Xu Youde was just about to answer when a brilliant gleam of treasure light caught his eye.
Everyone gazed into the distant sky.
Over by Eagle Beak Mountain, pillar after pillar of treasure light surged toward the heavens. As the luminous columns dispersed, they turned into streaks of golden shooting stars darting between heaven and earth. At this sight, even Jin Tu was visibly moved.
Recalling that people from the Huanyin Sect were lingering around Eagle Beak Mountain, he tapped the ground beneath his feet and swept the other three along, flying toward the great tomb.
Aside from Guanjiang Mountain's group, crowds converged on the royal tomb from all directions.
The tomb had originally been shielded by an impervious golden barrier.
Yet today, the surging treasure light caused that barrier to shudder, looking ready to shatter at any moment.
Naturally, any treasures expelled along with the light might scatter in every direction. Sentient treasures, in particular, were very likely to flee into the depths of the mountains. For the Qi Refiners gathered in the vicinity, pursuing those would be a relatively safe fortuitous encounter.
As for what manner of supreme treasure lay hidden beneath the royal tomb itself, that was even more intriguing.
For seven consecutive days, colossal pillars of treasure light pierced straight into the sky each day.
The protective barrier grew thinner and thinner.
The swirling mists within could now be clearly seen.
A faint, delicate fragrance wafted outward, invigorating all who caught its scent.
In the entire city of Pingyuan Commandery, only two people remained calmly seated in meditation.
One was Elder Pan Ang, secluded behind closed doors on the back mountain of Yuansong Temple, still reflecting and settling his mind.
The other was Qin Xuan, meditating and cultivating beneath the pine tree.
As a message talisman drifted into the courtyard, Qin Xuan opened his eyes.
The talisman came from Zhao Huaimin:
"My cousin-uncle has returned. I am lingering on the outskirts of Eagle Beak Mountain, warning Uncle and the Temple Master's group not to approach the royal tomb.
"Two groups from Guanjiang Mountain have arrived, both from the Luogu Peak lineage. Of the two people I saw, one is Lai Jing's disciple, and the other is a Mountain-Protecting Elder like Lai Jing.
"Uncle said the leader is Vice Peak Master Jin Tu of Luogu Peak, but I haven't seen him yet.
"The barrier around the royal tomb is on the verge of shattering. Some people are growing impatient and attacking it to prevent others from arriving to share the spoils."
Qin Xuan stowed the talisman away. As he pondered, he watered Songsong with spirit water.
Refining fiend qi was a relatively slow process.
His progress in refining the Taibai Mysterious Wind Fiend over the past few days had not been as swift as forming the Dao lotus earlier.
Even so, with each wisp of fiend qi refined into his Dao lotus, a deeper layer of comprehension toward his mantras and arts arose in his heart.
This was the manifestation of a cultivator's foundation.
Looking up at the sky, Qin Xuan's face was bathed in a golden glow from the treasure light.
At this moment, the Pingyuan King's tomb felt like a trove of riches drawing in countless Qi Refiners.
"A fellow like Geng Zhi, capable of being hunted by the Juetian Sect—who dared raid the imperial mausoleum of Great Xia—is clearly extraordinary. He had no reason to lie to me about the royal tomb."
Viewing matters from that perspective, Qin Xuan watched the light in the sky and suddenly thought of a possibility.
It was just like an angler casting bait.
Perhaps this treasure light was merely bait laid out by the great tomb to lure more people in.
Daoist Old Wu, Uncle Li, Huaimin, and the white crane were all over there.
One slip, and the whole family would be wiped out together. That was no laughing matter.
With that thought, Qin Xuan mounted a demon cloud and flew toward Eagle Beak Mountain.
As he neared the Yudai River, he kept a watchful eye along the riverbank from afar, steering clear of that angler.
Perhaps influenced by the commotion at Eagle Beak Mountain, one could no longer fish in peace here; the white-haired old man with his fishing rod was nowhere to be seen, likely having already departed.
Following his usual path, Qin Xuan passed Daoxiang Hollow once again.
Forget the villagers; not even the village itself remained visible.
The waves of magic power rippling through the mountains had completely erased all the surrounding dwellings. Several peaks had been pierced through, and a soaring waterfall he had once seen had been snapped in half.
Gazing into the distance, Qin Xuan spotted a golden barrier as thin as bamboo paper.
The barrier enveloped what had once been the stronghold of the Renmao Sect.
Within it swirled white mists that obscured the interior, save for flashes of golden light darting back and forth, appearing and vanishing as if an infinite number of magic treasures were scurrying inside, teasing the itch in the hearts of the Qi Refiners outside.
