On the busiest commercial street of Spirit City, the setting sun painted the bluestone path with a layer of molten gold.
"I'm starving to death. Let's hurry up and find something to eat."
Yan clutched his hollowed-out stomach, shambling forward like a starving ghost. After a full day of high-intensity special training, he, Hu Liena, and Xie Yue were beyond exhausted.
As the famed Golden Generation of Spirit Hall, their daily regimen was far more brutal than anything an ordinary Spirit Master would ever experience.
"All you think about is eating."
Xie Yue rolled his eyes—but the soft rumble from his own stomach betrayed him.
Hu Liena teased lightly, "You two were practically having a stomach-rumbling duel earlier."
Just as the three were bantering, an aroma drifted over—a fragrance unlike anything from a normal kitchen.
This was a scent that bypassed the nose entirely and struck straight into the soul, as if tugging on some ancient instinct.
All three stopped in unison. Their breathing stalled. Nostrils flared.
"What is this smell? It's incredible…" Hu Liena murmured, eyes lighting up.
Yan swallowed. Loudly.
"I've never smelled anything this good! Even the top chefs in Spirit City couldn't compare!"
"…Agreed." Xie Yue said with uncharacteristic seriousness.
Their gazes met. Three pairs of eyes. Same desire.
Without another word, they followed the aroma to the very end of the street, where an ancient-styled little shop quietly rested.
The shop was ordinary—almost too ordinary.
A weathered wooden plaque hung above the door:
Feng Ran Pavilion.
The bold calligraphy strokes carried a natural, free-flowing charm, as if written by someone who understood both power and tranquility.
"Strange," Xie Yue frowned. "We pass this road every day. How did we never notice this place?"
Hu Liena found it equally puzzling. "This street is practically my backyard. When did this shop appear?"
"Who cares!" Yan was practically drooling. "Let's go!"
They pushed the door open.
Inside, the décor was simple yet elegant. Solid wood tables and chairs. A few serene landscape paintings. The place radiated quiet sophistication.
A soft sandalwood scent lingered in the air, blending perfectly with the intoxicating aroma of food.
But what truly caught their eyes—
Was the young man behind the counter.
He lounged lazily on a wicker rocking chair, dressed in clean, casual clothes. His black hair fell naturally over his forehead, framing delicate, handsome features. Sunlight filtered through the window, casting a warm glow over him, amplifying his languid charm.
Hu Liena's eyes brightened noticeably.
—He was exactly her type.
(Everyone knew Hu Liena was a hopeless face-connoisseur.)
But the moment she attempted to sense his spirit power…
Nothing.
No fluctuation.
No pressure.
No aura.
An ordinary person.
Her excitement evaporated instantly.
What a pity—such a perfect face, yet not a Spirit Master.
"Customers?" The young man finally spoke, half-opening an eye. His tone was so lazy it bordered on insulting.
"The menu's on the table. Order what you want."
Then he closed his eyes again.
Yan twitched.
"This boss is way too laid-back. Does he even want customers?"
Xie Yue raised a brow. "Unique fellow. But the smell is legit."
The three sat. Hu Liena picked up the menu—
—and froze.
The entire thing was blank.
"What? Why is there nothing here?" She flipped through multiple pages.
Blank. Blank. Blank.
Just as she puzzled over it, characters suddenly flowed across the page like invisible ink coming alive, forming elegant, flowing script:
Level Three Menu
Followed by—
Her eyes widened to the size of saucers.
"Clear Noodle Soup… 100 gold coins!?"
Her scream nearly flipped the table.
"Cucumber Salad 150!? Are they robbing us?!"
One hundred gold coins…
That was three years of living expenses for an ordinary family.
For a bowl of noodles?
"Let me see!" Xie Yue snatched the menu.
The next second—
"Scallion Tofu 200… Fried Peanuts 300… This is daylight robbery!"
Yan's face turned pitch-black.
A moment ago he was starving.
Now he was burning with righteous fury.
"We ran into a scam shop!"
He slammed his hands on the table and stood. Spirit power surged out wildly, heat warping the air.
"Spirit Assimilation!"
Flames erupted around him, his figure magnified and ferocious. His aura filled the entire shop, oppressive and violent.
"You brat! 100 gold coins for noodles? I'll tear this scam shop apart!"
Hu Liena and Xie Yue paled.
"YAN, STOP!"
"Calm down!"
But the next moment—
"If you're not eating, get out."
Lin Feng didn't even bother opening his eyes.
Just one impatient click of the tongue…
And then it happened.
A terrifying pressure descended instantly—
Silent, formless, irresistible.
A pressure that did not come from spirit power.
It came from something deeper.
Yan didn't even last a full second.
His flames vanished. His Spirit was crushed back into his body.
He collapsed to his knees and vomited blood.
"Wh—What?!"
Hu Liena and Xie Yue trembled violently.
Just standing under that pressure pushed them to their limits.
Yan was a Level 39 Spirit Elder, and he had been flattened instantly.
This… this wasn't a Spirit Douluo's suppression.
This wasn't even a Titled Douluo's intimidation.
This was something far, far above.
Hu Liena forced herself to bow deeply.
"P-Please forgive us, Senior! We were ignorant and offended you!"
Lin Feng finally opened his eyes.
Deep black pupils. Calm, cold, indifferent.
Hu Liena involuntarily shivered.
"Are you eating or not?"
His lazy tone carried an undeniable threat—
A tone that allowed no resistance.
Xie Yue blurted out immediately:
"Senior, we—we'll order! Right now!"
Only then did Lin Feng close his eyes again, withdrawing the pressure as if nothing had happened…