It was the sixtieth day after the black catfish great demon was stewed.
For most people in Wine Immortal Town, this was merely another ordinary day. That morning, as the dawn sun first crested the horizon, Qin Xuan pushed open his door and stepped outside.
He lifted his gaze toward the Wine Immortal Tower, noticing many brewers heading in that direction with solemn expressions.
Ji Qingni walked out of her room as well. Their eyes met, and in unspoken unison, they looked up at the sky of this small world.
"Let's go," Qin Xuan said.
"Mhm," Fairy Ji replied softly.
Before departing, the two cast another backward glance at the attic. Though this was just an alcove within the Wine Immortal's mind, they had stayed here for eight months, and some memories were impossible to erase. Side by side, they walked, conversing via voice transmission as they went.
Qin Xuan remained uncertain about one thing: if his brew truly satisfied the Wine Immortal, would he alone be released from the Ascension Ground, or could he take others with him?
If it were the former, anyone else wishing to leave would have to abide by the Wine Immortal's rules and offer a cup of wine. Thus, preparations had to be made in advance.
Qin Xuan carried only a single jar on his person, entrusting all the rest to Ji Qingni. In the event that he alone was expelled, Fairy Ji could deliver the wine on his behalf.
"I won't enter the tower later; I'll just watch from outside. If that scenario does occur, I'll deliver the wine to your friends as you requested."
The corners of Ji Qingni's lips curled slightly, displaying a look that said, *You can count on me.*
"All right," Qin Xuan replied. Then he suddenly added, "Perhaps there is another possibility."
"Which one?"
"That would be... the Wine Immortal is so delighted with my brew that he's reluctant to let me go and keeps me here forever."
Ji Qingni furrowed her brows faintly. "That shouldn't happen."
Qin Xuan sighed with feigned melancholy. "Actually, that wouldn't be bad either. Having to part with Fairy Ji so suddenly, I find myself rather reluctant."
Ji Qingni smiled demurely. Holding her folding fan, she tugged gently at the hem of Qin Xuan's sleeve, pulling him backward. "Come then, let us head back right now."
Qin Xuan chuckled, playing along as he walked back a few paces with her.
After a few dozen steps, both could not help but laugh. With an unspoken understanding, they turned back around.
It was like the playful tug-of-war between friends on the verge of parting—in truth, an exchange of farewells, each cherishing the other.
This small world was not vast, and here, one needed only to heed the rules of the Wine Immortal. Beyond it lay an infinite expanse.
Yet the rules to obey out there would be far greater in number.
Before a fluttering wine banner at the Wine Immortal Tower, the old butler caught sight of this scene from afar and could not help but smile.
As more and more brewers gathered around, the old man seemed oblivious to everyone else, his gaze fixed solely upon the two young figures approaching him. Perhaps he, too, was reminiscing.
On a certain morning in Pingyuan Commandery, a similar scene had once played out. Alas, the fleeting years had fractured those memories, leaving behind only a sliver of his true spirit.
"Senior!" the two greeted him in unison. The wrinkles on the old man's face deepened into an even warmer smile.
He spoke suddenly: "Young friend, Senior Wine Immortal is already waiting for you."
Though surprised, Qin Xuan felt no panic, promptly retrieving that jar of immortal brew from his treasure pouch.
At that exact instant, everyone around sensed something amiss. The orderly routine of the Wine Immortal Tower shifted abruptly!
The brewers at the counter and the three giant toads responsible for reporting and presenting wine all strode out of the building.
"What happened?" someone whispered, but no one answered.
Sensing the anomaly, most Qi Refiners instinctively grew vigilant. This was the Dao field of an ancient Tribulation Immortal; the slightest unexpected turn was enough to claim their lives. Yet one thing was abundantly clear: this upheaval had been triggered by none other than that Little Sword Immortal!
As a wine judge, the white crane also squeezed its way out of the Wine Immortal Tower. Seeing the old butler take the jar of wine from Qin Xuan's hands, it craned its neck, eyes widening in astonishment.
Zhao Huaimin, Li Yanshen, and Daoist Old Wu also sensed the disturbance and, reeking of alcohol, walked out from the tower's rear courtyard.
The moment they emerged, they witnessed an even more miraculous sight!
Two golden auspicious clouds drifted slowly down from the sky above the small world—one large, one small.
The larger cloud carried Qin Xuan and Ji Qingni aloft into the heavens, while the other lifted the old butler, carrying him upward as well.
His drunken eyes bleary, Zhao Huaimin rubbed his eyes and spoke to Li Yanshen beside him. "Cousin Uncle, has Zihou... has he become an immortal?"
