Chapter 296 Entering Prosperity

"Candied hawthorns!"

"Bargains, bargains! Fresh treasures from the latest stronghold ruins! Come take a look if you have a keen eye—snag a deal, and soaring to greatness is no longer a dream!"

"Dragon meat, fresh dragon meat! Don’t miss out if you pass by!"

"Hey there, handsome~ Come have some fun~"

Lu Ye listened to the overlapping cries of vendors, watching the curling smoke rise, a faint look of contentment on his face.

So lively!

As the Celestial Lord, Lu Ye’s temperament was steady. It wasn’t that he particularly craved delicacies—he simply wanted to soak in the bustling atmosphere.

In life, the pursuit of the Dao was endlessly fascinating, but one’s existence couldn’t revolve solely around it.

The two found a tavern, ordered a lavish spread, and began eating.

Amid the clamor, Lu Ye wore a faint smile.

"Where’s the person you mentioned?" Lin Chuyue asked.

"Not here—in another city."

"Fine, then I won’t dwell on it. Come on, eat, eat, drink!"

Lin Chuyue paused, then suddenly called out loudly.

"Waiter! Bring us your strongest liquor and your finest dishes!"

"If we’re drinking, we’re doing it properly! No one’s allowed to use their powers—face the liquor with sheer willpower!"

"Whoever chickens out is a coward!"

Lu Ye ???

Why did this scene feel so familiar?

Ah, right—the system had mentioned it. Sun Ruowei had tried to get Bai Qiulan and Yue Hongling drunk to pry secrets from them.

Obviously, a mere novice like Sun Ruowei stood no chance against the willpower of two former Emperors.

So, Sun Ruowei ended up utterly wasted.

Now, Lin Chuyue was attempting the same tactic to uncover his secrets.

There could only be one outcome.

"Are you raising fish? Leaving so much? Drink!"

"Again! So what if your eyes are red? Red eyes look good—it’s not like you’re bewitched by the Dao’s allure. Drink!"

"Why so slow? This liquor’s strong, but it’s just a matter of gritting your teeth and stomping your foot!"

"I was wrong, I’m a coward..."

"If you’re a coward, then as your elder, how dare you refuse to drink when I tell you to?"

*Thud—*

Lin Chuyue collapsed onto the table, completely unconscious.

Lu Ye grinned.

At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared and sat down beside Lu Ye.

A radiant glow of five colors filled the air as an exquisitely beautiful figure, carrying a faint scent of the Dao, gazed curiously at the wine on the table.

Shen Xitong had come out.

However, she seemed to have concealed her true form—otherwise, her appearance would undoubtedly cause a massive stir.

Last time, while inside the TriLife Tribulation, she had drunk beer and eaten spicy strips.

*Hiss… hiss…*

As for alcohol, she now felt a slight curiosity about it.

It seemed like it might be delicious, but also possibly awful.

"Want to try?"

Shen Xitong nodded eagerly.

Lu Ye poured her a bowl.

She raised the bowl.

Full of curiosity, Shen Xitong clinked it against Lu Ye’s.

Watching him down it in one gulp, she did the same—

*Pfft… pfft pfft… hiss…*

Her little face instantly flushed red as she kept sticking out her tongue and fanning her mouth with her hand.

*Ding!* "Spicy! So spicy! So disgusting!"

Lu Ye chuckled helplessly. "You’ve never had it before. You’ll get used to it after a while."

*Ding!* "I don’t want to get used to it! It’s too spicy! I’m gonna go feed it to that stinky Providence!"

Shen Xitong was the type who absolutely refused to suffer even a little hardship. The burning sensation of the strong liquor immediately made her think of Providence. Grabbing a whole jar of the fiery drink, she vanished in an instant.

Lu Ye…

"Don’t let Him drink too much!"

*Ding!* "Don’t worry!"

*Worry my ass.* Lu Ye wasn’t reassured in the slightest. He couldn’t even imagine what might happen if Providence got drunk.

But… this was Providence. Surely He wouldn’t overdo it, right?

Yeah… probably not!

With his appetite satisfied, Lu Ye didn’t leave. Instead, he sat by the window, watching the bustling streets outside.

Lin Chuyue slowly woke up.

She shook her head and took a sharp breath.

"How can you drink so much?" Lin Chuyue said in disbelief.

"Maybe it's just that you can't handle it?" Lu Ye replied with a smile.

Lin Chuyue...

Well, that might be true!

"Now that you're sober, let's go take care of something," Lu Ye said with a grin.

Lin Chuyue followed Lu Ye.

Soon, the two arrived at the city lord's manor. The city was named Luotian City, privately owned by its lord, Yuan Yuan.

Yuan Yuan was a top-tier Heaven-Earth Realm rogue cultivator.

He had close ties with the Life Source Sect. In his previous life, Lu Ye had a good relationship with him and had asked him to contact the Life Source Sect to purchase the Infinite Heavenly Wood.

This time, he intended to do the same.

Except, in his past life, he and Yuan Yuan were close, while in this life, they had never met before.

"Lu Ye, here to visit Fellow Daoist Yuan Yuan. Please announce my arrival!" Lu Ye said to the guards.

Lu Ye???

The guards froze upon hearing the name.

"Yes, the Lu Ye you're thinking of," Lu Ye said with a laugh.

The guards' faces instantly twisted in horror, and they instinctively covered their noses and mouths.

Lu Ye...

Why did they act like he was some kind of disgusting creature?

One guard was so terrified that he scrambled away to report.

Soon, a figure shot into the sky and bolted.

Well, that was Yuan Yuan!

Lu Ye...

Lin Chuyue couldn't help but burst into laughter. In the entire Fourth Heaven, there was probably only one Lu Ye whose mere name could make a top-tier rogue Grandmaster like Yuan Yuan flee in panic!

After running for a while, Yuan Yuan finally calmed down.

Huh?

Wait a minute...

Lu Ye was already at his doorstep, yet he wasn't affected by the Scent of Dao Completion.

Moreover, he and Lu Ye had no grudges between them, and there was no reason for Lu Ye to come after him!

Yuan Yuan, now calmer, felt somewhat embarrassed—but could he really be blamed? Lu Ye's reputation was simply too terrifying.

Since Lu Ye ascended to the Fourth Heaven, how many powerful figures had he schemed to their deaths? Every single powerhouse in the Fourth Heaven couldn't help but tremble at the mere mention of his name.

Though humiliating, that was the undeniable truth.

Now that Lu Ye had arrived, he wasn’t emitting the Scent of Dao Attainment.

Moreover, he had his subordinates announce his visit.

And when Yuan Yuan fled, Lu Ye didn’t give chase.

Putting it all together, it was highly likely that Lu Ye bore no ill intent.

Yuan Yuan took a deep breath, and his embarrassment vanished instantly. As a rogue cultivator who had reached the Heaven and Earth Realm, established a massive city, and become a powerhouse in his own right, his wisdom was beyond question.

Soon, Yuan Yuan returned and clasped his hands with a wry smile. "Fellow Daoist Lu, please forgive me. Your reputation is simply too formidable—the moment I heard your name, my legs decided to run on their own. I must have looked quite ridiculous."

Lu Ye chuckled at Yuan Yuan’s playful remark.

"Next time, I’ll find someone with paralyzed legs, shout my name at them, and see if it cures them."

"Hahaha…"

Both men laughed.

"Fellow Daoist, please come inside!"

With Lu Ye having shown goodwill, Yuan Yuan relaxed considerably and invited him into the estate.