A black business van carried several people, heading towards Shuize City.
Outside the window, the scenery flashed by: rows of tall buildings, passing vehicles, and pedestrians. Scenes of prosperity and liveliness continuously entered Meitisha's eyes.
She was somewhat surprised.
This was her first time serving as an "Envoy," but before taking on the role, Meitisha had read numerous ancient texts related to bordering worlds and heard many stories from "experienced veteran envoys." She had also undergone specialized pre-assignment training.
She had a conceptual understanding of what worlds plagued by mysterious arrivals and erosion might look like.
However, this concept was being overturned here on Blue Star.
The prosperity and tranquility outside the window showed little sign of disaster's impact. The faces of the people were not haggard or fearful. The towering skyscrapers and the vehicles that sped them along, called "cars," all indicated the extraordinariness of this world.
However, cars only surprised her a little.
In Meitisha's opinion, cars, while somewhat interesting, were too fragile. She could smash them without a sword, and they could only travel on smooth roads.
They were intricate but impractical contraptions.
What she found incomprehensible was the complete absence of any malevolent influence throughout the entire city, which contradicted what she had learned in her pre-assignment training.
Initially, Meitisha thought it was an isolated case, believing this was the "royal capital." As the business van left the city, she saw the highway along the way was deserted, which aligned with her common sense.
But when the vehicle entered Shuize Prefecture's capital city, Shuize City, this metropolis, several times more prosperous than Linshan City, once again shattered the common sense Meitisha had painstakingly gathered.
This was not mysterious!
Even a hundred times greater strength couldn't stop the spread of disaster. How had Blue Star managed it?!
"We're almost there. Our destination is on the mountain; it's one of our organization's important bases," introduced Shi Yunxi, who had taken on the guiding role.
Upon hearing this, Meitisha looked up and saw buildings nestled amidst swirling clouds.
Pavilions, towers, and upturned eaves—this was an architectural style vastly different from their Sword Blossom City. Meitisha couldn't grasp the intricacies, but the beauty of art was universal. She only felt it was exquisite and elegant.
Blue Star, indeed, was an elegant world.
"I am looking forward to it," she said.
"Today's banquet will satisfy you. Our Donghuang is renowned as a country of delicacies~" Compared to Meitisha, Shi Yunxi's enthusiasm was no less. "It's also thanks to you that we can dine with the mentor today."
Anna nodded vigorously in agreement, "We're so lucky." In comparison, mission points were entirely unimportant; she'd be willing to pay to be here.
Hearing this, Meitisha blinked, "Are opportunities to dine with your mentor rare?"
She made a comparison.
For her to dine with the Dean, the opportunities were certainly slim. But if it were a Vice Dean or a group leader, there were quite a few chances.
Meitisha's mind gradually formed an image of a reclusive mentor.
She pondered how to approach such a figure to impress them. How many times Sword Blossom City could win in this collaboration would depend on the upcoming dinner... banquet.
As for the meal itself? It was certainly not important.
However, since it was called a banquet, she would symbolically partake. She only hoped the food of this world would suit her palate.
...
The setting sun gradually descended towards the western horizon, its dim, golden afterglow casting a veil over the buildings nestled in the clouds, further enhancing the restaurant's exquisite beauty.
The restaurant was formerly part of the Shui Lan Resort and was already positioned as high-end. During several construction phases of the Shuize Base, it underwent some renovations, adding a touch of mystique to the original architecture.
Green vines crept across the gray brick walls, interspersed with blooming flowers, weaving together to form flame-like patterns.
The restaurant's main entrance was removed and rebuilt, now standing four meters tall. Even a robust individual like a Bright Light Mage could enter normally, as could some peculiar creatures.
The restaurant here was still small, ultimately limited by the base's scope and the building itself, preventing significant expansion.
The new hotel being constructed at the Pacific Base considered various future scenarios, aiming to make guests feel at home.
