After putting down their luggage, Liu Ziming directly led everyone to the high-end restaurant on the upper floors.
Pushing open the private room door, the group couldn't help but pause slightly in surprise.
The private room featured classic Daxia ancient aesthetics.
Rosewood tables and chairs, carved screens.
The walls were adorned with famous ink paintings depicting schools of fish swimming in deep sea.
At the center stood a large round table capable of seating over a dozen people, already laden with various seafood delicacies.
Chilled oysters, steamed king crab, charcoal-grilled Australian lobster, fatty tuna sashimi, truffle-baked abalone...
Liu Ziming swept his satisfied gaze across the spread before telling the manager: "Passable. Barely enough to eat."
The manager immediately fawned: "Young Master Liu, if it's insufficient, the kitchen just received fresh blue lobsters that can be prepared immediately."
As everyone took their seats, the manager clapped his hands. A side door opened, revealing over a dozen young women in ancient-style long dresses gliding in gracefully.
Holding round silk fans, they moved with delicate steps - clearly preparing to perform classical dance.
However, their outfits were rather sheer, with undergarments faintly visible beneath.
All eyes were inevitably drawn there.
The group: "......"
Liu Ziming nearly spat out his tea: "Wait! Who arranged this?"
The manager froze: "Young Master Liu, wasn't this your..."
Liu Ziming immediately adopted a stern expression: "When did I ever ask for this?"
Beads of sweat formed on the manager's forehead as he hurriedly apologized: "My deepest apologies! I must have misunderstood!"
Xie Xi sneered: "Young Master Liu, your preferences are truly common knowledge."
Su Zhan also couldn't suppress his amusement.
Clearly, the manager was well-informed about Liu Ziming's tastes.
Or rather, within their social circles, Liu Ziming's preferences were no secret.
But...
This wasn't the time or place.
With their current company, if Liu Ziming dared indulge in such behavior, never mind facing Wang Mingyuan's reprimand -
Xie Xi alone would make him regret it.
And if Liu Ziming got beaten for it?
Su Zhan wouldn't lift a finger to help.
One word: Deserved!
Liu Ziming coughed awkwardly and waved at the manager: "Get them out immediately. Don't ruin our meal."
The manager nodded repeatedly, hastily ushering the dancers away while puzzling internally:
Hadn't Young Master Liu always particularly enjoyed these arrangements before?
Xu Hao gave Liu Ziming a thumbs up: "Young Master Liu, honestly? When you used to brag about women, I thought you were exaggerating. But now? I'm genuinely impressed."
"Hahaha, modesty modesty! Mouse, if you're interested, I'll bring you separately next time." Liu Ziming's expression became animated with excitement.
"No no no," Xu Hao waved both hands rapidly, "I'll have to decline such... blessings."
"I get it - you can't speak freely here," Liu Ziming slung an arm around his shoulders, "Later we'll..."
"Liu Ziming," Wang Mingyuan's stern voice cut in, "No corrupting others. Just eat the meal."
If he didn't intervene now, Liu Ziming would completely derail the gathering's atmosphere.
"Right, eating." Seeing the disapproving looks from Su Zhan and others, Liu Ziming realized he'd gone too far and immediately reined himself in.
As Su Zhan cracked open a crab leg thicker than his thumb, countless thoughts arose.
This was his first concrete glimpse into Liu Ziming's privileged background.
Was this the world of Daxia's top hundred corporations and ultra-wealthy?
Pretending not to envy it would be dishonest. Before transmigrating, he'd been an ordinary person who didn't even know which direction five-star hotels faced.
Yet now here he sat, enjoying feasts beyond most people's wildest dreams.
But soon his gaze landed on Xie Xi.
The cold-faced girl picked at crab meat indifferently, utterly unmoved by the luxurious spread.
This reinforced Su Zhan's understanding - in this world, true power never lay with merchants.
It resided with top-tier awakened like Xie Xi's parents.
