Crossing Over: The Strongest Mage

"Yuanling Stones don't have any boundary restrictions. Whether it's for cultivating immortals, demons, or whatever else, they can be used by anyone. Haha! Do you see how valuable they are now?" Fox White grinned, clearly thrilled by the discovery.

"Now I get it! I thought these stones had an unusual aura around them. Hehe! Senior brother," Yan Huo chuckled as he looked at Fox White.

"Junior brother, don't do anything rash. We agreed on a 50-50 split," Fox White suddenly grew cautious, a nervous expression crossing his face as he glanced at Yan Huo. His earlier joy was now replaced by apprehension.

Yan Huo, noticing Fox White's change in attitude, was puzzled. "What are you afraid of? I never said I wouldn't share."

"Ugh! You scared me there! I've heard my master, Chongyang Zi, say that because of how precious Yuanling Stones are, cultivators might become ruthless over a single high-quality stone, abandoning even their feelings of kinship. I thought you were about to..." Fox White explained, the mention of his master, Chongyang Zi, rare and significant, betraying the solemnity of his words.

"Do you think I, Yan Huo, am that kind of person?" Yan Huo said, his voice firm with a hint of anger. "If you like them, take them all!"

Fox White immediately caught on and hastily apologized, "Haha! Senior brother, you're right! My bad! We'll go with what we agreed upon – one half for you, one half for me. You want the Yuanling Stones, take them."

"Who said I don't want them?" Yan Huo reached for the stones with a grin. He wasn't going to pass up such valuable items. In the end, the Yuanling Stones were divided: Yan Huo got the one high-grade Yuanling Stone, while Fox White got the rest.

After the division, both of them were satisfied. "What's next, junior brother? Should we head out, or stay and cultivate some more?" Fox White asked, though his tone hinted at a desire to leave. However, he was hesitant to directly suggest it, especially now that he felt his role as the senior brother was somewhat in jeopardy.

Yan Huo thought for a moment before responding. "I think it's time to leave. My cultivation here has reached its limit for now. I want to visit the Liu family first, then head to Long Mountain. I've already killed two of the Four Lords, and the other two should be easy to deal with. I'm not sure about their master's strength, though. If I can kill those two cultivators, it'd be best, but if not, I can escape without much trouble. After that, we'll leave this continent and head for the Southeastern Seas to complete Master's task. And then... I want to go to the Nine Continents."

"The Nine Continents? That sounds great! Master often talks about it. He says it's the holy land of cultivation, with all kinds of cultivators there." Fox White responded enthusiastically, impressed by Yan Huo's decision. "But junior brother, as for the killings... I'd prefer not to get involved. You know my current level of strength..."

"Hehe! Don't worry, senior brother," Yan Huo said with a sly smile. "If you're not with me, I'll be even more at ease. Running away will be easier that way."

"Ha! You're right, junior brother. Okay, let's go. I'm starving. I've been dying for a good meal!" Fox White laughed heartily, his mood lifting again as he eagerly began to head toward the city.

The two of them exited the cave and made their way toward the city. The journey to the capital city of the Chen Dynasty, where the grand imperial city of Jingcheng was located, would take them to one of the busiest and most prosperous places in the region. The city sprawled across ten thousand acres, housing over two hundred fifty thousand residents, including a standing army of one hundred thousand soldiers and twenty thousand elite guards from the Imperial Forest Army.

Within the heart of the city stood the *Xiangque Tower*, the largest and most renowned restaurant in the entire capital. The tower spanned five floors, each able to accommodate hundreds of people at once. Despite its size, *Xiangque Tower* was always packed with customers eager to enjoy its world-famous dishes. There were two legendary dishes that made the restaurant famous across the land, and it was these unique delicacies that attracted crowds from all over the continent, eager to taste something so rare and exquisite.

Fox White, whose stomach was already growling in anticipation, and Yan Huo, who was more focused on the next steps of their journey, both headed straight for the *Xiangque Tower*—the perfect place to refuel before setting off on their next mission.

At the *Xiangque Tower*, the air was filled with delicious scents and a buzz of excitement. The main hall was bustling with people, some there to eat, others there simply to watch the spectacle. In the center of the hall was a stage, ten meters square, normally reserved for performances. But today, the stage was not used for music and dance. Three young women, each more graceful than the last, slowly ascended the stage, holding golden vessels. After them came a tall, thin middle-aged man in a magnificent robe of fine silks, his presence commanding attention.

He stepped onto the stage, casually stroking his goat's beard, his small eyes glittering as he surveyed the crowd. His gaze lingered especially on the private rooms on the third, fourth, and fifth floors, clearly showing his interest in the higher-ranking guests.

The man's appearance immediately captured the attention of everyone in the hall. His aura was regal, his movements deliberate and filled with authority. Stopping in the center of the stage, he smiled slightly, his voice clear yet carrying an undeniable weight: "Ladies and gentlemen, today is a grand occasion at *Xiangque Tower*. The bidding for the famous *Que Huihun* dish will begin shortly. Make sure to seize the opportunity, as only three servings of the *Que Huihun* are available today. Our tower's rules are not to be broken."

As soon as the words left his lips, the atmosphere in the hall turned serious. Every gaze was fixed on the man and the dish that was about to be served—the *Que Huihun*. Its price was known to be outrageously high, but the noble guests were willing to pay it, for this was no ordinary dish. For many, the *Que Huihun* was a chance to flaunt their wealth and power.

The man smiled again and continued, "The bidding for *Que Huihun* will start now. Please, do not waste time. The one who wins today will be able to taste the finest dish."

With that, the crowd quieted down, all eyes fixed on the auction as it began. The price was always extremely high, yet people were eager to pay for a taste of this legendary delicacy, with some bidding tens of thousands of silver taels. For common folk, such a sum was an unreachable dream. But for these nobles, this was just another game of power and status.

Looking at the richly dressed figures below, Yan Huo and Hu Bai couldn't help but feel a flicker of interest. They were also eagerly waiting for what would come next.

"Brother, look, it's true that *Xiangque Tower* is as grand as they say. *Que Huihun* is so sought after. I think we should act soon to make sure we don't miss the chance," Hu Bai whispered.

"Indeed, listening to these stories makes one's mouth water," Yan Huo replied quietly, his eyes gleaming with determination. He knew that to accomplish the task set by his master, it was important to establish connections with these powerful figures, or at least play this game to their advantage.

At this moment, the man on stage spoke again, and the auction for *Que Huihun* began. The noise in the hall quieted down as all the guests shifted their focus. The atmosphere became charged with tension.

"It's starting," Yan Huo murmured. His eyes sparkled with a sharp light. He knew that in this battle of power and wealth, he was no longer a mere observer—he had entered the fray.