Heaven rewards diligence; he fought his way through chaos to become a saint.

Chapter 130 Difficulty of Living

When it comes to the topic of Transformation Realm, everyone's attention naturally falls on Ye Ci.

Du Ruofeng clicked his tongue in amazement and said, "Look at us, we're about the same age, and you've actually mastered the Transformation Realm. That's real skill! You're much better than those two show-offs, Yang Zhihe and Ding Xian."

Ye Ci finally understood why Shen Yixi spoke to him so rudely; it turned out that he was just as rude in his speech.

It can only be said that Miss Shen struck first.

Upon hearing this, Yang Zhihe and Ding Xian feigned anger and said in unison, "You think you're better than someone who can't even cultivate Ming Jin?"

Du Ruofeng retorted, "I don't waste money. I'm a born good-for-nothing, and I know my place."

The group started joking around again, reminiscing about their childhood, and the atmosphere at the gathering was lively.

Ye Ci also learned a bit about Shen Yixi. She used to be aloof, but after getting to know everyone, they realized that she was sharp-tongued.

Therefore, everyone says she is a slow-to-warm-up girl.

One after another, delicious dishes, each with its own unique color, aroma, and flavor, were placed on the table. The meat and vegetables were well-matched, and the cups, bowls, and chopsticks were arranged in an orderly manner. The aroma filled the air, showcasing the abundance of the banquet.

At this moment, Yan Qian glanced at Yan Zhan at the door, and the latter said, "Miss, it's getting late; why don't we serve all the dishes?"

Yan Qian nodded slightly, her red lips parted slightly: "Then we won't wait any longer. Let the waiter bring out the last dish."

Ye Ci then realized that there must be one guest who hadn't arrived yet, but it was getting late and everyone's stomachs were rumbling, so they decided not to wait any longer.

Amidst the clinking of glasses, laughter and conversation mingled with the aroma of the dishes, amplifying the lively atmosphere of the banquet.

Soon, two waiters brought over a jade plate carved from a single piece of warm jade. On the plate was a large piece of meat from a strange beast, with a lustrous color and a faint pearly sheen. The meat had a fine texture and was faintly surrounded by spiritual energy. The neatly arranged pieces of meat had a rich and lingering aroma that instantly overshadowed the other dishes on the table.

"This is the meat of the Spirit Rhinoceros Beast, a rare and exotic beast. Its flesh is thick and tough, and it is impervious to miasma, allowing it to freely enter and exit the depths of the sacred land. Therefore, its meat contains pure spiritual energy, which can nourish the meridians and stabilize the blood and qi. For you martial artists, it is a rare and precious tonic."

Yan Qian introduced the group to Ye Ci, Yang Zhihe, and Ding Xian, indicating that they didn't need to be so polite.

Xue Shouzhen added, "My Drunken Moon Pavilion can't get such high-quality ingredients; Yan Qian brought them specially."

"Haha—Yan Qian, you're too kind."

Yang Zhihe picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks, glanced at Du Ruofeng, and said, "You're a good-for-nothing. Don't eat it, or you'll get a nosebleed."

Du Ruofeng scoffed, "I've eaten this spirit rhinoceros beast before. It won't make your nose bleed; it'll just keep you on the bed for three days straight! And girls will be kneeling and begging—"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yixi quietly pursed her lips and exchanged a glance with Yan Qian, while Miss Yan secretly kicked Shen Yixi under the table with her little foot.

The two women exchanged glances, each possessing their own unique charm.

Mythical Beasts of the Sacred Land!

Ye Ci's heart stirred slightly. He had a brief exchange with Yan Zhan before and knew that the Holy Land was near Wu City, and that there were many rare and exotic beasts inside, such as the Royal Forest Garden.

As it is the site of the former Martial Saint, there are many ferocious beasts inside. In addition, the area is a mixture of mountains, lakes, and swamps. However, miasma sometimes erupts in the holy land, making it inconvenient to enter or leave. Only skilled martial artists dare to go in to hunt.

As for the deeper parts, ordinary people dare not go in, therefore, it is not easy to capture exotic beasts like the Spirit Rhinoceros.

Knowing the preciousness of the sacred land's exotic beasts, and with this plate of spirit rhinoceros meat weighing a full twenty pounds, Yan Qian's sincerity today is evident.

