Supreme Master: Cultivation Starts After Recruiting SSS-Grade Talent-Chapter 57 [Important Notice at the end.]

"Disciple Wushuang, Disciple Yinyin," Xie Ren called out without opening his eyes. His tone was smooth and playful, like a lord waiting for his afternoon tea. "Is it ready yet, or must I survive the day on spiritual air?"

A loud hiss and a sudden puff of smoke burst from the other side of the courtyard near the outdoor stone stove.

"Scoundrel master!" Chen Yinyin’s voice rang out, sharp with frustration. "Stop shouting like you’re a noble being starved to death!"

Beside her, Mo Wushuang wore an expression of silent defeat as she frantically fanned the smoking skillet.

Her usual sharp, cold aura had long since crumbled beneath this unfamiliar challenge.

On the pan, a once-proud spirit egg now lay completely ruined, its charred remains smoldering, unrecognizable. Smoke curled upwards like a ghost of failure.

"These eggs are cursed," Wushuang muttered darkly, pinching the bridge of her nose. Her sleeves were smeared with soot, and her dignity as once proud sovereign had taken several critical hits.

"You flipped it three times in one second!" Chen Yinyin snapped, jabbing a finger at her. "Were you trying to stir-fry it into ash!?"

"Give me the spatula," Wushuang said flatly.

"No way. You burned the last two."

"I was experimenting!" Yinyin shot back.

"It exploded!"

"It twitched first!" Chen Yinyin insisted. "How could I know it wasn’t alive!?"

"I think I’m going to lose my appetite," Xie Ren muttered dryly, cracking one eye open beneath his spirit bamboo hat.

Across the courtyard, the smoky scent of burned food still hung thick in the air.

Mo Wushuang stood rigid by the scorched stone stove, her hands clenched and a vein twitching on her temple. Her usual cold and calm was nowhere to be seen.

"Ant master, you’ll pay for this humiliation," she growled, her voice low and dangerous.

"You said you were injured!" Chen Yinyin snapped, jabbing a smoke-stained finger in his direction. Her cheeks were red with heat, fury, and embarrassment.

"I was injured," Xie Ren said casually, stretching his arms behind his head again. "Now I’m not. It’s called recovery."

The memory flashed between them like a shared nightmare. Just a few days ago, they had ambush him while he was still recovering, hoping to teach him a lesson for past humiliation.

It had gone poorly. Not only were they defeated, but he had the audacity to spank them both with a spirit-infused fan.

As punishment, he decreed: "They will be preparing his daily meal until they settled the matters here."

And so here they were.

Before the argument could escalate further, there was a loud pop!

A burst of spiritual smoke filled the air. A charred yolk hit the edge of the table with a sad splurt.

Not long after, as the scent of burnt eggs still hung stubbornly in the courtyard and Xie Ren lounged comfortably beneath the warm afternoon sun, a soft voice floated through the air like a breeze.

"Master, where are you?"

A petite figure dashed through the stone archway, her light blue sleeves fluttering behind her like butterfly wings.

It was Su Roulan, her eyes bright with excitement as they scanned the yard, until they landed on the familiar figure lying beneath the maple trees.

"There you are, Master!" she called out, smiling brightly.

She ran over without hesitation, her steps light and full of energy. Behind her, Lan Yue walked at a slower pace

"You two finished your seclusion?" Xie Ren asked lazily, lifting the brim of his straw hat with one finger to get a better look.

"Mm!" Roulan nodded with the energy only a twelve-year-old could manage. Her head bobbed up and down like a spirit chick pecking rice.

"That’s good to hear,"

He stretched his arms with a satisfied sigh, "Come, sit down. The sun’s nice today. Relax with your master for a bit."

"Yes, Master!" Roulan said, spinning around to grab a chair, but then she suddenly stopped mid-turn. Her eyes widened as if she’d remembered something important.

"No! Wait! That’s not why I came!" she said, spinning back around. "Master, today is the day of the assembly!"

"...Oh. Right," Xie Ren coughed and sat up a little straighter, clearing his throat and trying to look more serious. "I remember."

Truthfully, he’d almost forgotten.

Life had been far too peaceful these past few days, good food, soft bedding, beautiful scenery and quiet mornings like this.

Compared to his ruin-like sect, this was paradise. All that talk about the Mystic Frost Sect and unfinished business had drifted to the back of his mind like dust settling at the bottom of the sea.

