Two months?

Heaven only knew!

To be safe, it was best to get Mo Qi to cook their required Medicinal Cuisine as soon as possible.

If Mo Qi left before their turn came, it would be too late for regrets.

After saying his piece, Mo Qi returned to the restaurant, and Liu Hui took his place.

"Elders, register with me. Transmit your bids to me via voice transmission, and I will judge who is the highest. All other disciples, form a line and enter one by one," Liu Hui said, pulling up a chair and sitting beside the main entrance.

In no time, a crowd of Elders swarmed him, each one stating the highest price they could bear.

In the face of Medicinal Cuisine, wealth and family fortunes were nothing but a string of numbers.

This was especially true for the Elders whose lifespans were running short; they were truly willing to risk their entire fortunes.

Soon, Liu Hui selected the winner.

"Congratulations to Elder Qian for winning today’s spot." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Hahaha, it’s me! I won!" Despite having just given up everything he owned, Elder Qian was as happy as a child with a piece of candy.

And yet, the other Elders could only look on with envy and resentment, wishing they had been the ones to go bankrupt.

If, just one day prior, someone had told these Elders they would willingly offer everything they owned to Mo Qi in exchange for a single pot of Medicinal Cuisine, they would have scoffed and called that person insane.

But now...

Inside the restaurant, one hundred disciples sat primly at the dining tables, handing their Storage Rings to Jin Sanpang one after another.

The rings contained the Spirit Medicines they had prepared, along with their requests for the Medicinal Cuisine.

Meanwhile, Mo Qi processed the ingredients while mulling over what the Ni Brothers had said.

They believed that while his Medicinal Cuisine was nearly perfect, its effects were too unpredictable and not suitable for use in combat.

As a chef, Mo Qi was almost obsessively devoted to the color, aroma, and flavor of his dishes.

Therefore, after much thought, he had come up with a solution that, while not entirely to his satisfaction, was at least acceptable.

He would use an Array to combine the exquisite flavor and Medicinal Power of his Medicinal Cuisine with the form factor and convenience of an Elixir!

It would create a completely unique sensory experience for Medicinal Cuisine. Though it was still just a simple concept in his mind, Mo Qi was already incredibly excited about the prospect.

P.S. I see a lot of people asking, so let me, your author (Mifan), make it clear: This is not a harem novel, and it’s definitely not a stallion novel! What year do you think this is? It’s 2018! The Party has repeatedly emphasized Core Socialist Values, and I, Mifan, dare not forget them for a moment! This book is filled with nothing but positive energy! After all, I’m so handsome, right?