Daoist Old Wu and Li Yanshen stared at the celestial spectacle, completely dumbfounded, forgetting even to answer Zhao Huaimin's question.
Across the vast sky, immortal mist gathered.
Looking up, one could see the ethereal manifestation of a celestial palace, towering majestically amidst the clouds. The three who had ascended to the heavens were seated at a banquet table.
In the center, a golden brazier sent billowing, fragrant vapors swirling upward. The clear, resonant notes of jade chimes rang out—seeming near yet far—drifting melodiously into every corner of Wine Immortal Town. Ancients and moderns alike could not help but gaze upward in awe.
Qin Xuan fought to steady his mind.
At this moment, he was surrounded by immortal mist, facing a golden banquet table bearing a flagon and a cup. The same lay before Ji Qingni and the old butler.
The jar of wine he had produced earlier unsealed itself automatically. The brew within transformed into several streams of white vapor, flowing into their wine flagons, while half of it drifted toward the head seat of the celestial banquet. That place was shrouded in clouds and mist, obscuring everything from view.
The moment Qin Xuan's wine was produced, it seemed the Wine Immortal had no need to taste it to know its flavor. The flagons before the three automatically poured their cups full.
Just then—*ting!*—a clear chime resonated, and the surroundings underwent a sudden transformation.
Ten musicians clad in wide-sleeved robes appeared out of thin air, with chimes and bells suspended among the clouds. Musicians struck jade chimes that chimed like resonant gold and jade; others sounded grand bells that echoed vast and far.
Qin Xuan had envisioned many scenarios yesterday, yet never this. He felt as though he were attending a banquet of the celestial court.
When the ancient Wine Immortal partook of drink, a palace materialized in this small world, wreathed in immortal mist and accompanied by the chime of bells. Truly worthy of a Wine Immortal... A sense of ritual like this was something he could never imitate.
From deep within the obscured, auspicious clouds at the head seat, a voice echoed:
"Let us share a cup together."
The moment the words fell, a cup of wine materialized out of thin air in the hand of every person in the town.
Before the Wine Immortal Tower, everyone stared in astonishment, which quickly turned to wild joy. They had actually received a cup of wine from the Wine Immortal!
It seemed the ancient Tribulation Immortal had encountered a joyous occasion, inviting all people from past and present within the Ascension Ground to share this cup.
At the fish stall in the southern part of town, Jin Tu stared at the cup in his hand with disbelief, his mind churning like stormy seas. *This, this, this...!*
How could he have anticipated such a development? What happened to waiting five hundred years? What on earth had that Qin kid done?!
Jin Tu looked up toward the sky. He could not make out the Wine Immortal, but he could clearly see Qin Xuan.
*Could it be that the Qin kid truly brewed the wine the Wine Immortal wanted?!*
Yes, that was the only explanation. But it hadn't even been a year!
Beside him, the black-robed man wore a look of ecstatic jubilation, saying to Jin Tu, "That boy is truly formidable; even I must thank him. From the looks of it, this ancient Tribulation Immortal has hope of mending his Dao fruit. Which means this Ascension Ground will no longer need to exist. This boy saved my life. Once I am out, I shall certainly offer him my profound gratitude."
As he spoke, he abruptly turned his head. Jin Tu did the same.
Both looked toward the island in the Heart Lake Sea. The island that had once glowed brightly was now dimming. This indicated... the Wine Tribulation Immortal's Dao wonders were no longer leaking away!
Jin Tu turned back, glaring intently at the black-robed man. "You truly think you can walk out of Pingyuan Commandery alive?"
"Hmph!" The black-robed man's fighting spirit was rekindled. "Then we shall see whose methods are superior."
With that, he looked back up at the young figure in the sky.
Whether it was the boy's provocations during this period or his monstrous talent, he could not be allowed to live. Better to kill him early to eliminate future disaster.
On the isolated island in the Heart Lake Sea, Xubai Zi and his disciple Xu Youde also looked up into the sky, their expressions mirroring Jin Tu's—caught completely off guard.
Xu Youde's chest heaved with unrest. "Junior Brother Qin has defied the heavens... He actually brewed an immortal vintage!"
Xubai Zi's face betrayed a hint of urgency. "Disaster! My precious apprentice acted too quickly; this old master's plans haven't even been put into motion!"
Xu Youde froze, suddenly recalling his master's arrangement.
They had originally planned to wait for Qin Xuan to return to the island to pick spirit fruits, seize the opportunity to take him into their lineage, execute a swift interception, and present it as a done deal.
Who could have guessed that after visiting the island just once, he would brew the immortal vintage?
"Master, what do we do now?"
Xubai Zi said, "Once we leave the Ascension Ground, this master will definitely strike before Jin Tu. He was the one who told me to take him as a disciple; this old master was merely giving him face and following his suggestion to the letter!"
