Chapter 342: Chapter 44 Hosting a Dinner Party
Soon after, Lin Jing entered the Immortal Abode together with Yan Wanfei.
It was only upon entering the Immortal Abode that Lin Jing realized its interior was truly spacious.
As they walked in, they were greeted by an exceedingly wide hall, with two rows of beautiful female cultivators standing on both sides of the entrance.
In the middle of the hall, there was a beautifully decorated set of stairs leading to the second floor, while the space behind the stairs was split into two rows of private rooms.
“Welcome to the Immortal Abode, esteemed seniors.”
As soon as they entered, a female cultivator came forward to greet them.
This Immortal Abode, as the largest restaurant in Bihai City, indeed lived up to its reputation—even the cultivator who came to greet them was at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
The female cultivator came forward and asked Lin Jing and his companion:
“May I know how many are in your party, sirs, and if you have a reservation?”
Yan Wanfei spoke up promptly:
“Our friends are already inside, just lead us to them will you.”
After hearing this, the female cultivator replied:
“Very well, senior.”
“This way, please…”
With that, the attendant gestured with her hand, leading the two men upstairs.
They followed the female cultivator to the third floor.
Upon reaching the third floor, they immediately saw Lu Youjiu and Holaw Three Rivers.
“Lin Daoyou…”
“Niu San…”
As it turned out, the two were waiting for them at the entrance to the third floor.
After the two ascended to the third floor, the female cultivator departed.
Then, Lin Jing and his company followed Lu Youjiu and the others around the front hall of the third floor and walked together towards the private rooms inside.
Before even entering the private room, Lin Jing saw a table full of delicacies already neatly arranged on the table, yet veiled by a layer of light screen.
The group subsequently walked into the private room.
As soon as the door was closed, a formation immediately isolated the entire room.
Not the slightest sound from outside could penetrate into the room.
This was also a soundproof formation.
The Immortal Abode really did a good job, even installing a soundproof formation inside the private rooms.
After everyone took their seats, the light screen on the table dissipated, and the aroma of the dishes wafted directly to their noses.
Looking at Yan Wanfei, his eyes shone as he eyed the delicious fare on the table, his mouth almost watering.
“It’s rare for San He to be so generous; I haven’t had the Immortal Abode’s dishes for a long time.”
Having said that, Yan Wanfei turned to look at Lu Youjiu and Holaw Three Rivers, rubbing his hands and saying:
“Bro Lu, San He, when do we start, eh? I’m about to drool to death here…”
Lu Youjiu and Holaw Three Rivers turned to look at Yan Wanfei with a look of dismay on their faces.
“Eat, let’s eat now…”
Having said that, Lu Youjiu addressed Lin Jing:
“Lin Daoyou, please try the Immortal Abode’s delicacies first, we’ll talk about everything else later.”
“Sure,” Lin Jing nodded.
Hearing this, Yan Wanfei was naturally the happiest one there.
Perhaps it was because they were friends who got along well, or it might just be his nature.
Yan Wanfei, not holding back, immediately started to eat heartily as soon as he sat down.
Whereas Lin Jing and the others, after a round of pleasantries, began to savor the food delicately.
……
It wasn’t until half an hour had passed and everyone had eaten their fill that they began to converse.
Lu Youjiu took the lead, saying:
“Lin Daoyou, actually, this meal is to apologize to you for what happened today.”
“It seems, though, that Niu San here has spoiled the atmosphere.”
After saying this.
He glanced at Yan Wanfei and shook his head ruefully.
At that moment, Yan Wanfei, who was still stuffing chunks of meat into his mouth, looked up puzzled at Lu Youjiu:
“Apologize, for what exactly…?”
What he got in return, however, was a threatening look from Lu Youjiu.
“Eat your food and cut the chatter.”
“Oh…” With that, Yan Wanfei quickly bowed his head and continued to enjoy his feast.
Lin Jing turned to Holaw Three Rivers, saying:
“If this is about the incident today, there’s really no need. It was indeed improper for me to be there while you were discussing important matters.”
But Holaw Three Rivers replied:
“It’s normal for you to step aside while we three discussed important matters.”
“However, you’re a friend brought over by Lu Youjiu and Niu San. If we failed to show proper hospitality, then it was our fault.”
“Therefore, we absolutely must treat you to this meal.”
At this point, Yan Wanfei raised his head again, addressing everyone:
“Alright, San He’s right…”
“Brother Lin, don’t take it to heart. I’m not one to overthink things. If I think someone is worth befriending, I’ll bring them back.”
“In fact, I’m partly to blame too. I should apologize for allowing you to end up outside when you first arrived.”
Having said this, Yan Wanfei pointed to the table where plenty of fine food remained and offered to Lin Jing:
“How about, you eat a bit more?”
Yan Wanfei’s words left Lin Jing not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
“What do you mean ended up outside?”
“Also, eat a bit more…”
……
Lin Jing finally understood Lu Youjiu’s predicament. He now felt like giving Niu San a beating.
Although, his intentions were always good.
Looking at Lu Youjiu and Holaw Three Rivers again, both of them gazed at Yan Wanfei with eyes full of rage.
If it weren’t for the fact that they were in the Immortal Welcoming Tower now, which was quite inconvenient,
chances are they would have already made their move.
