"You can still defeat me if you keep improving. This is just a temporary setback."
"Hah, you're right. One day, I'll definitely surpass you."
As Arya and Kane arrived at their destination, the sight before them was bustling. The hall was filled with young cultivators, their auras hinting at formidable strength, as well as elders engaged in discussions while enjoying their meals.
"These people must be from other villages," Kane noted, scanning the crowd. "They look strong. What do you think, Arya?"
Arya nodded. "Their cultivation levels are impressive. The competition will be tough, but we need to secure a good ranking—not just for our village, but for ourselves as well."
"So, where should we go first?" Kane asked.
After briefly surveying the hall, Arya made his decision. "Let's get our food first. That's the main reason I came here."
Kane smirked. "Looks like someone's a foodie. Aren't you interested in meeting the other participants?"
"I am," Arya replied, "but I'm starving. I need food first. Let's go."
The two made their way to the food counter. As they approached, a waiter stepped forward with a polite smile.
"What would you like to order, sir?"
Arya glanced at the menu displayed above the serving area and noticed certain dishes were marked with stars. Curious, he pointed at them. "What do these stars mean?"
The waiter smiled. "Those are premium dishes, sir. They contain high levels of nutrients and energy, which can aid cultivation. However, they are not free—you'll need to pay for them."
"Oh, interesting…" Arya murmured. Even as the village chief's son, he had never eaten such high-quality food before.
After considering his options, he made his choice. "I'll have a bowl of Red-Tailed Bird Soup and some rice."
The waiter's face lit up. Selling premium dishes earned him merit points, which could lead to a promotion. "Excellent choice, sir. I'll have it prepared immediately."
Before the waiter could leave, Arya stopped him. "One more thing—can you tell me about this Red-Tailed Bird?"
The question caught the waiter off guard. "Sir, is this your first time trying it?"
"Yeah. Is that a problem?" Arya asked.
"Not at all!" The waiter quickly composed himself. "The Red-Tailed Bird is a fire-elemental monster beast. It's rare in our continent, which makes it expensive. If a fire cultivator eats it, the energy absorption is significantly higher. But since most people here have water or ice affinities, it's not that popular."
"I see. Thanks for the info." Arya wasn't disappointed; he hadn't expected the waiter to provide deep insights into the beast itself.
"You seem more interested in the beast than the food."
A sweet, elegant voice reached Arya's ears. He turned, and for a moment, he couldn't believe his eyes.
It was Rose, the Black Crow Village chief's daughter.
Maintaining his composure, he smiled. "Does Miss Rose know about it?"
She gracefully took the seat next to him. "Yes. I can tell you more if you'd like."
As Arya glanced around, he noticed the sharp glares of several young men from different villages. Ignoring them, he smirked. "It looks like Miss Rose is quite popular. I imagine many people are feeling disappointed right now."
Rose chuckled. "Who cares what they think? I sat here because I wanted to. And you don't seem like one of them."
Arya sighed dramatically. "Well, this makes things more difficult for me."
"Oh? Are you afraid of a challenge?" she teased.
Arya simply looked at her, intrigued.
"Forget that," Rose continued. "Let's talk about the Red-Tailed Bird. It's a low-level monster beast, but its attack abilities are quite strong. Its destructive power is high for its rank."
"Low-level monster beast? What does that mean?" Arya asked.
"There are many types of spirit beasts and monster beasts. I don't know all the ranking differences, but I can tell you that some of them are born with power equivalent to a level 30 or 40 Seed Master. You can imagine the power gap."
Arya nodded. "That's fascinating. Your knowledge is impressive."
Rose shrugged. "I just read a lot."
Arya hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "I have another question."
"Go ahead."
"I'm curious to see the face hidden behind that veil. Would you be willing to remove it?"
The surrounding atmosphere tensed. Kane, who had just arrived behind Arya, nearly choked on his breath. He shook his head, muttering, "Brother Arya… you really don't waste time."
The room fell silent, and every young man who had been watching them stared in disbelief.
But to everyone's shock, Rose didn't get angry. Instead, she smiled, stood up, and said, "It's not that easy. You'll have to earn it."
With that, she gracefully left the room, leaving behind a wave of stunned admirers.
Arya finished his meal and was about to leave when a heavy hand landed on his shoulder. He turned to see Leo, and he wasn't alone.
"You guys can't wait until tomorrow's competition and already want to cause trouble?" Arya asked calmly.
Leo's voice was cold. "This is your last warning—stay away from Rose."
Arya scoffed. "It's not like I approached her. She came to me. But even if I had, why should I care whether you like it or not?"
"You—!"
Leo raised his hand, summoning his power, but before he could strike, a sharp cough echoed through the hall.
"Fighting is not allowed here."
Rick's voice cut through the tension. The Black Crow Village chief stood at a distance, watching with narrowed eyes.
"This is a place to meet and learn about each other, not cause trouble. Control yourself."
Leo clenched his fists but didn't argue. Arya simply smirked, brushing off his shoulder as if dusting away an annoyance.
"See you in the competition."
And with that, he left.