Chapter 34: Xu Gu Discusses the Dao, The Master Has an Epiphany Too!

Xu Gu’s expression, his words, even his movements were full of sincerity and fervor.
It was the kind of warmth that got under people’s skin, quietly stirring them up.

Of course, talk alone wasn’t enough.
He also took out a stack of documents he had prepared in advance—official writs forged in the name of Great Love Immortal Sect—to “prove” his identity.

With this little silky combo, all the chef–body cultivator masters present were completely convinced.

Naturally, the real key was still that Vajra Sect Gold Token on Xu Gu and Huan Caiyi’s bodies.
Their status was beyond doubt.

And they themselves were just a bunch of low-level cooks.
There was no reason for people of that level to lie to them.

Faced with Xu Gu’s invitation, all the master chefs were excited to the point of trembling.

Did they even need to think about it? Of course they agreed!

Becoming an alchemist was the very definition of soaring into the heavens with one step.
Even if there was only a sliver of hope, they had to try.

Who knew that the one standing at the front, Master Zhao, would suddenly darken his face and say coldly:

“You can leave. We’re not interested.”

“What?”

Before Xu Gu and Huan Caiyi even reacted, the other master chefs couldn’t sit still.

They simply could not believe that Master Zhao would refuse.

Huan Caiyi’s face changed slightly.
She hadn’t expected this outcome and was about to send a sound transmission to Xu Gu to discuss countermeasures.

“Why?”

Instead of replying to Huan Caiyi, Xu Gu smiled and asked Master Zhao,

“If you have personal reasons and can’t go, that still doesn’t mean you should stop the others.”

The other master chefs nodded carefully, very much in agreement with his words.

Old man, if you don’t want to be an alchemist, we sure as hell do.

“Why? Because of faith.”

Master Zhao glared at the group of chefs, forcing them to lower their heads and quiet down.

Then he turned to Xu Gu and said:

“I am a Cooking Divine Master. I have faith in the path of the chef.

“And it’s not just me—every master chef here has faith.

“We may yearn for the glory of alchemists, but what we truly want…

“Is to use our own hands to raise the popularity of food to stand shoulder to shoulder with spiritual pills!”

Coming from his mouth, those words somehow had a surging, passionate force behind them.

As he spoke, he looked again at the other chefs.

All of them suddenly grew solemn, dropping their heads in shame.

To become a “master chef,” they were already elites on the path of cooking—good talent, solid temperament, their heart for cooking extremely firm.

A chef’s heart was very hard to shake.

They’d been momentarily dazzled by the thrill of being called “alchemist.”

Now that Master Zhao had reminded them, they all snapped awake and felt ashamed of their earlier thoughts and behavior.

They were master chefs, people who had sworn to become true Cooking Divine Masters.
How could their hearts waver?

“Not only we won’t go.

“If you go to any restaurant with a so-called Cooking Divine Master or master chef at the stove…

“The chefs there will never agree to go with you.”

Master Zhao spoke proudly to Xu Gu.

“This…”

Huan Caiyi’s heart tightened with worry.

So in the end, getting master chefs to stop cooking and start alchemy was really not that simple.

She glanced at Xu Gu and sent a sound transmission:

“Should we… change places?”

Even as she said it, there wasn’t much confidence in her voice.

She could see the stubborn resolve in the chefs’ eyes and had already realized that even if they went to other restaurants, it would be hard to get any master chef to agree.

It wasn’t just cultivators who had a Dao heart.

Chefs had one too.

And once you reached the level of master chef, your “chef’s Dao heart” was basically unchangeable. You could only influence it, not reverse it.

That would take too long.

They couldn’t afford to wait.

Xu Gu, however, didn’t seem concerned at all.

He acted as if this so-called “faith in the chef’s path” wasn’t worth mentioning, and said:

“Since you speak of faith in the chef’s Dao, Master Zhao…

“Then allow me to discuss Dao with you.

“Let’s talk about the chef’s path.”

Master Zhao’s first reaction was disdain.

You little brat.

You’re just riding your family’s prestigious background to wave around a Gold Token. That’s the only reason we’re being so respectful—
And you really think it’s your own strength?

Discuss Dao?

And discuss the chef’s Dao with me?

What a clueless, arrogant child.

“Very well, as the young lord wishes.”

Master Zhao’s expression didn’t change, but his tone was cold.

His cultivation talent wasn’t great—only five spiritual roots, and his realm was just Qi Refining level six.

In a normal Dao debate, he knew he couldn’t compete.

But if they were going to talk about the path of cooking, he firmly believed there was no one in the world who could be his match.

