Chapter 172: Professional High-Level Members of the Immortal Cult

"Mutton skewers?" Vice Cult Leader Liu frowned; they had come to show the Wendao Sect a thing or two, so how could they actually do manual labor.

"Hey, a business comes to your door and you won't even take it?" Shangguan Yu felt a bit strange; were the shops of the Wendao Sect really so unique that they wouldn't do business when open?

The Second Elder followed behind Shangguan Yu, looking at Vice Cult Leader Liu and his group, and said suspiciously, "You folks look unfamiliar. I haven't seen you around the Wendao Sect. Could it be that you..."

Vice Cult Leader Liu recognized the Second Elder, Ba Yan, at a single glance. This was a high-level, powerful figure of the Wendao Sect at the peak of the Soul Integration Stage. If suspected by someone like him, their cloven hoof would very likely be revealed.

He put on a smiling face and motioned for the other six to rise and receive the guests: "The shopkeeper has some business and is away. We were brought in temporarily to help out. Honored guest, you want twenty mutton skewers, correct? Please wait a moment, they will be ready shortly."

As members of a demonic cult, a cruel sneer permanently fixed at the corner of the mouth was an essential skill, but switching to a smile at will was also an indispensable skill of the demonic cult.

Vice Cult Leader Liu rolled up his sleeves, tied on the black-and-white apron hanging on the wall, and took twenty-five mutton skewers from the basin: "You are our first guest today, so I will give you five extra skewers."

A few flies flew over, drawn by the scent of meat, only to be shooed away by Vice Cult Leader Liu.

The Second Elder was still somewhat skeptical: "Your shop isn't quite clean..."

Vice Cult Leader Liu hastily said, "Old Gao, bring out the formation!"

Vice Cult Leader Gao took out a set of formation flags from his storage ring and spread them on the ground. The flies instantly fled the barbecue shop.

Those who came to the Wendao Sect to open shops were no ordinary mortals; using storage rings and formations would not arouse suspicion.

Vice Cult Leader Liu explained with a smile, "We absolutely guarantee cleanliness. This is an insect-repelling formation we brought from the outside."

Vice Cult Leader Liu had always been meticulous in his work.

With one hand he flipped and shook the mutton skewers, and with the fingers of his other hand he rubbed together, causing the barbecue seasoning to fall in a rustling shower upon the meat. The fragrance of the mutton, stimulated by the charcoal fire, was simply mouth-watering.

Vice Cult Leader Liu's level of proficiency was not inferior to Lu Yang's in the slightest.

The seven of them had specifically sought out the best local barbecue master and studied hard for three days—was it not precisely for this moment!

"Do you want it spicy?"

Shangguan Yu thought about it. She was not someone who could eat very spicy food, but if it wasn't spicy at all, she felt something would be missing: "Mildly spicy, please."

"Right away!" Vice Cult Leader Liu shouted out while grilling the skewers.

"Take a look, come and see! Fresh, tender prairie lamb, slaughtered right on the spot! Meat and tendon together, fragrant meat and springy tendon, a flavor that lingers forever!"

This was what the mortal barbecue master had shouted when they were learning from him. He had also told them that the louder they shouted, the more customers they could attract.

Perhaps because he had heard the mortal barbecue master shout it so many times, Vice Cult Leader Liu felt a touch of nostalgia in this setting and shouted it out as well.

It really had an effect. One after another, disciples of the Wendao Sect began to gather around.

"Here you go, your skewers are ready." Vice Cult Leader Liu handed the mutton skewers to Shangguan Yu.

"How much?"

How could Vice Cult Leader Liu know how much it cost? He glanced at the price list hanging on the wall and was thoroughly startled.

Were the prices at the Wendao Sect really this expensive?

What Vice Cult Leader Liu did not know was that the prices at the Wendao Sect were not usually expensive; it was only because of the event that prices had been temporarily raised.

Shangguan Yu opened her elegant mouth slightly and took a bite. The fragrance of the meat overflowed, bursting with juices. Eating it, Shangguan Yu could not even distinguish between her saliva and the meat juice.

"Delicious, delicious! Give me another fifty skewers! And bring two grilled pig trotters as well."

The greatest advantage of cultivators eating food was that no matter how much they ate, they would never feel bloated. As long as they wished to eat, they could eat freely and enjoy the feast to their heart's content.

Of course, this particular characteristic never had a chance to manifest at the feasts prepared by the Immortal Fairy.

Seeing the way Shangguan Yu ate, the surrounding people all began to salivate. They followed her example one after another, clamoring for skewers.

