Chapter Nine, Taichang City

Chen Zining smiled silently to himself. Once he reached the mid-stage of Qi Gathering, he would be able to gather layers of spiritual energy externally at any time, which would be even more marvelous and versatile than the protective barrier formed by the true energy of martial masters. Naturally, he would not need the so-called leather armor

By this time, it was nearly noon. The seven individuals went out to inquire with a passerby about the restaurants and eateries in the city. Upon hearing this person's introduction of the Zunwu Restaurant, they unanimously decided to choose this place.

However, the problem is that several people scanned the circular restaurant and found that each table was occupied by some patrons, more or less. It was now noon, the time for dining, and there were no vacant seats on the second floor either

Several companions nodded in agreement. Although Chenjia Village is considerably wealthier than the average village, it still cannot afford such expensive items

As the seven individuals entered, they were somewhat taken aback. The ground floor was filled with a cacophony of voices, and nearly everyone was standing, surrounding the arena in the center so tightly that not a single gap was visible. Only the upper bodies of two individuals could be seen on the stage, engaged in a flurry of punches, making it impossible to discern the specific situation.

Upon entering the city, each person paid an entrance fee of five copper coins. They found an inn that was somewhat remote but had a large area, and after a tiring day, everyone had a meal and, after freshening up, returned to their rooms, reluctant to move again

The smallest trading currency in the Tianlan Continent is the jiaozi, with ten jiaozi exchanging for one copper coin, ten copper coins for one silver coin, and ten silver coins for one gold coin. Furthermore, it is said that there exists a type of purple gold coin, which can be exchanged for one hundred gold coins. However, this purple gold coin is only occasionally used by certain privileged individuals in the upper echelons of society and is not circulated in the market. Chen Zining and others have never even seen it.

After the seven people finished ordering their dishes, they did not direct their attention to the fiercely contested arena, but instead occasionally glanced at the neighboring table, with Chen Zining also scrutinizing it carefully a few times

Sixty gold coins can be considered a substantial amount, sufficient for a family of four to live comfortably in the city for over two years

Chen Zikang exclaimed, "There really are such beautiful girls in the world. How wonderful it would be to marry one! Ah!" The last exclamation was cut short by someone stepping on his foot.

It was not until the sun was about to set that the group finally arrived at the city gate of Taichang. Chen Zining was relatively fine, having been there once before, but the other six youths could not help but widen their eyes in astonishment. Although they had only heard adults describe the prosperity and grandeur of Taichang City, seeing the towering city walls, reaching seven or eight zhang and stretching out of sight, still left them utterly shocked

At this moment, several people at the neighboring table also noticed Chen Zining and his companions, frequently glancing over. The seven individuals from Chenjia Village were dressed in the most ordinary fabric, all in short attire, each carrying a short knife at their waist. In this upscale rooftop setting where everyone else was well-dressed, they certainly stood out, drawing attention.

Seeing Chen Zining lift his foot to head upstairs, Chen Zitao hurriedly grabbed the corner of his clothing and quietly advised, "Zining, don't go up. It's better to join another table. Going up will cost at least 28 gold coins, and you wouldn't want to spend half of your money on just one meal, would you"

The seven individuals inquired about the route and made their way there. From a distance, they were already astonished by the grand scale of the restaurant before even approaching it. Although the Zunwu Restaurant is not the highest-rated establishment in Taichang City, it is certainly the largest and most bustling, covering an area of over ten acres. It is circular in shape and has three stories. Even from afar, one could hear the loud calls coming from within the restaurant, indicating that an intense competition was taking place inside.

At the nearby table sat six individuals, four men and two women. Apart from a middle-aged man in his fifties, the other five were younger, by a year or two, dressed elegantly. The men were either handsome or robust, and the two young women were beautiful and possessed extraordinary grace. Most of the young men from Chenjia Village were focused on the exquisite features of these two young women.

Chen Zining primarily considered that everyone rarely visits Taichang City, and that Zhenwu Restaurant is also a place to broaden one's horizons. Regardless of whether others are willing to share a table with them, since they are here, they should indulge fully. Moreover, having acquired the most precious treasure in the world, not only must he stand at the pinnacle of this world in the future, but his clansmen must also become individuals who cannot be overlooked by anyone. How could they hesitate to enter a restaurant?

Chen Zining lifted his foot to ascend to the second floor. They had inquired beforehand that the same dishes had different prices on different floors, and there was a minimum consumption requirement. Otherwise, someone could simply order the cheapest dish, occupy a seat, and just watch the competition, which would result in significant losses for the Zunwu Restaurant. The prices increased as one went higher; on the ground floor, each person was required to spend five silver coins, which was affordable for the average person to dine occasionally. On the second floor, the requirement was two gold coins, making it a place only those with some spare money would dare to go. The third floor was even more expensive, requiring each person to spend four gold coins, making it a place where only those of status and position would be willing to spend such unnecessary money.

This restaurant has established a competition arena, where a defender is first introduced by the restaurant, followed by challengers of equal strength from among the guests. The winner receives a cash prize, while other guests can enjoy drinks and watch the matches, even placing bets on the outcomes. This not only tests their judgment but also adds excitement. Since its opening, the business has been thriving.

Upon seeing that there were still two or three tables available above, the seven people breathed a sigh of relief and were led to a position near the edge, allowing them a complete view of the situation on the entire arena

As everyone recalled Chen Zining's nearly undefeated record over the past year, they began to gain some confidence to keep up

The afternoon is the time for the clan members to purchase the necessary supplies in the village. Upon hearing that Chen Zining and six other youths planned to visit Taichang City, Chen Daohong was already mentally prepared. After carefully outlining a series of precautions, he allowed them to go.

Seven people went up to the second floor and stayed for a while. There were not many here compared to those on the ground floor. The guests at www.hetushu.com were all seated, occasionally expressing their approval with a cheer. Everyone on the floor could clearly see the situation on the stage.

Chen Zining tapped the table with chopsticks and said softly, "Alright, everyone stop looking. Haven't you seen that beautiful woman is angry? Why are you all staring at us?"

Chen Zining smiled and said, "It's nothing, at worst I can go up and fight a couple of duels, win some prize money, come with me."

Upon reaching the top floor, a waiter immediately greeted them warmly, showing no signs of neglect despite their attire as mountain hunters. The rules of the Zunwu Restaurant are well-known throughout Taichang City, and its backers are the Zhao family of Yuyang, one of the five great families of the Holy Tang Kingdom, which has branches in dozens of cities. Only a madman would dare to eat for free or cause trouble here, and such madmen have long been cleared out by the Zunwu Restaurant.

Early the next morning, everyone arrived at a venue called the Qinghe Chamber of Commerce. Due to a long-standing cooperative relationship, after some bargaining, a deal was quickly reached. Chen Zining's iron-skinned beast hide, the horn of the unicorn python, python skin, and snake gallbladder were sold for a total of 61 gold coins and 7 silver coins, nearly matching the income of an excellent hunter over more than two years. This made several young people extremely envious, and they kept urging Chen Zining to treat them at a grand restaurant in the city.