Food Fairy Lord

Chapter 654: Wuyun Tower
On the morning of the 17th day of the first lunar month, Pei Ye walked out of the side door of Daming Palace. He greedily and deeply breathed in the cold winter air, as if he was a person who had been stuffed in a jar for a month. Then he took a few quick steps and leaped lightly like a springbok, crashing into the blue curtain of the carriage. The carriage shook slightly, and after a moment it started to move forward.

In July and September, the river blooms, and in August and September, the swallows come. Spring has not yet arrived, but the smell has already escaped from some quiet places, the fragrance of willow buds close to the river, the faint fishy smell of water by the river, the droppings and fallen feathers of birds. The blind Yue Muzhou once told Pei Ye that the smell of the air is different in each season. Pei Ye's five senses were not sensitive at that time, so he felt it was quite magical.

"What a nice weather." Pei Ye lifted the corner of the curtain and looked at the clear sun. It was finally a little warmer. The snow had melted away, and people began to walk on the streets in an endless stream, preparing for the new year.

An arm stretched out from the seat opposite him, pressing down the curtains and shutting out the noise from the street. Xu Chuo looked at him and said, "It took me half an hour to warm up a little warmth with a small stove, but you came in and it was all gone in two breaths."

Xu Chuo was wrapped in a light blue embroidered cloak with unknown number of layers inside. On top was a clean face that had not been seen for a long time. Her hair was tied into a bun with a very delicate texture, which gave people a smooth touch as soon as they saw it.

"What a nice day." Pei Ye repeated it in a dissatisfied tone, retracted his arm, and argued with a smile, "The curtain is meant to be opened, otherwise it would be better to just seal it up."

The water on the stove started to boil. Xu Chuo picked up the pot to make hot tea. Pei Ye put his hands on his knees and finally calmed down: "Where are we going?"

"Let's just find a place to sit down and chat. I'll talk to you about something." Xu Chuo thought for a moment, "Let's go to Wuyun Tower. It's close."

Wuyun Tower is next to Zhuque Avenue. Pei Ye had been to this building for the dinner hosted by Xie Chuantang last time. You can see students from the Imperial Academy and officials in green robes here. However, there are obviously more people from the martial arts world today than last time. In front of the building, there are three people dressed as Taoists carrying swords. They are of different ages. They seem to have just changed their robes, but their cloth shoes still have traces of the road. A young one is looking out and sighs: "It's true that all nations are in one city. I heard that there are crouching tigers and hidden dragons everywhere. I wonder how many friends from the martial arts world have arrived."

Another person said, "There is still no news from the first few mountain gates, but I heard that Nie Shangheng is on his way."

The carriage stopped at the door. Pei Ye jumped down first and waited beside the carriage with a sword in hand. Xu Chuo held the small heater in his arms, wrapped himself in a cloak and walked down. He said "excuse me" to a few people and entered Wuyun Tower. The carriage behind him drove away lightly and silently.

"He's wearing a copper talisman on his waist. He's a Taoist from the Lingbao Sect." The two of them went up to the upper floors and sat down by the window in the corner. They ordered some snacks and a pot of sake. Xu Chuo lifted his hood, combed his hair, and said, "Among the seven Taoist sects, the Jingming and Lingbao sects are the most involved in the world. Although Quanzhen sells elixirs, it advocates pure cultivation the most in terms of rituals. It is the lineage that is furthest away from the world."

Pei Ye poured the wine: "I heard that Lingbao Sect seems to be able to refine weapons."

"Well, in terms of magic weapons, Yangyi Tower and Lingbao Sect have the most profound skills. Generally speaking, Yangyi Tower is in the north and Lingbao Sect is in the south, but the 'north' includes Chang'an. Yangyi Tower has also gone further in business and has spread its business far, so it has a greater reputation."

There were indeed fewer guests on the ninth floor. It was morning, and there were no VIP guests hosting banquets, so the surroundings were very quiet.

"Are these people here to take the Feather Scale Test?"

Wuyun Tower is very large. It is both a restaurant and an inn, and there is a garden in the back. It is inevitable that some people from the martial arts world will stay here, but Pei Ye did not expect it to happen so early.

"It's always like this. After the New Year, a group of people usually come first, and then they come in one after another in the middle two months. In the last half ten days or twenty days, another group of people will come in concentratedly." Xu Chuo said, "Who wouldn't want to make more preparations and observations? This is the most important event in the martial arts world that only happens once every three years."

"That makes sense." Pei Ye looked down at the window, "They just mentioned Nie Shangheng, it seems he is on the Crane Ranking of Tianshan Mountain."

"Well, he is the highest ranked in Tianshan. He inherited the title of the first of the Eight Steeds, [Red Horse], and is now ranked eighth on the Crane List." Xu Chuo chatted, "This ranking is already very impressive, but in recent years, the Jianghu has been talking about the rise of Tianshan. The surprising thing is not the Crane List, but the Duck List - Tianshan alone occupies four seats in the top 20 of the Duck List."

"…Well, the highest one is the [Young Master] who is ranked third among the Seven Jades, and he ranks sixth."