Lan Yue stepped forward and looked around. "Master, where are the others?"

As if summoned by name, a voice rang out, loud and annoyed.

"Scoundrel master! Your eggs are ready!"

Chen Yinyin stomped into the courtyard, holding a tray like it was a weapon. Her face was smudged with ash, her hair had a singed streak running through it, and her glare could peel paint off a wall.

Behind her came Mo Wushuang, looking stiff and awkward, another tray in hand. Her usually perfect robes were now stained with smoke, and one sleeve had a small but clear scorch mark.

"Perfect timing," Xie Ren said brightly, grinning. "Two of you must be hungry. Come, sit. Try their cooking."

Lan Yue blinked, her cool gaze moving from the trays to the girls. And her brows furrowed. "What happened to the two of you?"

"Sister Yue!" Yinyin cried out dramatically and ran toward her. "This awful scoundrel of a master bullied me while you were gone!"

Lan Yue caught her without flinching, but her face was unreadable. "...Bullied?"

"They ambushed me first," Xie Ren called from his spot, waving lazily.

"You liar!" She jabbed a finger at him like she was presenting evidence to the heavens.

"I’m the real victim here," Xie Ren said with theatrical sorrow. "I was quietly recovering, minding my own business, and suddenly, Two disciples trying to jump me. Now I survive on sunbeams and charcoal eggs."

"You enjoyed every moment of it!" Yinyin snapped, stomping her foot.

After a while, the group finally gathered around the courtyard table to enjoy the spirit eggs.

Despite the earlier disasters, the eggs were surprisingly tasty, just the right balance of soft and firm, with a faint glow that told of their spiritual energy.

Lan Yue and Su Roulan exchanged approving looks, nodding quietly.

"Mmm, it’s actually... quite good," Roulan said brightly.

"Yes, it’s perfectly cooked," Lan Yue added, glancing toward the guilty pair.

Chen Yinyin, sitting across from them, wore a smug grin that made her nose seem to grow with pride. She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms, clearly ready to claim credit.

Xie Ren, however, didn’t fall for it.

"Don’t flatter yourselves," he said. "You two wasted more than a hundred spirit eggs before making these."

Hearing this, Lan Yue gave a wry smile.

The laughter and teasing filled the quiet courtyard as they finished their meal.

Xie Ren stood and clapped his hands. "Alright, enough rest. Get changed. We need to prepare to head to the assembly."

The words seemed to bring the mood back to reality. Mo Wushuang and Chen Yinyin expression changed; the grudges they held against the Mystic Frost Sect flickered in their eyes.

After everyone changed into their robes, simple yet elegant garments marked with the Red Lotus Sect’s emblem, Su Roulan led them toward a quiet part of the sect.

There, Elder Su Zi waited, his white hair flowing gently in the breeze. Nearby, a massive white bird pecked calmly at pile of grains scattered on the ground.

Lan Yue’s eyes widened as she took in the magnificent creature. "Spirit beast,"

Coming from backwater sect, Lan yue and Xie Ren had never ridden spirit beast before. So, she appeared momentarily dazed.

Elder Su Zi cupped his fist respectfully. "This will be our transport."

The bird lowered itself gracefully, making it easy to mount. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

The group used their qi to steady themselves on its broad back as it stretched its wings.

With a powerful beat, the bird took to the sky, carrying them swiftly toward the gathering.

As they flew, Elder Su Zi began to explain the situation in detail, making sure Xie Ren and the others understood the full scope of what lay ahead.

Recently, the leader of the Mystic Frost Sect, Duan Feilong, broke through to the Spirit Transformation realm. And With his newfound power, the Mystic Frost Sect’s ambitions grown. They now aimed to unite all of Taishan under their control.

The factions of Taishan were scattered far apart, so launching individual attacks would waste too much time and energy. Therefore, in this Grand Assembly they plan to show their dominance.

Although at front, it’s a unification, but in reality, their true goal was to pressure all factions into submission.

...

[Important notice]

[Start-off of this book was great, I got daily 50-60 valid reads. But after writing for month and two, I’ve noticed this book’s growth has stagnated, and currently (June 09) there was only 4 people still reading.

I don’t’ know, if my writing is not appealing or is it the story itself.

So, after a thought, I’ve come to a decision. I’ll likely be putting this book to hiatus and focus on my other book,

(Invincible young master)

To those of you who supported and are still reading this book, Thank you.

Once again, Thank you.]