Dragon Stew

Soon, the Gao family's cook brought over a large pot, from which steam rose and a rich aroma filled the air. The white meat was stewed until translucent, and the broth had turned snow-white, making Li Fan's mouth water at the mere smell.

Six Golden Core warriors carried the large cauldron up, then served the dragon soup on silver platters. Since Li Fan was disguised as a savage, he didn't need to worry about etiquette. As soon as the soup bowl was served, he grabbed a large piece of meat rib with his bare hands and sucked on it.

Wow! No wonder dragons are almost extinct, this tastes absolutely amazing!

How to describe it? It's more tender than fish, fresher than chicken, and more chewy than shrimp. When you put it in your mouth, it feels like a surge of energy rising and surging, hitting your lungs and heart. The aroma of the meat is intoxicating. Large chunks of oil float in the rich broth, melting in your mouth. It's fatty but not greasy. When you drink it down in one gulp along with the broth made from various mountain delicacies and medicinal herbs, you feel an overwhelming heat, like that of a whole dragon, filling you from head to toe.

"Huff, huff, crunch, crunch, gulp, gulp!"

Li Fan wolfed down the meat, chewed the bones, drank the soup, and even swallowed the spices. He practically licked the plate clean before wiping the oil off his mouth, still feeling a bit unsatisfied.

Then he turned his head and found Gao Ming and a group of cultivators staring at him with their jaws agape.

If beating them up before turned the contempt in their eyes into hatred, now that they've eaten a bowl of meat soup, their eyes are looking at them as if they're looking at a ghost.

"Hey, keep going! There's still some left in the pot!" Li Fan licked his lips and patted the table to indicate that he wanted more.

"Aruba is truly a hero!" It was the young marquis who first came to his senses, giving a thumbs-up in praise, "Come on, give this brave warrior another bowl!"

"I didn't just grab eight seats! Bring me eight bowls!"

"Alright! Give the brave warrior eight more bowls! Let him eat his fill!" Gao Ming laughed heartily, quite generously.

The strongmen shuddered and didn't dare to say anything. There was indeed quite a lot of dragon meat, so they specially left someone to change Li Fan's plate.

This time, the worshippers around them dared not jump out and compete with Li Fan. They just kept their heads down and ate what was on their plates. How did they eat? They used jade chopsticks to pick up a small piece, put it in a small porcelain bowl, added some soup, and used a spoon to chew slowly, one bite at a time. After eating about a stack, they stopped swallowing, put down their bowls and chopsticks, and then sat upright and solemnly, entering a meditative state. They closed their eyes, regulated their breathing, and used their internal energy to digest the medicinal power of the dragon soup. Their faces were radiant, thick smoke billowed from their heads, and they were all covered in sweat, as if their skin was burning. Smoke was rising from their mouths and noses.

Li Fan rolled his eyes, snorted coldly, gulped down a big mouthful, and finished off another plate of meat. These people's stomachs weren't up to par; their digestive abilities weren't good enough. Of course, they had to chew slowly and use their internal energy to help them eat.

To put it bluntly, these sorcerers and mages haven't cultivated their bodies enough; they could compensate for their physical deficiencies simply by cultivating their Qi. As for the two melee protectors, they were drinking and eating heartily, but they were also losing energy as they ate, which was a waste of their resources.

Gao Ming, on the other hand, didn't eat the bowl of soup he was given. He just took a couple of sips with the spoon and then handed his plate to Duan Tie.

Duan Tie thanked the young marquis, ate the dragon meat soup, wiped his mouth, straightened his back considerably, and the pain in his ribs was gone.

So it turns out they used Dragon Soup to cultivate these Martial God Body experts and win over so many worshippers. I saw more than a dozen flying by in the sky earlier; it seems the Gao family is indeed blessed with good fortune.

Gao Ming was indeed a brilliant strategist. He himself only had Fake Nascent Soul, and eating dragon meat wouldn't improve his abilities much, yet he wasn't envious at all, nor was he stingy. He directly distributed the dragon soup to these experts to win their hearts.

Moreover, he didn't just openly bestow favors; instead, he hosted a banquet, personally serving drinks and accompanying the guests throughout. Whenever someone needed a moment to recover after a bite, he would offer a toast, cultivating a relationship and treating them as equals. His extensive knowledge, witty remarks, and professional emcee skills made the banquet incredibly lively. The relationship with these guests was closer than that of rulers and subjects, more like sworn brothers. He was definitely a social butterfly.

Li Fan only cared about eating, and the wine was also of the best quality. He would drink two jars every now and then. His stomach seemed to be a bottomless pit. He could drink all this dragon meat and strong liquor without changing his expression. The surrounding worshippers were truly convinced now, and no one dared to provoke him anymore. They simply started a banquet, and soon everyone was eating and drinking until their faces were red and their bodies were swaying, with their chests open and arms hanging loose.

