68: Victory celebration banquet

As night fell, the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall was brightly lit and bustling with noise.

Exterminating a Essence Spirit like the Jade Water Toad, which had plagued the Qinghe River, was the greatest victory achieved jointly by the Water Patrol Division and the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall in recent years. Naturally, it called for a grand celebration.

Museum Master Zhao Zheng was in high spirits and set up a victory banquet in the martial arts hall's largest Martial Arts Arena. Inside the hall, cups were clinked, laughter and chatter filled the air, and the scent of wine and meat mingled with a heated atmosphere.

Chen Linsheng was undoubtedly the well-deserved focus of this victory banquet.

He sat at a table near the main seat, flanked by Senior Brother Shi Poyue, Third Martial Sister Liu Ruyan, and others.

Martial arts hall Disciples, Water Patrol Division officers, and even some prominent figures from the County Town constantly came over to offer toasts, their mouths full of words of praise.

“Junior Brother Chen, after today, the name ‘ghost water dragon’ will surely resound throughout Qinghe! Restraining it underwater and then deciding the outcome with a single arrow—I'm impressed, truly impressed!”

“Patrol Runner Chen is young and promising. You will surely have a great future. Please look after us in the future!”

“Senior Brother Linsheng, tell us about the situation underwater at that time!”

Facing the tide of praise and inquiries, Chen Linsheng maintained a humble and appropriate attitude throughout. He neither took all the credit for himself nor showed the arrogance of a young man who had achieved success. He responded mostly with phrases like “it was thanks to the leadership of Master and Senior Martial Uncle,” “Senior Brothers and Sisters provided excellent support,” or “it was just luck.” His steady demeanor caused some elders present to nod secretly in approval as they watched him.

“Senior Brother Chen! Congratulations, congratulations!”

An enthusiastic voice rang out as Liu Mingyu, holding a wine cup and wearing a face full of smiles, squeezed his way over.

He was now an official Disciple of the martial arts hall, wearing the uniform training robes, though the material was noticeably more refined than that of the others.

“Junior Brother Liu.” Chen Linsheng smiled and raised his cup in acknowledgment.

He didn't have a bad impression of this wealthy young man who had originally gifted him the residence.

Although Liu Mingyu had some of the slickness of a merchant, he was sensible and knew his place. He had never used the gift of the house to demand favors, but instead had always been very respectful toward him.

“Senior Brother has performed such a miraculous feat this time; it truly makes us feel proud!” Liu Mingyu’s tone was sincere, carrying unconcealed envy. “Sigh, it’s really shameful to mention. I’m still troubled by my third Skin Quenching, and progress is slow, yet you, Senior Brother, are already a powerhouse of the Flesh Refining Realm, leading your own ship. It’s truly a difference between clouds and mud.”

Chen Linsheng smiled and comforted him: “Junior Brother Liu, you don't need to belittle yourself. Martial arts Cultivation has its own destiny for everyone. It is also the right path to build a good Foundation step by step. If you have any questions about Cultivation, you can come and discuss them with me at any time.”

Liu Mingyu was overjoyed upon hearing this; this was exactly what he had been waiting for!

Having a Genius Martial Artist like Chen Linsheng give a few pointers occasionally was better than him practicing bitterly behind closed doors for a long time. He hurriedly bowed: “Thank you, Senior Brother! Mingyu will surely Cultivate diligently and not fail Senior Brother’s expectations!”

After drinking a cup with Liu Mingyu, Chen Linsheng’s gaze swept through the noisy crowd, and a hint of doubt flashed in his heart.

It seemed... he hadn't seen Zhang Yang for a while.

That Disciple who came from the Poor Faction, had a somewhat stubborn personality, but possessed decent talent.

Given Zhang Yang’s personality, he shouldn't be absent from a victory banquet like this, where he could see experts and soak in the atmosphere.

Was he in seclusion, or was there something else?

Halfway through the banquet, the atmosphere became even more heated.

Museum Master Zhao Zheng waved his hand and ordered servants to carry in a large pot of carefully simmered meat soup.