He surveyed the crowd on the perimeter.
Most were unfamiliar faces.
Forces from the surrounding commanderies and prefectures were legion. Aside from the most renowned few, many could not even be named.
Those farthest out stood more than a dozen li away, while those closest to the golden barrier were separated from it by merely dozens of paces.
Under normal circumstances, the arrival of an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator would attract little notice in such a setting.
Yet the moment Qin Xuan arrived on his cloud, it provoked an immediate stir.
Seeing a massive black cloud rolling in with formidable momentum, the lower-cultivation Qi Refiners on the outer edge hurriedly cleared a path.
Murmurs broke out at once:
"Which sect's grand figure has arrived now?"
"Why does this look like the demonic path?"
"Nonsense!" someone immediately corrected. "That's clearly the Breeze and Moon Little Sword Immortal, who has become quite famous around Yuansong Temple of late! He's slain many an old yaksha ghost!"
As Qin Xuan drew near, the chatter abruptly ceased.
Further off, however, someone had already heard.
"Zihou!"
On the perimeter about six or seven li from the royal tomb, Zhao Huaimin was waving. Beside him stood the white crane, Daoist Old Wu, and a refined, scholarly middle-aged man wearing a simple Daoist robe and carrying a talisman sword on his back.
The moment Li Yanshen saw Qin Xuan, his eyes lit up.
Stroking his long beard, he nodded with a smile.
"Uncle Li!"
Qin Xuan cupped his hands in respectful greeting.
Li Yanshen stepped forward and gently pressed his hands down. "Zihou, I knew from the start that your aptitude was extraordinary, but it seems I still underestimated you."
Qin Xuan smiled. "Uncle Li, the next time you praise someone, please don't do it to their face."
Li Yanshen grinned. Had the setting been different, he would have laughed even harder.
For the moment, he put aside the vexing matters of Guanjiang Mountain and said from the bottom of his heart, "Seeing that you have dispelled the knot in your heart brings immense comfort to mine."
Qin Xuan smiled faintly.
Mindful of the pressing danger, he hastily sent a voice transmission:
"This place is fraught with peril. The people from the Huanyin Sect and Renmao Sect inside are most likely already dead. We must not join the crowd here."
Before Daoist Old Wu and the others could reply, gaze after gaze swept over from the inner perimeter.
All of them turned toward Qin Xuan.
Monks from Liangfeng Temple, the scorpion demoness Soul-Hooking Mistress, various deities of the Divine Way from Eagle Beak Mountain, Commandant Lu of Yingyang Prefecture, Lai Jing's disciple, the black catfish great demon lurking in the shadows... It was truly a gathering of prominent figures.
Their gazes drew even more attention.
Commander Xu from Prison City, the City God, and countless factions from various commanderies and prefectures all looked over.
Vice Peak Master Jin Tu of Luogu Peak, hidden in the distant sky, as well as an imposing figure from the Great Yan imperial household whose pupil techniques could scan an entire commandery, were also watching.
The first to speak was Monk Jin Guan of Liangfeng Temple. Pressing his palms together, he extended an invitation to Qin Xuan:
"Amitabha. So it is Benefactor Qin. Benefactor Qin enjoys splendid fortune and has obtained many benefits in Pingyuan Commandery. Even a mysterious figure like Patriarch Geng wished to borrow some of your good luck. I wonder if this humble monk might have the karmic affinity to explore this royal tomb alongside you?"
At these words, more meaningful glances fell upon Qin Xuan.
Qin Xuan refused to take the bait.
"Master, I heard your esteemed temple lost something. Do you need me to accompany you down into the tomb to search for it?"
Monk Jin Guan fell silent.
The scorpion demoness from Eagle Beak Mountain, Soul-Hooking Mistress, chuckled. "Young Master Qin is truly kindhearted. No wonder the master says you share an affinity with the Western Sect."
Qin Xuan pointed toward Mountain God Tan, who stood beside Commander Xu and the City God. "I may not share an affinity with the Western Sect, but you certainly share one with Mountain God Tan. The romance storytellers' tales in the commandery city are filled with vivid accounts of your dalliances."
Mountain God Tan's expression shifted drastically.
Yet he did not dare vent his fury.
Commander Xu frowned and glanced at Mountain God Tan.
Just then, a fierce, domineering man with a large head and a wide mouth strode out from the inner circle.
The instant Qin Xuan saw him, his breath caught slightly, and thick killing intent surged in his eyes.
Li Yanshen, Daoist Old Wu, the white crane, and Zhao Huaimin all regarded this man with hostile glares.
He was none other than the black catfish great demon!