Vice Cult Leader Gao called out from inside, "There's room inside, room inside! Everyone, don't crowd outside, you can come in to place your orders!"

The five elders and guest elders busied themselves, attending to the customers.

On the martial arts square, the first match of the Golden Core group had finished, and there was still time before the second match began. Many disciples chose to eat while watching the battles, including those from both the Wendao Sect and the Five Elements Sect.

They noticed a barbecue shop that was out of the ordinary, its business exceptionally booming.

"Let's go take a look."

More and more disciples came over to eat skewers, and a sense of pride spontaneously arose within Vice Cult Leader Liu.

"Back then I said, so what if Lu Yang and his trio caused a stir by opening a barbecue shop in Yanjiang Prefecture? That was only because I hadn't taken action. If I were to step in, what business would Lu Yang have left?"

"Old Gao, there are too many orders. I can't keep up by myself. Set up a stall as well!"

"Alright!"

To everyone's surprise, Vice Cult Leader Gao's barbecue skills were not inferior to Vice Cult Leader Liu's in the slightest!

Up in the grandstands, Lu Yang brought skewers to his Eldest Senior Sister, only to be met with Qiu Jin'an's astonished gaze.

Why had Sect Leader Lu reduced himself to selling barbecue skewers?

How long had it been, and what had happened during this interval?

Qiu Jin'an could not figure it out.

"How are the preparations going?"

"There are only seven customers left in the shop. According to the plan, disciples will go to order food. There should be no mishaps."

"Understood. Go back."

When Lu Yang headed back, he cast a glance at the martial arts square. The second match had already begun, and the one fighting on behalf of the Wendao Sect was Senior Sister Yi Jing, who had similarly been challenged above her rank by the Immortal Fairy.

Lu Yang noticed that the senior brothers and sisters spectating below the stage were holding many skewers, which surprised him somewhat. Even Bai Ming, who had just lost his match, was clutching a large handful, eating happily.

What was going on?

When Lu Yang returned, Meng Jingzhou and Mangu had already made their way back to the barbecue shop, busily running around to assist the two Vice Cult Leaders.

The people secretly arranged to buy skewers couldn't even get in line. Seeing Lu Yang, they spread their hands open in complete helplessness.

The Second Elder was eating skewers by the roadside, his mouth glistening with grease. Seeing Lu Yang arrive, he greeted him, "Where did you find these people? Their barbecue skills are top-notch."

Nearby, Shangguan Yu also expressed that she would come to the Wendao Sect more often.

Lu Yang: "..."

"Make way, make way," Lu Yang shouted, trying to get inside to see what was happening.

The person he squeezed past frowned: "Why are you pushing? Don't you know how to queue?"

"I'm an employee!"

The person who was pushed saw Lu Yang, his lips twitching slightly as he yielded the path.

He suddenly recalled that his master had warned them that members of the demonic cult would infiltrate the exchange venue, and Lu Yang was prepared to catch them all in one dragnet.

Could it be that the people in this barbecue shop were the demonic cult?

He stared intently at the two Vice Cult Leaders who were grilling skewers for a long time, before deciding that he had probably suspected wrongly.

The elders of the Wendao Sect had already greeted everyone beforehand, saying that if Lu Yang appeared in a place where he shouldn't be, they shouldn't panic and should just pretend not to know him.

Seeing Lu Yang return, Vice Cult Leader Liu was overjoyed: "Little Lu is back! Perfect timing. Go maintain order and get everyone to line up properly."

Lu Yang: "..."

Do you even still remember what you came here to do?

Lu Yang had merely intended to find a few patrons to buy them some time, never anticipating that the barbecue shop would truly flourish with such roaring success.

Observing Mangu bustling about with a genuinely heartfelt smile, and seeing Meng Jingzhou wear an expression that seemed to re-live their days in Yanjiang Prefecture, Lu Yang found himself utterly at a loss for words, stifled by a profound sense of exasperation.

The Immortal Fairy nodded in satisfaction, "As expected of my followers, their capacity for self-reliance is quite commendable, though the quality of these skewers still leaves much to be desired."

"Lu Yang, let me take control of your body. I shall demonstrate to you all what constitutes an immortal-grade skewer. Pay close attention and learn."

Her interest thoroughly piqued, the Immortal Fairy cast aside any notions of keeping her sacred arts secret, clamoring eagerly to showcase her skills.

Hearing this, a wave of panic surged through Lu Yang, and he hurriedly intervened to hold the Immortal Fairy back.

"Please, do not add to the chaos!"

(End of this chapter)