Chapter 325: The Barbecue Shop Without Any Suspicion

The Fifth Elder drew in a sharp breath. On the merit of this single effect alone, the Pure Yang True Fire could arguably claim the foremost crown among the one hundred and eight varieties of True Fire.

The one hundred and eight True Fires each possessed distinct properties; some were so weak in sheer destructive power that they could not even burn a mortal to ash, yet they were peerlessly effective at scorching through the fabrics of space. Others possessed terrifying might but were volatile and notoriously difficult to control, prone to violent explosions. There were even those that left the flesh untouched, burning only the soul. For reasons such as these, it was generally impossible to rank them, as none could definitively claim the absolute summit.

Yet, if one were to proclaim that their flame could restore and bolster virility...

While others might hesitate, the Fifth Elder would unhesitatingly cast his vote for the Pure Yang True Fire.

"I shall study this to see if your Pure Yang True Fire can be stabilized into a permanent kindling."

"And your Samadhi True Fire, I shall examine that as well."

The Fifth Elder claimed the True Fires from Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, intent on finding a method to fashion them into kindling that would burn indefinitely.

Otherwise, should every future barbecue require Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou to stand by and continuously channel their spiritual energy just to ignite the flames, what would be the purpose of an automated grill?

"The optimal path would be to merge the two flames," the Fifth Elder murmured in contemplation, not expecting to encounter such a fascinating challenge upon his immediate arrival in Yanjiang County.

"Can two different flames truly be combined?" Qin Yanyan asked, her voice laced with astonishment. She had never heard of such a theory before.

Without raising his gaze, the Fifth Elder replied, "Indeed they can. Throughout history, there have been those who fused two, three, or even more distinct flames to hurl at their foes. The resulting might is staggering, serving as an exceptionally lethal means to challenge and defeat adversaries of a higher realm."

"Very well, out with you all. I require solitude for my research." Like a farmer shooing a brood of chicks, the Fifth Elder summarily cast the four of them out of the room.

Three mighty figures of the cultivation world descended upon Yanjiang County. Concealing their formidable auras, they blended seamlessly into the bustling throngs, assuming the guise of traveling merchants merely passing through the region.

"My Lord, according to the maps, this should be Yanjiang County."

"Mm. Let us find a place to settle first."

The trio entered a private chamber within a tavern. Only after deploying a formation to shield themselves from spiritual probes did they finally feel secure enough to shed their disguises.

The leader was none other than Shi Huagu, the Vice Cult Master of the Nine Serenities Sect, accompanied by his two subordinates. One of them was the Soul Formation stage cultivator who had delivered Qin Haoran's promissory note to Shi Huagu; his surname was Huo, and his given name was Huashen.

His parents had named him Huo Huashen in the fervent hope that he would one day attain the Soul Formation realm.

Shi Huagu parted the window curtains of the private chamber. From his vantage point, he could look directly across the street at the "One More Time" Barbecue Shop.

Night had already fallen, and the barbecue shop was at the height of its roaring trade, with a long, winding queue snaking past the entrance.

"So many people?" Shi Huagu remarked, surprised. If this barbecue shop truly served as a liaison point for the Heavenly Court Sect, shouldn't it remain as low-key as possible?

Were they deliberately acting against conventional wisdom, or was this a grand display of the Heavenly Court Sect's absolute confidence, showing they harbored no fear of detection by the righteous orthodox sects?

Withdrawing his gaze, he swept his eyes over his two subordinates.

"Our Cult Master has entrusted me with a mission for this journey to Yanjiang County. As you have likely guessed, it is to sound out the depths of this Heavenly Court Sect. Should there be an opportunity for cooperation, I hold the authority of the Cult Master to strike an alliance on our sect's behalf."

"You two are my trusted confidants. I trust you to execute this flawlessly, without a single misstep."

"Huo Huashen, you were the first to make contact with the Heavenly Court Sect."

"Zhou Shan, you have studied ancient history profoundly; you are the most knowledgeable within our sect regarding the eras of antiquity."

"My Lord, shall we initiate contact with the Heavenly Court Sect immediately?"

Shi Huagu shook his head. "There is no haste. We shall observe them for a time. You two go and investigate the origins of this barbecue shop to see if there are any suspicious discrepancies."

"Understood!"

The two replied in unison before vanishing from the chamber.

A short while later, Shi Huagu stepped out of the private room, only for the establishment's attendant to present him with a bill. "Honored guest, your two companions have already departed. Regarding the payment..."