Feeling the glare from the two, Yan Wanfei immediately shuddered; he understood that he had slipped up in his speech once again.
He quickly lowered his head and resumed his fierce battle with the delicious food in his bowl.
After Yan Wanfei’s interruption, Lin Jing and the others did not bring up the matter of apologizing again.
Afterward,
Lin Jing changed the subject and directly asked Lu Youjiu and Holaw Three Rivers,
“Lu Daoyou, Holaw Daoyou…”
“Yan Wanfei previously mentioned to me that you wish to invite me to join you and complete this task together, is that so?”
Both of them nodded, and then Lu Youjiu said,
“That is indeed the case.”
“We’re short of one person for this task, and after discussing it with San He, we thought you would be suitable, so we decided to invite you to join us in completing this mission.”
As soon as Lu Youjiu finished speaking, Holaw Three Rivers immediately spoke up to Lin Jing,
“Lin Daoyou, I heard from Niu San that you need the Earthflame Marrow Crystal, right?”
Lin Jing nodded and said,
“I’m cultivating the Divine Fire Triple Realm and I’m currently at the first level. It was not long ago that Yan Daoyou told me that I could rapidly reach the second level only by using the Earthflame Marrow Crystal.”
Holaw Three Rivers nodded and then spoke,
“That’s correct.”
“To cultivate the Divine Fire Triple Realm to the second level without the Earthflame Marrow Crystal, one would have to rely on a great deal of time and cultivation, which is possible.”
“But with the Earthflame Marrow Crystal, one can avoid many troubles and directly cultivate to the second level of the Divine Fire Triple Realm.”
“I do happen to have a piece of the Earthflame Marrow Crystal.”
As he spoke, Holaw Three Rivers took out a fiery red crystal from his Space Ring.
“This is the Earthflame Marrow Crystal,” he said.
“We all hope that you can help us complete this task and if you agree, I can give you this Earthflame Marrow Crystal right now.”
After hearing this, Lin Jing looked at Lu Youjiu and Holaw Three Rivers across from him.
Their eyes were calm and their expressions seemed genuine.
Lin Jing fell silent for a while and then said,
“I would like to understand more about your task first.”
“And, what do you need me to do for you?”
“Naturally,” said Holaw Three Rivers.
Having said that, Holaw Three Rivers continued,
“Let me explain this mission to you.”
“Actually, the task was one I accepted from the Covenant Hall of the Seven Seas Hall because the reward for the mission would be of great help to me.”
“The mission requires us to eliminate the Demon Cultivator Dai Mao from the Thousand Islands Domain.”
“This Demon Cultivator Dai Mao is cruel and murderous, committing all kinds of evil, and his cultivation has reached the Golden Core Peak.”
“Golden Core Peak cultivation?” Lin Jing’s brows knitted slightly.
“Yes,” said Holaw Three Rivers.
“However, the cultivation at Golden Core Peak isn’t really a big deal. If it came to a one-on-one fight, Youjiu alone could take him down.”
After hearing this, Lin Jing quickly turned his head to look at Lu Youjiu.
Prior to this, Lin Jing had heard from Yan Wanfei that Lu Youjiu had slain a cultivator at Golden Core Peak.
Now, hearing Holaw Three Rivers say the same thing,
It seemed that Lu Youjiu’s true combat power must be extraordinary.
However, Lu Youjiu was then furrowing his brows, lost in serious thought.
Only after a moment did he speak up frankly,
“If I were to go all out, I am seventy percent confident I could defeat him.”
Lu Youjiu said this with great confidence.
“But in a real fight, things are ever-changing, and no one knows what could happen. Therefore, if it really came to a showdown, I’d only have fifty percent confidence in killing him.”
“This Lu Youjiu…”
Lin Jing was speechless, seventy percent confident in defeating him.
In the end, Lin Jing had thought he would be more modest.
But the result was a fifty percent confidence in killing him.
It should be known, defeating and killing someone are very different things.
If the opponent doesn’t want to fight and just thinks of fleeing, intercepting them is almost impossible.
Moreover, Lu Youjiu was only at Golden Core Late Stage, while that Demon Cultivator Dai Mao had reached Golden Core Peak cultivation.
However, Lin Jing did not say anything more.
As for whether Lu Youjiu was really that confident, only the battle would tell.
At this moment,
Holaw Three Rivers continued,
“This Demon Cultivator Dai Mao, although he has Golden Core Peak cultivation, has incurred quite a number of enemies.”
“He too knows that some people mean him harm, so he is very cautious, staying all year round on Flame Island which he occupies in the Thousand Islands Domain, and very rarely goes out.”
“Moreover, he has hired someone to set up a Fifth-Rank Trap-Killing Formation on Flame Island.”
“This Fifth-Rank Trap-Killing Formation is specially designed to deal with cultivators of the Divinity Transformation Stage.”
“His enemies have no way to deal with him, which is why they put up the task through the Covenant Hall.”
After hearing this, Lin Jing thought for a moment and then said,
“You must have a way to deal with him, right?”
Holaw Three Rivers smiled slightly and nodded,
“Yes…”
“I’ve obtained an Array Plate which can dissolve the Trap-Killing Formation from the inside, rendering it ineffective.”
“However, it requires someone to bring that Array Plate into the central Formation Eye on Li Yan Island to break the Formation.”