Given the current situation within the city, General Manager Black Catfish knew it was impossible to strike at Qin Xuan directly; he had to wait until Guanjiang Mountain and the demon sects truly came to blows before seeking an opportunity. Sensing the hostility many factions harbored toward Qin Xuan, he had stepped forward now intending to provoke him.
"Fellow Daoist Qin, I sent Master Wuchang several times to invite you to the Lan River Aquatic Manor as a guest. Why must you remain so distant?"
Qin Xuan did not conceal his killing intent, replying coldly, "How am I distant? Didn't I cook Master Wuchang and send him back to you?"
General Manager Black Catfish's expression stiffened, but he reined in his temper.
Yet the white crane conspired at full volume:
"Why don't we gang up and butcher him? Everyone around here is after the treasures; nobody will bother meddling."
Zhao Huaimin chimed in like a seasoned gourmet: "It's best to fatten him up a bit more. Autumn catfish have more fat and oil, making them best for winter."
Daoist Old Wu and Li Yanshen were seniors, however, and felt constrained by propriety.
General Manager Black Catfish waited for others to voice support, only to find the people from Liangfeng Temple shrinking back like tortoises in their shells, while the incense Divine Way figures kept silent as well.
Suppressing the fury in his chest, he snorted coldly. "This general manager is here on orders from the Northern Sea. Go ahead and try!"
Qin Xuan was no match for him at present and had no desire to waste further words on verbal sparring.
He turned to leave.
Just then, four more figures approached.
Apart from Shen Yunfei and Zhou Cang, there were two others.
The one leading them was a tall young man brimming with arrogance, his nose practically pointed at the sky.
He cast a sidelong glance at Qin Xuan and said with a sarcastic drawl, "So you're Junior Brother Qin. I've long heard Uncle Li mention you. Since you're a genius of the Lower Court, why not explore the tomb with us?"
With so many eyes on them, and mindful of the sect's dignity, Li Yanshen went through the motions:
"Zihou, this is Elder Lai's disciple, Xiang Bin."
He then introduced the old woman beside Xiang Bin: "This is Elder Fang of Luogu Peak."
Then he sent Qin Xuan a voice transmission:
"These two came on Lai Jing's orders rather than following Vice Peak Master Jin Tu. There is no need to waste words on them."
Understanding at once, Qin Xuan refused outright:
"I entered the tomb previously and slew disciples of the Renmao Sect, so I am well aware of the perils within. The treasures here have no affinity with me. Senior Brother Xiang and Elder Fang may claim them for yourselves."
He made no effort to mask his voice.
Many nearby cultivators overheard.
Having spoken, Qin Xuan turned his cloud and left. His two seniors and two friends naturally trusted his judgment.
The four men and one crane flew away in unison.
Several ascetic elders from Yuansong Temple's scripture repository who had dealt with Qin Xuan were not obsessed with the treasures either; they turned and withdrew one after another.
Some of the surrounding cultivators hesitated, while others took the warning to heart and followed Qin Xuan's lead.
Even more people pulled back several li toward the outer perimeter.
That way, should anything untoward occur, they could retreat at leisure.
Even so, many remained clustered near the golden barrier.
High in the distant sky, Jin Tu frowned slightly, looking in the direction Qin Xuan had departed.
He had been watching the movements below all along and had naturally observed Qin Xuan confronting several factions. The youth was certainly adept at stirring up trouble, but he seemed rather different from Lai Jing's description.
Those who had spoken with him just now possessed cultivation far superior to his own.
Yet the boy had not ceded an inch; instead, he had acquitted himself remarkably well in such a grand setting, displaying the poise of a great sect's disciple.
This earned Jin Tu's quiet appreciation.
Jin Tu pondered briefly.
If that was truly the case, it was only natural for Li Yanshen to recommend him into the Upper Court.
Though Lai Jing was a Mountain-Protecting Elder and a cousin to the Luogu Peak Master's Dao companion—causing Jin Tu by nature to favor his own people—that favoritism had its limits.
If the youth truly was fine jade, how could a petty grievance be allowed to compromise the sect's greater interests?
Just then, Jin Tu's gaze swept toward the distant sky as an arrogant voice boomed forth:
"Fortuitous encounters ever dwell amid subtle peril! Cowards may scurry home in regret! Out of the way, all of you—this encounter belongs to this prince!"
The voice crashed like thunder.
Qin Xuan's party had already retreated twenty li.
Li Yanshen said, "That is Murong Sheng, Prince of Longhe Commandery from the Great Yan dynasty."
East of Pingyuan Commandery lay the vast Qingzhou Prefecture.
