Chapter 23: Breakthrough in the Hundred Fragrances Building

The imperial family and the Meng family had a close relationship, often intermarrying.

The Meng family consistently produced a stream of geniuses. Whenever people thought the family's foundations were depleted and its descendants lacked the ability to uphold its legacy, a genius would emerge, shoulder the family's responsibilities, and continue the Meng family's immortal legend.

Because of this, it was rumored that the Meng family had linked its fate to that of the Great Xia Dynasty, ensuring that as long as the Great Xia Dynasty endured, the Meng family would not perish.

"It's not that exaggerated," Meng Jingzhou said with a laugh, modestly adding, "I didn't expect you to guess that I'm the genius who emerged from the Meng family."

"...No, we didn't think you were a genius." Lu Yang was being truthful. If the frivolous Meng Jingzhou were to shoulder the Meng family's responsibilities, then the family's immortal legend would surely come to an end.

If anyone deserved to be called a genius, it was Lu Yang, the one destined to shoulder the responsibilities of the Dao Seeking Sect in the future.

The two continued to praise themselves and belittle each other, completely forgetting about Tao Yaoye, who possessed the Ethereal Immortal Body and was even more talented than those with single spiritual roots or sword spiritual roots.

Fortunately, neither of them dwelled on the issue for too long. A majestic, primal aura emanated from downstairs, engulfing the entire Hundred Fragrances Pavilion.

Had the Hundred Fragrances Pavilion not been so sturdy, this aura alone would have been enough to collapse an entire block of houses!

Lu Yang and the two others felt as if their heads had been struck by a heavy hammer; their minds went blank, and their internal organs felt squeezed and twisted by a large hand, causing extreme discomfort.

Those nearby, who were at a higher cultivation level, specifically Golden Core stage, were in a slightly better state, but not by much.

"This is... someone breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage?!" A senior disciple at the Nascent Soul stage, who was unaffected, exclaimed softly. Upon closer inspection, she sensed a hint of primal wildness in the aura.

The dishes at the Hundred Fragrances Pavilion were more than just delicious. A single dish could casually increase one's cultivation or allow cultivation techniques to cycle several extra times. If combined properly, the ingredients could enhance each other's effects, leading to even greater benefits.

"I've long heard that one can break through a major cultivation realm after just one meal at the Hundred Fragrances Pavilion. I thought it was just a rumor, but seeing it today, it's truly astounding!"

"I wonder which junior brother or sister is lucky enough to achieve a breakthrough here."

Typically, when people break through, they enter secluded cultivation and seek quiet. The Hundred Fragrances Pavilion, with its bustling noise and distractions, was hardly conducive to breakthroughs.

To achieve a breakthrough in such an environment demonstrated just how immensely helpful the Hundred Fragrances Pavilion's food was for enhancing cultivation!

The waiter lightly pressed down, and the Nascent Soul stage pressure immediately vanished. Everyone gasped, then looked at the waiter in surprise.

In their eyes, the waiter was only at the Golden Core stage, but the casual display of power clearly surpassed that level.

The waiter's cultivation level was disguised.

Someone whispered to their companion, "Speaking of which, I heard an elder say that when the Hundred Fragrances Pavilion first opened a thousand years ago, he was already the waiter. A thousand years have passed, and he's still the waiter, with his appearance completely unchanged."

For cultivators, unchanging appearance was common, but remaining unchanged for a millennium was exceptionally rare.

The waiter seemed not to hear the whispers, apologizing with a smile: "My apologies, it seems a customer got a little too excited during their breakthrough and forgot to restrain their aura. Please bear with us."

A senior disciple who had just entered the Golden Core stage savored the breakthrough aura, his eyes lighting up. "This aura reveals a wildness, as if an ancient dragon has reappeared! It must be a body cultivator senior who broke through. We should quickly try to comprehend this aura; it might greatly help in strengthening our physiques!"

"Exactly, exactly! This is a heaven-sent opportunity, a stroke of luck for us. We should seize it!" His companions echoed, and together they began to meditate.

