Chapter 2191.1: A Large Store Bullies Its Customers

Dark Orchid Empire encompassed three million kilometers of territory—an expanse that rivaled Darklake Empire. However, there were spirit veins that crisscrossed its domain, bestowing it with a much higher concentration of ambient qi than Darklake. Even the other fourth rank empires were less than Dark Orchid.

Ashflame City was one of the empire’s largest cities in the south. Also called the southern capital, it was the heart of the nation’s one million kilometers of territory to the south.

The city ran five thousand kilometers from end to end and there was a lower rank spirit vein beneath it. The concentration of qi in Ashflame’s environment was far greater than that of Darklake’s capital.

Compared to Ashflame, Dark City was a country village.

But to Lu Yun, one who’d journeyed through three thousand worlds, Ashflame wasn’t particularly impressive. He walked up to its largest restaurant—Immortal Gazer—and chose a seat by the window. He people-watched while sipping wine; eighteen exquisite dishes were arrayed in front of him. Made from spirit herbs and spirit beasts, not only were they delicious, but there was an abundance of qi within them.

Qi in most spirit herbs and spirit beasts was too violent and hard to be directly consumed, but these had been specially processed and cooked via unique means. Customers could perfectly refine and absorb the energy within.

But food was food, always less than pills made for specific uses. So while the chefs that could create these dishes enjoyed notable status in the world of cultivation, they were inferior to pill masters. All the same, true spirit chefs were far and few in between. In Darklake, only the palace had a lower ranked spirit chief on its roster.

The dishes in front of Lu Yun had been exquisitely prepared by one such chef. Ordinary nascent soul cultivators would gain the equivalent of three days worth of seclusion if they ate everything. It’d cost three hundred paramount rank stones and another two hundred for the private room.

Run-of-the-mill nascent soul cultivators would never be able to spend so much on a meal.

Lu Yun had killed the city lord of Boulder Rise prior to visiting Ashflame and taken his storage ring. There were more than one hundred thousand paramount rank stones inside, so he didn’t lack for spirit stones at the moment.

He ate leisurely as he scanned the streets with the Eye of Nullification, taking in everything within a fifty kilometer radius.

Immortal Gazer sat on the most prosperous street of Ashflame City. There were numerous large trading companies and stores nearby, so he should be able to find what he wished from this vantage point. Having located most of what he needed to refine Proxima Metal, Lu Yun was missing the final material of Frostmoon Ice. He’d come up empty-handed despite visiting several cities.

Frostmoon Ice was only a third rank item and a common sight in a world of cultivation. However, Dark Orchid was situated in the south of the realm where the fire element was most active. Being a water attributed item, Frostmoon Ice was uncommon here.

But since Dark Orchid was the strongest and most prosperous out of fourth rank empires, he should be able to find it if he searched carefully for it.

“I don’t know if you’ve heard, Ole Zhang, but something big happened at the imperial capital the other day!” Strains of conversation flitted into Lu Yun’s ears as he looked around. The private booths were protected by formations and offered privacy for the occupants, but enabled the customers inside to observe everything outside.

“Something big? What is it?” responded another cultivator.

“Someone razed our greatest sect, the Nineheavens Pagoda, to the ground! Apparently a combination level cultivator did it!”

“What?? A combination senior did it? There’s no one like that in Dark Orchid! Did the Nineheavens Pagoda offend a sixth rank empire?”

“No idea, but the combination senior didn’t get off lightly for it either. Some visiting powerhouses injured him before he escaped,” the first speaker sighed.

If this had happened a few years ago, the entire empire would’ve been turned upside down to hunt for the upstart. But after the appearance of Immortal Burial Valley, events like these were commonplace given that the empire’s stronger cultivators had all gone to it.

Lu Yun crinkled his brows when he heard this.

“Someone kicked over the Nineheavens Pagoda?” he was quite surprised. “Looks like they offended a cultivator from a higher ranked empire. That saves me some trouble.”

