A life of leisure is worse than a life of flowers and splendour

We're heading to the food court soon for a food tasting event hosted by several major sects. Du Shuangshuang thought: This must be specially prepared for these newcomers. One reason is to let everyone experience the delicacies of the cultivation world. Entering the secret realm is very dangerous, and eating a good meal is like a last meal before execution, a good meal before death. The other reason is probably to promote unity among the Taoist sects.

The major sects probably wanted to give their young disciples this opportunity to get to know each other better, to become familiar with each other. If they didn't have to help each other when they entered the secret realm, they would at least know who was on the sect's side. If they were in danger, they would know who to rally around, and have the benefit of familiarity. Sending these new recruits into the secret realm right after they were recruited was a helpless move for the sects. They had to choose between leaving their resources unused and letting these newcomers take risks. They always had to make a choice.

Things are pretty good here at Dao Sect. I heard that anyone below the third level of Qi Refining doesn't have to go in. For those between the third and sixth levels, admission is voluntary. However, those between the seventh and the Great Perfection of Qi Refining must go in. They're giving special consideration, allowing my cousin to stay. So, there's no talk of forced cultivation here. Even elixirs aren't distributed in advance. After all, using too many elixirs isn't good, especially since taking large quantities in a short period of time can lead to a superficial improvement in cultivation and can also affect one's future cultivation. So, it seems that Dao Sect truly cares about its disciples and is quite merciful.

As for other sects, some require everyone to enter. Those who haven't reached the third level of Qi Refining will be forcibly boosted to that level, as this is required to use spells and increase their chances of survival. However, forced advancement is not only extremely painful, just like Du Zhengze's mistaken contract with the Qiankun Ruler, which nearly cost him his life, but it also significantly impacts future advancement. Unless someone finds an opportunity, they might be stuck in the Qi Refining stage for life. However, the sect provides so many resources, and even though the spiritual energy here is a hundred times stronger than in the mortal world, even with the sheer volume of elixirs, if they still can't reach the third level, their aptitude must be quite low. Of course, those who haven't yet drawn Qi into their bodies are not included; even if they wanted to, they couldn't force their cultivation.

The food street was bustling with people, but only those who had participated in this secret realm were eligible to participate. Naturally, there were no members of the Demon Sect here, and the Hehuan Sect was also excluded. Buddhist sects generally didn't participate in such activities, so only members of the Yunlang Pavilion, Qianji Pavilion, Dao Sect, Kunlun Sect, Tyrant Sect, and some nearby smaller sects and independent cultivators were present.

There are stalls on both sides of the food street, displaying various delicacies. All the food is spiritual food, but there is no particularly high-grade one. They are all low-grade spiritual food for the young disciples to try. Everyone can get a small portion of each item for free at the stall.

Most of the veteran disciples were busy socializing, while only the newer disciples were wandering around the food court stalls. Senior Brother Tong Zhan and his companions joined the veteran disciples' socializing, leaving the two of them free to move around.

Du Shuangshuang used her wood-element spiritual power to weave a small vine basket for herself and held it in her hands. She prepared to put the spiritual food in it, while Uncle Du took the food directly into his storage bag and took it back to feed his father, wife, and children. This was authentic spiritual food from the world of immortal cultivation, and she couldn't bear to eat it herself. She had to bring it back to share with her family.

There are all kinds of snacks, which look very good and smell even more delicious. Each food has a name and introduction, as well as an ingredient list.

Du Shuangshuang walked by, looking at each one and taking one. She walked by each stall, taking out portions of spiritual food, placing them in her small basket and savoring them slowly. She tasted only a little of each spiritual food and returned it to the basket, allowing her to savor more of the delicious food. She kept the rest in the basket, and when it was full, she put it in her storage bag, which was actually her storage ring. Du Shuangshuang also planned to bring some back for her grandfather to try; if they found it delicious, they could also learn how to make some, imitating others' recipes.