Meitisha indeed felt the thoughtfulness of the restaurant's owner.
The food of this world might be quite good.
The thought flashed by. Meitisha's most anticipated and nerve-wracking moment was still the meeting with the mentor.
Soon, she met him.
A young figure in white robes pushed the door open. He was nothing like the scholarly elder or the reclusive hermit she had imagined.
It was somewhat, no, very unexpected.
But when her eyes met his, eyes as brilliant as stars, Meitisha's heart pounded. She lowered her head as if escaping, then looked up again, "Esteemed Mentor, how... how do you do?"
For some reason, she felt nervous.
It was as if she were facing a figure as important as the Dean.
Perhaps it was because he was a non-human, of a higher status than herself. Or perhaps it was the mentor's unforgettable presence, a figure one could never forget after a single glance.
Meitisha regretted that her mind was buzzing so much that she could barely recall the content she had prepared.
"Miss Meitisha, please sit and try our Blue Star's signature delicacies."
"Thank you for your hospitality, esteemed sir."
She remembered her manners, placing her hand on her chest and bowing slightly to express her gratitude.
With nothing else to think of at the moment, Meitisha followed Blue Star's customs and began to eat. She discovered an advantage in discussing while eating: the pace wasn't as rapid, allowing her ample time to think and, incidentally, to calm her current nervousness.
Breathe in... breathe out...
Calm down!
Meitisha silently told herself.
At this moment, the server began presenting the dishes.
For an outsider, ah, for an external guest, these dishes were all unfamiliar. But of course, they couldn't trouble the mentor to explain. Shi Yunxi, Little Shi, introduced them to Meitisha.
"This is the cold appetizer platter with marinated dishes, Bai Zhan Ji (white-cut chicken), and spicy and sour black fungus."
"This is Shuizhu Yu (fish in chili oil), this is Mala Xiaolongxia (spicy crayfish), this is Kaishui Baicai (boiled cabbage), and also Squirrel Guiyu (sweet and sour mandarin fish), Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, and so on."
Anna and Polly, both foreigners, only half-understood. Meitisha, an outsider, understood even less.
She couldn't comprehend the meaning of many dish names, and there were countless ingredients she didn't recognize. Meitisha became bewildered halfway through the introductions.
She hadn't expected Blue Star's cuisine to be so rich and diverse.
Moreover, these dishes were exquisitely prepared, with attractive colors, looking very appetizing. Enticing aromas wafted from them.
Unknowingly, Meitisha began to anticipate them.
She picked up the eating utensils called "chopsticks." Following the local customs, she believed using Blue Star's eating tools would effectively promote cooperation.
Chopsticks were a bit strange to use, but they weren't difficult for Meitisha, an elite from Sword Blossom City and a skilled martial artist.
From unfamiliarity to gradual familiarity, Meitisha only took a short while.
She instinctively applied her highly efficient learning ability, picked up a piece of food, and elegantly brought it to her mouth. Her eyes suddenly widened, and a shimmering ripple appeared in her gaze.
"My heavens, this is truly a delicacy from the mortal realm! It feels as if my soul is about to ascend!"
"Try this dish next."
"This is also an ultimate delicacy."
"Then try this dish."
"Mmm, delicious."
...
"Delicious!"
...
"Super delicious!"
Initially, Meitisha used elegant and flowery language to describe the explosion of flavor in her mouth. But soon, she no longer had the time or capacity to construct such phrases. Her eyes were only focused on these dishes, each one a different taste, yet all of them surprisingly captivating, constantly stimulating her taste buds.
Her brain refused to think; it was all dedicated to memorizing these delicacies.
A thousand words converged into two:
"Delicious!"
In Sword Blossom City, the banquet where she had the honor of dining with the Dean did not taste as good as this.
No, it was far from comparable!
She had also asked.
Fish, pork, beef—some of these ingredients were also available in Sword Blossom City. But how could they not be prepared so deliciously?