Longhe Commandery bordered the Qing River basin, the heart of Qingzhou Prefecture, which was the fief of the King of Tang, the most powerful feudal lord of Great Yan. In enfeoffing Murong Sheng right beside him, the Great Yan court had clearly felt the threat of the King of Tang.
Great Yan had been founded less than ten thousand years ago, and its footing was hardly rock-solid.
Forget supreme orthodox lineages; even great immortal-cultivating clans that had endured far longer were common.
This Prince of Longhe Commandery's ostentatious display was partly meant to project the imperial household's might.
Qin Xuan urgently warned, "Hurry!"
The moment his words fell, the group sped toward the commandery city once more. Even the rogue cultivators on the outer edge thought them overly cautious.
Yet Qin Xuan had no intention of gambling his life and the lives of those he cared about.
Why step into a pit when one knew it was there?
"We should be safe here."
By the time the white crane spoke, they had reached the gate tower of the commandery city.
Eighty li downstream along the Yudai River, a white-haired angler reeled in his fishing rod and vanished from the riverbank in a single step.
At that very moment, the powerful expert of the Murong clan launched his third bombardment against the golden barrier around the royal tomb.
Several mountain peaks along the way were shattered outright.
"Why are we leaving? Are we giving up on the fortuitous encounter?!"
The old woman beside Xiang Bin was steering a cloud, flying away with them.
Shen Yunfei said, "Senior Brother Xiang, I know little about the great tomb, but Qin Xuan is familiar with this place. Following him is safer."
Xiang Bin's face darkened. "Junior Brother Shen, is this how you do things in the Lower Court?"
Zhou Cang said, "Senior Brother Xiang, don't be angry just yet. If an opportunity arises, it won't be too late to return and seize it."
As the old woman steered the cloud, she suddenly heard strange noises behind them.
It sounded like numerous porcelain jars crashing to the ground, shattering in succession.
Atop the clouds, before the Murong prince could unleash his fourth strike, the golden barrier fractured on its own.
Almost in an instant, an exotic fragrance drifted out from the royal tomb.
Though Shen Yunfei and his companions had pulled ten li away, they caught the scent immediately.
Zhou Cang asked, "Is that wine?"
"Indeed, it's wine," Shen Yunfei said, puzzled. "Could the mist inside the golden barrier have been wine vapor? Why would there be wine?"
The two looked toward Xiang Bin and Elder Fang. Though those two had spent far more time at Guanjiang Mountain, neither could offer an answer.
Instead, an ominous foreboding welled up in everyone's heart.
High in the distant sky atop a golden cloud, Jin Tu and his two disciples caught the scent of wine as well.
Xu Youde, who hailed from Zijin Mountain, remarked, "This wine is remarkably fragrant. Could there be a massive wine cellar beneath the royal tomb?"
Jin Tu took a careful sniff. Suddenly, he detected a force within the wine that made his very soul tremble!
The moment that power arrived, an infinite sensation of communing with heaven and earth surged through him.
Jin Tu's scalp went numb as he thought of a certain taboo.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that such a thing lay within the royal tomb!
"Not good!"
In a flash, he enveloped the three beside him and unleashed Guanjiang Mountain's divine movement art, the Secret Art of Shifting Mountains and Seas. Turning into a speck of golden light, he fled dozens of li away in an instant.
And yet...
Even with a Nascent Soul monster employing such a divine movement art, he still could not shake off that fragrance.
Deep within Jin Tu's mind, a voice of indistinguishable age echoed:
"A friend comes from afar. Friend, come in and have a cup before you go."
Even an imposing figure like Jin Tu spoke with utmost caution at this moment:
"Senior, this junior is not fond of drinking."
"Ah, no matter. If you don't drink, we can still find something for you to do."
Jin Tu knew it was already too late. Using his final shred of consciousness, he instructed the three beside him:
"Remember! Wherever you end up, observe the rules! Do not force yourselves to do anything beyond your ability, and under no circumstances violate any taboos!"
Xu Youde and the other two did not even dare ask questions; they nodded in terror.
The next instant, the four vanished from the sky.
Outside the Pingyuan King's tomb, figure after figure vanished, their destinations unknown.
That wash of wine fragrance blanketed the entirety of Pingyuan Commandery.
Outside Jinghu Manor, Ji Qingni, who had been watching the spectacle from afar with a folding fan in hand, saw her expression change. She fled toward the manor, but no matter how swiftly she fled, she was intercepted by the wine fragrance.
Her voice was deeply respectful. "Senior, this junior is Ji Qingni, a humble Qi Refiner of the Guanghan Palace in the Ancient Immortal Province of the Nine Heavens. Might you also hail from the Nine Heavens?"
