Chapter 1256: A Rare Kindred Spirit
Yi Feng rode his snail, Manman, southward for a long time.
In the distance, the outline of a city began to emerge.
Finally spotting an opportunity to stir things up, Yi Feng felt a renewed sense of hope in life. With a sigh, he jumped off Manman, stretched his limbs with vigor, and began walking forward while lecturing aloud.
"Manman, you must be a male snail, right?"
"Let me tell you something. We men can handle anything, but when it comes to crucial moments, we can't rush. You just 'whoosh' and it's over. No wonder we ended up in this desert without meeting a single soul."
"If it weren't for that old miner who gave me directions earlier, I would've thought the entire Godfall Land was just a desert!"
Manman, with his dead fish eyes, followed closely behind, blowing bubbles nonchalantly.
"Blub, blub, blub..."
Seeing his sluggish demeanor, Yi Feng decided not to waste any more breath.
Next time, he'd just remind Manman to go even slower...
After a few more steps, they approached the city.
Many people glanced curiously at them. While Yi Feng looked rather ordinary, Manman stood out among the flock of celestial birds and spirit beasts.
Unable to bear the curious stares, Yi Feng decided to put Manman away before entering the city.
Once inside, he was greeted by an astonishing sight of prosperity.
Cultivators of remarkable bearing walked to and fro, and the elegant buildings on either side of the street exuded refinement. Unlike the bustling marketplaces he had seen in other cities, this place seemed to be a gathering hub for the elite.
Just picking a larger city at random felt impressive. Finding a master here shouldn't be too hard!
As expected of the Godfall Land—it truly had something special.
The more he looked around, the more excited he became.
With his blood boiling with anticipation, Yi Feng confidently strode toward the most luxurious seven-story restaurant in sight.
Upon entering the grand hall, a sharp-eyed waiter quickly approached and greeted him respectfully.
"Greetings, sir."
"A refined gentleman like yourself, even if it's your first visit, may take a seat in the private lounge on the second floor. All expenses will be discounted by ten percent!"
Even the waiter was so adept at reading people and speaking with such high emotional intelligence. With just one glance, he had recognized Yi Feng's refined demeanor and used it to offer a friendly recommendation.
With skills like that, this waiter could thrive anywhere.
Yi Feng was pleasantly surprised and nodded slightly in response.
"Alright."
In no time, he followed the waiter upstairs. The second floor was even more luxurious, with exquisite furniture and guests of extraordinary bearing. Among them were white-haired elders who exuded an air of wisdom.
Yi Feng grew even more delighted, thinking this was the perfect place to gather some important information.
But as soon as he sat down and followed the waiter's gesture to the menu on the wall behind him, his heart sank, and a chill ran down his spine.
Three-Headed Spirit Fish: 100,000 spirit crystals.
Red-Tassel Fusion Fruit: 200,000 spirit crystals.
Seven-Colored Falling Sakura Grass: 130,000 spirit crystals.
...
With just one glance, Yi Feng's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
Good heavens!
A single dish cost over a hundred thousand spirit crystals?
This wasn't dining—it was burning money!
Even though he was quite wealthy now, looking at these prices, only four words came to mind:
"Absolutely terrifying!"
No wonder the service was so good, and the guests all looked so impressive. This was clearly not a place for ordinary folks.
But if he wanted to gather useful information, he had to go to high-end places like this. Otherwise, he'd only end up with trivial knowledge, which wouldn't be of much use.
For the sake of his grand plan to seek death, he had to spend the money.
Today, he'd splurge!
Yi Feng struggled as he scanned the menu.
Finally, his eyes landed on the last item, which cost a thousand spirit crystals. Gritting his teeth, he spoke up.
"I'll have a plate of Hundred-Flavored Fruit."
The waiter's expression remained unchanged. After announcing the order, he respectfully bent forward and asked,
"One plate of Hundred-Flavored Fruit. Sir, would you like any other dishes? What kind of spirit wine would you prefer?"
Yi Feng followed the waiter's gesture to the wine menu on the wall and nearly gasped.
The cheapest wine started at several hundred thousand spirit crystals!
Were they drinking blood here?
Yi Feng calmly waved his hand and declined.
"No need, I have my own wine."
The waiter nodded respectfully and retreated.
Before long, a plate of vegetarian food was served.
The dish, called Hundred-Flavored Fruit, resembled dried fruits from his previous life, fried to a crispy texture. The taste was unique and paired well with wine, making it a fortunate coincidence.
But in this luxurious second-floor lounge, Yi Feng's single plate of food stood out.
Naturally, many in the hall began whispering and glancing his way.
"Huh? This guy really knows how to live frugally."
"Ah, you outsiders have already gone through so much hardship to settle in our divine land. Being thrifty is understandable. While seafood is beneficial, it's not as practical as pills."
"Elder Liu's teachings are deeply engraved in my heart."
"Good, good. As cultivators, we must never be arrogant or impatient. The path of cultivation is long and arduous. Our Lan Star is but a mere mortal star. If you ever achieve great heights and have the fortune to visit a higher star, you'll truly understand how vast the heavens are."
Listening to the old man's boastful speech, Yi Feng became intrigued.
He quietly turned his gaze toward the group.
In the hall not far away, everyone at the table was looking at the white-haired elder.
"What is a higher star? Please enlighten us, Elder."
The elder stroked his beard with a satisfied smile.
"Hehe..."
"A higher star is a grand planet that governs mortal stars. Our Lan Star is an ordinary mortal star, one of twelve under the rule of the Meteor Star!"
