Chapter 219: Eighth Grade Experts, Arrived! (1/2)
Chapter 219: Eighth Grade Experts, Arrived!
Translator: CatatoPatchEditor: Vermillion
Outside the majestic gates of the Imperial City, verdant sprouts reared their tender heads as the end of winter heralded the arrival of spring. Having been covered in snow for an entire season, the soils around the capital finally began to show signs of revival. All around, a burgeoning aura of life washed over the lands.
Along the wide main road just outside of the capital, a crisp clip clop could be heard echoing over the horizon. From a distance away, a figure slowly loomed into view.
It was an old man dressed in a full-bodied robe, riding an ashen-gray donkey while holding a gigantic wine gourd in his hand. As he made his way toward the capital, he would take a swig from his wine gourd from time to time, all the while swaying right and left.
With a satisfied look on his face, the old coot would hum a small ditty between each swig of wine.
Standing beneath those majestic gates of the imperial capital were three figures with their backs perfectly straight as they stood there watching while the chilly winds ruffled their coats.
As Tang Yin laid eyes on the looming figure of a donkey-riding old man, his eyes lit up. ”Master, the senior has arrived.” Tang Yin couldn't help but quip to Ni Yan, the woman standing beside him.
Ni Yan nodded her head and pursed her lips. That old drunkard sure had a sense of humor... to think he actually chose to ride a donkey here all the way from Wuliang Mountain. Could there be anything more comical than that?
”So this is the Senior Hu, whom master always talks about.” Longbow strapped over his back, Ye Ziling opened her eyes wide to get a closer look at the old senior who came riding a donkey.
”If you're trying to say that your master always talk about an old drunkard, then yes, that's him.” Ni Yan smiled and gave Ye Ziling a jovial pat on the back.
Once more, the rhythmic clip clop of the donkey cut across the quiet of the icy air. Suddenly, within the mere moments it took for their hearts to jump in surprise, what was originally a distant figure actually appeared before them in an instant.
Still reeling from the surprise, Ni Yan gasped. But that donkey was just... Why was its trotting speed so quick!?
”You damned brat, an old bag of bones like me can't take this kind of shock anymore. If this old man doesn't see this Five Stripes Path-Understanding Fruit Tree, then you can forget about ever touching his wine ever again!” The old man snapped, mouth wide open, after which he took another swig of wine.
Hearing that, Ni Yan immediately griped to herself, ”as if anyone would think about that Dragon's Breath of yours when they had Owner Bu's Frost Blaze Path-Understanding Brew over here in the capital.”
The old drunkard flipped himself over the donkey's back, secured his wine gourd to his waist and then pulled up his pants before flashing Tang Yin and Ye Ziling a roguish smile. With donkey in tow, he proceeded onwards toward the imperial capital.
”So this lass is that old witch's disciple?” *clicking tongue* ”Well, isn't she a pretty one.” The old drunkard smiled once more after giving Ye Ziling a throughout look.
Immediately, she returned the old coot an alarmed look.
Like that, the four of them continued their light-hearted banter as they walked toward the gates. Yet, just as they were about to enter the capital, a thunderous beastial howl echoed in the distance.
Ni Yan and the others promptly whipped their heads in the direction of the howl. As for the old drunkard, he made sure to take another swig of his wine before turning around as well.
All they saw in the distance was a giant black dragon with its wings fully extended, bellowing as it flew in their direction. As it did so, its body let forth a surge of mighty aura that could have only come from a pseudo-dragon like itself.
”Oh hoh, a seventh grade spirit beast, Black Hell Dragon?” The old drunkard chuckled.
Unlike the senior, Ni Yan and the others were all suffering under the pressure of that mighty dragon. Suddenly, their eyes narrowed as they noticed a figure standing aloft on that dragon's back.
It was a hunched-back old man with an aura as steadfast and heavy as a mountain.
”That's... an expert from the Godly Temple of the Wildlands?” Ni Yan murmured.
So an eighth grade expert from the Godly Temple of the Wildlands had finally joined the fray.
...
Within a small courtyard in the imperial capital, the Ghost Chef Wang Ding was in the midst of dissecting a fifth grade spirit beast with a few flourishes of his cleaver.
His hands were so nimble that the cleaver almost seemed to dance in his palms. With every flourish, a slice of spirit beast meat came flying off.
In mere moments, an entire spirit beast was stripped clean by his practised slices.
Storing the cleaver, the Ghost Chef wiped his hands clean before shakily making his way back to a tiny house within the courtyard. There, he sat down on a rocking chair and slowly rocked himself.
Just in front of the rocking chair was a gigantic black wok. The wok was bubbling with a white steam that gave off a strange odor as it wafted around the room.