The waiter did as instructed, boiled hot water, and took it to the upper room. Madam Wen was soaked in sweat; how can people from Jianghu truly remain untainted by worldly concerns? She went upstairs to wash and bathe immediately.

Li Xian handed the wild rabbit and wild boar to the innkeeper. He instructed them to use these as ingredients, add salt, scallions, garlic, and stir-fry with oil to make a side dish for their guests. The remaining wild boar meat was left for the innkeeper.

That evening, they had a satisfying meal. The exhaustion of the past few days was entirely soothed away.

Li Xian opened the window. Snowflakes drifted into the room, and as he gazed into the distance, his mood was both calm and excited.

They rested for the night.

They set off again the next day, passing through Huazhi State, bypassing Jianlong Prefecture, and crossing Kunlai Prefecture.

Li Xian witnessed the vastness of Yu Nan Dao. At each place, he would purchase geographical maps, carefully observe, and contemplate the local terrain.

He gradually grasped the vastness of the world.

…

…

By mid-January.

Several dozen miles away from Old Dragon Pool, there was a place called "Dragon Claw Town."

Beside the town, there was a river. The clear water flowed, and on both banks, children swam and played, catching fish and crabs, filled with joy.

When tired, they would lean back, floating on the water to rest.

The children, having grown up in the town, were excellent swimmers. Recently, many outsiders, all dressed in Jianghu style, had arrived in Dragon Claw Town. Those children playing in the water curiously observed the passing Jianghu guests.

There were those dressed in coarse cloth and equipped with a giant sword on their back. Some wore exquisite silk garments, with graying temples. Even more bizarre were those who looked like monsters, with grotesque features and a large bump on the head.

To the north of Dragon Claw Town, there stretched a mountain range. It blocked the cold climate, making the place as if it were spring all year round. The town's people lived in peace without concerning themselves with the world.

As if it were a utopia.

A multitude of outsiders flooding in unexpectedly indeed took everyone by surprise. Some women came to the riverbank, loudly calling their children back into the house.

The town was not large, with about forty thousand households. There weren't many streets, and lively places like inns and restaurants were all gathered on "Dragon Seeking Street."

The street was four miles long, with ten inns and seven restaurants…

All were filled to capacity.

It could be said there wasn't a room to be found nor a seat to be had.

The inns and restaurants were all full, and even the roadside teahouses had placed small stools out into the street, making it difficult to pass. Despite this, those who heard the news came by endlessly.

Martial Artists bumped into each other on the crowded streets, with shouts and curses heard frequently. Among them, some martial artists wore similar attire, clearly from the same sect.

Yu Nan Dao gathered heroes, with the elders of various factions, martial arts school leaders, and clan elders frequently seen.

The most luxurious restaurant in town was called "Wangzhen Building."

Standing at seventy-eight feet high, with carved beams and painted rafters, it was exquisitely decorated, standing out among its peers.

There were a hundred and twenty seats, thirty-four private rooms, and twenty-one guest rooms.

Naturally, all were occupied.

The guests seated inside brought their own tea. They sat cautiously in their spots, vigilantly observing around, yet feigned calm, sipping their tea slowly.

The Dragon Appreciation Banquet was imminent.

Anyone able to securely sit inside was not an ordinary person. The guests outside, later-arriving heroes, naturally wanted to claim a seat.

Thus, unspoken rules had formed. Although the restaurant was small, it contained the entirety of Jianghu's fame and fortune disputes. Those who could sit in the lower seats could look down on those outside. Those who could sit in the middle seats could look down on the lower seats. Those in upper seats could look down on those in the middle…

Those who could gain entrance to a private room or stay in a guest room, even among the gathered heroes, were considered first-class! The flow of people was like a wall, yet one could still secure a peaceful spot.

"Creak."

A semi-open door was pushed open, and an old and a young man entered the room.

The assembled heroes looked over. The old man wore a kasaya robe, his head bald, his face gaunt, clasping his hands he smiled and said, "I am passing through, feeling my leg bones weak, I beg for a cup of tea and a seat, I wonder if anyone would make room?"

A hero inside the building said, "Before begging for a seat, you must first give your name."

"To live to such an age and not know the rules, truly a wasted life."

"Old monk, it's useless to pretend here, quickly show your skill, if you're capable, not just a seat, but a private room could also be yours!"

…

There were constant sounds of covert sarcasm mixed with laughter. Even the Jianghu people outside, unable to secure a seat, were not weaklings. They all turned their eyes over, waiting for a good show.

