Second Order Foundation Establishment Fluid

The sudden lineup had made the Inner Courtyard disciples who had been jeering at the chefs quietly retreat.

Big Black Fatty glowered as he shoved through the crowd. Seeing Fire Monkey still shouting, he raised both hands and lifted him by the collar.

"What are you doing?" Fire Monkey was startled by the giant before him.

"What am I doing? You bastard!"

Big Black Fatty slapped him across the face.

"You came to bully people at our Spirit Chef Hall? Were you raised on shit? Spit out the Ten Thousand Fish Banquet for me!"

Big Black Fatty let out a furious roar, spraying Fire Monkey's face with spittle. The powerful gust made his flesh crack with a popping sound.

"Ah..."

Fire Monkey clutched his bleeding face. After taking a punch to the stomach, he collapsed on the ground and vomited violently.

"You made a whole bellyful of this, and you still expect us to fear you? You're nothing!"

"You insulted our chefs. Beat him! Beat him to death!"

Dozens of chefs swarmed Fire Monkey, raining down punches and kicks. The referee did not dare say a word, worried that he would never get to eat here again.

Who did not know the three Vajras of the East Courtyard's Spirit Chef Hall? A disciple had once insulted Big Black Fatty and ended up with diarrhea until he questioned the meaning of life. In the end, he had to come and apologize with thorns strapped to his back before the matter was settled.

The onlookers were horrified. Were chefs really this lawless? Fire Monkey had been brought here by Ling Yao, after all.

"Stop! Do all of you want to be punished?" Ling Yao shouted furiously.

"What, chefs don't have human rights?"

Big Black Fatty sat down on Fire Monkey's face. "Who started this mess in the first place? Are members of the Ling Family sore losers?"

"Members of the Ling Family are sore losers? You'd better take responsibility for those words!"

Ling Yao knew Big Black Fatty's background very well. His biological uncle was a High-Ranking Star Official and the controller of the Spirit Chef Hall, with considerable influence in the Star Palace.

But Ling Yao's status was even more exalted than his.

"Fourth Brother, was there anything wrong with what he said?"

Big Black Fatty did not even look at him. He knew Ling Yao's background, and the two sides had always kept out of each other's affairs. But were the chefs supposed to swallow this humiliation?

This concerned the dignity of the Spirit Chef Hall. They could not stand by and do nothing.

"The boss is right. Since the Ling Family's word means nothing, I say we don't want these star stones anymore!"

Chen Fusheng ranked fourth. "And those who insulted our chefs earlier—if they have even the slightest shred of decency, they'd better not go to the banquet hall."

Second Fatty angrily cursed, "Fourth Brother is right! Do you think it's easy for us to brave wind and rain? We serve you delicious food and drink every day, work ourselves like dogs, and you still look down on us!"

Dozens of chefs shouted that they were quitting. The people who had been preparing to mediate all darkened with worry. If the chefs went on strike, they would all have to drink the northwest wind.

"Everyone, calm down. Is it really worth this over such a minor matter? You're all fellow disciples. Just talk things out and it'll be fine." The referee came over to smooth things over.

"Shut your mouth!" Third Fatty pointed at him and cursed. "You're the referee, yet you can't even sort out the wager. Hurry home and drink your milk!"

The old referee was so furious he wanted to hang himself. But these three hell-raising demons were descendants of mid-level Spirit Chefs—not people he could afford to provoke. Besides, he was in the wrong.

"That's enough! All of you, shut up!"

"What kind of conduct is this, making such a racket? Do you want all the powerful families of Tian Yuan City to laugh at us?"

Ling Yao said coldly, "Fire Monkey's words were inappropriate, and he has been taught a lesson. As for you people, since you took a nine-year-old child's words seriously, then the star stones are yours."

"But let me make this clear first. You can't just win by luck and then think you're free to leave, can you?" Ling Yao knew this debt could not be dodged.

Chen Fusheng kicked the half-dead Fire Monkey and said, "So according to your wishes, even after winning, we still can't leave?"

"Did I ever say that? I was even planning to take out a Second Order Foundation Establishment Fluid and play a round with you. But it seems I'll have to find someone else." How could Ling Yao be willing to let them off so easily?

Second Order Foundation Establishment Fluid?

Big Black Fatty thought that Ling Yao had gone mad. Foundation Establishment Liquid was already scarce and rare—at the second-order level? The price would be at least a hundred thousand!

Chen Fusheng felt as though a cat were scratching at his heart. Foundation Establishment Liquid was specifically used to forge the foundation of one's physical body, and the second order was aimed precisely at the Other Shore Realm.

Everyone knew that any Second Order Foundation Establishment Fluid could help a Star Master of the Other Shore Realm effectively condense an Acquired Treasure Body. It was an incomparably rare resource.

Ling Yao had originally planned to adjust himself to his peak state, refine the Foundation Establishment Fluid to strengthen his body, and then surge into the Divine Traversal Domain in one breath.

But he was unwilling to let them off just like that. He also believed that the Foundation Establishment Fluid held an irresistible temptation for Chen Fusheng.

