Chapter 161: Chapter 151: The Truth, Part 1

He walked along the streets of the Deep Domain.

On both sides were houses and pavilions built from grayish-white stone. There were both pointed and flat roofs, most in a Chinese style with upturned eaves.

Lin Hui activated his Body Technique and circled the surrounding blocks a few times. He discovered that no one here wasted a single moment.

They were either desperately selling wine or desperately drinking it. After drinking, they slept; after waking and eating, they drank again.

It was as if everyone was locked in a life-or-death struggle against some invisible opponent, never-ending, never-ceasing.

Even the producers would occasionally sneak off to a corner to buy some wine and sip it slowly.

The entire district was completely steeped in a rich, alcoholic aroma.

He recalled what Li Xin Ruan had just said. The wine here could fortify one’s foundation and bolster their vitality. Wasn’t this exactly the resource he needed to evolve his Blood Seal?

After a moment’s thought, Lin Hui walked over to a roadside wine stall.

The stall was supported by just a few wooden poles, with a simple white cloth draped over the top and fastened at the four corners with clips.

The stall owner was speaking in low tones with a beautiful, snow-haired woman. The two were chatting and drinking, clearly acquaintances.

This stall owner was no ordinary person, either. His eyes emitted a faint, greenish-blue fluorescence, and a crooked, jade-green horn protruded from his forehead. His features were delicate and his figure was slender.

Three tables of customers were currently seated at the stall. Two tables’ worth had already passed out drunk, while at the remaining table, a large, fat man was drinking and crying, though for what sad reason, it was impossible to say.

"Sir, how much for the wine?" Lin Hui intended to buy some and try it for himself. He didn’t dare touch Li Xin Ruan’s wine, but randomly picking a variety to sample shouldn’t be a problem.

"Stone Heart Wine is one Feather Blood per jin. Green Heart Wine is three Feather Blood per jin." The stall owner turned, glanced at Lin Hui, and replied.

"It’s my first time, so the Stone Heart Wine should be enough."

Lin Hui glanced at the other wine stalls nearby. This one was the quietest; the others were full of drunks shouting, singing, acting belligerently, and even grappling with each other in fights.

He felt for the thirty Feather Bloods he had brought with him, took one out, and placed it on the table. Then, he walked over to the wine jar, lifted the lid, and ladled out a bowl for himself.

The milky-white liquor, like fresh milk, was gently poured into a palm-sized black porcelain bowl.

He lifted it, sniffed it, and lightly touched his tongue to the surface.

HISS.

An incredibly cool, refreshing, and crisp sweetness instantly flooded his mouth, then flowed down his throat and all the way into his stomach.

Lin Hui shuddered violently. The sensation was like gulping down an ice-cold drink when you were at your hottest and most parched.

He trembled all over from the sheer pleasure, as if every pore on his body had opened up at that very moment.

"Good wine!" He couldn’t help but let out a long breath, his voice deep.

"Of course it’s good wine. I simmered seventy-two Green Heart Dog Bones for half a year just to get the base ingredients. Then I brewed it with over a hundred precious medicinal herbs. All that work for just this small jar. Selling it at one Feather Blood per jin is as cheap as it gets."

The stall owner chimed in with a smile.

"Where are you from, sir? You don’t look like a local," Lin Hui continued the conversation.

"I’m one of the Black Cloud People. I came to Tuyue to visit a friend and decided to stay for a while," the stall owner said casually. "You’re young and your Heart and Spirit aren’t strong enough. You’d best not linger here for too long. This place is a resource-gathering site for the Moon Tower. It’s fine to come and relax once in a while, but staying too long will damage your mind."

"Black Cloud... that’s a long way off. Thank you for the warning. I hear that to get to Black Cloud City, you have to transfer through Xingdiao first?" Lin Hui said with a nod.

"Yes, you have to transfer. It’s a journey of more than three days by Moth Car, and you have to pass through places like the Jade Sea and the Crystal Sea. It’s very far, and very dangerous," the stall owner stated simply.

