Chapter 50

No matter how much the hens tried to please their owner, Su Ling mercilessly had Granny Li kill one of them.
Granny Li seemed frightened. Already quiet and reserved, after Yi Heng appeared, she completely kept her head down, hiding in the woodshed as soon as her tasks were done.
The woodshed originally had a lot of firewood, but after she arrived, Su Ling moved the firewood to the kitchen, clearing out the space for Granny Li to live alone.
The chicken hotpot that evening was made without chili peppers.
Su Ling had been using her powers to accelerate the growth of an entire vegetable patch recently. Strangely, there weren't many of each type of vegetable, just enough for one or two meals. While preparing for the hotpot, Granny Li picked and washed all the vegetables. Su Ling took that time to replant the seeds and used her spiritual energy to speed up their growth again.
She was quite skilled at this by now.
The only drawback was her lack of stamina. Currently, Su Ling could only accelerate the growth of four or five plants at a time before feeling drained of spiritual energy. However, after resting for a while, she could recover quite a bit.
Granny Li bustled about, and every time she saw Su Ling's actions, her eyes were filled with deep reverence, never daring to be the slightest bit disrespectful.
Yi Heng stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes closed, yet he didn't give off the impression of being blind.
His figure was tall and slender, standing by the side of the door, his posture exceptionally upright. His face was lean, his waist slim and strong, his handsome features gentle as he faced the vegetable patch, "watching" a petite figure.
The more he looked, the more Yi Heng sighed inwardly. Like him, his little disciple was a natural-born spiritual body, but her talent far surpassed his, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her the heavens' favored daughter. Her simple nature also meant she was less likely to develop inner demons in the future, making her path to immortality smooth.
However, she was still very weak now. Whether for his own thoughts or because they shared the same innate spiritual body, he had to pave the way for her future. Otherwise, she would surely be bullied later on.
The difficulty was that he was severely injured, his cultivation had fallen to the Foundation Establishment stage, and he couldn't even open his Qiankun pouch. Many things were inaccessible, so he could only rely on Su Ling's own abilities to improve her cultivation. There wasn't much he could do to help.
He wondered how much he could teach her before those people caught up with them.
As if sensing Yi Heng's gaze, Su Ling, who had just accelerated the growth of a potato, turned her head and immediately broke into a smile, calling out, "It'll be ready soon, Master. Please sit down first."
"Alright," Yi Heng nodded but didn't move, continuing to watch her.
Only after Granny Li finished all the preparations for the hotpot did Su Ling put away the remaining seeds, wash her hands, and start cooking the chicken hotpot.
To make chicken soup, it naturally requires a certain amount of time for stewing.
To reduce the time, Su Ling instinctively learned to infuse spiritual energy into the fire. In this world, cultivation isn't divided by spiritual roots as in novels; the elements of heaven and earth can all be sensed, depending mainly on one's comprehension and physical constitution.
How to utilize spiritual energy depends on one's innate talent.
Su Ling had once casually tried it and ended up blowing up a pot. After that, she gradually figured out the maximum tolerance. Now, as she channeled spiritual energy into the fire, whoosh, the flames instantly grew much hotter, and the boiling water in the pot surged as if about to splash.
Under such high-temperature cooking, in about a quarter of an hour, Su Ling caught a whiff of the chicken soup's aroma. By then, the spiritual energy in her dantian had been depleted, so she closed her eyes to rest nearby.
Yi Heng was coming out of seclusion today, and Su Ling was somewhat happy. Even while resting, the corners of her lips were upturned, her joy so palpable that all the small creatures around could sense her mood. Spiritual energy gathered and dispersed around her, and even without intention, it benefited the surrounding living beings.
The two puppies were particularly perceptive, immediately running to Su Ling's feet to lie down, lazily closing their eyes and enjoying the faint traces of spiritual energy that entered their bodies, nourishing their own spiritual power.
Though Su Ling wasn't outwardly observing, she could still clearly sense the changes around her. The two dogs at her feet were content, the chicks not far away were cheerful, and Granny Li was somewhat nervous, constantly wiping sweat with her sleeve. Even with nothing to do for the moment, she still found ways to keep busy.
The man standing by the door was gazing at her with a gentle look, even though his eyes were closed.
