Chapter 191 - 190: The Spiritual Tavern is in Business

Chapter 191: Chapter 190: The Spiritual Tavern is in Business

Once it was about time, Zhou Lifen took his post and open the gate. The crowd immediately rushed forward, pushing one another, trying to force their way through.

Seeing their moments, Zhou Lifen frowned and glared at them. They immediately slowed down.

It wasn’t just a simple glare. Zhou Lifen deliberately released a bit of his soul force pressure them. To the cultivators below his level, standing in the front lines, it felt as if a mountain had suddenly materialized over their heads.

The forward momentum of the crowd died instantly. Those in the front row dug their heels into the cobblestones, nearly tripping over themselves, while those behind them slammed into their backs.

"What’s going on?" Someone near the back complained, craning their neck to see: "Why did we stop?"

"Shh! Shut up if you want to keep your skin!" a sweat-drenched cultivator in the front whispered back fiercely, his eyes wide as he stared at the tall, imposing figure guarding the entrance.

He was shocked, it seems like he and this person have the same level of cultivation, yet he was still shaken by him.

Zhou Lifen stood in front of the gate with his arms crossed over his chest: "Welcome to the Spiritual Tavern," Zhou Lifen said. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried clearly to the very end of the street: "The Master has worked hard to prepare this establishment for you. However, we do not tolerate rowdiness, pushing, or lack of manners. If you wish to dine, form a single line. Anyone who attempts to cut the line or cause trouble will be removed forcefully."

The crowd quieted down at once. Some of the guests who had created their own number plates looked a little awkward. Earlier, they’d written numbers on wooden slips and argued about who was first, second, or third. Now that the tavern was letting people enter based on the actual line, those self-made number plates suddenly became useless.

Many of them had heard the rumors of the tavern’s terrifying gatekeeper who could toss higher realm cultivators like bags of sand, but seeing him in person, and feeling that suffocating aura was an entirely different matter.

"Right, right! An orderly line!" The burly cultivator from earlier quickly agreed, waving his hands to herd the people behind him: "Everyone back up! Give Master Gatekeeper some space! Don’t crowd the door!"

Seeing that order had been formed, Zhou Lifen’s expression softened slightly, and he stepped aside, gesturing toward the open doors: "The first fifty guests may enter. The rest, please wait patiently for your turn."

Fu Seng who was watching from the side chuckled softly: "You really are good at this, Lifen. I think half of them almost forgot how to breathe."

Zhou Lifen glanced at him, the coldness in his eyes melted away instantly revealing a warmth reserved only for one person: "I merely saved us some trouble. Go on your way. Be careful in the city."

"I am a beast of the forest; navigating a city is simple," Fu Seng said, as he adjusted his basket before slipping past the crowd.

From the outside, the Spiritual Tavern already looked grand. But after entering, they realized the inside was even larger than expected. The building had nine floors in total, its central structure rising upward around an open inner atrium. Warm light flowed down from the upper levels, reflecting against polished wooden rails and jade-green wall patterns.

However, only the first six floors were currently open.

"Look at this place!" A young cultivator exclaimed: "The spiritual concentration here is higher than in my sect’s meditation hall!"

"And the smell! Heavens, what is that fragrance?"

"Hello..., you’re in a restaurant, what other smells do you expect?"

The first floor was the main dining hall and counter. The second floor had quiet seating, semi-private booths, and a larger dining section. The third and fourth floors were private rooms, while the fifth and sixth floors were special VIP breakthrough chambers.

As for the seventh, eighth, and ninth floors, they remained closed for the time being.

Li Yujian stood near the inner staircase, dressed in a clean blue robe. His dull, lifeless eyes and calm face made him look far more mature than his age. Beside him was Li Cheng, who held a small jade board for registration. The two boys were responsible for explaining the room arrangements to important guests.

A middle-aged man in expensive robes glanced upward and asked: "Are the private rooms open?"

Li Yujian nodded: "The private rooms are on the third and fourth floors."

"Good. Arrange one for us."

Li Yujian did not move immediately: "Private rooms require a VIP pass."

The man frowned slightly. "A VIP pass?"

Li Yujian secretly rolls his eyes, this is common knowledge. Which private room doesn’t require some form of VIP access? Whether it’s an inn or restaurant.

Still he explained calmly: "There are several types of VIP passes. Ordinary dining passes grant access to the third and fourth floors. The pass must be purchased first and renewed every three months. Without renewal, private-room privileges will be suspended."

Li Cheng added: "The private rooms have independent sound-blocking formations, stronger spiritual-energy circulation, personal service bells, and priority ordering. The price is listed clearly at the counter."

Another guest asked: "What about the other floors?"

Li Yujian looked toward him: "Those are also VIP floors, but they are not ordinary dining floors. The fifth and sixth floors are prepared for guests who need protection while undergoing breakthrough."

Several people immediately became interested: "Breakthrough protection?"

"Yes," Li Yujian said: "According to the boss, there is a formation installed there. If a guest attracts a tribulation during breakthrough, the formation can reduce the weight of the tribulation lightning by half."

The hall fell silent for a moment, before whispers erupted.

"Reduce tribulation weight by half?"

"Is that even possible?"

"If such a formation existed, shouldn’t we know about it already?"

"Maybe it only works for lower-level breakthroughs."

"Even then, that is shocking."

