[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-immortal-food":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-immortal-food-lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-30":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Lord of the Immortal Food",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2313153,4524,"Chapter 30","lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-30",30,"\u003Cp>“Brother Pei.” After a brief silence, Shang Lang suddenly said, “We’ve come here under a joint order from the Northern Ya  and Immortal Platform—do you know why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the information Pei Ye was silently pondering how to extract without revealing his intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this… something you can say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s hard to say? The Immortal Platform always does this—every little matter gets stamped with ‘Expedited with Care’—though I don’t mean any disrespect to Sister Xing Zhi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, you’re coming into the mountains with us anyway—you’ll find out whether you want to or not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t we still waiting for Master Zhu’s decision?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Lang laughed heartily: “That’s the most useless thing Sister Xing Zhi has said all along—Brother Zhu only says ‘hmm,’ ‘okay,’ ‘whatever,’ or ‘do as you wish.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And though few know about this matter, it’s harmless to speak of it.” Shang Lang shook his head, then leaned in with a mysterious whisper, “Unlike the other matter—no written order at all, just a verbal handover to Brother Zhu. I’ve probed him all the way and he won’t let a word slip. Does he really not trust my discretion? Anyway, I suspect… it’s also about finding something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In time, Pei Ye would grow wearily accustomed to Shang Lang’s gossipy tongue, but this was their first meeting; having been let in on what felt like confidential intelligence, he felt wary and uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s return to the first, duller matter,” Shang Lang said, extending his other hand toward the distant mountains beyond the window, like a painted scene. “A few years ago, the Immortal Platform developed a new divination technique, allowing us to monitor the emergence of Immortal Hunts. A few days ago, the divination device suddenly reacted—the interpretation pointed to the Xin Cang mountain range. That’s why we’ve been dispatched. After entering the prefecture, we heard the Candle World Cult has resurfaced, and suspect they’re also after the Immortal Hunt—so we’re investigating both. Think about it: if people and artifacts can transform into that substance, so might the Immortal Hunt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Immortal Hunt”—this was the second time he’d heard the term.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye already had a guess, but asked: “Brother Shang, I’m inexperienced—what is an Immortal Hunt?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Born of the Azure Void, favored by the Earth, the spirit among all spirits, sent by the Immortals to patrol,” Shang Lang said. “The Southern Vermilion Bird, the Northern Ya ’s Bi’an, the Daoist Immortal Crane, the Water Dragon of Dongting… any divine creature without kin or clan, unique in all the world, may be called an Immortal Hunt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That naturally included… the Xin Cang Divine Chi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye asked: “How will you investigate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Lang didn’t notice the boy’s tense tone: “Each Immortal Hunt has a different nature. Some, like the Qilin, are auspicious beasts; others, like Bi’an, are righteous beasts—we naturally seek to befriend them, hoping to serve the Great Tang. Some, like the Suanni, are calm and reclusive—we leave them undisturbed. But sometimes, creatures like Taotie or Yazi appear, harming living beings. These are no longer called Immortal Hunts—they’re called Demon Calamities. When we encounter them, we must eliminate them immediately, lest they form pacts with evil men and bring fresh bloodshed and chaos. Do you know what a pact is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I think I know a little,” Pei Ye said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Lang smiled and explained: “A pact is a life-and-death bond between a human and an Immortal Hunt—mutually beneficial, greatly advantageous to both. For cultivators, forming a pact with an Immortal Hunt ranks third among the ‘Five Great Paths to Ascension.’ That’s why Brother Zhu leads this mission: first, to ensure strength; second, because the Immortal Platform believes this Immortal Hunt may resonate with him, so he can see if there’s a chance. From this, we can infer this Immortal Hunt is likely a good one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye had never heard of the “Five Great Paths to Ascension,” but didn’t ask further—he felt slightly guilty and confirmed: “Is this Master Zhu a swordsman?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh… what if this Immortal Hunt has already formed a pact with someone else?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Lang’s smile faded: “What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean… hypothetically.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a strange hypothetical.