Su Ling returned his gaze, distinctly feeling that as time passed, the accumulated spiritual energy in her body grew, and her perception became clearer.
"Chirp!" A clear birdcall rang out.
Su Ling naturally emerged from this mysterious state, looked at the stove before her, took a deep breath, and let spiritual energy flow from her hands, clearly more refined than before.
Yi Heng's eyelashes fluttered slightly. Compared to Su Ling's innate spiritual physique, which was the envy of many in the cultivation world, her ability to enter a meditative state at any time was even more precious.
It truly seemed as if the heavens had paved the way for her.

Half an hour later.
The meticulously brewed chicken soup was finally ready. The chicken meat had become somewhat tough and lacked flavor, so Su Ling scooped it out, leaving only the pale yellow, rich broth.
The stove continued to burn slowly, the soup gently simmering without boiling over. The prepared vegetables were all washed and placed within reach.
"Master, it's ready. You can eat now!"
Yi Heng nodded and walked over. He had long caught the scent of the chicken soup. Compared to the mundane food from before, which still contained many impurities, this batch of soup had very few.
His little disciple enthusiastically served him a small bowl of soup first: "Try the broth first. I didn't add too many seasonings, it's the original flavor."
Yi Heng held the steaming hot soup, took a slow sip, and the savory taste filled his mouth. It was scalding, burning from the tip of his tongue straight to his heart.
The steam from the soup seemed to mist his eyes, adding a touch of warmth, though no one could see it since they were closed.
He chuckled softly, "It's delicious."
When he was young, he often heard his fellow disciples reminisce about their parents. What they talked about most was how, every time they returned home, their parents would brew them all kinds of soup.
He still remembered clearly the disdainful yet somewhat boastful expressions on their faces back then.
So this is what it tastes like.
But the one who gave him the soup was a sixteen-year-old girl, a very cute girl.
Without thinking, Yi Heng took a second sip, then a third. By the time he came to his senses, the small bowl of soup was already empty.
Seeing this, Su Ling was overjoyed. There’s nothing that makes a chef happier than seeing a diner finish everything they’ve made.
“The soup is finished, so we can start blanching the vegetables now. There are also dipping sauces here, everyone can choose their own.” Su Ling kept busy, adding the vegetables piece by piece into the soup while sharing her experience: “I love cabbage the most. After it’s cooked, it becomes incredibly tender and soaks up all the chicken broth!”
“Let this master have a taste,” Yi Heng replied with utter naturalness.
The two worked together seamlessly, blanching vegetables for each other, watching as the ingredients cooked before picking them up to eat.
What had started as a simple taste test had unknowingly turned into a joyful feast for Yi Heng, who ended up eating even more than Su Ling. As a cultivator, if he truly wanted to eat, he could keep going indefinitely.
It was only when Su Ling was full and raised the white flag that the meal came to an end.
Yi Heng reluctantly set down his chopsticks, glanced at the plates that had been emptied and refilled, and said softly, “Alright, we’ve finished eating. Time to practice cultivation.”
“Yes, Master.” Su Ling swallowed, rubbed her bloated stomach, and nodded nervously.
It felt just like having a meal with a teacher, only for the teacher to wipe their mouth and say, “Alright, time for the exam.”
Suddenly, her stomach started to ache.
Fortunately, Su Ling passed her assessment.
Although she seemed to neglect her duties, this very habit meant her spiritual energy was constantly depleted, replenished, depleted again, and so on in a cycle. Surprisingly, this made her cultivation progress faster than most.
The only issue was… she had no offensive capabilities.
Cultivation techniques formed the foundation of one’s power, while spells were the means of attack. Yi Heng’s main focus in teaching Su Ling was various spells.
As a beginner, while her master could execute a spell with a mere thought, she had to meticulously follow the instructions, channeling her spiritual energy through the required meridians before she could cast it.
The complexity was no less than completing a minor energy cycle.
As a result, her practice sessions took up most of the day, and by the time she finished, she was starving, leaving her no time for anything else.
She felt it was slow and time-consuming, but in Yi Heng’s eyes, her progress was astonishing.
