Chen Gongwang looked at Xu Changfeng and asked, "May I ask how Sect Master Xu managed to break through in such a short period of time?"
Gongsun Yue also stared fixedly at Xu Changfeng, desperately wanting to know the answer.
Both of these old fellows had made breakthroughs themselves not long ago. That was why they had been so eager to hold the Tri-Sect Tournament—hoping to properly suppress the Xuanjian Sect and bully Xu Changfeng while his cultivation level was still lagging behind.
To their utter astonishment, not only had Xu Changfeng caught up in cultivation, but his actual combat strength even surpassed theirs. This left the two old men deeply depressed, which was why they were so curious about how he had pulled it off.
Xu Changfeng smiled faintly. "Sect secrets, not for public disclosure."
*You want to know how I broke through? No way!*
Gongsun Yue and Chen Gongwang exchanged glances, and could only manage bitter smiles.
And thus, the Tri-Sect Tournament came to an end.
The Xuanjian Sect overwhelmed the other two sects, claiming the title of the number one sect in the Tianwu Dynasty. Of course, this ranking was only temporary. When the next Tri-Sect Tournament was held, the rankings might change once again. But at least for now, the Xuanjian Sect was undeniably the top-ranked sect in the Tianwu Dynasty.
The tournament concluded, and Xu Changfeng immediately summoned Li Chenyuan and the other two.
"Quick, take me to Fuyun Mountain. I am going to pay my personal respects to that supreme expert," Xu Changfeng said with great excitement.
In his mind, his ability to steal the show and defeat those two old fellows was entirely thanks to that worldly expert. If it hadn't been for the heavenly treasures bestowed by the expert, there was no way he could have broken through in such a short span of time. Out of both reason and propriety, he had to go pay his respects in person. If he could manage to get on good terms with this supreme expert, the future benefits for the Xuanjian Sect would be limitless.
The three of them naturally did not dare to delay. They immediately set off with Xu Changfeng, heading straight for Fuyun Mountain.
...
At the foot of Fuyun Mountain, a hundred armored guards escorted three women toward the mountain.
Two of them were none other than Princess Tianyao Chu Yanyu and her maid Xiaoqing.
The third woman was dressed in a white gown and skirt, with a delicate, gentle face and captivating eyes, pure and unsullied like an orchid. Her name was Bai Suyin.
She was a disciple of the Jiuling Sect and also a close friend of Chu Yanyu. Bai Suyin had heard from Chu Yanyu about the supreme expert residing on Fuyun Mountain and was filled with curiosity. As it happened, Chu Yanyu was planning another visit to the mountain, so Bai Suyin had tagged along.
"Susu, let me tell you, that expert has a rather eccentric temperament. You'd better watch your tongue when we get there, or even I won't be able to save you," Chu Yanyu earnestly warned Bai Suyin along the way.
Bai Suyin gave a faint smile. "If he truly is a supreme expert, I shall naturally show him the utmost respect. But if he fails to live up to his reputation, I won't be so polite to her—or him."
Chu Yanyu sighed helplessly. Her good friend had everything going for her except for an excessive sense of pride, always feeling that everyone else fell short.
As the group was ascending the mountain, a piercing sound suddenly echoed through the sky as someone flew overhead.
"Huh?" Several figures dropped down together.
It was none other than Xu Changfeng and the three disciples of Li Chenyuan.
Chu Yanyu and Bai Suyin were momentarily stunned when they saw Xu Changfeng and his group.
Bai Suyin reacted quickly, hurriedly dismounting to bow. "Junior Bai Suyin greets Sect Master Xu!"
As a disciple of the Jiuling Sect, Bai Suyin naturally had to show respectful greetings upon meeting the head of the Xuanjian Sect.
"What are you doing here?" Xu Changfeng asked, looking puzzled.
Bai Suyin looked toward Chu Yanyu. "I accompanied Princess Tianyao here to pay my respects to a supreme expert."
Xu Changfeng froze. "You're here to see that expert too?"
Hearing this, Chu Yanyu and Bai Suyin were also taken aback.
"Sect Master Xu is here for the same reason?" Chu Yanyu asked in a daze.
Xu Changfeng nodded, and both he and Bai Suyin wore expressions of shock. Even a figure like Xu Changfeng had come here in person? Could it be that the person living on this mountain was truly an eccentric, secluded expert, just as Chu Yanyu had claimed?
Just at that moment, a dragon chariot soared through the air. Its overwhelming aura made even a powerhouse like Xu Changfeng change his expression.
"His Majesty the Martial Emperor has arrived!" A long shout echoed.
The dragon chariot came to a halt right in front of Xu Changfeng and the others.
