"Tentacle!!"
"That's the tentacle of a Ghost Kraken! What a rare delicacy! These Ghost Krakens lurk in deep waters and possess tremendous strength. Once they wrap around you and drag you under, your chances of survival are slim to none. They're apex aquatic predators. But to sever one of its tentacles—those three newcomers clearly aren't pushovers."
"A true treasure—people say the flesh of a Ghost Kraken's tentacle is extremely delicious, a top-tier delicacy. But hunting one is exceedingly difficult, and they're incredibly rare. Only a handful have ever had the chance to taste it. Who would've thought those three newcomers actually managed to bring one down? Truly impressive."
The tentacle fell to the floor and immediately drew countless eyes. In the inn, gazes were involuntarily drawn to the scene, bringing with them a palpable pressure.
"Esteemed guest, please put the ingredient away first. With such premium ingredients, our chefs in the back will surely be eager to put their skills to use."
The waiter smiled politely as he spoke.
"Very well. This bag contains all food ingredients. Use them for the dishes, and I will pay whatever is owed—down to the last coin."Yi Tianxing smiled, nodding. He casually took out a storage pouch filled with handpicked delicacies. After all, how could a proper meal rely on a single ingredient like Ghost Kraken? As a self-declared gourmand, he had standards to maintain.
Given the chance to enjoy true cuisine, it had to be exquisite.
"Please head to the VIP section on the fifth floor. We currently have free tables there. I'll deliver the ingredients to the kitchen now. Your meal will be prepared with utmost speed and care," the waiter replied cheerfully.
The Yellow Springs Inn had seven floors. The first and second were for common guests, the third and fourth for mid-level patrons, and the fifth to seventh floors were elite VIP areas. To dine there, one needed not only status and wealth but also strength. Without enough power, setting foot there was simply courting humiliation.
Each level came with its own price tag.
"What a place—so extravagant. The entire structure of this inn is made from Yellow Springs Wood. We're basically walking inside a mountain of gold and silver," the Decomposer exclaimed in awe.
As someone well-versed in materials, he immediately recognized the value. Upon entering, they were engulfed in a wave of dense Yin energy, as if stepping into an ice cellar. The aura was pure and never-ending.
Yellow Springs Wood was a top-tier material with a wide range of applications.
On the fifth floor, they picked a table and sat down.
From this vantage point, they could see the floating stage at the center of the inn, where dancers performed seductive routines. Their alluring movements and graceful expressions were crystal clear.
"Those are Rakshasa women—true to the legends that say their race is famed for its beauty."
The Paper Craftsman sighed in admiration.
"The Blood Sea Clan: males are Asuras, hideous, brutal, and bloodthirsty. Females are Rakshasas—stunningly beautiful, but inherently lustful and uninhibited in matters of desire. To sleep with one is said to be an unparalleled pleasure. These women here are probably companions-for-hire. Fellow Daoists, how about picking one to share the night?"
The Paper Artisan grinned suggestively, glancing at Yi Tianxing.
"No need. Roadside wildflowers aren't worth picking."Yi Tianxing shook his head without hesitation.
None of these women could compare to the women back home—each one more exceptional than the last. These Rakshasa beauties held little allure for him. He was only appreciating their dancing, nothing more. And besides, with Cao Jie by his side right now, such thoughts were off-limits.
"Oh? But don't they say wildflowers are more fragrant than garden blooms? Are you perhaps a righteous gentleman like Liu Xia Hui, unmoved by temptation? I must say, you've won my admiration. Would you be willing to introduce yourself?"
A soft laugh rang out nearby.
They turned to see a woman in a white palace dress approaching. A faint smile played on her lips, her demeanor a curious mix of seduction and holiness—as if angel and demon had merged into one. Her aura was both unique and harmonious.
She took a seat across from them without waiting for an invitation.
"Wildflowers might be fragrant, but they don't belong to you. Garden flowers are tender and need care—but they bloom for you alone," Yi Tianxing replied calmly, examining the woman closely. She wasn't ordinary. He couldn't fully discern her strength—which was an alarming detail.
