Chapter 464: Asura

These things are simply not something that seventh or eighth-rank individuals can come into contact with.

You should know that the Peng Hai Cauldron, as the person in charge of the Imperial Academy's cafeteria, is a fourth-rank existence.

As a dignified fourth-rank, how rare and powerful are the ingredients he needs? Just these ingredients alone are terrifying, unmatchable beasts for Li Qi and Li Weng.

Eating these things?

Li Weng, an eighth-rank Yin Messenger, hadn't even thought about it.

Although Huang Neng was formed from the corpse of a divine horse and had no intelligence, such monsters are generally like this, but they are not so easily provoked.

Let alone anything else.

White Flood Dragon Tendon is the tendon of a True Dragon, and it must be an exotic Flood Dragon, usually around sixth-rank.

Dragon Lord Scale, this thing is simply expensive, because it is a remnant scale of the Dragon Lord, the Sea God, who fell in the East Sea back then... This is something that can excite fifth-rank treasure hunters, possessing many Divine Abilities.

Boat Carp is also an exotic beast, a red carp as big as a boat, often used as mounts by Daoist Immortals, and its appearance frequency is comparable to that of cranes.

There are also things like Sea Flower on the list.

These things made Li Weng, who had just patted his chest and said he had many connections, stiffen.

If he could come into contact with such powerful people, why would he still be an eighth-rank Yin Messenger?

Seeing Li Weng's expression, Li Qi smiled: "Li Weng only needs to lead the way for me, there's no need to find acquaintances, as long as you can find the corresponding shop, there should be such a place, right?"

Hearing this, Li Weng's expression softened, and then he said with a wry smile: "If it's just that, then it's easy to say, but if I really have to go find things like Boat Carp and Huang Neng, that would truly be difficult for me..."

"We are friends, how could I make such a difficult request of you? Just find a shop."

Li Qi nodded and said.

"Then please, Teacher Zhu, wait here for a moment, I'll be back soon."

Li Weng nodded and cupped his hands, bowed to Li Qi, then turned and left to look for a shop.

Li Qi watched him leave, then simply closed his eyes where he was and waited quietly.

There was nothing particularly noteworthy; although the surrounding Dragon Palace was strange, it was still far inferior to the Upper Garden, so Li Qi didn't find anything special about it and just waited quietly.

However, there was one thing he cared about more.

How exactly was this so-called 'Dragon Palace' connected to something like the 'Ghost Market'? The Ghost Market is not in the Yang world, and its location seems to be erratic; Mortal souls can even go there in their dreams.

If such a thing were combined with the Dragon Palace, would it mean that the Dragon Palace in front of him also possessed the same nature as the Ghost Market, both being able to reach this place through some means that transcend distance?

If that's the case, does it represent one thing?

That is—this Dragon Palace is either illusory, or at least unstable; it is an even more unstable existence built upon the unstable Ghost Market.

Thinking this, Li Qi suddenly felt a sense of oppression around him.

He turned his head to look, only to see a luxurious ghost carriage, pulled by monsters, approaching Li Qi's direction from other parts of the Dragon Palace.

The ghost carriage floated in the Void Realm, with monstrous creatures, weasels, ferrets, and moths circling around it. Their posture was extremely greedy and cruel, with the fierce savagery of tigers and wolves. Their multitude of ugly companions was even more intense, with strange forms of tigers and leopards, sharp fangs gnawing, causing much suffering.

This ghost carriage, possessing a terrifying sense of oppression, was being pulled by a group of demons and ghosts, slowly advancing through the Dragon Palace.

As the ghost carriage advanced, Li Qi also noticed things other than the demons and ghosts around him.

First, there was the thing sitting on the carriage.

That was... the aura of an Asura?

Li Qi had seen records in books.

There are four types of Asura.

Firstly: If in the Ghost Dao, with the power of a Dharma Protector, entering the Void Realm through Divine Ability, this Asura is born from an egg and is part of the Ghost Realm.

Secondly: If in the heavens, falling from virtue and being demoted, their dwelling place is near the sun and moon. This Asura is born from a womb and is part of the Human Realm.

Thirdly: There is an Asura King who holds the world, whose power is fearless, and who can contend for power with the Brahma King, the God Emperor Shakra, and the Four Greats. This Asura is born through transformation and is part of the Heavenly Realm.

Fourthly: There is another kind of inferior Asura, born in the heart of the great ocean, sinking into water caves, roaming the Void Realm during the day, and returning to the water to sleep at night. This Asura is born from dampness and is part of the Beast Realm.

Li Qi didn't even need to look up to see the inferior Asura of the Beast Realm.

