I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

"Oh, the city is still the same as before."

As daylight entered the city, Nian looked around this ancient city, and many fond memories flooded back.

I scanned the streets on both sides, but didn't recognize a single person.

She felt lost and overwhelmed with emotion.

Finally, as if she had confirmed something, she clutched Bai Zhou's clothes in disappointment and softly called out:

"The pork knuckles at that restaurant that were really good are gone."

"...Sister Nian, would you like to eat pork knuckle? I remember a shop that makes really good braised pork knuckle, it's fragrant and tender. Want to try it?"

Bai Zhou understood the hidden meaning in Nian's words, so he changed direction and drove the vehicle toward the street he remembered.

"Oh, I can't possibly accept that... Are the pig's feet at that restaurant big?"

"Big, one is worth two."

"Hehe, then I'll leave it to Xiaobai."

Nian straightened up, raised her sleeve to wipe her mouth, and barely managed to preserve the last bit of dignity for her elder sister.

Once inside the store, the two went up to the second floor and found a window seat.

"Shopkeeper, four servings of signature pork knuckle, two catties of braised pork, and a jar of bamboo leaf green tea."

After taking their seats, Bai Zhou called over the waiter to write down the names of the dishes.

"Xiaobai, is it a bit noisy outside?"

Attracted by the cheers coming from outside, Nian got up and leaned against the windowsill to look outside.

"Oh, Little White, come quick! It's a magic trick!"

"He spews fire from his mouth without any Originium Arts fluctuations. This guy who can break rocks with his chest is pretty tough."

Bored during the year, I watched and commented as I went, just for fun.

"Sister Nian, stop looking for now, the pork knuckle is here."

"Ah."

Upon hearing the call, Nian immediately abandoned the magic trick and returned to his seat.

"Wow! It's delicious!"

Braised pork knuckles are served in pairs of two, and two pairs make one serving.

Its color is bright red, and its flesh is salty and fragrant.

After being simmered and freshly cooked, the pork knuckle is tender and chewy, with the meat falling apart and the bones melting in your mouth. You can easily suck a big mouthful of meat into your mouth and enjoy chewing it to your heart's content.

Eating meat with a sip of lukewarm bamboo leaf tea is simply wonderful.

"call--!"

After devouring three large pork knuckles in one go, Nian finally slowed down his chewing pace, feeling somewhat satisfied.

Holding a half-eaten pork knuckle in one hand and drinking heartily from a wine cup in the other, he was clearly someone who knew how to enjoy life.

"Really tasty……"

"If you like it, have some more."

During the day, he would sip his wine slowly.

Watching Nian enjoy his meal so heartily, he couldn't help but think it was a sight that was both pleasing to the eye and appetizing.

"Speaking of which, Xiaobai, have you noticed that the number of out-of-towners here is a bit off?"

The year refers to the diners who came in after them.

Most of them were outsiders dressed in strange clothes, quite different from the local Yan Kingdom residents of Chang'an.

"Well, I found it."

Bai Zhou paused for a moment when he saw the pork knuckle being offered to him, then bent down and took a bite.

“Wu and Yue, Jing and Chu, Yun and Shu... and Yanbei.”

The daylight sweeps across the diners speaking their various hometown languages, revealing their origins one by one.

"They're all guys who have a few tricks up their sleeves."

These people are already enough to be called extraordinary individuals.

"Is there any major event being held here recently?"

While gnawing on a pig's foot, he asked.

These people must have a reason for coming here.

"A grand event..."

Suddenly, Bai Zhou raised his hand, and a white-feathered carrier pigeon flew in through the window and landed precisely on Bai Zhou's arm.

"Oh, I see."

Remove the paper tube from the pigeon's claw, scan the contents written on it, and then put it back on the pigeon's leg during the day.

"Indeed, a grand event is about to be held here."

"This is going to be quite a show."

Nian licked her lips in surprise. When did her mouth become so eloquent?

"It's about time."

During the day, pigeons are sent out of the window, and then the year is spent explaining the purpose of this grand event.

"The full name of this conference is the Yan Kingdom's Martial Arts Tournament, a grand gathering to discuss the Dao of the World."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Upon hearing this perplexing name, Nian tilted his head blankly.

"Hmm... it's a gathering of extraordinary people and eccentrics from all walks of life in Yan Kingdom."

The term "daytime" has been replaced with a significantly less sophisticated expression.

"Oh, no wonder there was someone performing magic tricks on the street just now. Are magicians considered extraordinary people?"

As if he had just realized something, he then picked up a pig's paw and brought it to his mouth.

"Hmm... if used well, magic tricks can have unexpected effects."

The daytime continues to explain the year.

"This conference is hosted by the Yan Kingdom government and is held every sixty years. At that time, people from all walks of life in the Yan Kingdom can send representatives to participate."

"Last time it was in Jinling, this time it's Chang'an."

"So what's going on at this party? It's not really just a bunch of people getting together to eat and drink, is it?"

"Of course not."

Bai Zhou slightly raised his head, gesturing for Nian to look at the table of diners from the Jingchu region he was pointing to.

"The event included not only ordinary food and drink, but also discussions, friendships, and most importantly, ascension to heaven."

"Ascend to heaven?"

The year looked at the daytime with a strange gaze.

Is it really okay for you to say something like that?

"It's called ascending to heaven, but it's actually a competition to determine the winner. The winner gets points, and the loser is eliminated. During the ascent, the points earned by the participants are recorded on a leaderboard, but the leaderboard only records 108 people, so the competition will be very fierce."

"After the ascension to heaven is completed, the imperial court will award prizes to the participants based on their ranking on the grand list as encouragement."

"The last seventy-two are called Earthly Fiends, and the first thirty-six are called Heavenly Dippers."

"These 108 people can enter the Heavenly Book Academy of Yan Kingdom to learn arts and magic. From illusions and barriers to the Five Elements, Qimen Dunjia, and even the most advanced thunder magic of Yan Kingdom, it is all included."

"Therefore, this grand gathering of the Yan Kingdom's martial arts practitioners from all realms to discuss the Dao and its methods is also known as the Heavenly Book Gathering."

"Oh."

After listening to Bai Zhou's story, Nian lost interest.

Originium Arts were useless to her, and fighting alone wouldn't interest her either. As for the philosophical discussions Bai Zhou mentioned... what could a blacksmith like her possibly have to discuss with these guys? What about whether hitting someone with an anvil hurts?

So it seems this Heavenly Book Gathering isn't all that interesting.

"Should we go take a look, Sister Nian?"

Before the year could reply, Bai Zhou added another sentence:

"Because the participants in this grand event come from all over the country, the chefs who prepare the food for this event are also skilled chefs from all over the country. You can find all kinds of regional cuisines here."

"go with!"

This Heavenly Book Festival is so interesting!

What? She just said this meeting is boring?

Impossible, you must have misheard. She loves to join in the fun [crossed out]... and loves to debate (with fists).

Returning to Chang'an Avenue on the eleventh day, one must not stay overnight.

Although he had promised Bai Zhou that he could go see that Lao Zi [Yan Guo Shu Xing Zhu Jie Xiang Dao Lun Fa Sheng Hui], Nian still felt that something was a little strange.

After thinking for a while, she realized that something was wrong.

"Xiao Bai, will this be famous? Why haven't I heard of it?"

Upon hearing this question, Bai Zhou silently took a sip of wine and pondered for a long time before answering Nian's question.

"Including this session, it's only been two sessions."

"No wonder..."

She fell into a deep sleep sixty years ago, and the first conference was held right after she fell into a deep sleep, so it's true that you haven't heard of her in that year.

"Speaking of which, will those guys actually come?"