His smile deepened. He’d come to Dark Orchid to take care of the sect. The heavenly book would be rendered ineffective after a month and those from the Origin Sect would saunter into Jade Ruins Realms. Lu Yun planned to uproot their pawn first and eliminate a threat for the family.

Someone had beat him to the punch!

Thanks!

Hummm.

The formation of his room trembled and gave way to a small opening. A merry elder dressed in golden robes walked in.

“Is the gentleman satisfied with our humble establishment?” asked the elder as he looked at the barely touched dishes.

Lu Yun knew what was about to happen after glancing at the old man’s expression.

“It’s nothing special,” he grunted.

The elder paused, then deepened his smile. “You must be joking, sir. These dishes are from the hands of our renowned Spirit Chef Chen…”

“If I say they’re nothing special, then they’re nothing special.” Lu Yun leaned back on the soft chair. “What, you have something to say about that?”

“Since the gentleman is dissatisfied with our fare, please leave!” The elder’s expression abruptly cooled.

“Leave?” Lu Yun looked sideways at him. “Have I not paid you spirit stones?”

“This humble establishment cannot bear the weight of the gentleman’s stones. We will return them in full!” the elder responded casually.

Lu Yun knew what was going on here. They wanted to throw him out! It looked like Immortal Gazer was in the habit of bullying its customers.

Ordinary restaurants, even purely mundane ones, would ask before entering a customer’s private booth. But this elder hadn’t bothered with so much as a greeting before opening the formation. He plainly didn’t think much of Lu Yun.

It was noon and thus peak business hours. Immortal Gazer’s rooms were likely full, but a great personage had likely come. Thus, the restaurant sent a manager to have Lu Yun vacate the private room.

Therefore, the young man couldn’t be bothered with showing him a friendly face.

“Very well, you may return my spirit stones, but you must return them one hundredfold. I paid five hundred paramount rank stones, so you can return fifty thousand.” Lu Yun gently waved the wine cup in front of him.

“Fifty thousand? Are you joking??” The elder frowned ferociously.

“Get out.” Lu Yun tossed the contents of his cup at the elder’s face.

“You! You court death!” he flew into a rage.

“What’s going on, Manager Lang?” came a young voice behind the elder. A young man dressed in long snowy robes walked in with an entourage.

𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

“Sir Sui!” The elder immediately put on a waning smile when he saw the young man. “Sir Sui, this kid refuses to vacate the room and is putting on a tantrum for it. But don’t worry, this humble one will take care of everything as soon as possible!”

“Oh?” Sir Sui glanced at Lu Yun.

The elder quickly took note of the young man’s expression and hastily called, “Men! Get in here and throw this impudent brat out!”

A dozen golden core men dressed in black stomped into the room.

“A large store bullying its customers…” Lu Yun looked at the elder and ignored Sir Sui.

“A large store bullying its customers? You’re not worthy of being bullied!” Their leader was a latter golden core and would be a pillar of strength in Darklake. But in a fourth rank empire, he was just a henchman for a restaurant.

Bam!

Lu Yun curled his lip and kicked the man’s stomach. He flew backward with an agonized cry. The table in the room was upended and the exquisite dishes smashed to the floor.

The elder’s eyes widened to see the man sent flying with one kick.

“How dare you resort to violence in Immortal Gazer!” The elder was also initial nascent soul. He flung himself forward and manifested a large hand of true origin.

Lu Yun had concealed his cultivation on this trip to Ashflame because he didn’t want to raise undue attention. But sometimes, the less one wanted something, the more it came for him. This is seriously…

In this lifetime, he was a domineering young master in the depths of his bones. Given that he was initial nascent soul, he ignored the large hand.

Bam!

The elder in golden robes bounced off like a rubber ball, shocking the rest of the men in black uniforms.

Clap clap clap!

Applause sounded at this time.

“This little brother is quite daring! You must be a genius from a third rank empire?” Sir Sui applauded with a shake of his head, but contempt tinged his words.

“Oh?” Lu Yun raised an eyebrow at the young man.