The Entry-plundering Demon Hunter

Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Your Admission Letter Has Arrived

A small courtyard nestled in a bustling downtown area.

This was the second time Lin Yi had come here.

The small courtyard was a stark contrast to the busy city.

On one side, it was bustling and lively.

On the other, it was quiet and pleasant.

Lin Yi walked into the courtyard, looking at the surrounding rockeries and artificial ponds.

Compared to his first visit, it gave him a different feeling.

DING-A-LING—

Suddenly, the crisp chime of a copper bell echoed throughout the courtyard.

Lin Yi looked up in surprise. ”I don’t remember a copper bell from last time.”

”Hahaha... Don’t be alarmed, young friend!”

Just as Lin Yi was feeling surprised.

Old He emerged from the back, beaming as he strode forward.

”This is a welcome bell. Whenever a guest arrives, it rings, and I come out from the back to greet them!”

”Have you come to eat today, young friend?”

Old He said with a wide smile.

Lin Yi nodded. ”Yes, I came here specifically to eat!”

”Hahaha... In that case, please sit, young friend. What would you like to eat?” Old He laughed heartily.

Lin Yi didn’t stand on ceremony and chose a table to sit at.

”I’ll have a bowl of noodles, and a plate of Demon Beast Meat on the side!”

”Oh? It seems you’ve come prepared today, young friend?” Old He asked with a smile.

Lin Yi had experienced what a meal at Old He’s place was like.

The Demon Beast Meat here was all of an exceptionally high realm.

After eating that bowl of noodles with the Old Beggar last time, Lin Yi had benefited greatly.

Moreover, he suspected that his own realm had skyrocketed in such a short period.

And it was highly likely related to that bowl of noodles.

Although the effect of the Demon Beast Meat wasn’t to enhance his Qi and Blood...

...it was able to transform it.

Once Qi and Blood was transformed, it became Source Qi.

Source Qi was purer than Qi and Blood. As it flowed through his acupoints and entire body, it could improve his various bodily functions and attributes.

It was just that the amount of Source Qi converted was relatively small.

If he could convert all the Qi and Blood in his body into the purer Source Qi...

...Lin Yi’s combat prowess and attribute output would be a huge cut above other Martial Artists of the same rank.

With his combat power, he might even be able to fight a 4-star, or even a 5-star opponent.

Besides, Lin Yi had come today with another purpose in mind.

He had discovered the reason why Xiaoqi was able to advance its realm so quickly.

Besides being able to enter the Heart Spirit Domain of the Star River Qi Transformation Technique with Lin Yi to cultivate together...

...Demon Beast Meat also seemed to be a significant help in raising its realm.

It was just that finding higher-realm Demon Beast Meat on the market was very difficult.

Perhaps Old He’s place was the only place he could get it.

Lin Yi smiled. ”You’re too kind, Master He. With what little I have, I’ll probably go broke after this one meal!”

”Hahaha...”

”You’re a straightforward one, young friend. Alright, you two wait here, I’ll go get things ready!”

”You two?”

Old He was just about to leave when Lin Yi asked, puzzled.

At his words, Old He glanced back at Lin Yi and said with a light chuckle, ”Didn’t you bring a little one with you? Its scent can’t hide from me!”

Lin Yi: ”...”

Old He’s words made his heart skip a beat.

’I can’t believe Old He discovered Xiaoqi’s existence.’

For the past few days, Lin Yi had been carrying Xiaoqi with him wherever he went.

Even when visiting Chu Zhengxiong in the hospital, he hadn’t mentioned the egg from Wushan that Chu Zhengxiong had given him.

No one else knew whether that egg had hatched or not.

But today, Old He had discovered Xiaoqi just by its scent.

After Old He went back to the rear of the courtyard...

Lin Yi took Xiaoqi out of his pocket.

He placed it on the table and said with a smile, ”He found you!”

[...Killing intent... He has... a strong demon beast scent... He’s killed... many demon beasts...]

Xiaoqi conveyed these words to Lin Yi through their spiritual connection.

Apparently, when Old He had discovered Xiaoqi...

...Xiaoqi had also detected the killing intent on Old He.

As a Spirit Chef, Old He was frequently in contact with demon beasts.

Regardless of whether he had killed those demon beasts himself, the aura of death would naturally cling to him.

That’s why Xiaoqi was on alert.

Lin Yi smiled. ”Don’t be afraid. I’m here, no one can hurt you. The main reason I brought you here today was to let you try a demon beast feast!”

[Demon Beast Meat?]

”That’s right, Demon Beast Meat. The higher a Spirit Chef’s realm, the more of the demon beast’s original essence they can preserve, reducing any loss!”

”For those who eat the Demon Beast Meat, the effects will be that much better!”

After Lin Yi finished speaking...

...he didn’t get a response from Xiaoqi.

Perhaps those words were a bit too much for Xiaoqi to digest.

However, it only needed to understand one phrase, and that was enough.

Before long, Old He came out carrying a tray.

On it were a bowl of noodles and two small dishes.

As he placed them one by one in front of Lin Yi...

...Lin Yi frowned. ”Master He, isn’t this too much? I didn’t order this dish, did I?”

He looked at a side dish that resembled soy-braised beef.

His heart pounded.

The prices at Old He’s place were ridiculously high.

