CHAPTER 177: CHAPTER 171: THE SAINT’S GIFT【SEEKING MONTHLY TICKETS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS】_1

Sha Chen ventured, "The Saint is so generous. He wouldn’t be playing a trick on this humble junior, would he?"

The Tongtian Hierarch poked his forehead. "Already a Daluo Golden Immortal and still so shortsighted?"

His finger jabbed Sha Chen’s forehead, precisely where the three flowers converged.

Immediately, Sha Chen felt the three flowers on his forehead blaze with an unparalleled, brilliant light. His Divine Consciousness sensed the flowers had become even brighter.

The powers of earth, water, and fire all doubled in strength!

HISS!

Sha Chen gasped, feeling his mana surge dramatically. He had just broken through to the Daluo Golden Immortal Realm. To enhance his mana to this current level, he would have needed at least two to three times the resources he’d consumed for his breakthrough. With his capabilities, gathering so many resources would likely take years, if not decades, of accumulation.

Yet now, a mere poke to the forehead from the Tongtian Hierarch sent his mana surging.

This feeling was exhilarating.

Overjoyed, Sha Chen watched the Tongtian Hierarch withdraw his hand, a hint of reluctance in his eyes. He immediately bowed, clasping his fists. "Many thanks for the Saint’s gift!"

He didn’t know how the Tongtian Hierarch had done it, how a single touch could boost his mana so significantly. But it was a gift from the Tongtian Hierarch, and Sha Chen was deeply grateful.

The Tongtian Hierarch, however, said disdainfully, "This Seat never takes without giving. You’re not my disciple. Consider it payment for the meal."

There it was again—disciple.

Sha Chen inwardly smiled bitterly, knowing the Tongtian Hierarch was hinting for him to become his disciple.

Tianpeng, standing nearby, also noticed. Sha Chen had clearly received a tremendous benefit; his aura had strengthened considerably.

He had just advanced to the Daluo Golden Immortal realm and had already received a gift from a Saint! It seemed he had saved himself over a hundred thousand years of arduous cultivation! Why hadn’t he received such a benefit?

He quickly stood up. "Saint, I am Tianpeng. If you are weary or thirsty, allow me to pour your wine and cook for you."

Only then did the Tongtian Hierarch glance at him. "And which pig-head are you?"

Nevertheless, he drank the wine.

Tianpeng hastily responded, "I was originally Marshal Tianpeng in the Celestial Heavens. I offended Fairy Chang E and was demoted by the Jade Emperor, reincarnated into a pig’s body. I was making a living in Yunzhan Cave on Fuling Mountain. Now my cave residence has been destroyed by Li Xiong, so I’m just trying to get by here."

The Tongtian Hierarch said, "My disciple destroyed your cave abode? So, this Seat owes you something then?"

Tianpeng replied, "I wouldn’t dare say so."

The Tongtian Hierarch also extended his finger and pointed at Tianpeng’s forehead.

HUMMM!

Tianpeng felt as if struck by lightning. His aura surged, and he broke through several minor realms in one go. From the mid-stage of the Greater Primordial Golden Immortal realm, he broke through to the peak stage, his mana increasing severalfold.

However, the gift he received wasn’t greater than Sha Chen’s; in fact, it wasn’t even a tenth of it. It was simply because his own cultivation was much weaker, so the improvement appeared relatively larger. After all, an improvement within the Greater Primordial Golden Immortal realm is vastly different from an improvement at the Daluo Golden Immortal realm. The two are simply incomparable.

The Tongtian Hierarch withdrew his hand. "Is that enough?"

THUMP.

Tianpeng knelt, kowtowing in thanks. Though he wanted to say it wasn’t enough, he didn’t dare. "Enough, enough! Thank you for the Saint’s gift!" he cried hastily.

The Tongtian Hierarch said, "This Seat doesn’t give gifts for free. Besides compensating for your cave abode, I’ve given you extra. How will you repay me?"

