Raise a sword!

A fair-skinned, chubby boy walked into the Jade Hall Tower.

Yutanglou was already full at this time.

"Sir, I'm so sorry, but we're fully booked due to the celebratory occasion of the founding of our sect."

The chubby boy nodded repeatedly, and after the waiter finished speaking, he smiled and said, "It's alright, just find a table that can fit me, and I'll pay for the food and drinks."

The prices at Yutanglou are quite high; they don't accept silver coins but spirit stones.

However, the chubby boy, despite being fair-skinned and plump, was dressed in simple clothes, making him seem out of place here.

His words immediately drew laughter from three young people at the next table.

"Kid, this isn't your mortal realm; money doesn't work here!"

"I have a seat here. This meal costs fifty ling. If you can afford it, please come and sit down."

Upon hearing this, the chubby boy still maintained his friendly, smiling demeanor.

"I would like to get closer to you senior brothers, but unfortunately I am short of money... I do have some spirit stones, but I really can't afford to pay for your drinks. Please forgive my poor appearance."

As soon as he finished speaking, the chubby boy bowed slightly.

This demeanor left the young people at the table unsure how to respond.

They looked around, dissatisfied, but still waved their hands and said, "Don't pretend to be rich if you don't have money. We'll let it go since you're at least polite."

"Thank you, senior brother." The chubby boy bowed again.

After getting up, he looked around and, seeing that no one was calling him, he turned around to leave.

Just then, a voice came from the corner.

"Hey kid, there's an empty seat here, come on over."

Upon hearing this, the chubby boy looked in the direction from which the voice came from the corner. Seeing two simply dressed figures, he immediately walked over.

"Thank you both. I was hungry after the long journey and was in a hurry to eat something, which is why I made a fool of myself earlier. Please forgive me for the misunderstanding," the chubby boy said politely.

Jiang Peng waved his hand and pushed the steamed fish (of unknown origin) in front of him towards the chubby boy.

"Eat up, order more if you're not full."

So many years have passed, but the food and wine at Yutanglou are still the same as they were back then. They focus on ingredients and light seasoning, using valuable spiritual fruits, materials and monster meat, but the taste is really just average.

Jiang Peng didn't enjoy the meal, and Qian Laosi only touched the dishes on the table a few times.

The chubby boy thanked him and immediately began to eat heartily.

Jiang Peng and Qian Laosi were chatting idly, but the young man was eating so deliciously that they became mesmerized by watching him eat.

"Huh, why didn't I find watching other people eat so interesting before?" Qian Laosi exclaimed in amazement.

Jiang Peng then recalled the mukbang videos from her past life.

"Watching others enjoy their appetite is also a pleasure."

As Jiang Peng spoke, he called over the waiter to add some more dishes, telling the chubby boy to eat in peace. Then he chatted with Qian Laosi.

As they talked, the topic turned to the opening of the mountain.

"Which elder will preside over the opening ceremony of the sect this year?" Qian Laosi asked casually.

"I haven't inquired." Jiang Peng shook his head slightly. "But the way they open a mountain and accept disciples is still the same. They set up an illusion to deceive these new disciples. There are many obstacles on the mountain path, which tests both their character and aptitude. It doesn't matter who presides over it."

Qian Laosi chuckled and said, "There are still differences. I heard that some elders have accepted bribes and can let those with slightly worse aptitude into the sect."

Jiang Peng had heard about this matter.

"If someone with slightly inferior aptitude insists on joining a sect, then they're not here to cultivate... They're probably just thinking about using the sect to make connections. Otherwise, what good is it to become a sect cultivator at such a cost? Expecting the sect to distribute Foundation Establishment Pills is wishful thinking. In the end, they'll just be working like slaves for the sect."

At this point, Jiang Peng suddenly slapped his forehead and looked at the chubby boy who had raised his head at some point.

"I forgot there's a young man here who wants to pay his respects," Jiang Peng laughed. "Little Fatty, just pretend you didn't hear what I said earlier. Anyway, you're quite talented and have a good temperament. You're calm and composed, and you should be able to achieve something great in the future."