"His Majesty the Martial Emperor!" Xu Changfeng and the others were dumbfounded.
What in the world was happening today? Why had even His Majesty the Martial Emperor shown up?
Dongfang Su stepped out of the dragon chariot, followed closely by Guyue. Seeing so many people gathered here, Dongfang Su was actually a bit bewildered himself.
"Sect Master Xu?" Dongfang Su looked at Xu Changfeng first.
As the master of one of the three major sects, Xu Changfeng was naturally acquainted with Dongfang Su.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Xu Changfeng bowed deeply.
Dongfang Su then looked at Chu Yanyu. "You... aren't you that little girl from the Pingxi Prince's estate?"
Chu Yanyu immediately bowed. "Chu Yanyu pays her respects to His Majesty the Martial Emperor."
Dongfang Su laughed. "It really is Chu Tianchuan's girl. The last time I saw you, you were only five or six years old. In the blink of an eye, you've grown up so much."
Dongfang Su then glanced at the person beside her. "And who is this?"
"This is my good friend Bai Suyin, a disciple of the Jiuling Sect."
Bai Suyin respectfully bowed to Dongfang Su. "Greetings, Your Majesty the Martial Emperor."
Dongfang Su nodded. She was merely a Jiuling Sect disciple, so he didn't pay her much mind. Turning his gaze back to Xu Changfeng, he looked perplexed. "Sect Master Xu, what brings you here?"
Xu Changfeng saw no reason to hide it. "I am here to pay my respects to an expert living on this mountain."
Dongfang Su was stunned. "You're here to see the expert too?"
Xu Changfeng nodded, then stared at Dongfang Su with a stunned expression. "Your Majesty is as well?"
Dongfang Su let out an "hn."
Chu Yanyu was also completely bewildered. "Then the expert we've all come to visit must be the exact same person, right?"
Xu Changfeng and Dongfang Su wore strange expressions. Unless there was a second expert on this mountain, the person they were all here to visit had to be the same individual. It was just too much of a coincidence that they had all bumped into each other today.
"Let's go then. Since we've all run into one another, let's go pay our respects to that expert together," Dongfang Su said with a smile.
"That sounds wonderful."
"It is my honor to accompany Your Majesty."
Neither Xu Changfeng nor Chu Yanyu had any objections. Without further ado, the three groups merged and headed up the mountain together.
Before they even reached the peak, a rich fragrance drifted toward them from afar.
"It smells so good!" Xu Jinger sniffed the air, her face full of surprise.
"Achoo!" Bai Suyin sneezed.
Chu Yanyu furrowed her delicate brows. "There is a hint of spiciness mixed into this fragrance. How strange."
"We'll know once we go take a look," Dongfang Su said, quickening his pace.
Before long, the group arrived outside Ye Qingyun's courtyard.
At that moment, Ye Qingyun was sitting beside a large cauldron. A wood fire crackled underneath, and the liquid inside was bubbling away. Waves of spicy aroma were wafting straight out of the pot. Ye Qingyun kept his eyes glued to the contents, his face brimming with excitement and anticipation.
A bald rabbit and a lazy, golden-furred hound were lying right at his feet, both seemingly waiting for the delicious food.
*Woof!*
Hearing people approach, the large golden dog gave a perfunctory bark simply to alert its slow-witted master. Only then did Ye Qingyun raise his head and catch sight of the crowd outside the courtyard.
"Good grief, why are so many people here all at once?"
Startled by the crowd outside, Ye Qingyun nearly dropped the bowl and chopsticks in his hand. Fortunately, he recognized a few familiar faces and quickly regained his composure.
However, Dongfang Su, Xu Changfeng, and Bai Suyin were far from calm. The three of them stared at Ye Qingyun, looking him up and down. He didn't look like a worldly expert in the slightest! Moreover, there was not a single trace of cultivation fluctuation emanating from his body. He was a pure, ordinary mortal!
And looking at the surroundings, the place looked exactly like the humble abode of a mountain farmer. How could this possibly be the unfathomable supreme expert they had imagined?
"Young Master, this is my good friend Bai Suyin, a disciple of the Jiuling Sect," Chu Yanyu hurriedly introduced her to Ye Qingyun.
Bai Suyin curtsied slightly toward Ye Qingyun. "Greetings, Young Master."
Ye Qingyun looked Bai Suyin up and down. *Not bad, another little beauty.*
"Brother Ye, this is our master, Xuanjian Sect Master Xu Changfeng!" Li Chenyuan added.
Ye Qingyun's eyes lit up instantly. The Xuanjian Sect Master? A big shot! This was someone worth sucking up to. If he ever ran into any trouble in the Tianwu Dynasty in the future, just dropping this Xuanjian Sect Master's name would probably work wonders.
