Before long, Marshal Tian Peng had finished off a plate of braised pork, eating even cleaner than Sun Wukong did, with an action that shone with roundness and cleanliness.
After one plate, Tian Peng was still not satisfied; the serving wasn't even enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.
"Hey, shopkeeper, can you serve me another plate? I'll pay!" Tian Peng said excitedly, yet with a slight shrinkage of his neck.
Facing such a mysterious and unpredictable person, Tian Peng did not know what else to call him.
"Each person can only have one dish per day," Chen Nuo said indifferently.
With one sentence, Tian Peng felt as if he had been struck by a bolt from the blue; his entire life as an immortal was filled with gloom, yet he lacked the courage to protest.
In Chen Nuo's hands, that gleaming, extraordinary-looking Innate Kitchen Knife was being deftly played with.
"I'll come back tomorrow," Tian Peng sighed inwardly, just as he was about to stand up and leave, when suddenly, his whole body shook and his face was filled with confusion.
He sat back down firmly on the chair, his eyes tightly shut, his hands forming an inexplicable spell, and posing.
Then, he remained motionless.
"Ding, Marshal Tian Peng has consumed braised pork and has awakened the Divine Skill 'A Dead Pig Is Not Afraid of Boiling Water.' Do you wish to synchronize the awakening?"
"Holy shit, it's actually Zhu Bajie?!"
Chen Nuo was slightly stunned, looking at the robust, even somewhat plump man before him, and nodded in realization.
The face was both honest and sly, dressed in a precious armor, he indeed looked the part, and the Divine Skill that Bajie awakened was not ordinary either.
Chen Nuo clicked his tongue in wonder, it was a Defensive Skill.
But unlike the usual mana barriers or the widely renowned Buddhism's Golden Body, this one leaned more towards physical strength.
For a short time, it could stack up defensive power to an extremely terrifying extent, and there were no limitations to movement — truly a very practical Divine Skill!
However, Chen Nuo smirked wryly, still somewhat speechless; the name of this Divine Skill was just too down-to-earth, wasn't it?
Moreover, when deploying such a Divine Skill, one's body would take on the color of a roasted pig, Bajie and pigs really were fated.
But still, Chen Nuo shook his head, "I refuse!"
Using this stuff might win you the battle, but at the cost of losing face, and he, Chen Nuo, was a man of dignity after all!
It was a long while before Tian Peng slowly opened his eyes again, and his eyes were full of shock, his mouth gaping wide.
It was incredible, he had actually awakened a Divine Skill, and all because of a plate of braised pork!
If he told others that eating could awaken Divine Skills, they'd probably think he was insane, but such an event had truly happened.
Right now, he was desperate to use this newfound Divine Skill, but inside the shop, Tian Peng dared not act rashly.
A miracle, this was definitely a miracle; this shopkeeper had to be a Hermit of high status!
Such a method, he had never heard of it.
"Thank you, senior, for bestowing me with the Divine Skill!" Tian Peng's ability to carry favor in the Heavenly Court was not just because he was a third-generation disciple of the Human Sect, but also because of his cleverness.
Chen Nuo waved his hand and said indifferently, "It has nothing to do with me. The fact that you could comprehend something from my dish is your own fortune, Bajie."
"Bajie?" Tian Peng was puzzled for a moment.
"Hmm, I'm addressing you. It just feels more natural to call you that."
Tian Peng was quick on the uptake and said with a grin, "Then, senior, you can just call me Bajie from now on."
With the appreciation from such a powerful figure, a rapid rise was just around the corner!
"Hmm," Chen Nuo nodded indifferently, "You don't need to call me senior, just Shopkeeper Chen will do."
Tian Peng admired the unassuming air about him and was filled with intense regret in his heart.
If he had known he was dealing with a figure of such heaven-defying power, he would have never dared to present that attitude earlier; getting such a delicious dish in exchange for a Daluo Golden Immortal's magical treasure was already quite a bargain.