Shi Huagu's face darkened with displeasure. Shouldn't his subordinates have vied for the honor of settling his account?

During the course of their investigation, Huo Huashen struck up a casual conversation. "Zhou Shan, everyone claims you possess the deepest understanding of ancient history. Tell me, what recent breakthroughs have been made in the field of archaeological research regarding antiquity?"

Zhou Shan nodded. "There has indeed been a major breakthrough, one concerning an immortal."

"Oh? What is it?"

Zhou Shan assumed a highly mysterious air, glancing left and right. Seeing no one in the vicinity, he transmitted his voice directly. "This is merely a rumor I overheard, so its absolute veracity cannot be guaranteed."

"Speak freely. I possess the discernment to judge for myself."

"In antiquity, there existed an immortal known as the Immortal Ying Tian. He was a man of peerless romance and charm, sowing his seeds wherever he went, leaving countless maidens heavy with child!"

Huo Huashen's neck leaned back slightly in sheer astonishment. "Could such a thing truly be?!"

Zhou Shan pressed on with his exposition, "According to my meticulous analysis, there is an eighty percent probability that this tale is true. Think about it: the man was an immortal who had reached the very apex of cultivation. With nothing left to occupy his days, it is entirely within the realm of reason that he would indulge in such an eccentric hobby."

Huo Huashen nodded, finding immense logic in Zhou Shan's deduction. "It is no wonder everyone proclaims you to be the foremost expert on ancient history."

"You flatter me, you flatter me," Zhou Shan replied with a modest, restrained smile.

"Let us speak no more of this; we must first fulfill our Lord's command."

"My Lord, according to our investigations, there are indeed several peculiarities regarding this barbecue shop."

"The proprietor of the 'One More Time' Barbecue Shop is surnamed Lu, though his true name remains unknown. The patrons fondly refer to him as Manager Lu, or Young Manager Lu."

"Four months ago, Manager Lu acquired this storefront and established the barbecue shop. Due to the exceptional quality of the meat—tender, succulent, and possessing a flavor that rivals the creations of divine spiritual chefs—it received widespread acclaim."

"Had it been anyone else enjoying such a roaring trade, they would have long since expanded into a chain of franchises. Yet, this establishment has never shown the slightest inclination to open a single branch."

Shi Huagu nodded in agreement. "That is entirely logical. After all, it is a stronghold of the Heavenly Court Sect. Now that the Heavenly Court Sect is re-emerging into the world, blindly expanding a mundane shop would be putting the cart before the horse."

"Furthermore, the barbecue shop maintains an excellent relationship with the local authorities. They frequently assist the local government in apprehending fleeing convicts, for which they have been awarded several honorary silk banners."

"Ingratiating oneself with the righteous orthodox sects through a disguised identity averts a great deal of unnecessary trouble. The cultivators of Yanjiang County are generally mediocre, with the highest among them merely at the Foundation Establishment or Golden Core stage; it is impossible for them to pierce the illusions of the Heavenly Court Sect."

"We also discovered that the entire Yanjiang Branch of the former Immortal Sect once dined at this very barbecue shop."

Shi Huagu lowered his head in deep thought. "It is highly probable that the Heavenly Court Sect intended to use the Yanjiang Branch to establish contact with the upper echelons of the Immortal Sect. Regardlessly, before that connection could be forged, the branch was entirely annihilated by the Daoist Seeking Sect. A pity."

"Based on our analysis, four months ago, Young Manager Lu outwardly displayed a cultivation level at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. It remains uncertain whether that was a deliberate disguise or if he truly was at the early Foundation Establishment stage back then, only recently breaking through to the Golden Core realm."

"That is of little consequence."

"The barbecue shop remained closed for three months, only reopening within the last fortnight. Upon their return, they introduced a brand-new selection of delicacies—the Virility Enhancement Series. Its launch immediately took the entire county by storm."

"According to our inquiries at the local brothels, their customer traffic has seen a marked and significant increase. The virility-enhancing efficacy of the food appears to be entirely genuine."

"They only reopened within the last fortnight? It seems this place is merely a temporary outpost. The Heavenly Court Sect likely resumed operations solely to grant us an opportunity to make contact."

"By withholding the location of their true stronghold from us, they are demonstrating a distinct lack of absolute trust."

"No matter. Since the barbecue shop harbors no inherent traps, we shall pay a visit to this establishment ourselves, and see just how deep these waters truly run!"