The soup was a faint milky white, emitting an indescribable and strange meat fragrance. Just a single sniff made one's Qi and blood stir slightly.

“You Disciples have also worked hard in exterminating that Jade Water Toad today. This is a meat soup brewed from some of the common flesh of that Essence Spirit supplemented with medicinal herbs. Although it is not as precious as the Heart-meat, it still contains a lot of Qi and blood essence. Divide it among yourselves and eat; how much you can absorb depends on your own luck!” Zhao Zheng said loudly.

Upon hearing this, the Disciples immediately erupted into bursts of cheering.

Essence Spirit flesh, even if it was just scraps, was a great supplement for Disciples like them who were in Skin Quenching or the initial stages of Flesh Refining!

Immediately, the sound of devouring echoed in the Martial Arts Arena. After drinking the meat soup, it only took a short while for many Disciples to feel their internal Qi and blood surging and their whole bodies heating up, as if they had endless strength.

“I can't take it, I have to go to the pillars to digest this!”

“Let's go together, let's go together!”

Soon, the outdoor practice field next to the Martial Arts Arena was filled with Disciples standing in the Primordial Stance. Everyone’s head was steaming with heat, their Qi and blood erupting, making for a quite spectacular scene.

Even Liu Mingyu, after finishing a bowl of soup, ran to the practice field with a flushed face, working hard to guide the surging medicinal power within his body.

Chen Linsheng felt amused watching this scene. This was the importance of resources.

Without this stroke of luck, it would have taken these ordinary Disciples an unknown amount of painstaking effort to achieve such obvious progress.

As the victory banquet drew to a close, the guests began to disperse one after another.

Zhao Zheng called Chen Linsheng alone to a Quiet Room in the backyard.

Inside the room, a spirited old man wearing a clean white short-sleeved shirt had been waiting for a long time. In front of him were some peculiar kitchen utensils, bottles, and jars, and the air was filled with a faint medicinal fragrance and the aura of spiritual materials.

“Linsheng, this is Master Fei, a Spirit Chef I specially invited from the Prefectural City,” Zhao Zheng introduced. “The energy in the Essence Spirit's Heart-meat is vast and overbearing. Consuming it directly would likely waste its medicinal power and make it difficult to absorb. With Master Fei taking action to cook it into ‘crimson blood flesh paste,’ the essence can be locked in and more easily refined.”

Chen Linsheng hurriedly bowed to Master Fei: “I'll be in your care, Master Fei.”

Master Fei nodded slightly without saying much. He took Chen Linsheng’s twenty pounds of Jade Water Toad Heart-meat and began to process it.

His movements were skilled, his knife flying as he removed the fine membranes, then soaked and rubbed it with various secret medicinal liquids. Finally, he placed it in an ancient-looking jade urn, added several types of rare auxiliary materials, and channeled a wisp of his own gentle Qi and blood to slowly simmer it over a low fire.

The entire process took nearly two hours. During this time, a wonderful fragrance filled the nose, and a faint glow of Qi and blood circulated within the jade urn.

Finally, Master Fei extinguished the fire and opened the urn. At the bottom was a thick layer of paste that was condensed but not scattered, deep red like amber, and crystal clear. The rich aroma and Qi and blood energy had almost materialized.

“It is done.” Master Fei packed the crimson blood flesh paste into a specially made jade box and handed it to Chen Linsheng. “This paste’s energy is gentle and mellow. Take one spoonful daily and supplement it with your Cultivation Technique for refinement; it will be enough to support you through several months of bitter Cultivation.”

Chen Linsheng took the still-warm jade box, feeling the vast yet gentle energy contained within, and was overjoyed: “Thank you, Master Fei! Thank you, Master!”

Carrying the crimson blood flesh paste, Chen Linsheng returned to the residence in the west of the city with great anticipation.

At home, Su Wan and Aunt Zhang had already prepared hangover soup and were waiting. Chen Linsheng first told them the interesting stories from today’s banquet, causing Su Wan’s beautiful eyes to sparkle with wonder. She was both proud of him and secretly determined to practice martial arts even harder, hoping to be able to walk side-by-side with him in the future.