"Little girl, this old man is merely an ordinary person; I possess no such grand background."
With a crestfallen face, Ji Qingni said feebly, "Senior, I was mistaken. I did not know this was your Dao sanctuary. I have offended you—please forgive me."
"Amusing. Come inside and seek an opportunity."
She could only ask, "Senior, what kind of opportunity?"
"Can you brew wine, or can you drink it?"
"My mother told me that girls shouldn't drink wine when away from home. If I get drunk, I'll meet bad people."
"Then come inside and have a cup anyway..."
The wine fragrance hovered above Jinghu Manor, stirring up a swirl of Chaotic Antiquity tribulation qi. In the lakeside pavilion, the cat sensed the danger; its fur bristled as it dove underwater to seek protection from the fish boss.
The carp, transformed from a tribulation-transcending precious herb, blew bubbles into the air, blocking the Chaotic Antiquity tribulation qi.
As the fragrance swept past Yuansong Temple, disciples vanished one by one. Elder Pan Ang on the back mountain, having transformed into a quiet recluse deep in meditation, had his mind and body completely drawn inward and noticed nothing.
The fragrance reached Qin Xuan's courtyard, veering aside as it approached the pine tree.
Near Huashi Street, three toads vanished into the fragrance as well. When ordinary mortals caught the scent, they felt only refreshed and invigorated.
The River God of the Yi River and the spider demon Sheng Hu, having just arrived in the city and prepared to accomplish great deeds on the Huanyin Sect's orders, evaporated into thin air before they could do a single thing.
The fragrance drifted deep into Huashi Alley, arriving at the coffin shop.
A voice invited Old Man Gu:
"Friend, come in for a drink?"
As Mei'er hid behind Fox Grandpa, Old Man Gu pushed open a coffin lid and invited the voice in return: "Lie in the coffin for a bit first."
"You really won't have a drink?"
"Lie down in the coffin first, then we'll talk."
"A drink?"
"A lie-down."
The voice urged several times, but Old Man Gu clung stubbornly to his coffin, so the fragrance had no choice but to drift elsewhere.
Atop the commandery city wall, the white crane vanished, and Huaimin vanished.
The Temple Master and Uncle Li dissolved into thin air right before Qin Xuan's eyes.
Smelling that wine fragrance, Qin Xuan finally understood what that exotic aroma permeating Huashi Alley earlier had been.
He had considered himself cautious enough, retreating from Eagle Beak Mountain back to the city.
Yet the other party's methods were beyond comprehension. From the shattering of the golden barrier to the arrival of the fragrance had taken only a split second; even being further away would have been futile.
Right now, a voice of indistinguishable age echoed in his mind:
"Young friend, come to this old man's town and seek some opportunities as well."
Composing himself, Qin Xuan replied in a voice filled with reverence:
"Senior, I know nothing of your Dao sanctuary and dread causing any offense. If Senior has any rules, pray enlighten this junior so that I do not displease you."
The voice carried a hint of a smile. "No need to panic, young friend. This old man simply loves wine; I have few taboos. In my little town, just refrain from wanton destruction."
Taking note of this, Qin Xuan seized the opening to ask:
"What may this junior do in the town?"
"You may choose for yourself," the voice continued. "You may sell tea, wash berries, work as a boatwright, carry corpses to guard graves, or tan leather to weave mats... Whatever the town has, you may do, and you must choose one.
"However...
"If you wish to obtain the greatest opportunities and leave the town, you must understand wine.
"Can you drink wine, young friend, or can you brew it?"
Surprised, Qin Xuan thought to himself before answering, "This junior can drink, and I know a bit of the brewing craft as well. In particular, I am relatively familiar with an ancient brew from the Feather Capital."
"Splendid." The voice grew even gentler. "I look forward to you brewing a fine wine that enchants this old man's heart.
"Then let your identity be that of a winemaker."
The moment the words fell, the scenery before Qin Xuan shifted abruptly, though he quickly adjusted.
The sensation was remarkably similar to Songsong pulling him into a dream, or the Sword Immortal sister pulling him to watch two enlightened masters playing chess.
At first glance, his perspective was high in the air, looking down upon the town below.
A river ran through the town, no more than three zhang wide, cutting through north and south to divide the settlement in two. Houses lined the water's edge on both banks, their white walls mottled and dark tiles uneven.
Perhaps because his vantage point was so high, the people walking below appeared miniscule.
Surrounding the town was a stretch of shimmering river.
Looking closer, the river was quite peculiar, split by a sharp demarcation. The ring encircling the town was emerald green and flowed ceaselessly, while further out, the waters were pitch-black.
