Chapter 92

She enthusiastically agreed.

That night.

A grand banquet was held on Taohuadao to treat the Beggar Hong Hong Qigong.

Huang Rong personally went to the kitchen, displaying her exquisite and peerless culinary skills.

Dish after dish of delicious food, complete in color, aroma, and taste, was served like a flowing stream.

There was Beggar's Chicken, fatty but not greasy, with a fragrance that filled the air.

There was Osmanthus Glutinous Rice with Lotus Root, sweet and sticky, overflowing with the scent of osmanthus.

There was "Twenty-Four Bridges Under the Moonlight," beautifully shaped and rich in flavor (ham nested with twenty-four tender pigeons).

And there were various mountain delicacies and seafood, seasonal fresh vegetables, a dazzling array that made one's mouth water.

Hong Hong Qigong ate to his heart's content, praising without end, repeatedly commending Huang Rong's cooking as surpassing the master.

Even Guo Jing, sitting nearby, ate until oil dripped from his mouth, enjoying it immensely.

The Old Pervert Zhou Botong even let loose, competing with Hong Hong Qigong and Guo Jing for food, creating a scene that was once very "chaotic" yet joyful.

After eating and drinking their fill, everyone sat together chatting.

Under the "corrosion" of the delicious food, Hong Hong Qigong also revealed more intelligence about recent movements in the Jianghu.

"To be honest with everyone, indeed, there are undercurrents surging in the Jianghu now," Hong Hong Qigong said, taking a sip of fine wine and smacking his lips.

"Besides the Xixia Yipintang mentioned earlier, as this old beggar knows, there are many other forces eyeing Taohuadao greedily."

"For instance, the Four Evils of Xixia Yipintang, each is a ruthless and vicious person, and their Wu Gong is not weak either."

"Also, the Shanzhuang of the Great Ming Dynasty is said to have sent secret agents to investigate the whereabouts of the Nine Yin Manual in secret."

"The Southern Murong family in Jiangnan also seems very interested in the Nine Yin Manual, sending many people to operate around the East Sea."

"Of course, the one requiring the most caution is the White Camel Shanzhuang of the Western Poison Ouyang Feng. That old poisoner is sinister and cunning, and skilled in using poison; if he comes personally, it might cause some trouble."

"These are just what this old beggar knows. Among them, there are at least seven or eight Grandmaster Realm figures on the surface!"

"As for those forces and experts hidden in the dark that we do not know of, there are probably even more!"

"It can be said that Taohuadao has now become the target of all!"

Hearing Hong Hong Qigong's words, the expressions of Qu Qu Lingfeng, Lu Chengfeng, and others became Solemn again.

Although they had confidence in Brother Ning Chuan's strength, thinking of facing so many powerful enemies, including Grandmaster Realm figures, they could not help but feel some worry in their hearts.

Only Brother Ning Chuan remained calm in expression, as if what Hong Hong Qigong said were all trivial matters of no consequence.

With his current strength, unless the legendary Immortal Realm descends personally, he would not panic.

However many Grandmasters come, he will suppress them all!

Huang Rong listened, but asked with some confusion: "Uncle Hong, I don't quite understand."

"Although the Nine Yin Manual is powerful, it shouldn't attract so many Grandmaster Realm experts, right?"

"Over ten years ago, my father also obtained a Fragment of the Nine Yin Manual; back then, although there was contention in the Jianghu, it didn't seem as fervent as now, did it?"

Hearing this, Hong Hong Qigong sighed and said: "Huang girl, you don't know."

"Times have changed."

"Recently, a new rumor has circulated in the Jianghu."

"It is said that after the Huashan Sword Contest, the True Person Wang Chongyang, the Divine ability, Wang Chong, briefly appeared in the Liyang Dynasty."

"Someone witnessed him fighting a top expert of the Liyang Dynasty; with a mere gesture, he summoned the power of heaven and earth, with immeasurable might, already surpassing the Fan Chou of ordinary Tupoda Sect."

"Afterwards, rumors spread that the reason True Person Wang Chongyang could reach such a realm was because he had completely mastered the Nine Yin Manual!"

"Even more people asserted firmly that as long as one obtains the complete Nine Yin Manual and cultivates it to perfection, there is a one hundred percent certainty of breaking through to the Tupoda Sect realm!"

"There is even a sliver of hope to glimpse that ethereal, almost Buddhist and Daoist, Immortal Realm!"

"What?! One hundred percent breakthrough to Tupoda Sect? And hope to glimpse the Immortal Realm?!"

Hearing this, everyone sucked in a cold breath, their faces showing an expression of sudden realization.

No wonder!

No wonder those Grandmaster Realm experts who had been famous for so long were so eager for the Nine Yin Manual!

For them, the Tupoda Sect realm was their lifelong pursuit!

And the Immortal Realm was an even more Supreme Realm existing only in legends!

If the Nine Yin Manual truly had such divine effects, then let alone Grandmasters, even those reclusive Tupoda Sect experts would be tempted!

Hong Hong Qigong nodded and continued: "It is precisely because of this rumor that the appeal of the Nine Yin Manual is greater than ever before."

"Now, the Jianghu believes that the complete Nine Yin Manual is in the hands of your father, Huang Laoxie."

"Therefore, Taohuadao naturally has become the target of all."

After hearing this, everyone's hearts felt heavy.

It seems the days ahead for Taohuadao will probably not be peaceful.

Immediately, Hong Hong Qigong patted his chest again and laughed heartily:

"However, you little ones need not worry too much."

"Since this old beggar has eaten so many delicious dishes from your Taohuadao, I naturally cannot eat for free."

"I have decided to stay on Taohuadao for a while longer."

"If any unseeing rascal dares to come and cause trouble, this old beggar will definitely Huichushou Gang to help, letting them know the might of my Beggar's Dog Beating Staff Technique!"

Although he appeared carefree and irreverent in daily life, in the face of major right and wrong, he still had strong principles and a chivalrous heart.

Hearing this, Qu Qu Lingfeng and others immediately breathed a sigh of relief, quickly stood up, and bowed to thank Hong Hong Qigong.

With the presence of the top Grandmaster Hong Hong Qigong, the security of Taohuadao undoubtedly gained another layer of protection.

However, when they saw that Ning Chuan still wore that calm, breezy, utterly placid expression,

the worry in their hearts eased on its own, considerably.

As long as this unfathomably mysterious Acting Island Master was present, every hardship and obstacle could be sliced through like a hot knife through butter.

……

After the banquet, the night deepened.

The crowd dispersed one by one to rest.

Ning Chuan returned to his own small courtyard.

He coiled beside the deep, secluded pool, feeling the surging, inexhaustible Flood Dragon power within his body, as well as that slowly rotating, profound-black Flood Dragon core within his dantian sea of qi.

His heart brimmed with an unprecedented sense of power and confidence.

Having shed his skin into a Flood Dragon and broken through to the Grandmaster Realm, his strength had undergone an earth-shaking transformation.

Projecting true qi outward, condensing qi into gang — for him, these had long been effortless.

He could even clearly sense the thin spiritual energy between heaven and earth around him, and attempted to draw it into his body to fuse with his own Flood Dragon essence.

He planned to take all the martial arts he had previously created — Heavenly Snake Whip, Heavenly Snake Pupils, Heavenly Snake Chant, Heavenly Snake Dance, Heavenly Dragon Body-Forging Art, and so on —

and, using his current Grandmaster Realm and the traits of a Flood Dragon's body, optimize and elevate them once more.

making them more powerful, and a better fit for his present state.