Lin Hui had always heard that the Core Area was dangerous and not a place to stay for long. But so far, most of the people he had met seemed kind enough, and they had all offered him various pieces of advice. He didn’t know if he was just lucky, or if others were simply unlucky.

"Well, Brother Feng, I won’t disturb you any longer. We’ll meet again next year at Wang Fenghai." At this, the white-haired woman across from the stall owner stood up, cupped her fist, and spoke.

"Alright, see you then. Remember to send word to your elder brother for me when you get there. Just say I’m doing well, and we’ll see each other again at the appointed time," the stall owner replied, rising with a smile.

"Okay." The white-haired woman nodded, then turned and leaped into the air. Incredibly, she began to float, flying up toward the sky.

After flying a few meters, she vanished in the blink of an eye.

The stall owner sat back down alone, pouring and drinking by himself.

Lin Hui stared at the spot where the woman had disappeared. He watched for a long while, but still couldn’t figure out how she had vanished.

Seeing that the stall owner was no longer paying him any mind, he sat back down as well, slowly savoring the bowl of wine.

A few minutes later, with a bowl of Stone Heart Wine in his belly, Lin Hui clearly felt his body begin to heat up. His mind grew more vigorous, and the circulation of his Inner Strength seemed to quicken on its own.

He checked his Blood Seal to confirm the evolution time.

Sure enough, the evolution time had been reduced by about three days. The wine clearly had some effect on boosting vitality, but it wasn’t its primary function, so the reduction was only three days.

Savoring the refreshing and pleasant sensation surging through him, Lin Hui seized the moment, stood up, and left the wine stall. He then wandered around the Wine Area a bit more.

The Wine Area consisted of five streets in total, one horizontal and four vertical, forming a grid. The buildings lining the streets were either taverns, wine shops, or inns. There were no other options.

The streets were paved with white stone tiles. Along both sides were all sorts of wooden signs advertising for customers. Some people were passed out drunk in the street corners, hugging the signs and snoring loudly. Others stood bare-chested, facing the sky, repeatedly opening and closing their arms like cultists. And there were quite a few of them.

As Lin Hui walked, he even saw a few women doing the same thing, completely unconcerned that their upper bodies were exposed.

After exploring every street, he discovered there were two types of wine shops here: those that charged, and those that were free.

The paid shops had few customers, and most of them were well-dressed. The free ones were a different story. The patrons there were like drug addicts, sprawled haphazardly at the shop entrances, looking like trouble.

He tried seven different types of paid wine and found that two of them could reduce his Blood Seal’s evolution time. One was the Stone Heart Wine from before. The other was a dark yellow liquor called Yellow Springs Wine. The former only reduced the time by three days, while the Yellow Springs Wine was stronger, capable of cutting it down by about a month.

However, compared to the price of purchasing other Elixirs, the wine was simply not cost-effective.

Having tested the Wine Area, Lin Hui turned toward the Music Area. He stopped at the entrance, not daring to go inside.

The two areas were separated and had to be accessed through a white stone building shaped like a crab.

There was a narrow passage through the middle of the building, like a hole carved into the crab’s belly, which led to the Music Area.

Lin Hui only had to hear the faint strains of music from the entrance to feel his blood boil and quicken. He hastily backed away until he could no longer hear even a single note.

He had come here to find the truth, and also to search for Treasure Medicines and other materials that could shorten his Blood Seal’s evolution time.

’If I get lost in the Music Area, it’ll be a waste of time.’

Changing direction, he crossed the district and arrived at the Beauty Area. It was similarly separated by a white stone palace, with long, high, white stone walls built on either side for isolation.

The difference here was that beneath the high walls stood guards clad in full silver armor.

Beneath the guards’ faceplates were blurry human faces formed from swirling white mist. They were clearly all members of the Undead Race.

Lin Hui stood at the entrance to the passage, watching the flow of people coming and going.

Most of those entering were eager and couldn’t wait. Those coming out looked exhausted and gaunt, to the point of being almost unrecognizable.

’This place feels like a giant entertainment club for the Moon Tower...’ Lin Hui was suddenly struck by a strange feeling.

The more he thought about it, the more he was sure of it.

