A minute later a line of servers came in each holding a dish that had been prepared with care on a shiny tray. The Dragons Breath Phoenix Egg Soup was in a jade bowl. Inside the soup was a phoenix egg that had a glowing ball in the middle, which gave off a heat. Its aroma strong and refreshing.
The Golden Carp was placed on a bed of Starlight Herbs and its scales were still bright. It had a earthy smell. Next to it were plates of Dewdrop Fruit, sticks of Golden Cloud Mushrooms that glowed a little and a small green drink in a clear bottle. Every dish was placed carefully. There was a little bit of spiritual energy around them making everything look very nice.
Yu Liang sat back on his cushions, feeling content. Picking up his chopsticks, he took in the aroma of the food and the smooth texture of the polished wood in his hand.
"I have only heard about them or smelled them before " he said to himself. Then he took a spoonful of the Dragons Breath Phoenix Egg Soup. It was tasty but not too strong, just with the right amount of sweetness to make it better.
The egg melted in his mouth. Which gave off a warm comfortable feeling, spiritual energy moved through his body. He felt a warmth going through his cultivation base, which was a small but real improvement.
Then he took a piece of the Golden Carp. The meat was so soft it melted in his mouth. The Starlight Herbs added a rich taste that was balanced with a light sweet flavor.
’This is not food; it is a spiritual experience’ he thought, enjoying every bite.
The Dewdrop Fruit was full of juicy taste and the mushrooms had a chewy and crunchy texture with a rich nutty flavor that made the meal better. All the dishes were made with care using the best of the world.
Then he closed his eyes for a moment. His mind wandered. "When I was growing up, meals were just to fill my hunger. This is different. Every bite was made with care and the spiritual energy in the ingredients made the meal even better. This is a special treat."
He ate slowly wanting to enjoy the experience as much as possible.
After an hour of eating at slow pace his stomach was full and he felt a little refreshed with a small flow of spiritual energy in his body.
Yu Liang leaned back. A happy sigh came out of his mouth as he looked at the busy city with a playful look in his eyes.
He stood up. Walked to the edge of his private room looking down at the main hall and the third floor where other guests were eating.
He took a breath.
"Fellow Daoists!" Yu Liangs voice, made louder by spiritual energy echoed in the dining hall. "This master is feeling very happy today! The flavors of Food Heaven have really lifted my spirit!"
Silence filled the hall as everyone looked at the man in the green robe. They saw his posture and confident smile.
He wasn’t worried about the attention he had gotten. Yu Liang kept talking in a lively way.
"Therefore " Yu Liang said, "let this be known! All the bills of my fellow Daoists on this floor will be paid by me! Eat without worry! Don’t hold back!"
The servers, who wore clothes with the symbol of Food Heaven looked at each other nervously.
They had seen cultivators say things before but usually those words ended in problems, debts or unpaid bills that became a big mess. Still no one dared to say anything.
A moment of silence passed before the restaurant filled with claps and laughter.
"A generous young master!"
"Such kindness! May your cultivation grow!"
"Cultivation? Shouldn’t it be ’May your life be blessed’?"
"Baah! Who cares about small things."
"Yes my fellow brother is right. A strong cultivation is better than a life."
"Hah! Did you hear that Brother Wu? Order another bottle of that Dragons Blood wine!"
"No need to hold back he said! This is a day!"
The customers kept placing orders without hesitation. Even if Yu Liang couldn’t pay he would be the one to suffer, not them. It wasn’t their problem. Since someone else was paying they might well enjoy themselves as much as possible. Afterall chances like this don’t come often.
The servers were busy, very busy with the rush of orders. Dishes that would normally only be asked for a little were now ordered without thinking.
Some cultivators even started saying dish names like they were chanting.
"Bring me the Golden Carp with Starlight Herbs!"
"I want the Heaven Slumbering Lotus Soup!"
"Add a tray of Jade Spirit Dumplings! Oh. Two plates of Cloud Fried Crane!"
The atmosphere became very exciting.
.
.
.
The loud dining hall had finally calmed down. The plates were empty and the wine bottles were too. The stomachs were full of foods that most cultivators could only dream of tasting once in a lifetime.
Now however the mood had changed.
Dozens of cultivators were sitting in their seats. Their eyes were all looking at the same person, the young man in the green robe.
Their hearts were full of anticipation.
"Will he really pay?" someone whispered.
"Hah of course not. That was just talking. He will beg for mercy when the bill comes."
"Don’t be too quick. Did you see his face just now? He didn’t look like someone who was lying."
The wait went on. The tension grew with every passing moment.
Finally the big doors of Food Heaven creaked open.
Again the hall was silent.
An elder slowly walked in, hands behind his back. His body was bent with age but each step was strong like a mountain standing tall. His hair was half gray and half black tied in a knot and his eyes were sharp like a hawks.
He wore a blue robe with golden borders and the symbol of a top manager of Food Heaven was on it.
The spiritual power around him was converging. The soft ripple of energy he had was heavy, refined and that made hard to breathe.
"Foundation Establishment Realm..." a cultivator said quietly.
The words spread quickly. Some people turned pale. For most on this floor Foundation Establishment cultivators were people who were very powerful. They were elders of sects, protectors of important families or leaders of small cities. People, like that does not get involved in small matters let alone came in person. That such a person had come only made the tension stronger.