Before long, a bamboo pavilion came into view. The words "Dining Pavilion" were written above the door.
Outside, a picturesque scene unfolded with a small bridge and flowing water. From within, waves of fragrant aromas drifted out.
However, in Su Ling'er's eyes, none of this was so simple.
'Are they trying to use this to cover up some sinful truth?' She refused to believe that a demonic sect would have such a normal place to eat.
Seeing his junior sister stop at the entrance to ponder yet again, Lin Qingfeng waved a hand in front of her face in exasperation. "Junior Sister, Junior Sister? Snap out of it!"
'Is this what a high-intelligence NPC is supposed to be like? One that gets stuck after taking just a few steps?'
Su Ling'er snapped back to her senses and quickly cupped her hands toward her senior brother. "I grew up in the mortal world and have seen all manner of things, but I have never witnessed such an elegant eatery. For a moment, I was at a loss for words. Please forgive me, Senior Brother."
Lin Qingfeng grumbled internally. 'Why does that excuse sound like she just made it up on the spot? Was it freshly generated by the system?'
But he still nodded, accepting her explanation. "Don't worry about it, Junior Sister. You'll be coming here often in the future."
And so, the two of them stepped over the threshold of the Dining Pavilion.
Behind the door, a wave of heat mixed with oily smoke and a cacophony of voices washed over them.
At their feet lay the most chaotic section: the "Mortal Food Area."
Hundreds of disciples were crammed in here, using mortal iron woks and firewood to cook grains and vegetables tainted with worldly, impure qi.
Impure qi!
While Cultivators didn't completely abstain from mortal grains, it was best to expel the impure qi from their bodies after eating. If it accumulated over a long period, it would be detrimental to their Cultivation.
Those disciples with superior aptitude or wealthy backgrounds had long since started taking Fasting Pills to abstain from mortal grains. But here, eating mortal food was actually the norm. Didn't they find it troublesome to expel the impure qi every single time?
Su Ling'er's gaze passed through a screen divider and landed on the "Spiritual Food Area."
The disciples there were cooking exotic flowers and strange herbs, and even the flesh and blood of some demon beasts. The prices on the wooden plaques on the wall made her shrink back.
A single serving of [Steamed Dragon Saliva Fish] actually cost eighty low-grade Spirit Stones?!
'This is robbery!' At Qingxu Temple, her monthly allowance was only three Spirit Stones. She would have to work for over two years without eating or drinking just to afford a single dish here.
As her gaze shifted toward the depths of the room, she saw several private rooms with doors carved from Exorcism Divine Thunder Bamboo.
Just then, one of the doors was pushed open, and a disciple hurried out. In the brief moment the door was ajar, she saw that the guests inside were dressed in opulent attire, clearly not ordinary disciples of the Guixi Sect.
'Are these the sect's lackeys? Or perhaps major cultivation clans colluding with this evil sect?'
'And how is this an ordinary Dining Pavilion? This is clearly a beast-taming ring!'
'The "Mortal Food Area" is a mire designed to wear down the cultivation paths of low-level disciples, forcing them to expend energy every day just to expel impure qi. This ensures that the older disciples don't have to worry about being surpassed by newcomers.'
'And the "Spiritual Food Area" is the bait dangling over their heads. The exorbitant prices are used to spur on the disciples in the Mortal Food Area, forcing them to slave away for the sect like donkeys, all for a single bite of Spiritual Food that can advance their Cultivation!'
She recalled her time at Qingxu Temple, when she had pleaded fruitlessly for a single stalk of Blood Coagulation Grass.
For Inner Sect Disciples, it could be obtained simply by completing a mission. But for outer sect disciples like her, those same missions often meant a near-certain death.
Besides, the sect would never assign those missions to outer sect disciples with poor aptitude like them. Not only would they likely die on the spot, but a Spirit Plant wasn't something someone of their poor aptitude could even properly utilize. Giving it to an outer sect disciple would be a complete waste.
They could only use their hard-earned Spirit Stones to buy them at cultivation markets or purchase them privately from Inner Sect Disciples.
Thinking of this, she actually felt that even if the disciples of this demonic sect were just donkeys chasing a carrot, at least they had something to strive for.
In contrast, Qingxu Temple couldn't even be bothered to dangle the carrot...
But without a doubt, no matter where they were, new disciples like her were at the very bottom, ripe for exploitation.
Just as her mind was reeling, a blood-curdling scream came from a corner.
A disciple fell stiffly to the ground, foaming at the mouth and convulsing violently.
But the cook standing nearby didn't panic at all. Instead, he rushed over excitedly. While recording his fellow disciple's tragic state, he pulled out a few Spirit Stones and tossed them over.
"Thank you, Junior Brother. This is your payment. I'll find you again next time I have a new product."
The fallen disciple convulsed as he accepted the Spirit Stones, even mumbling, "Thank you. Please, find me again next time."
Su Ling'er stared, dumbfounded.
'Are they using living people to test the effects of poisoned food?!'
'And that man sold his dignity and his life for a few measly Spirit Stones? If he dies, how can he continue his Cultivation? Does this sect have any morals at all?'
Lin Qingfeng observed his surroundings, secretly calculating in his mind.
'This NPC's aptitude is too poor. If I invest too many Spirit Stones and can't recoup the cost, it'll be a huge loss. The Mortal Food Area is cheap and offers good value, and maybe there'll be a pleasant surprise.'
So, he turned to Su Ling'er with a smile and said:
"Take a look, Junior Sister. Our sect is just this free and unrestrained. Peers can debate the Dao, compete in skills, and exchange insights here. Although there are occasional accidents, it's all part of Cultivation."
'Cultivation?'
'You call *this* Cultivation? Using a fellow disciple as a disposable test subject for poison is also Cultivation, is it?'
She asked timidly in a small voice, "Senior Brother... that disciple just now... was what happened to him... also considered Cultivation?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingfeng immediately put on a profound and inscrutable expression.
"Ah, Junior Sister, this is what they call 'The Great Dao has three thousand paths, and all can lead to enlightenment!' You can't just look at the surface of immortal affairs! You're just a newcomer, what the hell do you... ahem, I mean, you'll understand in the future."