She picked up a piece of sashimi, like crystal, dipped it in the mysterious sauce, and took a bite. The fresh, tender, and delicious meat juice immediately burst in her mouth. Paired with the taste of the magical sauce, Meitisha felt as though her soul was ascending, and she couldn't help but let out a moan.
She managed to restrain herself in the end.
Despite her strong desire to gobble it down, habits etched deep into her soul allowed her to maintain her final shred of elegance.
However, the gradually skilled chopsticks in her hands became a blur, and the dishes visibly decreased in quantity.
After a while,
When Meitisha let out a slightly ungraceful burp, she was astonishingly surprised to find...
She was actually full.
How could she be full? These dishes looked substantial, but ingredients from worlds like Blue Star were considered low-grade and shouldn't contain much energy.
With her triple awakening and a body and stomach more than ten to twenty times stronger than ordinary people, even multiple times the amount wouldn't make her feel stuffed.
Logically, it should be so, but how could she be almost full after eating for such a short time?
Darn it!
She really wanted to keep eating!
Wait, what she should be thinking about now isn't whether she's full, but rather...
After eating a little and her brain returning to rationality, Meitisha's heart suddenly skipped a beat. She abruptly realized an important matter—she was at a banquet with the purpose of discussing cooperation with the Blue Star mentor.
But what had she said the entire time?
She hadn't asked about this food or that food. The most frequent word was "delicious."
How could she forget the main purpose of the banquet while eating?!
Ah, ah, ah—!
Meitisha lowered her head, wanting to cover her face, feeling utterly embarrassed.
What was worse, would her embarrassing display ruin the cooperation? She heard that people from Sword Blossom City are not normally like this!
Embarrassing?
Fang You didn't think so. Miss Meitisha's eating posture was still very elegant, even more so than a certain Yi Yue Luxi.
He found it good.
This just showed the charm of Blue Star cuisine, and he wouldn't blame Meitisha.
"Only delicacies and love are worth cherishing. Young lady, there's no need to blame yourself. Enjoy yourself to the fullest."
...
...
Meitisha enjoyed some more.
She discovered that this mentor genuinely didn't blame her. Seeing her eat with delight, the esteemed mentor also showed a happy smile.
He's a good person!
And so,
Meitisha went from feeling eight-tenths full to twelve-tenths full. She patted her slightly bulging stomach, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.
Delicacies are to be cherished, no need for self-recrimination, but...
She had unknowingly eaten too much and was too full! This was too ungraceful!
(Covers face)!
"Thank you very much for your hospitality. This is the most delicious meal I have ever had."
"If you like it, Miss Meitisha can stay here. If nothing else, the food here is plentiful, and it's not just what's available today. We have many more varieties of cuisine on Blue Star."
"Really? There's more?!!"
Her eyes widened. After hesitating for a long time, her face full of reluctance, she gritted her teeth and refused, "No, this is too extravagant." She was from Sword Blossom City and firmly stood on Sword Blossom's interests. She couldn't accept benefits from Blue Star.
She had to restrain herself!
"It's not extravagant. These are all ordinary foods from Blue Star."
Hearing the mentor say this, Shi Yunxi also nodded, "Although we don't eat like this every meal, often it's just unnecessary to make such a fuss. We can definitely afford to eat, and it's not expensive at all."
Are the lives of your Blue Star people this luxurious?!
Meitisha felt envious and couldn't resist the "sugar-coated bullets." After all, since this wasn't an expensive item, eating a little shouldn't be a problem, right? She was an envoy sent for win-win cooperation. It would bring benefits to Blue Star. Naturally, she would stand from Sword Blossom City's perspective and strive for more benefits for Sword Blossom City and the academy.
So, she would eat. Perhaps eating a lot would make the cooperation easier to discuss.
This was the custom of Blue Star. In the words of Blue Star people, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
Meitisha convinced herself.
Seeing her transformed into a shape of culinary delight, Fang You also gave himself a mental thumbs-up.
