Chapter 44: The Miraculous Catfish Stewed with Tofu

Zhang Lang was aware that Master Chen had a unique fondness for bicycles, but he had never imagined it ran so deep—even coming to the mall, he insisted on carrying his bicycle with him. This was no longer a hobby; it bordered on madness!

“You don’t need to worry about this. I’m well acquainted with your general manager and will explain everything to him. Master Chen, please!” Zhang Lang didn’t bother offering any explanations to the security guard and spoke directly.

Master Chen? The guard was momentarily stunned. Recalling the looping broadcast outside, a wave of realization surged within him. He lowered his head and stepped aside.

The Trade Building’s floors one through sixteen were all shopping centers; nearly a third of the city’s influential businesses had stores here, making the place as crowded as a bustling rural market. Chen Yun entered, carrying his bicycle, immediately attracting a level of attention that might as well have been a million percent.

Everyone turned to stare at him, as if they had coordinated the gesture, thinking: Who is this lunatic strolling in carrying a bicycle?

Even Zhang Lang, who had cultivated a thick skin over many years, was feeling uncomfortable. He hurried Chen Yun toward the elevator. But upon arriving, they discovered with dismay that the elevator was too small—the bicycle wouldn’t fit!

“Brother Zhang, why don’t you take the elevator first? I’ll just take the stairs,” Chen Yun said, rubbing his nose.

“No way, we go together,” Zhang Lang replied, clearly displeased.

“Well… alright then.” Chen Yun silently cursed the system a thousand times over, thinking of all the trouble it had caused him.

Upon reaching the sixteenth-floor auction hall, Zhang Lang, wanting to preserve some dignity, quickly ushered Chen Yun and his bicycle—likely the first ever to attend an auction—into a VIP suite. Watching the door close, Zhang Lang breathed a sigh of relief.

“Little Chen is great in every way, except for this one quirk that’s simply impossible to accept. You two, keep a close eye on Master Chen. If he even looks like he’s leaving, contact me immediately,” Zhang Lang instructed the two security guards stationed at the door.

“Yes, Mr. Zhang.”

“Mr. Zhang, after our day-long citywide promotion, as of now, ninety-five percent of the registered cultivators in the city have arrived,” Secretary Lin reported.

“Excellent. It seems Master Chen’s dishes are truly enticing. The time is nearly upon us—let’s begin,” Zhang Lang nodded with satisfaction. This was exactly the outcome he desired. When he’d seen those twenty dishes that morning, even he, a seasoned taster of the master’s cooking, had nearly lost control—let alone anyone else.

“I wonder who will acquire these dishes in the end. Just the aroma was enough to nudge my cultivation forward; eating them can only be more incredible, especially the final masterpiece… Tonight will be anything but calm…”

To protect the privacy of those within, the suite’s glass was one-way—those inside could see out, but not the reverse.

Seated in the VIP suite, Chen Yun gazed through the glass at the crowd, growing more astonished by the minute. Everyone present, aside from the staff, was a cultivator. Every stat was marked with a question mark, each head topped with a system-designated sign reading “Extremely Dangerous.”

“One hundred and forty cultivators—good heavens, is martial prowess so widespread in this world?” Chen Yun thought anxiously. Clearly, until he possessed absolute strength, discretion was the better part of valor. If a cultivator discovered his secret, he might not even know how he died.

As the ornate clock in the suite struck nine, the lighting in the auction hall dimmed, save for a single spotlight shining on the stage.

Zhang Lang took this auction most seriously, presiding in person. Dressed in the standard attire of a cultivator from this world, he strode onto the stage, swept his gaze across the audience, and announced, “Everyone, please settle down. I trust you’re all familiar with tonight’s lots, so I’ll keep it brief. I now declare the auction officially open. To start, our first dish: Braised Catfish Spirit with Tofu!”

As his words fell, the auction commenced. The dazzling light shifted from Zhang Lang to the dish, freshly removed from a vacuum-insulated box, so that everyone could see it clearly.

“This Braised Catfish Spirit with Tofu is made from a catfish spirit that has cultivated for over a hundred years, personally prepared by Master Chen. Its quality touches the very pinnacle of master-level cuisine,” Zhang Lang said solemnly. “According to Old Mister Li Teran, the city’s foremost expert, auction house chairman, chief appraiser, and a level-six cultivator himself, after eating this dish, cultivators below level five can instantly advance by a minor realm, with a small chance of leaping an entire major level. Those above level five also have a chance to break through a minor realm. The starting bid is ten purple gold coins.”

The cultivators below erupted in astonished whispers. Such a miraculous dish—below level five, an instant advancement—what did that even mean?

It was practically cheating!

Most present were under level five; that was the first major bottleneck in a cultivator’s journey. To cross it meant a transformation in power, status, and wealth—a true entry into the world of cultivators.

Below level five, one could live at most one hundred and twenty years. Surpass it, and your lifespan doubled at the very least—a reward that drove people mad with longing.

“Twenty purple gold coins!”

“Thirty purple gold coins!”

...

In less than two minutes, the price soared to a staggering one hundred and fifty purple gold coins—a million and a half in gold. The bidding quieted down.

Though all present were cultivators, most were also CEOs or major business owners. Cultivation required not just talent, but also resources—otherwise, all was for naught.

As much as they coveted a dish that could instantly boost their power, they hadn’t lost their heads. There were still nineteen more dishes to come—no need to rush.

Zhang Lang waited another minute. Seeing no further bids, he raised the auction hammer and declared:

“One hundred fifty purple gold coins, going once.”

“One hundred fifty purple gold coins, going twice.”

“One hundred fifty purple gold coins, sold! Congratulations to bidder number nineteen for winning the first Braised Catfish Spirit with Tofu! Staff, please deliver the dish to our friend at table nineteen.”

A staff member, escorted by five level-four cultivators, carried the dish to bidder nineteen—also a level-four cultivator.

The winner, clearly impatient, ignored the audience’s stares and devoured the entire dish in a few quick bites.

As soon as he finished, before he could even savor the taste, he felt a tremendous surge within. His cultivation power instantly transformed into true energy, and his rank soared from early level four to early level five!

This scene stunned not only the bidder but every cultivator in the hall.

And then—they went mad. Utterly mad.

“Heavens—this…”

“Good lord, Old Meng just broke through to level five!”

“One dish took him from early level four to early level five—what kind of luck is that?!”

“One hundred fifty purple gold coins for a leap in rank—Old Meng’s ancestors must be turning in their graves!”

“Damn, if I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have hesitated for a second. Forget one hundred fifty, I’d pay fifteen hundred!”

“Hell, I’m going to scrape together every coin I have—even if I go bankrupt tonight, I have to win a dish. These are miracles!”