Philosophy

The stronger one is, the more cautious one becomes.

Hovering before the massive maw of the Kun, the man in white narrowed his eyes, gazing into the bottomless throat as if standing on the edge of an abyss. He stood there for a long time, not daring to take a single step forward.

Two young girls urged him from behind.

"Stop dawdling, hurry up and go inside!"

"One step to the stomach and you'll know everything!"

The man in white stiffened, feeling that while these Tiger Immortal were young, they certainly knew a lot.

It was a pity they were just little girls; he didn't find them cute at all.

Besides, he couldn't reach the stomach in one step either...

Just as he was hesitating, the air gave a slight tremor.

Two sharp raps landed on the tiger heads of the two girls!

Below, at the edge of the Floating Mountain.

A woman with a stern, imposing face stood at the cliff's edge with her hands behind her back, shouting sharply:

"Get back here at once!"

The two girls glared downward fiercely before sulking back to the martial arts arena.

The man in white breathed a sigh of relief.

His strong, well-built frame shifted, and in the blink of an eye, he arrived on the arena.

Narrowing his eyes, he stirred his divine sense, sweeping it across the various Beast Immortal on the field.

He discovered that there was no shortage of robust, handsome male Beast Immortal among them.

This Bamboo Spring Sect was rather interesting.

However.

There was serious business to attend to.

The man in white maintained a calm expression, offering a double-fisted salute toward the distant Little Bamboo Spring Mountain and Ning Zhongzi before him.

"I am Fan Ni, Beast Taming Elder of the White Lotus Sect. Greetings to Sect Master Liu and Elder Ning."

Ning Zhongzi's face remained solemn, though she was slightly startled inwardly.

Although she sensed no spiritual pressure, she could feel it—this man was powerful!

In the East Floating Immortal District, the name Fan Ni was like thunder to the ears.

Back when the Kunpeng Brothers defected from the White Lotus Sect, the sect had specifically created the position of Beast Taming Elder to manage their mounts and resolve issues with fierce beasts.

That man was Fan Ni.

Fan Ni was a native of Caiyun City and a former beast hunting expert who had long coveted the Kunpeng Brothers in the Beast Nest Forest.

After taking his post as the White Lotus Sect's Beast Taming Elder, he immediately organized a force to head into the Beast Nest Forest to hunt them down.

However, due to the unfavorable terrain and being defeated by the Kunpeng Brothers' combined technique, he had fled back to the White Lotus Sect in disgrace.

Of course, that was a story from over a thousand years ago.

Regardless of past embarrassments, Fan Ni was a genuine half-step Immortal Venerable who had never once looked upon the Bamboo Spring Sect with any regard.

That he was being so respectful to the Sect Master and herself now was likely due to the mysterious death of the Void Kun.

"Greetings, Elder Fan."

Ning Zhongzi returned the salute politely, sensing that the visitor had ill intentions.

"What brings Elder Fan here today?"

Fan Ni did not answer, instead pointing toward Little Bamboo Spring Mountain.

"That Black Boat looks very familiar. Thank you for cleaning up the sect's mess for us a while back."

"A mere trifle."

"I have heard things about the Bamboo Spring Sect recently. To think you are actually planning to build a city. With East Floating City attracting immortal merchants and the constant harassment of beast tides from the Beast Nest Forest, even the White Lotus Sect failed to build a city there back in the day."

Fan Ni's voice was magnetic, but his tone was coy and carried a faint pressure.

This made Ning Zhongzi very uncomfortable.

In the past, she would have had to be respectful, but now that the Bamboo Spring Sect had Lu Ya, she naturally had the confidence to stand her ground.

"Elder Fan, speak your mind. There is no need to beat around the bush."

Fan Ni's eyes narrowed.

"I tracked the Kunpeng Brothers all the way from the Beast Nest Forest to this place. This Kun was the mount of our sect's former leader, Yun Zhonghe. I have a duty to bring this beast back to the White Lotus Sect."

How utterly shameless!

Ning Zhongzi said coldly:

"Such an important matter is not for me to decide. Elder Fan, you should speak with the Sect Master in person. She is currently in meditation within her bedchamber; please, follow me."

With the full muscles of his cheeks twitching slightly, Fan Ni replied with a cold face and a deep voice.

"I have long heard that Elder Ning is the senior sister of Sect Master Liu, and that all affairs of the Bamboo Spring Sect are decided by you... This Void Kun was a mount of the White Lotus Sect in life and is a relic of the White Lotus Sect in death. You wouldn't be thinking of embezzling the property of the White Lotus Sect, would you?"

