"Outsiders in Yulong County look up to our Ge Family as an old and well-established Spirit Plant family, endlessly glorious, protected by the Immortal Mountain Sect, and a dominant power in the mortal plane,"
"But in the Immortal Cultivation World, we are nothing but the lowest tier of Immortal Clans."
"Among the Hundred Skills of Cultivation, cultivating Spirit Plants is merely a minor path. If our Ge Family wants to ascend higher, we must advance to become a spiritual food family."
"Spiritual food!?"
Upon hearing the family head say these two words, other family members were surprised, because their Ge Family, despite being a hundred-year Spirit Plant family with some foundation, was still quite a distance away from becoming a spiritual food family.
An elder with white whiskers asked, "The way of spiritual food is most crucial for having unique Spiritual Recipes, which all great spiritual food families regard as a closely guarded secret. Our Ge Family has researched for many years, the food we cook is just common Spirit Food, when will we have our unique Spiritual Recipe?"
Family Head Ge Xiangying smiled slightly, gesturing for everyone to look at the Grain Avoidance Cake in his hand.
"This, is our Ge Family's opportunity."
Everyone looked at each other, all puzzled.
"I disdainfully see but common mortal snacks. Although they smell sweet, they hardly qualify as Spiritual Recipes, right? How can this be called an opportunity?"
"I can simply hunt two Spirit Beasts and roast them over the fire which would be better than this."
"Could it be that this thing has some special effects when eaten?"
Hearing someone in the family hit the mark, Ge Xiangying no longer kept them in suspense.
"Correct, this snack looks ordinary on the outside, but it hides a secret within. Do you all know of the Fasting Pill?"
Everyone present had stepped into the Immortal Cultivation World and naturally had heard of the renowned Fasting Pill.
"Fasting Pill, merely the size of a peanut, can satiate hunger equivalent to a full meal for three days after consumption,"
"Fasting Pills are the most basic elixirs. Successfully creating one makes one a First Grade Alchemist. Only those with the power of Foundation Establishment can craft it."
"The price of Fasting Pills is very stable. One pill can be exchanged for two Low Grade Spirit Stones, and as soon as it's on the market, it is purchased by various Immortal Sects or at the Loose Cultivation Market."
After hearing the responses from the clan, Ge Xiangying nodded, then shook his head.
"What you say is correct, but... you only know one aspect and not the other; not all Fasting Pills are basic First Grade Elixirs. There are also Second Grade, Third Grade, and even Ninth Grade Fasting Pills. It's rumored that consuming a high grade Fasting Pill can keep one satiated for a year."
"Apart from keeping one full, Fasting Pills have no other effects. Why then is their price so high? And why are they never short of buyers? Can't Cultivators just eat the Spirit Rice and Spirit Fruits we cultivate? They're cheaper and tasty enough to satisfy."
Seeing the clan members' faces filled with confusion, Ge Xiangying provided the answer.
"Because... Fasting Pills are essential for Cultivators in seclusion! High Rank Cultivators in seclusion can't be disturbed by external matters. If they have to eat three meals a day, how can they immerse themselves in the understanding of the universe? Therefore, to avoid interrupting their insights, Cultivators will use Fasting Pills as a supplement during their seclusion."
"One might say, as long as Cultivators need to go into seclusion, Fasting Pills will never go out of style in the Immortal Cultivation World."
"However, Fasting Pills are expensive, and low-level Cultivators can't afford them. So, what then?"
"This item!"
He once again lifted the compressed biscuit in his hand.
"With just a slight modification to the recipe, it can become a unique spiritual cuisine, also known as a Low Grade Fasting Pill!"
The crowd was immediately astounded.
"Could it be that mundane confectionery could be so magical?"
"But this little cake has no Spiritual Energy, how can it be considered spiritual cuisine?"
Hearing the clan members' skepticism, Ge Xiangying revealed a confident smile befitting the Family Head, "I've tasted a few pieces and could sense a rich wheat fragrance. The ingredients must contain wheat flour."
"If we replace the ordinary wheat flour with our Spiritual Wheat Flour..."
The crowd: "Oh~~~"
"This matter is a significant plan for our clan, we must quickly find the faction that makes this item, and spend money to purchase their recipe and techniques."
"Let me do it!"
"I shall personally make a trip,"
"Uncle, I am willing to go!"
Seeing the younger members of the family eagerly volunteering, Ge Xiangying felt greatly comforted. His Ge Family had prospered for hundreds of years, generation after generation, thanks to this cohesive family spirit. His clan members pulled together tightly, exerting their strength unitedly.
"You are all Cultivators, unsuitable for moving about among mortals too much, as it could attract the attention of the court. If any of you were to act against mortals and be seen, it would tarnish the name of our Ge Family and damage the foundation of the clan. Moreover, we don't know how long this task will take; do not neglect your Spirit Fields."
