Cultivation is just so scientific!

Chapter 46 Party

Tianshui Pavilion was the largest and most luxurious inn in Central Capital, always filled with distinguished guests, particularly during festivals when it became a gathering place for the powerful and wealthy.

The decorations here were exquisitely refined, with calligraphy and paintings by famous people everywhere, and all sorts of rare and unique displays that dazzled the eyes.

However, Tianshui Pavilion was different today; the Store Manager stood outside the entrance, constantly greeting the incoming guests with a cupped fist salute, offering apologetic words.

The disappointed guests, though frustrated in their hearts, – for anyone would be displeased to return home disheartened on the first day of the New Year – knew well what forces stood behind Tianshui Pavilion, and none dared to cause trouble there.

What made the guests most curious was, who could possibly have the power to entirely book Tianshui Pavilion for themselves.

To know that even when a prince visited, he would only reserve a single private room.

"Mo Yan, you go back first!" Li Shiming alighted from the carriage and instructed Mo Yan, who had lifted the carriage curtain for him.

He hadn't noticed the commotion at the entrance of Tianshui Pavilion; it should be said that on this day, the entire Capital City was extremely lively, especially this street, which had an intense commercial atmosphere.

"Young Master, Tianshui is not receiving guests today!" As he approached the entrance, the Store Manager bowed and said.

Li Shiming was slightly startled. Hadn't it been said that there was a gathering on the third floor? How come the whole place had been booked?

Even if he wasn't familiar with Tianshui Pavilion, he could tell the level of the establishment just by looking at the building's appearance.

"I have an appointment on the third floor!" he said, smiling.

"Please, come in, Young Master!" The Store Manager put on his sincerest smile, gestured invitingly with his hands, and then turned to instruct a waiter, "Take the Young Master up!"

As a shrewd man, the Store Manager had no doubts about Li Shiming's word.

Although he did not know who was meeting on the third floor this time, he did know who had booked the entire building. It was the Emperor's head steward who had come to arrange it personally.

Li Shiming entered Tianshui Pavilion amid the inquisitive, scrutinizing, and puzzled gazes of the people outside; he was led up to the third floor by the waiter.

"Sir, this is as far as I can take you!" the waiter bowed and said with an apologetic smile.

Li Shiming nodded. He understood in his heart that this was a Cultivators' meeting, and naturally, ordinary people couldn't be allowed near.

The third floor was clear at a glance: there was a large hall in the center with three private rooms on each side.

The hall was empty, and judging by his speculation, this meeting should be in one of the private rooms.

"Mr. Li has arrived!" Just as he was about to search the private rooms, a voice rang out, and a light door appeared in front of him.

Through the light door, he saw many people sitting in the center of the hall.

The host was none other than Gu Jia, who was beckoning to Li Shiming.

It turned out that the third floor was concealed by an Array; even if ordinary people entered the third floor, they wouldn't be able to see the scene of the Cultivators' meeting.

"I've seen Brother Gu, and all the fellow Cultivators!" Li Shiming stepped through the light door, bowed to Gu Jia, and then gave a fist-and-palm salute to the surrounding Cultivators.

His gaze swept over the few people present, noticing among them some cultivators he recognized.

For instance, the Hao Family's elderly cultivator selling talismans, Cultivator Deng who sold magic artifacts, Cultivator Liu who sold spirit plants, Cultivator Zhang who sold spell books, and several other cultivators whom Li Shiming remembered but whose names he did not know.

Of course, there were twenty-six cultivators seated in the hall, and he had encountered only a very few of them.

"Fellow cultivators, this is Mr. Li, whom I recognize. Please take good care of him!" Gu Jia said with a smile as he introduced him.

"Since Mr. Gu has introduced him, we will naturally take care of him!" a cultivator immediately replied, with the rest of the cultivators echoing in agreement.

Only the elderly Hao Family cultivator looked at Li Shiming with a hint of suspicion.

At his first glance of Li Shiming, he felt a sense of familiarity, yet he couldn't remember when he had seen Li Shiming before.

Not long ago, the Hao Family suffered a great embarrassment, losing two cultivators, which greatly weakened their strength.

Most seriously, a cultivator at the Qi Refining Third Level and another at the Qi Refining Fourth Level were both killed, causing panic in the market, with no cultivators daring to visit.

This gathering of cultivators was a tradition among the nearby cultivators. Meeting with Gu Jia on the first day of the new year to deliver the spirit stones due for the next year was also a way to deepen relations with Gu Jia.

The several families hosting the market did not wish for any single one of them to have individual contact with Gu Jia, as that would allow one family to grow too powerful, thereby disrupting the existing balance.

As for the act of handing over spirit stones before the next year's market earnings were in hand, it was also a move made out of necessity.

If the market business was poor, the extra spirit stones would serve as a tribute to Gu Jia. If the market's earnings exceeded initial estimates, the shortfall in the spirit stones owed would be made up at the next new year gathering.

No cultivator would play tricks with this matter, as it was not about the interest of a single cultivation family. They supervised each other and kept each other in check.

"What's the reason? Why do you want to host the market in the city?" Gu Jia asked, resuming the earlier topic after introducing Li Shiming.

"Mr. Gu, this was a decision we made after discussing it. Since the two cultivators from the Hao Family were killed, no cultivators have come to the market. Even those who regularly came to sell goods are spreading rumors that they won't come due to safety concerns!" Cultivator Deng said, spreading his hands.

"Mr. Li, have a cup of Spiritual Tea. This is from my own sect!" Gu Jia said with a laugh as he pushed a cup of Spiritual Tea toward Li Shiming and then turned his head to look at Cultivator Deng with a chilling expression, "Tell me the truth about what happened?"

Clearly, he was aware of the thoughts of these loose cultivators. He guessed they were worried after the two Hao Family cultivators were killed and wanted to use his influence to reorganize the market.

The issue was that they previously used his name for the market, but now, to have the market in the city would mean borrowing his strength, which posed a certain risk.

Though among the loose cultivators it was rare to find one who could defeat Gu Jia, and most of those coming to Central Capital were aiming to join a sect for themselves or their descendants, they would definitely not want to offend the resident cultivators of the Sky Sea Sect.

But who could clearly state the affairs of the Cultivation World? Without a reasonable explanation, it would be difficult for Gu Jia to take the risk.

Li Shiming picked up the cup of Spiritual Tea in front of him and lightly sipped. He immediately felt a burst of spiritual energy explode within his belly, with the Spiritual Energy Vortex within him eagerly absorbing the energy.

Feeling the changes within his body, he didn't stop and drank the entire cup of Spiritual Tea, leaving not even two leaves behind.

The Spiritual Energy Vortex within him frenziedly absorbed the surging spiritual energy, increasing his own internal spiritual energy by more than half, and he felt that he was not far from reaching the Third Level of Qi Refining.

His eyes couldn't help but shine. What kind of Spiritual Tea was this that it had boosted his spiritual power so significantly in just one sitting? If he were to drink another cup, he feared he would be promoted to the Third Level of Qi Refining right there and then.