No matter how wealthy Liu Ziming's family was, before military powerhouses like Xie Xi's parents, they were merely nouveau riche.
Recalling how Liu Ziming endured Xie Xi's sharpest barbs without real retaliation -
Not because of good temper.
But because behind Xie Xi stood power that could erase the entire Liu Corporation overnight.
He understood more profoundly now:
In this world, absolute strength was the only true reliance.
Growing stronger was his sole priority now.
First, for self-preservation against the Transcendence Cult.
Second, naturally, to join Daxia's top echelon. The benefits then... went without saying.
......
After unrelated personnel withdrew, Wang Mingyuan finally spoke: "Alright, eat first. Afterwards I'll brief you about the exchange event."
Liu Ziming immediately resumed his rich second-generation persona, picking up chopsticks to serve Wang Mingyuan first: "Professor, try this fatty tuna belly - rich marbling, melts in your mouth."
Next he placed a crab leg on Xie Xi's plate: "Classmate Xie, this crab's sweetness pairs perfectly with ginger vinegar."
Xie Xi glanced sideways: "I can serve myself."
Undaunted, Liu Ziming cheerfully turned to Su Zhan, Xu Hao and Feng Jue: "Come come, no formalities! My treat - eat your fill!"
After multiple rounds of drinks and dishes, Wang Mingyuan set down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth:
"Tomorrow's exchange will follow convention with individual and team matches. However, Lan City Awakener Academy leadership seems to have additional arrangements. Details after I meet them tomorrow."
Su Zhan nodded: "Understood."
"Now, report your current cultivation stages."
Wang Mingyuan adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, surveying the group.
Of course everyone was at the Dew Realm.
But this wasn't a meaningless question.
Within the Dew Realm existed significant stratification - each major realm divided into ten minor stages.
First stage being lowest, tenth highest.
Feng Jue answered succinctly: "Dew Realm, second stage."
Xu Hao scratched his head: "Same here - second stage."
Liu Ziming preened while straightening his collar: "What a coincidence - also second stage."
Wang Mingyuan nodded, shifting his gaze to Xie Xi.
"Third stage," she stated coolly.
This answer made the other three pause slightly.
Liu Ziming's eyes widened: "Wait, when did you..."
Before he finished, Wang Mingyuan was already looking at Su Zhan: "And you?"
"Third stage," Su Zhan replied calmly.
"What?!" Liu Ziming gaped. "Su Zhan, you're third stage too? Since when?"
Xu Hao added: "Last week you were still second stage..."
Feng Jue remained silent but clenched his fist slightly tighter.
Xie Xi gave a slight nod: "Impressive."
Liu Ziming wailed as he collapsed into his chair: "Forget it, can't compete with you two - one with SSS-ranked Life Soul genius, the other a cultivation-obsessed maniac."
"That's because you slack off," Xie Xi delivered the merciless finishing blow.
Wang Mingyuan nodded approvingly at the two: "Good. Keep striving."
Su Zhan reflected on his two-plus months at Vermilion Bird Academy.
Cultivating. Spending money to cultivate.
Truthfully, Xie Xi had helped tremendously with his cultivation progress.
Hmm... those 900,000 credits.
At his current low stage, cultivation didn't require that much funding.
The cultivation elixirs he bought weren't that expensive either.
Yet with Xie Xi's lost 900,000 credits, he'd spent without restraint.
Over forty thousand extra in just two months.
And this was atop Vermilion Bird Academy's basic cultivation resources!
Cultivation truly devoured money!
"Whatever, we're all brothers here," Liu Ziming raised his glass. "When you two get stronger, Lan City's awakeners are in for hell! Whatever arrangements Lan City makes, our Vermilion Bird Academy will dominate! Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Glasses raised all around, the atmosphere brimming with confidence and fighting spirit.
Even the normally taciturn Feng Jue uttered a "Cheers."
Such was the rightful spirit of youth.