Staying on the isolated island, Xubai Zi had already sensed the shifts occurring upon it.
Just then, someone shouted, "Look quickly, the water is clearing!"
The black waters were slowly receding.
And at the center of the isolated island in the Heart Lake Sea, beside that spiritual pool, the nodule-covered old mulberry tree sank slowly into the earth amidst murky darkness, departing the Ascension Ground a step ahead of the rest.
*Crash!* Waves on the Heart Lake Sea lapped against the embankment, rocking the small boats anchored there.
For the first time, Fu Daneng left his boat and set foot onto the shore. Holding his wine cup, he raised his head to gaze at the heavens, his eyes brimming with complex, indescribable emotion. Sixty years a miner, a thousand years a ferryman. His boat had finally reached the shore to dock; no longer did he need to drift aimlessly across the waters.
The celestial realms of the Nine Provinces, the boundless sea of clouds—they were beckoning to him once more.
Last time, when he had been on the verge of dying of old age in the Shangyuan Realm, he had plunged off a cliff to defy fate and alter his destiny. This time...
Old Fu brushed aside his tangled hair, looked up at the celestial palace banquet in the sky, and laughed heartily, raising his cup toward Qin Xuan. Without a single word, he drained the wine in one gulp.
The newcomers in Wine Immortal Town felt no profound sentiment regarding entering or leaving the Ascension Ground, caring far more about the cup of wine in their hands. But those decaying ancients stood dazed in place, their eyes locked on the sky. After countless long years, this scene before them seemed impossible to distinguish from illusion or reality.
In the back mountains of Wine Immortal Town, Shen Yunfei and Zhou Cang stood amidst the forest of steles, glancing toward where the Wine Immortal might reside, then toward Qin Xuan.
Zhou Cang scrutinized the cup of wine before him with his leopard face. "Usually, we're the ones offering wine to others; this time, we've been treated to a cup."
Shen Yunfei said, "Those were offerings to the dead; this is a celebration of new life."
"Indeed," Old Ape San nodded beside them. "The Wine Immortal gains new life, and we are granted the same. That boy in the sky—even I cannot fully see through him. Perhaps in the future struggles between the myriad Daos, he will make a name for himself."
He continued, "When the tribulations disperse, a grand era shall arrive. Exhaust the blue heavens above and the Yellow Springs below; free and untrammeled wanderings lie upon the road ahead."
Accustomed to the old ape dangling grand promises, Shen Yunfei saw that the time was ripe and took the initiative to ask, "Fellow Daoist Yuan, could you explain that path ahead more clearly?"
"Yes," Zhou Cang said. "Give us something solid to hold on to."
Old Ape San pondered for a moment before speaking frankly: "You two cultivate disaster and misfortune. Be careful, and you will be able to dispel calamity, avoid tribulations, and turn misfortune into good fortune. I have a great enemy whom you are currently in no position to face. Once your cultivation bears fruit, you can lend me a hand, and it will not have been in vain that I passed on my Dao heritage and methods to you."
Hearing him put it this way, Shen Yunfei and Zhou Cang felt there was at least some truth to his words.
"Fellow Daoist Yuan, it's just that the Dao technique you imparted is exceedingly obscure. We have studied it for over a month without making the slightest headway."
"Sigh, that is simple enough." The old ape pointed toward Qin Xuan in the sky. "Those whose fortune is at its peak, like him—avoid them. Seek out those who show signs of decline, but take care not to let them see through your origins. Then you will be able to experience the might of this Dao technique. This method values following destiny; it is profound and abstruse, not something to be forced. And should you encounter someone bearing a Great Dao heritage, be all the more cautious to avoid backlash."
As the old ape spoke, the two were still contemplating; signs of decline were hardly something one could spot at a glance. Furthermore, this method came with many taboos, making it far from easy to cultivate.
Looking at Qin Xuan in the sky, Zhou Cang suddenly gasped. "Senior Brother Shen, I noticed... everyone who makes an enemy of Qin Xuan ends up suffering worse and worse luck. Those who strike at him never seem to meet a good end. Isn't that precisely a sign of decline?"
A flash of inspiration struck Shen Yunfei's mind. "Junior Brother, after taking a leopard's brain, you've actually become far sharper!"
"Then let's switch brains," Zhou Cang said, his face darkening.
Immediately after, the two drank the wine in their cups, each looking up toward the sky...
At the town wine shop, Master Xiong saw Qin Xuan raise his cup in the sky and promptly drained the Wine Immortal's gift as well.
High above the clouds, the celestial palace musicians struck bells and chimed jade, sending ethereal melodies cascading over Wine Immortal Town.