"good."

Pei Ye used to be obsessed with the Crane and Duck Book, and only liked to read about the knights, but didn't know much about the sects. After counting now, he could not help but nod his head. When ordinary people first read the Crane and Duck Book, they often only focus on the first three, and sometimes expand to five or six. The first ten are already a bit difficult to remember. If you talk about the first twenty or thirty, you can't help but think that they are all minions.

In fact, as long as one is knowledgeable and does a quick calculation, one will inevitably be shocked to find that the ten positions cannot even accommodate the top few.

The Tang Dynasty sects, led by Yunlang and Daozong, how many places should they be given? Bailu Palace, Longjun Dongting, Beihai Mansion... There are six or seven such sects in the world. Who is not qualified to occupy a place in the top ten? Going down, there are more than ten sects in Tianshan and Shushan. Aren't there three or five amazing talents among them?

Besides, there are more than just the Jianghu in the world. The Five Aristocratic Families are like five nails nailed to the Tang Dynasty. How many of them should be selected? There are also the royal family, the military, the Jianghu, and even the Northern Wilderness and the Southern Kingdom. Although they are not comprehensive, they are also qualified to attend in name. How many masters are they?

In fact, he really couldn't let it go. In the national newspaper last September, Tan commented on Yan Feiqing, saying, "30 is like a dead end, and you will definitely stagnate after entering it." This is exactly what he said. Those who are within the top 30 are often the undisputed first cultivation genius of their sect, and Yan Feiqing's ninth place is actually the highest ranking among all the seven Taoist sects in the Duck List. The White Deer Palace is even worse, Yang Zhenbing's nineteenth place is already the highest ranking, but this generation of [Sword Demon] is too young, so this is just a starting point, so let's talk about it separately.

In such a fierce competition, Tianshan was able to have four people in the top 20, which is indeed worthy of its reputation in recent years.

"In two months, the Immortal Platform will release the Spring and Summer Rankings, which will also be the final rankings for the past three years. The Feather Scale Test will be based on them." Xu Chuo put the cake into his mouth and wiped his fingertips with a handkerchief. "If there is no major event, there will often be no changes in the top of the Crane Ranking; while the young people in the Duck Ranking are at the age of showing their talents and potential, so it is easy for their rankings to change."

"Thinking about it, a cultivator only has a few opportunities to take the Feather Scale Test in his lifetime, no wonder it's so important." Pei Ye looked out the window and thought, "With such a list, things do seem a lot more orderly. All the sects in the martial arts world have their own positions, and with the Feather Scale Test, there are naturally fewer chaotic and bloody fights... It turns out that no one is as far-sighted as Xin Gan Xianrentai."

Xu Chuo smiled and said, "It would be best if you flatter me later."

"what?"

But Xu Chuo did not answer. She drank a glass of wine and said softly, "In fact, Your Highness also has his own feather scale test."

Pei Ye was stunned for a moment, then quickly understood what she was saying.

"Wuyan is the last heir. After she passes the Kirin blood test, this spring Kirin will select the bloodline with the purest Kirin blood that best matches her. If nothing unexpected happens, this person will inherit the position of crown prince in three years."

Pei Ye didn't say anything. He had just walked out of the deep palace walls and knew very well the curse brought by the word "unicorn blood". After living with Li Xizhou for a month, he had changed his attitude towards this thing - the lighter the corrupt liquid that poisons fate, the better. He wished he could help Li Xizhou find a way to completely get rid of it right now.

Wei Qingju did leave behind this kind of legend. "How do we separate this kind of bloodline?"

Xu Chuo was about to speak, but he glanced towards the door, where several young men and women of extraordinary bearing were walking in. They were not wearing the clothes commonly seen in the capital, and each of them carried a sword.

"It's really getting lively." She retracted her gaze and looked back at the face of the young man in front of her, but saw that he had a strange expression on his face and kept looking at those people.

"Why, that one is your old lover?" Xu Chuo tilted his head and looked at him.

"…What is that?" Pei Ye rolled his eyes slightly, lowered his head, and took a sip of wine, "It's someone from Shaolong."

They were indeed from Shaolong. Pei Ye recognized every face. Although only a few months had passed, it seemed like such a long time ago.

There were five people in total, including [Withered Maple] Xiang Zongyuan and [Sleeping Flowers and Counting Butterflies] Nan Guannu from Luoying Mountain, [Feathers Given by Heaven] Cui Zijie from Yuquan Mountain, [Pearl Guardian] Qi Mengchen of the current generation of Mingzhu Waterside, and [Dragon Jaw Taking Pearl] Su Xingke. They did not choose to sit in the corner, but went straight to the empty table with the best seat.

Pei Ye then remembered that the revision of the Jade Sword Table in Shaolong had been completed. Although he, the number one and the chief governor, were nowhere to be found in the end, the Jade Sword Book was still the Jade Sword Book, and the connections between the people listed were still quite close. At this time, the three families who entered the capital unexpectedly came together.