He had even mastered a divine skill, which was simply earning a fortune in blood!
"Shopkeeper Chen, can I still come over to eat later?" Marshal Tian Peng reminisced about the taste of the braised pork in his mouth, which was truly memorable.
Pigs are truly a wonderful thing.
Chen Nuo nodded, and cleaned up Marshal Tian Peng's bowl and chopsticks: "You can, but you can only have one dish each day."
Marshal Tian Peng nodded repeatedly, overjoyed. If he could eat here every day and strive to awaken a few more divine skills, then he would truly be in an enviable position.
Even if he didn't awaken any, such delicious enjoyment was worth the trip alone.
However, Marshal Tian Peng frowned again, his stock of Golden Immortal magical treasures was not abundant, and he realized he needed to find a way to acquire more.
With that thought, Marshal Tian Peng couldn't sit still any longer, quickly got up, and bid farewell to Chen Nuo.
With such a great stroke of luck, Marshal Tian Peng lost his desire to play in the mortal realm, and mounted his clouds, heading towards the Heavenly Court.
Along the way, Marshal Tian Peng couldn't contain himself and displayed the divine skill of 'a dead pig not fearing scalding water,' watching as his divine skill turned a brownish-red color.
He then took out his personal magical treasure, the Nine-toothed Rake, and ruthlessly struck his own arm with it, immediately hearing a resounding clang of metal upon impact.
It didn't hurt at all!
Marshal Tian Peng rejoiced, his confidence skyrocketing. With this life-saving divine skill, wouldn't the world be his to roam as he pleased?
Still, he needed to get some more magical treasures, but where exactly?
Marshal Tian Peng pondered. Although his current magical treasures could last him some time, it was nowhere near enough.
He felt uncomfortable not eating for a day, but Marshal Tian Peng didn't immediately go looking for them.
Because he knew that his priority should be to return to his Marshal Residence to meditate and solidify this newly mastered divine skill.
Although the name of this divine skill was a bit embarrassing to say out loud, he, Tian Peng, didn't care. As long as it was powerful, that was all that mattered.
A useful divine skill is a good divine skill!
On the other side, Chen Nuo took out the Imperial Water Pearl that Marshal Tian Peng had used to pay, then activated his mana, controlling the water to automatically clean the bowl and chopsticks left by Tian Peng.
Looking at the result, Chen Nuo nodded in satisfaction. Although the pearl lacked offensive power, it was still quite useful.
And the mana it consumed was relatively negligible.
Chen Nuo's thoughts drifted. A monkey had come and gone, and then a pig arrived; he really had a connection with the characters of the Journey to the West.
It's just a pity his own strength was too weak. Under normal circumstances, the system limited him to not leave the Chaos Residence without reaching the level of a Daluo Golden Immortal!
Otherwise, he, too, would like to explore the colorful world of the Journey to the West.
He could only hope that those who had visited would spread the word so that the reputation of the Chaos Residence would resound throughout the Three Realms.
Otherwise, with only so few visitors so far, how could he increase his power?
The enhancement of mana with each realm was a multiple increase.
At this very moment in the Heavenly Court, a new Immortal was present in the great hall compared to usual.
Dressed in royal robes, with dragon horns on his head.
The figure stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty the Jade Emperor, there has appeared a Demon Clan of the Taiyi Realm on the coast of the South Sea. The Old Dragon was defeated and requests the Jade Emperor to dispatch an Immortal to exterminate them!" The Dragon King of the South Sea, with a look of sorrow, knelt before Haotian who sat on the throne in the great hall.
The creature, relying on the realm of a Taiyi Golden Immortal, was wreaking havoc in the South Sea unfettered. He was no match, and even when he called his three brothers to help, they were not its opponents.
And all were wounded in the encounter.
Taiyi Realm?
Haotian appeared indifferent, casually browsing through the petitions presented by other Immortals, and said, "Since it's a matter of the sea, then let the Naval Marshal take care of it."
"Dragon King of the South Sea, go and select some troops," he instructed.