Chapter 103: Sweet and Sour White Qilin Ribs

"Brother Fengshang, surely you aren't..."

Qing'er pursed her lips, hesitating for a moment before continuing, "If Brother Fengshang were only looking to swindle some pocket change, I wouldn't say a word. But the World God Note is a rare treasure even for the Yuchu Sect. If they investigate later, it won't just be trouble—it will be a stain on the reputation of Nine-Star City."

Qing'er offered her advice with kind intentions.

"I am merely appreciating it. What are you thinking?" Fengshang looked annoyed, as if he had been underestimated. He sent a telepathic message: "Qing'er, in your eyes, am I someone who cares so much about wealth? And to swindle a little monk, at that? Even if I were threatened and beaten into jumping off the ship, I would never do something so shameless!"

The young man's words were resonant and firm, his annoyance masking a disdainful spirit.

But clearly, Qing'er was not wrong. Fengshang had undoubtedly already made up his mind to swallow this World God Note.

Qing'er shook her head slightly. Brother Fengshang’s acting was decent, but he had refuted her with such excessive force that it was impossible not to show his true colors. Yet, she did not expose him. Thinking that he was putting so much effort into this performance just to deceive even her, a faint blush crept across her jade-like face.

Playing along with his game, she whispered, "I'm sorry, Brother Fengshang. I misunderstood you."

Fengshang gave a haughty, cold snort, showing no sign of a guilty conscience. He generously returned the Immortal Peng Blazing Moon Note to the little bald boy, saying, "Here, take it."

The little bald boy received it, blinked his eyes in confusion, and whispered secretly, "Young Master Feng, why are you giving it back? Is this note not enough as a deposit?"

"You're a fool. I told you I was just appreciating it. How could I accept it in front of so many people? Give it to me again when we find a place with no one around," Fengshang instructed.

The little bald boy had a sudden realization.

Old Yuan’s eyes rolled around. He felt that this was the golden opportunity for the young master of Nine-Star City to foster a friendship with his own young master, and he decided to add fuel to the fire.

"Young Master Feng, we have come to the Ancient Beginning Cultivation Domain to quell disasters. I hear that the Hurricane World is full of strange anomalies and hidden star-evils. Why don't we travel there together?"

"What a coincidence, I happen to be heading to the Hurricane World."

Fengshang smiled. This old man was truly perceptive. He had been looking for an excuse to travel with them, and just as he was feeling sleepy, someone had brought him a pillow.

"That would be wonderful," Old Yuan said, overjoyed.

The Daoist ship drifted along, carving a golden arc through the starry sky as it headed toward the Hurricane World.

Old Yuan directly dismissed the tens of thousands of sect members on the Pure Yang Map. In truth, he had wanted to do this for a long time; while those people’s thunderous shouts satisfied the little bald boy's vanity, they were also embarrassing the Yuchu Sect.

On the Daoist ship, the group sat on the deck.

Fengshang looked at the others and brought out a dining table carved from flame-god crystals, filling it with rare fruits and delicacies that exuded a mouth-watering aroma.

"Allow me to treat you to a meal."

The little bald boy touched his stomach upon seeing this. His constitution made him hungry easily; back at the Yuchu Sect, he often just gnawed on a sweet potato. Upon arriving in the Ancient Beginning Cultivation Domain, the first thing on his mind was filling his belly. Seeing so much fine food, his eyes lit up.

Fengshang had been out on many travels and naturally knew how to enjoy life. As long as he had the ingredients, his "Void Manifestation" energy could instantly cook them to perfection. So-called culinary arts could also be achieved through this "void" ability. He had developed this divine energy to its absolute limit.

"Have a taste."

Fengshang picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of sweet-and-sour white qilin rib into his mouth. The juices burst forth, rich and fragrant. As he chewed, the explosion of flavors on his taste buds made him squint his eyes in intoxication.