When he reached the entrance of the Food Area, this feeling became even more pronounced.

The entrance to the Food Area was the complete opposite of the Beauty Area. Most people entering and exiting were obese, their faces flushed red and their bodies slick with oil. It was obvious they had eaten far too much.

’I might be able to find some medicinal cuisine here that boosts vitality.’ After some thought, Lin Hui also stepped forward, following a group of fat people into the Food Area’s passage.

After passing through the short, dim passage, it was as if he had returned to a bustling night market street from his past life, filled with delicacies and snacks.

Both sides of the street were lined with stalls offering all sorts of barbecue, braised meats, candies, and desserts. The CLANG of stir-frying pans mingled with a rich aroma that wafted freely through the air.

"Eat, eat, eat! All the delicious food is mine! Hahaha!" A fat man behind him, his eyes glowing green, cheered as he lunged toward a barbecue shop.

"Everyone, keep up! I didn’t get to eat my fill last time. This time, I’ve specifically trained in the Stomach Expansion Skill! I’ll definitely win the competition!"

"Out of my way! I smell braised pork knuckle... I can’t take it anymore! Get the hell out of my way!"

"You all have one shichen. Gather back here in one shichen!"

The diverse crowd around him scattered, each person rushing toward the food with their own goals in mind.

Lin Hui smelled the aroma wafting through the air and couldn’t help but walk toward a braised beef restaurant.

「Ten minutes later.」

He sauntered out of the restaurant, clutching his stomach, a look of satisfied bliss on his face.

The restaurant charged one Feather Blood for an all-you-can-eat meal. A price that would be exorbitant outside somehow felt cheap to him now.

The beef soup inside was also excellent—fragrant, rich, and mellow, with a lingering aftertaste.

Full and content, Lin Hui was just about to move on when he ran into a short, stout girl.

"Honored guest, how can you eat all that meat and not have something to aid digestion? That’s bad for your health! My little shop has all kinds of digestive after-dinner desserts and preserved fruits. Why don’t you come take a look?"

This Xiaopang girl’s suggestion was very reasonable, so Lin Hui followed her to a nearby digestion-aid shop.

After a meal of fruit, pastries, and medicinal cuisine, his stomach felt a bit more comfortable.

He had just stepped outside when another Xiaopang, a boy this time, sidled up to him.

"Honored guest, now that your stomach is empty after digesting, isn’t this the perfect time for medicinal food to aid your training? This food can help you circulate your strength, cultivate, and temper your body. Enjoying good food and training at the same time—that’s the good life, wouldn’t you agree?"

Lin Hui nodded, thinking that also made sense. He followed this Xiaopang into another shop, and more than ten minutes later, he emerged clutching a round, bulging belly.

Yet another Xiaopang approached him.

"Honored guest, being too full is bad for exercise and absorption. Why not come to our little shop to aid your digestion..."

Lin Hui went to aid his digestion again. After he came out, he was persuaded by someone else that after eating so much meat, he should have something refreshing to cleanse his palate. After eating the refreshing food, he went to aid his digestion again, and then it continued...

「More than three shichen later...」

When Lin Hui finally stood at the exit of the Food Area, he touched his empty Feather Blood pouch and stared down at his noticeably larger belly, his expression a bit dazed.

He had resisted the fine wine, the beautiful music, and the stunning beauties, but in the end, he had fallen to the delicious food.

Eating then digesting, digesting then eating—this vicious cycle had made him gain a significant amount of weight.

He had taken off his mask long ago. He had no idea where he’d put it.

As he was now, probably few people back in town would even recognize him.

Looking at his much rounder, fleshier face, one could only faintly make out the contours of his former self.

’I still couldn’t resist. I fell for this damn place’s trap...’ The thought of all his vanished Feather Bloods made Lin Hui’s heart bleed.

Fortunately, his personal income was very high now, so exchanging for more Feather Bloods when he got back wouldn’t be a problem.

But the price of a single Feather Blood... even if he could use his father’s and older brother’s channels and only pay 500,000, using up so many Feather Bloods at once was still painful to think about.