Xu Ziqing glanced at Yun Lie and asked with a smile, “Is there any dish you particularly like, Shixiong?”
Yun Lie replied, “Order whatever you wish.”
Hearing this, Xu Ziqing pondered for a moment and boldly ordered one of each type of Wind Beast meat from the first to eighth level. This extravagant gesture drew a look of surprise from the serving girl beside them.
It’s important to note that the Wind Beast meat served at the Gathering Wind Tower was notoriously expensive. Typically, patrons here would focus on other dishes, sampling the higher-level Wind Beast meat only occasionally. It was rare for a customer to treat it as an ordinary meal and order so much without a care. Now, it seemed he might end up spending several thousand high-quality spirit stones.
Fortunately, the serving girl was accustomed to seeing affluent patrons and didn’t ask about their financial background. If the guests couldn’t produce the spirit stones, the owner of the Gathering Wind Tower would handle it, and as a mere servant, she had little to do with it.
Having made up her mind, the girl quickly noted down the dishes and turned to leave.
As soon as she left, two even more beautiful maidens arrived, carrying tea and handkerchiefs, to wash their hands and serve tea to the two men with utmost courtesy and grace.
Though these were just two mortal girls, they were in their youth and had striking appearances, making them a joy to behold, seemingly not inferior to women who had already entered the path of cultivation. Hence, even male divine cultivators or practitioners couldn’t help but appreciate their beauty.
However, Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie hadn’t come just to admire beauty. After sipping their tea, Xu Ziqing started to inquire about information.
The two exquisite maidens noticed from the two men’s demeanor that they were not interested in indulging in female charm, so they straightened their posture and answered freely, sharing everything they knew.
It was customary for mortal girls serving patrons in the private dining rooms of the Gathering Wind Tower to remember each guest for safety. Among Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie’s three companions, Xun Liang and Yin Xiu were relatively low-key, while Tu Jin, who practiced both righteous and demonic paths, was unlikely to restrain himself anywhere.
Thus, even though the prices here were extremely high, the three of them had also tasted Wind Beast meat in the private dining rooms when they arrived.
Coincidentally, one of the two girls who had previously served the guests now came to serve the two brothers.
The trio had come to the Tempest Field for a gambling contest, and it wasn’t a secret. They spoke openly, and some news naturally reached the maidens’ ears.
Soon, Xu Ziqing learned from them what he wanted to know.
There were five entrances to the Tempest Field, named Gate A, Gate B, Gate C, Gate D, and Gate E, positioned in different directions. Entering through different gates meant they wouldn’t easily encounter one another. The two sides had agreed to meet at Gate C on the day when the winds were mildest, and then each would go to different entrances to avoid any clashes in the same area.
As for where the three had been staying recently… the maidens only gathered that they were resting and cultivating in a nearby inn but didn’t know which one.
However, this information was sufficient.
Xu Ziqing relaxed significantly. It seemed that if he headed to Gate C on the seventh day, he would naturally meet his companions, and he could even see the other five members.
At that point, wouldn’t it be easy to propose traveling together with Tu Jin and the others?
As fellow cultivators from the lower realms, it wouldn’t be fair for just three against five, and he and his shixiong could not simply stand by.
Before long, the dishes they had ordered were prepared and brought to the table one by one by the beautiful maidens, who moved gracefully as if gliding, laying the dishes out elegantly.
The dishes were indeed exquisite, divided into eight ranks, with each dish served on a jade plate to preserve its spirit and flavor. The jade plates varied in color and appearance, each more beautifully crafted than the last. The higher the quality of the jade plate, the finer the Wind Beast meat it contained, with rich and layered aromas that filled the air, creating a divine culinary experience.
No wonder the prices were so high; this was truly a delicacy from the earth!
Xu Ziqing saw this and first picked up a piece with his chopsticks, placing it in Yun Lie’s bowl. He smiled and said, “Shixiong, please give it a try.”
Yun Lie took a piece and offered some back to Xu Ziqing, who also tasted it.
The two men exchanged glances and then continued to savor the delicious food.
Though cultivators did not need to eat, the desire for food existed in everyone; some could suppress it while others chose not to. Now, with some leisure time and in this extraordinary place, it was a pleasure to appreciate the flavors.
While the Wind Beast meat was expensive, the portions were not large.
The first four ranks of dishes had a reasonable amount, but as the quality increased, the portions became smaller. Especially the eighth-grade Wind Beast meat, which amounted to just eight thin slices, barely enough to savor the flavor but leaving no sense of fullness.
After a short while, the two brothers had finished their meal.
Xu Ziqing felt a warm sensation in his stomach at first, but as he continued to eat, that warmth spread through his limbs like a current, nourishing his blood and flesh. Within a few breaths, he even felt a slight boost in his vitality… Surely, this must be the effect of the seventh and eighth-grade Wind Beast meat?
However, Xu Ziqing’s physical body was already full of vitality and resilience, supported by the strength of the trees. As long as he cultivated diligently, he wouldn’t need to pay too much attention to such things. Still… he felt a spark of interest and looked at his companion. “Shixiong, do you feel anything?”
He didn’t know why, but he had a faint premonition.
Yun Lie adjusted his breathing slightly before replying, “It can refine my Immortal Demon body.”
Xu Ziqing was delighted and asked, “How much can you absorb?”
Yun Lie answered, “One hundred percent.”
Xu Ziqing was momentarily stunned.
One hundred percent? Did that mean he could absorb it all without wasting any? If this dish provided so many benefits to his shixiong, merely spending spirit stones in the Gathering Wind Tower was probably not a long-term plan. Now was the perfect time to hunt more Wind Beasts while entering the Abyss with his companions, striving to store up the meat… He needed to ensure his shixiong had enough to enjoy in the future.
After taking out some spirit stones to settle the bill, Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie did not leave immediately.
Given that the Gathering Wind Tower could conduct such business here, it naturally had an impressive backing. Since they dared to sell eighth-grade Wind Beast meat for spirit stones, they must have connections related to the restaurant.
Behind the Gathering Wind Tower was the Gathering Wind Inn.
The two directly checked into the inn, dining at the Gathering Wind Tower every day, enjoying dishes of the fourth rank and above. Only the Wind Beast meat of such high quality could truly be useful to Yun Lie, while Xu Ziqing simply enjoyed the delicious food.
In just a few hurried days, the couple spent a great deal, drawing the attention of the innkeeper and waitstaff. Over the years, they had seen many wealthy patrons, but they had never encountered cultivators as extravagant as these. They were now seeing a broader world and hoped the two would stay a bit longer to earn more spirit stones.