Chapter 219 – Treaty of Kings (1/2)
Li Qingshan ignored the curious gazes of the Qi Practitioners. All he asked was, “What are you looking for? Please let me know!”
The rosy-cheeked man was clever enough to not ask too much. He waved his hand in a generous manner. “Here’s not a place to talk. Let’s go to a teahouse instead!”
“Drinking tea is boring. Is there any place where we can drink alcohol? I’ll play the host today.” Li Qingshan happened to be in a good mood, having just resolved a few matters on his mind.
The rosy-cheeked man smiled. “I prefer alcohol more as well. There’s the Hundred Flavours restaurant just up ahead, though you mustn’t try competing with me over who plays the host today.”
Li Qingshan held the jade slip to the Book of All and an assortment of information regarding the Hundred Flavours restaurant immediately filled his head. This was an extremely renowned restaurant within the cultivation world of the Clear River province. Even the chefs were Qi Practitioners. They made food similar to how Lu Ziyu brewed tea. They all used techniques that only Qi Practitioners could use to create food that regular people would never be able to taste.
Li Qingshan smiled. This sure was useful. It was like several dozen encyclopedias all gathered in a thin jade slip. It was exactly what he needed as an independent cultivator who had just begun cultivating.
However, while it was not exactly rare for independent cultivators to be willing to spend almost a hundred spiritual stones for this, it was still extremely uncommon. Disciples from sects, on the other hand, all had masters who taught them the common knowledge regarding the cultivation world, so there was even less of a need for them to spend so much money on such items.
They sat down around a long table by the window in the Hundred Flavours restaurant. The rosy-cheeked man said, “I’m Han Xiong. These are my friends.” He introduced them to Li Qingshan one by one, and the Qi Practitioners all greeted him.
Li Qingshan nodded to return the gesture. He gave a self-introduction, “I’m Niu Juxia. May I ask why fellow Han has invited me here?” He had thought about it too and found that calling himself Niu’er was a little inappropriate, so he just went with what Yu Zijian had said. He called himself Niu Juxia.
“Are you sir perhaps that Niu Juxia who defeated the inner disciple Song Ming of the Pheasant’s Grace mountain in a single strike?” Han Xiong became stern and could not help but refer to him with an honorific.
Li Qingshan had never thought that he would have already made a name for himself. He said modestly, “It was pure luck.”
The three other Qi Practitioners became rather surprised and puzzled instead. They were not as well-informed as Han Xiong. They asked, “Brother Xiong, what’s this all about? Are you talking about the Golden Pheasant playboy, Song Ming?”
Han Xin explained the matter for his companions.
It was inappropriate for Li Qingshan to chip in, so he studied the restaurant. The restaurant was similar to the other structures in the small town, completely built out of wood. It gave off a fragrance that only timber possessed.
The decor was not extravagant. Instead, it was extremely simple. There was not a single painting or piece of calligraphy, which made Li Qingshan feel like he had only come here to eat and drink. Clearly, this restaurant placed absolute confidence in its culinary arts.
At this moment, a waiter walked past with a serving plate. He wore a square hat on his head with a white towel over his shoulder as he placed down a jug of alcohol and various exquisite dishes that went with the drinking. His voice was filled with enthusiasm, introducing the names and origins of these dishes. His movements and speech were perfect, but they were rather mechanical.
Only with a closer glance did Li Qingshan discover that there were no waiters here at all. They were all just puppets, but they were designed to great detail, and they wore the clothing of waiters. Their exposed skin had been painted by some kind of dye. As such, it seemed exactly the same as real skin. Clearly, they were not a model used for combat.
Evidently, it was because this market did not allow the entry of regular people, but Qi Practitioners would never be willing to work as waiters, so they had to specially order these waiter puppets from mohists.
By now, Han Xiong had finished explaining Li Qingshan’s glorious achievements in battle. The Qi Practitioners all looked at Li Qingshan with respect as well. Among them, the strongest was Han Xiong, who was only a fifth layer Qi Practitioner. Even if they worked together, they were not the opponent of any inner disciple of the three mountains. They originally thought that Li Qingshan was a little Qi Practitioner who had only just begun his path of cultivation, but never did they imagine that he would be such a powerful figure.
Han Xiong stood up and poured alcohol for Li Qingshan.
Li Qingshan sat right where he was. He lifted his cup and nodded at Han Xiong before drinking all of it. He smiled, “You can tell me what you’re looking for now, right, fellow Han?”
Han Xiong drank his alcohol in a hurry. “We’re all members of the Truth-seeking society. We sincerely invite you to join us, fellow Niu!”
Was the Truth-seeking society a sect? Li Qingshan checked the Book of All in a hurry, but he found nothing.