Xu Gu spoke directly:

“The path of cooking and the path of alchemy are one and the same,

“Just different ways of expressing it.

“Why are you resisting so hard?”

“What a joke!”

Master Zhao snapped on the spot, feeling deeply offended.

“Alchemy is alchemy, cooking is cooking! They are entirely different things!

“If you want a Dao debate, then debate properly.

“I don’t want to waste time with you playing word games.”

Huan Caiyi slammed the table.

Her aura surged wildly as she glared at him.

“If you’re debating Dao, then debate Dao—what are you yelling for?”

Feeling that suffocating pressure, Master Zhao snorted twice, then toned himself down.

He was no longer shouting, though his eyes on Xu Gu were still sharp and unyielding.

Xu Gu was not surprised in the slightest.

He said calmly,

“Then let me ask:

“Is eating a Fasting Pill considered ‘eating food’ or ‘taking a pill’?”

“At the time it’s… eating…”

Master Zhao tried to answer instinctively, but the words stuck in his throat.

He was speechless.

That single question shut him down completely.

Not only him—the other master chefs all opened their mouths, then silently closed them again.

Their expressions kept shifting as they sank into deep thought.

Was a Fasting Pill food, or a pill?

The more they thought about it, the more they felt the question was profound and complicated, as if it contained infinite mysteries and the true meaning of the chef’s path.

If they said it was a pill, well, you could eat it, it filled your belly, and it had flavor.

If they said it was food, it was clearly refined using alchemical techniques.

Xu Gu chuckled softly, utterly composed, as if everything was in the palm of his hand.

He continued,

“Then another question: what’s the essential difference between cooking ingredients and medicinal herbs?”

A master chef answered,

“Medicinal herbs are used to treat injuries, save lives, raise cultivation, or increase insight.

“Food ingredients are mainly used to pursue color, aroma, and taste, to satisfy the palate and fill the stomach.”

“Then medicinal herbs can’t act as food ingredients?

“And food ingredients can’t act as medicinal herbs?”

Xu Gu shot back.

“This… Naturally they can, but generally speaking, occasionally, actually it still can…”

The chef was drenched in sweat, stumbling over his own words.

The more he spoke, the less confident he became, until finally he trailed off into silence.

“In other words, there is no clear boundary between ingredients and herbs.”

“Then another question: what’s the difference between the fire used in alchemy and the fire used in cooking?”

“Another question: what’s the essential difference between the pill furnace used for alchemy and the iron wok used for cooking?”

“Another: food enters the belly and can satisfy hunger, bring joy to body and mind, and fill the stomach.

“Can pills not do the same?”

“Another: pills taken in can heal wounds, break through realms, and improve one’s aptitude.

“Are you saying that dishes cooked with spiritual ingredients can’t achieve that?”

Master Zhao nodded again and again.

His heart was in upheaval.

Xu Gu’s voice grew louder as he pressed on.

“Since the materials have no clear separation,

“And the fire and tools are roughly the same,

“And both are swallowed into the stomach, having similar effects on people—

“Then what, exactly, makes them two different things?”

The room fell completely silent.

All the master chefs were trembling slightly, swallowing hard.

They could feel their Dao hearts—their chef’s hearts—quivering.

It felt like their entire worldview had been upended.

“So you’re saying… pills and food are the same thing?”

Master Zhao’s voice shook.

“What else would they be?”

Xu Gu countered.

“So… pills are just… a more advanced type of food?”

Master Zhao seemed to grasp something.

His eyes shone with sudden light, voice quavering with excitement.

“Why can’t they be?”

Xu Gu smiled lightly.

“So the end of the chef’s path… is alchemy!”

Master Zhao trembled as tears streamed down his face.

He looked for all the world like someone who had just gained enlightenment.

It wasn’t just him.

All the master chefs in the room felt as if a brand-new world had opened before their eyes.

Their gazes toward Xu Gu burned with fervor.

Their respect for him had already reached an extreme.

This was pure, instinctive reverence.

“My heavens…”

Huan Caiyi blinked, staring at Xu Gu in awe.

He just said a few words…

And not only did he talk them into agreeing to refine pills,

He even casually rewrote their faith in the process?

What other surprises is this senior brother hiding from me?

This is way too incredible.

“We agree.”

After a brief pause to confer with the others, Master Zhao stepped forward and said to Xu Gu with solemn respect:

“Not only these people—

“I will also spread the word quietly and select some good seedlings for you.”

“Of course, I understand this must remain confidential.

“I will handle it discreetly.”

Xu Gu nodded in satisfaction.

“Go, and come back quickly.”

(End of this chapter)