At this moment, no one felt like a prisoner trapped here; instead, they felt like guests attending a grand banquet. Though they had no seats, each had received a cup of immortal brew.
Amidst the clouds and mist, Qin Xuan glanced at Ji Qingni beside him, then looked across at the old butler. Both were far more experienced and worldly than he, carrying themselves with effortless poise. Qin Xuan composed his mind as well, gradually acclimating to this celestial scene—the first he had ever experienced in his life.
The Wine Immortal merely treated them to wine without speaking. There was not much in the flagon, and it was soon emptied.
Just as Qin Xuan was wondering how to broach a conversation, the old butler opposite—being a special entity of this place who had received the Wine Immortal's words—relayed on his behalf: "Senior Wine Immortal is currently resolving his tribulation, so it is inconvenient for him to make direct contact with you, lest he invite tribulation upon you. If you have any questions, you may ask me."
Hearing this, Qin Xuan asked directly, "Junior wishes to ask whether this wine is indeed the immortal brew Senior requires."
"It is." The old butler paused, adopting the Wine Immortal's tone: "The immortal brew from three thousand years ago possessed a similar flavor, yet it was influenced by the Heart Lake Sea and ultimately tainted by a thread of impurity. That you could dissolve that turbid qi suggests you cultivate a technique containing pure qi. You have found the pristine place within this old man's heart. Three thousand years ago, young friend Luo helped me greatly; you, on the other hand, have given me a fresh turning point. Young friend Qin, this old man shall remember this favor."
The old butler was merely relaying the words, and Qin Xuan understood that these were the Wine Immortal's own sentiments.
He replied warmly, "The moment this disciple entered the Dao field, I received a flagon of Senior's immortal brew; otherwise, it would not have been so easy to assist Senior."
The old butler said, "The techniques cultivated by you and this young friend Ji are the most unique, which is why you were placed together. That flagon of immortal brew was also an intentional guide on my part, not a simple gift."
The Wine Immortal's words were exceptionally candid. The old butler suddenly fixed his gaze on Qin Xuan.
"I have left behind the *Classic of the Yellow Millet of the Northern Mountain* here. You may study this immortal scroll, but you must take me as your master. This old man's origins lie within the Myriad Dharmas Sects of Zhongzhou; if you take me as master, you must sever ties with the Daoist courts."
Beside him, Ji Qingni hurriedly shot Qin Xuan a meaningful glance, terrified that he might agree.
While a master-disciple bond was intimate and granted a direct, mighty backer, abandoning the Lingbao Sect—one of the four ancestral courts of the Daoist sects—for it was truly unwise. What was more, he already held a favor in hand. Furthermore, such immortal scrolls were selective of their practitioners.
A classic of the Great Dao offered no detours, but that did not mean anyone could attain the Dao through its study. Agreeing would amount to gambling his entire future.
Qin Xuan cupped his hands toward the depths of the clouds and mist. "Senior has this pristine sanctuary in his heart, and Junior also harbors deep affection for my sect, where there are many things I cannot bear to cast aside."
The old butler broke into a smile, no longer pursuing the subject. "This Ascension Ground will be severed by me and refined into the Xuantian Cave Abode. Is there anything you wish to do? This does not count against the favor."
Qin Xuan asked, "Senior, will everyone here be released?"
"Yes."
Qin Xuan pondered, looking at the old butler. "This disciple wishes to leave two people behind to keep Senior Luo company."
"Granted."
After agreeing, the old butler turned to Ji Qingni. "How many great orthodox lineages survive today in the Ancient Immortal Province?"
Ji Qingni replied, "Kunlun, Guanghan, and Penglai."
"Who is the current Palace Master of Guanghan Palace?"
"It is this disciple's ancestral master, Suhua Yuanjun."
"The seas have turned into mulberry fields; it is no longer the world I knew..."
At this point, the old butler's expression shifted slightly as the Wine Immortal ceased speaking through him. The celestial scene in the sky blurred in an instant.
Recalling Qin Xuan's request to leave two people behind, the old butler transmitted his voice to him: "Those of the Murong clan may die outside, but they cannot be left here alone."
Qin Xuan nodded.
The old butler stepped forward, handing Qin Xuan a treasure pouch. "Here is some of the Wine Immortal's vintage, part of this old man's personal collection. Take it all with you."
"Senior..."
Just as Qin Xuan was about to politely decline, the old man waved his hand.
"Senior Luo, will you remain in this cave abode forever?"
"I will."
"If the opportunity arises in the future, I will come visit you."
Hearing this, the three-thousand-year-old King of Pingyuan smiled heartily, looking as if he had gained something to look forward to.