"So it is Sect Master Xu! Forgive me for not welcoming you properly!" Ye Qingyun cupped his fists in greeting.
Xu Changfeng returned the gesture. "You are far too polite, Your Excellency."
Guyue couldn't hold back any longer. "Brother Ye, this is His Majesty the Martial Emperor!"
Dongfang Su instinctively straightened his posture. He was an emperor, after all; his presence couldn't possibly be weaker than that of Xu Changfeng, a mere sect master.
The Martial Emperor Dongfang Su?
Ye Qingyun's expression turned even more astonished. Why was even the emperor showing up at his place? What was going on here?
Still, since the emperor had come, he naturally had to treat him well. If he could cozy up to the emperor's thighs, wouldn't he reach the pinnacle of his life in a matter of minutes?
"So it is Your Majesty the Martial Emperor! Please forgive my discourtesy!" Ye Qingyun bowed deeply.
"Think nothing of it. I came to this place specifically to pay my respects to you," Dongfang Su said with a smile.
Ye Qingyun scratched his head somewhat sheepishly. *Turns out I'm this famous now? Big shots like a sect master and the emperor have to come visit me in person? Heh heh, I actually feel a little proud of myself.*
"Dad, the rabbit demon is right there!" Xu Jinger whispered to Xu Changfeng, pointing at the bald rabbit in the yard.
Xu Changfeng narrowed his eyes and fixed his gaze on it, his expression sinking. "It really is this wretched beast!" A hint of killing intent flashed in his eyes.
The rabbit demon had once killed disciples of the Xuanjian Sect, which was why Li Chenyuan and the others had pursued it all the way to Fuyun Mountain. However, Xu Changfeng didn't act out just yet. He decided to wait and see how things played out first.
"You are all guests, and since I happen to be cooking a hotpot and it's lunchtime, why don't you all stay and eat a little?" Ye Qingyun warmly invited them.
Chu Yanyu instantly grew excited. She still vividly remembered eating the grapes here last time, which had caused her cultivation to skyrocket; she had been thinking about it ever since. But what on earth was a "hotpot"?
"Um... what is a hotpot?" Dongfang Su asked, equally curious.
Ye Qingyun blinked. "Your Majesty has never eaten hotpot?"
Dongfang Su shook his head. Forget about eating it; this was the first time he had even heard the word "hotpot."
Ye Qingyun looked at Dongfang Su with a trace of pity. *Turns out the emperor of this world doesn't have it all that great either—he hasn't even eaten hotpot. How pitiful.*
Dongfang Su was left somewhat amused and exasperated by the way Ye Qingyun was looking at him, as if he, the dignified Martial Emperor, were completely devoid of worldly experience.
"Come on over, everyone. Eating hotpot is only lively when there are lots of people," Ye Qingyun said, ushering them into the courtyard.
The group gathered around the large cauldron, staring blankly at the bubbling broth inside.
"This thing looks rather bizarre."
"What on earth is even boiling in here? It's a total mess."
"Still, it smells quite fragrant..."
They muttered among themselves, speaking all at once.
Just then, Bai Suyin's expression shifted in shock. As she sniffed the aroma rising from the pot, she felt her entire body grow warm. A surge of heat began to flow through her veins. In particular, the chronic injuries she had sustained in her youth actually showed signs of healing right then and there.
*Th-this... could this so-called hotpot completely heal my chronic injuries?* Bai Suyin was utterly terrified and astonished.
Bai Suyin had been accidentally injured during her childhood, and the lingering trauma had never truly healed, constantly lying dormant within her body. Every single year, the injury would flare up, plunging her into agonizing pain. Even after joining the Jiuling Sect and embarking on the path of cultivation, her condition had hardly improved.
Yet now, merely by smelling the scent of this hotpot, the hidden injuries inside her were already showing signs of recovery. This left her deeply shaken. Her injuries hadn't improved for countless years; even her master, Jiuling Sect Master Gongsun Yue, had said that curing them would likely require refining pills using several different heavenly treasures simultaneously.
*Could it be that these messy-looking ingredients in the hotpot are actually all heavenly treasures?* Bai Suyin couldn't help but think to herself.
The others were also experiencing various changes in their expressions.
"Huh? Why does taking a whiff of this hotpot make the Qi and blood in my body flow so smoothly, refreshing my entire being?" Xu Changfeng marveled.
"My cultivation, which has stagnated for years, seems to be showing signs of breaking through," Dongfang Su chimed in.
