The Heavenly Dao System-Chapter 85: Maybe I Am. Maybe I’m Not. Who’s Asking?

Indeed, the people who arrived were Tao Wang and Ling Qiwei, accompanied by the city’s guards.

"Yes, it’s us again, Senior Dao." Tao Wang bowed her head and paid her respect.

Ling Qiwei didn’t want to greet him but still cupped her fist as a gesture of greeting. After all, prior to her arrival, she had encountered Lang Jian, who had relayed the events.

Of course, Lang Jian didn’t want to relay his embarrassing feat, but with the leader of the city’s guard present. He could only take a loss and speak the whole truth.

"Is this the correct person?" The leader of the guards turned to his subordinate and questioned.

The subordinate was none other than the cultivator who was in charge of the line outside, Piao Gan.

Piao Gan naturally recognized Ye Ming, especially with his extremely casual and nonchalant demeanor.

"Yes, Captain Tung."

Captain Tung, otherwise known as Shan Tung was precisely the Spirit Severing realm cultivator who had tried to barge into the formation in the past. It was just a pity he not only failed but became bedridden and was forced to become a guard for 20 years.

Though having served for a while, Shan Tung started to enjoy his post given the benefits and resources he could receive.

Although Shan Tung knew it was a ploy to get him to remain after 20 years, he didn’t mind the free and unlimited resources.

Nevertheless, Shan Tung could never imagined that while he was on break, a subordinate suddenly informed him that there was someone who managed to intrude on the formation.

’I know the formation power very well. How could a Qi Refinement realm break through it?’ Shan Tung thought to himself.

Now that Shan Tung had a clearer look at Ye Ming, he began to wonder if the latter knew about formation. After all, there was no way his strength alone could nullify the formation’s power.

"You’re called the Dao Lord, right?" Shan Tung stepped forward and inquired.

"Maybe I am. Maybe I’m not. Who’s asking?" Ye Ming smirked and shrugged.

"..."

The place went dead silent after hearing Ye Ming’s sarcastic response.

A few seconds later, Shan Tung introduced himself. "I’m Shan Tung, a captain of the guard who is responsible for enforcing the rules of the city."

"Ah, so it’s Tung Tung." Ye Ming nodded and rubbed his chin. "Then what does Tung Tung want with me?"

Tung Tung...

This nickname was probably something only the Soul Transformation cultivators dared to utter to Shan Tung.

Many thought a fight would break out from this interaction.

But to their surprise, Shan Tung smiled widely and said, "The appointed leader of this city wishes to meet with you. I wonder if the Daoist Dao Lord agrees to it."

Unlike what the other cultivators believed Ye Ming to be disrespectful, Shan Tung had seen and witnessed many anomaly. The more outrageous and arrogant Ye Ming behaved, the more respectful he shall be.

After all, only those who were confident in themselves would dare to behave in such a manner.

Of course, there was also the possibility of them being brain dead. But after hearing the statement from Lang Jian, followed by the latter’s fearfulness and respectfulness toward Ye Ming, Shan Tung reckoned it was the former.

Moreover, the fact that Ye Ming could enter the city without the token was evident enough of his mysteriousness.

As if Shan Tung would want to court death and offend such a Daoist. ’I overestimated myself once and suffered a huge loss. I would never make the same mistake again.’

Meanwhile, Ye Ming was disappointed and amused at the same time.

"Fine, since you’re respectful, I shall give you some face." He nodded and waved his hand. "You can wait downstairs for a while. I’m still enjoying lunch here."

"Very well, Daoist Dao Lord." Shan Tung cupped his fist and ordered his subordinates to retreat. His decisive action stunned everyone on the scene.

As for Piao Gan, he was starting to be afraid—frightened by the possibility that Ye Ming might seek revenge against him. He may not have made things difficult for Ye Ming, but he sure looked down on him earlier, albeit very subtle.

’Should I apologize or not?’ Piao Gan struggled internally. In the end, he noticed Ye Ming didn’t even bat an eyelid on him. Thus, he silently retreated and feigned ignorance.

Since Ye Ming didn’t find trouble with him, then he should be safe. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Shortly after the guards left, Tao Wang and Ling Qiwei remained on the scene, their eyes fixated on Ye Ming.