Mainly because the Demon Beast Meat was of a high realm, a side dish of ”braised beef” like this would probably cost several hundred thousand.

With his current savings, he was afraid he’d really go bankrupt after eating it.

Old He smiled. ”Don’t be alarmed, young friend. This is a complimentary side dish I’ve just developed. I was hoping you could help me taste-test it!”

”If it doesn’t taste good, or if something is lacking, you can tell me, and I’ll revise it!”

Hearing this, a great weight was finally lifted from Lin Yi’s heart.

’This is a favor I can do.’

Lin Yi picked up his chopsticks and first tasted the complimentary braised beef.

He chewed a few times and swallowed.

He found that there was no particular sensation.

And the effects brought on by the Demon Beast Meat weren’t very obvious either.

Even the texture was just like regular braised beef.

He looked up at Old He. ”This is just ordinary braised beef, isn’t it?”

At his words, Old He smiled and shook his head. ”This is 4-star Demon Beast Meat I just recently acquired!”

”Although the texture is similar to beef, it’s not beef!”

”How’s the taste?”

”Mm, it’s not bad. It’s delicious!” Lin Yi nodded.

He wasn’t just saying that because it was free.

This braised beef was the most delicious dish Lin Yi had ever eaten.

The meat was tender and fragrant.

As it slid down his throat, it felt like a clear spring, incredibly smooth.

Old He nodded with a smile. ”I’m glad you’re satisfied, young friend. You two enjoy your meal. I’m going to the back kitchen to tidy up!”

His gaze swept over Xiaoqi for a moment.

Then he smiled and walked toward the back kitchen.

”Here, try some of this braised beef!”

Once Old He left, Lin Yi quickly picked up a slice for Xiaoqi.

He tore it into small pieces.

Xiaoqi tilted its head, looked at it, and then swallowed it down.

The man and the bird quickly devoured everything in front of them.

It had to be said, Old He’s culinary skills were truly remarkable.

He could preserve the essence of the Demon Beast Meat while also creating an impeccable flavor.

He was far better than the Spirit Chef at the clinic.

If Old He was a 5th-rank Spirit Chef...

...the one at the clinic was probably a 3rd-rank at most.

The realm of a Spirit Chef was just like the Martial Arts Realm.

Even a single rank of difference resulted in a huge disparity in the food they made.

The amount of essence they could preserve was also a world of difference.

”Finished your meal, young friend?”

Just then, Old He emerged at the perfect moment.

’He must have surveillance cameras around here.’

’Was Old He’s trip to the back kitchen just an excuse? Is he actually watching me on a monitor?’

’Otherwise, how could he come out the very second I put down my chopsticks?’

’Even if it was a coincidence, it couldn’t be *this* coincidental, could it?’

Then again, considering the price of this meal, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for him to be monitoring things.

Lin Yi smiled, nodded, and took a bank card out of his Storage Ring.

”Master He, how much is it?”

”Five hundred!” Old He said with a smile.

”Huh? How much? Five hundred... million?”

Lin Yi felt a chill run down his spine.

He had less than three million in total on this card.

He had thought he could afford to splurge for one meal at Old He’s.

Who would have thought it would cost this much?

Old He smiled and shook his head. ”Not million. Yuan.”

”Five hundred yuan? Master He, that’s more than just a discount, isn’t it? If you do business like this, won’t you go bankrupt?” Lin Yi was a bit embarrassed.

This was clearly a gesture of goodwill toward him.

A meal worth over a million was being sold for just five hundred?

If Old He had the nerve to ask for so little, Lin Yi didn’t have the face to pay it.

”You’ve misunderstood, young friend. A 4-star, 5-star, or even 6-star demon beast is certainly more expensive.

At least several hundred thousand, or even over a million!”

”Moreover, as a demon beast’s realm increases, so do the factors that determine its price. There’s the texture and taste of the meat, the amount of cultivation it contains, the preservation of its essence, and the overall value it provides!”

”These all command different prices. What I just gave you wasn’t that much—just a few slices of meat. It doesn’t reach the level of an exorbitant price, so... five hundred.”

After Old He finished explaining...

...Lin Yi was still a bit dazed. Even if it was as he said...

...and the price of demon beasts varied greatly, there was no way it would only be five hundred yuan, right?

”Alright, Master He, I’ll pay you in cash!”

Lin Yi put away his bank card and took out five hundred in cash.

”Hahaha... Take care, young friend. Come again!”

”Okay!”

Lin Yi nodded and walked out of the courtyard.

On the way home, Lin Yi mulled over the meal he just had.

’No matter how you calculate it, it was definitely more than five hundred. Old He definitely went easy on the price.’

He just didn’t understand why Old He would do that.

’Does he have ulterior motives?’ Lin Yi couldn’t figure it out.

He always felt that Old He’s kindness toward him was inexplicable.

Giving him discounts, complimentary dishes...

Suddenly, a phone began to ring.

It pulled Lin Yi from his deep thoughts.

He glanced at the caller ID—it was an unknown number.

”Hello?”

”Hello, yes, is this Lin Yi?”

It was an unfamiliar man’s voice on the other end.

Lin Yi nodded. ”Yes...”

”Hello, I’m from We-Deliver-Anywhere Express. Your acceptance letter has arrived...”