C217 Hu Family Forging Equipment

A lake shimmering with the hue of jade captured their gaze.

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

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

On the bonfire, wild rabbits and lake fish sizzled, filling the air with an enticing aroma.

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

Yu Yuan and Chen Qingyan paused in surprise at the sight of the lake and the merry band by the bonfire.

They were not far from Gloomhollow. Had the miasma and Zanas really not passed this way?

Yu Yuan knew that once the creature was free, it would instinctively prey on any living creature to grow stronger.

That's why he was intent on subduing it swiftly, to prevent it from wreaking havoc in the Serpent Spine Mountains.

"Stormcrown Empire cultivators."

From a distance, Chen Qingyan recognized the insignia on their shoulders – they belonged to the Hu family. "The Hu family."

Yu Yuan scrutinized them, noting the golden lion head badges on their shoulders and their similarly styled garments.

"Stormcrown Empire, the Hu family..."

He connected the dots, identifying them, and kept a watchful eye.

The Hu family was renowned throughout Aetherius, not for their alchemy, but for their legendary forging skills.

Their territory in the Stormcrown Empire was arid and volcanic, with frequent eruptions that had driven away the local populace.

There, the Hu family had honed their craft in forging through the ages, allegedly under the tutelage of the Artifact Sect from the Land of Quiescence, with whom they maintained a strong alliance.

The Artifact Sect, while a bastion for forgers and renowned in its own right, didn't quite match the prestige of the Order of Healing.

Despite being a hub for forgers, the Artifact Sect had yet to prove their supremacy over the exceptional forgers found within the Devil Palace, Shadow's Keep, and the various sects across Euwrea.

Thus, even with its concentration of skilled forgers, the Artifact Sect's standing in the world of forging paled in comparison to the Order of Healing.

Every leader of the Order of Healing has been hailed as the foremost alchemist of their time!

Generation after generation, this tradition has cemented the Order's unique standing, making it unshakable by any sect or individual in the realm of alchemy.

"Who might you be?" At the lakeside, a tall and robust young man with a long saber slung across his back suddenly stood up. Clad in black, his face lit up with excitement as he fixed his gaze on Chen Qingyan and asked, "Could it be Miss Chen from the Songbird Empire?"

The Hu family members and cultivators gathered around the bonfire, tearing into rabbit and fish meat, all rose to their feet in unison.

All eyes were immediately drawn to Chen Qingyan.

Their expressions were a mix of excitement, exhilaration, and open admiration!

To them, Chen Qingyan was like a goddess incarnate!

Yu Yuan was taken aback by their intense admiration and couldn't help but look over with curiosity.

Chen Qingyan gave him a glance and, with a light chuckle, confirmed to the lakeside crowd, "Yes, it's me."

"It really is you!"

"Of the Songbird Empire, of the Chen family, Chen Qingyan!"

"The direct disciple of that person!"

"To think we'd have the good fortune to encounter such a legendary prodigy here in the Serpent Spine Mountains!"

The newcomers from the Hu family were beside themselves with excitement.

The saber-bearing youth introduced himself, "My name is Hu Hang, from the Hu family of the Stormcrown Empire. We've come to the Serpent Spine Mountains at the invitation of the Sacred Hands. Our family is looking to purchase some pills from them. We're also delivering some furnaces and other items that the Sacred Hands commissioned us to refine."

Hu Hang gestured towards them, "If you don't mind, why not join us for a bite?"

Before Chen Qingyan could respond, Yu Yuan nodded and made his way over first.

Approaching Hu Hang, Yu Yuan stopped and inquired, "Brother Hu, how long have you all been here?"

"We camped here last night and plan to head to the Sacred Hands after we eat," Hu Hang replied, his curiosity apparent as he extended his hand in greeting to a counselor.

The man, understanding the gesture, passed over a juicy leg of rabbit.

Hu Hang then offered it to Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan accepted it without reservation, took a bite, and offered a compliment before asking, somewhat indistinctly, "Have you encountered an elder from the Binders of Shadows? And have you seen a cloud of miasma drifting overhead? It spans over ten acres and is multicolored..."

Droplets of grease dripped from the corners of his mouth, and his mouth was stuffed full of rabbit leg meat, clearly indicating an extreme hunger.

"Who might this be?"

Within the Hu family's entourage, a white-faced elder with a long beard watched Yu Yuan devouring his meal with gusto, then turned his gaze toward Chen Qingyan.

At that moment, a look of resignation filled Chen Qingyan's eyes as she approached.

"He's a friend of mine."

Chen Qingyan responded offhandedly.

The members of the Hu family immediately showed their respect.

Being called a friend by Chen Qingyan meant one was either a distinguished personage of the Songbird Empire or a cultivator from one of the three upper sects of Euwrea.

"It seems this young man has taken quite a liking to the food I've prepared." A young woman from the Hu family approached with a charming smile.

She carried a silver platter with two freshly roasted fish and a whole wild rabbit on it.

The fish and rabbit were roasted to a golden brown, their juices sizzling, and the aroma of the meat was tantalizing.

She proffered the platter, saying, "There's plenty more where that came from."

"Thank you."

Yu Yuan accepted the offering and continued to question Hu Hang, "Have you seen them?"

Having emerged from the Soulforge Pool in the Moonfall Sanctuary, Yu Yuan's realm had advanced to the late period of Soul Awakening. His physique, having undergone several rounds of tempering, had significantly increased his appetite.

The spells used in standard body tempering relied on grains and Blood Essence Pills to replenish vitality.

However, those who practiced the dark arts often craved a diet rich in vitality-laden meats.

Fish, shrimp, and beef were merely the basics.

The ideal choice would be the flesh of spirit animals or Fellbeasts, and even exotic venomous insects or extraterrestrial beings, provided their flesh was rich in vital energy.

Simply put, the more abundant the vital energy within the flesh, the greater the benefit for those in the Soul Awakening realm and beyond, into the Veil Breaking stage.

Previously, Yu Yuan had restrained his appetite, but after leaving the Moonfall Sanctuary and arriving at the Serpent Spine Mountains, it had become increasingly difficult to control.

Now, with the scent of the fish and rabbit in the air, his hunger was truly irrepressible.

As he questioned Hu Hang, he continued to feast voraciously.

Remarkably, neither the members of the Hu family present nor Chen Qingyan from the Songbird Empire found this behavior unusual.

For cultivators in the Soul Awakening stage, a sudden increase in appetite was commonplace.

But soon, they found themselves puzzled.

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

"We haven't seen anyone from the Binders of Shadows pass by last night. As for the miasma you mentioned, we didn't really take notice of it," Hu Hang said, shaking his head and speaking candidly.

"Why did you end up here when you were supposed to visit the Sacred Hands?" Yu Yuan asked, tearing into the rabbit meat once more.

"The Sacred Hands instructed us to stop by Gloomhollow first. They said someone from the sect would meet us there," Hu Hang responded.

Yu Yuan's action of tearing at the rabbit meat abruptly halted. "Gloomhollow? The Sacred Hands wanted you to head to Gloomhollow first?"

"Yes, is there a problem? Is something amiss?" Hu Hang inquired, puzzled.

"Very much so."

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