Finally, Tao Wang mustered up her courage and stepped forward.

"Senior Dao, could I perhaps join your table?" She requested with a resolute tone.

"Have you not eaten yet?"

"No, I haven’t."

"Then do you have money?"

"I do."

"Then sit and pay me." Ye Ming pointed at another empty side.

Their table was of square size, so there was still a vacant area.

After all, Zhu Mingyue and Jing An were close enough to share the same side. As for Li Hua, she took another side, afraid of sitting close to Ye Ming due to the difference in status.

Tao Wang was instantly delighted and gladly took the empty side. She then took out a few spirit stones as payment. Ling Qiwei didn’t say anything but sat next to her.

When Ye Ming saw that, he stared at her and said. "You have to pay double if you want to sit."

"What?" Alarmed, Ling Qiwei’s eyes flared up. "Why do I have to pay double?"

"I didn’t invite you nor do I like your attitude. So either pay double or scram."

"..."

Frustrated, Ling Qiwei pursed her lips but still coughed up 10 low-grade spirit stones.

Upon seeing the spirit stones, Ye Ming snorted loudly. "Li Hua, how much is my meal combined?"

Li Hua was taken aback by the sudden question.

The meal of this table was technically paid in advance by his highest grade spirit stone already. Moreover, he was now a Gold Card member, meaning he could technically eat for free.

Therefore, she didn’t even check the menu pricing and only told the chefs to cook as if they were serving the highest guests.

"Let me do a quick calculation." Li Hua smiled awkwardly and hurriedly glanced at the dishes.

Truth be told, she might have sat down at the table, but she never ate anything, much less glanced at them. The dishes were brought by the lower employees as she was focused on catering to Ye Ming.

A few seconds later, Li Hua finished calculating. "The total cost is around 50 medium-grade spirit stones."

"What?" Ling Qiwei was the first to shout and frowned at the pricing.

100 low-grade spirit stones equals 1 medium-grade spirit stone.

In other words, the whole meal of the table cost a whopping 5,000 low-grade spirit stones. This was equivalent to the price of a Spirit-Infused Weapon.

A spirit-infused weapon had a spiritual pattern that allowed qi to flow fluently and amplify a cultivator’s strength upon injecting their qi.

"Is this a daylight robbery?" Ling Qiwei pursed her lips and questioned, her eyes were staring at Li Hua and not Ye Ming.

After all, she refused to believe Li Hua was being serious. A meal of that price meant many high-end resources were wasted to produce this lunch.

Despite her accusation, Li Hua didn’t bother to speak further and retrieved the very spirit stone that Ye Ming had tipped her.

"Senior Dao gave this to me as a tip and another one to get a table. The ones who are inferior are our restaurant as we couldn’t produce higher quality." Li Hua explained.

When Ling Qiwei noticed the spirit stone on her hand, her eyes were glued to the powerful fluctuation. The aura and qi fluctuation in the spirit stone alone was akin—no, superior to the Soul Transformation realm.

"Alright, I’ve eaten my fill, and thanks to her. I don’t have the mood to continue." Ye Ming suddenly stood up. "You can eat if you don’t mind the leftovers. A poor Missy wanting to act rich is quite comical."

"..."

Ling Qiwei was stunned on the spot, unable to refute his claim.

The facts were right in front of her face, so what more could she say?

"I can just buy some snacks outside." She stomped the ground and leaped out from the balcony to leave. Her face was burning red from shame, so how could she afford to stay any longer?

Seeing her leave so hastily, Tao Wang asked, "Can I take some food and bring it to my Senior Sister?"

"Suit yourself." Ye Ming shrugged and didn’t care. Honestly, if Ling Qiwei wasn’t acting so typical of an annoying woman, then he wouldn’t have told her to pay.

Cold, tsundere, and aloof woman?

Sorry, but Ye Ming would have to pass that.

He ain’t no simp, and definitely not some dog who would wag their tail in front of them.

Sometime later, he descended the stairs and noticed the customers on the first floor all behaving weirdly.

It made sense though when Ye Ming saw Shan Tung standing by the wall with his eyes closed.