Praising his Great Foodie Empire, it was great that he could "conquer" Meitisha, an envoy from Sword Blossom City, with just a bit of food.
Even if it didn't work, he had no loss.
As he said, these were just ordinary delicacies. Even if some high-grade ingredients were used, such as crystal corn kernels, meat from the meat fields, etc., they weren't actually that expensive.
Ordinary people couldn't afford them, but elites like Anna and Shi Yunxi could eat them daily without issue.
These ingredients simply contained more energy, slightly enhancing the flavor. He still had more precious ingredients in his "Flame Inheritance"—those that could increase dimensions and provide buffs—which he hadn't brought out.
After eating heartily, the conversation also went smoothly.
—At least for Fang You.
He easily obtained a lot of information from Meitisha. This information might be widely circulated among the Great Oases, considered "common knowledge" for oasis elites, but for Blue Star, it was extremely precious.
Normal emerging powers had no channel to obtain it, and even if they did, it would come at a great cost.
Information about the mysterious realm carried significant weight.
But perhaps it was because of the delicious meal, or perhaps because of the potential and strength Blue Star displayed, that Meitisha revealed much of the information without much hesitation.
Most of it Fang You had heard before, allowing for mutual verification.
There was also a small amount of newer information.
"Indeed. Traveling from the deep layers of the Void Realm to the shallow layer is easier than from the shallow layer to the deep layer," Meitisha said. "It's like water flowing downhill. As long as a ritual is set up and an opening is created, one can descend along the flow of water."
"However, in areas bordering shallow layers, there's world repulsion. Awakened individuals with higher life levels find it harder to descend; they will be pushed back."
"Therefore, envoys from Sword Blossom City, including those from other Great Oases, are usually elites like me with triple awakenings. Only in cases of major situations, or when world repulsion weakens, will figures as important as our Vice Dean come."
She said.
Of course, she didn't mention the specifics of the "descent ritual," as that involved high-level information.
Unless purchased, but Fang You had no intention of buying.
Their Flame Inheritance didn't need it. The "descent rituals" of Great Oasis powers weren't particularly advanced. The truly top-tier and powerful ones were held by the evil god factions.
When Flame Inheritance needed it, they would likely have decent ritualistic methods by then.
He didn't buy, and Meitisha was slightly disappointed.
Another sales pitch failed.
Earlier, she had subtly promoted many "products," such as awakening potions, awakening secret techniques, awakening rituals, methods to reduce pollution, and secrets of the malevolent, all sorts of knowledge and intelligence, but none sold.
"We already have these and don't need them. Miss Meitisha, perhaps you can think of something else your Sword Blossom City has? There's no need to rush if you can't think of anything. Friendship remains even if business fails."
"Similarly, Miss Meitisha can also take a look at Blue Star's special products."
Meitisha was exasperated.
Which oasis power had advanced ahead of them and sold so much knowledge! Related to awakening, related to pollution, related to malevolent beings, they sold it all! How much had you earned from Blue Star?!
The thought of arriving late and losing significant profits to their neighbors made Meitisha's chest heave, her breathing rapid.
At this moment, a server handed over a thick leather-bound book.
"This book records many of Blue Star's special products. Miss Meitisha, perhaps you can flip through it."
Hearing this, she opened the book.
It was like a recipe book, containing not only the names of the specialties but also illustrations and descriptions, making them easy to understand at a glance.
After a brief look, she discovered that Blue Star's preparations were too thorough! Although their Sword Blossom City claimed to have traded with many emerging powers and visited many worlds not yet consumed, compared to Blue Star, they seemed like amateurs.
This wouldn't do!
They had to learn!
As she thought this, her gaze fell upon the exquisite food items, and she paused.
Perhaps she should also bring back some delicacies for the Dean to try.
...
Meitisha, representing Sword Blossom City, finally managed to push one "product" that wasn't rejected.
