Chapter 341 - 163: Riding High, Sucking the Marrow, the 8 Delicacies, and the Flood Dragon Monarch Submits

Chapter 341: Chapter 163: Riding High, Sucking the Marrow, the 8 Delicacies, and the Flood Dragon Monarch Submits

The mask was finally off.

’How many resources would it take to feed a Flood Dragon every single day?’

’It’s at least as much as supporting three Qi Cultivation Grandmasters, maybe even more!’

’For the Fishing Trade, that’s a considerable burden!’

’Why don’t you support it yourself, you little punk? Making it sound so righteous!’

’In the past, raising it was genuinely for the sake of the Fishing Trade.’

’But now...’

’That Flood Dragon had already defected. Chen Jing had even personally branded it a ’Demon’ and reported it to the Garrison Mansion.’

’He had declared that if the Flood Dragon was ever spotted near Jiangyin Prefecture, the Military Camp should be asked to dispatch warships and kill it immediately!’

’And now he was supposed to rescind the bounty and welcome it back to be worshipped like an ancestor?’

Chen Jing clenched his jaw, about to weigh his options, but a sidelong glance caught the cold look in Granny Shi’s eyes. His heart seized.

’Clever boy.’

’Using the overwhelming might of the Marquis’s Mansion to pressure me, are you?’

...Fine!

"...Fine."

The word was practically forced out from between his clenched teeth.

This made Ji Xiu break into a brilliant smile.

"Master Chen, you truly see the bigger picture. Such vision! You are worthy of being an Upper Nine Lineage Master, one of the Jiangyin Nine Lords!"

"When my friend, the Cangming Monarch, finds out, I’m sure he’ll be incredibly grateful to you, Lineage Master!"

His goal achieved, Ji Xiu was ready to take his leave. Seeing the little fox retreat, Chen Jing finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Nonsense, my boy. Since you’re working so hard for the Marquis’s Mansion, I, Chen Jing, will certainly not be vague about any requests you have."

"It’s noon now. Why don’t you stay for a meal before you leave?"

Although he said the words, his face was the very picture of someone seeing a guest out; he couldn’t wait to send this jinx on his way.

But upon hearing this, Ji Xiu, who had been about to leave, stopped in his tracks, his eyes lighting up.

"That’s right, I almost forgot. Master Chen did originally intend to invite me to a banquet."

"It wouldn’t be right for a guest to refuse his host’s hospitality. As it happens, I’ve been in Jiangyin Prefecture for a month now and have yet to try the so-called ’Jianghuai Eight Wonders’..."

The Jianghuai Eight Wonders!

Chen Jing felt his chest tighten. If Granny Shi wasn’t standing right there, he would have loved to run this kid through on the spot!

Among the Jiangyin Thirty-Six Professions, there is one known as the Gourmet Pavilion.

As its name suggested, it specialized in the world’s most exquisite delicacies, including the Jianghuai Eight Wonders, which were a rare sight and could only be prepared when certain Spiritual Materials were harvested.

The ingredients used were parts of Earth Treasures cultivated in Spirit Soil, supplemented by other rare Spiritual Objects. They were incredibly precious. A single dish cost over a hundred Red Gold, and even then, it wasn’t always available. One needed sufficient status just to get on the waiting list!

’This kid has the gall of a lion...’

But for the sake of appearances...

Chen Jing squeezed his eyes shut, managing only to force a few words through his clenched teeth:

"Since my young friend wishes to sample it..."

"Then... I shall take you to have a taste!"

"So you can remember this once-in-a-lifetime flavor for the rest of your days!"

Ji Xiu beamed.

"Don’t worry, Lineage Master."

"This is a flavor I will never forget."

...

「Two hours later.」

A thoroughly satisfied Ji Xiu walked out of a magnificent jade mansion, his body shimmering and overflowing with Spiritual Mechanism.

[Tutor has tasted the Sixth-Grade Spiritual Cuisine ’Nine-Colored Eight-Treasure Stew,’ which contains remnants of the Earth Treasure ’Autumn Leaf Begonia.’ This aligns with the Nishang Scroll’s Cultivation. Advance progress increased by +37!]

[Tutor has tasted the Sixth-Grade Spiritual Cuisine ’Jade Dew Flower Pill,’ stimulating the Divine Soul and strengthening thoughts. Comprehension of the Daoist Technique ’Divine Talisman Fire’ has increased. Advance progress increased by +44!]

[Feathered Immortal Robe—Nishang Scroll (100/1000)!]

