"Qin Yue, you can open the door now," Qi Han said as he placed the fragrant upgraded cat food in front of Pururu and turned toward Qin Yue.
The three had already finished their meals and cleaned the dishes. Meanwhile, Pururu's upgraded cat food was ready just as they finished eating.
Watching Pururu eagerly gulp down the food, it was clear the little creature was thoroughly enjoying it.
As Qin Yue opened the door, a stream of customers entered the shop, led by Tang Qianqiu. His face showed anticipation, for he had already sensed the ripple of world energy outside the store, a telltale sign of an upcoming phenomenon inside.
While to most, the phenomenon might seem like any other, Tang Qianqiu's heightened spiritual sense told him something was different this time. The energy ripple appeared distinct from the previous ones—was it perhaps a new dish?
As the thought crossed his mind, Tang Qianqiu grew excited.
Could it be a third dish capable of triggering a phenomenon?
Walking into the Small Shop restaurant, he chose a seat by the large window and glanced at the menu board. With a quick scan, he spotted a newly added item.
"1,200 gold coins?" he thought, slightly surprised.
Although it wasn't significantly higher than the 1,000 gold coin dishes like Fish Belly Stuffed with Lamb or Boiled Cabbage in Clear Broth, it still indicated that this new dish, Qing Dynasty Blessed Pork Meat, was of higher value.
This piqued his curiosity even more.
"One serving of Qing Dynasty Blessed Pork Meat, a small basket of Xiaolongbao, and a small egg fried rice, please," he called out to Qin Yue with a wave of his hand, quickly placing his order.
As he waited, Tang Qianqiu's gaze drifted to a man seated on the other side of the room, wearing a bamboo hat.
A mere bamboo hat, however, could not hide the man's identity from a Limit Douluo.
Though Tang Qianqiu had never seen the man's face, the distinctive red and blue eyes and his Rank 94 cultivation level made it easy for him to guess who this was.
This particular individual had been stationed on the eastern border of the Star Luo Empire for over a decade without leaving, so why was he now hiding in the Star Luo City?
Piecing together recent rumors from the Star Luo division of the Tang Sect, Tang Qianqiu began to connect the dots.
It seemed that significant changes were brewing in Star Luo City.
With this in mind, he realized the Tang Sect would need to prepare accordingly.
Shifting his attention back to his table, Tang Qianqiu saw Pururu carrying a Xiaolongbao in its mouth.
A strange expression crossed his face as he observed the cat.
Pururu emitted the aura of a hundred-year spirit beast but displayed intelligence on par with a ten-thousand-year spirit beast.
Despite seeing the cat numerous times, Tang Qianqiu still couldn't identify its species.
"Could it be a mutant?" he wondered.
Few people could domesticate spirit beasts, as there was a natural conflict between spirit beasts and spirit masters.
While Tang Qianqiu didn't know how Qi Han managed it, he found the situation quite interesting.
Nodding toward Pururu, who had turned to look at him, Tang Qianqiu picked up his chopsticks and enjoyed his Xiaolongbao.
…
"Senior, your Qing Dynasty Blessed Pork Meat is ready."
Not long after Tang Qianqiu finished his dumplings, Qin Yue brought a small tray to his table.
The moment the dish was placed down, the surrounding world energy stirred violently, gathering toward the sky.
As the dining area quieted down, everyone's attention shifted to the new dish, Qing Dynasty Blessed Pork Meat, which was displayed before Tang Qianqiu.
This was the first time the dish had been sold, and like the previous phenomenally priced dishes, it was marked with a purple sign.
Everyone knew this meant it would likely have its own extraordinary phenomenon.
Mist started to gather around the dish, growing thicker and darker, bringing with it a suffocating sense of pressure.
Just then, a pair of radiant nine-colored beams pierced through the mist, parting the dense fog to reveal a heavenly palace hidden within the clouds.
The sight left the diners speechless, awestruck by the realistic vision of this divine palace floating in the sky.
The closer they were, the more it felt as if they were standing right before a celestial realm.
Even Tang Qianqiu, sitting nearest to the phenomenon, felt an overwhelming sense of being transported to this ethereal place.
"Could this palace be the legendary realm of the gods?" Tang Qianqiu wondered, deeply shaken by the intensity of the experience.
Only after the phenomenon dissipated did he slowly calm down, turning his attention to the dish before him.
The serving in the small dish was not large, but it was exquisitely prepared.
A piece of pork curled like a flower bud sat in the center, its glistening, golden-brown skin looking irresistibly appetizing.
Around the pork were delicately arranged garnishes like lotus seeds, red dates, and chestnuts.
The enticing aroma was unlike anything Tang Qianqiu had experienced before, arousing his appetite to the fullest.
Without hesitation, he picked up his chopsticks and carefully pinched the curled pork.
The pork belly, soft yet firm, easily yielded to his touch, quivering slightly as the chopsticks lifted it.
The golden-brown skin shimmered in the gentle evening light, and the smell grew even richer as he brought it closer to his mouth.
Unable to contain his urge any longer, Tang Qianqiu took a large bite, sinking his teeth into the tender pork.
The combination of the succulent, crispy skin, the rich, juicy fat, and the tender lean meat created a perfect balance of textures and flavors.
As he chewed, the savory essence exploded in his mouth, with a subtle hint of sweetness woven into the complex layers of taste.
His eyes lit up, marveling at how truly exceptional this dish was.
Each bite offered a satisfying depth of flavor, leaving a lingering savory taste on his palate that refused to fade.
Just as he was about to take another bite, he suddenly paused.
A warm sensation began to spread from his stomach, rapidly flowing through his body.
Could this be the dish's special effect?
Tang Qianqiu hesitated, knowing he could easily control this energy with his cultivation.
But curiosity won him over, and he allowed the warmth to flow freely through him.
The energy circled through his body and settled in his lower back, causing his gaze to sharpen.
This was the exact spot where he had suffered a severe injury over a century ago.
During a battle with an evil Super Douluo, he had been gravely wounded by a dying counterattack.
Despite taking countless medicinal herbs and precious resources, he was left with lingering aftereffects.
Whenever it rained, this area would ache, the evil energy trapped there blocking his spirit power flow and causing him pain.
Only through suppressing it with his spirit power could he find relief.
But now, with the warmth circulating through him, the discomfort in his old injury was easing.
Tang Qianqiu could clearly feel the malevolent energy that had stubbornly remained for years dissolving, at least by two-thirds.
How could this be possible?
<+>
if you want to see more chapters of this story and don't mind playing $5 per month to see my latest update, please go to my Patreon[1]
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/collection/67255?view=condensed[2]
Latest Chapter in Patreon: Chapter 345: This Boy—He Must Not Be Allowed To Live![3]
Link to the latest chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/131359207[4]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/collection/67255?view=condensed
[2] https://www.patreon.com/collection/67255?view=condensed
[3] https://www.patreon.com/posts/131359207
[4] https://www.patreon.com/posts/131359207