Chapter 1010: The Internal Competition For Disciple

In the blink of an eye, several days had passed.

At the foot of the mountain, the village was alive with the crowing of roosters as the morning sun began to rise.

Yi Feng opened his eyes and pushed open the door, stretching lazily as he welcomed the new day.

"Ah..."

He let out a final, satisfying yawn, breathing in the fresh morning air, feeling full of energy.

The past few days had been exhausting in his quest to find a way to die, and he rarely had the chance to relax like this.

Bathing in the morning sunlight, walking through the small farmyard, it felt like the leisurely times of old, familiar and nostalgic.

Unconsciously, Yi Feng's mood lightened considerably.

He smiled as he looked around.

The door across from him was wide open, and the old man was clearly already up.

After glancing around, he saw the old man bustling about, going in and out several times, seemingly unharmed and no longer acting erratically.

Yi Feng felt reassured.

As he stretched and moved about, he wandered around the yard.

Having stayed here for a few days, he had gradually become familiar with the small farmyard. He leisurely sat down at the stone table in the yard, admiring the flowers in the morning light while listening to the various sounds of the village.

The crowing of roosters and the chirping of birds, laughter carried from afar.

In such an environment, all worries were temporarily set aside. A cluster of roses in the yard was about to bloom, as if inviting someone to pick them.

Seeing such a beautiful scene, Yi Feng's mood improved even more.

Although the old man was sometimes eccentric, he did have a bit of charm, knowing how to plant flowers and plants, even roses, which seemed a bit coquettish.

The faint, unique fragrance wafted through the air, and Yi Feng couldn't help but feel curious.

Just as he was about to take a closer look, another enticing aroma drifted over.

The rich, savory smell of food immediately whetted Yi Feng's appetite, and his stomach began to growl in protest.

Following the scent, he finally discovered that Fu Nantian was busy in the kitchen.

Peeking through the doorway, Yi Feng was stunned.

Inside, by the stove, the gray-haired old man looked as rough as ever, yet he was wearing an apron adorned with delicate floral and bird patterns, appearing both meticulous and professional.

At first glance, he really did resemble a househusband.

The outfit and actions were surprising enough that anyone else would have burst out laughing, but the old man seemed completely at ease, as if unaware of Yi Feng's presence, humming a tune as he focused on cooking.

He looked as if he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

Could it be that this old man was a master chef?

Driven by curiosity, Yi Feng patiently continued to watch.

Fu Nantian's hands moved swiftly, pots and pans clattering, and in no time, several vegetarian dishes were completed, each exquisitely garnished and plated.

Both the speed and presentation were top-notch.

With just this skill, he surpassed ninety percent of chefs.

Yi Feng couldn't help but marvel, thinking to himself that appearances could be deceiving.

Just as he was about to step inside to compliment him and maybe sneak a taste, Fu Nantian started moving again!

With one hand, he tossed several eggs into the air, and with the other, he wielded a large ladle. A few crisp sounds later, the shells were separated, and the beaten eggs were already swirling in the boiling iron pot.

Then, the old man's demeanor suddenly changed. He gently stirred the egg mixture and boiling water with the ladle, his movements incredibly delicate, as if the eggs were alive.

In less than half the time it takes to burn an incense stick, two perfectly shaped heart-shaped poached eggs floated in the large iron pot!

Wow, it was like a scene straight out of a culinary anime.

Yi Feng was thoroughly impressed.

He could cook too, and his beef noodles were a steal.

But using such a large iron pot to make heart-shaped poached eggs, along with all these fancy techniques, was something he definitely couldn't do.

This level of skill required at least a decade of practice.

Yi Feng couldn't help but praise him.

"Old man, I didn't know you had such skills. Impressive!"

Fu Nantian turned at the sound of his voice but didn't respond.

Even Yi Feng's compliments seemed unable to distract him. He quickly packed the dishes into a beautiful food container, took off his apron, tidied up, and then hurried off.

Yi Feng was left standing there, baffled as he watched the old man dash away.

"Wasn't that food for me?"

"What are you being so secretive about?"

Yi Feng shouted in frustration, but the old man didn't even acknowledge him, continuing to jog away.

Seeing that the old man had disappeared, Yi Feng decided not to bother.

