Chapter 414 - 265: Workplace Bullying 2

Admittedly, the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect was powerful enough to conquer Outer Realms, and the Celestial Dao Cauldron monitored everything.

But in reality, it wasn’t fundamentally different from his time with the Black Flood Dragon Gang, or later, Biyou Palace.

The powerful or influential could still find loopholes in the rules, or even place themselves above them.

Take Yang Haoyu, the Dining Hall’s Head Chef, for example. He could directly have two female Outer Sect disciples act as his personal Maids.

So, his plan to eventually get Gongsun Jinghong and Teng County transferred from the Foreign Affairs Hall was far from impossible.

Hearing this, Teng County had no doubt about Zou Feng’s abilities and immediately snuggled deeper into his arms with delight.

"Brother Feng, don’t worry. I’ll definitely find a way to create the perfect Spirit Body for dual cultivation with you!"

Teng County clearly had her own plans. Since she hadn’t reached First Grade yet, she still had the chance to shape a special Spirit Body.

However, the fact that Teng County planned to tailor a special Spirit Body specifically for him was still a little surprising to Zou Feng.

So he immediately shook his head. "That’s not necessary at all. Just create the Spirit Body that’s most suitable for you."

"I’m not so weak that I have to rely on others for everything. Doing so would only disrupt my Heart Dao!"

Teng County thought, ’You have your path, but I have mine...’

’And what if the Spirit Body most suitable for me just so happens to be perfect for dual cultivation, too?’

Of course, Teng County didn’t say this out loud to Zou Feng.

"Don’t worry, Brother Feng. I know what I’m doing!"

「The next day」

Before dawn, Zou Feng had to go work in the Dining Hall’s back kitchen.

As a cultivator aspiring to achieve immortality, Zou Feng had no problem with waking up early to practice his Cultivation.

In many cases, a normal sleep schedule wasn’t even necessary for the sake of Cultivation.

The problem was, he wasn’t waking up early for Cultivation; he was waking up to do menial chores in the back kitchen. That was a real pain in the ass.

And since he wasn’t a Head Chef, he couldn’t do the actual work of a Spirit Chef. He was just there to process various ingredients.

It was basically an assembly line job in the Immortal Sect.

But he was a newcomer, after all, starting from the bottom. There was no point in complaining. He just had to improve his situation as quickly as possible.

’If things go as expected, Yang Haoyu will make his move today...’

Soon, he arrived at the back kitchen, where a Dining Hall Steward checked his Token and assigned him his work.

As he was an unfamiliar face, almost no one initiated a conversation with Zou Feng.

Even when Zou Feng tried to strike up a conversation, their attitude would turn cold the moment they heard his name.

Obviously, Yang Haoyu had already put in a word with everyone, telling them to give this newcomer some special "attention."

It was a classic case of workplace bullying.

They didn’t hit him, they didn’t curse him, and they didn’t violate a single sect rule, but they still managed to make his life miserable.

Zou Feng was assigned the task of processing a type of black Spirit Fish.

This type of Spirit Fish was extremely difficult to handle. While alive, it was immensely powerful; a leap and a slap of its tail could knock a True Qi Realm Martial Artist unconscious.

Its scales and fins were even sharp enough to cut the skin of a True Qi Realm Martial Artist.

Furthermore, its organs were highly poisonous. The slightest mistake while gutting it would contaminate the entire fish, causing it to be wasted.

Prolonged contact with the poison from its organs could even cause a person to suffer from Chronic Poisoning.

Normally, such a difficult ingredient shouldn’t be given to a newcomer. It was a job for an experienced hand.

And yet, Zou Feng, who had just arrived, was assigned to handle the black Spirit Fish.

The intention to single him out couldn’t have been more obvious.

Zou Feng, however, couldn’t care less. He almost wanted to laugh.

’It’s true I’ve never handled this kind of Spirit Fish before, but Yang Haoyu probably never imagined that I’m a real chef—and a chef who cultivates a Poison Skill, at that...’

It wasn’t surprising that Yang Haoyu hadn’t anticipated this.

The aptitude test at the Kouxian Gate determined what new disciples were suited for, not what professions they had held in the past.

For example, Zou Feng was identified as having the potential to be a Spirit Chef.

So, everyone else’s conclusion was that Zou Feng was suited to be a chef and had potential in that area.

It didn’t mean they knew he had actually worked as a chef before.