Seeing that everyone had had their fill of drinks, Gao Ming smiled and gave a wink, signaling for the second half.

So Duan Tie, who hadn't touched a drop of alcohol the whole time, left the table. A little while later, more than twenty strongmen worked together to carry the huge dining table, which looked like a stage and was covered by a curtain.

Good heavens! So what we just had was an appetizer, and the main course is coming up? Is this a whole dragon being roasted?

Li Fan and the other cultivators all had their eyes shining, their fingers twitching, and their mouths watering.

Gao Ming smiled and nodded in satisfaction, clapping his hands. "Please, everyone, enjoy your meal. The dragon meat platter."

Then Duan Tie pulled back the curtain, revealing dozens of dancers in flowing gowns, their thighs white, on a large dining table. Some were performing dances, some were performing physical acts, and some were simply lying there. It was a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate—something that could only be experienced, not described. Everyone should just imagine it for themselves.

These dancers are probably from the Immortal Palace, specifically trained for cultivators. Well, you all know what that means.

Li Fan was dumbfounded. Good heavens, the tricks of the rich! He'd heard of them before, but he'd never seen anything like it...

"Aruba, you've eaten the most, so you go first! You can choose eight!"

Wow, that's so generous! But...

"... Dragon meat?"

"They are all celestial maidens from the Dragon Palace, humanoid elixirs; use them without fear!"

Gao Ming waved his hand and picked one up, hugged it to his chest, and started nibbling on it. But thankfully, it was just a normal nibbling.

"That! And that! And that! And another bowl of meat!"

Since it was such a high-class social occasion, Li Fan no longer needed to be coy. When interacting with a scion of a prominent family like Gao Ming, if you were too polite, he would think you were ungrateful and disrespectful, and would look down on you instead.

So he randomly picked a few fairies to embrace, drinking from their arms while continuing to feast and drink.

The others, unable to withstand the effects of the wine and medicinal cuisine, felt as if their bodies were on fire. Unable to contain themselves, they grabbed one of the guests and rolled on the spot, while others rushed onto the stage to join in the entertainment, beginning to discuss the mysteries of the Great Dao during the banquet.

Gao Ming only had one fairy maiden in his arms, tasting the light wine she was holding to her lips, while staring enviously at Li Fan, who was still gorging himself on dragon soup and drinking without any sign of restraint.

"The brave warrior of the Northern Plains lives up to his name. If I, young marquis, had your robust physique, I could feast and drink to my heart's content, gallop across the battlefield, and roam the world freely. Wouldn't that be wonderful!"

Li Fan was gnawing on meat when he noticed the dazed look in the other man's eyes. He shuddered and almost bit off the finger of the fairy maid who was feeding him. He glared at the Marquis and said, "What's wrong with you! Are you weak? You need to get treatment! Don't stay cooped up, walk around a bit!"

Gao Ming, slightly tipsy, put Xianji back on his lap and said to Li Fan, "I'm not bragging, but back then I was also a person with a bright future, excellent physique, and a destiny to become an immortal. I was almost chosen to go to Yuntai Peak back then!"

With my intelligence, it would be easy for me to join the Xuanmen sect, cultivate the righteous path, and become an Inner Sect. Why would I need to curry favor with Wangwu Mountain now?

Alas, it's all a matter of timing and fate. Young Hou was impetuous in his youth and was ambushed by a lowly Inner Landscape, who damaged his internal organs and nearly killed him. He barely escaped with his life, but his foundation was already ruined, and his path was severed. Now he's been delayed and can't have a good drink with Brother Aruba!"

What a coincidence! Oh right, aren't you the young master of the Heavenly Soldiers Army's family...? Wasn't the one who plotted against you surnamed Li, and named Wu Gou...?

"Forget it, let's not talk about these troublesome things."

Gao Ming picked up the wine dish, walked to Li Fan's seat, and drank a cup with him. Then he leaned over and asked, "Brother Aruba, I heard that the Lord of Yinshan recently obtained a miraculous divine skill and bestowed it upon the chieftains. It can turn decay into magic and greatly increase the power of ordinary rogue cultivators! I didn't believe it at first, thinking that the left-hand techniques outside the Northern Frontier could not compare with the true teachings of the Three Great Sects."

But seeing you today, I am amazed by your physique and extraordinary skills! Even General Duan of my Heavenly Soldiers Army, with his exceptional abilities, is no match for you!

"Everyone is having Gao Xing today. I wonder if you could bring out this method so that I can broaden my horizons?"