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just speculate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, this scenario is unlikely—Immortal Hunts often wander the mortal world for years before finding their destined partner. Second, if it has already formed a pact, we’ll try to bring that person back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring them back for what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To serve the Great Tang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, that’s good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Lang stared at him, then frowned slightly: “I feel like you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve got a feeling,” Pei Ye interrupted, his expression serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?” Shang Lang didn’t catch on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dantian,” Pei Ye said, extending his right arm before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thought, the blue veins in his arm swiftly receded, retreating into his dantian; his arm returned to normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sharp qi perception,” Shang Lang praised, then studied the arm. “You can summon them back at will, can’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. This increases power greatly.” Pei Ye thought, and blue Wen  reappeared across his arm. “The ‘web’ woven by the ‘Spider’ remains intact—it can return anytime.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If so, the other three limbs and internal organs should also achieve this effect. But for safety, you should only let it manifest in this one arm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye nodded. He was about to speak when footsteps pounded through the courtyard—a constable halted at the door, breathless: “Young Master Pei, Master Shang—the front hall calls you both immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two exchanged glances and rose at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They strode into the main hall just as a man’s hollow voice finished speaking: “...we split into four groups, but now... now only I have arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye frowned and pushed open the door. Inside, a new figure stood—a man in rough clothes, short and sturdy, with unkempt hair, copper skin caked in dust, mud-cracked pant legs. His eyes were red-rimmed, lips parched, yet he ignored the tea beside him—he must have been the one speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other three sat grim-faced. Seeing them enter, Xing Zhi spoke first: “Shang Lang, gather the Longwu Army.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Lang saluted and turned to leave. Pei Ye, confused, stepped beside Chang Zhiyuan, who handed him a crumpled yellow hemp paper: “This man is a hunter from Bai Zhu Village. Read his message.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye took it. The ink was slightly smudged by sweat, but legible:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To the County Magistrate: A demonic tiger in the outskirts of Bai Zhu Village has devoured over twenty people. Send thirty Hefucexiashi  or three hundred Fubing  immediately! Urgent! Urgent! Urgent!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the bottom, in small script, the signature: Zhao Baishu, village head of Bai Zhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye finished reading, stunned, and set the letter down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just Bai Zhu—Fenghuai County was nearly buried within the Xin Cang range. Hunters were common, and tigers and leopards were not feared by its people. For seasoned hunters, knowing the beasts’ habits and acting cautiously yielded pelts worth over ten taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of “demonic tiger” could terrify the long-resident hunters of Bai Zhu Village into demanding such heavy aid?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t the Immortal Hunt the Black Chi? Where did this demonic tiger come from?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Pei Ye realized writing a rescue request required skill—Shen Yanping’s report to the prefecture must have been concise and clear, precisely stating the crisis, the enemy, and the requested aid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This note, however, was vague on details; much of the village’s condition could only be guessed. But the village lacked investigators and didn’t understand state authority—this was understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye frowned. Chang Zhiyuan gripped his wrist and whispered: “Don’t get involved in this. The Cexiashi  are the strongest force the common folk know. Zhao Baishu’s request shows how deeply he’s shaken.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye fell silent for a moment: “Chang… Uncle, I have to go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Alright.” Chang Zhiyuan released his wrist, concerned. “Then I’ll issue a personal order—you’ll calm the people of Bai Zhu Village and authorize you to recruit local militia for deployment. Huan Er, you’ll also tell Village Head Zhao to cooperate fully with Pei Ye. Though young, Pei Ye is thoughtful, courageous, and calm—he’s fully capable of this task.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye and the hunter both nodded in assent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jing Ziwang rose solemnly: “Since matters are urgent, we won’t delay—we leave now.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1366,"2026-06-20T13:17:09.438Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","561e1d541cc1a07d8f8177d491ad6482c9bc4909786602ee494d5d33642f77bc","lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-31","lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-29",771,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-immortal-food-cover.jpg"]