Every single person present, without exception, could feel a distinct change in their bodies the moment they inhaled the hotpot's aroma. Those with internal injuries felt them mend; those with sluggish circulation felt instantly cleared; those with stagnating cultivation sensed signs of a breakthrough. Not to mention the younger generation like Li Chenyuan and the others—each of their faces was flushed with health, their vitality and spirits brimming to the absolute maximum.
"Stop standing around, hurry up and use your chopsticks," Ye Qingyun urged, picking up a piece of meat for himself and eating with immense relish.
Hotpot was something Ye Qingyun had loved eating back in his old life. Ever since arriving in this world, he had made it a few times, but he had always eaten alone, with at most Damao keeping him company. Eating hotpot alone lacked that certain vibe, so he had never truly enjoyed it to the fullest.
This time was different. With so many people gathered around a single pot eating hotpot, that was the way to truly enjoy it. That hit the spot.
"Sect Master Xu, Your Majesty, I won't be standing on ceremony then," Chu Yanyu giggled, taking the lead in fishing out a shiny, tender, cotton-like morsel from the pot. She had no idea what it was, but it looked delicious.
She popped it straight into her mouth. Instantly, Chu Yanyu's face flushed red. "So spicy!"
She gasped for air while rapidly fan-waving her hand in front of her mouth. Seeing her reaction, the others hesitated, suddenly too scared to use their chopsticks.
"Is it really that spicy?" Xu Changfeng frowned. He had always preferred light meals and disliked anything heavily seasoned, let alone something this fiery and pungent. He had an innate aversion to it.
Chu Yanyu was too spicy-stung to even speak.
"Dad, I'll try some first," Xu Jinger said, unable to resist any longer as she picked up a piece of beef and shoved it into her mouth. "Delicious! So spicy!"
Xu Jinger cried out in surprise, her cheeks instantly turning as bright red as Chu Yanyu's.
Li Chenyuan and Zhao Wangchun followed suit and picked up their chopsticks. The two of them fared slightly better than Xu Jinger; although they also found it spicy, they felt it was mostly just delicious.
"This is too amazing!" Little fatty Zhao Wangchun exclaimed repeatedly.
Of all of them, he was arguably the biggest foodie and had always adored good food. Yet this hotpot was a delicacy unlike anything he had ever tasted. Both its texture and flavor were filled with endless novelty.
He couldn't stop praising it, and he couldn't stop eating!
"Is it really that good?" Xu Changfeng asked skeptically, a mild itch of curiosity stirring in his heart.
"Sect Master Xu, you should hurry up and taste it, it really is delicious!" Li Chenyuan urged.
"Then I shall try a piece. If it proves to be overly spicy, I simply won't eat any more."
With that thought in mind, the dead-serious Xu Changfeng picked up a single vegetable leaf. He didn't want to eat meat, figuring that a vegetable leaf would be somewhat lighter.
Seeing this, Ye Qingyun wanted to warn him, but he was a moment too late.
The moment the vegetable leaf entered his mouth, Xu Changfeng's expression shifted drastically.
*Holy crap!*
*This is way too spicy!*
*No! I have to hold it in! I am a generation grandmaster, the head of a sect! I absolutely cannot lose face in front of His Majesty and the juniors!*
Xu Changfeng forcefully endured it, slowly chewing inside his mouth while giving a slight, dignified nod. "Mm, the taste is not bad."
Everyone stared at him in unison.
"Sect Master Xu, your face..." Li Chenyuan's jaw dropped.
"What's wrong with my face?" Xu Changfeng asked, startled.
"Dad, your face is even redder than mine, and you're sweating on your forehead," Xu Jinger bluntly pointed out.
Xu Changfeng: "..."
Ye Qingyun laughed. "Sect Master Xu, the vegetables in this hotpot are actually the spiciest part because they absorb the flavor and soak up all the oil. Almost all the heat gets trapped right inside the greens."
Xu Changfeng's mouth twitched violently; he almost cursed out loud. *Why the hell didn't you say so earlier?! Now look at me, I can't even step down with any dignity.*
"Hahaha, interesting, very interesting. I shall try some as well," Dongfang Su said, his curiosity finally getting the better of him.
"Your Majesty, please allow this subordinate to taste it first," Guyue hurriedly tried to stop him.
"No need. Since Sect Master Xu and the others have eaten it, am I somehow forbidden from trying it?" Dongfang Su waved a hand dismissively, then picked up a chopstick full of food and popped it into his mouth.
After chewing twice, Dongfang Su's eyes lit up. "Truly delicious!"
As an emperor, he had tasted countless delicacies and had long since grown jaded by them. But this hotpot gave Dongfang Su an unprecedented sensation—an indescribable flavor. Though spicy, it was a comforting kind of heat.