https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-255-The-Birth-of-a-Magical-Artifact/12554424/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-257-Transcendent-Sword-Immortal-Nie-Kun/12554426/
Chapter 256: The Eight Directions Culinary House
Chapter 256: The Eight Directions Culinary House
In the tense atmosphere, the door to the small building opened once more.
Everyone turned to look, and their eyes fell on a tall, slender young man in ink-colored robes as he strolled out.
Casually, he returned the jade box to Lin Jingyi and calmly swept his gaze over the crowd, their faces grim.
Without a word, he summoned the Red Cloud and rose slowly into the air, heading unhurriedly toward the outskirts of the Great Qian Dynasty.
"..."
Hou Wanshan was taken aback, unsure of what Master Shen was thinking.
Instead of rushing back to the Martial Arts Temple or staying longer in Lizhou, he was blatantly leaving in full view of everyone... toward the outskirts of the Great Qian?
Wasn't he just asking to be robbed?!
As expected, the few Hybrid Elemental Sect Masters, after their momentary daze, subconsciously reined in their emotions.
Like predators stalking their prey, they tried to conceal the greed in their eyes.
"Uh."
Lin Jingyi felt that this scene seemed strangely familiar for some reason.
He then sympathetically glanced at the few sect masters.
The Red Cloud in the sky seemed to be taking a leisurely stroll, hovering in the sky for a moment as if to ensure everyone could see where it was headed.
"I have other matters to attend to. Farewell for now."
A short-tempered, diminutive man turned to leave the crowd.
But his companion yanked him back and whispered, "Can you use your brain for once?"
Aside from the fact that the general of Lizhou hadn't made a move yet, which clearly indicated a trap, the poor acting of the ink-robed youth treated them like fools.
...
Outside the Great Qian.
Shen Yi stood atop the Red Cloud with his hands clasped behind his back, accompanied by Qinghua Furen.
He quietly waited for a while.
Turning back, he saw that the horizon was still empty.
He had hoped for some extra profit, but it seemed the opportunity had passed.
"They're probably still inquiring about your background," Qinghua Furen said, seeming to understand these cultivators well. "When traveling abroad, such obvious opportunities are rarely taken by anyone."
Everyone wanted a windfall, but they valued their lives even more.
Shen Yi retracted his gaze and raised his palms. His long fingers seemed to hold nothing, but upon closer inspection, one could discern the flow of cold light.
Cold Jade Xuan Silk Hands.
Was this the true treasure?
Shen Yi clenched and unclenched his palms, barely feeling its presence.
Though he hadn't seen many fine treasures, the others' reactions indicated that it must be an extremely precious item.
"Forget it, let's not wait any longer."
Shen Yi lowered his hands and asked Qinghua to lead the way.
Once they had completely left the Great Qian's territory, the environment changed drastically.
There were no signs of human habitation, nor any roads.
A slight misstep in direction could result in a detour of thousands of miles from their destination.
According to the travelogue he had perused earlier, the Eight Directions Culinary House was located in a not-so-large valley west of the Great Qian.
The valley was filled with all sorts of rare treasures, which they used to create various medicinal feasts.
Though called a culinary house, to other factions, it was more akin to an alchemy sect.
A single medicinal feast could rival an extremely high-grade pill.
Thus, it was beloved by countless powerful beings.
"If that cultivator's cave abode is truly in the Eight Directions Valley, Qinghua estimates... quite a few people should know about it."
Qinghua Furen had visited once before, so she had a better grasp of the situation than the book could provide: "They don't provide their culinary delights to just anyone, but neither do they turn people away. They pride themselves on being a culinary house and refrain from involving themselves in cultivator disputes."
"Also, because of this, the culinary house has a wide network of friends, including powerful cultivators like Xuanjian Zhenren Nie. So, others generally don't dare to cause trouble there."
Qinghua Furen turned to Shen Yi, "Even without revealing your true body, with your cultivation, you will be treated as an esteemed guest."
"I understand."
Shen Yi knew she was reminding him of the need to be cautious.
When traveling abroad, one had to know when to hide and when to reveal one's strengths.
Having broken through to the Hunyuan realm long ago, he had been concealing his cultivation ever since. Now that he had left Great Qian, he no longer needed to hide his true power.
His figure suddenly accelerated, streaking across the sky.
...
In the midst of a vibrant valley stood a nine-story tall, crimson treasure tower.
It was not overly luxurious, but it exuded a sense of festivity.
Unlike Great Qian, which was governed by the Martial Arts Temple, this place was devoid of order.
The fact that they could be so high-profile without the need for an array to conceal their presence was a testament to the depth of the Eight Directions Culinary House.
At this moment, the place was bustling with people, creating a lively atmosphere.
A red cloud streaked across the sky, and a figure in ink-colored robes descended, promptly dismissing the Red Cloud.
Two young servants glanced up.
The arrival of a Hunyuan Grandmaster would never be treated with indifference, no matter the place.
However, the two servants' attitudes could hardly be described as enthusiastic as they drawled, "If you're here for a meal, please go to the third floor and look for Miss Mei. If you're here for something else... please wait on the first floor."
"..."
Qinghua Furen hovered in the air, anxiously glancing at her master.
She never expected that the Eight Directions Culinary House would dare to treat even a Grandmaster with such indifference.
"Mhm."
Shen Yi nodded slightly, showing no sign of surprise.
He strode inside and found himself in a spacious hall with two to three hundred small tables placed at various intervals.
Qinghua was taken aback.
Now she understood why the two servants had such attitudes.
Nearly all the tables were occupied, but not a single one had food on it. Instead, the occupants had divided into several factions, eyeing each other coldly.
Among them were several cultivators exuding a Hunyuan aura.
A fine culinary house like this had now become fraught with tension.
Not only were many people aware of it... but the place was also almost packed.
Shen Yi raised an eyebrow and casually chose a table in the corner to sit down.
When those who had been staring at him noticed that he was alone, they quickly averted their gazes.
Until another group of five walked in.
Everyone's expressions changed slightly, and they all stood up together. "We pay our respects to Elder Zhang."
The leader of this group wore a black robe and had a black beard, indicating he was in his prime.
Three others also wore black robes, while only one, an elderly man in gray casual wear, seemed out of place.
"Xuanguang Cave," Qinghua whispered.
Shen Yi, seated in the corner, did not stand up, and thus no one paid him any mind.
He calmly glanced at the elderly man in gray.
The man had a jade talisman hanging from his waist—a golden wolf jade talisman.
The Grandmaster of the Great Qian's Hunyuan Sect had been dispatched to resist the demons, and now they had arrived at the Eight Directions Culinary House.
Everyone was loudly claiming connections, including over a dozen Grandmasters, but Zhang Zhenren remained indifferent, maintaining a calm and relaxed demeanor.
At that moment, a figure in a red skirt slowly appeared on the staircase.
She frowned at the people from Xuanguang Cave and said softly, "Zhenren Nie is currently dining upstairs. Please keep the noise down."
Her words seemed to carry some sort of power.
In an instant, the entire hall fell silent; one could hear a pin drop.
"..."
Elder Zhang's eyes twitched, and he no longer stood in place but quickly walked up the stairs with his group.
He then turned back and said coldly, "Wait here and don't let anyone disturb me... while I dine with Brother Nie."
Hearing this, the elderly man in gray nodded silently and stood at the staircase entrance.
"To have a Hunyuan Grandmaster stand guard..."
"...What a show of power."
Although they were blocked downstairs, the many cultivators did not seem displeased. Instead, they looked on with reverence, their hearts filled with awe.
As expected of Xuanguang Cave, what a grand gesture.
(End of Chapter)
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