After obtaining a high-grade cultivation technique, the Spirit Gathering Array disk, and successfully advancing to the late Qi Refining stage, Lin Feng was in excellent spirits. After freshening up and eating some dried rations, he took out over a dozen damaged magic tools and began repairing them.
Through continuous practice, Lin Feng had gained some understanding of his Repair Art.
First, his current Repair Art was only at the lowest "Apprentice Level", allowing him to repair only magic tools. He had previously purchased a few broken low-grade magic treasures but found them irreparable. To "level up" this skill, he likely needed to accumulate "experience" through repeated use—though how long that would take remained unclear.
Second, for magic tools, as long as the main body remained intact and the damage level didn't reach 100%—even if it was 99%—they could still be repaired. There were minor details: for example, a broken sword split into two halves. If he inspected only one half, he could still repair minor flaws like chips or cracks on that fragment, but he couldn't "recreate" the missing half. However, if both halves were brought together and the Repair Art was applied, the sword could be seamlessly restored.
Another issue was that while Lin Feng could identify the materials required for repairs, he couldn't determine the exact quantities needed—a persistent inconvenience.
…
The morning passed in repairs. Lin Feng restored dozens of remaining magic tools. During this process, he unexpectedly noticed that the repair speed had slightly increased—as if the skill had become more "fluid" to use…
"Why is this happening? Is it a sign of 'leveling up'? Or has my 'proficiency' improved?" Lin Feng pondered. "Or maybe my cultivation breakthrough or switching to a higher-grade technique caused this…"
Unable to confirm the reason immediately, he shelved the question for later. Packing the repaired tools into a bundle, he headed out.
After selling the batch at two familiar shops for over 700 low-grade spirit stones, Lin Feng made his way to the most luxurious restaurant in the city center.
Zenwei Pavilion was the largest restaurant in Qingyun City and a favorite among cultivators. Beyond ordinary delicacies, it served spirit food—dishes made from ingredients imbued with spiritual energy. Consuming such food allowed cultivators to absorb trace amounts of spiritual energy, aiding cultivation over time. Even mortals could extend their lifespans by eating it. Major sects often grew their own spirit grains and vegetables, and some even specialized in cultivating premium ingredients. This niche had birthed the revered profession of spirit chefs—masters of cooking spirit food.
Zenwei Pavilion only offered the lowest Grade One or Two spirit food, but in this small city, it was considered lavish. Most ordinary cultivators couldn't afford regular visits, yet the restaurant thrived on patrons who saved up for occasional splurges.
Now "moderately wealthy," Lin Feng had no trouble treating himself. Instead of booking a private room upstairs, he chose a seat in the bustling first-floor hall, ordering a full table of spirit dishes.
His goals were twofold: to indulge his appetite and to gather information. The restaurant was a hotspot for cultivators, many of whom were well-informed about Qingyun City's gossip. Over meals, news flowed freely—who hunted a rare late-stage Grade Two demon beast, which rivals dueled over a female cultivator, or who stumbled upon a powerful relic and vanished from the city…
In the short wait for his food, Lin Feng overheard countless tales that astonished him. He hadn't realized Qingyun's small cultivation community could be so vibrant.
Then, as his meal arrived and he began eating, he caught the news he'd been waiting for…
"Have you heard? The He family's eldest son, He Yuan, went out to hunt demons the day before yesterday and hasn't returned. They say he died out there!"
"I heard too. The He family is frantically offering 100 low-grade spirit stones for any information about him!"
"Ha! What's there to investigate? If he's been gone this long, he's probably demon fodder by now. Not even bones left!"
"Not necessarily. He Yuan was the He family's golden child—loaded with treasures and at the Foundation Establishment second layer. Even if he couldn't fight a demon, escaping should've been easy. My guess? Someone killed him."
"Exactly. The He family's offering 500 low-grade spirit stones for info on the killer and 5,000 for capturing them!"
"Damn… 5,000 low-grade spirit stones?! I've never seen that much in my life! Tempting…"
…
Lin Feng chewed slowly, ears pricked. The He family's moving fast, but this was expected. The chance they'll trace this to me is near zero—unless someone betrays me. Though he trusted Zheng Kai and the others, he decided to lay low: avoid the adventurer's guild, use a pseudonym, and focus on closed-door cultivation. With his new resources, he could afford to disappear. If danger arose, he'd simply flee the city.
The meal was the most exquisite he'd ever tasted. He'd bet even Earth's legendary imperial feasts couldn't compare to a simple plate of spirit greens here. The spiritual energy absorbed during the meal equaled several low-grade spirit stones—energy now stored in his body, waiting to be refined.
Eating as cultivation… Lin Feng marveled. He couldn't fathom how "spoiled" major sect disciples were, feasting on high-grade spirit food daily.
He resolved to return often.
…
Lin Feng devoured enough food for five people—a staggering amount by mortal standards, though typical for cultivators. If this were Earth, every cultivator would be called a glutton, he mused.
While savoring the benefits, the bill jolted him: 60 low-grade spirit stones for a meal that provided roughly 6 stones' worth of energy—a 10% return. Extravagant, but he shrugged. With his current wealth, the trade-off was worth it.
…
"Boss, look! That guy—isn't he the one who bought scraps at the free market?"
At a corner table, a sly-eyed youth with mismatched pupils stared at Lin Feng, who was calmly paying his bill.
The brawny young man across him paused mid-bite, glancing over. "Him?"
"It's him!" The leader's eyes gleamed, especially as Lin Feng nonchalantly handed over 60 stones. "After staking out the market for weeks, we finally catch him…"
He glared at their meager 10-stone meal. "That bastard ate 60 stones alone? What a show-off. Let's tail him!"