[Divine Talisman Fire: (177/800)!]

He could feel the Daoist Treasure Robe solidifying and advancing. With each Divine Thought, a brilliant, searing heat arose from his Sea of Consciousness.

Looking back at the opulent establishment—a place where "no commoner tread" and where a single meal would cost half a lifetime’s earnings in Anning County—Ji Xiu sighed with genuine emotion.

"A dish of delicacies on a jade plate is worth ten thousand coins. The ancients truly did not lie!"

"That one dish, the Nine-Colored Eight-Treasure Stew, had the flavors of eight different mountain creatures: deer, leopard, elephant, tiger, snake, crane, ox, and sheep... It even had a part of an Earth Treasure as the finishing touch!"

"Although its effects are far inferior to a complete Earth Treasure or a Qi Dao Spirit Pill, you eat it for the flavor!"

"Master Chen... what a good man!"

"To express my gratitude."

"I’ll lie low for a while longer. When I’m strong enough, I’ll max out the Mountain and Sea Searching Talisman. With the Flood Dragon Cangming Jun as my Dharma Protector on the left ensuring favorable weather, and the ability to fish the waves and never return empty-handed on my right... when my prestige and power both surpass yours..."

"...I’ll be magnanimous and let you step down from your position. You can enjoy a leisurely retirement and won’t have to work so hard anymore."

"As for the ’bitter fruit’ of the Fishing Trade’s vast enterprise..."

"...I’ll bear that burden for you!"

Ji Xiu let out a satisfied burp.

...

「Meanwhile.」

The Cangming Monarch, whose meals were feast or famine, was swimming deep in the East Canghai. He opened his cavernous mouth to swallow some small, non-nutritious fish and shrimp, sighing dramatically.

’Sigh, I wonder when Young Master Bai Shuo will finally make his mark and put in a good word with the Great Dragon Son so I can go back...’

’I can’t stand this impoverished life for another day!’

In the East Canghai, Spirit Fish were a rare sight. Once a fish reached Spirit Grade, its survival instincts were formidable. Without the proper techniques, catching one—even if you found it—was purely a matter of luck.

On top of that, his dense Flood Dragon Might... The moment he revealed it, all the schools of fish within a ten-li radius would scatter. Forget eating his fill; he was lucky to get a single bite!

At this thought, a depressed look crossed his dark flood dragon face. Just as he was reminiscing about the good old days in the Fishing Trade, when food was simply delivered to his open mouth...

...the Divine Soul connection he had established with Ji Xiu in his Sea of Consciousness suddenly began to glow faintly.

The Cangming Monarch’s spirits lifted. He did a barrel roll, churning up a thousand waves, his heart tightening.

’Could it be that Boss Ji has run into trouble in the Prefecture City!?’

’Mmm... but I’m no longer a Tributor of the Fishing Trade. The Military Camp, with its garrison of Government Soldiers, is eyeing my dragon tendons and flesh covetously. How am I supposed to get past it?’

The Cangming Monarch was caught in a dilemma.

But as he furrowed his draconic brow and chose to receive the message...

...he clearly perceived the information Ji Xiu had sent.

His previous hesitation was instantly swept away!

Immediately after, his eyes lit up. He parted the river and rode the waves, charging straight for Jiangyin Prefecture!

’Boss Ji... he wouldn’t lie to me, would he!?’

The Cangming Monarch muttered to himself, his excitement growing as he processed the information in his Divine Soul.

And when he arrived at the Fishing Port, moving like lightning, he saw the ritual flags fluttering. The fishermen’s sons, who used to transport bloody carcasses and fish for him, were bustling about once more. More importantly, there were no warships from the Military Camp bearing down on him...

The Flood Dragon was overjoyed. In that moment, his respect for Boss Ji—the man his own Young Lord held in high regard—grew immensely.

’He truly is worthy of being the future "East Bed Prince Consort"! How long has he even been in the Prefecture City?’

’To think he could even strong-arm the Fishing Trade into continuing my tribute!’

’At this rate...’

’...why would I even need to wait for news from Young Master Bai Shuo?’

’This one is clearly far more promising!’

The Flood Dragon thrashed about, turning the river and overturning the sea in his delight. Savoring the feeling of being a Tributor once more, he now completely submitted to Ji Xiu, ready to obey his every word!

As for the one who had lost so much he felt like he was coughing up bile...

...that was Master Chen, who had returned home to silently tally his losses and nearly coughed up a mouthful of old blood.

And this...

...was only the beginning!