The chubby boy chuckled.

"Thank you for your kind words, senior."

Qian Laosi asked curiously, "Hey, I didn't see you test his spiritual root, how do you know he has good aptitude?"

"Looking to be only thirteen or fourteen years old, yet already possessing the cultivation level of the third stage of Qi Refining, his aptitude is undoubtedly excellent, and his background is also quite extraordinary."

Jiang Peng glanced at the table next to her that had just mocked the chubby boy.

"The people at that table are nobles from the Cang Kingdom. Most of their elders have rendered meritorious service to the sect. Although they grew up in the mortal world, they are actually considered to be descendants of cultivation families... Heh, their skills are not necessarily great, but they are definitely all talk and no action."

Instead, the chubby boy offered some words of comfort to the others, saying, "These senior brothers are still young at heart. They rarely see cultivators in the mortal world since they were young, so naturally they always feel superior. Once they come to the sect and see the world, their minds will settle down."

Jiang Peng found this amusing.

"They mocked you, and you even defended them?"

"We'll all be fellow disciples in the future, why make enemies?"

"You're quite mature for your age. Kid, what's your name?"

"This is Liu Linong, a junior."

As he spoke, Liu Linong stood up and gave a slight bow to Jiang Peng and Qian Laosi.

"Thank you both for your hospitality. As mentioned earlier, I will pay for this meal."

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Linong took out a mid-grade spirit stone from his storage bag and placed it on the table.

The young people at the next table had been secretly observing this side. When they saw the mid-grade spirit stone, they looked at each other, probably realizing they had mistaken the person for someone else.

Many drinkers also noticed this scene and marveled at it.

Qian Laosi exclaimed in surprise, "Good heavens, you're throwing around mid-grade spirit stones right off the bat, yet you're dressed so shabbily?"

"I don't like to show off," Liu Linong explained before preparing to take his leave.

But Jiang Peng suddenly raised her hand and called out to him.

"Liu Linong, right? Sit down and come with me later."

Liu Linong was taken aback, somewhat confused.

Qian Laosi, standing nearby, exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Jiang has taken a liking to this lad? Is he going to pull strings for him?"

"Why do you always say such awful things? What do you mean by 'getting in through connections'?"

Jiang Peng chuckled and explained, "This kid comes from the southern foothills. If we're talking about family background, all those ugly and shabby people in this Jade Hall Tower wouldn't even be worthy of his family's attention."

Jiang Peng didn't try to hide his voice; he was speaking to the group of people who had just mocked the chubby boy.

Upon hearing this, the young men immediately slammed their fists on the table and stood up to refute it.

"Sit down." Jiang Peng's voice was calm, yet filled with undeniable authority.

The young men immediately collapsed to their seats, horrified.

"Senior, there's no need for that." Liu Linong also realized that the person in front of him was actually a Foundation Establishment senior, and most likely an elder of the Cangshan Sect.

He just didn't understand why this Foundation Establishment senior would stand up for him.

"Can't figure it out, huh?" Jiang Peng looked at Liu Linong with a smile.

"Please enlighten me, senior."

"I am Jiang Peng."

Liu Linong suddenly realized.

"Liu Shili Nong greets the Master of Biwu Peak."

The moment the words "Peak Master" were uttered, the hall fell silent.

In Cangshan Market, everyone knows that the title "Peak Master" represents a Foundation Establishment Elder of the Upper Sect.

"Call me Master." Jiang Peng helped Liu Linong up. "This is something I promised the Liu family back then... Your father said in his letter that you were clever, and it seems he was right."

Liu Linong's father was Liu Xian, who received Jiang Peng and Sun Yinxi back then.

Liu Xian had written to Jiang Peng beforehand about Liu Linong's intention to join Biwu Peak, so Jiang Peng knew the boy's background as soon as she heard his name.

"Did your father give you any instructions before you left?"

Liu Linong is indeed a clever person.

Seeing the closeness in Jiang Peng's words, he joked, "My dad said that following Master would bring good fortune, so I came running here."