Welcome Banquet
The Donghai Grand Restaurant rose before them like a tiered cake of polished granite and shimmering glass. Its opulence was a stark contrast to the familiar, boisterous food streets they usually haunted. This was a statement, and the clientele reflected it—men and women whose auras hummed with disciplined soul power, their conversations a low murmur of deals and cultivator gossip. Very few ordinary citizens crossed its threshold.
A smartly dressed hostess glided forward as they approached the grand entrance. "Welcome. Do you have a membership with us, honored guests?"
Xie Xie stepped forward with an uncharacteristic air of casual authority, producing a sleek silver card from an inner pocket. "We do."
The hostess's smile warmed a precise degree. "Ah, esteemed Silver guests. Please, follow me to the second-floor pavilion." She turned, her heels clicking softly on the marble floor.
As they ascended a wide, spiraling staircase lined with aquatic-themed art, Tang Wulin nudged Xie Xie. "Silver card? What's the system here?"
Xie Xie puffed his chest out just a bit. "Status. Service. The usual. Silver tier requires a hundred-thousand-credit deposit or spend. Gets you a private room like this." He gestured around the second-floor landing, which opened into a corridor of discreet, elegantly doored rooms. "Gold needs three million, gets you a larger suite on the third floor. Platinum, a hundred million, unlocks the garden terraces on the fourth. Diamond…" He whistled low. "That's by invitation only. For Title Douluo, federation ministers. They get the entire fifth floor to themselves."
Tang Wulin's eyes widened. "A hundred thousand just to qualify to spend more? That's insane!"
"Wait until you see the menu," Xie Xie said with a knowing smirk. "They have a dish here—'Millennium Glacial Lobster'—caught from abyssal trenches by Soul Saint-level fishers, braised in spirit herbs. A single plate goes for millions. The taste is supposed to be… transformative."
While Tang Wulin absorbed this, Yao Xuan and Gu Yue exchanged a brief, almost imperceptible glance. Their time in Dragon Castle, where meals crafted from spirit beasts worth kingdoms were routine, had recalibrated their sense of luxury. This was impressive, but not staggering. Gu Yue's hand brushed lightly against Yao Xuan's as they walked, a silent check-in. He responded by letting his little finger hook briefly around hers—a secret touch, innocent and affirming.
The hostess ushered them into a private room. It was spacious, dominated by a round table of dark, lacquered wood. The walls were adorned with tasteful seascape paintings, and the air carried a faint, clean scent of salt and sandalwood.
Once seated, the hostess presented a heavy, silver-bound menu. Yao Xuan took it and immediately passed it to Xie Xie. "You're the expert. Order for us. And it's my treat tonight—class monitor's privilege."
Xie Xie looked like he might protest, but Yao Xuan's firm, friendly nod brooked no argument. "Well… if you insist, Brother Xuan. Thank you." He accepted the menu, his earlier showmanship giving way to genuine pleasure.
He ordered with practiced efficiency, choosing dishes known for flavor and substantial portions rather than sheer ostentation: pine-nut fish, crab roe vermicelli casserole, abalone fried rice, platters of grilled oysters. He was mindful of the legendary appetites of Yao Xuan and Tang Wulin.
Yao Xuan scanned the list and shook his head. "Double those orders. And add the sea urchin egg custard and the steamed grouper." He smiled at Xie Xie's raised eyebrow. "We're celebrating. No holding back."
The food arrived with breathtaking speed. Plates and steaming casseroles covered the lazy Susan in the table's center. The aromas were complex and tantalizing—the rich umami of seafood, the brightness of ginger and scallion, the comforting warmth of perfectly cooked grains.
The atmosphere relaxed instantly. Tang Wulin served Xu Xiaoyan a generous portion of the tender fish, pointing out the best bits. Xie Xie, dropping his aloof act, enthusiastically explained the cooking technique behind the crab roe casserole. Through it all, Yao Xuan played the quiet host, ensuring everyone's plates were full, his movements easy and inclusive.
His attention, however, consistently returned to Gu Yue. He noticed she hesitated before the spiciest dish—a plate of fiery crimson prawns. Without a word, he used his own chopsticks to pick out several plump prawns, deftly peeled them, and placed the pristine meat on her plate, avoiding the heavy chili oil. It was a simple, caring act, done so naturally it was almost invisible. Gu Yue looked at the offering, then at him. Her lips curved into that small, private smile reserved only for him, and she gave a slight, graceful nod of thanks before eating.
Xu Xiaoyan watched the interaction, her earlier hero-worship softening into a more nuanced understanding. She saw not just power in their bond, but a deep, quiet care. It made her feel both envious and comforted; this was the heart of the strange, powerful family she was trying to join.
The meal flowed with laughter and shared stories—Tang Wulin's tales of Heaven Dou City's grandeur, Xie Xie's dry observations, Yao Xuan's humble deflections of praise. Xu Xiaoyan began to share more about her own training, her voice growing stronger, her gestures more animated. She was being woven into the fabric of Class Zero.
As the final dishes were cleared, a sense of warm, collective contentment settled over the group. The bill, when it came, was a staggering number, but Yao Xuan paid it without a blink, the wealth from his forging and his Dragon Castle resources making it a triviality. It wasn't about the money; it was about the gesture of welcome, of cementing their team.
The next morning, the comfort of the banquet was replaced by the stern reality of the training room. Wu Changkong stood before them, his presence like a drawn blade.
"Starting today," he began, his voice cutting through the morning quiet, "practical combat training intensifies. You will face me three times daily. And you have a new objective." He paused, letting his gaze sweep over each of them. "In one month, you will represent Donghai Academy in the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition."
A thrill of excitement, sharp and immediate, shot through the room. The Tianhai Alliance—the consortium of the five great coastal cities, including Donghai. Its triennial competition was a legendary stage for rising talents, a direct pipeline to the national federation tournaments.
"This is not a request. It is your next trial. Your performance will reflect on this academy, and on yourselves. I expect nothing less than your absolute best."
While the others buzzed with nervous energy, Xie Xie's face showed a flicker of something else—anxiety, quickly masked. Yao Xuan noted it but said nothing.
"The details will come later. For now," Wu Changkong said, turning toward the door to the operations room, "we begin. Follow me."
The welcome banquet was over. The feast of combat had just begun. Yao Xuan felt Gu Yue's shoulder brush against his as they fell into step. He didn't need to look at her to know her expression: focused, analytical, and utterly determined. The path to the competition was clear, and they would walk it side-by-side.