After all, the storage bag only uses the array to expand the space, and it can't keep food fresh. I don't have a spiritual food box that can keep food fresh. To ensure the taste, it's better to put it in the ring. The ring is big enough anyway, so it doesn't take up much space. I'll eat it slowly after shopping, and when I'm full, I'll put it back in and save it for later.

Lotus cake, peach cake, sugar cake, tea snack knife cut, crispy red cherry fruit, Heyi cake, snow mountain plum, candied spiritual fruit, jade bean cake, chestnut cake, two-color bean cake, red bean paste roll, milk white jujube treasure, candied water chestnut, gold cake roll, red bean cake, lotus seed cake, pea yellow, crystal cake, flower cup longan, spiritual grass nest, jam gold cake, two-color water chestnut cake, sesame southern sugar, rock sugar kernel, spiritual rice jelly, spiritual bean roll, pigeon glass cake, cream pineapple jelly, milk white almond, persimmon frost soft candy, sugar fried peanuts, whip cake, red bean paste cake, coconut cup, Mandarin duck rolls, shrimp dumplings, crab roe steamed buns, steamed chicken feet, steamed spare ribs, tripe, steamed pig trotters with fermented bean curd, black pepper beef ribs, shark fin soup, black pepper tripe, steamed squid with garlic sauce, bamboo rolls with abalone sauce, grass carp balls, steamed rice cakes, rice rolls with lotus fragrance and pearl glutinous rice chicken, seaweed crab rolls, chicken ball buns, barbecued pork buns, lava buns, custard buns, lotus seed buns, milk-flavored steamed buns, milk-flavored pumpkin buns, honeycomb cakes, Mala cakes, Mala cakes, white sugar cakes, lotus seed black rice cakes, jujube cakes, sesame fried dumplings, taro cakes, fried chicken wings, pudding, cheese, double skin milk, crispy cheese, jade fruit rice dew, mango sago, grass jelly taro balls, tofu pudding, grilled skewers, barbecued meat, goat milk, egg custard, and many low-level spiritual fruits that were cut into pieces, and some smaller fruits were just left there as a whole.

Many young disciples gathered around the stall, grabbed their spiritual food, and began to devour it. Each portion was a small piece, barely enough for a bite or two, but the variety was dazzling. If they simply stood there and continued eating, even the most voracious appetite wouldn't be able to finish everything. Many people only tried what piqued their interest.

Some people, most of whom came from families of immortal cultivators, were dismissive of these spiritual foods. They thought they were nothing special, or even just ordinary food, and that eating them standing up was embarrassing. Others were selectively choosing the spiritual foods they liked.

However, Du Shuangshuang wouldn't miss out on any spiritual food. These were all benefits granted to the sect's disciples, and she certainly wouldn't let this opportunity go to waste. After all, this was her first time tasting spiritual food in all those years, and this precious treat held immense significance for her. Therefore, no matter what kind of spiritual food she chose, she wouldn't let it go easily, savoring every bite, taking in the spiritual energy and delicious flavor.

Two people were lingering in front of a kebab stall. One of them, a plump, pale boy, said, "Junior Sister, could you help me get a skewer of spiritual lamb barbecue? I won't take it for free. How about I give you a portion of raw fish?"

How is it? Of course not!

Du Shuangshuang looked at the plate of raw fish in the boy's hand, thinly sliced with several different varieties of spirit fish. Although she liked it, raw fish was nowhere near as delicious as meat skewers. Without a second thought, she shook her head and declined. She reached out and took out her own skewers from among the various grilled ones. Actually, it was a tiny skewer, barely longer than a toothpick, with three tiny pieces of meat no bigger than a fingernail. She finished it in one bite.

The little fat boy was drooling as he watched the skewers of meat. The skewers he wanted to eat were about to slip away from him. The little fat boy was anxious, "Hey, little sister, don't go. I'll give you another rice ball. It's purple rice, so big and fragrant."