A faint Immortal Venerable-level spiritual pressure drifted over the Bamboo Spring Sect.

He did not imprint the pressure; he merely revealed a trace of it with indifference.

In the Immortal Realm, being an Immortal Venerable is the proof of a powerhouse.

In any Immortal Domain, Immortal Venerables are big shots who can be counted on one's fingers. In the East Floating District, including those at the half-step Immortal Venerable level, there are only a handful of such people.

Although this faint spiritual pressure from Fan Ni was not used to forcibly suppress anyone, it was a hint—meaning that if he wished, he could destroy the entire Bamboo Spring Sect in a single move.

The gathered Beast Immortal trembled in fear.

Ning Zhongzi, however, remained unmoved.

"Nowadays, all affairs of this sect are managed by the Sword-Wielding Elder Lu Ya. Senior Brother Lu is currently inside the belly of the Kun cooking Kun meat. If you want this Kun, go into the belly of the Kun and ask him yourself."

Fan Ni was stunned.

Cooking Kun meat inside the belly of the Kun?

Is there such a way to cook?

Wasn't it said that Liu Xuanye married a mortal?

Could he be an Immortal Venerable powerhouse?

Fan Ni felt more and more that things were not simple.

"What about Golden Peng?"

Ning Zhongzi turned to the side, revealing a silhouette as imposing as a mountain and overbearing, and said coldly with her hands behind her back:

"Elder Fan should go and ask Senior Brother Lu."

Fan Ni:

"..."

Ning Zhongzi:

"What, is Elder Fan afraid?"

"..."

Fan Ni had walked the world for so many years, yet this was the first time he had been intimidated by a five-star Immortal Master.

But he really did not want to enter the belly of the Kun; it was not just out of caution, he also had psychological trauma.

Thinking back to those years...

Forget it, better not to mention it.

Fan Ni felt awkward for a moment, hesitating for a long time before suddenly saying:

"Since Azure Phoenix City is open to guests, why don't we go to the inn and taste Elder Lu's craftsmanship."

Ning Zhongzi nodded.

"Very well."

As soon as Ning Zhongzi led Fan Ni into the entrance of the inn, they ran into Lu Ya sitting at a table, his eyelids drooping slightly as if he had been waiting for a long time, looking quite impatient.

Fan Ni was slightly taken aback.

This was a very ordinary table in the lobby of the Yuelai Inn.

The surrounding tables were sparsely occupied by Immortal Commoner eating their meals.

No private room.

No one to pour the wine.

There wasn't even any wine... there was only a mortal sitting at the table waiting for him.

Fan Ni was displeased.

Am I, a half-step Immortal Venerable, really that lacking in status?

In front of the mortal was a plate of roasted Kun meat.

Only one plate.

The Kun meat was cut into small cubes, each piece skewered with a toothpick, with nearly a hundred portions of Kun meat stuck in the plate.

The texture of the meat did not look special, and the spiritual energy within it was very restrained, making it difficult to detect.

But the fragrance...

It was too exaggerated!

Fan Ni had always thought that the deliciousness of the Giant Kun was just something the Immortal Court deliberately publicized to lure people into catching them, but he hadn't expected the taste of this big fish to be simply incredible!

No wonder Yun Zhonghe wanted to use this place to host high-ranking officials of the Immortal Court back then.

Ning Zhongzi cast a faint glance at Lu Ya before stepping forward to introduce him.

"This is the Beast Taming Elder of the White Lotus Sect, Fan Ni. He is the Elder Fan I mentioned to you, Senior Brother, the one who heroically retreated after being ambushed by the Kunpeng Brothers while hunting in the Beast Nest Forest."

Oh, so it's that Elder Fan...

Lu Ya nodded, having absolutely no recollection of Ning Zhongzi ever mentioning this.

Still, for a Half-step Immortal Venerable to be defeated by two from the Nine Star Immortal Sect, you really are only fit to be a tool.

Thinking this, Lu Ya gestured casually toward a seat.

"Sit."

Fan Ni never expected the mortal before him to be Lu Ya!

Yet, when he and Ning Zhongzi arrived at the Yuelai Inn, he hadn't seen anyone emerge from the belly of the Kun, nor had he detected any spiritual fluctuations in the vicinity.

How did this person suddenly appear inside the inn?

Fan Ni shuddered at the thought, not daring to sit, and merely replied:

"My Spirit Hemorrhoids have been acting up lately, so I am unable to sit."

Acting up because of Spirit Hemorrhoids, really!

Lu Ya raised an eyebrow, finally taking a good look at the Half-step Immortal Venerable before him.

