Chapter 238 - 24: A Huge Profit, Man and Blade as One

Chapter 238: Chapter 24: A Huge Profit, Man and Blade as One

These three considerations were why Chen Ye decided to partner with Yun Heqing and Su Yuan to earn some extra money as the trading convention wound down.

"Alright, the money’s all split," Chen Ye said, clapping his hands with a smile. "Everyone worked hard today. To celebrate our successful first day, it’s my treat. We’re going to the best restaurant in Qingzhou City for a proper feast!"

"Yes!" Yun Heqing was the first to jump to his feet, his face beaming. "I heard all the dishes at Drunken Immortal Tower are made with Spiritual Materials! They say one meal there is worth a month of hard cultivation. It’s just a little pricey!"

"Then Drunken Immortal Tower it is!" Chen Ye declared with a grand wave of his hand.

’Now that I have money, I should naturally enjoy it a little.’

’Besides, I’ve been wanting to see what the top-tier cuisine of this world actually tastes like.’

Drunken Immortal Tower truly lived up to its reputation as the premier restaurant in Qingzhou Prefecture City.

The facade alone, with its three stories of upturned eaves, intricate brackets, and painted beams, exuded an extraordinary air of luxury. Even the two young attendants greeting guests at the door were actually Qi Refiners with a Cultivation base.

The moment Chen Ye and his companions drew near, an attendant greeted them with a beaming smile.

"Welcome, valued guests. This way, please. Do you have a reservation?"

"We don’t. Do you have any tables available?" Chen Ye asked.

"Yes, of course! You three are in luck. A private room upstairs just opened up." The attendant led them inside with enthusiasm.

Upon entering the main hall, a rich aroma of food mixed with a faint Spiritual Qi washed over them, instantly whetting their appetites.

The main hall was already bustling with guests. All were impeccably dressed and possessed extraordinary auras, clearly Cultivators. The topics of their conversations all revolved around Cultivation, Magical Treasures, Demon Beasts, and the like.

The attendant led them to a quiet private room by a window on the second floor. From there, they could look down at the bustling street scene below.

"Please have a seat. This is our menu," the attendant said, handing them a beautifully crafted menu book.

Chen Ye took it and flipped through the pages. Each dish name seemed to be brimming with an ethereal, celestial air.

Dragon and Tiger’s Tussle, Phoenix Weaving Through Peonies, Steamed Profound Water Carp, Spirit Rice Pearl Rice....

But the prices listed after them were enough to make one’s eyes twitch.

Even the most common vegetable dish cost one tael of silver, while meat dishes easily went for over ten.

Chen Ye didn’t flinch at the cost, however. He ordered seven or eight signature dishes in one go, topping it off with a pot of Drunken Immortal Tower’s most famous Hundred Fruit Brew.

Su Yuan also ordered a few desserts and Spirit Fruits that caught her eye.

Soon, the dishes were served, one after another. Each was a feast for the senses, perfect in color, aroma, and taste, and each shimmered with a faint Spiritual Light.

The flesh of the Steamed Profound Water Carp was translucent and seemed to melt in the mouth, transforming into a current of pure Water Element Spiritual Qi that spread through the stomach, nourishing every inch of their bodies.

The Stir-fried Fire Crow meat was firm yet tender, its spicy flavor delectable. After eating it, a pleasant warmth spread through their bodies as if a fire had been kindled within, causing the Inner Qi inside them to circulate a bit faster.

Then there was the Spirit Rice, which had been irrigated with water from a Spirit Spring. The grains were plump and fragrant, and every mouthful contained a gentle Energy.

"Delicious! This is so delicious!" Yun Heqing’s mouth was slick with oil as he ate, his face lit up with a huge grin.

Su Yuan’s face was also flushed from the meal, her large eyes crinkling into happy crescents.

Chen Ye was eating just as quickly.

He could clearly feel the food, rich with Spiritual Qi, being rapidly digested and absorbed after entering his body. It transformed into pure Energy, replenishing what he had expended that day and even slowly raising his Cultivation.

’This feeling of getting stronger just by eating is simply incredible.’

’The disciples of the great Noble Families and Major Sects eat like this every day. It’s hard to even imagine how vast the gap is.’

’This isn’t a gap that Talent alone can bridge.’

’This world is so competitive that the class hierarchy has become rigid. Even if you’re a once-in-a-generation genius, it’s still nearly impossible to compete with the scions of Noble Families who possess vast resources.’

They ate like a whirlwind sweeping away clouds, and the plates on the table were soon empty.

Yun Heqing leaned back in his chair with a round, protruding belly, too stuffed to even speak.

Su Yuan sipped her Spirit Fruit Juice, a look of pure contentment on her face.

Chen Ye settled the bill. The meal had cost him over eighty taels of silver.

"Alright, we’ve had our fill. It’s time to head back," Chen Ye said.

The three of them walked out of the Drunken Immortal Tower. The sky had grown completely dark, but the streets were lined with rows of lanterns and remained as bustling and lively as ever.

Back at the Yuelai Inn, as they were about to part ways at the entrance, Yun Heqing thanked Chen Ye profusely once again.

"Brother Chen Ye, thank you so much for today! Not only did you help me get rich, but you also treated me to such an amazing meal. Words can’t express my gratitude. From now on, you’re a true brother to me, Yun Heqing!"

"Enough of that," Chen Ye said with a wave of his hand. "We’re doing it again tomorrow. Don’t be late."

"Don’t you worry, I’ll definitely be the first one there tomorrow!" Yun Heqing declared, thumping his chest in assurance.

Watching Yun Heqing’s retreating figure, Su Yuan pursed her lips. "That guy. He’s really gotten a taste of the good life now."

"He’s not a bad person, just a bit timid," Chen Ye remarked.

"Timid? He’s just a sly old fox!" Su Yuan scoffed, then yawned.

"Anyway, I’m exhausted. I need to get back and rest, or I’ll get wrinkles!" With that, Su Yuan turned and headed back to her room.

After returning to his room, however, Chen Ye did not rest. Instead, he sat down cross-legged and began his Cultivation.

He slowly closed his eyes. The noise and glamour of the day receded like the tide, leaving only a boundless tranquility.

His Inner Qi flowed slowly through his meridians. After adjusting his body to its optimal state, Chen Ye placed the long saber horizontally across his lap.

OMMM....

The instant the first wisp of Inner Qi seeped into the blade, a familiar, soft hum resonated in Chen Ye’s mind.

His connection to the saber was even stronger than it had been yesterday.

If yesterday he could only sense a faint flicker of emotion from the blade, then today, he could almost hear its innermost thoughts.

It was a feeling of deep joy and longing, like a hungry infant wailing for its mother.

Chen Ye carefully infused more of his Inner Qi into the blade.

The Inner Qi flowed slowly through the inner world of the blade, a world composed of countless metallic crystal lattices. It washed away every trace of impurity, nourishing the faint, nascent glimmer of light that represented the Sword Spirit.

Chen Ye could clearly feel himself and the saber truly becoming one.

His heartbeat began to synchronize with the saber’s vibrations.

Chen Ye even had the strange sensation that the saber was no longer a saber, but an extension of his own body—a new arm, a new finger.

Time flowed by unnoticed.

Outside the window, the night grew deeper, and the once-bustling street had long since fallen silent.

Inside the room, Chen Ye remained seated cross-legged, as still as a lifeless statue.

But the long saber across his lap was, unbeknownst to him, undergoing an astonishing transformation.

At some point, the blade had become enveloped in a faint, cool radiance, a shimmer almost imperceptible to the naked eye.