The First Venerable of the Prosperous Age

Ning Konglou leaped through the air and landed a few feet away from the two, clasping his hands in greeting: "Brother Heng, Brother Zong."

"Ha, I wondered which expert had arrived, it turns out to be Brother Ning." Heng Jiuzhou walked up with a grin, but stopped after taking two steps, and said in a silly tone, "Look at my brain, I forgot that Brother Ning doesn't like people getting close, hehe."

Ning Konglou smiled slightly, without saying a word.

Heng Jiuzhou nodded again, "Indeed, Brother Ning can already fly through the air, which is a genuine Class A strength. He's different from us rough martial artists. It seems I need to work harder too."

"They're all just empty titles. If I were to actually fight Brother Heng, I would likely be in grave danger," Ning Konglou replied politely.

Heng Jiuzhou laughed loudly, "Hahaha, Brother Ning, you're too kind. We'll know the result in the competition a month from now."

Zong Wanli suddenly interrupted, "Alright, enough with the pleasantries. Ning Konglou, is Prince Xue still in your Zhexianlou right now?"

"No, Prince Xue has already left."

Upon hearing this, Zong Wanli was startled and exclaimed, "What did you say? Prince Xue ordered me to ambush and kill them here, but before I could succeed, he left on his own?"

A cold glint of murderous intent flashed in Ning Konglou's eyes as he said calmly, "Has Brother Zong not killed that little monk yet?"

Zong Wanli pointed at Heng Jiuzhou and roared, "If it weren't for this fool stopping me, I..."

"Hmph, no wonder the two gentlemen are fighting so fiercely here, it turns out it's all over a child."

"Zong Wanli and Heng Jiuzhou, one filled with anger, the other with a smile," Ning Konglou said, turning his hands behind his back. "So, Prince Xue deliberately tried to stop me in the tower, intending to send Brother Zong to kill him?"

Zong Wanli shook his head helplessly: "No wonder Prince Xue was so at ease to leave. In this Luocheng, the only one who could and was willing to save that monk was Ning Konglou, who was trapped in the Zhexian Tower. But who would have thought that such a fool would suddenly appear and ruin everything?"

"To be honest, I've only come here to confirm. If he's dead, he's dead; but if he's still alive, then I'll have to take him back."

Ning Konglou's last sentence sounded more like an order than a discussion.

Heng Jiuzhou exclaimed with delight, "He's alive! He's alive! Take him back quickly!" Then he turned to Zong Wanli and said, "Brother, since that Prince Xue has already left, let that kid go."

Zong Wanli lowered his head in deep thought. He knew in his heart that if these two insisted on taking it, he had no chance of winning.

Seeing that Zong Wanli hesitated, Ning Konglou said again, "Brother Zong, don't worry. This little monk doesn't have much time left. In the coming days, he will just stay in the Zhexian Tower. Prince Xue will not know that he is still alive."

Seeing that Ning Konglou was being so polite, even though Wanli wasn't stupid, continuing to press the matter would be bad for everyone.

Thinking of this, Zong Wanli coldly looked at Ning Konglou and said, "I hope you remember your words." Then he turned and left.

"Brother! Why are you leaving so soon? Stay a little longer!" Heng Jiuzhou said anxiously.

As he walked, Zong Wanli said, "We'll see each other again soon."

Watching Zong Wanli's departing figure, Heng Jiuzhou laughed and said, "Hehe, Brother Ning, you know how my brother is. Since you're both in Luocheng, I hope you can be more understanding."

Ning Konglou smiled and said, "Of course. I wonder what your plans are next, brother? Why don't you come to my place so I can repay your kindness?"

"I appreciate your kind words. To be honest, I have learned a lot from this battle. I have decided to go to Shaolin Temple on Mount Song again to have a good exchange and spar with those old guys in the Bodhidharma Academy, so as to prepare for the next competition."

"Since that's the case, I won't insist you stay." After saying goodbye, Heng Jiuzhou carried his halberd and leisurely headed west.

After watching the two leave, Ning Konglou silently turned to Qiaoxiang Pavilion, sighed, and then went inside.

The people inside had either fled or scattered, and there was hardly anyone left.

A foul stench quickly wafted over again. "That's it, it's that kid's smell." Ning Konglou lifted the red curtain.