Li Yujian did not react to their disbelief. He continued explaining in the same calm voice: "The staff will also do their best to ensure a safe breakthrough. However, the fifth and sixth floors have only four chambers in total. They are limited and expensive. Guests who use them must purchase a special VIP pass. The pass also requires renewal every three months. Keep in mind, even with the pass we could be at full capacity."

Someone laughed softly: "Isn’t this too exaggerated? A restaurant helping people undergo breakthroughs?"

"Buying a pass and still waiting in line, how ridiculous!"

Li Cheng looked at him and said flatly: "You are not required to buy it."

The man’s smile stiffened.

Li Yujian added: "If you don’t need it, the ordinary dining floors are enough. Please enjoy your stay."

Most people did not take the fifth and sixth floors seriously. To them, spiritual food with exaggerated effects was already difficult enough to believe. Now the Spiritual Tavern was claiming to provide breakthrough protection and tribulation-reducing formations. Even if the restaurant had some ability, this sounded too outrageous.

Only one person from the Zhao family stepped forward after a short silence. He was a clean-looking man in pale brown robes, carrying the token of the Zhao family branch. He had been sent by the family to observe the opening and test whether the rumors were true. After hearing Li Yujian’s explanation, his eyes flashed with thought.

"I will purchase one special VIP pass for the fifth and sixth floors."

The people nearby immediately looked at him: "Another rich brat with too many spirit stones."

Li Cheng recorded it calmly: "Name?"

"Zhao Mingru."

"Family?"

"South River main Zhao family."

Li Cheng wrote it down, then asked: "Will you pay now?"

Zhao Mingru nodded. "Yes."

The price was high enough to make several nearby cultivators inhale sharply, as expected, the spiritual Tavern were really robbing people of their money. But Zhao Mingru didn’t think much of it. In fact, because it was so expensive, it made him feel at ease.

Some people secretly mocked him for being too eager. Some felt the Zhao family must have received information they did not know.

Li Yujian accepted the registration slip and said, "You can go to the fifth floor. Your pass will be brought to you there."

Zhao Mingru nodded. "Many thanks."

The first and second floors became busy quickly. Some guests bought regular VIP passes and went to the third and fourth floors. Others chose to remain downstairs, wanting to observe the atmosphere before spending more spirit stones.

Li Jain walked to the center of the first-floor atrium.

He was dressed simply today, in white robes with jade-green embroidery. There was no heavy ornamentation, and no attempt to look imposing. Yet when he stood beneath the warm light of the tavern, many people found it difficult to look away.

Liu Xiong stood not far behind him, he kept his distance, but was still making his position clear.

Li Jain raised his hand slightly, and spiritual energy flowed into his voice. When he spoke, every person from the first floor to the sixth floor heard him clearly.

"Welcome to the Spiritual Tavern, a spiritual food and drinks restaurant. My name is Li Jain. I am the owner of Spiritual Tavern. Today is the first day Spiritual Tavern opens in South River City. Some of you have heard about us from Qingyang Town and came a long way here. Thank you all for coming."

Some polite people began to clap.

Li Jain’s voice remained gentle and clear: "Before the meal begins, I will explain a few things. First, Spiritual Tavern belongs to me personally, but I am also a descendant of the main Li family of South River City. My grandfather is Li Shenzhou."

With the mention of Li Shengzhou, the reaction was immediate. Several people looked up in shock.

"Li Shenzhou?"

"The old ancestor of the main Li family?"

"So he is from Li Shengzhou’s branch, that explains a lot."

"I thought he was only a branch relative."

Some people who had not known Li Jain’s background immediately adjusted their posture. The name Li Shenzhou carried weight in South River City.

The old ancestor of the main Li family was not someone ordinary people could casually offend. Even though Li Jain had not emphasized his connection before, saying it aloud now was enough to cut off many unnecessary thoughts.

Li Jain didn’t expect his grandfather’s name to carry so much weight. The ancestor told him before that some trouble could be avoided simply by making one’s position clear.

If saying the name once prevented twenty people from making trouble, then it was worth saying.

Li Jain continued: "Secondenly, some of the little buns you may see moving around are my buns."

What little buns? They were confused until they remembered the two children at the entrance that were introducing the private rooms.

Li Jain said seriously: "They will not disturb any guests. Some may help with small tasks today, but they will stay out of the dining areas as much as possible." Then his voice became slightly slower: "No one should think of taking one away, not even because they are adorable."

The tavern fell silent again. For a moment, some people wondered whether they had heard wrong. This owner Li really knows how to joke.

Taking one away? Why would they take his child away?

But then several older guests remembered the rumors they heard long ago. Li Jain had seven sons, who were all talented. Many also suspect that their bloodlines were unusual and a kidnapping attempt was made once.

Large families had already shown interest in them, so the warning was not meaningless.

Li Jain’s tone returned to normal: "There is a menu on every table. Inject spiritual energy into the menu plate, and the dishes will appear. The menu lists the name, ingredients, effects, price, and suitability. Please read carefully before ordering. If you are uncertain, ask the staff. If you order a dish knowing that it would hurt you, the Spiritual Tavern won’t be responsible for your choice."

Several guests looked at the jade menu plates on their tables and curiously pick it up.

"The Spiritual Tavern offers takeout, within and out of the city. All dishes can be packed and delivered. Fu Seng here will be responsible for your delivering orders."

Fu Seng bowed lightly from his station.