There was also Phoenix-Tail Nine-Star Fish, God-Fire Garlic Sprouts, grilled Li-Fire star-beef, and stir-fried purple-gold mushrooms with pepper and salt—all signature dishes developed by the Heavenly Mansion Food Hall in Nine-Star City. Fengshang visited the hall every few days; the fact that he frequented it so often spoke for itself regarding the deliciousness of the food.

"Brother Fengshang is truly amazing!"

Seeing so many delicacies, Huang'er’s large eyes twinkled. Her snow-white nose twitched as she inhaled the various aromas, and her little tongue darted out. Unable to hold back any longer, she started using her chopsticks diligently.

Ying'er and Qing'er were no exceptions. Despite their reserved and elegant demeanor, they ate with no lack of speed, their rows of crystalline little teeth moving rapidly.

The little bald boy was a bit embarrassed at first, but when he saw the others eating with such gusto and the food on the plates disappearing at a visible rate, he grew anxious. Disregarding etiquette, he joined in the feast.

"It’s so delicious!"

The little bald boy’s eyes shone, and his nose and mouth puffed out colorful spiritual energy—white, yellow, purple—the overflowing divine essence within the food.

"Young Master Feng actually possesses such skills!" Old Yuan was surprised. Having just tasted a piece of the sweet-and-sour white qilin rib, he was amazed.

Within this qilin meat, there were hundreds of spiritual spices perfectly blended together, seeping into the firm, tender, and essence-rich flesh. As it entered his mouth, it teased his taste buds and yielded against his teeth, releasing an aroma as elusive as the moon behind light clouds or snow swirling in the wind. It was enough to make one's soul take flight. Even as a peak Light Master, he found the aftertaste endless.

"Eat to your heart's content. There's more if you need it," Fengshang laughed generously. He had only just set out and had already gained an Immortal Peng Blazing Moon Note; he was in a great mood and didn't mind treating them to a meal.

"The white qilin comes from the White Moon Divine Domain. With immortal light radiating from its body, it is the king of beasts and majestic in every way. I have long heard of its splendor, but to think that today..." The young man set down his chopsticks, his expression slightly complex. Such a renowned spirit beast had actually ended up as food on a person's plate.

"Master Wuming, you only know one side of it, not the other. White qilin meat is unique and rich in divine essence. Since ancient times, it has been the top delicacy used by major star-divine realms to entertain guests. The White Moon God Lord has made a fortune from it, haha!" Fengshang laughed.

"Mm-hmm, delicious." The little bald boy’s cheeks were puffed out, his mouth glistening with oil and fragrant with meat. His hands moved so fast they became a blur as he snatched the last piece of Snow Mountain Tea-Smoked Ancient Treasure Chicken before little Huang could, earning him a pouty glare from her.

Eventually, the whole group was wined and dined to satisfaction.

"Young Master, these dishes contain a significant amount of spiritual energy. Be mindful of your digestion," Old Yuan cautioned.

"Alright, I know," the little bald boy waved his hand, rubbing his round little belly with a satisfied expression. He squinted his eyes leisurely, looking peaceful and incredibly comfortable.

In all his life, he had never eaten so heartily. He decided that once they were done, he would have Old Yuan ask Fengshang for the recipes.

The Daoist ship drifted along, drawing ever closer to the Hurricane World.

...

In a mysterious ancient cave within the oldest Primeval Meteor Mountain of the Hurricane World, a weather-beaten, dilapidated gray figure sat in the shadows, shrouded in mist and impossible to see clearly. His robes were ancient, bearing the marks of time, as if he were a man from a bygone era.

*Clatter.*

He cast nine turtle shells from his hand.

The shells, a greenish-gray, landed on the ground and formed a strange hexagram.

Observing the trajectory of the lines on the shells, the figure suddenly murmured: "Strange, strange. The person I have been waiting for is to appear today. The divination cannot be wrong. Who is it? Who can traverse all ninety thousand meteor mountains, kowtow to the Buddha Head, and inherit the legacy of my Shang Sect?"