"Such realms are beyond your reach. If you are fortunate enough to set foot there one day, you will understand. Alas, the path of cultivation is merciless. Those who reach the peak of the Heavenly Rank are exceedingly rare, and even then, progressing further is nearly impossible even after ten thousand years!"
"Not just you—even on our entire Lan Star, aside from the Star Lord and a few esteemed figures, no one else can hope to advance further."
After this explanation, many cultivators looked shaken, awed by the terrifying existence described.
Yi Feng, too, suddenly felt a surge of hope. Beneath his calm exterior, his heart raced, and his blood boiled with excitement!
The boundless universe seemed filled with endless dangers and opportunities. No matter how capable a person was, they were but a speck of dust in the grand scheme of things.
Life and death were insignificant!
The second floor fell into a brief silence.
Only the young man seated by the window remained calm, a faint smile on his face as he glanced over.
"You outsiders have crossed vast oceans to reach our divine land, enduring countless trials and tribulations. Yet, in the end, you live such austere lives."
"Is this truly what you desire?"
Yi Feng turned to look.
The young man had an extraordinary demeanor, with striking green hair that was quite rare. He was pouring himself a drink, his eyes filled with a complex mix of pity and superiority.
Well, well. Even while drinking, someone had to show off!
Instantly, Yi Feng's temper flared.
What's wrong with living simply?
This... this is called understanding life. Thrift is a virtue!
No one else had said anything, and the restaurant didn't mind. Yet, this green-haired guy just had to run his mouth!
Yi Feng, who had long since shed any fear, coldly retorted.
"The dishes here are mostly seafood. I'm not a fan, is that a problem?"
To be honest, the seafood around here wasn't great. He'd already had his fill of it during his time at sea!
More importantly, the prices here were outrageous. Only a nouveau riche would order such things.
With only a few billion spirit crystals to his name and many expenses ahead, there was no way he'd fall for such a scam. This green-haired rich kid clearly had no life experience—probably a spoiled second-generation heir!
Today, he'd test the waters with this green-haired second-gen.
Yi Feng spoke with anger, almost hoping the other party would start a fight.
"What? Are people not allowed to dislike seafood?"
Strangely, the young man seemed taken aback. His expression softened slightly, and he gave Yi Feng a meaningful look before falling silent.
Yi Feng's anger felt like it had hit a wall of cotton.
As the other diners continued their lively discussions, the awkward atmosphere dissipated.
Helpless, Yi Feng could only sit back and continue eavesdropping for useful information while pulling out the wine gifted by the old miner.
As he opened the gourd, a rich, intoxicating aroma wafted out.
Yi Feng was pleasantly surprised.
When it came to fighting, he wasn't very confident. But when it came to food and drink, he was second to none!
The moment the wine's fragrance spread, he knew it was the real deal. While it couldn't compare to what he brewed himself, it was still worth savoring.
Looking back, it was a wise decision to leave behind the various bottles and jars and only keep a few gourds of wine. It was laughable how the diners here were so caught up in their vanity, spending exorbitant amounts on overpriced drinks or engaging in idle chatter, completely oblivious to the subtle fragrance emanating from his corner.
Just as Yi Feng was silently marveling, someone else beat him to the punch.
"Good wine, truly good wine!"
He looked up to see the green-haired young man again, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he stared at Yi Feng.
"This is excellent wine!"
"It far surpasses any fine liquor this restaurant has to offer!"
The young man's eyes were practically glowing green, though he kept his voice low, as if afraid of drawing attention. He looked like he had stumbled upon a priceless treasure.
This guy was clearly a wine enthusiast!
Well, well... Who would've thought this rich kid had such a refined taste in wine?
Yi Feng couldn't help but view him in a slightly better light and modestly clasped his hands in acknowledgment.
"You flatter me."
Before he could say more, the young man picked up the various delicacies from his table and walked over, his face now showing genuine friendliness.
"Brother, please forgive my earlier rudeness. I was blind and spoke out of turn. If you don't mind, shall we share a table and drink together?"
Well, well. Now he wanted to share a table. This guy really was a wine fanatic!
Unable to refuse such enthusiasm, Yi Feng graciously agreed.
"Very well."
As the saying goes, no discord, no concord. Since the other party was willing to bring over his expensive dishes, Yi Feng saw no harm in sharing some wine and making a friend.
Money wasn't the issue—it was the rarity of finding a kindred spirit.
More importantly, this green-haired second-gen clearly had some substance. He seemed like a worldly expert, and Yi Feng might even be able to gather some useful information from him!
The two hit it off immediately.
As they sat together, a sense of camaraderie grew between them.
The green-haired young man clasped his hands and introduced himself with a smile.
"Thank you, brother. I am Gui Wanhai, born with an insatiable love for wine. It's rare to meet someone like you who truly understands fine wine. Now I see why you weren't impressed by the offerings here. I feel ashamed!"
Yi Feng waved his hand with a smile.
"My name is Yi Feng. No need to stand on ceremony. Since we both appreciate good wine, sharing a drink is a pleasure. As the saying goes, 'A thousand cups are too few when drinking with a true friend.'"
Gui Wanhai pondered these words, his smile deepening.
"'A thousand cups are too few when drinking with a true friend'... Wonderful, simply wonderful. Brother Yi, not only do you understand wine, but your literary talent is also remarkable. Meeting you today is truly a joyous occasion. A thousand cups would indeed be too few!"
In just a few exchanges, Gui Wanhai was thoroughly impressed by Yi Feng.
As the son of the Sea Lord and the future leader of the Ancient Sea Clan, Gui Wanhai held an exalted status. However, he was a free spirit who cared little for worldly affairs, save for his love of fine wine.
In his tens of thousands of years, this was the first time he had encountered someone who felt like a true kindred spirit. His joy only grew.