Chapter 214 Eating, Drinking and Discovery
The dining hall, that was prepared for the Knights participating in the Regional Selection. was naturally different from ordinary dining rooms or canteens catered for university students.
It was more like a hotel setting, with tables for four placed around. Once someone took a seat, a maid would come over to take their order.
Manny picked up the menu and was about to order when Fang Xingjian said imposingly, “Bring us two of each dish.”
When he sensed Manny’s awkward gaze, Fang Xingjian said, “We’re all Knights. So, why do we need to stand on ceremony?”
He was right. Knights depleted a tremendous amount of energy and the food they required far surpassed that of ordinary people. It was just like how when Fang Xingjian had been back at Kirst Academy; he would have ferocious beasts for every meal, and he would take five meals a day.
However, at the mention of the food in Miracle World, Fang Xingjian had always found it weird that, other than some heavenly and earthly treasures and ferocious beasts, many of the animals and plants were all very similar to those on Earth. For example, potato, vegetables, pineapple, black fungus, or pigs, cows, sheeps and horses… All these were basically the same as those on Earth.
As they were two different worlds, it was unlikely for them to be so similar. This was something Fang Xingjian had never managed to figure out.
After all, these were not things that Fang Xingjian was concerned about. The evolution of biological creatures was something that scientists should be studying, not him. Not long later, his attention was attracted by the delicacies served by the Regional Academy.
After performing that move earlier to unleash four hundred streams of Ether Sword Ripples, much of his physical strength had been depleted and he was famished.
The first dish was roasted wild ferocious chicken. The chicken meat was so tender that it melted in one’s mouth. Its crispy skin had the taste of various spices and the fragrance from being grilled over charcoal. Fang Xingjian finished it in almost a few bits, while Manny had also snatched away two drumsticks.
Not only was it delicious, but since the ingredient was a wild ferocious chicken, Fang Xingjian could feel the strong vital energy and blood that it contained, and they started to explode out in the form of warm currents toward his limbs from his stomach.
The next dish was a vegetable dish called Pineapple Salad. Potatoes were first steamed, mashed, then combined together with a sauce made from a combination of twelve medical herbs, before finally being shaped like a pineapple. Not only did it look good, but it tasted refreshing as well. The sauce had a taste similar to that of cream soup with a very rich taste.
The most nutritious part was naturally the sauce made from the twelve medicinal herbs. Each of the twelve was a heavenly and earthly treasure which had various strengthening effects on the body. After eating it, Fang Xingjian could almost feel that his reaction, flexibility, and stamina had all risen slightly. Of course, there was no change to his attributes; it was just a feeling.
Dishes and dishes of delicacies were served up endlessly, but they were wiped out by Fang Xingjian, Manny and Rota at an even greater speed. There were all first transition level 19 Knights and they could finish whatever food that was served within a few big bites They could also actuate their organs easily to digest most of the food within an instant. Their stomachs were like large millstones and had digestive abilities that far surpassed that of ordinary people.
Especially after having having depleted so much physical strength that day and because the dishes in the Regional Academy far surpassed anything they had eaten before in terms of their taste, nutritional value and presentation, their appetites were piqued greatly.
However, as they ate, Rota suddenly went into a daze and stopped eating as she stared at Fang Xingjian.
Seeing her behavior, Manny also looked at Fang Xingjian.
Fang Xingjian frowned and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Rota’s lips curled up and said, “It’s nothing. It’s just that after knowing you for so long, this is the first time I’ve seen you smile.”
“Smile?” Fang Xingjian touched his lips unconsciously. He had suddenly showed some signs of a faint smile while he was eating.
Fang Xingjian took a few more bites. When Manny and Rota saw that he was suddenly in a daze, they could not help but ask, “What’s the matter?”
“It’s nothing.” Fang Xingjian suddenly stood up and headed out. “I’m done. You guys can carry on.”
The two of them looked at Fang Xingjian with a strange look, not understanding what had just happened.
However, Rota smiled slightly and thought to herself, ‘This guy looks quite cute when he smiles. Why does he always have to appear like a dead man?’
Compared to the two of them, Fang Xingjian felt even more complicated in regards to his smile.
How long had it been since he last felt happiness and bliss? The purple flames had took away his kinship, love and friendship, so he should not have any feelings for any other people. However…
‘Humans have many emotions like those mentioned in the seven deadly sins, which are pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony and lust.
‘If my kinship, love and friendship have all been taken away from me, but pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony and lust still remain…
‘Then could it be that I can still feel gluttony?’
Fang Xingjian thought back carefully about the things that had happened in the past one and a half years. He had noticed increasingly that each time he ate something good, his feelings did turn for the better by a little bit. Moreover, it was true that he was placing more and more emphasis on his food.
At first, he thought that this was just a habit left behind from having great meals and delicacies every day. However, thinking about it now, he felt increasingly that there was more to it than that.
‘I’ve truly developed an increased liking to good food… Moreover, good food can let me feel a hint of… happiness?’
Fang Xingjian then thought, if he could still feel gluttony, then what about lust?
However, having stayed in Miracle World for one and a half years, he had not felt anything for any females.
‘That’s not right. I have no feelings in terms of love, but if it’s actual lust…’
Pure lust naturally did not take into consideration of one’s feelings. It was just a straightforward act.
Lilia’s and Rota’s images suddenly appeared in Fang Xingjian’s mind. He shook his head furiously and dismissed those distracting thoughts as he headed for his room. Then he started cultivating while seated on his bed.
Cultivating had long since become a part of his life.
A cloud of silver-colored fog exuding a faint white light was circulating around Fang Xingjian’s hands. With each tremor, Fang Xingjian’s cultivation in the Ether Divine Art would increase slightly.
Deep in the night in another room, Shadow Death God Anderson’s hands were pressed down onto the ground as all surfaces, including the ground, walls and furnitures, were covered up by a layer of shadow. These shadows continued to jump around endlessly, looking as if they all breathed and had heartbeats of their own.
Geniuses were not created from mere talk. Since three years ago, Anderson no longer slept and cultivation had become his instinct.
In a corner of the room, a female Knight was looking at this terrifying scene with a gloomy face. She wanted to scream but did not dare to do so. This female Knight was Anderson’s room mate.
As if finding the female Knight a bother, Anderson opened his eyes, glared at her and said. “Go sleep in the corridors. Don’t be bothering me here.”
The female Knight left quickly as though her life had been spared.
In another room, Hoult got up gradually from his bed, then casually took a white bedsheet to wrap his naked body.
Looking at the other two soft and tender bodies on the bed, he smiled slightly. He then walked toward the windows and looked to the moon.
“The weather tomorrow should be good.”
The night passed by. Not many Knights were truly able to sleep on this night. Most of them were either doing their final cultivating efforts, nurturing their mental spirits, or were too excited and nervous.
However, the night still passed by eventually. Everyone welcome the second stage in the Regional Selection, ‘Contention for the Top Tier’.