Chapter 10: Wisdom Pearl

“Serve the dishes!”

At Xu Xuan’s command, the kitchen immediately began to bring out the food. A massive yellowtail fish had been prepared in numerous ways: braised tail, pickled fish in sour broth, fish roe and bladder, chopped chili fish head, fresh fish soup… It was truly more than just eight dishes from a single fish.

Every part of the yellowtail was put to use, filling the table with delicacies that made Xu Xuan’s mouth water. Without hesitation, he picked up his chopsticks and tasted the pickled fish. The flesh was indeed tender and fresh, with a lingering flavor that left him wanting more.

The crowd of onlookers watched Xu Xuan actually eat the fish’s flesh, their scalps tingling in disbelief, unsure what to say.

“That’s a demon!”

“The fish monster is watching him right now.”

“To feast before the fish spirit’s very eyes…”

Many people looked at Xu Xuan with newfound awe. What was a mere fish spirit compared to him? In his eyes, it was nothing more than a dish to be enjoyed.

“Don’t just stand around! Join in, this fish is a great tonic. Eating it will bring many benefits.” Xu Xuan smiled warmly as he continued to eat, urging the others to partake.

The common folk hesitated, intimidated by the idea. Who among them dared eat the flesh of a spirit, especially after witnessing the miserable fate of those earlier diners—a sight that would haunt them for life.

“Young Master Xu, aren’t you afraid of angering the ‘Fish Immortal’ by eating its flesh right in front of it?” The portly innkeeper’s face was pale, his eyes shifty with obvious fear.

“No need to worry. I’ve already made arrangements with the fish spirit. From now on, it will be the guardian spirit of this eatery, as long as you give it proper offerings. Besides, leaving this fish uneaten would be wasteful, and waste is a shame. If you trust me, Xu Xuan, sit down and eat.”

With that, Xu Xuan picked up a piece of fish bladder and popped it into his mouth. It was a pity the people of this era didn’t know how to prepare sashimi; otherwise, raw fish with wasabi would have been a delicacy too.

Hearing his words, the townsfolk felt embarrassed to refuse. A few bolder men quietly sat beside Xu Xuan, took up their chopsticks, and tried a bite.

Once they tasted it, they couldn’t stop. The full fish banquet was delicious beyond compare, leaving them savoring every bite.

Seeing most of the people still watching, Xu Xuan grinned and said, “Opportunities like this are rare. If you miss out today, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. This yellowtail nourishes yin and boosts yang, with countless benefits. I am a scholar—would I ever deceive you?”

The bolder men, upon tasting the fish, felt as if they were floating on air.

“Oh my, my night blindness is cured! I can see clearly a hundred paces away!” Suddenly, one man cried out in delight.

Everyone turned to look. It was Old Huang, the near-blind elder of Ripple Town. Years ago, he had suffered from night blindness and could hardly see at night. Now, hearing his exclamation, everyone was amazed.

“Old Huang, what did you just eat that fixed your eyes?” someone asked.

“I just had a bite of chopped chili fish head, and happened to eat the fish eye. Who would have thought it would have such an effect?”

Seeing Old Huang’s excitement, and how he described the scenery a hundred paces beyond the window without a single mistake, those who had been hesitating were convinced Xu Xuan spoke the truth.

“Young Scholar Xu truly has a good heart.”

“He is indeed a man of virtue, willing to share such treasures with us. That is a great kindness.”

“Indeed! If we fail to appreciate this, we’ll only chill Young Master Xu’s heart.”

Seeing Xu Xuan eating with relish and witnessing Old Huang’s miraculous recovery after eating a fish eye, everyone’s reservations vanished. They crowded around the table and began to eat and drink with gusto.

The fish itself was over four feet long, weighing a hundred or two pounds, and with the side dishes, the quantity was even greater. When there weren’t enough seats, the portly innkeeper ordered two or three more tables to be set up, inviting the townsfolk to sit and feast.

The scene became lively at once, especially as the fish bladder became hotly contested among the men. This delicacy, said to invigorate the body and revitalize the kidneys, restored a man’s vigor, making even elderly men feel young again.

For the sake of family harmony and a blissful life, several elders over fifty thickened their faces and helped themselves to the fish bladder.

Seeing the crowd enjoying themselves and his troubles resolved by Xu Xuan, the innkeeper was in high spirits. He instructed the waiters to bring out a cask of fine wine, serving it especially for Xu Xuan.

“Young Master Xu, may I ask your destination on this journey?” the innkeeper inquired, pouring Xu Xuan a cup of wine with a smile.

“I’m heading to West Mountain to subdue demons and end the local troubles, so no more villagers fall victim.” Xu Xuan replied, picking up a piece of braised fish and savoring its tender, delicious flavor, which left his entire body feeling at ease.

“What? You’re going to West Mountain to subdue demons? I’ve heard that place is dangerous—few dare to enter. To think you’d risk your life for the people’s sake!” The innkeeper, hearing Xu Xuan’s plan, was immediately filled with respect.

“Heh, it’s nothing dangerous. If all goes well, I might trouble you for a bear paw feast when I return,” Xu Xuan joked. At the mention of bear paw, he frowned a bit, wondering how he would bring that enormous Bear Lord down the mountain should he really slay it.

“Young Master Xu, your righteousness is unmatched!” Those nearby, hearing of his quest to West Mountain, all looked upon him with admiration.

Thus, the fish feast became a joyful gathering for all, everyone grateful to Xu Xuan for the delicious meal.

The banquet lasted until midnight. At the innkeeper’s insistence, Xu Xuan stayed in a guest room at Fortune Inn.

Lying in bed, however, Xu Xuan felt no sleepiness, turning a dragon-eye-sized pearl over in his hand. The pearl was milky white, exuding a faint exotic fragrance—something Xu Xuan had found in the great fish’s head.

It was the Pearl of Insight, essence of a demon’s enlightenment.

As the name implies, for spirits seeking cultivation, awakening intelligence is essential. Mountain spirits and monsters, if born of powerful demon parents, might have their intelligence awakened from birth.

But for ordinary plants, fish, insects, or beasts, awakening intelligence required a great stroke of fortune—a touch of celestial energy, a blessing from an immortal, or a celestial fruit, each a rare fate.

Such fortune could transform lowly beings, allowing them to awaken wisdom and begin true cultivation, absorbing the essence of sun and moon. Over time, they could devise their own path of cultivation, growing ever stronger and perhaps achieving immortality.

During this journey, as spirits and monsters absorb the world’s essence, their accumulated fortune over the years eventually condenses into a Pearl of Insight. As their cultivation deepens, this pearl eventually becomes a demon core.

A demon core is the hallmark of a thousand-year-old spirit, comparable to the Golden Core of human cultivators, holding unparalleled magic. With it, a spirit can escape the cycle of reincarnation, reincarnate at will, and avoid the confusion of rebirth.

Of course, in this world, there are also wicked monsters who grow strong by devouring human flesh and souls. These creatures do not follow the usual path, often gaining centuries of cultivation in just a hundred years. Such monsters commit countless crimes, and the Great Qian Dynasty established the Demon Suppression Bureau precisely to deal with their kind.