Chapter 214: Xiao Chen is the Heir of the Hidden Dao Lineage (Happy New Year!)

Chapter 214: Xiao Chen is the Heir of the Hidden Dao Lineage (Happy New Year!)

To be fair, the food and drinks at the Spirit Herb Banquet were truly exceptional.

Exquisitely prepared, it was a feast of gilded delicacies and jade-like dishes, offering every imaginable mountain treasure and ocean rarity. The ingredients themselves were extravagantly luxurious—every dish featured Third Stage spirit beasts and Third Stage spiritual materials.

Even the Eastern Territory’s rarest creatures, like the Huangwen Savage Elephant, Golden Crowned Dove Pigeon, and Speckled Star Solefish, had been transformed into culinary masterpieces. Just the aroma made mouths water, and a single bite left lingering fragrance on the lips and tongue, its aftertaste endless.

Compared to the Chen family’s New Year’s Eve banquet, this was a hundredfold more extravagant. Considering it was hosted by a golden core True Sovereign, however, such opulence was perfectly understandable.

Yet there was one flaw—the diners were all too refined. When a dish arrived, no one took more than a single bite. Xiao Chen couldn’t help but feel it was a waste of food.

Even setting aside concerns about waste, cultivators had notoriously hearty appetites. Eating just a morsel each time was like feeding cats. This pretentious display of etiquette left everyone half-starved, clearly crossing the line into absurdity.

Worse still, Xiao Chen couldn’t just gorge himself without drawing attention.

The guests’ reluctance to eat wasn’t their only issue—they were too busy socializing. Some outgoing cultivators took the lead, introducing themselves before inquiring about others’ identities. Surprisingly, most had notable backgrounds. Many found common acquaintances through casual conversation.

At Xiao Chen’s table of eight, four hailed from local Nanlao Sea families, even counting as distant relatives. Given the clan’s millennia of intermarriage, such tangled connections were unsurprising. Two others were Wu Lei Sect elders overseeing external affairs. The most unusual guest sat at Xiao Chen’s right—Lü Jingfu from the Yuandu Merchant Guild.

The Yuandu Merchant Guild was a small trading group specializing in transporting goods between the Inner and Outer Seas. Though several such minor factions existed in the Eastern Territory, Yuandu had carved out a reputation in Nanlao Sea, acting almost as a local landlord with its extensive island connections.

“This fellow cultivator looks unfamiliar,” remarked Lu Lihui, one of the local hosts, addressing Xiao Chen. “May I ask your honorable name, origin, and sect affiliation?”

Hmm? Do they all greet strangers like this here? The question almost made Xiao Chen think he’d stepped into Jin Clan territory. Fortunately, he’d prepared an answer in advance.

“I’m Golden Light Technique Hermit,” he replied smoothly. “A solitary cultivator from the Extreme Southern Lands, unaffiliated with any sect.”

The table fell silent.

The Wu Lei Sect elders showed no outward reaction, but inwardly categorized him as an outsider. If he spoke truthfully, a rootless wanderer had no place among orthodox sects. If he lied, concealing his origins, that was even worse—Wu Lei Sect’s Lightning Dao emphasized integrity, despising those who hid their true selves.

The family cultivators exchanged knowing smiles. A solitary cultivator here? Who’d believe it? Their curiosity grew—was he a hidden expert or an opportunistic meddler who’d bought his way in? Either way, they’d decide later whether to cultivate his acquaintance.

Only Lü Jingfu focused on the phrase “Extreme Southern Lands.” Nanlao Sea already lay south of the Eastern Territory. Further south lay the Bandit Sea’s chaotic waters, and beyond a million li, the endless Boundary Sea. Cultivators usually claimed origins in the Extreme West or Far East, rarely the Deep South.

More importantly, Lü Jingfu sensed something unusual in Xiao Chen’s demeanor. Though he couldn’t pinpoint it, his merchant instincts whispered this man was no ordinary figure.

As introductions concluded, Lu Lihui steered the conversation toward amusing anecdotes, sparking laughter around the table.

“Next summer,” he proposed, “my family’s fifty-year-aged Drunken Immortal Wine will be ready for uncorking. We’re planning a Poetry and Wine Gathering to celebrate. Fellow cultivators are cordially invited!”

Hou Xingyao of the Hou family raised a toast. “Congratulations in advance, Brother Lu! Speaking of next year, the Sword Burial Forbidden Realm opens again in August. Our clan recently acquired four new Sword Diagrams—we’d welcome companions to explore it together.”