Amidst the black water, there seemed to be a glowing isolated island.
An island, a river, a town, and... a back mountain.
This had to be that senior's Dao sanctuary.
Just as an impression of the terrain formed in his mind, the scenery shifted again. He found himself inside a relatively lavish, secluded courtyard pavilion along the inner river. A realization flashed through his mind: he was temporarily the master of this pavilion.
Moreover, his status in the town was that of a highly esteemed winemaker.
He checked himself; the myriad treasure pouch was still there.
Sitting cross-legged, Qin Xuan found he could still circulate the Elixir Dew Flying Transformation Scripture and sense the Dao lotus in his Flowery Pool.
Yet when he attempted to channel his magic power, he suddenly discovered that his cultivation had been suppressed, and his divine sense could not extend outward.
Originally at the Foundation Establishment realm, he had been suppressed down to the tenth layer of Qi Refinement—the Flowery Pool realm.
He could still sense the female immortal's sword qi, which brought him a measure of security.
Stepping to the edge of the pavilion, Qin Xuan looked up at the azure sky, which seemed boundless.
That this senior's Dao sanctuary formed a small world of its own was truly staggering.
Could he be an enlightened master?
Why was he beneath the Pingyuan King's tomb, how did this place function, and where were Huaimin and the others?
His head was full of questions. The next moment, he found a string of shells suddenly resting in his hand, and an understanding dawned on him.
This was... currency.
Thirty cowries in total—his monthly stipend as a winemaker.
It seemed this small town operated in a peculiar manner.
*Splash!*
A sound of water came from the large courtyard behind, like someone drawing water from a well and pouring it into a bucket.
Someone was there.
The pavilion had two stories in front, overlooking the inner river, while behind it lay a spacious courtyard. Qin Xuan followed the sound.
Reaching the moon gate, he saw numerous fruit trees planted across the rear yard. Every tree was laden with crimson fruit, though he could not identify the species. Furthermore, a layer of dusky gray qi clung to the exterior of the fruit.
In the center of the grove, someone was drawing water from a well and pouring it into a wooden bucket beside them, which held several fruits, seemingly preparing to wash them.
This person wore a lake-blue scholar's robe, dressed like a man.
Just as Qin Xuan was about to greet them, the person revealed a snow-white neck and an impossibly beautiful profile—it was a young woman.
He dared not be careless.
This sanctuary had existed for ages; perhaps the woman before him was an ancient.
Cautiously, he stepped forward to inquire, "Fellow Daoist, what are you doing?"
Without looking up, the woman said, "Washing the death qi from these fruits so you can use them to brew wine.
"Brew a wine that senior likes, and you will gain an opportunity to walk out of this ascension land. If the wine you brew is poor, it proves you are no winemaker and deceived him; then misfortune will befall you, and you might even die here."
Hearing her deliberate explanation, Qin Xuan wanted to ask more.
The woman reached out a hand. "If you want to know more, you have to pay. I spent money to buy this information as well."
"How much?"
Qin Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly. Having been scammed by the unscrupulous merchant Hu and Fox Grandpa, he was instinctively wary whenever money was mentioned.
"Three immortal cowries."
She was remarkably candid. "I spent two immortal cowries buying the information. The extra one covers my legwork. Since you're a winemaker, earning money is easier for you. Don't be so stingy."
Weighing the matter briefly, Qin Xuan paid the money directly.
First, he asked, "Why did you appear in my courtyard, Fellow Daoist?"
She remained thoroughly frank:
"Your courtyard occupies the best position along the inner river. When that senior questioned you, your answer must have made him look forward to the wine you brew. In this place, the only skill I currently know is washing death qi from spirit fruits, so naturally I had to find a skilled winemaker."
Qin Xuan pointed at the spirit fruit. "Can I not wash away this death qi myself?"
"You cannot.
"Before entering this Dao sanctuary, that senior assigns you an identity. The most conservative choice is to let him arrange it. The most radical is reaching the heavens in a single step and becoming a winemaker right away."
Qin Xuan was startled, and she continued:
"In any profession within this sanctuary, one can start from scratch, gradually learning brewing lore, discerning that senior's preferences, and finally attempting to brew for him. Becoming a winemaker right upon entry indicates you wish to directly touch his Dao wonders."
Qin Xuan felt this girl was far from ordinary; she likely knew much more than just the town's affairs.
Cupping his hands, he said, "I am Qin Xuan. How should I address you, Fellow Daoist?"
Hearing the name, the woman let out an inward murmur of surprise, and her composed expression finally shifted slightly.
She examined Qin Xuan with keen interest. "I am Ji Qingni.
