Chapter 489 - 219: We’re All on the Same Side: Arrival at Darkness Island
Chapter 489: Chapter 219: We’re All on the Same Side: Arrival at Darkness Island
"That’s not necessarily true."
Yu Zhenyang, however, said with a smile, "Who knows? We might just earn a ton of Spirit Stones on this trip to the Relic."
Chatting and laughing, the group soon arrived at the Darkness Tavern, located right in the center of the East Market.
As a landmark of Darkness Island, the tavern was already packed with guests and bustling with activity, even though it was only 3:00 PM and not yet time for dinner.
After all, many Cultivators new to the island would choose to come and see the place.
"I’m terribly sorry, but the private rooms for today have all been booked in advance. In fact, we’re fully booked for the next ten days."
The tavern’s Host delivered the bad news: "There have been rumors for a few days about a Relic opening on the tenth of the seventh month, so we were fully booked as of three days ago."
"Would you gentlemen care to stay and try our specialty grilled fish?"
Yu Zhenyang and Qiu Fanghui discussed it for a moment and decided that since they were already here, they might as well stay for a meal.
Xiao Chen didn’t really care either way. He wasn’t picky about food and was far more interested in when the Relic was supposed to open.
So, while the other four were studying the menu, he pulled the Host aside to inquire, "Has the time for the Relic been confirmed?"
"Where did this news come from?"
The Host shook his head. "I am but a humble Foundation Establishment Cultivator. How would I know about such important matters? It’s all just hearsay."
"The rumor is that the news came from the Yin Corpse Sect, but who knows if it’s true."
Xiao Chen didn’t press him. After all, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s knowledge was indeed limited.
"Are you here for the Celestial Star Sect Relic as well, fellow Taoist?"
Someone from a nearby table initiated the conversation. "The Relic’s opening is indeed on the tenth of the seventh month, but specifically at 9:45 PM."
"The information didn’t originally come from the Yin Corpse Sect. It came from the Celestial Secret Pavilion’s Master of Destiny; the Yin Corpse Sect is just spreading it for them."
The speaker was a middle-aged Cultivator dressed in a green robe with a jade belt, holding a folding fan.
His two companions were dressed in a similar fashion.
"Thank you for the information, fellow Taoist."
Xiao Chen cupped his fists in thanks. "I am the Golden Light Wanderer. May I ask for your name?"
The man returned the gesture. "I am merely a Loose Cultivator. My surname is Cheng, given name Jie."
They exchanged nods but didn’t talk further.
After all, from Cheng Jie’s perspective, they would be rivals once they entered the Relic in a few days, so he had no intention of revealing any more information.
Xiao Chen didn’t see them as competitors, but he wasn’t one for idle chatter anyway.
"Golden Light Taoist, you should pick a few dishes as well."
Yu Zhenyang passed him the menu. "I’m not familiar with your tastes, so you’d better pick a couple of dishes you like yourself."
Xiao Chen took the menu without a close look, pointed to a random dish, and said, "I’ll have the Assembly of Heroes, then."
The Darkness Tavern, it had to be said, was highly efficient.
Soon, their best-selling signature dish arrived—the Jade Belt Golden Scale Soup.
It was a specialty soup made with fine strips of high-quality sea bream, representing the ’jade belt,’ and deep-fried golden shrimp, representing the ’golden scales.’
Each person received a small bowl, containing what looked to be no more than a few ounces of soup and ingredients combined.
Yet a single serving cost a whopping three hundred Spirit Stones.
Xiao Chen took a taste. The fish melted in his mouth, while the shrimp was firm and springy.
It tasted truly excellent, but it offered absolutely no benefit to his Cultivation.
’Verdict: All style, no substance.’
The entire meal consisted of endless flattery directed at Qiu Fanghui, which was utterly boring.
Xiao Chen had no desire to join in on the bootlicking, but he couldn’t just silently stuff his face either.
For one, the dishes were limited. For another, he was a Body Cultivator; if he truly ate his fill, he could put away several hundred pounds of food in one sitting.
So, he could only look around and observe his surroundings.
And as he looked, he made an unexpected discovery.
In the southeast corner of the hall sat three female Cultivators with delicate features and graceful figures.
What stood out was that although they wore different styles of dresses, each had a pouch with an identical pattern tied at her waist.
They appeared to be disciples from the Celestial Sound Sect of the Cloud Pool Sea.
According to rumor, the Celestial Sound Sect specialized in the Sound Killing Technique. Over seventy percent of its disciples were female, and the remaining thirty percent included Honored Guest Elders and miscellaneous sect servants.
In short, the entire Sect was dominated by women, but it held a special, lofty status in the Cloud Pool Sea.
It was also considered one of the most renowned Major Sects in the entire Eastern Domain.