With five hearts pointed towards the heavens, the five individuals floated slightly in the air, eyes closed in silence. Cool, pure qi surged from all directions, providing immense comfort.

Even if they weren't body cultivators, all cultivators valued their physical bodies. If their spiritual energy was sufficient but their body couldn't keep up, they could easily be ambushed and killed instantly. Or, if an opponent specialized in close combat, approaching them would be suicidal, leaving no chance to entangle or escape.

Therefore, the Dao Seeking Sect placed great importance on its disciples' physical fitness.

Among demonic beasts, ancient dragons were renowned for their powerful abilities to summon wind and rain and their unparalleled physical bodies, making them one of the top clans that roamed the demon domain. If one could comprehend even a trace of ancient dragon qi, it would be greatly beneficial to the physical body. Furthermore, if one could seize the opportunity to comprehend a move or two of a dragon's divine ability and make it their own, it would be an even more sought-after and tremendous stroke of luck!

It was a rare sight to see five Golden Core cultivators meditating together, ignoring their steaming hot food.

Lu Yang greatly admired their sensitivity to opportunities.

"Should we also take this opportunity to try and comprehend something?" Tao Yaoye suggested.

Lu Yang asked in surprise, "Can you sense the ancient dragon qi our senior disciples are talking about?"

"There's no harm in trying."

Just as Lu Yang and the two others were considering whether to also meditate and try to comprehend the ancient dragon's wild aura, a rapid thudding sound of climbing stairs echoed from the stairwell.

A wild boar with a green face and tusks appeared, its eyes filled with panic and rage, causing everyone present to feel a strong sense of danger.

What a ferocious and terrifying demonic beast; its cultivation level surpassed that of most people present!

Moreover, the wild boar's aura was unstable, as if it had just broken through!

The waiter frowned, a small vortex forming in his hand. Just as he was considering intervening, a blade flashed. The sharp blade energy, like a streak of silk, carried an intensely scorching aura. With a single slash, the wild boar was decapitated, its head rolling far away until it stopped at Lu Yang's feet.

The boar's head stared at Lu Yang, its eyes wide in death.

The scene, which should have been bloody, had not a single drop of blood. The intensely scorching blade energy instantly cooked the boar's neck where it was severed, and the aroma of roasted meat filled the air.

It was then that the wielder of the blade made his appearance: a common chef, wearing a tall hat and a special work apron, holding a butcher's knife. His face was fleshy, and his smile resembled that of a bandit about to tear up a ransom note.

"My apologies, my apologies, everyone. I didn't mean to alarm you. I was about to butcher this dragon-blooded wild boar, and perhaps my killing intent was too strong, causing this beast to face a life-or-death crisis. Leveraging this opportunity, it activated that trace of ancient dragon blood and broke through to the Nascent Soul stage."

"This is our establishment's mistake, and it won't happen again. Please be understanding!"

The chef, holding his butcher's knife, smiled menacingly, yet his tone was quite sincere. Even if the crowd didn't want to be understanding, they had no choice.

The chef retrieved the boar's head from Lu Yang's feet and dragged the body away, and only then did the oppressive feeling dissipate.

The five Golden Core senior disciples felt somewhat awkward. Continuing to meditate and comprehend didn't feel right, but neither did stopping.

One of them slapped the table. "Damn it, bring us a pot of 'pig-slaughter stew'! Use that very boar we just saw!"

Nascent Soul stage pork was absurdly expensive, not to mention a wild boar containing ancient dragon bloodline. This pot of pig-slaughter stew would be so good they'd want to slap themselves twice after waking up from a nap.

Even if it meant slapping themselves, they had to eat it. They were going all out today; if they didn't eat this Nascent Soul stage wild boar, their Dao hearts would be unstable, and the suppressed indignation would cause them internal injuries.

The waiter tossed a towel over his shoulder, a smile on his face, and shouted, "Coming right up! One more pot of pig-slaughter stew for the five esteemed guests!"