As for the Heavenly Realm Asura, there's even less to say; these are the legendary Asura Kings, beings capable of contending with the Buddhist God Emperor Shakra and the Four Greats.

The great name of God Emperor Shakra naturally needs no explanation, and the Four Greats are not to be trifled with either. Speaking of the Four Greats, perhaps no one is familiar, but speaking of the 'Four Great Heavenly Kings,' I'm sure no one is unaware.

The so-called Four Greats are the pinnacle of Buddhist Dharma Protector gods, the Four Great Heavenly Kings, also known as the 'Four Heavenly Kings Who Protect the World'.

Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the Guardian of the Nation, Virūḍhaka, the Guardian of Growth, Virūpākṣa, the Guardian of Sight, and Vaiśravaṇa, the Guardian of Wealth are also great beings capable of being called 'Heaven' alongside existences like God Emperor Shakra, Mahakala, and Śrīdevī.

Li Qi had learned the name of a Heavenly Realm Asura from a book, called 'Rahula'.

That name alone is enough to explain many things.

Heavenly Realm Asura contend with such powerful figures, so they naturally cannot appear here.

So, the one in front of him should be a Ghost Realm Asura?

It is also recorded in books that Ghost Realm Asura can, with their power, display Divine Abilities and enter the Void Realm. Their will is strong and does not follow good friends, performing pure blessings. They like to pursue illusory and false people, perform various evil blessings, associate with evil teachers, are very fond of giving alms, and also enjoy watching others fight and litigate, thus receiving their current body. They are a race with a rather bad temperament.

Moreover... judging by the way he's walking, he's clearly coming towards me.

Li Qi stood still, quietly waiting for the Asura, riding in the ghost carriage pulled by many monsters, to slowly press towards him.

A few minutes later, the huge ghost carriage, emitting a dense Yin Qi, stopped in front of Li Qi.

Then, the Asura inside lifted the curtain.

That was a female Asura.

Male Asura are ugly in appearance; female Asura are beautiful and graceful, so this female Asura was naturally incredibly beautiful.

Of course, precisely because of this beauty and the Asura's combative nature, wars often occur wherever Asura pass, hence the common saying that a battlefield is an "Asura field."

The female Asura was exceedingly beautiful, with lips like peach blossoms, a rosy complexion like apricot blush, skin like jade, a light body and fragrant Qi, graceful and slender, unparalleled in ancient times, with a seductive appearance. She did not look like an evil god of the Asura, but rather more like a young lady from a prominent family.

Of course, Li Qi wouldn't judge people by their appearance; this woman truly exuded the aura of the Asura Dao.

Then, the female Asura lifted the curtain and said, "I heard from the Ghost Messenger that Sir has a very big business deal to make?"

"Indeed, Your Excellency has come to do business? Are you the Sea Flower of the Asura clan?" Li Qi immediately spoke, asking.

The 'Fahua Wenju' says: "Asura, this means 'no wine'. Flowers are gathered from the Four Greats of the world and brewed in the great ocean. Due to the Karma of fish and Dragons, their taste does not change. They vow to cut off anger and jealousy, hence they are called 'Gods without Wine'."

The Asura clan likes to drink wine, but they don't know how to brew it. So they found a way: they collect various essences from the four directions of the world and put them in the great ocean, using the Karma of fish and Dragons to brew them.

But obviously, they were already said to not know how to brew wine, so this method didn't produce good wine either; the taste didn't change at all. So the Asura angrily said that there was no wine god in this world.

However, although it was not good as wine, these 'Sea Flowers,' which gathered the essence of the four directions, were indeed an excellent ingredient and one of the ingredients specifically requested by the Peng Hai Cauldron.

Presumably, this female Asura came to sell Sea Flowers, which means Li Weng had indeed spread the word, but where was he? Why did only the Asura come, and he didn't return himself?

But as he was thinking this, he heard the female Asura say: "Then please, Sir, get in the carriage. Not only Sea Flower, but if Sir can afford the price, we can offer all the food you need on your list."

Talking with the female Asura was a very comfortable experience. Although she didn't show any special expressions and her words were normal, she somehow gave people a refreshing feeling.

Li Qi was not surprised by this. After all, the female Asura was a genuine 'Heavenly Maiden,' so it was normal for her to have some profound and mysterious mechanisms.

So, Li Qi cupped his hands and said, "That's convenient? Very well, if I can buy everything at once, a slightly higher price is acceptable. By the way, where is the Yin Messenger whom I entrusted to convey my message? Why don't I see him?"

"He is in our shop, being entertained, and is temporarily unavailable," the female Asura said.

Li Qi nodded upon hearing this: "Since that's the case, please proceed, Your Excellency."

There was nothing to doubt; it should be as the other party said. Li Qi didn't feel that the other party had any reason to harm him.

