Chapter 281: Gods Fight, Mortals Suffer

"Such a polluted spiritual root, or cultivation methods, even incomplete scrolls will do, or information about a cave dwelling—handle it as you see fit."

Shen Yi transmitted his voice through a pebble and, taking advantage of the moment, handed several storage bags to Aqing.

"Understood."

Aqing clutched the bag excitedly; for some reason, this unreasoned trust from the other party always made her feel an inexplicable warmth and joy in her heart.

The others were already growing impatient and wanted to rise and approach.

Just then, a row of servants descended from the upper floor, each holding a jade tray.

The rich aroma instantly attracted everyone's attention.

Even the matter of exchanging treasures was cast aside.

They quickly served delicacies to every table according to the number of people present, and brought out fragrant medicinal wine.

At the very rear of the servants, Mei Xiyao walked gracefully toward the corner.

She stopped slowly, a hint of respect on her exquisite, pretty face, and said in a gentle voice: "True Person Qingfeng invites the two of you upstairs for a chat."

Aqing very conscientiously excluded herself.

Her hands pressed against the table, watching the passing servants, she unconsciously swallowed her saliva.

Seeing this, Mei Xiyao chuckled lightly: "Rest assured, a portion will be prepared for you as well."

"Thank you, Miss."

Aqing happily withdrew her gaze.

To onlookers, however, this caused many to shake their heads in private. Did this pale-faced young man think that sweet talk alone could win Miss Mei's favor? Having welcomed and sent off guests at the Eight Directions Food Pavilion for years, her standards were already higher than the sky.

However, even True Person Qingfeng was inviting that senior.

Indeed, the background must be deep.

"Good."

Though Shen Yi was somewhat puzzled, he did not refuse.

After all, having just left Great Qian, he had truly seen very few formidable experts of any real stature.

Chen Zhong, however, was indifferent.

He knew clearly he was merely an afterthought; he was just curious why Aqing had been specifically left out.

The two stood up; Shen Yi glanced at Aqing: "Finish eating and continue working; do not wander off."

"Mm-hmm!"

Aqing gripped her chopsticks; the delicacies of the Eight Directions Food Pavilion were things she had only heard of from elders, never truly tasted once.

Shen Yi withdrew his gaze and followed Mei Xiyao toward the upper floor.

They went straight up to the ninth floor.

Even Chen Zhong, given his age, could not help but look around curiously.

Masters of the Hunyuan Sect are allowed at most on the lower five floors.

Only those in the Transformation of Spirit Realm have the qualification to go up to the sixth floor, and whenever the sixth floor is open, it is inevitably a day when the Eight Directions Food Pavilion widely invites guests for a banquet.

As for the ninth floor... this is a privilege unique to Nie Jun, and precisely because of this, the food pavilion dares to set such rules.

"You're here."

True Person Qingfeng sat behind a wooden table and raised his hand toward the two.

This place was not as magnificent as Chen Zhong had imagined; in fact, it was so simple it was hardly different from a street-side eatery.

The youth did not seem very accustomed to it, but he still smiled and nodded: "Sit."

Shen Yi sat down calmly: "I wonder what business True Person has with me?"

If he remembered correctly, until now, he had no connection whatsoever with Mount Wutong... except for the Spirit-Gathering Furnace inside the storage treasure.

"A young heavenly genius; seeing you brings joy."

True Person Qingfeng's lips curved upward; he did not withhold words of praise: "Let us not discuss matters; eat first."

Yet, with his tender appearance, speaking such words made one want to laugh.

It was as if he saw Shen Yi's discomfort.

True Person Qingfeng rolled his eyes: "I look young because I broke through to Slain Hunyuan quickly; I have now idly passed over three thousand eight hundred years... eat quickly."

With that eye-roll, the faint air of a high expert vanished instantly; where was the look of a cultivator who had lived nearly four thousand years?

Chen Zhong hailed from Great Qian; although he had some connection with Mount Wutong, he remained silent, not uttering a word to flatter the True Person despite his gentle attitude.

He knew well how arrogant the disciples of Mount Wutong were.

This one was merely disguising himself well.

Soon, Mei Xiyao lifted the cloth curtain, but she did not have the qualification to serve dishes; the one responsible for carrying the plates was that thick-necked old man, the owner of the Eight Directions Food Pavilion.

The dishes were simple to the extreme.

Each person received only one plate, containing several pieces of sliced, richly oily, dark-sauced shank meat.

True Person Qingfeng did not even use chopsticks; he grabbed the meat with his hands and shoved it into his mouth without ceremony.