Just then, Qin Xuan noticed the old butler's features blurring as he slowly vanished before his eyes. A wave of wine fragrance swept across the entire town in an instant!
Glancing down, he saw the figures near the Wine Immortal Tower vanishing rapidly as well.
"Fairy Ji!" Qin Xuan cried out.
Ji Qingni's figure was fading. Smiling, she waved her fan, sending a frozen wisp of voice into Qin Xuan's ear. He could faintly hear only: "Little Sword Immortal Qin..." Afterward, no sound remained.
Waves of wine fragrance entered his nose, and the scenery around Qin Xuan shifted at dizzying speed. Wine Immortal Town drifted farther and farther away...
Before the fish stall, the old black-robed man burst into uproarious laughter at the old golden-robed man. "Jin Tu, we shall fight again outside! And that kid—!"
With a sullen face that seemed to say *I'll be waiting for you*, Jin Tu vanished.
The successor to the Huanyin Sect Master looked toward the sky. Qin Xuan had already disappeared from view, and nearly everyone around was gone.
He waited to vanish as well, waiting for Yunzhou Prefecture and the vast Nine Provinces to appear before him.
However...
The old black-robed man waited for a long time, yet remained rooted in place. The empty town seemed to contain only himself. He panted heavily, on the verge of suffocating...
A monstrous dread engulfed him entirely. Not even when tribulation qi fell upon his foundational artifact—not even when that foundational artifact was destroyed—had he felt such despair.
The Wine Immortal... had forgotten him.
No... impossible!
The old black-robed man looked toward the sky, toward the spot where Qin Xuan had vanished. In a flash of comprehension, he realized: *It was him! He did this!!*
"Qin Xuan—!!"
Harboring a desire for death, he roared furiously toward the sky.
Answering him from within the Wine Immortal Tower was another long roar: "Qin Xuan—!"
The scorpion spirit from Hawk Beak Mountain slumped limply to the ground, far more incapacitated than when she had been drinking. She had judged wine here, believing she had sidestepped calamity after calamity, without being schemed against like Monk Jin Guang or Mountain God Tan. Little did she imagine...
Even at this stage, someone had actually remembered her.
Lady Soul Snatcher broke down completely, reverting to her true form as a giant scorpion. She scurried back and forth before the Wine Immortal Tower, the tracks she carved into the ground spelling out two words over and over: *Qin Xuan*.
Before long, a broom appeared before both the old black-robed man and Lady Soul Snatcher. The old butler's voice drifted into their ears:
"From now on, you shall sweep the streets here. When this place becomes a cave abode in the future, you will perform similar duties."
Wine Immortal Town was stripped of its former bustle.
Upon the desolate streets, only two "sweeping immortals" remained...
***
Ten li outside Hawk Beak Mountain, to the west of Pingyuan Commandery City.
In the distant sky, a bright sword light illuminated the mountain mist.
Except for those in secluded death-seclusion, all Qi Refiners in Pingyuan Commandery had been drawn into the Wine Immortal's Dao field. Knowing of the existence of the Ascension Ground, some felt fear, yet far more flocked toward it like ducks to water.
Over the past half year or more, cultivators from tens of thousands of li away had arrived here, making Pingyuan Commandery even more bustling.
Yet none of them had found a way to enter the Ascension Ground, leaving many vexed and resentful, feeling as though they had missed out on a tremendous fortuitous encounter.
Today, however, an expert from Guanjiang Mountain had arrived. The crowd saw their chance once more.
The onlookers stood far away; the sword light in the sky was truly astonishing. Within Yunzhou Prefecture, the only ones possessing such swordcraft were those of Perfected Xuannian's lineage from Guanjiang Mountain.
Perfected Xuannian's second disciple, Song Xinghe, had not only arrived in person, but had also brought a golden decree. The moment that golden decree was produced, the surrounding mountains and rivers stirred in resonance.
Evidently, with this single decree, one could confer titles upon mountains, rivers, and great marshes—far more potent than ordinary talismanic decrees.
The earth veins of Hawk Beak Mountain were stirred, the surrounding mist churning violently, yet the spirit-corroding cold fiend-qi deep underground was instantly subdued.
Mao Yan and Zheng Xiuyuan stood beside Song Xinghe. The three gazed toward the location of the King of Pingyuan's Tomb with reverent awe.
They had no confidence whatsoever in whether they could retrieve anyone from this venture, nor did they know the temper of that ancient entity. Only after Song Xinghe brought out the golden decree did they dare step forward to deliver a message.