"Are you... the Breeze and Moon Little Sword Immortal of Yuansong Temple?"
Having asked, she muttered to herself, "A sword immortal of breeze and moon ought to know a bit about wine. It seems you truly possess skills and did not rashly become a winemaker out of arrogance."
Her words did not quite sound like praise.
Qin Xuan did not explain himself. "Does Fellow Daoist Ji know that senior's origins?"
Hearing this, Ji Qingni pondered briefly and understood.
Even if this man possessed talent favored by Madam Wei, he hailed from Yuansong Temple after all and could hardly know the sanctuary's secrets as she did. Finding accessible terms, she explained slowly:
"Before the Chaotic Antiquity Great Tribulation, there existed the Primordial Great Kalpa, causing many enlightened immortals to perish in the catastrophe. Among them, a rare few merged their Dao fruits with tribulation qi during the process of being assimilated by heaven and earth, becoming taboo entities.
"Those are Tribulation Immortals.
"Presently, the Chaotic Antiquity tribulation qi has yet to dissipate. Cultivators above Spirit Transformation who have crossed the Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation all require the protective heritage of great sects to walk the mortal world. Yet as taboo entities, though their cultivation is flawed, Tribulation Immortals can disregard the Chaotic Antiquity tribulation qi entirely.
"Thus, even living enlightened masters who have attained the Earth Immortal Dao fruit must temporarily avoid them when encountering a Tribulation Immortal's sanctuary, unless they are prepared to be assimilated by heaven and earth together.
"That senior is an ancient Tribulation Immortal.
"If he wishes to endure, he must mend his Dao fruit over the long expanse of time. Those who enter this sanctuary are effectively participating in that process. You might become entangled and perish, or you might perceive the grand Dao wonders originating from his Dao fruit.
"Even a single wisp of those Dao wonders is a tremendous fortuitous encounter."
Speaking of Dao wonders, the Guanghan Fairy's eyes gleamed, yet a moment later, she slumped in dejection.
Because she knew nothing about wine.
Her mother had taught her from childhood never to drink. Consequently, she drank only immortal tea and never touched a drop of wine.
Yet of all things, the Tribulation Immortal of this sanctuary was no tea immortal, but a wine immortal.
Now, who knew how long she would be trapped here?
It was all that cat's fault. Had she not curiously gone over to feed the cat, none of this would have happened.
Qin Xuan pondered Ji Qingni's words.
The Perfected Persons of Guanjiang Mountain had all survived the Qiongxiao Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, standing above Spirit Transformation and touching the threshold of Refining Void to Combine with the Dao.
Next, those Perfected Persons would face the wind calamities and lightning tribulations.
They would either undergo corpse liberation or attain the wonders of the Great Dao to become Void Immortals.
Yet this place actually held Dao wonders. If those Perfected Persons obtained them, would becoming Void Immortals not be right before their eyes?
This fortuitous encounter was truly unimaginably vast.
As one of the Seven Friends of Longmen, the founding patriarch of Guanjiang Mountain possessed cultivation above that of a Void Immortal, having transcended the Five Decays of Heaven and Man and attained the Gathering of Three Flowers to harvest a Dao fruit. The ancient Tribulation Immortal here was likely a figure on par with Guanjiang Mountain's patriarch.
Even more terrifying, he was unbound by the Chaotic Antiquity Great Tribulation, acting without restraint in Pingyuan Commandery to pull a vast host of Qi Refiners into his sanctuary. Qin Xuan resigned himself, harboring no more wild fantasies.
Better to brew wine for the senior in peace.
"Fellow Daoist Ji, is your cultivation suppressed as well?"
Ji Qingni hummed in assent.
"Any Qi Refiner who has not undergone the baptism of the Qiongxiao Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation lacks any aura to resist a Tribulation Immortal. Whether Core Formation, Golden Core, or even Nascent Soul, here one can only access the Flowery Pool.
"However..."
She glanced at Qin Xuan. "One's foundation is compressed down, so at the same realm, those with higher prior cultivation are still stronger. You certainly can't beat me."
"What's the use of being good at fighting?"
Finding humor in adversity, Qin Xuan chuckled. "Here, one has to brew wine."
As they spoke, a series of knocks sounded: *thump, thump, thump.*
Hearing it, Qin Xuan walked from the backyard to the front entrance of the pavilion, and Ji Qingni followed.
Opening the door, they saw an elderly man around sixty years old standing on the threshold. His frame was lean and frail, and his silver hair was neatly bound without a single stray strand.
He looked at Qin Xuan, then at Ji Qingni, and asked, "Which of you is the winemaker here?"
