Proving Immortality Starting with Hextech Runes

Chapter 124 The Arrival of a Core Formation Cultivator

"How could you let someone buy out the operating rights of such a skilled chef? Who gave you the guts?!"

Xiao Zhenshan's eyes were filled with rage, and his hand pointing at the steward was trembling slightly.

"Do you know how many spirit stones that little restaurant earns in a day?!"

"Four thousand, even five thousand. That's nearly 150,000 spirit stones a month!"

"That's over 1.8 million spirit stones a year. If it's split, even if we only take 20%, that's still 360,000 spirit stones a year!"

The steward was prostrate on the ground, his forehead pressed tightly against the floor, sweat pouring down his face.

"Master, please calm down! I know I was wrong!..." Steward Xiao's voice was choked with sobs as he desperately kowtowed and begged for forgiveness.

"I was blinded by greed, please give me another chance, Master..."

"Opportunity?" Xiao Zhenshan sneered, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Your debt can be settled later! Tell me, exactly where is that Spirit Cuisine Restaurant? I'll go and talk to them myself."

Steward Xiao lifted his dusty face and hurriedly said, "Reporting to the patriarch, it's the small shop on East Street, near the corner of the water bridge."

"The old food stall left behind by Xiao Xun'er's mother!"

"What?!" Xiao Zhenshan's angry expression froze instantly, replaced by a complex look.

He remained silent for a long time, lost in memories.

Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Muwan were both his daughters with his fourth wife, Liu.

Lady Liu was stunningly beautiful and gentle in nature. When she first entered the manor, she was showered with his affection.

However, this favor aroused the jealousy of the other wives.

They conspired to frame and ostracize each other, and rumors and gossip spread throughout the mansion.

Unable to bear the torment, Lady Liu, filled with resentment, eventually hanged herself, her life tragically cut short.

At that time, Xiao Zhenshan was at a critical juncture in his breakthrough to the mid-stage of Core Formation, and the stability of his family was also needed.

Although he was grieving over Liu's death, he was even more afraid that trouble would break out in his own backyard and shake his foundation.

In order to appease the ladies who were all backed by powerful families, and to quell the turmoil within the mansion, he chose to compromise.

He stopped investigating the cause of Liu's death and deliberately distanced himself from the young Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Muwan, leaving them to struggle on the fringes of the family.

That small eatery was the only private property left behind by Madam Liu.

After a long silence, Xiao Zhenshan sighed. He looked at the steward before him, his voice weary: "You may step down."

"Thank you so much, Master!" The steward felt as if he had been granted a pardon and practically scrambled out of the hall.

Then, Xiao Zhenshan's figure blurred for a moment in the hall.

When he reappeared, he was an ordinary-looking middle-aged cultivator.

He walked steadily and discreetly out of the Xiao residence, heading towards East Street.

……

The signboard of Ling Shan Restaurant is quite eye-catching, and there is still a long queue in front of the shop.

Xiao Zhenshan stood silently at the end of the line, his gaze passing through the crowd and landing on the busy figure inside the store.

Xiao Xun'er moved nimbly between several square tables, clearing away dishes and greeting guests.

When facing customers, she managed to force a professional smile onto her aloof face.

Although she still maintained a distant demeanor, the gleam in her eyes was one that Xiao Zhenshan had never seen before when she was in the Xiao family.

Xiao Zhenshan felt a mix of emotions.

Nearly half an hour passed, and the procession slowly moved forward until it was finally Xiao Zhenshan's turn, disguised.

Xiao Xun'er politely asked, "What would you like to eat, senior?"

She gestured to the menu hanging on the wall.

Xiao Zhenshan glanced at the menu, then took out a storage bag full of spirit stones and placed it on the counter.

"One serving of each of the spiritual dishes on the menu. Keep your spirit stones as change."

Xiao Xun'er took the storage bag, scanned it with her divine sense, and a look of surprise flashed in her eyes.

She had never seen such a generous guest before, and the smile on her face became more genuine.

"Are you dining in or taking away? If you're dining in, the seats are currently full, so you may have to wait a moment."

Xiao Zhenshan waved his hand: "It's alright. I'll make mine after all the other guests have left."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xun'er's heart stirred.

These requests are clearly aimed at Senior Xu.

Her expression remained unchanged as she nodded: "Okay, senior, please wait a moment while I go and ask."

Xiao Xun'er quickly walked into the kitchen and had the Crimson Blood Rat convey the message.

A moment later, a blood-red rat with a note tied to it ran out.

Xiao Xun'er picked up the note and unfolded it; there was only one word on it:

Can...

Xiao Xun'er then returned to the front desk and politely said to Xiao Zhenshan, "Then please come back at the beginning of the twelfth of the hour of You (5-7 PM)."

Xiao Zhenshan nodded slightly, said no more, and turned to leave.

……

After 5 PM, the last group of cultivators left, still wanting more, and Xiao Xun'er immediately and quickly cleaned up the table.

Then, she brought out the prepared spiritual dishes one by one and arranged them neatly on the table.

Before long, Xiao Zhenshan, disguised, appeared outside the door.

He pushed open the door and found a seat.

"Please have some, senior," Xiao Xun'er said politely.

"If you need anything, just call me anytime."

After saying that, she retreated behind the counter and silently counted the spirit stones.

Xiao Zhenshan glanced at the spiritual food on the table and began to eat.

He ate slowly, savoring each bite with a sense of wonder.

This skill was far superior to the spiritual cuisine he had tasted in the core city of the Cangshan Alliance.

What's even more remarkable is that the spiritual energy contained in each dish is extremely pure and easily absorbed, with almost no waste.

With this quality, if it were sold in the cities of the Cangshan Alliance, even if the price were increased by 10% or 20%, the supply would definitely not meet the demand.

"As expected of a second-tier spirit chef, I am very satisfied with this meal." After finishing the fish soup, Xiao Zhenshan finally spoke, his voice deep.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xu slowly walked out from the kitchen.

"Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. I merely obtained the inheritance by chance and do not deserve such high praise."

"But you're quite generous, and you instructed me to come right after closing time, so you must have come for more than just satisfying your appetite?"

At this moment, Xiao Zhenshan suddenly raised his hand, and an invisible spiritual force surged out, instantly forming a barrier outside the food stall.

Although it wasn't some kind of formation or restriction, the mere pressure it emitted made Chen Xu feel as if he were facing a formidable enemy.

Such overwhelming pressure must be the work of a Core Formation cultivator.

Chen Xu's pupils contracted slightly, and he cupped his hands to Xiao Zhenshan, saying:

"I wonder which family patriarch has graced our humble shop with his presence; it truly brings honor to our humble establishment."

Xiao Zhenshan gave Chen Xu a deep look, then removed his disguise, revealing his true face.

Almost the instant Xiao Zhenshan's true form was revealed, Xiao Xun'er, who was arranging spirit stones behind the counter, trembled violently, and a spirit stone slipped from her hand.

Her gaze was fixed on Xiao Zhenshan's face, and her complexion turned deathly pale.

Looking into Xiao Xun'er's resentful eyes, Xiao Zhenshan felt utterly helpless.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end it just turned into a barely audible sigh.