The Sword Burial Forbidden Realm, rich in Sword Embryos and Yin Spirits, only allowed Foundation Building and golden core cultivators entry. Sword Embryos were prime materials for forging Spirit Swords, sometimes even revealing buried ancient Spirit Swords. Yin Spirits contained concentrated yin energy; their cores, harvested post-battle, transformed into potent yang treasures—ideal for Lightning Dao cultivation.

Each opening attracted hordes of sword and lightning cultivators, making it a minor grand event. Hou Xingyao’s invitation targeted the Wu Lei Sect elders, as the realm lay closer to Heiyan Sea. Pre-establishing connections meant mutually beneficial cooperation.

The Wu Lei elders warmed visibly at the suggestion. After all, attending such banquets was about expanding networks, exchanging secrets, and forging new alliances.

Lü Jingfu soon added, “We humble merchants can’t match your grand ventures. Still, our Yuandu Guild’s new Spirit Ship launches next month. We’re hosting a modest Tea Gathering to celebrate—nothing extravagant, just a few cultivators sharing tea and cultivation insights.”

His humility was a façade. Everyone understood—this was an exclusive golden core-only event.

The true purpose lay in his final words: exchanging cultivation insights. Such gatherings typically invited renowned golden core Perfect Completion cultivators to discuss Dao. As the saying went, “Another’s stone may polish one’s jade.” Even guarded secrets could spark revelations for others. The spirit tea served was often top-tier, enhancing comprehension.

Lü Jingfu distributed invitation letters, his sincerity evident. All but one elder accepted—departing early for urgent matters.

“Golden Light Technique Hermit,” Lü Jingfu offered the final letter. “If you’ve no pressing engagements, please grace my ship with your presence.”

“Certainly,” Xiao Chen accepted with a smile. “I’ll gladly sample your tea, Fellow Cultivator Lü.”

His words sparked varied interpretations. Hou Xingyao’s eyes gleamed with amusement—surely no one thought this was just about tea? He mentally filed Xiao Chen under “opportunistic meddler,” though without hostility.

Lu Lihui, however, felt unease. Why did this “Golden Light Technique Hermit” hide his origins? Was he truly inexperienced, or deliberately concealing something?

Lü Jingfu’s heart quickened. This might be his big chance. Observing Xiao Chen’s proximity to the city lord’s estate, he suspected the truth. Could this be someone posing as a solitary cultivator? Who else could afford a Fourth Stage spirit pill for entry, let alone claim twenty-two demon cores at once?

As a merchant, Lü Jingfu knew to seek hidden value. Xiao Chen’s calm demeanor during the 680,000 spirit stone transaction revealed rare composure.

Perhaps “Golden Light Technique Hermit” was a false name. Maybe Xiao Chen was an heir from a hidden Extreme Southern Lands lineage, testing the mortal world. Though uncertain, Lü Jingfu resolved to cultivate his acquaintance—true or not, such connections might open new trade routes.

Soon, the feast ended. Servants cleared the dishes, replacing them with fragrant tea as the Spirit Herb Banquet officially commenced.

The rules were simple—following seating order, each cultivator would present their Fourth Stage spirit pill for exchange.

First came the Hundred Fragrance Hundred Grass Pill. Consuming it granted floral protection, making one immune to poisons for a century. Even Fourth Stage exotic poisons posed no threat if taken preemptively. If already poisoned, timely consumption could still save a life.

The surrounding cultivators' interest was immediately piqued. Most of them were elite golden core cultivators, and precisely because of this, they valued their lives highly and coveted these life-saving spirit pills even more. Right away, someone offered a high price of one Fourth-Stage spirit herb plus one hundred thousand spirit stones. Soon several others joined the bidding, quickly driving the price up by over one hundred thousand spirit stones. Unfortunately, Xiao Chen had little use for it, so he didn't participate in the bidding. The following items were relatively ordinary pills, which he found uninteresting.

It wasn't until Gao Chang Geng's turn that he suddenly raised a True Mana Nascent Soul Gathering Pill. This was a Stage Breakthrough medicinal pill that could increase a cultivator's Nascent Soul Formation success rate by two-tenths. Logically, it absolutely shouldn't have appeared here. Even Lord Huo inside the pavilion found this somewhat unexpected. Gao Chang Geng then loudly declared, "This True Mana Nascent Soul Gathering Pill aids in Stage Breakthrough Golden Core cultivation. I suppose I don't need to elaborate further. I'm seeking an exchange for a secret technique or treasure herb that can assist in cultivating my spirit body. I possess the Water-Mulberry Dual Spirit Root, so either path is viable for me."

