C217 The Weaponry of the Hu Family

A verdant lake, reminiscent of a jade gemstone, came into view.

Above, the sky was a brilliant blue, dotted with fluffy white clouds.

Scattered around the lake's edge were a handful of tents.

Over the bonfire, wild rabbits and carps were skewered, roasting and releasing an enticing aroma of meat.

A lively group of men and women gathered around the fire, their laughter and chatter filling the air.

Yu Yuan and Chen Qingyan paused, taken aback by the sight of the lake and the merry band of people.

They were not far from Chilly Wind Valley. Had the miasma cloud and Jin Fann really not passed this way?

Yu Yuan understood that once the entity was free, it would instinctively consume any flesh and blood creature in its path to grow stronger.

That's why he was determined to subdue it quickly, to prevent it from wreaking havoc in the Jade Peak Mountains.

"Cultivators from the Kingdom of Rewia."

From a distance, Chen Qingyan recognized the insignia on their shoulders, identifying them as members of the Hu family. "The Hu family."

Yu Yuan scrutinized them more closely, noting the golden lion head badges on their shoulders and their similar attire.

"The Kingdom of Rewia, the Hu family..."

He connected the dots in his mind, taking careful mental note of their identities.

The Hu family was renowned across the Profound Sky Continent, not for their alchemy, but for their mastery in refining equipment.

The Hu family's lands in the Kingdom of Rewia were arid and desolate, with frequent volcanic eruptions that had driven away the common folk.

There, the Hu family had dedicated generations to perfecting the craft of equipment refining. Rumor had it they even received guidance from the Artifact Sect on the Quietus Continent, maintaining a close bond with them.

The Artifact Sect was celebrated for their refining skills, yet they didn't quite measure up to the Medicine God Sect.

Despite being a hub for refiners, the Artifact Sect had yet to prove they were the ultimate masters of their craft.

Thus, even with many refiners in their ranks, the Artifact Sect's standing in the art of refining was not on par with the Medicine God Sect, whose leaders were hailed as the preeminent alchemists of their time.

Generations of dedication have cemented the Medicine God Sect's unparalleled status in the realm of alchemy, rendering it unshakable by any sect or individual.

"Who might you be?" At the lakeside, a tall, robust young man with a long saber slung across his back, clad in black, rose abruptly. His face alight with excitement, he fixed his gaze on Chen Qingyan and asked, "Could it be, could it be Miss Chen from the Luan Bird Empire?"

Surrounding a campfire, the Hu family's men and practitioners tearing into rabbit and fish meat suddenly rose to their feet.

All eyes converged on Chen Qingyan in an instant.

Their gazes brimmed with excitement, enthusiasm, and unabashed veneration. Chen Qingyan was the goddess they envisioned!

Yu Yuan was taken aback by such adoration and couldn't help but cast a curious glance her way.

Chen Qingyan shot him a look and, with a light chuckle, addressed the lakeside crowd, "Yes, it's me."

"It really is you!"

"Of the Luan Bird Empire, the Chen Imperial Family, Chen Qingyan!"

"The direct disciple of that esteemed master!"

"To think we'd have the good fortune to encounter such a storied prodigy here in the Jade Peak!"

The Hu family's arrivals were abuzz with excitement, their enthusiasm palpable.

The saber-bearing young man introduced himself, "I'm Hu Hann, from the Hu family of the Kingdom of Rewia. We've come to Jade Peak at the invitation of the Medicine Sect. Our family is looking to purchase some pills from them. The Medicine Sect also commissioned us to craft some pill furnaces and other artifacts, which we're delivering."

Hu Hann gestured to them, "If you're willing, why not join us for a bite?"

Before Chen Qingyan could respond, Yu Yuan had already nodded and stepped forward.

Approaching Hu Hann, Yu Yuan paused and inquired, "Brother Hu, how long have you been camped out here?"

"We've been here since last night, planning to head to the Medicine Sect after our meal," Hu Hann replied, eyeing him with curiosity as he reached out to a fellow guest.

Understanding the gesture, the guest passed a glistening rabbit leg to Hu Hann.

Hu Hann, in turn, offered it to Yu Yuan, who accepted it without reservation, took a bite, and praised it before asking, somewhat indistinctly, "Have you come across an elder from the Ghoul Glyph Sect? Also, have you seen a miasma cloud drifting overhead? It's about ten acres in size and multicolored..."

Grease trickled from the corner of his mouth, his oral cavity stuffed with chunks of rabbit meat, clearly indicating a ravenous hunger.

"Who might this be?"

Within the ranks of the Hu family, a white-faced elder with a flowing beard observed Yu Yuan devouring his meal with gusto, then turned his gaze to Chen Qingyan.

At that moment, Chen Qingyan approached with a look of resignation in her eyes.

"He's a friend of mine," she responded offhandedly.

The Hu family members immediately showed reverence!

To be called a friend by Chen Qingyan meant the individual was either a distinguished personage from the Luan Bird Empire or a practitioner from one of the Heavenly Source Continent's esteemed upper sects.

"It seems this young man has quite a taste for the food I've prepared," a vivacious young woman from the Hu family said, approaching with a beaming smile.

She carried a silver platter that held two freshly roasted fish and an entire wild rabbit, their skins crisped to a golden brown, dripping with savory juices that tantalized the senses.

Offering the platter, she said, "Here you go, there's plenty more where that came from."

"Thank you," Yu Yuan replied, accepting the plate before turning back to Hu Hann. "Have you seen this before?"

Having emerged from the Soul Transformation Pool in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, Yu Yuan had advanced to the late stages of the Spirit Accumulating Stage. His physique, honed through rigorous refinement, now craved sustenance more than ever.

Typically, those practicing spiritual spells for bodily enhancement would depend on grains and Blood Elemental Pills to fortify their life force.

However, those who pursued the paths of the Demon Spell or Devil Spell would instinctively crave a diet rich in the vital essence found in meat.

Fish, shrimp, and rabbit were merely the basics.

The ideal fare consisted of spiritual or demonic beasts, or even exotic venomous creatures, all abundant in life-giving essence.

Simply put, the more concentrated the Qi and blood energy within the flesh, the greater the benefit to those in the Spirit Accumulating Stage and, subsequently, the Profound Break Stage.

Previously, Yu Yuan had managed to keep his appetite at bay, but since leaving the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area and arriving at Jade Peak, his hunger had grown increasingly insatiable.

Now, with the aroma of roasted fish and rabbit in the air, his self-control was truly put to the test.

As he questioned Hu Hann, he continued to indulge in his meal.

Remarkably, neither the members of the Hu family present nor Chen Qingyan from the Luan Bird Empire seemed to find this odd.

At the Spirit Accumulating Stage, a dramatic increase in appetite is hardly unusual for cultivators.

Yet, their curiosity was piqued before long.

They were intrigued by the sheer speed and volume of Yu Yuan's consumption.

"We haven't noticed anyone from the Ghoul Glyph Sect passing through last night. And the miasma you mentioned? We didn't really take it into account," Hu Hann said, shaking his head in candid admission.

"Why did you end up at the Medicine Sect?" Yu Yuan inquired, ripping apart the rabbit meat.

"We were instructed by the Medicine Sect to make a detour to Chilly Wind Valley first. Representatives from the sect will meet us there," Hu Hann explained.

Yu Yuan paused mid-bite. "Chilly Wind Valley? The Medicine Sect directed you there first?"

"Yes, is there a problem? Is something amiss?" Hu Hann wondered, a note of concern in his voice.

"Something's definitely not right."

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