C44 Special Methods

The proprietor of the restaurant was the closest to Chu Yan, and thus had the clearest view of him.

He watched, wide-eyed, as Chu Yan effortlessly chewed through the tough meat of a wild beast—meat so resilient that even the chef's deboning knife was useless and required an axe to cut—into fine pieces.

Chu Yan's neat row of white teeth seemed to function like a guillotine, sending shivers down the proprietor's spine.

The proprietor knew well that while the wild beast meat was a potent source of strength for warriors, its toughness made it notoriously hard to digest.

Their restaurant's large cauldron had to boil continuously for two full days and nights just to tenderize a single piece of this wild beast meat.

Even then, an average martial artist would need at least a week to fully digest such a meal.

Yet, the young man before him appeared to have a magical stomach, capable of devouring any dish set before him like a whirlwind, leaving no trace behind and showing no signs of satiety.

Chu Yan tackled a crab as large as a washbasin, cleaning out not only the meat but also crunching the shell to bits, much to the astonishment of the onlookers.

The proprietor had never witnessed such a spectacle and was at a loss for words to express his amazement.

This young man was nothing short of a monster!

He was no mere human; he was a humanoid dire beast, and an even more formidable one at that!

After watching for some time, the proprietor furrowed his brow, instructed the waiter to attend to the other customers, and then approached Chu Yan with a respectful gesture, inquiring, "Excuse me, young master?"

"Hmm?" Chu Yan turned to face him.

In that brief moment, the proprietor felt an intimidating presence in Chu Yan's gaze that made his heart skip a beat. He quickly introduced himself, "I am the proprietor of the Immortal Guest Restaurant."

Chu Yan, slightly annoyed by the interruption but recognizing the man's position as the proprietor and considering that he was dining in his establishment, refrained from sending him away. Instead, he gave a slight nod and asked, "What can I do for you?"

"I'd like to inquire, young master, are you seeking wild animal meat to boost your vitality and fortify your physique?" the shopkeeper inquired.

Chu Yan gave the man a dismissive glance. It was clear the shopkeeper had more to say, so Chu Yan simply grunted in acknowledgment.

Unfazed by Chu Yan's indifference, the shopkeeper smiled and asked, "May I sit here, Young Noble?"

"It's your establishment, isn't it? What's the big secret?" Chu Yan responded bluntly.

"Since the Young Master is so direct, I'll get to the point," the shopkeeper said, his eyes sparkling as he took a seat beside Chu Yan. "Since you're looking to replenish your energy and blood, are you familiar with Blood Marrow?"

"I am," Chu Yan nodded, eyeing the shopkeeper. "It's a premium supplement for martial artists, available at the Wan Hai Chamber of Commerce. I was just there."

"Do you know, young master, that Blood Marrow isn't just the essence of a dire beast's blood, but also contains a variety of medicinal herbs, making it far more effective for revitalizing one's energy and blood than simply consuming wild animal meat?" the shopkeeper pressed on.

Chu Yan paused, fixing the shopkeeper with a half-smile. "You're well aware of Blood Marrow's steep price. If I could afford it, why would I opt for raw flesh? Are you implying you have a connection to get it at a lower price?"

His words were meant to send the shopkeeper away, to avoid any further disturbance. However, upon hearing them, the shopkeeper leaned in closer, his voice a conspiratorial whisper, "What if I do have a way?"

In that moment, Chu Yan's gaze sharpened, piercing the shopkeeper with intensity.

Suddenly, the shopkeeper felt the air around them grow heavy, as if an invisible force had seized his throat, leaving him gasping for breath.

Fear flooded the shopkeeper's heart. This young man before him was far more formidable than he had anticipated, his presence overwhelmingly powerful.

Chu Yan quickly retracted his imposing presence, allowing the shopkeeper to breathe a sigh of relief as fresh air filled his lungs once more.

Casting a brief glance at the man, Chu Yan inquired coolly, "Oh? Explain."

Now, the shopkeeper was far more cautious in his approach, not daring to be as flippant as he had been moments earlier. He straightened up, scanning the area to ensure no one was eavesdropping, before whispering, "My lord, I'll be straight with you—I have access to blood essence at a much lower price. It may not be quite as potent as what the Wan Hai Chamber of Commerce offers, but the affordability is unparalleled." As he spoke, he gestured the number six with his hand, indicating the cost was a mere six hundred Spirit Money per bottle.

He paused briefly before adding, "The price is barely a third of what the Wan Hai Chamber of Commerce charges, yet its efficacy is guaranteed to be at least half, no, sixty percent as effective!"

Chu Yan did some quick mental math and realized that if the shopkeeper wasn't deceiving him, this was indeed a viable option.

Despite being tempted, Chu Yan's expression remained impassive, his tone steady as he probed, "And why should I trust you?"

"You're not from Evergreen Town, are you, young master?" the shopkeeper deftly shifted the conversation, a smile playing on his lips.

"Are you suggesting I look easily fooled?" Chu Yan's eyes narrowed slightly, emitting a warning signal.

The shopkeeper caught on to the danger immediately and quickly gestured with his hands, "Please, Young Noble, hear me out before you judge. Besides, have you ever heard of a con artist owning a stable business? I'm just an ordinary man, not even a martial artist, running this tavern. And you, sir, are a martial artist. Why would I risk my successful establishment to deceive you, only to forsake it all and flee?"

"Mm, continue," Chu Yan nodded, indicating for the shopkeeper to proceed with his explanation.

Recognizing Chu Yan as a potential patron, the shopkeeper went on to elaborate in detail.

Listening to the shopkeeper's account, Chu Yan learned that Blood Marrow was not exclusively sold by the Wan Hai Chamber of Commerce. In Evergreen Town, however, the Blood Marrow offered by Wan Hai was renowned for its superior quality.

Other families and merchants also dealt in this precious substance. But in Evergreen Town, the Wan Hai Chamber of Commerce was the pioneer in selling Blood Marrow. These other groups initially purchased Blood Marrow from Wan Hai, then deconstructed it to understand the exotic beast blood and medicinal components. They would then replicate it using similar ingredients. As a result, their versions lacked the same legitimacy and were relegated to the shadows, sold only in secret.

For those looking to acquire this type of Blood Marrow, the place to go was the old town ruins, situated right beside Evergreen Town.