"I have a Half-step Innate guest named Zhao Kuangfeng, who created his own Gale Blade Technique, renowned in Jianghu. When he releases the eighth level of the Great Gale Blade, even Innate masters show some caution. He is more than capable of handling this mission."
The crowd unanimously agreed.
Guest Zhao Kuangfeng arrived at the council hall, and upon hearing his Lord's instructions, he accepted the task.
"These Grain Avoidance Cakes were bought from the Treasure Pavilion in Yulong County, head there and they will naturally tell you who sold them."
Zhao Kuangfeng frowned, "I've roamed through Jianghu for many years, often purchasing supplies at the Treasure Pavilion. Their rule is 'no inquiring about the origins of treasures, payment is made promptly.' I'm afraid..."
Ge Xiangying laughed dismissively.
"Hehe~ rules are to restrain the weak. If my Ge Family desires something, would Treasure Pavilion dare to refuse?"
Zhao Kuangfeng then asked, "What if that power is unwilling to sell the recipe?"
"Then use your methods to make them spit it out. Don't worry about the consequences; you have the support of the Ge Family behind you."
"Understood, Kuangfeng departs."
...
"Ah~~"
Yang Genshuo stretched, game time was quickly passing by, and aside from managing the tabletop game tea house and the estate, the Yang Family hadn't made any other moves.
The annual ancestral veneration ceremony was approaching again.
Yang Genshuo pondered for an hour but couldn't think of any good resources at his disposal that could help Yang Shi.
After all, he had already spent all his money and couldn't infuse Yang Shi with any more resources.
"How about giving him some books to read?"
He did have a collection of books bought on a whim in his bookcase, most of which he had never read.
A man who could glean the Whip Technique from "Login for 100 Free Draws" might indeed learn something from those books.
As he was picking out books, a game notification popped up.
[Your descendant Yang Shi is seeking your guidance, do you respond?]
"What's the matter?"
"Great Ancestor, I have procured the five types of tonics you requested, and the small gold bars have been smelted into shape as per your instructions. Does Elder Yang need to prepare any other offerings?"
"No need."
"Uh..."
Yang Shi hesitated, seemingly embarrassed to speak.
"Speak your mind."
The Incense Fire Value is on the move here!
If he speaks any slower, it will be a -1 again.
"Great Ancestor, our Yang's Tabletop Game Tea House has been packed with customers lately, and one set of the standard edition Three Kingdoms Kill cards is far from enough. The cards I made myself are ugly and lack the transparent film, making them easily damaged. Could you bestow some cards upon Yang Shi this year?"
Huh?
This was the first time Yang Shi had asked him for a favor; before, he'd just accepted whatever was given without daring to utter a word.
"I hadn't thought of that."
"Luckily, I have many different versions of Three Kingdoms Kill cards left over here, all plastic-sealed, that I can give him."
Yang Genshuo replied with one word: "Fine!"
Now that had solved the problem of the rewards.
Soon the time for ancestral veneration came, and as Yang Shi knelt, one by one, the offerings on the altar vanished with the smoke.
[Your descendant Yang Shi has successfully completed this year's ancestral veneration ceremony]
[Incense Fire Value +10]
[You have received the offerings from the members of the Yang Family: 10 Careful Calming Pills, 10 Liver Detoxification Eye Brightening Pills, 10 Body Strengthening Pills, 10 Lung Nourishing and Qi Circulation Pills, 10 Solid Essence Rejuvenation Pills, 10 pairs of Golden Bracelets (50g), 2 pounds of Spirit Rice.]
[Would you like to bestow rewards upon the descendants of the Yang Family?]
"Give, give, give, all these cards are for you, make my tabletop game store bigger and stronger in the Immortal Cultivation World!"
10 boxes of Three Kingdoms Kill, 1 box of Werewolf Killing, and one book he personally picked, "Thirty-Six Stratagems."
After the items were bestowed, Yang Shi turned his attention to his earnings this time.
The five types of tonics correspond to the strengthening of the body's five viscera, greatly benefiting the body, while the golden bracelets, forged from a total of 1 pound of gold bars, were convenient for him to sell.
"By selling a few more gold shops, I should be able to liquidate everything, and I reckon the money should be enough to pay off my loans."
"But this kind of thing cannot be done too often, otherwise if it catches the attention of the relevant departments, and they slap me with unexplained wealth charges, it would be over."
He only planned to sell this once.
Finally, he excitedly set his gaze on the 2 pounds of untreated Spirit Rice.
This was spiritual food eaten by Cultivators!
Yang Genshuo had wanted to get this item out from the start to show it to the Taoist.
'Taoist' was the nickname of Yang Genshuo's college roommate, a top-notch scholar, who had continued his studies after graduation, and was now a postdoctoral researcher at Shimen Agricultural University, specializing in seed science.