Oh, I see. No wonder you were so fawning over me; you wanted a body-refining Cultivation Method. No wonder your eyes were gleaming as you stared at my chest muscles, giving me quite a fright...

"Simple! Worship Fuli! Eat more meat! You'll be strong!"

Li Fan casually pushed aside a group of fairy maidens around him, carried out the Fuli Wolf Celestial Devil Statue he had carved earlier, and flexed his biceps to dance and bluff at them.

"So that's how it is! By worshipping this demon god, I can acquire your abilities, brave warrior?" Gao Ming's eyes burned with desire, seemingly quite tempted.

But Duan Tie coughed and advised from the side, "Your Highness, please be cautious. The body-refining method is arduous and exhausting. You are a person who does great things and has countless affairs to attend to every day. It's too much to ask for. Besides, these unorthodox methods are ultimately no match for the Three Great Sects, and they are not worthy of respect."

Gao Ming sighed, "I understand. People have limited energy and can't multitask. If one has to manage affairs for the vassal states on a daily basis, there's really no time to focus on one's own cultivation. Brother Aruba is much more carefree, eating meat and drinking wine, living a carefree and enjoyable life!"

Then he smiled at Li Fan, offered a toast, and said, "Brother Aruba, what do you think of the wine, meat, and women of the South? It's much more comfortable than the bitter cold north of Yinshan, isn't it? Just say the word, and the Gao family will immediately provide you with the finest wine, meat, and women. We will never lack anything for you! How about it!"

The surrounding fairies also cooperated with the Marquis's enticements, crowding around and touching Li Fan's body.

So they were trying to trick the simple-minded grassland boy, Aruba. Li Fan's eyes darted around, and he laughed heartily, giving them a thumbs-up. "Chanyu! Awesome! You! Trash!"

Upon hearing this, Duan Tie immediately glared at Gao Ming, but Gao Ming remained unconvinced. He waved for the guards to leave, then joined Li Fan, drinking and chatting.

"I have heard a little about the background of your Chanyu. As for his ability to kill, he is indeed remarkable. Back then, he was one of the top elites in the Central Plains. Many geniuses and disciples of the Xuanmen could not do anything to him. Now, Wangwu Mountain is just a bunch of rotten bones in the tombs, with no experts. My family has no intention of being enemies with the Chanyu or vying for Yinshan Mountain."

Ultimately, the Chanyu was only chosen to rule because he had the biggest fist; he wasn't a ruler worth serving. Brother, you should know best that north of Yinshan, besides your nine banners and seventy-two tribes, there are also the Yellow Heaven, Youquan, and Black Lotus sects, along with remnants of the Demon Race. These forces each have their own agendas and are not reliable confidants under the Chanyu. They might be able to join forces temporarily to deal with the Northern Expedition Army from the Central Plains, but to unite their forces and march south to contend for the Central Plains is an impossible task.

"If that's the case, with all your skills, why bother living like a savage in the icy wilderness? Come to my Gao family and enjoy the good life, sleeping with eight people every day! Wouldn't that be better?"

Upon hearing this, Li Fan was taken aback. "Chanyu the Central Plains? You're talking nonsense! I don't believe it!"

Gao Ming smiled wryly and said a lot, but the simpleton only heard the first few sentences. He then explained, "Brother Aruba, you should know how difficult the practice of your shamanic path is, right? Do you really believe that someone Chanyu could attain enlightenment in less than a thousand years?"

Li Fan deliberately retorted, "I believe it! He is Cheng Li Gu Tu! Immortal, the Son of Heaven!"

The surrounding fairies giggled.

Gao Ming, however, did not mock him. Instead, he poured Li Fan a full glass of wine and said, "Perhaps it is indeed so. That little-known Xianbei tribe has indeed produced a chosen one, a son of destiny born of heaven and blessed by fate."

But I also want to tell you, Brother Aruba, that we in the Central Plains a method called "dissolution and rebirth"! It allows us to seize another person's physical body, bones, and destiny, and reincarnate them!

This Chanyu was actually a master of this art in his previous life! A member of the Blood Talisman God Sect, one of the Three Great Sects!

In his first life of cultivation, this person attained enlightenment and became Ten Ultimate Venerables and Dharma Protector! However, he lost a sword duel to Qin Tianjue of Emei, so he was reincarnated and started cultivating again, which is why his progress was so rapid!

These geniuses are all aiming to settle their karmic debts through swordplay, ascend to immortality, and comprehend the Great Dao. Do you really think they have the heart to contend for the Central Plains? They're just using you to lure Emei's old rival over for a showdown.

Regardless of the outcome of this battle, whether the Chanyu wins or loses, he will either be reincarnated or go into seclusion to break through to the next level. Who will protect your Yinshan tribes then? Make plans early, brothers."