Han Xiong said, “Don’t worry too much, fellow Niu. The Truth-seeking society is just an association created by independent cultivators. It’s not some major sect, so the Book of All won’t have any records of it.”
“An association of independent cultivators?” This was the first time Li Qingshan had heard of an organisation like that. He asked curiously, “Actually, I’ve never really understood what counts as an independent cultivator.”
“Now that’s something you might not know, fellow Niu. Independent cultivators don’t just refer to cultivators who move about independently. As long as you don’t come from a clan or sect, you’re an independent cultivator.”
Li Qingshan said, “With your cultivation at the fifth layer, fellow Han, it’s more than enough for you to create your own clan or sect.”
Han Xiong smiled bitterly. “Without my own heritage and legacies, how can I claim to lead a clan or sect? Normally, if a clan or sect doesn’t have a Foundation Establishment cultivator, they’re still independent cultivators even if they have countless Qi Practitioners gathered together. You won’t be recognised by the cultivation world. To be honest, my Han family is basically like the local king in the Smooth Sailing city two hundred and fifty kilometers north-east of here.”
“However, they’re nothing in the cultivation world. They’re often pushed aside and harassed by disciples of sects. That’s why we created this association; it is so that we can protect one another.”
Li Qingshan asked, “With your strength at the fifth layer, can’t you join a sect?” He pointed at the towering mountain outside the window. “Such as the Green Vine mountain.”
Han xiong sighed, “I’m old, and I’m not as talented as brother Niu, so which sect would accept me? I can only rely on myself to fumble around and hopefully make some progress. So how is it? Would you like to check out our Truth-seeking society, Niu Juxia?”
It made sense to Li Qingshan. All of the sect disciples he had seen so far were young and around the fifth or sixth layer in strength. In comparison, Han Xiong seemed to be in his forties or fifties at the very least. His talent definitely was not fantastic.
Suddenly, he remembered what Zhou Wenbin had said in the past. Sects usually only recruited young disciples who would grow up in the mountains under the guidance of their master and with the care and concern of their seniors. These various ties would result in a sense of recognition and belonging. That was the foundation of a sect’s existence.
Li Qingshan deliberated over Han Xiong’s invitation. “I’m afraid I don’t have the time. And, I might also join a sect in the future…”
Seeing how Li Qingshan did not openly turn him down, Han Xiong became even more enthusiastic. “The Truth-seeking society is not a sect. You don’t have to do anything for the society at all. All we do is gather from time to time and discuss our understanding of cultivation or exchange some resources. It definitely won’t take up any time at all.”
The three Qi Practitioners by his side added, “Yeah, yeah. Everyone just talks and drinks when we’re together. It’s fantastic!”
“Last year, we even organised a group to enter the Boundless mountains, and we came across a few hundred kilograms of black iron essence.”
Li Qingshan gained a deeper understanding towards the nature of this Truth-seeking society.
Han Xiong said, “How about this? We have a gathering in Quiet Spring valley coming up. You can come along with us. If you don’t like it, we won’t force you into anything.”
“I’ll consider it!” Li Qingshan lifted his cup and said nothing more. Han Xiong looked at his companions and none of them said anything more either. “Come, let’s drink!”
Li Qingshan looked out of the window, at the streets blazing with lanterns and the Qi Practitioners who flowed endlessly. He asked in wonder, “Is it always so lively here?”
Han Xiong said, “How would that be possible? It’s all because the once-a-decade Herb Gathering ceremony of the three mountains is drawing near, which is why so many Qi Practitioners have been drawn here. They’re all preparing for that!”
Li Qingshan was puzzled. “The Herb Gathering ceremony of the three mountains? What’s it got to do with independent cultivators?”
Han Xiong said, “The disciples of the three mountains are stronger. When they go out to pick herbs, they can draw the attention of daemonic beasts, and we independent cultivators might be able to take advantage of the situation and get lucky.”
“Aren’t we just being used by the three mountains to serve as bait for the daemonic beasts as well?”
Li Qingshan turned around. He saw the speaker, the fourth layer Qi Practitioner Zhou Wei, sneer from ear to ear.
Han Xiong said, “Anyways, it’s always safer if there are more people.”
“Safer? I don’t think so. Countless Qi Practitioners die underground at every gathering. How many of them die to the mouths of daemonic beasts?”
“Underground? Isn’t it the Boundless mountains?” Surprised, Li Qingshan placed down his cup.
Han Xiao smiled. “Brother Niu, you really don’t know anything. The spiritual herbs in and around the Boundless mountains have basically all been picked already. If you venture any further, you can easily attract the attention of a Daemon General, which would annihilate any group of Qi Practitioners. Who would be bold enough to venture into the depths?”
Li Qingshan felt a rather ill omen. He continued to ask, “Aren’t there any daemons and Daemon Generals underground?”