Though this golden decree had been bestowed by his master, Perfected Xuannian, it was an artifact belonging to the Ancestor of Guanjiang Mountain. As one of the Seven Friends of Dragon Gate of the Lingbao Sect, though the Ancestor of Guanjiang Mountain was not as ancient as this Tribulation Immortal, both were immortals who had plucked Dao fruits. His background was fully sufficient to speak on equal terms with this Tribulation Immortal.
Song Xinghe did not attempt to negotiate conditions; this trip was merely an attempt, and he would never dare offend an ancient Tribulation Immortal at such a time. Thus, he called out:
"This disciple is Song Xinghe, grand-disciple of the Ancestor of Guanjiang Mountain, paying respects to Senior. My master, Perfected Xuannian, wishes to behold Senior's immortal countenance and has specially sent our Ancestor's golden decree."
Once these words were spoken, he waited for a response from the direction of the great tomb. Song Xinghe held little hope.
Yet... something unexpected occurred. The ancient Tribulation Immortal seemed to grant them immense face!
A shift overturning heaven and earth manifested in the distant sky. The mountain mist froze abruptly, and the Qi Refiners surrounding Hawk Beak Mountain were all enveloped by an ancient, primeval aura!
No one dared move rashly. Many felt both shock and delight, assuming they were about to enter the Ascension Ground. In the next moment, everyone saw...
Three toads radiating golden light leaped out from the churning heaven and earth. Each wore a drunken stupor.
The moment senior toad brother Fan Da saw so many people, he immediately bellowed, "The Ascension Ground has been unraveled by the Breeze and Moon Little Sword Immortal of Yuansong Temple!
"He brewed the wine beloved by the Wine Immortal and ascended to the Wine Immortal Palace! A celestial banquet was held in his honor, with immortals keeping him company and celestial officials playing music, as he partook of the immortal vintage alongside the Wine Immortal himself!"
All the Qi Refiners near Hawk Beak Mountain were completely stunned. *What is going on?!*
The expressions of Song Xinghe, Mao Yan, and Zheng Xiuyuan instantly turned marvelous.
Junior toad brother Fan Xun boasted smugly, slurring in his drunken state, "The Little Sword Immortal brewed immortal wine; even I got to taste its flavor! Truly, the mortal world isn't worth it..."
Recalling the spectacle in the sky, Elder Tao of Toad Mountain broke into a drunken chant:
"*Two auspicious clouds descend from azure skies,*
*Immortal sword aloft as heavenly winds arise.*
*Behold palaces cresting the sea of cloud,*
*Golden hearths and jade chimes ringing proud.*
*Wine fragrance transforms into white threads that rise,*
*Half to celestial garments, half into the void... Ha ha ha!*"
Elder Tao laughed uproariously, on the verge of madness. "This old man feels as though he has ascended to immortality too!"
Not only did the three golden toads possess no demonic qi, but they carried an aura that compelled profound respect.
Someone recognized them: "That's the Human-Demon Symbiosis Technique of Toad Mountain!"
"A wine of the Wine Immortal's palace—they obtained a fortuitous encounter!"
"Where did this Little Sword Immortal come from? Who ascended to the Wine Immortal Palace?!"
As the terrifying aura of the great tomb gradually dispersed, cultivators from outside the region cried out in confusion, scratching their heads in frantic curiosity, desperately wishing for a glimpse into the Ascension Ground.
The three toads declared almost in unison:
"The Breeze and Moon Little Sword Immortal of the Eastern Ascendant Continent is the number one figure in a thousand years, personally acknowledged by the Wine Immortal!"
The three toads shouted as they walked, being the earliest to emerge from the Ascension Ground and bringing the freshest news. The surrounding listeners grew increasingly astounded.
Just as Mao Yan was about to seize the three toads for questioning, silhouettes began bursting out of the Ascension Ground one after another. Some appeared close by, some far away; some by the Yudai River, and some directly inside the city.
"A major shift has occurred in the Ascension Ground!" Mao Yan and the others realized at once.
Backing away, they quickly spotted a Yuansong Temple disciple and immediately summoned him for questioning.
He was a mountain-guarding disciple who did not recognize them.
"I am Song Xinghe, second disciple of Perfected Xuannian."
Hearing this title, the Yuansong Temple disciple was so terrified he moved to kowtow at once, but Mao Yan caught him. "Quick, tell us what happened!"
The disciple stammered, unsure of how to address them, simply calling them Patriarchs.
He then relayed everything he knew in detail.
First, he spoke of the conditions inside the Ascension Ground, then the events in the wine-tasting tower, and finally the strange phenomena of today: "Senior Brother Qin brewed the wine the Wine Immortal desired and was invited to the celestial banquet. Afterward, everyone was sent out."
Mao Yan's eyes lit up. "Tell us about Qin Xuan."
