The Hungry Sword Prodigy

Linxi Marketplace sat on the outskirts of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, a lawless place where every kind of person gathered.

As dusk settled, lanterns gradually lit up throughout the marketplace, and the streets buzzed with deafening noise.

From time to time, cultivators rode overhead on flying swords, talismans, or even enormous iron cauldrons, whistling through the air before landing and immediately haggling red-faced with vendors over half a low-grade Spirit Stone.

At the roadside, rogue cultivators peddling fake talismans shouted themselves hoarse as they duped fresh-faced newcomers embarking on their first adventures.

Nearby, demon hunters wreathed in murderous aura strode into taverns with blood-soaked beast carcasses slung over their shoulders.

Qin Lin walked calmly through the crowd.

His immaculate white robes, combined with the Great Dao aura granted by the System, forcibly carved out a three-meter-wide empty space around him despite the packed streets.

Passing rogue cultivators glanced at the young man in white, whose imposing bearing was oddly contrasted by the battered alchemy furnace hanging from his waist.

Each of them sucked in a sharp breath before instinctively lowering their heads and giving him a wide berth, afraid they might offend some ancient monster who had descended the mountain to experience mortal life.

Qin Lin’s expression remained indifferent.

Although he appeared to be leisurely taking in the sights, he had secretly activated the System’s Insight Panel to its maximum capacity.

Lines of information flooded across his vision.

[Name: Wang Mazi]

[Cultivation Aptitude: Grade Ding]

[Current Status: Thinking about how to scam the female cultivator walking ahead out of her Spirit Stones.]

[Name: Li Tiezhu]

[Cultivation Aptitude: Lower Grade Bing]

[Current Status: Years of smithing have left his receding hairline beyond saving.]

[Name: Daoist Zhao]

[Cultivation Aptitude: Grade Ding]

[Current Status: Selling fake medicine.]

‘Nothing but the overworked bottom rung of the cultivation world…’

Qin Lin sighed inwardly.

He had already scanned several hundred people along the way.

Forget the System’s required Grade Yi aptitude.

He hadn’t even seen anyone with Upper Grade Bing.

Just as he was wondering whether today’s trip would end in failure…

The System panel suddenly froze for a brief moment in front of a steamed bun stall.

Then it erupted with dazzling emerald light.

[Name: Yu Ruyan]

[Cultivation Aptitude: Upper Grade Yi (Innate Sword Bone—Dormant)]

[Traits: Pure Sword Heart (An absolutely pure devotion to the Sword Dao) / Supreme Foodie (As long as she’s fed, everything is negotiable.)]

[Current Status: Secretly descended the mountain for training. All Spirit Stones have been swindled away. Has not eaten for three full days. Due to extreme hunger, her Sword Heart is on the verge of collapse.]

[Current Loyalty: 0]

Qin Lin’s heart skipped a beat.

Upper Grade Yi aptitude.

An Innate Sword Bone, paired with a Pure Sword Heart.

Even among second-rate sects, someone with talent like this would undoubtedly be cherished as a direct disciple.

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Qin Lin followed the System’s guidance.

In front of the steaming bamboo baskets sat a young girl dressed in a goose-yellow skirt.

She looked no older than fifteen or sixteen.

Bright eyes.

White jade-like skin.

Delicate features.

Judging by her name and ethereal beauty, Yu Ruyan should have resembled an immortal fairy untouched by the mortal world.

Instead…

She looked anything but graceful.

She clutched a worn wooden sword tightly against her chest while staring unblinkingly at the plump meat buns inside the steamer, swallowing mouthful after mouthful of saliva.

Grrrrrr…

The thunderous growl of her stomach echoed through the street.

Passersby couldn’t help but turn to look.

Yu Ruyan, however, seemed completely oblivious.

She merely gazed pitifully at the bun stall owner and spoke in a soft yet stubborn voice.

“Uncle… could I trade this sword for two buns?”

“One bun would be fine too…”

The owner rolled his eyes dramatically.

Waving his greasy rag as though shooing away flies, he barked, “Scram, scram! Where’d this crazy girl come from?”

“You think a broken piece of wood is worth my meat buns?”

“If you don’t have money, then get lost and stop ruining my business!”

Yu Ruyan pouted miserably.

She hugged the wooden sword even tighter and sniffed deeply several times, as though simply breathing in the aroma of meat might satisfy her hunger.

