Chapter 255: Is Hot Pot Really This Potent?

A few days later, Lin Xuan, Wang Ye, and the others arrived in Sichuan.

Inside a time-honored hot pot restaurant in Sichuan, the spicy aroma permeated the air. The bubbling red oil in the pot reflected the flushed faces of the diners, and the entire private room was shrouded in a steaming white mist. Lin Xuan and his party sat around a sandalwood round table, which was covered with all kinds of fresh ingredients.

Wang Ye and Zhuge Qing were already sweating profusely from the spice, yet they could not stop their chopsticks. Wang Ye, in particular, would sigh with admiration at the authentic Sichuan flavor every time he picked up a piece of tripe and placed it into the churning red broth.

"I really didn't expect Sichuan hot pot to be this potent!" Wang Ye wiped the sweat from his forehead, his eyes shining remarkably bright. "This taste is incredible! Lin Daozhang, you should try this tripe too; it seems to be a specialty of this shop, it's especially chewy."

Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai sat on either side of Lin Xuan, seemingly uninterested in the food before them. Their gazes swept across the corners of the private room from time to time; they had noticed that since they entered the shop, several faint, lingering gazes had been focused on them. As snake demons who had taken human form for a thousand years, such subtle surveillance could not escape their perception.

"Someone is watching us," Xiao Qing said in a voice only Lin Xuan could hear. "At least three people; they should be from the Tang Sect."

Lin Xuan nodded slightly and continued to sip his tea in a leisurely manner, as if he were completely indifferent to this surveillance. Just then, the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open, and a familiar voice came through.

"Isn't this Lin Daozhang? What a coincidence!" Wang Zhenqiu walked in with a beaming smile, followed by his special "bodyguard"—Guodong. The moment he saw Lin Xuan, a flash of sharp light crossed his eyes, as if he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

"Brother Wang." Lin Xuan raised his teacup and nodded slightly, his tone flat. "It is indeed a coincidence."

"Lin Daozhang is also heading to the Tang Sect, right?" Wang Zhenqiu rubbed his hands together in a fawning manner, though his eyes hid a hint of calculation. "Why don't we travel together? It would be good to have some support on the road. Besides, I am quite familiar with the situation here, and I might be able to help with something."

Lin Xuan glanced at him, his gaze as deep as water. After a moment, he nodded lightly: "Very well." The simple two words made Wang Zhenqiu overjoyed. Being able to stay by Lin Xuan's side was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity for him. Whether it was to gather information or for his own safety, this was the best choice.

"Great!" Without another word, Wang Zhenqiu pulled out a chair and sat down. "Come, come, it's my treat today! Waiter, add a few more of the spiciest soup bases! Oh, and bring out all the specialty dishes of your shop!"

Under his enthusiastic hospitality, the atmosphere in the private room immediately became lively. Even the usually vigilant Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai gradually relaxed their guard. However, they did not know that at this moment, in the corridor outside the private room, several Tang Sect disciples dressed in plain clothes were closely monitoring everything.

"Sect Leader," one of them took out a phone and dialed a number, his voice kept extremely low. "Lin Daozhang and the others have arrived; they are currently at the old hot pot restaurant on Chunxi Road. It looks like they are planning to head to our Tang Sect first thing tomorrow morning. And..." he paused, "Wang Zhenqiu has also joined them."

Tang Miaoxing on the other end of the line was silent for a moment, his tone carrying a hint of deep meaning: "Very good, everything is proceeding according to plan. Keep watching them, do not disturb them, just ensure their safety. By the way, what dishes did they order?"

"This..." the man was a bit confused. "They are all our local specialties: spicy beef tripe, spicy blood curd..."

"Good, I understand." Tang Miaoxing interrupted him. "Pass the word down: be mindful when preparing breakfast tomorrow, don't make it too heavy on the seasoning." Such details were often the best way to show hospitality.

After hanging up the phone, Tang Miaoxing walked to the window and looked at the street scene in the distance as the lights began to come on. After so many days of preparation, he had long been looking forward to Lin Xuan's arrival. The Nine Dragons Awakening World Map was already prepared, just waiting for tomorrow to see the outcome. But now it seemed that things were much more complicated than he had imagined.

After the meal, at Wang Zhenqiu's suggestion, the group went to the most famous old teahouse nearby. Sichuan teahouses formed a school of their own; they were both places to drink tea and hubs for gathering information. They encompassed all walks of life. The manager, seeing these guests of extraordinary temperament, immediately gave up the best seats on the second floor.

"Lin Daozhang," Wang Zhenqiu picked up his teacup and asked casually, "I wonder if this trip to the Tang Sect is for..."

"Drinking tea." Lin Xuan interrupted him flatly, his gaze resting on the street scene outside the window. "The tea is good tea."

Wang Zhenqiu gave a sheepish laugh and dared not ask further. But he noticed that when he mentioned the Tang Sect, a strange light seemed to flash in Lin Xuan's eyes. This made him even more certain that this trip to the Tang Sect was by no means as simple as it appeared on the surface.

Early the next morning, when the first rays of morning sunlight spilled onto the gate of the Tang Sect Martial School, Lin Xuan and his party had already arrived before it. Above the tall, vermilion-lacquered gate, the four large characters "Tang Sect Martial School" shone with golden light.

The disciples guarding the gate saw them and immediately came forward respectfully. Especially when they saw Lin Xuan, they were so deferential they almost broke their waists bowing: "Lin Daozhang, you have finally arrived! The Sect Leader has been waiting for a long time."

Wang Zhenqiu stood behind, and seeing the disciple who had chased him away a few days ago, he couldn't help but make a face. The disciple's face turned red, and he lowered his head, pretending not to see. The situation was different now; with Lin Xuan present, who would dare to put on that arrogant air from before?

Passing through the spacious Martial Arts Arena, the group finally arrived in front of the main hall of the Tang Sect. On the stone steps in front of the hall, Tang Miaoxing was already waiting. As soon as he saw Lin Xuan, he immediately walked up to greet him, the smile on his face exceptionally sincere.

"Lin Daozhang, I have long admired your name!" Tang Miaoxing was all smiles, though a hint of undisguised scrutiny flashed in his eyes. "It is truly an honor for our Tang Sect to have you as a guest!"

Lin Xuan returned the greeting with a calm expression: "Sect Leader Tang is too kind." The simple four words made Tang Miaoxing's heart tighten. The bearing of this young Daoist far exceeded his imagination.

Just as the group stepped into the main hall, in a small town dozens of miles away from the Tang Sect, several experts from the All-Profound Sect were also closely monitoring the movements here. They had chosen a roadside stall; on the surface, they were eating breakfast, but in reality, they were discussing countermeasures.

"Are you sure Lin Xuan really went to the Tang Sect?" Gong Qing lowered his head and slurped some noodle soup, but his eyes were unusually sharp. After investigating for this period, he had a new understanding of Lin Xuan's strength. To be able to refine a Pill in this era that could trigger celestial phenomena—such methods were simply too astonishing.