Outside the majestic gates of the Imperial City, verdant sprouts reared their tender heads as the end of winter heralded the arrival of spring . Having been covered in snow for an entire season, the soils around the capital finally began to show signs of revival . All around, a burgeoning aura of life washed over the lands .
Along the wide main road just outside of the capital, a crisp clip clop could be heard echoing over the horizon . From a distance away, a figure slowly loomed into view .
It was an old man dressed in a full-bodied robe, riding an ashen-gray donkey while holding a gigantic wine gourd in his hand . As he made his way toward the capital, he would take a swig from his wine gourd from time to time, all the while swaying right and left .
With a satisfied look on his face, the old coot would hum a small ditty between each swig of wine .
Standing beneath those majestic gates of the imperial capital were three figures with their backs perfectly straight as they stood there watching while the chilly winds ruffled their coats .
As Tang Yin laid eyes on the looming figure of a donkey-riding old man, his eyes lit up . "Master, the senior has arrived . " Tang Yin couldn't help but quip to Ni Yan, the woman standing beside him .
Ni Yan nodded her head and pursed her lips . That old drunkard sure had a sense of humor . . . to think he actually chose to ride a donkey here all the way from Wuliang Mountain . Could there be anything more comical than that?
"So this is the Senior Hu, whom master always talks about . " Longbow strapped over his back, Ye Ziling opened her eyes wide to get a closer look at the old senior who came riding a donkey .
"If you're trying to say that your master always talk about an old drunkard, then yes, that's him . " Ni Yan smiled and gave Ye Ziling a jovial pat on the back .
Once more, the rhythmic clip clop of the donkey cut across the quiet of the icy air . Suddenly, within the mere moments it took for their hearts to jump in surprise, what was originally a distant figure actually appeared before them in an instant .
Still reeling from the surprise, Ni Yan gasped . But that donkey was just . . . Why was its trotting speed so quick!?
"You damned brat, an old bag of bones like me can't take this kind of shock anymore . If this old man doesn't see this Five Stripes Path-Understanding Fruit Tree, then you can forget about ever touching his wine ever again!" The old man snapped, mouth wide open, after which he took another swig of wine .
Hearing that, Ni Yan immediately griped to herself, "as if anyone would think about that Dragon's Breath of yours when they had Owner Bu's Frost Blaze Path-Understanding Brew over here in the capital . "
The old drunkard flipped himself over the donkey's back, secured his wine gourd to his waist and then pulled up his pants before flashing Tang Yin and Ye Ziling a roguish smile . With donkey in tow, he proceeded onwards toward the imperial capital .
"So this lass is that old witch's disciple?" *clicking tongue* "Well, isn't she a pretty one . " The old drunkard smiled once more after giving Ye Ziling a throughout look .
Immediately, she returned the old coot an alarmed look .
Like that, the four of them continued their light-hearted banter as they walked toward the gates . Yet, just as they were about to enter the capital, a thunderous beastial howl echoed in the distance .
Ni Yan and the others promptly whipped their heads in the direction of the howl . As for the old drunkard, he made sure to take another swig of his wine before turning around as well .
All they saw in the distance was a giant black dragon with its wings fully extended, bellowing as it flew in their direction . As it did so, its body let forth a surge of mighty aura that could have only come from a pseudo-dragon like itself .
"Oh hoh, a seventh grade spirit beast, Black Hell Dragon?" The old drunkard chuckled .
Unlike the senior, Ni Yan and the others were all suffering under the pressure of that mighty dragon . Suddenly, their eyes narrowed as they noticed a figure standing aloft on that dragon's back .
It was a hunched-back old man with an aura as steadfast and heavy as a mountain .
"That's . . . an expert from the Godly Temple of the Wildlands?" Ni Yan murmured .
So an eighth grade expert from the Godly Temple of the Wildlands had finally joined the fray .
. . .
Within a small courtyard in the imperial capital, the Ghost Chef Wang Ding was in the midst of dissecting a fifth grade spirit beast with a few flourishes of his cleaver .
His hands were so nimble that the cleaver almost seemed to dance in his palms . With every flourish, a slice of spirit beast meat came flying off .
In mere moments, an entire spirit beast was stripped clean by his practised slices .
Storing the cleaver, the Ghost Chef wiped his hands clean before shakily making his way back to a tiny house within the courtyard . There, he sat down on a rocking chair and slowly rocked himself .
Just in front of the rocking chair was a gigantic black wok . The wok was bubbling with a white steam that gave off a strange odor as it wafted around the room .
After sitting there for a while, the Ghost Chef stood up and brought in a giant bucket . Within the bucket was the meat he had just dissected not too long ago .
Lifting up the lid on the wok, a rush of steam shot out and into the sky .