Li Fan was shocked!

Good heavens, the ground shook!

The Chanyu the reincarnation of the Dharma King of the Divine Sect!

I also want to challenge the Emei Sect to a duel at the summit of Yinshan!

Although the level of understanding is too far apart, it doesn't really feel realistic...

Gao Ming saw that Aruba was shocked and was about to continue his sweet-talking offensive to win this simpleton over to become his henchman.

Duan Tie suddenly burst in again, his face ashen, followed by a dark-skinned young man with a receding hairline, Gao Jin, the second son of the Gao family. Behind him were several soldiers carrying a stretcher, bringing back Gao Ao, whom Li Fan had crippled.

Gao Ming's expression immediately changed. He stood up abruptly, kicked aside the fairy maid beside him, and rushed forward.

Gao Jin knelt on the ground, "Reporting to my elder brother, the Crown Prince! I was unaware that the Grand Commander had been..."

"Black-headed Baldy! I am the Grand Commander! Who is your elder brother? I ordered you to aid Wangwu Mountain, why did you bring troops back on your own? Disobeying my orders deserves death!"

Gao Ming smashed the wine bowl on his younger brother's head and then proceeded to beat him mercilessly. Gao Jin remained silent, kowtowing on the ground and enduring the beating.

Gao Ming beat him up to vent his anger, then turned to Duan Tie and shouted, "You, A-Tu, get out of here! If you miss the deadline and cause trouble, you'll be held responsible!"

Duan Tie clasped his hands in greeting, and Gao Jin, whose mouth and nose were bleeding, also got up. The two exchanged greetings and then hurriedly went out to muster the troops.

Then Gao Ming's expression changed again. He rushed to Gao Ao's side and wailed as if he had lost his parents, "Uncle Ao! Who is this thief! How dare he! Let me kill his whole family to avenge you! Which brother can save my uncle's life? I, the young lord, am willing to give him ten thousand gold pieces as a reward!"

Upon seeing that something had happened, the surrounding retainers dared not continue their frolicking. They quickly pulled up their trousers, put on their robes, and rushed over to take Gao Ao's pulse and examine his injuries.

Li Fan also scooped a bowl of dragon soup from the pot and joined in, eating while watching the show.

"Your Highness, the Grand Commander's arms and legs have been broken by the bandits, and his heart meridian has been severed!"

"This is a master! His meridians and energy channels have been sealed off by acupressure."

"If it weren't for the Grand Commander's extensive battlefield experience and formidable Martial God Physique, he would probably already be..."

"This internal injury is difficult to heal with medicine; if it drags on, I fear my internal energy will be completely lost..."

Gao Ming held Gao Ao's hand and wept, "Please, brothers, tell me a way, I only beg you to save my Uncle Ao's life!"

The group of cultivators, who had received favors from the Marquis, were now powerless to help him and looked ashamed.

Li Fan almost choked with laughter when he saw these people, naked and huddled around a cripple with mournful faces. Then he heard someone say...

"Young Marquis, our enemies use superior acupoint striking techniques. Our skills are limited, and we are afraid that if we make a mistake, we might harm the Grand Commander's cultivation."

"The only way now is probably to ask that Xuanmen master to personally intervene and use his sect's secret elixir to assist him; perhaps then there will still be a chance."

Gao Ming frowned. "You mean Ling Chendao, that abandoned disciple of Penglai? But he was guarding my father, and now the army has already left the pass. We don't know where he's fighting on the icy plains. How could we have found him so quickly..."

Li Fan gasped, tilted his head back, and swallowed the bone that was stuck in his throat.

Hearing the strange clicking sound, everyone turned around and saw Li Fan gesturing wildly as if performing a ritual. Gao Ming was overjoyed.

"Brother Aruba! Thank you for your kindness, but the shamanic method is useless."

Uncle Ao, you've watched me grow up since I was a child. Since you're so kind, please lend me a hand! Go to the northern plains of Yinshan and ask Real Person Ling to come back and save my life!

"Don't worry, Father Commander won't venture deep into the ice plains this time. Our Heavenly Soldiers Army will be at the foot of Yinshan Mountain, conducting guerrilla warfare before turning back. You are familiar with the geography, so you'll naturally be able to find us."

Li Fan patted his chest, choking on his own vomit. Looking down at the young marquis, he thought he had already agreed, and immediately started writing a letter to his father, General Gao Xing, asking for help. He could only shrug, patting his chest as he ate some meat soup.

"Okay! You're treating, Aruba will run the errand for you!"

Anyway, it's on the way, so I might as well return the favor. Besides, even if it causes a delay, it's Gao Ao who'll be crippled. It's a pity I can't stay overnight; his temper is starting to flare up... Hmm...