Riley woke up and once again ate like a ravenous dragon.
The heavenly sword sect servants, tasked with cooking for the respected guests, couldn’t help but whisper their complaints among themselves as they worked tirelessly in the kitchen.
"Does he have a bottomless pit inside his belly?" one muttered, shaking their head in disbelief.
"Yes! I heard about what happened yesterday—he devoured plate after plate at the Jade Blossom Feast Hall!" another chid in, their tone equal parts exasperated and amazed.
"That’s not even the most shocking thing! I overheard soone say Elder Riley also went to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion and…" a third servant added, their voice hushed yet brimming with astonishnt.
Their murmured conversations were punctuated by the clattering of pots and pans as they continued to prepare an endless stream of dishes to satisfy the insatiable Elder Riley Mason.
The stories about his legendary appetite seed to spread faster than wildfire, and the servants weren’t the only ones left in awe.
Even the disciples of the Stone Mountain Sect, who had traveled alongside Riley, were left dumbfounded.
While they had always known their youngest elder was extraordinary, they had never witnessed this side of him before.
During the long journey to the Heavenly Sword Sect, Riley had relied on fasting pills, leaving little opportunity for his fellow sect mbers to observe his eating habits.
But now, with free als prepared by the Heavenly Sword Sect’s top chefs, Riley’s boundless appetite was on full display for everyone to see.
"He’s like a beast in human form," one disciple whispered to another as they watched Riley polish off yet another platter of spirit-infused delicacies.
"Beast? More like a black hole! Where does it all go?" the other replied, their tone a mix of disbelief and awe.
Despite the murmurs and shocked expressions around him, Riley remained unfazed, happily savoring every bite.
He didn’t care about the whispers or the wide-eyed stares; he had always believed that food was a gift to be appreciated wholeheartedly.
And besides, he reasoned, how could one cultivate at peak efficiency without fueling the body to its fullest potential?
Still, the sight of their youngest elder effortlessly devouring a feast that could feed an entire hall of disciples left an indelible impression on everyone.
Riley Mason wasn’t just earning a reputation as a prodigious elder of the Stone Mountain Sect—he was quickly becoming a culinary legend in the Heavenly Sword Sect as well.
As usual, it took Riley three hours to finish his al.
By the end, the cooks and servants around him looked utterly exhausted, as if they had catered to a grand banquet rather than a single person.
"Thank you all for your hard work. Sorry for the trouble," Riley said with a sheepish smile, sensing their fatigue.
To ease their burden, he reached into his robe and pulled out a hefty bag.
"Here’s a little reward for your care today."
When one of the servants opened the bag, their eyes widened in shock and disbelief.
Inside were not re gold coins, but spirit stones—gleaming, high-grade ones at that!
"We’ve struck a fortune!" soone whispered, their voice trembling with excitent.
"I’ve never seen this many spirit stones in my entire life!" another exclaid, holding up one of the radiant stones as if it were a priceless treasure.
"Thank you so much, Elder Riley!" the servants chorused, bowing deeply with newfound energy and enthusiasm.
"If you want, we can co again this evening to serve you!" one cook eagerly offered, clearly hoping for another generous reward.
"Yes! Just let us know, and we’ll be here, Elder Riley!" another chid in, their tone nearly pleading.
Riley chuckled at their enthusiasm but shook his head.
"No need. I have sowhere else to be later." A sly smile tugged at his lips as an image of Veronica’s lovely face and alluring figure flashed through his mind.
The servants couldn’t hide their disappointnt.
Their shoulders sagged slightly, but they quickly masked their feelings and bowed again.
"As you wish, Elder Riley. Thank you again for your generosity."
With that, they began cleaning up the aftermath of Riley’s feast, their spirits much brighter now that they had been generously rewarded.
Though they wouldn’t be serving him again that evening, they couldn’t stop talking about the remarkable elder who had treated them so kindly.
anwhile, Riley stretched lazily, feeling completely satisfied.
With his appetite sated and his mind already drifting to more pleasant matters, he left the dining hall, ready to tackle whatever—or whoever—the evening held for him.
The 24 disciples had dispersed to tend to their own business.
So retreated to their rooms to cultivate in solitude, others trained rigorously in the courtyard, and a few engaged in spirited sparring matches.
Riley leaned against the pavilion railing, observing them with a faint smile.
They reminded him of the original Riley—so full of hope, ambition, and an insatiable drive to improve.
Sipping on a fragrant cup of spirit tea, Riley allowed himself a rare mont of reflection.
He admired their determination, their youthful energy.
For the next hour, he lounged lazily, content with simply enjoying the serene atmosphere.
The bustling courtyard provided a pleasant distraction, but his mind occasionally wandered to the evening plans awaiting him at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
Just as he began to drift into a relaxed stupor, a voice broke his reverie.
"Elder Riley, can you teach us so of your moves or point out so of our mistakes?"
Riley turned his gaze to find a young disciple standing before him, his eyes brimming with determination.
The young man bowed respectfully before continuing, "We really want to win a good place in the Seven Swords Grand et."
Riley raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Riley set down his teacup and smiled, his confidence radiating effortlessly.
"Of course. What do you want to know?"
The disciple’s face lit up with excitent as he hastily explained, "Anything you can teach us, Elder! Techniques, battle strategies—anything to give us an edge in the tournant."
Riley chuckled softly. Anything? With over 33,000 years of accumulated knowledge at his disposal with Elias Page and Tadeo Prince entire mories assimilated in his mind, imparting wisdom to these disciples would be as simple as boiling water.
"Very well," he said, rising from his seat. "Gather everyone here. I’ll share so pointers."
As he stood, Riley’s favorite sound echoed in his mind:
Ding!
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