Of course, this wasn’t the first time Yi Heng had been amazed by Su Ling. Over time, he grew accustomed to it. No matter how exceptional his disciple performed, he could remain calm and say, “Hmm, you’re ready to learn the next spell.”
Su Ling, full of anticipation for praise, was met with silence: “...”
Dejected, Su Ling continued practicing the next spell. Just as she was halfway through the incantation, a light shout from outside interrupted her thoughts: "Miss Su, I'm here again! Has the immortal master emerged from seclusion yet?!"
Annoyed, Su Ling turned her head and saw a man in brocade robes standing outside the open gate, having just arrived at the courtyard entrance. Cupping his hands around his mouth like a trumpet, he was shouting at the top of his lungs.
Her face darkened, but she still replied, "He's out!"
The man's eyes suddenly lit up. He hurriedly clung to the simple courtyard gate, not daring to push it open, and said eagerly, "Miss Su, could you please introduce me? I'm willing to give up all my family's wealth to become his disciple!"
Who wouldn't want to seize the chance to become immortal? Upon hearing that there was a Foundation Establishment cultivator here, even the emperor was stirred, though the imperial city was too far away for the news to have reached him yet. However, prominent families from other regions had already begun arriving one after another.
The only problem was that Yi Heng had not yet emerged from seclusion, so no one dared to disturb him easily. They only asked Su Ling to inform them once Yi Heng came out.
But Su Ling had been so busy practicing her cultivation these past few days that she was completely disoriented and had forgotten all about it.
Su Ling rubbed her nose, glanced at Yi Heng, and quietly explained the situation before asking, "Master, do you want to meet him?"
Yi Heng frowned slightly.
Thinking he was unwilling, Su Ling's heart tightened with a flicker of hope.
But then he nodded, and she felt a pang of disappointment. Would she soon have a fellow disciple?
Yi Heng went straight out the door.
He always favored white robes, and with his unparalleled handsome appearance and extraordinary aura, his mere presence overwhelmed the man, who knelt on both knees: "I am Ye Wushuang, son of the City Lord of Yong'an City. I deeply yearn for the spiritual realm and beg the immortal master to allow me to serve by your side. I will devote myself wholeheartedly"
"I have no intention of taking on another disciple," Yi Heng said softly.
Those simple words halted Ye Wushuang's torrent of speech. He looked at Yi Heng dejectedly, wanting to plead further.
Yi Heng's expression turned cold. "Leave quickly. Do not come again, or you will forfeit your life!"
Just as Su Ling was about to rejoice that Yi Heng had decided not to take on a disciple, his words sent a chill down her spine. She had almost forgotten, Yi Heng was actually the Demon Lord, not the jade-like gentleman he appeared to be.
Her heart raced, fearing this man might be reckless.
Fortunately, Ye Wushuang's face paled considerably, but he still nodded in despair. Without another word, he bowed respectfully and turned to leave. His desolate figure made even Su Ling feel a twinge of pity, though she said nothing.
Only after he had disappeared from sight did Su Ling step outside.
She saw Yi Heng pondering for a moment before saying with some frustration, "I should set up an array. This is too annoying. If I lose control, it won't be good."
Su Ling glanced at him silently and nodded in agreement. "Yes! Set up an array."
If the Demon Lord couldn't hold back, someone would end up bleeding.
If Yi Heng knew what she was thinking, he would have replied: When I strike, there's no need for bloodshed.
As the son of the City Lord, Ye Wushuang had lived a smooth and successful life. This was the first time he had suffered such a blow. As he left, his face was ashen, as if his soul had left his body.
Stumbling along in a daze, he suddenly heard someone on the road asking, "Young master, is this the way to the bamboo hut?"
Ye Wushuang glanced over and saw it was a young scholar, likely also seeking immortality. He hesitated for a moment but still nodded: "From here, just keep going straight and you'll see it."
"Thank you." The young scholar was overjoyed. As someone with no sense of direction, he had stumbled along the way, taking countless detours. Finally, he was on the right path. He breathed a huge sigh of relief and quickened his pace.
Two hours later.
The young scholar leaned weakly against a tree, watching the setting sun with a heavy heart. "How how can I still not find it? Am I really that directionally challenged? I can't even walk straight?!"
Just as he was about to despair, a tantalizing fragrance drifted to his nose