Watching the scene unfold, the corner of Qin Lin’s expressionless face slowly curled into the smile of a seasoned hunter.

He wasn’t afraid of talented geniuses.

He was only afraid of talented geniuses without weaknesses.

A simple-minded foodie who had gone three days without eating and was willing to pawn even her sword for a meal…

It was as though heaven itself had delivered the perfect disciple straight to his doorstep.

The smile vanished from Qin Lin’s face.

His gaze instantly became distant, profound, and aloof.

With both hands clasped behind his back, he walked forward at an unhurried pace before stopping in front of the bun stall.

Buzz—

The Dao aura radiating from the Sect Master’s Robe quietly spread outward.

The stall owner, who had been about to continue yelling, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

It was as if some ancient primordial beast had fixed its eyes upon him.

The curse words caught in his throat.

His legs began trembling uncontrollably.

Yu Ruyan also sensed the extraordinary pressure.

She raised her head in confusion.

Standing before her was a young man dressed in flowing white robes, elegant beyond compare, like an immortal banished from the heavens.

He looked down at her from above.

“Senior?”

Yu Ruyan blinked her clear, innocent eyes, completely at a loss.

Qin Lin paid her no attention.

Instead, he turned his gaze toward the basket of steamed buns.

Frowning slightly, he let out a disdainful snort.

“The meat was taken from diseased pigs.”

“The dough was kneaded by hands tainted with the greed, anger, and ignorance of the mortal world.”

“Such filthy, impure scraps…”

“…are they truly worthy of entering your mouth?”

Yu Ruyan froze.

She couldn’t perceive the cultivation of the young man before her.

All she knew was that he was unfathomable…

Like a divine being standing high above the Nine Heavens.

What shocked her even more was that he had managed to describe an ordinary meat bun in such an elegant way, as though it contained the profound truths of the Great Dao.

“But… but I’m really hungry…”

Yu Ruyan lowered her head dejectedly.

Right on cue, her stomach rumbled like thunder once more.

“Foolish!”

Qin Lin swept his sleeve dramatically, wearing the expression of a master disappointed in an unworthy student.

“I can tell at a glance that your bones are extraordinary, and hidden Sword Qi lies between your brows.”

“You were born to walk the Sword Dao.”

“A sword cultivator should feast upon the essence of the Nine Heavens and drink the spiritual marrow of all creation.”

“If you bow your head for a single mouthful of impure mortal food…”

“…then you’ll never reach the pinnacle of the Sword Dao in this lifetime.”

Every word carried unquestionable authority.

Combined with the profound aura granted by the Sect Master’s Robe, the speech completely stunned the simple-minded Yu Ruyan.

She stood there blankly, clutching her wooden sword.

For a brief moment, she even forgot she was hungry.

All she could see was the dazzling aura of a true master radiating from the senior before her.

Seeing that the moment was ripe, Qin Lin smoothly changed the subject.

“Since fate has brought us together, let me introduce myself.”

“I am the Sect Master of the Wentian Sect.”

“I can see that you share a fated connection with my sect.”

“If you are willing to return to the mountain with me…”

“…I shall let you experience spiritual cuisine that truly embodies the Great Dao.”

“I guarantee you’ll leave with a full stomach.”

The moment Yu Ruyan heard the words spiritual cuisine and a full stomach, her previously lifeless eyes lit up with a brilliance brighter than the most peerless sword light.

The Wentian Sect.

The Great Dao.

The profound truths of cultivation.

She forgot all of them instantly.

She only heard one sentence.

They provide food.

“R-Really?”

“You’ll feed me?”

Yu Ruyan sprang to her feet.

She stood up so quickly that she swayed, then immediately grabbed Qin Lin’s spotless sleeve, swallowing hard.

Qin Lin glanced at the Supreme Foodie trait displayed above her head.

Still maintaining the aloof bearing of an unfathomable expert, he gave a faint nod and spoke a single word.

“Come.”

“Okay!”

“Master! Let’s go!”

“If we wait any longer, I’m afraid I’ll start eating the bun stall itself!”

Without the slightest hesitation, Yu Ruyan hugged her wooden sword and trotted happily after Qin Lin, completely devoid of any sense of caution.

Walking ahead of her, Qin Lin finally allowed himself a composed smile worthy of a seasoned capitalist.

His first prospective disciple…

Acquired.