Spirit Shuttle, Red Sleeve Workshop.
Chen Mu sat in a corner booth.
The broad solid-wood table before him was covered with dishes of every kind, most of them fish.
Chen Mu picked up a tender white slice of fish and put it in his mouth. His teeth pressed down lightly... but failed to bite through it.
He applied a little more force, and a salty flavor with a hint of sweetness struck his taste buds.
"The taste is decent, but the meat has been tenderized too poorly. It affects the texture." Chen Mu shook his head as he passed judgment.
Most Exotic Beast Meat was tough.
Some of it chewed like rubber.
Though those who ate such meat were strong and had astonishing bite force.
If every ingredient in a meal was that tough, though, it would be exhausting on the teeth.
As Chen Mu silently analyzed the seasonings to learn from them, he stared unblinkingly at the alluring figure projected onto the enormous transparent water sphere overhead.
"Tsk tsk, this fish meat sure is pretty."
His ears twitched.
The buzzing jumble of voices throughout the hall slowly separated and became clear.
"If we tell Chongshan Dao about that group of Jilong Dao disciples, do you think we could get a huge sum of White Jade Coins?"
"If you want to die, go by yourself."
"Who knows whether Dao Master Dongli is dead or not."
"It'd be interesting if True Person Bai Ta were dead."
"Chongshan Dao is probably pulling back its forces, which is why that group dared to show themselves."
Listening to this gossip, Chen Mu let out a breath of relief.
What he feared most was being surrounded and attacked by Chongshan Dao the moment his group showed themselves.
It seemed Chongshan Dao and Jilong Dao