Chapter 9 - To Cook

Now that I had my winnings it was time to go to the Alchemy Hall to purchase Pills. It was here that the highest quality pills were kept for the members of the sect. Everything else that was yet still at a safe level to consume would be sent to the shops in the city to sell. The cost was the same per pill, this was the benefit of being a disciple of the Purple Phoenix Palace. I was there to gather a few pills for myself.

It could be said that I needed to grow a bit faster to handle my cultivation but I'd prefer to have my pills whenever the feeling strikes me, than need to wait in line for the same thing. This way was more efficient. Taking care of the matter of candies to sell, I would be relatively busy. I was able to purchase 5 Qi gathering pills. I took the pills and left.

I went to visit master Feng, she was in the main hall. She likely had to take care of Palace related matters. It was unfortunate since I really shouldn't leave the sect without my masters permission. Instead I went to a small niche shop at the gates leading into the Palace. It was here that Merchants affiliated with the Palace would be allowed to bring in and sell materials from the mortal world.

I walked into the little shop and browsed their options. It was odd to see a cultivator so young even within the sect. And this caused the curiosity of the two running the shop to peak. They couldn't help but wonder about this kid they saw. However I ignored this for a short time. I was four years old on the outside… I could get away with… well… a lot of things. I finished looking around and then went up to the shopkeepers

"Is there anything we might help the customer with?" the male shopkeeper said politely.

It wouldn't be good to anger a cultivator even if it was only a child. Even a child at the first layer of the body tempering realm would rag doll mortals as if they were nothing more than animated toys to be played with. Let alone an Initial element boundary or beyond.

"Oh, I was hoping to find some warm buns. I can't leave the Palace with my masters permission and she is busy for the time being. I really wanted to eat those tasty meat filled buns." I said practically drooling.

The woman shopkeeper had previously got the chance to see the matches that were held at the change of leadership ceremony. She had seen that I was with the new Palace Master.

"Oh, then I'll send for some right away! When next the young sir comes by I'll make sure to have many of these in stock!" The woman said.

"Oh no, you need not cause trouble for your people for my sake. It was simply a whim and I worked up an appetite." I said patting my tummy and smiling. "I have other things I'd like to acquire. Do you have a selection of cooking ingredients? Particularly something sweet and lemons?" I added remembering the reason I initially came here. The excuse I had given even side tracked myself. Those meat filled steamed buns were too delectable.

"We do have these things! We have lemons and honey. Is this enough?" The male shopkeeper said, asking if the items were enough.

"Please add in baking ingredients along with that. And I'll need some utensils. Can you prepare this for me?" I asked out right. I would use the servants' kitchen in Master Feng's home to cook with. I don't think she will mind. Though it might freak the servants out quite a bit hehehehe.

"I'll prepare the purchase at once!" the male shopkeeper said and went to prepare it properly.

I waited there and stretched my body out. It was an odd feeling. I wasn't tired in the slightest. I just fought a fairly difficult match. Yet I feel fantastic. In fact I felt stronger. I'd have to investigate this at a later time. It didn't take long for this adult mortal to finish preparations. It was quite an impressive feat to perform.

"Young sir, the order is prepared. The total comes to 2 thousand silver." the male shopkeeper said.

"This should cover it. I'll be back another time. Thank you for being such welcoming hosts." I said paying the shopkeepers and then storing all the items in my storage bag.

I turned and left the shop and went back to the residence that Master owned. And ran straight to the kitchen and took over a small spot to use. It was time to make good things.

"Ah, this is gonna be fun! Hehehehe, I wonder how it will taste." I said licking my lips.

"What is the young sir doing here?" a servant asked another.

"I don't know but he brought in a bunch of ingredients." a servant said.

"Perhaps he is going to try making something?" another servant said.

"Da, ah da. Dee dumm. It's gonna be good. Woo hoo. This is fun hehehe" I said lightly and happily while mixing ingredients.

I wasn't speaking to anyone. I wasn't trying to cause any crazy issues but my being there made the servants nervous to do anything. I wasn't able to cultivate at the moment anyways. My body had reached a limitation of sorts. It wasn't a bottleneck in my advancement. Rather it was a true limit of the body.

I was at the point where only by growing older, taller and by extension stronger, would I have any hope of advancing my strength any further. It wasn't a bad thing since it provided me time to relax and become truly accustomed to my new found strength. Restraining the strength of my body is one way to learn the true strength of oneself.

I figure cooking tasty treats is a good way to do this. I get to train in controlling the strength I now have. But even better, I get to eat tasty treats after my efforts. I don't see a loss in this at all. It would provide good motivation and result.

The servants that worked in the kitchen though. They couldn't get involved. Even if they wanted to do so. The problem was that I was moving so fast I could properly manage several dozen tasks at once. In the face of the mortals, this speed was simply they couldn't hope to match. So they just watched as the seemingly focused and happy kid cooked away.