Then again, as a True Qi Realm Martial Artist—someone who could run roughshod over a low-level Outer Realm—very few would have actually worked as a chef.

In any case, as someone who had actually been a chef, Zou Feng quickly understood by analogy. After stealing a glance at how the other helpers were handling the fish, he knew what to do.

His technique was a little clumsy on the first Spirit Fish, but he managed to butcher it without any waste.

A Dining Hall Steward, who had come over intending to find fault, could only frown before turning and leaving without a word.

Though surprised, the Steward still sneered internally. ’So what if you managed to copy the motions? When it comes to processing ingredients in the kitchen, efficiency is key!’

’Any helper who can’t successfully butcher ten fish before they’re needed for the woks will get a demerit!’

By the second fish, Zou Feng was much more proficient, his speed matching the other helpers.

By the third, he had surpassed them in speed.

In the end, he outpaced all the experienced hands present, becoming the first to finish processing his ten black Spirit Fish.

The Steward who came to inspect was utterly dumbfounded.

’Where in the world did this master chef come from!?’

Anyone who could become a Steward in the Dining Hall naturally knew their stuff.

He could tell that the fish Zou Feng had prepared were clean enough to be used directly for sashimi!

’With talent like this, after a little practice, he could easily become a Head Chef in the Outer Sect!’

’No, even if this kid went to the Inner Sect, he’d probably become a Head Chef in no time...’

’Wait, didn’t this kid come from some low-martial Outer Realm? How did he master cooking while also practicing martial arts?!’

’A pity. He doesn’t know how to play the game and went and offended Brother Yang...’

This Steward, whose name was Wu Cong, wasn’t about to cherish this talent. What Yang Haoyu had ordered still needed to be done.

"Since you’re done with the fish, go lend a hand over there," Wu Cong said, pointing to an area where people were processing a variety of colorful mushrooms.

Zou Feng had thought his morning’s work was finished, since the other helpers gutting fish were still busy, their efficiency far below his.

’But now he wants me to handle those obviously poisonous mushrooms?’

’It’s not that I’m averse to poisonous things—I might even absorb them on purpose—but the problem is...’

’Do these guys really think I’m a pushover they can just mess with whenever they want?’

"Steward Wu, is it?" Zou Feng asked, flicking the blood from his hands.

"Got a problem?" Wu Cong was clearly prepared for Zou Feng to object.

Zou Feng smiled. "What did Yang Haoyu give you for this?"

Wu Cong’s eyes widened. "I don’t need anything from him! Assigning work in the Dining Hall’s kitchen is my duty."

"So you’re willing to do his dirty work for free, just to avoid offending Yang Haoyu, is that it?" Zou Feng’s smile didn’t waver.

Wu Cong’s tone grew heavy. "I don’t know what you’re talking about. But if you’re in the Dining Hall and refuse to follow the rules, the sect will deal with you."

"You don’t want to offend Yang Haoyu, but have you ever considered that offending me might lead to a much worse fate?"

"Oh-ho! Threatening an Outer Sect Steward?" It wasn’t the first time he’d met someone so arrogant, and Wu Cong actually found himself getting interested.

"Come on, then! What are you going to do? Hit me! Go on, give it a try!"

As he spoke, Wu Cong put on a shameless expression and even patted his own cheek.

Zou Feng scoffed. "Pathetic clown."

Of course, it wasn’t wise to get physical right now, so Zou Feng said no more and turned to process the mushrooms.

Seeing that he hadn’t managed to provoke Zou Feng into attacking, Wu Cong was actually a little disappointed.

He had been genuinely hoping Zou Feng would lose his temper and attack. If that happened, not only would he receive compensation from the Dining Hall, but Yang Haoyu would also be obligated to reward him.

Zou Feng appeared to be enduring it for now, but he already had a solution in mind.

’I just needed to confirm that Yang Haoyu was the one behind this.’

In truth, even if Yang Haoyu hadn’t been targeting him, Zou Feng had no intention of obediently toiling away in the Dining Hall’s kitchen.

It was a waste of his Cultivation time and didn’t earn him much Immortal Fate.

’I’ll have to try a different approach.’

’Yang Haoyu coming to stir up trouble actually gives me the perfect opportunity.’

「That afternoon」

After finally finishing his work in the kitchen, Zou Feng found a secluded spot, took out his Token, and selected Su Qingyu’s name.

"Palace Master, are you there?"