Transcendent Feast

Under the bright sunlight, the verdant, translucent grapes looked incredibly tempting.

Beneath the grape trellis sat a set of wooden table and chairs, clearly crafted by the hands of Old Master Lin. On the table rested a dish of food that made one's mouth water just by looking at it.

Beside the trellis hung a large wooden sign.

It read: Lingxian Dining Pavilion.

Below this large sign was a smaller one indicating the price: one hundred taels of silver. Next to it was a small, hand-woven bamboo basket, evidently meant for depositing the money.

People gathered around the grape trellis, observing and murmuring among themselves.

One man, eager to show off since no one else was stepping forward, walked up to see what it was all about.

However, just as he reached the trellis and tried to step inside, he found his path blocked by an invisible, solid wall. No matter how hard he pushed, he couldn't advance a single inch.

Seeing this, the surrounding crowd grew even more astonished.

A literate tourist pointed at the small bamboo basket and said,

Perhaps you have to pay the one hundred taels here before you can enter.

Among the onlookers, a few wealthy tourists gazed at the exceptionally delicious-looking dish on the table inside the trellis.

Glancing at the Lingxian Dining Pavilion sign, they felt somewhat tempted.

But while these affluent tourists were still hesitating, a short, plump, and richly dressed middle-aged man stepped out of the crowd. He walked up to the bamboo basket and beckoned to his servant behind him.

The servant hurried forward carrying a bundle of silver and handed it to the plump middle-aged man.

Someone in the crowd recognized the man as Master Ma, a famous wealthy merchant from Anqun County.

Master Ma was well-known to many not just because of his wealth.

It was also because he was a massive gourmand.

When it came to good food, he never spared any expense.

The chefs in his manor had all been hired from far and wide at a heavy cost.

At this moment, after taking the bundle from his servant, Master Ma tentatively tried to fit the large bundle of silver into the tiny bamboo basket.

He originally thought it wouldn't fit, but to his surprise, when he placed the bundle at the basket's opening, it didn't feel stuck at all.

So, Master Ma simply let go, dropping the entire bundle inside.

The huge bundle of silver landed securely into the small basket.

Following that, Master Ma tried stepping into the grape trellis.

He found his path completely unobstructed.

He immediately swaggered inside with confident strides.

Seeing this, his servant tried to follow, only to be blocked outside by the invisible wall.

Thus, the servant had no choice but to stand with the crowd outside, watching his master inside.

Little did the crowd know, behind a nearby haystack, three youths from the Lingxian Sect were using a concealment spell to secretly observe the situation at the trellis.

Liu Yunan whispered to Tietou and Fuzi,

Senior Liao's idea is really great.

They had specifically staked out this spot today, even delaying their cultivation, just to see the crowd's reaction to their Lingxian Dining Pavilion.

Hearing this, Jiang Youfu and Tietou couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Who would have thought that someone would actually walk around carrying a hundred taels of silver.

Originally, they thought the food might not sell today and were even considering disguising themselves to act as shills.

Master Ma sat down at the table beneath the trellis. Turning his head, he saw that his servant had been kept out, and he felt extremely satisfied with this space where no one could come in and disturb him.

Furthermore, he thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of dining alone under the watchful eyes of the public.

He felt elated.

He was just about to dig into the delicious food when he realized there were no chopsticks on the table.

Stunned for a moment, he thought to himself, perhaps immortals don't use chopsticks when they eat...

Fortunately, he was a veteran gourmand.

The next moment, he pulled a pair of gold-inlaid jade chopsticks from a slender pouch at his waist.

Then, he began to savor the aromatic delicacy before him.

Meanwhile, the three youths observing from afar nudged each other and whispered:

Oh no, we forgot to put out chopsticks!

I thought you guys put them out.

Weren't you the one setting the table? I thought you did it.

We really need to pay attention next time.

...

Back to Master Ma. When he picked up a piece of food and placed it into his mouth, he closed his eyes and chewed gently a couple of times. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, shining brightly. He looked down at the dish with extreme pleasant surprise.

Delicious!

Utterly delicious!

He felt that the so-called delicacies he had eaten over the past few decades were absolutely nothing compared to the dish in front of him!

He had nearly swallowed his own tongue just now!

Because Master Ma had a particularly keen palate, his standards for food were much higher than the average person's.

Because of this, he could appreciate the intricate details of fine cuisine much better than others.

So, while the rest of the Lingxian Sect only found Jiang Youfu's cooking to be very tasty.

Master Ma could clearly perceive just how many more tastebud-stunning details this dish possessed compared to ordinary food.

Moving at lightning speed, he stuffed another mouthful into his mouth.

In the blink of an eye, he went for another.

Before long, when he tried to grab more, he found the plate completely empty.

Master Ma felt his tongue suddenly become lonely.

A massive wave of disappointment washed over his entire body.

He instantly became somewhat deflated, placing his chopsticks on the table and leaning lazily against the back of the chair, not wanting to speak.

His gaze swept over the plate, which now only had a little bit of sauce left, time and time again. After a moment of internal struggle, his crazed appetite finally conquered his dignity. He picked up the plate and began licking the leftover sauce off it.

Seeing this, the onlookers were absolutely dumbfounded.

Was... was this really the legendary Master Ma, the number one gourmand of Anqun County who had tasted countless delicacies?

Could it be that this dish was truly that delicious?

To think it could make a prestigious man like Master Ma, who had experienced countless fine foods, start licking the plate!

At once, the crowd grew even more curious about the food from the Lingxian Dining Pavilion.

When Master Ma had licked the plate repeatedly until he truly couldn't taste another drop, he reluctantly set the plate down. Then, he walked out of the trellis and, taking his servant, sprinted toward the foot of the North Mountain.

Seeing this, some curious individuals followed him to see what he was up to.

Liu Yunan and the other two also quietly trailed behind.

Most people remained where they were. Some went up to try their luck, but after finding they still couldn't get in, they scattered.

That day, the hottest topic in Xiushui Village was entirely about the Lingxian Dining Pavilion.

Meanwhile, Master Ma, who had dashed madly to the foot of the North Mountain, arrived before the Path of Asking the Heart. Without a shred of hesitation, he dropped to his knees with a loud thud, facing up the mountain. As he kowtowed, he shouted loudly:

I, Ma Changlong, beg the immortal sect to take me in!

I, Ma Changlong, beg the immortal sect to take me in!

I, Ma Changlong, beg the immortal sect to take me in!