His physique was robust and his appearance quite upright, though it felt like the "uprightness" was slightly off-kilter.

However, as a Half-step Immortal Venerable, his aura was still quite formidable—far stronger than Golden Peng!

How could a Half-step Immortal Venerable lose to two from the Nine Star Immortal Sect?

Lu Ya didn't want to delay too long and asked directly:

"Was Elder Fan looking to claim this Kun just now?"

Fan Ni tensed up abruptly and hurriedly denied it:

"Elder Lu is joking. For thousands of years, the White Lotus Sect and the Bamboo Spring Sect have always been friendly. I originally thought this Kun was plaguing your sect and intended to subdue the beast. Since Elder Lu has already slain it, it naturally belongs to your sect."

Are all people from the White Lotus Sect this cautious?

Lu Ya wondered.

Since that was the case, and considering this fellow was relatively well-behaved and hadn't crossed the line too far, he decided to give him a chance to turn over a new leaf and become a (tool) man again.

With a quick thought, a plan to ignite a massive public opinion explosion in East Floating City formed in Lu Ya's mind.

But he wouldn't do it himself.

A tool man.

"Actually, this Void Kun did once belong to the White Lotus Sect, so you deserve a share of the spoils."

Fan Ni was slightly taken aback.

"Hm?"

"But there is a condition."

"What condition?"

"You are to take several dozen platters of Kun meat and distribute them for free to the loose immortals in East Floating City. Each immortal may only receive one free portion. Use it as a sign for Azure Phoenix City: if they wish to taste more, tell them to come to the Yuelai Inn of the Bamboo Spring Sect."

I, a dignified Half-step Immortal Venerable, am to act as a barker for your third-rate sect?

Fan Ni looked troubled.

"This..."

Lu Ya then tossed a bamboo slip to Fan Ni.

Fan Ni looked down to see a square, black maze-like pattern carved onto it.

"This bamboo slip contains an audio-visual QR code showing the cooking process of the Giant Kun. Scan it with your... no, scan it with your divine sense, and you will be able to see the culinary splendor of the Giant Kun."

"This..."

Lu Ya continued:

"I trust that with Elder Fan's prestige in the East Floating District, you will certainly not be mistaken for a swindler, nor will anyone question the safety of the Bamboo Spring Sect again."

"This..."

"Furthermore, for every immortal who comes to the Yuelai Inn to spend, I will give you a commission in Kun meat. How about that?"

A commission in Kun meat?

Do you take me for a dog?

Fan Ni had never suffered such an insult.

But it was also a fact that the Kun meat smelled divine.

The spiritual power contained within it felt even purer than that of top-grade medicinal pills!

"But I am the Beast Taming Elder of the White Lotus Sect; isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

"Beast Taming Elder, it's perfectly appropriate."

Lu Ya spoke with a double entendre, then continued:

"Besides, didn't you just say that the White Lotus Sect and the Bamboo Spring Sect have always been friendly? Surely you wouldn't refuse such a small favor?"

"This..."

Under Lu Ya's mix of grace and pressure, Fan Ni's mind raced, and he quickly devised a plan to take this opportunity to wash away his tarnished reputation!

In his view, men did not necessarily have to determine victory or defeat through combat.

Men could also attract one another, cooperate, and progress together.

He would first grant this youth a favor and take the chance to secretly investigate his background and strength.

If he is strong, we are friends.

If he is weak, heh heh heh heh...

Lu Ya cast a lingering glance at Fan Ni, feeling that this guy was thinking of something disgusting, so he pushed the Kun meat in front of him.

"Try it."

Only then did Fan Ni sit down, picking up a greasy cube of Kun meat with two fingers and seductively sliding it between his full lips.

His expression suddenly froze.

He felt as if he were ascending.

A long while later.

The flush of deliciousness faded from his face, leaving only the shock emanating from his stomach.

What kind of divine culinary skill is this?

Perhaps stimulated by the delicacy, or perhaps wanting to secretly curry favor with Lu Ya, he suddenly warned him:

"I know Elder Lu is very strong, but you are surely not invincible, so before I head to East Floating City, it is necessary to remind you of three things."

Although Lu Ya was truly invincible, he asked out of curiosity:

"Which three things?"

Fan Ni's gaze sharpened, instantly regaining the coldness of an Immortal Venerable.

"First, never underestimate the power of this beast tide."

"Second, never underestimate that woman, the Wine Fox Immortal."

"Third, and the most dangerous one, never underestimate the former sect leader of my sect, Yun Zhonghe!"