"Fourth Brother, the Second Order Foundation Establishment Fluid is far too important. If he loses, he'll definitely renege. Let's go."

Big Black Fatty stood up, not forgetting to take another jab at Ling Yao. He was practically calling him a shameless stray dog.

Ling Yao's anger surged. "Stop making sarcastic remarks here. If you don't dare, then leave."

"Ling Yao, don't provoke me with your words. I don't have a treasure equal in value to the Foundation Establishment Fluid." Chen Fusheng spoke.

"I don't need you to produce any treasure. You should know what I want and what I need. Of course, the Longevity Fish and the others will be counted too."

Ling Yao glanced at Chen Fusheng's heart.

Chen Fusheng had not expected that bastard to still be coveting his Heart Blood.

Ten bowls of Heart Blood would amount to taking half his life. It would damage his roots so severely that he would be almost impossible to heal. Of course, with the Furnace Contemplation Method, he could replenish it.

"What do you want to bet?"

Those words caused an uproar. Liu Bai panicked, because Ling Yao's confidence in taking out Foundation Establishment Fluid as the wager was simply too great.

Mu Zhen hurriedly sent him a voice transmission. "Little Chen, are you crazy?"

Wang Lie said nothing. Chen Fusheng was somewhat uncanny. He could even bring in top-grade spirit fish; his fishing talent was absolutely first-rate.

"Fine. A gentleman's word is his bond!"

Ling Yao said, "As for the rules, victory will be decided after three nets. How about a time limit of half an hour?"

When Chen Fusheng nodded, Mu Zhen stamped her foot in anger. If he stumbled here, it would be difficult to get back on his feet in the future.

"Looks like Fourth Brother has some real ability. He's only been in the game for a month, yet Ling Yao dares to cross him. Just wait—Fourth Brother will accomplish great things in the future!"

Big Black Fatty's expression was solemn. After spending the past few days together, they had seen how tough Chen Fusheng's physique was. A Second Order Foundation Establishment Fluid? It was worth taking a risk for!

At present, more and more spectators were gathering around the fishing grounds. Top-hundred disciples arrived one after another. The wager involved in this dispute was simply too high.

"Begin!"

The old referee gave the order.

Chen Fusheng activated the Purple Python Crossing River Diagram. His perception surged layer upon layer—onefold, twofold, threefold, fourfold...

He seemed to transform into a purple giant python stretching across the long river. His ability to explore the Black River was astonishing, and he felt as though the waters within dozens of miles were held in the palm of his hand.

After a short while, Chen Fusheng analyzed the movement patterns of more than twenty fish schools. One medium-sized school was active too far away for the Golden Silk Net to reach.

Chen Fusheng's target was still spirit fish. Activating the Purple Python Crossing River Diagram burned money, and catching ordinary spirit fish would only mean a loss.

Fortunately, he had been lining his own pockets during this period and had activated more than a dozen engraved diagrams bit by bit. If the Purple Python Diagram ran out, he could replenish it with the energy of his other engraved diagrams.

Chen Fusheng also noticed that Ling Yao had begun casting his net, using Scented Bait powder to lure in the fish schools.

Knowing he could beat Ling Yao to them, Chen Fusheng searched in an area farther away.

"This life signature is as intense as a flame. Could it be an incomparably rare fire-attributed spirit fish?"

The Flood Dragon Ship moved slowly across the water. This was naturally not the original river area, and he began casting the Golden Silk Net to catch fish.

"Boom!"

All of a sudden, a deafening sonic boom rang out. The air exploded with noise, its force capable of tearing ordinary mortals apart in an instant.

Chen Fusheng's body throbbed with pain, and he was nearly blasted away.

"Not good!"

Big Black Fatty's expression changed dramatically. Ling Yao had actually taken out a second Golden Silk Net and swung his left arm, seizing the area where Chen Fusheng had cast his net.

Clearly, Ling Yao had used his mental force to analyze Chen Fusheng's casting trajectory. The sight made everyone cry out in alarm. Was he openly stealing the catch?

"Bang!"

As the fishing net sank, a large swath of dazzling red light rose from the riverbed. Clearly, he had caught a spirit fish.

"That's far too shameless!" Liu Bai was so furious he nearly vomited blood.

"What do you mean, shameless? I sensed it at the same time as him. His speed was simply inferior to mine. That only proves his cultivation is inadequate."

Ling Yao sneered as he hauled up the Golden Silk Net. A strange, brilliant-red spirit fish burst from the water, its tail seemingly made of blazing flames and impossible to miss.

"My heavens, that's a Red Sun Fish!"

Everyone was stunned. Fire-attributed spirit fish were extraordinarily rare and of paramount importance to fire-element Star Masters. Strictly speaking, they could raise the quality of a fire-element Star Master's energy.

Once the quality of one's energy rose, a Star Master's overall combat strength would naturally increase as well. The boost brought by such a qualitative transformation was terrifying. Thus, the price of a Red Sun Fish was several times higher than that of spirit fish of the same rank!

Wang Dapang watched from afar, his expression ugly. Chen Fusheng's experience in such struggles was still limited. Ling Yao had taken advantage of him just like that.