Chen Zhong carefully picked up a piece with his chopsticks; after tasting it slightly, his entire old face froze in stupor.

"..."

Shen Yi had just chewed once, and coldness rose in his eyes.

Between his teeth, that insignificant piece of meat turned into demonic blood and was swallowed into his belly.

One piece of meat, one drop of blood.

If this were not the flesh of the Demon Emperor, Shen Yi would have crushed the plate and swallowed it.

He did not believe his current identity warranted being treated with such treasures.

Although Chen Zhong did not possess the Demonic Blood Divine Art, once the beef entered his stomach, he immediately sensed something was wrong.

Stopped chopsticks in mid-air, dazed.

"True Person, speak of the matter first."

Shen Yi set down his chopsticks and looked across at the opposite side.

"No, you must really eat; if you don't, I'll feel too awkward to speak."

Qingfeng True Person waved a hand, swallowing chunks of tendon meat in large bites.

Until the plate was empty, he raised his head to look at the two silent figures opposite him and said helplessly, "Actually, this truly has nothing to do with you; today I mainly came to find him."

He pointed a finger at Chen Zhong.

"Ah?" Chen Zhong looked up in surprise.

In the next moment, the old man's entire face turned deathly pale.

"After eating, hurry back to Great Qian; do not come out for the next few hundred years."

Qingfeng True Person wiped his hands on his sleeve: "My senior brother directly slaughtered the Blood-Transformation Demon Emperor; there, the very one you just ate. I couldn't dissuade him; he has that dog-like temper—anyone who provokes him must die."

"The Thousand Demon Den may not dare to run wild on Mount Wutong."

"You have seen the fate of the Xuan Guang Cave; a Soul Transformation True Person dies the moment he is told to."

"However, what worries me most is your Great Qian. Those Golden Bodies in the Martial Temple cannot leave the Imperial City, right? Your Shenxu Laozu is still sleeping, and your territory is so vast... Tsk."

Watching Chen Zhong nearly faint.

Qingfeng True Person awkwardly advised, "Actually, it may not be so; they might continue seeking my senior brother."

Truly not?

Chen Zhong struggled to stay conscious; between Nie Jun and Great Qian, which one is the soft persimmon—does it require much thought?

The Blood-Transformation Demon Emperor of the Nineteenth Cave died just like that... Previously, Bai Yu Yao Huang had also died.

Won't the Thousand Demon Den go mad?

Across the Nine Provinces, weaknesses are everywhere; there is nowhere to defend.

"My Mount Wutong is not the kind of cowardly rat that dares not take responsibility for its deeds; several senior brothers and senior sisters have broken through their seclusion to attract some of the Thousand Demon Den's wrath."

"Anyway... you must rely on your own luck." Qingfeng True Person shook his head.

When immortals fight, mortals suffer.

This has never been empty talk.

Zhu Shixiong Nie is merely killing demons; he bears no ill will, only his eyes are raised too high to see the common people beneath his feet.

"Elder, this Chen takes his leave."

Chen Zhong rose trembling, his mind unsettled, bowed to Shen Yi, then walked slowly downstairs.

"Why does your complexion look rather poor as well?"

Qingfeng True Person sighed, then curiously looked at the youth opposite.

"Is that so?" Shen Yi picked up another piece of beef with his chopsticks and sent it to his mouth, his eyes showing no ripple.

"Then perhaps I misread it."

Qingfeng True Person smiled faintly; the youthful face finally bore a trace of Mount Wutong's flavor.

Zhang Cheng woke from sleep to find the people around him unchanged, but the world had changed.

The Abyss World descended, monsters invaded, and humans could awaken various abilities to explore the Abyss and resist the monsters.

Only, he discovered that the ability he awakened seemed rather dog-like.

"Increase teammate's strength by 1000%; your teammate has been strengthened!"

"Your teammate has erupted; emotions and state have reached their peak, yet collapse is imminent. Shall all bonus attributes be reclaimed, while you yourself gain a permanent increase?"

At the end of the Abyss, the Supreme Demon God who had destroyed countless worlds looked down upon the human team that had exhausted themselves yet still could not defeat him; they lay on the ground, utterly powerless to resist—truly a swarm of weak insects.

Suddenly, the support member who had been hiding at the rear of the team stood up and slowly walked toward him; with each step he grew stronger, and in an instant he transformed into an ancient giant god filling the entire Abyss, gazing down upon all.

"Ant of the Abyss, you have done your utmost!"



(End of this chapter)