The old man laughed and said, "This old monk's name is 'Compassion,' would some hero kindly make way?" He pointed to the man in white by the window.

The crowd was in an uproar: "What Compassion Monk, just an old bald one, how audacious to ask the Manor Master of Moon-Embracing to give up the seat."

"You must know, although it's a lower seat, it's by the window, an excellent position. Even some middle seats can't compare."

The Manor Master of Moon-Embracing was taken aback and looked over. Compassion Monk, along with a young monk, approached and said, "Please, lay benefactor, give up the seat."

The Manor Master of Moon-Embracing smiled and said, "Giving up the seat is possible, but drink this cup of wine, and I'll let you have the seat." His gaze focused, and he splashed the wine from the cup.

This move contained extraordinarily strong Martial Arts principles, and the wine scattered across the sky, becoming a misty canopy. Within the mist was a mirage.

It turns out this splash was a set of Middle Palm Technique, famously called 'Moon-Embracing Palm.' This palm was the signature technique of Bi Chunfu, the Manor Master of Moon-Embracing, and the move was named 'Moon in the Water.'

Compassion Monk's fingers glowed with golden light, pointing at the mist. He smoothly brought up a wine glass, guiding the mist into the cup, where it gathered back into liquid.

The Manor Master of Moon-Embracing laughed, "A simple trick, you won't be able to drink this glass." With that, he saw the wine glass vibrating violently, even cracking.

It turned out that the move 'Moon in the Water,' though a Palm Technique, used 'sound' to injure others. The wine mist concealed profound Inner Qi, with subtle sounds inaudible to others. Only upon close contact, when heavily damaged, could one understand its mystery.

In Martial Arts, engaging in life-and-death combat is important.

Having comprehensive tactics and strong foundation, one can face whatever enemy or challenge, breaking each one down, winning respect from others.

Suddenly hearing a "snap," the wine glass shattered into powder. The wine mist turned back into vapor.

Compassion Monk raised his eyebrows, opened his mouth, and inhaled. The vapor entered his lungs, undiminished in lethality, seemingly about to burst his chest open, an unbearable sight. Compassion Monk smacked his chest with his palm, emitting a circle of golden light over his body.

The Manor Master of Moon-Embracing looked displeased, "Good monk, you actually know how to dissolve it, consider you formidable!" He snorted softly and gave up the seat.

The assembled heroes were bewildered.

Someone in a middle seat on the second floor explained, "This Compassion Monk is a high monk of the Buddhist Sect. He practices the Buddhist Sanskrit Palm. The wine mist dispersed into the air, easy to avoid, but incorporated sound rhythm, extremely difficult to absorb. Thus, the old monk absorbed it first, then used the Brahma Sound Palm to strike himself, using sound to counteract sound, negating the sound within the Moon-Embracing Palm."

"Who are you to speak so boldly here!" The Manor Master of Moon-Embracing was enraged. The sound concealed in his Moon-Embracing Palm was one of his killing moves. Now it had been exposed, how could it not be disastrous?

The Manor Master of Moon-Embracing said angrily, "Since you're so capable, esteemed… then I should go up to request a seat."

"There's no need, you aren't strong enough, going up would be in vain." that voice replied.

The Manor Master of Moon-Embracing saw all the heroes present, and felt swallowing his anger here would be utterly humiliating, coldly said, "Ignorant youth, speaking recklessly about my Moon-Embracing Palm, humph, let you taste its might." With that, he headed upstairs.

The one speaking on the second floor was a middle-aged man, dressed in white, short but very neat, "The mere Moon-Embracing Palm, just a clumsy imitation of my Jade Water Cave Heaven's poor martial arts." He, too, fetched a cup of wine, splashing it towards the Manor Master of Moon-Embracing.

Yet it was entirely different; the wine vanished in mid-air. When it reappeared, it had splashed all over the Manor Master of Moon-Embracing.

The Manor Master of Moon-Embracing was furious, just about to lash out. Suddenly he looked terrified, his skin seemed to evaporate, dispersing like mist. He had no choice but to sit in place, seeking a solution.

That master from Jade Water Cave Heaven laughed heartily and said, "Little ball, roll out." Kicking the Manor Master of Moon-Embracing.

The Manor Master of Moon-Embracing sat cross-legged, using Qi Condensation to stop his flesh from evaporating. He could only allow it, truly rolling out like a ball.

Rolling all the way to the door.

All the heroes laughed heartily. Suddenly, at this moment, the door was pushed open again.

It was a handsome young man who came in first.

"Madam, please enter."

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