The disciple complied, first recounting the three top-rated wines, then ascending the Heart Lake island to harvest spirit fruits, slaying the Lan River demon clans, and eliminating the evil monk and mountain god... Hearing all this, even a thousand-year-old monster like Song Xinghe was visibly moved.
Song Xinghe suddenly smiled, looking at Mao Yan. "Didn't Madam Wei's letter state that Zihou possessed Foundation Establishment cultivation? How has he already formed his core and refined fiend-qi?"
"This..." Mao Yan was dumbfounded as well. He was clearly at Foundation Establishment before!
Zheng Xiuyuan reacted quickly, hurriedly covering for it: "Fellow Daoist Song, Zihou must have obtained a fortuitous encounter in the Ascension Ground and made a breakthrough."
"Indeed," Mao Yan chimed in, providing cover as well. "Though his progress has been swift, this is the Ascension Ground after all—a place where an ancient Tribulation Immortal resides. Gaining some encounters to amass foundation reserves is quite natural."
As the two finished speaking, the middle-aged scholar's smile grew even wider.
"The true disciples of our Guanjiang Mountain are without exception brought into the sect and nurtured slowly after their talent is discovered. Even the Dao Seed—whom Junior Brother Jin Tu initially doubted—was polished under the Sect Master for decades before his profound reserves bore fruit.
"Zihou, however, is different."
Song Xinghe's tone carried unmistakable warmth. "Zihou demonstrated the potential to leap straight into becoming a great sect's true disciple while still in the Lower Court. A mere six years is practically the blink of an eye to the various Perfected masters. If Martial Uncle Xuanling knew of this, I fear he would send Peak Master Cui of Yingling Peak in person, bearing his venerable talisman token, to claim a young disciple."
Just as Mao Yan was about to say that Perfected Xuanling had already agreed, two beams of light flew over from the distance—one clad in glittering golden robes, the other transformed into a streak of gray light. It was none other than Jin Tu and Xubai Zi.
The two had gone searching for the black-robed man but failed to find him; who knew where that fellow had hidden.
Sensing the sword qi here, they knew acquaintances had arrived.
"Senior Brother Song!" The moment they saw Song Xinghe, both stepped forward to greet him.
Xubai Zi glanced at Mao Yan and the others, stroking his beard with a smile. "Fellow Daoists, have you seen my precious apprentice, Qin Xuan?"
"Shameless!" Jin Tu cursed. "When did the prodigy of my Luogu Peak become your apprentice, you old codger?!"
Xubai Zi was not the least bit annoyed. "Brother Jin, your words have always carried weight. Back in Pingyuan City, you were the one who told me to take Qin Xuan as an apprentice. Are you going to renege now? I have fought you for a thousand years; though I never respected your Dao methods, I respected your character. Are you now abandoning even your moral integrity?"
Jin Tu's face remained cold. "That was merely jest! Because my master, Perfected Xuannan, intends to take Qin Xuan as a disciple, I naturally could not vie with him, so I merely poked fun at you. You actually took it seriously? You old bastard, you grow more shameless by the day. I hear you were pounding lime on the island; did you apply a layer to your thick face as well?"
The corners of Xubai Zi's mouth twitched. "How are you any better, a mere fishmonger?! You even relied on my precious apprentice to patronize your business; otherwise, you wouldn't have sold a single fish. Having poor eyesight for supreme thresholds is one thing, but a man must keep his word."
The two merely traded verbal barbs, not daring to come to blows.
In the past, when their cultivation had been low, fighting a round mattered little.
Now that they were at the Nascent Soul level, fighting easily attracted tribulation qi, and deploying foundational artifacts would harm their sects' fortune. Both understood the stakes.
As their bickering dragged on, Mao Yan saw through it all. *The wolves have arrived!*
This time, relying on just him and Zheng Xiuyuan would likely not be enough to win the prize.
He immediately dispatched a message talisman toward Jinghu Manor. In this matter, Madam Wei had to step forward.
Seeing that talisman, Jin Tu felt immense pressure in his heart as well.
Madam Wei was not only of their martial uncles' generation, but also on close terms with the various founding ancestors of the Lingbao Sect. Emerging from Chongjin Pass, she could directly visit and converse with the two ancestors of Zijin Mountain and Guanjiang Mountain. More importantly, above the Guanjiang Ancestor and Zi Bogong stood a senior martial sister, Daoist title Star Sovereign Miaoxian.
She ranked first among the Seven Friends of Dragon Gate and had always resided in the ancestral court of the Lingbao Sect.
She was exceptionally close with Madam Wei—an opportunity none of the Perfected masters of Guanjiang Mountain enjoyed.