Turning back to the kitchen, he noticed a few eggs and a bunch of leeks left on the counter.

Yi Feng chuckled and immediately put his culinary skills to use. Soon, a hearty and delicious farm-style dish was ready, clean and wholesome.

After the meal, a cup of tea was the perfect way to relax and unwind.

Sitting leisurely in the yard, Yi Feng felt completely at ease. Taking a sip of the light tea, he felt as if he had transformed into an old man, content and carefree.

After a while, he was drawn back to the fragrance of the roses.

Curious, he went over for a closer look.

The petals were crystal clear, tender and delicate even before blooming, making him want to reach out and touch them to feel their texture.

Just as he reached out, a loud shout echoed through the yard!

"Stop!"

Yi Feng turned to see the old man holding the food container, glaring at him with a look of utter seriousness.

The stinginess was unbelievable.

No food, and now he couldn't even touch the flowers?

Was this how you treated someone who saved your life?

Yi Feng's temper flared, and he was about to reach out again.

With a "whoosh," the old man appeared beside him, swatting Yi Feng's hand away, his face full of determination!

"Kid, you are absolutely not allowed to touch these flowers!"

Seeing the old man's desperate expression, Yi Feng had no choice but to give up.

"Fine."

It was just a rose. If he couldn't touch it, so be it.

It wasn't like he was particularly interested in flowers anyway; he was just curious.

Yi Feng agreed and then strolled out of the yard, hands behind his back, to chat with the villagers and bask in the sun, fully immersing himself in the leisurely village life, as if he had become an old man himself.

Watching from a distance, Fu Nantian let out a long sigh of relief, his mind finally at ease.

It had been four full days since he returned from the Ancient Corridor, and he had reflected on his failures, finally understanding.

This kid's luck was simply too extraordinary. Rushing to take him as a disciple would be a mistake.

As long as he stayed in the village, he would eventually figure out the kid's temperament and preferences, and then he would surely succeed!

Just as Fu Nantian was secretly making up his mind, a spiritual message reached him.

Frowning slightly, Fu Nantian walked toward the village entrance.

Several elderly men and a middle-aged woman had been waiting for some time, their faces showing clear dissatisfaction.

"Fu Nantian, what exactly is so special about this precious disciple of yours?"

"Since he arrived, we've had to suppress our auras to avoid scaring him. Such treatment is rare even across the entire Cloud Star!"

"Is he really that important to you?"

"I've spoken with him, and he seems quite ordinary. He's not even your disciple yet, so why are you so concerned?"

"Exactly, I don't see anything particularly special about him."

Fu Nantian stood calmly, hands behind his back, a faint smile on his face.

"Nothing much, he is indeed quite ordinary."

Though he said this, the old man was secretly overjoyed.

What others couldn't see, he knew all too well.

Although the kid hadn't shown any extraordinary abilities, Fu Nantian had personally divined his fate. This boy possessed an unlimited potential, and his future achievements would be absolutely terrifying!

Such a promising seedling—how could he let others see through it?

To be safe, Fu Nantian suppressed his pride and continued to lay down smokescreens.

"Gentlemen, I simply get along well with the kid. There's nothing more to it. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now."

The others didn't respond, simply watching as Fu Nantian walked away with his hands behind his back.

It seemed as if they had been fooled by his words.

But these people had known each other for years. How could Fu Nantian's true nature and methods escape their notice?

Once they were sure no one else was around, they quietly gathered, their eyes gleaming with insight.

"In my opinion, this doesn't add up."

"Exactly, Fu Nantian has always been shrewd. How could he take on a useless disciple?"

"I think that young man, Yi Feng, is anything but ordinary. He must have some formidable qualities, which is why Fu Nantian values him so much. The old man just isn't saying it!"

"Right, the more Fu Nantian acts this way, the more it shows that Yi Feng has great potential!"

"Coincidentally, none of us have found successors for our legacies. Why don't we strike first and take him as our disciple before Fu Nantian does?"

"Great idea!"

"Then let's each rely on our own abilities. Whoever succeeds gets him!"

"Agreed!"

"..."

With a few words, the hidden masters settled the matter and went their separate ways.

Unbeknownst to them, the internal competition for disciples had already begun.