Upon entering the inner banquet hall, they saw Lu Xiaosan sitting alone at a large table, upon which were laid out a colorful array of dishes from various cuisines: soups and stews, meat and vegetables, all steaming hot and freshly cooked—the very Luoyang Water Banquet that Prince Xue had requested.

Lu Xiaosan was holding chopsticks, picking up a bit here and a bit there, and was about to pick up a meatball when the plate suddenly floated leisurely into the sky, carrying a green light.

In his haste, Lu Xiaosan reached out to grab the meatballs, but the plate of meatballs had shifted slightly and floated to a spot that Lu Xiaosan couldn't reach no matter what.

Before anyone could react, all twenty-four dishes on the table were trampled and floated into the air.

Lu Xiaosan turned his head and said angrily, "Hey, put it down now, I'm not full yet, or I'll beat you up."

"The outside world is in such a mess, why is the cook still here?" Ning Konglou couldn't help but ask.

"The chef in the kitchen said that cooking is a very sacred thing that requires complete dedication. These commotions outside have no effect on him at all. Unless you go up and kill him, you can't stop him from finishing this dish."

Ning Konglou, his face grave and thoughtful, slowly asked, "Did he cook well?"

Lu Xiaosan gave a thumbs up and praised, "Delicious! That Wang guy really knows how to pick a spot."

Does it taste as good as mine?

Lu Xiaosan's expression changed in an instant, "How should I know? I've never eaten anything you made."

Ning Konglou glanced sideways, "You've never eaten this before?"

"Oh, so the porridge I eat every day is the Luoyang Water Banquet you make? Am I a pig?" Lu Xiaosan said.

Ning Konglou placed another plate of eight-treasure rice in front of him, examined it carefully, and said, "This color... hmm, I can take it back and study it."

Lu Xiaosan looked at the vegetables in the sky, licked his lips, and said, "Okay, okay, put them down and I'll put them back for you."

"You only have two hands, how can you hold all twenty-four dishes?" With that, he gathered the twenty-four dishes together and held them in his hands.

"Hey! If you carry it back like this, it'll get cold and the flavor will get mixed up. What are you still researching?" Lu Xiaosan retorted sarcastically, "You're a chef, surely you understand this basic principle?"

Ning Konglou ignored it, flipped his wrist and clenched it into a fist. When he opened it again, green energy surged from his hand, like green flames, which were evenly burning under each dish, and the already thick soup inside was bubbling up again.

Lu Xiaosan exclaimed with his mouth agape, "My goodness! You...you can play with fire, and it's green fire!"

Ning Konglou said seriously, "This is a wave! I just made it flow at full speed, it's not a flame as you think."

"Oh, so you fly, and you control things using this green wave too?"

Ning Konglou looked at the Luoyang Water Banquet in his hands and nodded, "Not bad."

Lu Xiaosan stomped her foot excitedly and hurriedly asked, "Then...when can I have a wave to use?"

Ning Konglou was engrossed in studying the Luoyang Water Banquet, remaining silent. Lu Xiaosan pressed on, "Hey, hey! I'm asking you a question."

Ning Konglou rolled his eyes at him, "You'll naturally be able to use it once you reach Grade A."

"Grade A? What grade am I now?" Lu Xiaosan asked doubtfully.

Ning Konglou sniffed the food, his face showing disgust, because what he smelled was the stench emanating from Lu Xiaosan.

Ning Konglou shook his head helplessly and asked, "Has the money been paid?"

Lu Xiaosan casually took a sip of his drink and said, "The waiter's all gone, how are we going to pay?"

"Hmph, this chef is not bad. His dishes are indeed worth studying." Ning Konglou added the cost of the plates and left some loose silver on the table.

"Hey, wait for me!" Lu Xiaosan hurriedly followed him out.

Outside the Fragrant Pavilion, Ning Konglou stood with one hand behind his back and the other holding a dish. He turned his face to the side and said in an almost commanding tone, "Take advantage of the darkness and go back quickly. From now until the time you die, you are not allowed to show your face in public again."

After Ning Konglou finished speaking, he left Lu Xiaosan, who looked puzzled, and floated away with the plate of food.

What should I do? Should I go back and continue to suffer? But if I don't go back, what will happen to my little girl?

Thinking of this, Lu Xiaosan clenched his fists and decided to return to the Immortal Pavilion.

Halfway there, they suddenly heard someone shout, "There's a ghost! Help! Someone help me!" The voice was soft and delicate; it was a girl.