Venerable Demon Chef

Chapter 565: Chapter 562: The Conflict Begins

Many of the experts who had come from the North District were top-tier Alchemy Masters.

To be honest, they couldn’t accept that someone had broken through in their Cultivation just by eating a meal.

Let alone a ridiculously-named dish like soup over rice.

"Could they have used some kind of Forbidden Medicine that overdrafts Life Force?" someone voiced their suspicion.

Everyone was stunned.

In their experience, the only thing that could allow a Cultivator to break through in such a short time seemed to be Forbidden Medicine.

Forbidden Medicine could grant immense power at the cost of a Cultivator’s life or potential.

This was accompanied by irreversible side effects.

Once a Cultivator took Forbidden Medicine, their journey on the Martial Dao was considered over.

Barring any miracles, there would be no further room for advancement.

This was why all Cultivators paled at the mere mention of it.

The elders of those few patrons from the North District turned pale and hurried forward to inspect them.

But they discovered that their juniors’ Cultivation foundations were incredibly solid. Neither their Life Force nor their potential had suffered the slightest damage.

In other words, their breakthroughs were completely natural, as if they were a matter of course. There was no sign of any external force at play.

This discovery made everyone gasp in shock.

"How is this possible?!"

This same question echoed in everyone’s mind.

A bowl of soup over rice sold for ten Immortal Level Spirit Medicines, yet they knew that even with Immortal Level Spirit Medicines of equivalent value, they couldn’t refine an Elixir with the same effect.

Although the recipients were only Cultivators at the Void Realm, it might seem like a waste of ten Immortal Level Spirit Medicines, but that wasn’t actually the case.

First, Mo Qi’s Medicinal Cuisine was completely harmless, with no Erysipelas or hidden injuries.

Second, every Cultivator had a golden period as they struggled along the path of the Martial Dao, especially before becoming an Immortal.

For a Cultivator, reaching Immortal Level Cultivation earlier meant greater potential.

Although as long as one embarked on the Martial Dao, even those with the lowest Refining Essence Cultivation would have a much longer lifespan than ordinary mortals.

But strictly speaking, as long as a Cultivator had not reached the Immortal Level, had not overcome the Immortal Tribulation, and had not forged an Immortal Body, they were all still considered mortal.

As the saying goes, a day without becoming an Immortal is a lifetime as an ant. Their potential, including their Essence Energy and spirit, would gradually diminish over time.

Therefore, what every Cultivator hoped for most was to become an Immortal before the age of one hundred.

One hundred years old was a watershed moment.

Only by becoming an Immortal before one hundred could they have a chance to be acknowledged by the Immortal Realm and see a much wider world.

Thus, time was not only precious to mortals but equally important to Cultivators.

A bowl of soup over rice could allow a Void Realm Cultivator to painlessly break through a minor Realm. If every bowl, or rather, every dish at Moqi Tavern had a similar effect, then it was undoubtedly an irresistible temptation for everyone.

Never mind ten Immortal Level Spirit Medicines; many would be willing to accept a price several times higher.

Though they said it was impossible, every Cultivator from the North District present found their breathing growing heavy and their gazes turning fervent.

Even Mo Qi’s sworn enemies, like Feng Gong and He Jincheng, were no exception.

"I didn’t expect this kid to actually have some skills!" Gu Weitian said with a curl of his lip.

But anyone could hear the resentment and jealousy in his tone.

"What do we do now? If we let this kid keep this up, I’m afraid not just the Demon Sect, but our North District will become his supporters too." Feng Gong glanced at the Cultivators who had eaten the soup over rice and saw that their eyes were filled with fervor and gratitude as they looked at the tavern.

This was not the outcome he wanted to see.

He Jincheng said with a grim expression, "With the Demon Sect and the Master of the Doomed Mountain Range protecting him, there’s nothing we can do!"

Qin Hai, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke up. "Not necessarily."

The other three quickly looked over at him.

"Qin Hai, you said before that you had a plan to kill with a borrowed knife. You can tell us about it now, right?"

Qin Hai gave a mysterious smile. "We haven’t personally witnessed what’s happening in the tavern or how capable that kid Mo Qi really is. It’s too early to talk about this."

Seeing Qin Hai’s reluctance to say more, the other three were displeased.

’We’re all in the same boat now!’

"Qin Hai, what do you mean?" Feng Gong said, annoyed.

"Whatever your plan is, you’ll definitely need our support. What, you don’t trust us?" He Jincheng said with a hostile look.

Gu Weitian also frowned. "Even if it’s inconvenient to say everything, you should at least give us the gist of it."

Qin Hai’s smile didn’t waver. "Patience. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but until we’ve figured some things out, any more talk is just empty words."

"But since you insist, I don’t mind giving you a hint. I have a way to lure the Master of the Doomed Mountain Range away. Regardless of his relationship with Mo Qi, he won’t have time to interfere before we make our move against Mo Qi."

"Are you sure?" the three asked, stunned.

"Our lives are on the line. What do you think?" Qin Hai retorted.

The three exchanged a look and felt reassured.

"So, what do we do now?"

"Just be good patrons," Qin Hai said with a smile.

...

As the third batch of patrons came out, Xiao Zhang came out with them.

"Six hours are up. The tavern is closing."

Although the people in the long line were reluctant, the six-hour business day was a rule the owner had set long ago. No one was willing to risk being blacklisted by Mo Qi by questioning it.

"Wait a moment, young brother!"

Xiao Zhang had just turned to close the tavern’s main door when someone called out to him.

"Is there something you need?"

The one who had called out was an Immortal from the North District. Xiao Zhang looked at him and asked.

"Excuse me, when do you open tomorrow?"

Xiao Zhang replied, "To be determined."

With that, he shut the door with a SLAM, leaving everyone to stare at each other in bewilderment.

’So the opening time really is "to be determined" based on his mood?!’

They had thought it was just a joke from Mo Qi.

Because of this, no one in the line dared to leave.

Leaving now meant giving up their spot, and who knew how long they’d have to wait if they had to queue up all over again.

And so, the crowd from the North District, who had originally come to watch the spectacle or see a joke, now stood obediently in a long line in front of the closed tavern, regardless of their status.

For Mo Qi’s VIP private orders, you registered and paid on the same day, and the goods were delivered the next.

For these private orders, customers could request their cure in the form of a dish or a Medicinal Pill; Mo Qi could provide either.

Unsurprisingly, when those experts who gritted their teeth, spent a lifetime’s savings, and opted for a private order were successfully cured, Moqi Tavern became an even bigger sensation.

The fame of "Uncle Niu’s Kitchen God" tavern spread completely throughout the North District and the Demon Sect, and no one doubted Mo Qi’s abilities in the slightest anymore.

Amid this frenzy, the crowd, lost in their dreams of a brighter future, had no time to consider just how terrifyingly heaven-defying the power of his Medicinal Cuisine truly was.

Instead, as time went on, everyone gradually grew accustomed to it.

By the time it was Qin Hai and his group’s turn, half a month had already passed.