Just a glimpse.

Ye Ci nodded his thanks, and also picked up a small piece of meat with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

The meat of the mythical beast was quite chewy and well-prepared, with no extra spices, only the natural aroma of the beast itself.

As soon as a mouthful of meat was swallowed, it instantly transformed into a warm current that flowed through my limbs and bones. My muscles, bones, and blood felt as if they were being soaked in warm water, making me feel incredibly comfortable. It was as if every pore opened up, and I felt a surge of energy that I wanted to unleash.

Indeed, they are formidable.

Shen Yixi glanced sideways and deliberately said to Du Ruofeng and the others, "Don't be polite with them. It would be a waste for Du Ruofeng to eat."

"Yes, yes, yes, let Ye Gongfeng eat it so it won't be a waste. It's getting late, an auspicious time."

Du Ruofeng was not at a disadvantage at all. She took the initiative to put a few pieces of meat on Ye Ci's plate and then sighed, "Eat more, so you can build up your strength."

Shen Yiqian:

Du Ruofeng looked at Shen Yixi and Yan Qian, and added, "I meant it's good for his martial arts training, so don't overthink it."

o

It would have been better if he hadn't explained; the explanation made Ye Ci quite embarrassed.

Yan Qian covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

But just then, the door to the private room was pushed open.

The newcomer was a young man in his early twenties with a square face, who looked older than the others present. He was dressed in a black brocade robe. He first scanned the room before saying, "You didn't even wait for me!"

"Why are you so late!"

Du Ruofeng shouted loudly, and the others at the table all stood up.

They were clearly very respectful.

Yan Qian also smiled and said, "How could I have known that Young Master Yuan would grace us with his presence? I thought you weren't coming!"

After saying that, she smiled and introduced him to Ye Ci and Shen Yixi, with a hint of flattery in her words: "Yuan Mulin is the eldest son of our inner city family. He runs a medicinal herb business in Wucheng. There are some things that we can't get ourselves that we have to rely on him for."

She spoke very briefly, without even introducing Ye Ci to him, and said to Shen Yixi, "You mentioned before that you wanted to order the breakthrough pills, but I couldn't get them. However, Young Master Yuan has the ability to do so, so he agreed to it."

"Thank you, Young Master Yuan."

Shen Yixi thanked her politely and respectfully.

As Yan Qian's friend, she clearly realized that Yuan Mulin's connections should surpass those of the Yan family. Therefore, Yan Qian was worried about being impolite when she spoke, so she asked Shen Yixi to express her gratitude.

At this moment, Yan Zhan brought a chair for Yuan Mulin and placed it at the head of the table.

Yuan Mulin tossed the hem of his robe and sat down next to Yan Qian, showing no reaction to Shen Yixi's earlier thanks.

He simply gave Shen Yixi a blatant once-over, his gaze lingering a few more times on the heaving curves of her chest.

Seeing this, Yan Qian changed the subject and continued to introduce: "You also know my other classmates. You've also heard of Shen Yixi. This person next to her is—her tutor and friend, named Ye Ci, a young Grandmaster of Internal Energy."

She spoke tactfully, deliberately referring to Shen Yixi as "good friend," also considering Shen Yixi's beautiful appearance and to avoid any unnecessary embarrassment.

Ye Ci cupped his hands in greeting: "Young Master Yuan."

Yuan Mulin was a worldly person, and he quickly withdrew his gaze from Shen Yixi.

He sat down at the table, his gaze falling on Ye Ci, a half-smile on his face.

"A young—a Grandmaster of Internal Energy?"

As he spoke, he picked up his chopsticks with one hand, tapped them lightly, picked up a bite of the exotic beast meat and put it in his mouth. Then he slowly said, "Martial City lacks everything, but it doesn't lack martial artists. A martial artist with the Transformation Realm is a rarity in the countryside, but in Martial City, it's nothing special."

"Some military men and wealthy families in various counties and townships think Wucheng is a good place, but they don't know that living here is not easy."

He deliberately let out a long sigh.

Shen Yixi looked up at him, but considering that she needed his help, she didn't say anything.

Du Ruofeng didn't find anything strange. He glanced at Shen Yixi and found it somewhat amusing, thinking that given her personality, she would have to reply no matter how high or low she was.