"I am," Qin Xuan replied.
The old man smiled gently and handed him a gleaming golden token.
From behind, Ji Qingni said, "Senior, I wash spirit fruits here."
The old man hesitated, glanced at Qin Xuan, and upon seeing Qin Xuan nod, handed her a bronze token, which the Guanghan Fairy accepted with a smile.
After asking their names, the old man introduced himself. He was named Chang Qing, the butler of this place.
He then said to Qin Xuan:
"Fellow Daoist Qin, every two months, you must deliver wine to the Wine Immortal Tower once.
"Tasters there understand Old Wine's preferences and will grade your wine as superior, middling, or inferior. If you receive a superior grade, you will be rewarded with a certain amount of immortal cowries. If you receive an inferior grade, you will endure the tribulation qi of this place.
"You may refine your wine based on the tasters' feedback.
"When the Wine Immortal opens a wine banquet, he will taste the wine you have brewed. Should the Wine Immortal be pleased, you may depart this place or comprehend the Dao wonders here.
"When the banquet is to open, this old man will inform you two months in advance."
Qin Xuan nodded, bringing out the shells to confirm: "Are these immortal cowries?"
"Indeed."
"Senior, what use do these immortal cowries have?"
The old butler said, "In this town, you can purchase Old Wine's collections gathered from the primordial era to the present. Miracle elixirs, rare fire seeds, Five Dipper Heavenly Astral treasures, immortal secret arts... As long as you can afford them, they can all belong to you."
Hearing this, Qin Xuan's heart burned with excitement.
The collection of a Tribulation Immortal!
That was equivalent to entering the secret treasury of Guanjiang Mountain's founding patriarch.
The old butler smiled. "You two, remember: at night, do not stay in others' dwellings, and do not wander outside."
Having said this, the old butler departed.
Watching the old man's retreating figure head north, Qin Xuan suddenly heard the rumble of rolling axles behind him.
On the street before the entrance, someone was pulling a handcart from the south.
It was not pulled by a horse, nor a donkey, but by a leopard.
Harnessed before the two-wheeled cart was a pitch-black leopard with a remarkably human expression. Looking at Qin Xuan, its eyes clearly revealed that it recognized him.
Two figures were pushing from behind the cart.
One of them wore hemp robes, tall and thin as dried bamboo, slightly hunched with high-set shoulder blades and a pair of leopard-like eyes—very easy to recognize.
It was Shen Yunfei.
Beside Shen Yunfei was an old ape covered in red fur. Tangled around its body was a death qi similar to that on the spirit fruits in the backyard, giving it an ominous air. The old ape's eyes gleamed as it swept its gaze over Qin Xuan.
One man, one leopard, one old ape. And lying upon the cart they pushed was another person. Qin Xuan looked closely—it was another acquaintance, Zhang Laosan of the Xieling Sect!
"Junior Brother Qin, you have considerable nerve to become a winemaker."
The leopard spoke. Qin Xuan was momentarily startled, failing to recognize who it was, until Shen Yunfei explained from behind:
"He is Zhou Cang. When entering this place, his soul was blown away by the ghostly wind of the outer black river, mistakenly entering the body of a leopard here."
Zhou Cang?
Qin Xuan looked at the leopard, seeing none of his past fighting spirit, replaced entirely by an expression of utter despair.
Qin Xuan asked, "What work are you two doing?"
Shen Yunfei did not hide it:
"We are responsible for hauling corpses straight to the back mountain to dig pits and bury them. The back mountain north of this town is a burial ground."
The aerial view flashed through Qin Xuan's mind.
An island, a river, a town, and the back mountain.
Zhou Cang and Shen Yunfei were in the northernmost part of this sanctuary.
Judging by their expressions, they seemed to have acquired quite a bit of knowledge about this place.
Qin Xuan guessed it had to do with that old ape.
It must have been in this sanctuary for a very long time.
Thus he asked, "And this fellow Daoist is?"
Shen Yunfei introduced calmly, "This is Fellow Daoist Yuan. He can guide us on obtaining opportunities and leaving this place. Junior Brother Qin might wish to make his acquaintance."
Qin Xuan looked at the old ape and offered a compliment: "So it is Instructor Yuan. I have long heard of your renown."
The old ape put on a secretive look. "Give Yuan a hundred immortal cowries, and I'll tell you a method to leave this place. Give Yuan a thousand immortal cowries, and I'll tell you how to obtain the Dao wonders."
Hearing this, Qin Xuan's expression darkened slightly. This red-furred old ape opened his mouth with outrageous demands; he could easily sit at the same table as Advisor Hu and Fox Grandpa.
Chapter 87