Accidentally Reincarnated in Cultivation World
Chapter 56: Food

Chapter 56: Food

Yu Xuan spotted Lingluo near a spirit food stall. The rich aroma of spirit herbs and sizzling oil danced in the air, catching the attention of several passersby.

He approached with Ming Tianmei beside him and asked, "Are you seriously spending your sect points on food?"

Lingluo didn’t even look at him, her gaze fixed on the sizzling pan. "Are you treating me, then?"

"No," he replied without hesitation.

"How much is it?" Ming Tianmei asked.

"150," Lingluo said, turning to her. "But I bargained and got it for 100."

"Uncle, I’ll have one too. With two pairs of chopsticks, please," Tianmei told the stall owner.

The chef, a middle-aged man with a seasoned face and a clean white apron, sighed as he glanced at her.

"Young lady, you’re putting me in a tough spot."

"But you already gave her a discount, and we’re new here. Can’t you spare one more?" she asked, her tone polite but firm.

His brow twitched. He clearly didn’t want to, but his pride as a chef — and the challenge in her eyes — left him no choice.

"Fine. I’ll make Spirit Chicken Noodles for both of you. Is that okay?"

"Perfect," Lingluo answered before Tianmei could respond.

Then, the chef turned to Yu Xuan and said dryly,

"Young man, are you broke? Looks can only get you this far, so you should work harder now."

Yu Xuan’s face darkened.

First the system made him feel poor, now a food vendor — he was beginning to suspect the universe itself was mocking his lack of money.

In that moment, he swore to one day start a money-obsessed organization where no one was allowed to sleep without earning.

Ignoring the insult, he asked, "Uncle, you must be confident in your cooking?"

The man smiled, clearly pleased. "Of course. Watch and learn."

He gestured toward a nearby stone table with chairs and invited them to sit. Despite its rugged appearance, the polished black surface gleamed — a blend of mortal craftsmanship and artistry.

Though it looked heavy enough to crush a man, it floated slightly above the ground thanks to embedded weight-reducing formations.

The chef rolled up his sleeves, pulled on a pair of gleaming silver gloves, and summoned a cooking utensil that looked like a wok but carved from enchanted obsidian.

He flicked his wrist, and fire burst from his gloves, forming an even flame beneath the pan without needing any kind of fuel.

With practiced grace, he drizzled golden oil into the wok, and immediately the pan hissed in delight. The smell was unlike anything they had encountered — rich, earthy, and spiced with something almost divine.

He cracked a radiant blue egg, the yolk glowing faintly, and scrambled it mid-air with a flick of his fingers before letting it fall into the pan.

Then came a handful of vegetables: crimson lotus pepper, spirit radish, and golden sprout shoots, each sizzling loudly as they met the oil.

The noodles — fine, glossy strands that shimmered faintly — were dropped in with a spiral motion. He didn’t toss them; he danced with them.

The wok moved as if alive, controlled perfectly by his gloved hands. And yet, nowhere in the process did Yu Xuan see any chicken.

A final toss. A sharp whistle. And two bowls appeared beside the pan with a flash of light.

With one last elegant spin, he garnished the steaming bowls with chopped cloud-leaf herbs and a drizzle of bright orange sauce, then placed them in front of the group.

Yu Xuan blinked. "Uncle, I didn’t see any chicken..."

The chef looked at him with pity. "You must be from a backwater place."

Yu Xuan was roasted again.

"The chicken is infused into the noodles themselves," he explained. "Each strand is crafted using spirit chicken’s essence. You get the flavor in every bite — no waste."

Lingluo didn’t wait. She dove into her bowl like someone who hadn’t eaten in weeks.

"Slowly, young lady," the chef chuckled. "Food is meant to be savored."

She slowed down slightly, a happy glow on her face. The sight made the chef visibly pleased.

Yu Xuan and Ming Tianmei started on their bowl — sharing, of course.

To their surprise, it was incredible.

The moment the noodles touched their tongues, a rush of flavor burst forth — rich chicken essence, a silky broth coating the strands.

The texture was perfect — chewy, bouncy, and satisfying. It was as if the noodles themselves were dancing with every nerve in their mouths.

Just as they were starting to really enjoy it, a third pair of chopsticks suddenly dipped into the bowl.

Lingluo had finished hers — and was now stealing from theirs.

They didn’t mind... until the bowl was empty.

"Can’t you eat your own?" Yu Xuan asked, wiping his mouth, even though he already knew the answer.

The food had been that good — almost as comforting as his mother’s cooking.

Yu Lingluo didn’t reply. Instead, she simply showed her medallion to the chef. He brought out his own, and the transaction was completed in a flash of light. Ming Tianmei followed suit.

"The food was amazing. Thanks, Uncle," Yu Xuan said with genuine appreciation.

"Haha, I’m glad you enjoyed it," the chef replied warmly, clearly pleased by the praise, many youngsters not even appreciate the value of good food these days.

With that, Yu Xuan and the others continued on, walking deeper into the bustling market.

"What should I buy?" he asked the two girls as they strolled past various stalls — everything from talismans and spirit herbs to weapons like swords, sabers, spears and even a big shield.

Lingluo lit up instantly. "Why don’t we go to another food stall?"

"No," Yu Xuan said flatly. "The food was great, but I’m not spending my sect points on eating."

He casually glanced around, hands behind his back as he took in the sights.

Lingluo, pouting slightly, fell in step beside them. "You two really don’t understand the joys of food."

Yu Xuan gave a fake smiled and said, "We do, but we just enjoy it in moderation."

He really missed his home’s food.

[A/N: This is completely irrelevant but something good happened to me, so I am very very happy today, and being superstitious, I declare: Thou shall be blessed with luck and success!]