Tianpeng’s eyes shone. "This junior is willing to enter the Saint’s service, to serve you faithfully, and will dare not disobey any command!"

The Tongtian Hierarch chuckled. "Is that repayment, or are you trying to get revenge on this Seat?"

Then, he waved his hand. "This Seat will not accept you."

Tianpeng’s heart sank. He’d heard the Tongtian Hierarch hint multiple times that Sha Chen should become his disciple. Yet, when he himself took the initiative, he was rejected.

This was too much! Why was there such a huge difference between people!?

For a while, he didn’t know what to do.

Sha Chen pulled him over. "Tianpeng, let’s prepare a delicious meal for the Saint. That will be the greatest repayment. Do you think the Saint really needs us to do anything? What can we even do? Let’s just cook!"

He then dragged Tianpeng into the kitchen, and they started bustling about.

Tianpeng wanted to argue that he could do many things. He had even heard the Saint planned to rebuild the Sect of Interpretation and was willing to contribute his strength. But Sha Chen didn’t give him the chance.

The two communicated telepathically, Tianpeng complaining about why Sha Chen wasn’t supporting him in becoming a disciple. Sha Chen didn’t answer. He knew that in the Saint’s eyes, their telepathic communication was as redundant as taking off one’s pants to fart—utterly meaningless.

However, growing annoyed with the persistent questions, he finally retorted, "Who do you think you are? The Saint doesn’t want you. Do you think he’ll accept you just because you throw yourself at him?"

Tianpeng felt very hurt.

Sha Chen consoled him, "Just make sure the Saint enjoys this meal. That’ll be enough. Don’t get too involved in other matters."

Actually, he meant it for Tianpeng’s own good. This time, he genuinely had no selfish motives. Joining the Sect of Interpretation might seem glorious, but there was a vast difference in status between actively joining and being invited. Secondly, rebuilding the Sect of Interpretation would undoubtedly shake the world and bring endless trouble. If Tianpeng joined, he would inevitably be caught up in those troubles.

And don’t think that being a Saint’s disciple means you can swagger around. Haven’t you heard? In the Great War of Divine Enthronement, wasn’t it the Saints’ disciples who perished!?

While cooking, Tianpeng seemed to come to an understanding. He nodded at Sha Chen, a grateful look in his eyes.

He had acted rashly. If the Tongtian Hierarch had proactively invited him, he could indeed have become a disciple and received protection. But by offering himself, his status would be greatly diminished. He’d be tied to their war chariot, risking his life at any moment. Moreover, he had just been rejected. Even if the Saint accepted him now, he wouldn’t hold much status.

Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. Why bother.

Therefore, it was actually better for him not to try to become a disciple now.

The meal was quickly prepared and served. The two stood to the side, watching as the Tongtian Hierarch picked up his chopsticks.

Tianpeng’s mouth watered several times. This feast was too sumptuous. Sha Chen had used his most prized ingredients. Several times while cooking, he’d been tempted to sneak a bite. However, with the Saint outside, he didn’t dare. Now that it was ready, he was famished. He couldn’t stop swallowing his saliva.

The Tongtian Hierarch looked at him. "This Seat is eating, and you keep swallowing. Are you hungry? Want to eat together?"

Overjoyed, Tianpeng was about to pick up his bowl. "Thank you, Saint, for allowing me to eat..."

He was just about to sit and grab some food.

But the Tongtian Hierarch said, "If you’re hungry, turn around. Don’t spoil this Seat’s appetite."

Tianpeng, almost in tears, put down his bowl. "I’m not hungry."

The Tongtian Hierarch then looked at Sha Chen. "Sha Chen, this is your place. You’re the host. How can the host stand while the guest eats?"

Sha Chen didn’t rush to sit, waiting for the Tongtian Hierarch to continue.

The Tongtian Hierarch paused, took another bite of food, sipped his wine, and then said, "This Seat eating alone is rather dull. You accompany this Seat."

He was looking at Sha Chen as he said this.

Sha Chen smiled and clasped his fists. "As the Saint commands!"