With an inscrutable look in his eyes, Wang Ding stared at the bubbling in the wok . His lips curled into a slight smile, after which he tossed all of the meat within that bucket into the wok .
Crackle… The meat began threshing about in the wok at a rapid speed .
Hands quivering, the Ghost Chef retrieved a tiny jar from his tunic and flipped open its lid . From within, he fished out a dark purple pill with two of his nearly dried up fingers .
Laughing creepily, he crushed the pill between his wizened fingers and poured the powder into the wok before covering it once more .
"That's the 35th fifth grade spirit beast . . . another two more and the Essence Meat Broth should be ready . By then, the fight for the Path-Understanding Fruit Tree should've started .
The Ghost Chef shakily made his way back to his rocking chair and plopped himself down comfortably . As he did so, he covered his legs with a plush fur blanket before resuming his rocking .
. . .
Over the past few days, the tiny restaurant had seen increased traffic . A number of Battle-Saints had long since lost their patience and had to see for themselves how far the Five Stripes Path-Understanding Fruit Tree had grown .
Of those that came, a number had been thoroughly conquered by the small restaurant's chef after having a taste of some his dishes . From then on, they became daily customers . After all, being able to savor such delicacies while basking in the Path-Understanding Notes of the fruit tree honestly wasn't a bad deal at all .
Within an earthen flower pot, tucked away in a corner of the restaurant, the Five Stripes Path-Understanding Fruit Tree grew . Its leaves had taken on a dark green hue and were riddled with a profoundly complex set of veins . There were five of them that coiled around it like a tiny snake .
Hidden amongst the leaves were three spirit fruits, the size of an infant, hanging tantalizingly off the tree's branches . As they barely hung onto the branches, four light blue clouds could be seen engraved onto their peel .
Those present knew that the moment the fifth cloud appeared, that meant the fruit had completely ripened .
Today, however, there were only four cloud engraved; it was still one short of the magical five .
"Xiaoyi, serve the dish . " The faint voice of Bu Fang echoed from the kitchen .
A moment later, a bowl of piping hot Fish Head Tofu Soup was placed onto the windowsill of the kitchen by Bu Fang .
Ouyang Xiaoyi weaved around the dining hall along a path she taken multiple times before, dish in hand, till she finally came up to the table of a man dressed in a red robe .
"Your Fish Head Tofu Soup, please enjoy," Ouyang Xiaoyi said in her usual bubbly voice before winking at the handsome man dressed in a set of red robes .
For the past few days, this man visited them on a nearly daily basis . Each time, he would order a different dish and after finishing it, would leave right away, unlike the other Battle-Saints who loitered around for a long time, like flies .
"Many thanks . " The man smiled warmly at Xiaoyi before turning his attention to his soup .
By now, Mu Lingfeng had been thoroughly conquered by the delicacies of this tiny restaurant . The first time he had a taste of its heavenly dishes, he received the shock of his life . Every pore in his body quivered from delight and his heart practically leapt out in joy .
He wasn't the only one either . Around him, a number of Battle-Saints had grown accustomed to this daily routine of finishing a dish or two and leaving right after .
"Such a pity . . . Once this fruit tree matures, this tiny shop will turn into a battlefield . I doubt it will survive then . . . I wonder if I will ever get the chance to savor such delights again . " Mu Lingfeng lightly sighed to himself .
"Hmm?" Just as he took a few sips of his soup, his consciousness stirred . He promptly took out a jade talisman; it seemed to be sending a message of some sort .
"Elder Bian is already here?" Mu Lingfeng gasped in surprise, with one hand still ladling the fish soup with a blue and white porcelain spoon while the other operated the jade talisman .
"Pooey!"
Suddenly, Mu Lingfeng couldn't help but spit out the mouthful of fish soup he drank . His eyes suddenly widened as he accepted the message within the jade talisman, with a look of incredulity on his face . Truly, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry .
"Sheng Mu, that moron . . . he actually called for Elder Xia? He's even rushing here right now with the elder in tow . . . What exactly is he up to? Is he trying to make a move right now?" Mu Lingfeng had a dumbstruck expression on his face at the moment .
In fact, the Three Godly Temples of the Wildlands weren't as united as they seemed; each temple often competed with each other . Mu Lingfeng, himself, belonged to the Imperial Beast Hall . The Elder Bian he mentioned earlier was an expert of said Godly Temple .
As for Sheng Mu, he belonged to the Ferocious Divine Hall . Like the name suggested, he was all brawns and no brains . Elder Xia was an elder of the Ferocious Divine Hall and was a famously stupid but destructive man . . .
With the Five Stripes Path-Understanding Fruit Tree so close to maturity, the fact that this bunch of people were rushing here right now . . . wasn't it a bad thing?!
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