He tilted his head to glance out the window with a normal expression, but Xu Chuo's perception of his stunned expression was too sharp, which made him feel inexplicably guilty - it was indeed impossible for his old lover to be among them, but it was needless to say who he thought of at that moment.

However, he soon realized that those who were at the top of the sword list could come to the capital a few months earlier for the Feather Scale Test, but Piao Qing had a fledgling sect on his side, so it was impossible for him to come with them now.

Xiang Zongyuan was still silent, Nan Guannu and Qi Mengchen had not changed much either, they walked side by side and chatted with smiles, Cui Zijie and Su Xingke were still proud and arrogant, and their swords were the most conspicuous.

Xiang Zongyuan sat down, put down his sword and said, "It has been less than four months since the Jade Sword Book was completed. It has just become famous in the martial arts world, and the real work has not been seen yet. In the city of Shenjing Haishen, you must think twice before making a move. Many eyes are watching. What kind of arena will be embarrassing if you fight, and what kind of move will make people look up to you if you lose... We have to establish the Shaolong Sword Book firmly this spring, so that everyone in the book can benefit."

He looked especially at Su Xingke as he spoke, but the young man did not meet his gaze.

Cui Zijie said, "I will go to the sword meeting held by the Lu family in Xunfang Garden in two days. I heard that many swordsmen from the Shenjing Sword Academy will be present. I will try to choose someone to fight with me once."

Su Xingke looked at him and said, "I'll go too!"

After Xiang Zongyuan finished writing the dishes and handed them to the waiter, he looked back and said calmly: "You go, and if you see Yang Zhenbing, you will also draw your sword to challenge him, and then he will be defeated by a sword. People will say, see, this is the third of Shaolong Jade Sword Book, who made such a big fuss, but turned out to be such a mediocre person."

Su Xingke looked at him coldly.

"You are making rapid progress, so your first attack will be your strongest. You should save it for the Longhu Sword Conference. Don't attack before that." Xiang Zongyuan seemed to be accustomed to these cold looks, and he lowered his head to share five cups of tea.

Qi Mengchen said to Su Xingke jokingly, "Just listen to Master Xiang. When the Sword Sects from Jinwu Huashan in the south come, I will teach you a lesson."

"I just saw a few Taoist friends from the Lingbao Sect outside the building gate. I don't know if the other Taoist sects have entered the capital." Cui Zijie leaned back in his chair, stroking the scabbard in his arms.

Nan Guannu didn't say anything. When the Jade Sword Book was mentioned, she would immediately think of the scene last autumn.

Thinking of the leader who has no trace to this day, and the sword used to assassinate him, she stood very close to him at that time, with only the not-so-tall body of an elder between them, and she seemed to be able to feel the temperature of the blood gushing from the neck of the Sui governor. For more than ten nights after that, she repeatedly dreamed of the soul-stirring eyes and sword light.

The news that Luoyingshan got from Shaolong Immortal Platform was that the case had been transferred to Shenjing. Now that he had arrived in Shenjing, his memories were inevitably brought back to him. He thought that the young man had probably been buried somewhere long ago. After all, Shenjing Immortal Platform would not publicize the results of such a case.

After a moment of distraction, Nan Guannu quickly retracted her gaze. She glanced at the guests at other tables unconsciously. In fact, all cultivators would be aware of the people in the same space, but Nan Guannu was more accustomed to using her other eyes to observe their appearance and behavior to obtain some information on the social level rather than the level of the martial arts world.

Then her head suddenly froze. The young man at the table in the southeast corner just retracted his gaze, and his cheek was exposed in her field of vision. A chill ran up her spine, and she almost blurted out something. But in just a moment, the two waiters had raised the screen to cover that half of the face. Instead, the woman sitting opposite turned her head and glanced over here. The clear eyes and amazingly calm demeanor left a mark in her heart.

Then the screen separated the two blurry figures inside and they continued drinking and chatting, as if they were just ordinary drinkers seeking some quiet time.

Nan Guannu was stunned for a moment, not knowing whether it was a momentary illusion or an invasion of his daytime dream.

"Sure enough, everyone who can come will come." Pei Ye sighed, "Don't see that I'm not dead."

"How can you still keep your name hidden in the capital? You can only keep it a secret for a few days when you first arrive."

"Ah." Pei Ye wanted to leave. "You said you were talking about something in the car. What was it about?"

"Look. Don't talk to me, talk to him." Xu Chuo poured a glass of wine and placed it beside them.

Pei Ye looked at it in shock.

The old man's appearance and clothes were very ordinary. I didn't know when he sat there, but his face was pale as if he hadn't seen the sun for a long time. He was tall but very thin, as if he only had bones, no beard on his face, and his shoulders were slightly hunched, giving people the feeling that he was more like a skinny farm cow - as if his muscles and bones were very strong, but considering the work he had to do, he seemed weak and shaky.

"Yes, my name is Li Yan." The old man's voice had no fluctuations in tone, but it was not cold, and the texture was very thick. "You have been in Beijing for some time. Xizhou and I have seen what you have done. Now that the New Year is over, I want to talk to you about Xitingxin's affairs."

(End of this chapter)