Du Shuangshuang looked back at the pained young man. He was wearing the uniform of a direct disciple of Piaomiao Pavilion. He was half a head taller than her and didn't look very big. His cultivation had already reached the great perfection of Qi Refining.

Du Shuangshuang's face was conflicted. This purple rice was of a higher grade than white spiritual rice, richer in spiritual energy, and tastier. But even if her heart was tempted, she had to feign reluctance and hesitation, so that if the other party really wanted it, they would increase the offer. Du Shuangshuang had lived two lives, and they hadn't lived in vain. Even if their combined age was still not as high as most people here, it wasn't in vain either.

Watching the young man, feeling both pained and conflicted, he took out another piece of purple rice ball. "Here, I'll give you another piece. I'm really losing out. These things of mine are worth three skewers. Besides, don't you still have grilled spiritual beef skewers and grilled spiritual rabbit meat?" He swallowed hard. These spiritual lamb skewers were too small. After eating one, he was already craving more. There was no spiritual food sold here, so even if he wanted to eat more, he couldn't. He felt so sad. When he got back, he had to go to Qianwei Pavilion and eat his fill of spiritual lamb skewers. It was so sad. Actually, he had barbecue in his storage ring, but it wasn't as delicious as the ones made there.

Du Shuangshuang knew when to stop, "Okay, I'll change!" She still looked reluctant, though she was actually overjoyed. Reluctant to take out the Lingyang skewers, she took the raw fish and two purple rice balls from the boy.

"Don't worry, if we meet in the secret realm, I'll definitely protect you. My name is Chen Kai, and I'm a direct disciple of Master Yunhai of Yunlang Pavilion." The young man happily accepted the skewers handed to him by Du Shuangshuang. Du Shuangshuang's tangled little expression successfully pleased Chen Kai, and the pain of giving up the purple rice ball instantly eased a lot.

"My name is Du Shuangshuang. Please take good care of me from now on." Although her cultivation level is not as high as mine, she is a direct disciple, and her background is far beyond the reach of a rookie like me who has just entered the world of immortal cultivation. Besides, knowing one more person means opening up another avenue.

Watching the junior sister taking the basket she had woven and putting everything into the basket without missing a single thing, Chen Kai and the people next to him followed suit and took out all the things they had previously disdained. Seeing that Du Shuangshuang had not left yet, they caught up with her and handed them to her.

With such a big surprise in front of her, Du Shuangshuang suddenly felt a little guilty, wondering if she had gone a little too far just now.

"Why are you standing there? It seems you like them all. Here, I'll give them to you. I'm not interested in any of these." Chen Kai said, scratching his head.

"Thank you." Du Shuangshuang took it with a smile. This guy is not bad and can get along well with him!

"Well... this is for you. I don't like eating these either, Mu Bai." Mu Bai beside Chen Kai also handed over the thing in his hand.

"Mu Bai? What's wrong with Bai?" Du Shuangshuang was stunned for a moment.

"He said his name is Mu Bai, haha." Seeing Du Shuangshuang's confusion, the little fat man explained.

"Ah, haha. Hello Mu Bai, thank you." Du Shuangshuang took it happily, with two dimples faintly visible.

"You're welcome, you're welcome. I'm glad you don't mind." Mu Bai waved his hands and smiled shyly.

The two followed Du Shuangshuang, walking and stopping along the way. When they came across food they liked, they would taste it themselves. If they were not interested in certain food, they would give it to Du Shuangshuang. And Du Shuangshuang accepted the food without hesitation. In this way, they walked all the way to the end of the food street. At this time, Du Shuangshuang had collected several baskets of food. Looking at the long food street in front of her, Du Shuangshuang still felt a little unsatisfied. She thought this kind of activity was really good, and it would be even better if this food street was longer. At this moment, she was half full and was reluctant to eat the remaining food. She wanted to keep these foods first and share them with her grandfather when she returned.

Moreover, spiritual food is rich in spiritual energy. Besides being delicious and free of impurities, it can also replenish spiritual power. Although it is the lowest-level snack, it is better than nothing.