He then sat, picked up his bowl, and began to eat heartily.

Tianpeng watched from the side, his eyes nearly popping out. Saliva streamed down, almost forming a puddle.

Sha Chen felt sorry for his pathetic state. "Tianpeng, why don’t you go to the kitchen and make a few dishes?"

Tianpeng said, "There are no ingredients left in the kitchen. What am I supposed to eat?"

Sha Chen said, "I’m not asking you to eat, I’m asking you to cook. To save you from standing here drooling. It pains me to see you like this."

Tianpeng was silent for a moment. "Old Sha, you’re a good brother."

Sha Chen chuckled. "Just for show, just for show."

Of course, Tianpeng wasn’t going to leave. He kept staring at the table, occasionally glancing at the Tongtian Hierarch, waiting for him to say something.

However, the Tongtian Hierarch remained unmoved, simply eating and drinking with Sha Chen, not saying much.

Suddenly, he said, "Sit down. Your drool is like a waterfall; this Seat has lost all appetite."

Tianpeng hastily thanked him, sat down, and began to rapidly demolish the food.

The Tongtian Hierarch raised his chopsticks several times but put them down again. He had truly lost his appetite.

Sha Chen shot Tianpeng a glare, interrupting his ravenous eating. Tianpeng reined himself in a bit, feeling a pang of fear.

He had been so uncouth in front of the Saint.

Once Tianpeng settled down, the atmosphere gradually grew quiet.

Sha Chen focused on eating and drinking. These were all his cherished reserves—Flat Peach wine and Osmanthus wine he usually couldn’t bear to touch. Now, he was drinking them with abandon. Everything on the table was going into someone’s stomach.

Better in his own than anyone else’s, so he ate with gusto. After all, the Tongtian Hierarch had already boosted his mana and cultivation base—an immense gift, equivalent to what an ordinary Golden Immortal might gain in several hundred thousand years of cultivation. This saved him countless years of arduous cultivation and innumerable resources, far outweighing the value of this meal by tens of thousands of times. This was why Sha Chen was happy to treat the Saint, definitely not because he was afraid of him.

The main reason was his own hospitality, of course.

The Tongtian Hierarch said, "Sha Chen, weren’t you going to give this pig-head a lecture on the Dao? Go on. This Seat will listen too."

Sha Chen promptly said, "In the Saint’s presence, this junior wouldn’t dare be presumptuous."

The Tongtian Hierarch said, "You’re not this Seat’s disciple, so what presumption is there to speak of? Go ahead and speak. Let this Seat also learn a thing or two."

Disciple, again!? Sha Chen broke out in a cold sweat. The Tongtian Hierarch had hinted at this for the third time today. How should he refuse? And to have a Saint learn from me, wouldn’t that be a slap in my face?

Nearby, Tianpeng was practically contorting with jealousy.

Why was it that when he wanted to become a disciple, the Saint refused him, but with Sha Chen, who clearly didn’t want to, the Saint kept dropping hints? Was it just because Sha Chen was better and had reached the Daluo Golden Immortal Realm sooner!? This was too unfair.

Tianpeng said with a sour tone, "Saint, this junior actually has some humble insights..."

The Tongtian Hierarch glanced at him. "Silence. You are only fit to listen."

Tianpeng immediately fell silent.

So much for martial ethics.

Then, the Tongtian Hierarch just looked at Sha Chen, as if to say that if he didn’t speak, he would be disrespecting the Saint.

Sha Chen didn’t dare to be disrespectful.

Because if he showed disrespect, he might very well lose his life. A Saint’s moods were unpredictable. He didn’t believe this Saint would be particularly tolerant of someone who defied him.

After a moment’s hesitation, Sha Chen decided to share his experiences of breaking through to the Daluo Golden Immortal realm.

He had barely uttered two sentences when the Tongtian Hierarch interrupted him.

"What is this superfluous drivel? This Seat doesn’t want to hear your experiences. This Seat wants to hear the experiences of Li Er!"