"You must be a man who truly cherishes flowers. But if you bring a wildflower home and nurture it, can't it become a garden bloom as well? In the end, it's just a matter of desire and courage," the woman said with a light laugh. "My name is Meng Qi. A pleasure to meet you three Daoists."
"Meng Qi?" Yi Tianxing gave her a meaningful look and replied, "I am Yi Tianxing. These are my two companions—just call them the Decomposer and the Paper Artisan."
Then, more seriously, he asked, "Dare I ask—what is your relationship with the Yellow Springs Inn?"
The moment she had approached, the voices in the inn noticeably dropped, a faint aura of dread hanging in the air—undoubtedly connected to Meng Qi.
And her name sounded oddly familiar.
"I am the proprietress of the Yellow Springs Inn," Meng Qi said with a playful smile. "I heard from the waiter that you brought some ingredients for the chefs. But among those, I noticed something… interesting."
She looked at Yi Tianxing with a mischievous glint. "You're not native to the Underworld, are you? I'd say you—or all of you—come from the Yang Realm."
Visitors from the world of the living—now that was entertaining.
As she spoke, a soundproof barrier silently enveloped them. No conversation could be overheard from outside.
"Good eye, proprietress. Yes, we're from the Yang Realm—ended up in the Underworld due to a certain… accident. Stumbling upon this inn was pure chance. You could call it fate," Yi Tianxing said evenly.
He showed no surprise at having his identity uncovered.
After all, when he handed over the ingredients, he had already anticipated such scrutiny. Alongside the Ghost Kraken were many Yang Realm ingredients. Compared to the creatures of the Underworld, those had fundamentally different energies. Anyone with eyes could spot the difference.
He had done it deliberately—with a plan in mind.
"You were trying to draw me out, weren't you?"Meng Qi looked at him with great interest.
She wasn't foolish—she never assumed others were either. A bit of thought revealed everything.
"I wonder, Proprietress, how skilled are your chefs? Those ingredients weren't easy to gather. Each was selected for its peak flavor. I hope to experience true gourmet excellence."
Yi Tianxing smoothly changed the subject, unwilling to pursue the line of questioning.
"Rest assured. Our chefs at Yellow Springs Inn are among the best in the culinary world. The current head chef is a six-star Culinary Immortal. Under different circumstances, our seven-star Food God would have cooked for you—but unfortunately, he's currently serving a noble client elsewhere. Otherwise, I'd have invited him personally."
Meng Qi smiled.
Chefs of one to three stars were considered Special Grade. Four to six stars were Culinary Immortals. Seven to nine stars were Food Gods.
A Special Grade chef's dishes could make food glow with energy. Culinary Immortals could perform culinary miracles—transforming even trash into treasure. The six-star chef, just one step away from transcendence, had nearly reached perfection.
Lai He, who had grown considerably in recent years by practicing with rare ingredients, had reached the level of a four-star Culinary Immortal. Once only a two-star chef, his skill had advanced impressively.
Many chefs in the Great Yi Dynasty had also ascended to the Special Grade rank, now capable of creating luminous dishes—a once distant dream, now real.
Still, the gap between four-star and six-star was vast.
Even without the Food God, the Culinary Immortal's skill was worth looking forward to.
"Indeed. I'm looking forward to it," Yi Tianxing said with a smile. "Proprietress, as you know, we came from the Yang Realm by accident. Since we're here, we hoped to learn more about the Underworld—especially how to leave it."
"We don't expect the information for free. We're willing to pay," the Decomposer added.
"The Underworld isn't exactly peaceful right now. You were lucky to land near Yellow Springs Inn—anywhere else, and things might've turned out very differently. Two Ghost Kings in this region are at war. If not for a temporary truce, you might not have made it here in one piece."
Meng Qi chuckled lightly.
It was a compliment to their luck.
"Ghost Kings? Can you tell us more? Who are they? How powerful? Why are they fighting?" the Paper Craftsman asked eagerly.
This was a rare spectacle—something no one in the Yang Realm could witness.
Naturally, he was intrigued.
"Ghost Kings fighting? What else could it be—territory, power, treasures... But this time, the cause really is a little different. Believe it or not, it's because of a woman," Meng Qi said with an amused look.