Chongjin Pass was a special place; allied with Zijin Mountain, it interacted directly with numerous mighty factions across the East Sea.
Among the Four Seas, only the East Sea was still weighing its options. The Lingbao Sect had always sought to bring the East Sea Dragon Palace into the fold, and the Wei clan ancestor's presence at Chongjin Pass back then had been precisely for this overarching scheme.
Madam Wei had the most interactions with the East Sea, and many eyes from the supreme orthodox lineages were fixed upon that region. Therefore, her words carried tremendous weight.
Realizing this, Jin Tu had no intention of giving up. He looked at Song Xinghe and began transmitting his voice: "Senior Brother Song, this boy is extraordinary, having broken out of the Ascension Ground all on his own! He must remain in Guanjiang Mountain."
Song Xinghe replied via voice transmission: "Indeed. Master has already bestowed a flying sword; Junior Brother Jin, simply follow my lead."
Jin Tu froze slightly. *Wait, something isn't right... How did he become someone for your Jianling Peak?*
On the other side, Mao Yan was also transmitting his voice to Zheng Xiuyuan: "Brother Zheng, the variables have multiplied."
"Yes, we acted a step too late," Zheng Xiuyuan lamented with regret. "Back when I first met him, I should have taken him away decisively. Who knew that in such a short time in Guanjiang Mountain, such massive changes would occur!"
Mao Yan said, "Send another message to Madam Wei. I now feel that Zihou is not just true disciple material; he might very well be the Dao Seed of our Chongjin Pass. I personally witnessed his growth; the river of Pingyuan Commandery was far too shallow, and the moment he revealed his talent, he stood exposed. We cannot delay any longer. If we wait, the Perfected masters of Guanjiang Mountain might arrive in person."
No one was a fool; to break out of the Ascension Ground, how could one rely purely on luck?
Every great sect might have true disciples, but a Dao Seed represented the supreme inheritance of the next generation, tied to the destiny and fortune of an entire sect.
Xubai Zi looked at the four before him. Seeing them fall silent, he knew they were conferring secretly. He had already dispatched Xu Youde; wasting time here suited him just fine.
Unfortunately, Song Xinghe gave him no such opportunity.
He smiled refinedly. "In any case, let us find Zihou first. I must have him try my master's sword."
The moment his words fell, the divine senses of all five bypassed the direction of the King of Pingyuan's Tomb and swept across every other region. To their surprise, even their divine senses failed to locate Qin Xuan.
However, they did sense streaks of light bursting forth from the direction of the King of Pingyuan's Tomb, departing far from this place. Peals of hearty laughter echoed through the sky.
Jin Tu said, "Those are the ancients from the Ascension Ground."
Song Xinghe sensed those auras—demonic qi, fiendish qi, and even formidable Divine Way presences. He frowned at once.
"Find Zihou first. He might be in grave danger alone out there; those from the Ascension Ground might well bear him ill will."
With Song Xinghe's decree, the five transformed into streaks of light and flew in various directions.
***
In the Yudai River, a middle-aged man with disheveled hair drifted along with the current, thoroughly relishing the sensation.
Fu Daneng looked up at the clouds in the sky; every cloud seemed so lovely, every wisp of breeze so gentle. This was the true Nine Provinces; this was the true celestial realm.
He inhaled greedily, then retrieved an ordinary-looking fruit from his treasure pouch and swallowed it. Inside the Ascension Ground, it was precisely by relying on these fruits that he had fended off death qi.
Old Fu cast a backward glance toward Pingyuan Commandery, murmuring to himself, "Fellow Daoist Qin, until fate brings us together again."
In the next instant, circulating the cultivation art he had brought from the lower realm, his body began to radiate light, his blood and vitality surging with ever-increasing vigor.
Just like that, he drifted endlessly—from the Yudai River into the Lan River, floating toward Qingzhou Prefecture. Following the path once trodden by the white-haired angler, he drifted ever downward...
***
Amidst a spinning world and shifting scenery, Qin Xuan finally saw the scene before him clearly.
A low fence, bamboo chairs, a stone table... his familiar small courtyard.
*This is...* Qin Xuan's gaze darted around, confirming his location once more. The Wine Immortal had been exceptionally considerate, sending him directly back home.
At this moment, he was sitting on the ground, leaning his back against the pine tree in the courtyard.
Qin Xuan composed his mind. After a brief silence, he adjusted his expression, turned around, hugged the pine tree behind him, and began weeping mournfully:
"Songsong, ah! The path of immortality is fraught with hardship and peril at every turn! I nearly never saw you again! Let us not speak of trials and tribulations now that we are reunited. All this time, I have missed you ceaselessly, filled with sorrow and grief..."
Chapter 96