—The Bright Light Lantern.
This was a mist-dispelling tool made primarily from Bright Light wood as fuel. Compared to the less technologically advanced Bright Light Torches and Bright Light Lanterns, the Lantern had a significantly higher level of technical content and far superior effects.
The conventional mist-dispelling range was increased from 50 meters to 100 meters. Simultaneously, within the light's coverage, the effect of repelling malevolent beings was stronger, along with advantages such as durability and long fuel endurance.
Shi Yunxi and the others had personally experienced these benefits.
Therefore, Fang You intended to purchase the manufacturing process for this lantern.
He believed that given time, Master Wang Chui could figure out the manufacturing process, but Flame Inheritance's most critical resource was time. Old Master Wang's orders and scientific research were already scheduled for months later. If the Bright Light Lantern could be bought, it should be bought.
It wasn't expensive, anyway.
If it were expensive, he would find another seller.
This was only a preliminary intention. Meitisha did not have the lantern's manufacturing blueprints in hand; she needed to contact the academy for their opinion.
Compared to Blue Star's intentions, Meitisha's eyes were glued to the list, like a girl with a shopping bag entering a mall, her eyes filled with things she wanted to buy.
There were too many.
There were many foods, even the production processes for some delicacies. Of course, those were very expensive. The price of normal blueprints and recipes was hundreds of times that of the items themselves, let alone Blue Star delicacies. Recipes for these "low unit price but easily mass-produced" items started at ten thousand times the cost of the food.
Meitisha understood and was also very tempted.
There were even more recipes for delicacies she craved that were not listed in this book of Blue Star specialties. Those might be Blue Star's secret delicacies.
However, despite her craving, Meitisha did not have the capital to buy everything.
She could only swallow her saliva and note down the tempting Blue Star specialties before reporting them to the Dean.
...
Void Realm - Shallow Layer bordering Blue Star.
A black tower stood here, separating the dense gray mist. Few malevolent beings could intrude upon this peculiar place.
Inside the tower, a young girl sat on a high stone table, dangling her flawless white jade-like feet, gazing into the distance.
Suddenly,
She put on her boots, donned her robe, and walked to the entrance of the high tower. She greeted the black-haired girl approaching from afar with a smile, "You're finally here. So, how shall we trade this time?"
The two were quite familiar with each other. Besides the first two times, subsequent trades were all handled by Ms. An on their behalf.
The traded items were diverse.
There were basic potion recipes, news from the Void Realm, information about oasis powers, and so on.
What she bought from Blue Star were mostly batch-produced foods, and a few recipes. For example, one recipe called "Tea Egg" had earned her considerable profit.
The key was that it was delicious!
Deliciousness was, of course, the most important thing. Delicacies are to be cherished.
"Here, this is our Black Stone Alliance's latest item list. There's something you want in here~" she said with a smile.
But An Jianyou's expression remained neutral, "Just say it directly. After you're done, I still need to contact the mentor."
"Boring!"
Yi Yue Luxi pouted. "It's this one, the Bright Light Lantern. It can effectively dispel gray mist. For you who explore and travel in the Void Realm, its importance needs no explanation, especially with the gray mist tide about to engulf us."
She extended her finger, "For this price~"
Having traded multiple times, there was a tacit understanding between the two parties regarding pricing.
They rarely haggled or deliberately quoted a high price.
An Jianyou listened to the number, remained silent for a moment, and said, "Tell me about the next item."
"Huh? The next item."
Yi Yue Luxi's eyes widened. "Didn't you say you wanted this type of item?"
"That's correct, but we've already bought it from another oasis."
It was as if she were saying, "We couldn't buy soy sauce today, so we went to another store," delivered with casualness.
It was casual for An Jianyou.
But not for Yi Yue Luxi.
She was astonished, she was stunned, she widened her eyes.
"I was here first!"
-- Author's Notes --
This is a two-in-one chapter. Apologies for the late update. Ah~~~