Deepsea Fishery

Four hours later, the Amethyst Phoenix stretched its wings and slowly descended onto an open space along the coastal boulevard of Eastsea City.

The cabin door opened, and a sea breeze laden with a rich, briny scent rushed in, mingling with the sound of distant waves crashing against the shore—crisp and refreshing.

"We're here!" Na'er was the first to dash out, spreading her arms wide and taking a deep breath. "Is this the smell of the ocean? It smells so wonderful!"

An Lan and Yuanen Yehui followed closely behind, stepping slowly out of the mecha.

An Lan gazed at the rolling blue surface of the sea in the distance, his expression relaxed. Hearing her, he turned his head and teased, "I don't think you're smelling the ocean; you're clearly smelling the seafood."

Eastsea City is famous across the continent for its seafood. Along the way, Na'er had been clutching her soul guidance communicator, frantically scouring the Soul Net for specialty seafood restaurants.

The dazzling array of shops and the tempting, colorful promotional photos of seafood had left her dizzy and conflicted, unable to decide which one to try first.

Fortunately, Yuanen Yehui had visited Eastsea City many times and recommended a specialty restaurant called "Deepsea Fishery."

The two hit it off immediately and settled on the dining location. Seeing this, Bai Haoze simply abandoned the plan to land at the Eastsea City branch of the Spirit Pagoda and headed straight for the coastal boulevard where Deepsea Fishery was located.

An Lan glanced at the sea again; waves surged toward the shore in layers, splashing up white foam.

Seeing the sisters Bai Haoze and Bai Zhicen descend, he turned to them and asked curiously, "Big Sister Dabai, Big Sister Xiaobai, have you two been to Eastsea City before?"

"Of course I have." Bai Zhicen lifted her chin slightly and patted her chest. "Your sister is a woman of the world. I've traveled north and south over the years, visiting more cities than you lot even know exist."

"Ha!" Na'er let out a light laugh, mercilessly tearing down her facade. "Big Sister Xiaobai is bragging again. If you really were a woman of the world, why didn't you dare recommend a restaurant to me just now?"

An Lan rubbed his chin and began counting on his fingers seriously: "Shangling City, Shrek City, Ming Capital, Tiandou City, Star Luo City, Eastsea City, Tianhai City, Shengtian City. I only know these eight cities. Big Sister Xiaobai, you haven't been to that many places, have you?"

"You can't even remember the cities where the Eighteen Heavenly Pillars of our Spirit Pagoda are located, An Lan. Are you a mole sent by Shrek Academy?" Bai Zhicen immediately deflected the blame.

Yuanen Yehui said thoughtfully, "I heard from my dad that the highly-rated restaurants on the Soul Net are all traps for outsiders, specifically designed to fleece gullible tourists with too much money. Big Sister Xiaobai must have been scammed when she came to Eastsea City before, which is why she didn't dare recommend any."

"Gullible and rich!"

These four words drifted lightly into her ears. Bai Zhicen, who was looking down at her soul guidance communicator to browse Eastsea City travel guides, felt the smile on her face instantly freeze.

Lies don't hurt; the truth is the sharpest blade.

Yuanen Yehui hadn't guessed wrong at all. When she had visited Eastsea City for fun earlier, she had indeed been scammed by an internet-famous restaurant on the Soul Net, and the experience had been terrible.

Yuanen Yehui didn't notice her embarrassment and continued to talk freely: "This 'Deepsea Fishery' is an old establishment that the locals love. Their signature dish, the Millennium Deepsea Giant Crab, is absolutely divine—the meat is fresh, tender, and sweet. Every time my dad brings me here, he makes sure to order one."

"Millennium Deepsea Giant Crab!" Na'er's eyes lit up instantly, filled with anticipation. "Just hearing the name makes it sound super delicious!"

Bai Haoze put away her mecha, looked at her younger sister who had been defeated repeatedly in front of the three little ones, shook her head helplessly, and smiled as she beckoned, "Don't just stand here. Let's go eat and fill our stomachs first."

"Okay!"

The three of them agreed in unison, and the group walked toward the seafood restaurant.

In the distance, the golden beach was crowded with tourists, their laughter constant.

Sea and sky merged into one; the azure sky and the ocean formed a single line, making it impossible to distinguish the boundary. Flocks of white seagulls stretched their wings, soaring freely in the sky, their crisp cries echoing one after another, adding a touch of vitality to the coastline.

Walking to the middle of the coastal boulevard, a five-story wooden building came into view. The exterior was simple and elegant, with carvings of waves and seashells on the eaves and window frames, exuding a maritime charm at every turn.

It was the "Deepsea Fishery" recommended by Yuanen Yehui.

The five stood at the restaurant entrance. Yuanen Yehui pointed to the gold-stamped characters "Deepsea Fishery" on the lintel and introduced with a smile, "This is it. It's said that the calligraphy on this plaque was written by a Title Douluo himself."

An Lan heard this, his expression calm, his heart without a ripple.

A mere Title Douluo; just someone on the side of the road.

Moreover, this kind of rhetoric was clearly a marketing tactic used by the shop to attract customers, just like how, twenty thousand years ago, Old Jack would brag that their Holy Soul Village had produced a Soul Saint.

He was so certain of this for no other reason than that Eastsea City, as one of the cities housing the Eighteen Heavenly Pillars of the Spirit Pagoda, lacked the necessary prestige.

Guang Biao, the captain of the Eastsea City mecha brigade, only had a cultivation level of a six-ring Soul Emperor.

If the head of the military had such a cultivation level, how could a Title Douluo be idle enough to specifically come and write calligraphy for a restaurant? One only had to think about it to know it was a gimmick.

Bai Haoze and Bai Zhicen took the lead, bringing An Lan, Na'er, and Yuanen Yehui into the restaurant.

The interior was exquisitely decorated, with marine elements visible everywhere.

The walls were hung with various colorful specimens of deep-sea fish, each with a different shape and looking lifelike. Strings of seashell wind chimes hung from the ceiling; as the sea breeze blew through the window gaps, the chimes swayed gently, emitting a crisp and pleasant sound, like music from heaven.

They had already booked a private room in advance. The room was on the fifth floor, offering a view of the sea through the window, with the sea breeze blowing gently—it was incredibly comfortable.

"Distinguished guests, please take a seat." The waiter respectfully handed over the menu.

Na'er couldn't wait to grab the menu, her eyes scanning the dishes, her mouth practically watering.

"This! This! And this!" She pointed rapidly at the pictures on the menu, her voice full of excitement. "Millennium Deepsea Giant Crab, Mystic Ice Lobster, Golden Nine-Headed Abalone, sea cucumber soup... give me fifty portions of each. And the Grilled Bluefin Tuna, bring ten to start with, just to whet our appetites!"

An Lan, Yuanen Yehui, Bai Haoze, and Bai Zhicen were already used to Na'er's massive appetite, but the waiter on the side was startled. He stared wide-eyed at the two adults and three children, and spoke with a face full of hesitation: "Guests, wouldn't that be too much? Besides, the Millennium Deepsea Giant Crab is our signature dish, and ingredients are limited; we really can't prepare fifty portions."

Bai Haoze didn't offer any extra explanation. With a calm expression, she handed over a black card and said in a flat but unquestionable tone: "Buy out the house. Serve whatever you have in stock."