The cultivators immediately felt genuine envy and jealousy. The Star-Plucking Sword Pavilion was truly generous, willing to offer a chance at golden core advancement just to help their first-seat disciple obtain suitable spirit body treasure herbs. This was simply too extravagant! A cultivator asked, "Senior Fellow Cultivator Gao, if someone doesn't have a spirit body secret technique, can they use other items for exchange?" Gao Chang Geng shook his head. "I don't lack for other things." Another cultivator shouted, "I'm willing to offer an Azure Lotus Transformation Pill plus two million spirit stones!" The entire hall fell silent instantly. Many cultivators secretly gasped—two million spirit stones wasn't a trivial amount, even for those present.

Gao Chang Geng coldly glanced at the speaker. "Have you been drinking? Do you think I'm short on Azure Lotus Transformation Pills? If I wanted to use one, would I need to seek you out?" His words left the challenger flushed with embarrassment but forced to retreat. The others whispered among themselves—some mocking, others astonished. A Law Body was already a coveted treasure for many, yet Gao Chang Geng had rejected it outright. Yet no one could offer anything suitable in return. Cultivating a spirit body was inherently extremely difficult, and the Star-Plucking Sword Pavilion had long failed to resolve this. Gao Chang Geng had come here today just to try his luck, but clearly, his luck wasn't good enough.

Next, Wen Ruoxi gently lifted a Fourth-Stage Revival Pill. This was an advanced version of the Nine Luminaries Mysterious Pill, capable of significantly enhancing a cultivator's true mana strength. For golden core cultivators, one pill could match the effect of ten Nine Luminaries Mysterious Pills. For those who had already consumed thirty-six Nine Luminaries Mysterious Pills, this pill was even more valuable. Wen Ruoxi spoke softly, "I wish to exchange this spirit pill for a treasure that can protect me completely. If the value isn't sufficient, I can add more spirit herbs." Her request seemed reasonable, sparking immediate interest. "I'm willing to offer a third-grade Defense Talismans Treasure plus twenty thousand spirit stones!" someone called out.

Xiao Chen perked up. "Talismans Treasure? What is that?" he asked Lü Jingfu. Lü explained patiently, "Above magic artifacts are spiritual artifacts, and above those are Treasure Artifacts. Talismans Treasure are special treasures modeled after Treasure Artifacts by Talisman Dao experts. Each grade represents one-tenth of a Treasure Artifact's power. However, they're consumables with limited uses—usually strongest during the first few activations. Most Talismans Treasures surpass ordinary spiritual artifacts. Even top-tier spiritual artifacts requiring three to four hundred true mana to activate are comparable to five-grade Talismans Treasures."

Xiao Chen nodded. "I see. Thank you, Fellow Cultivator Lü." Lü smiled. "No need to be formal. I enjoy teaching." Meanwhile, another offer emerged: "I can provide a Life-Substitute Grass Figure, but you must compensate me with forty thousand spirit stones." Xiao Chen turned again. "What's a Life-Substitute Grass Figure?" Lü Jingfu explained, "Forged by the ancient reclusive Yuchen Sect, this seven-inch grass figure requires cultivation with Vital Blood and must be carried on one's person. It can block fatal attacks, transferring all injuries, poisons, and curses to itself—effectively saving one's life. However, these are just rumors from friends."

Xiao Chen watched as Wen Ruoxi finalized the exchange. The grass figure indeed appeared unremarkable—seven inches tall with a rough surface. Uninformed cultivators would never guess its life-substitution ability. "What an amazing item—I want one too", Xiao Chen mused. "Even with Night's Blade, who would refuse extra life-saving tools? This Yuchen Sect creation will definitely come in handy someday."

When Xiao Chen's turn arrived, he simply requested, "I wish to exchange this Spirit-Fungus Soul-Cleansing Pill for mutated demon cores." Lü Jingfu's eyes widened. "Twenty-two demon cores already? This must be a reclusive sect disciple's unusual need!" He theorized Xiao Chen either possessed a secret technique for rapid absorption or carried a collection mission. "His combat power must be terrifying for his sect to let him travel alone." Lü Jingfu grinned. "Today's banquet was the perfect opportunity to secure a new trade route!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end