The Journey of Immortal Cultivation

Chapter 985 - 539: Street Food Stalls (Part 2)

After speaking, she turned her head to glance at Huangfuming, seeing him laughing without responding, thinking to herself what a cunning fellow he was. She speculated that what Huangfuming summoned was merely a phantom or avatar of Viper, letting it attach to paper to attack others. Viper, this kind of Ancient Strange Beast, is different from Canglong; Canglong can only live in water with limited harm, whereas Viper can go anywhere, almost everywhere. On top of that, Viper has an extremely irritable temperament, and Huangfuming is young. If he can’t control the exotic beast’s true form, this Viper might unleash a fury on Duling City’s defense.

He only conjured up a phantom or avatar, which was indeed a clever move. But can Ancient Strange Beasts be summoned by anyone so easily? Even if you want to summon them, the exotic beasts must be willing to heed you! Therefore, Huangfuming surely harbors some secrets. If this boy were slightly older, with deeper cultivation skills, what else could he summon?

As she pondered, she continued speaking: "This Viper venom, in my eyes, isn’t a difficult problem, and knowing its temperament, neutralizing it with the fiery nature of the Dusk Sky Bead speeds up the process." The small balls on the roots of the Dusk Sky Bead can prepare a fire attack Fu, illustrating the intensity of its fiery nature. Using it to counter Viper’s sinister venom is like driving a tiger to swallow a wolf, a direct confrontation, resulting in fierce interactions within the patient’s body, causing the injured to suffer greatly.

Huangfuming realized this point too, sneering coldly and said: "He dared to disrespect King Jinghai Mansion, and suffered so little, it’s too lenient on him."

Ning Xiaoxian smiled without speaking, slowly savoring a few Balanidae.

How astute Huangfuming was, noticing her noncommittal gaze, he softly asked: "Sister Ning, could it be you don’t like me being like this?" His large, clearly defined eyes immediately revealed an innocent and pleading expression.

She was certain, this boy would, in the future, become a master of changing faces.

"Where do I have the authority to point fingers at you? Where do I have the power to let others act according to my likes and dislikes?" She snorted lightly, yet Huangfuming saw sincerity in her smile. "In the future, you will undoubtedly reach a time when you transform into a dragon amidst the wind and rain. I think being a smart person means not telling you what should or shouldn’t be done."

"But I like it when others act according to my likes and dislikes." Huangfuming said earnestly, "Why should cultivation mean being clear-minded and desireless? I want to be wealthy across the Four Seas, wield power over the world, making everyone fear and respect me. Otherwise, even if my cultivation reaches a realm of eternal immortality, what meaning is there in being alone?"

This brat, surely he won’t set such a grand ambition with this as his true intention, will he? Then, the Heart Demon he faces in his lifetime will be a hundredfold than others. Are other cultivators fools, willingly living a clear-minded and desireless ascetic life? Isn’t it all because they fear the Heart Demon running rampant? Ning Xiaoxian bit her chopsticks, troubled, and asked, "Where did you get this idea?"

Huangfuming raised his head and said: "My father said that a real man should act freely as he pleases."

She laughed: "Wanting to rise to great power while indulging in eating, drinking, and pleasure is not impossible; only the Heart Demon you’ll face will be too fierce. I fear you’ll be overwhelmed by even the six desires of eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and thought."

Huangfuming pouted and said: "I’m not afraid. Only the greater the power in hand, the safer one is."

These words, Changtian also mentioned. Her smile unconsciously faded from her face.

Huangfuming stared at her intently, asking: "Sister Ning, do you think if one day I stand atop the world, will I have whatever I want?"

She blinked, thinking he asked the wrong person: "Probably... never thought of it." Her greatest ideal was to follow by Changtian’s side and live carefreely. Look at the grand true intentions others set and then hers back then, seems her awareness level isn’t on the same tier!

She truly felt ashamed.

As they talked, the cook finally brought the dishes up. Just now the mortals stayed far away, afraid of being affected; these food stall owners each had a specialty dish, taking this chance to urgently cook them. Far-off, mortals saw everything had been peaceful here for a while, so the braver ones started returning to sit down.

Under the canopy, it finally buzzed with excitement again, yet everyone consciously kept a distance from the two, Huangfuming and Ning.

Eating at a street stall is all about the atmosphere. She sighed, reaching out to pick a slice of fish crake.

"Crake" means thinly sliced raw meat, and "fish crake" is actually raw fish slices. However, this thing actually originated from Huaxia, contrary to what many people think, it wasn’t invented by Japan. Records of eating raw fish slices (fish crake) existed as early as the Zhou Dynasty, and the diligent and brave Pre-Qin people knew to use scallions and mustard paste to flavor raw fish crake.

By the Northern and Southern Dynasties, even "golden and jade fish" appeared. In "Essential Techniques for the Welfare of the People" by Jia Sixie during Northern Wei, the "Eight Mixed Condiments" section details the making of golden condiments. "Eight Mixed Condiments" is a seasoning made from garlic, ginger, citrus, white plum, cooked millet yellow, polished rice, salt, and sauce, used to dip fish crake.

However, what they’re eating now is obviously not salmon, but fish slices made from swordfish and octopus. In contemporary Huaxia, these two kinds of seafood are extremely expensive, especially swordfish viewed as one of the finest fish types. Eating a thin slice of ten or so costs hundreds of RMB, but in this vast Mirror Sea, it’s just the most ordinary fish.