This is the world, and Li Qi is a person of standing. Moreover, he possesses vast wealth and sufficient background. Under such circumstances, rational bandits would have already transformed themselves into merchants.

For example, the female Asura in front of him, Li Qi clearly knew that Asura were evil gods, and the goods in her possession, besides Sea Flower, probably didn't have very legitimate origins, but it didn't matter.

It was good enough to be able to buy them; there was no need to dwell too much on the origins of such things.

Having received Li Qi's approval, the female Asura smiled charmingly and pointed her slender finger.

Then, many strange birds around began to chatter, but they quickly flapped their wings, forming a bridge of strange birds similar to a 'magpie bridge,' extending from the high ghost carriage all the way down to Li Qi's feet.

This was an invitation for Li Qi to sit opposite the female Asura.

Li Qi didn't hesitate, taking three steps as two, and walked onto the ghost carriage.

After getting into the carriage, the scenery inside remained unchanged, but the interior space was not small, as if there was a large hall.魑魅魍魉, various demons and monsters, kept moving in and out, seemingly transporting some things and maintaining the oppressive Qi within the ghost carriage.

It seemed that this was the source of the demons constantly circling outside, and it was quite... rustic.

Sitting on the ghost carriage, Li Qi sat in the guest seat, and the female Asura sat in the main seat. They faced each other, with a distance of about three zhang between them. In the middle was a long table, and beside it, some beautiful female ghosts, demons, and slightly inferior Asura served as attendants, waiting for commands.

As Li Qi got into the carriage, the demons beneath the ghost carriage rose again, lifted the carriage, and began to move slowly.

However, inside the ghost carriage, it was very stable, without the slightest bump. With the curtains drawn, one could barely feel being in a carriage at all, but rather as if one had arrived in a magnificent palace, sitting opposite a charming princess, feasting and conversing happily.

Li Qi had just settled down when the female Asura smiled and said, "Calling you 'Sir' just now was probably a bit impolite and unfamiliar, but since we are outside, even if there's no one around, it's not good to directly call you 'Young Master,' lest it displease Young Master ~."

The meaning of these words was very clear.

We know you are the Young Master of Shaman God Mountain, and we know what that title represents, so we will give you the utmost respect, but... this also means we understand your background, and you'd best take this seriously yourself.

Li Qi understood the hidden meaning and also smiled: "No need to call me Young Master, just call me by my name. My name is Li Qi. I greet the Asura. May I ask your name, Asura?"

"My name is Po Tisha. Since Young Master doesn't mind, you can just call me by my name." The female Asura named Po Tisha greeted Li Qi.

"However, I wonder why Young Master Li Qi needs so many precious ingredients? Is it because your esteemed teacher is fond of good food? Or do you need to host a banquet? I see that among the list Young Master Li Qi has provided, there are countless valuable ingredients. To acquire them all, I'm afraid it would require at least a fourth-rank world's worth, a considerable value," Po Tisha asked with a curious expression.

"Oh, it has nothing to do with my esteemed teacher. My esteemed teacher usually doesn't have a strong appetite for food... Uh, it's hard to say, but anyway, he doesn't care for these ordinary 'good things.' He prefers..." Li Qi waved his hand, saying.

If Teacher Zhu were to have an appetite and want to eat something... he would probably eat something more stimulating, like Immortal peaches or something.

He would absolutely refuse anything obtained through proper channels; he would have to personally go to the Heavenly Court's Jade Pool and pick it with his own hands to eat it.

The Jade Pool inviting him? He definitely couldn't go; he had to sneak in when it was dark and deserted, otherwise, it wouldn't taste good.

For no other reason than he just liked the thrill of it.

"Not your esteemed teacher? Then?" Po Tisha was a little puzzled.

"It's another elder. He achieved Dao through a Spiritual Artifact, and recently he needs to use these ingredients to make some dishes. It should be quite important to him. I'm just running errands for him. He finds it inconvenient to come to the East Sea, saying he's likely to encounter enemies," Li Qi said with a smile.

The Peng Hai Cauldron should be for daily procurement, but recently, Human Dao and the East Sea have been fighting fiercely, so he probably can't come. Otherwise, the True Dragon would likely smash him into scrap metal and plaster him on a wall.

"So that's how it is. Such a grand undertaking can even be entrusted to Young Master to handle alone. This is truly... trust. Although Young Master has a bright future, he is only seventh-rank now, yet they dare to let you come to the Deep Ocean area of the East Sea..." Po Tisha sighed.

"This is the world. If one doesn't even dare to move around here, then what will happen if one needs to travel outside the domain in the future? Will I really have to stay at home like a young lady?" Li Qi said with a slight smile.