"It's moving, the giant's jaw is moving!"
"The giant must be chewing, it's chewing food!"
"It really likes this thing, and it's waiting with its mouth open to be fed..."
"That's right, absolutely right, the giant must be hungry!"
The Sect Master was overjoyed!
Although he couldn't believe it, he was still pleasantly surprised to have found the right method.
He immediately ordered, "Someone, slaughter all the cranes and send them to the kitchen."
Then he asked the cook, "What method did you use to prepare the cranes just now?"
Upon hearing this, the cook's eyes were filled with surprise.
Having joined the sect for over twenty years, this was the first time he had been recognized by a cultivator, let alone the Sect Master!
He immediately explained, "I first blanched them in warm water to remove the scum, then steamed the meat to fifty percent doneness. I then seasoned it with aged huadiao wine, aged vinegar, and honey, and cooked it in warm water. I added pollen and orange leaves to enhance the flavor, and finally..."
The cook rambled on for a long time, but the Sect Master didn't understand a word.
However, he still said, "Very well, prepare all the cranes using these methods!"
"So many cranes..."
The Sect Master said with profound mystery, "Are you afraid I won't reward you? As long as you do your best and entertain our distinguished guest well, I naturally will..."
Without further explanation, the cook was overjoyed and turned to leave.
Not long after.
Steamed crane meat was served like an assembly line!
Two attendants stood on either side, constantly feeding the meat into the mouth with chopsticks, while Zhang Wei's stomach seemed like a bottomless pit. No matter how much food was fed, there was no visible bulge.
Hundreds of cranes from the Heavenly Gate Sect had already entered Zhang Wei's belly, but there was no reaction whatsoever.
His stomach rumbled again.
Zhuo Bufan comforted him, "According to the attendants, the giant's chewing speed has increased significantly. It should be having some effect, right?"
The Sect Master sighed and replied, "But we've run out of cranes!"
"The cook just said that if the stomach is hungry, other ingredients can be tried, not just cranes. I thought it wouldn't hurt to try, so I agreed."
The Sect Master was stunned, "What else can we try?"
"The red-tailed golden carp from the pond."
The Sect Master gasped!
Those were rare and precious breeds, gifts brought by his childhood friend seven years ago for his birthday. These carp were not only beautiful in appearance but also quite intelligent and enjoyed playing with people. The Sect Master had always treated them as friends.
"So be it... so be it..."
Zhuo Bufan continued to add more sensational news, "And the spirit foxes raised in the back mountain, Junior Brother Li's golden-furred, purple-eyed ferret, and Fourth Uncle's Gate Beast of Wounds."
The Sect Master was shocked, "The Gate Beast of Wounds? That's Fourth Uncle's beloved pet! And that beast is already a Level 1 demon beast, full of spirit. This is a divine object that can fetch a large sum of spirit stones!"
"Master! At this point, what else can we be reluctant to part with? Even if he wanted to eat human flesh, this disciple would choose to throw himself into his mouth!"
The Sect Master cried out in sorrow, "Fourth Uncle, I am sorry to you!"
Fourth Uncle treated that Gate Beast like his own child, and today it was subjected to such treatment!
Alas!
Zhuo Bufan continued, "Even so, it might not be enough!"
"Ah?"
"Master, think about it. This giant is a celestial being. What kind of divine items do they eat? And with such a robust physique, his appetite must be astonishing. While the mountain's food can last for a while longer, we should hurry down the mountain to purchase more!"
"Alright, do as you say!"
Zhuo Bufan stood there stunned for a moment. Seeing that his Master had no reaction, he awkwardly said, "The cost of this procurement..."
"Are there no more funds in the account?"
Saying that, the Sect Master took out three spirit stones from his embrace. In the mortal world, one of these stones could be exchanged for thousands of taels of silver, and one tael of silver could be exchanged for a thousand copper coins. One copper coin could buy two steamed white flour buns.
It could be said that their purchasing power was formidable.
Normally, one spirit stone could cover the sect's living expenses for several months.
But Zhuo Bufan wore an expression that seemed to say, "Are you kidding me?" and then reluctantly said, "Master, these spirit stones are likely not enough."
"We are not trading in the mortal realm; we must have items with spiritual energy. The cranes, spirit fish, and various birds and beasts from other sects are not cheap. Take the mountain-guarding beast, for example. Even a hundred spirit stones might not be enough to buy it."
"Does it have to be that expensive?"
"Master!"
"Alright, I understand!"
Then, the Sect Master led Zhuo Bufan into a secret passage and took a box from the shelf.
Opening the box, there were densely packed spirit stones, as many as two thousand!
The Sect Master said, "This is all the spirit stones the Heavenly Gate Sect has. If the giant doesn't wake up, the Heavenly Gate Sect won't even have enough cultivation supplies for next month..."
"Master, everything is up to your decision!"
The Sect Master hesitated for a while, then gritted his teeth and handed his sword to Zhuo Bufan.
Zhuo Bufan was surprised, "This is your personal spirit artifact, Master! It's of mid-grade!"
"It's just an external object! Hurry up! Don't let me regret this!"
Zhuo Bufan nodded resolutely and said, "I'll have Second Uncle accompany me. Please stay and guard the mountain gate during this time, Master."
That's right.
After all, with such immense wealth, it would be risky for a mere twelfth-level Qi-refining cultivator to go alone.
"Good!"
...
...
It was late at night.
Smoke curled from the kitchens of the Heavenly Gate Sect. The Sect Master looked up eagerly and finally saw two figures speeding back on the distant horizon.
They were Zhuo Bufan and his Second Uncle, their faces beaming with joy.
The Sect Master anxiously asked, "How did things go?"
Zhuo Bufan's face was radiant with joy, "We did not fail our mission, we did not fail!"
"This time, the two of us have brought back countless birds, fish, insects, and flowers, as well as fierce tigers, rhinoceros, elk, and elephants, and other exotic animals. It should be enough!"
The Sect Master said, "As long as we can wake the giant, we will spare no expense, even if it means emptying the Heavenly Gate Sect!"
In the main hall.
Grumble...
Grumble...
The Sect Master and others stood by with expressionless faces.
Why was that stomach still rumbling?
Was it a bottomless pit?
I've put everything that can be eaten into it, why are you still not full!
Why!
"Master..."
The Sect Master took out a storage bag from his embrace and, with a blank expression, threw it to Zhuo Bufan.
"What is to be sold?"
"Everything."
"This storage bag..."
The Sect Master said numbly, "What do I need this empty storage bag for?"
It could be said.
The Sect Master's spirit infected everyone in the Heavenly Gate Sect. Everyone generously contributed, or rather, went bankrupt. Even the tables and chairs in the Sect Master's room were all moved out to be sold.
If people didn't know, they would think the Heavenly Gate Sect was going out of business and disbanding.
As dawn broke.
The Sect Master stood in front of the dilapidated sect, looking into the distance.
Even the meticulously carved red wooden doorposts had been dismantled and sold for money. The Sect Master's eyes were rimmed with tears.
.
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