232: This wine is powerful!

The wine's aroma was indeed rich, even carrying an extremely special spiritual charm. Just smelling it seemed to energize the Star Power within his body.

“Revered Master?”

Seeing that Su Lin still hadn't moved, Cold Moon flashed a slightly hurt expression and pushed the wine bowl forward again, almost touching Su Lin's nose.

“What are you still hesitating about? Are you perhaps finding the wine not good enough? Or... are you looking down on the person offering you the toast?”

With such a heavy accusation thrown down, Su Lin's mouth twitched.

“Drink! Your Revered Master will drink it!”

At worst, I'll just circulate my Qi and force it out!

Thinking this, Su Lin no longer hesitated. He took the large bowl with both hands and, with great boldness, tilted his head back.

The moment it entered his mouth, there was none of the expected spiciness or bitterness. Instead, it was an incredibly smooth and mellow texture, like drinking an aged fruit nectar, with a hint of sweetness, immediately followed by a burst of warmth exploding in his abdomen.

“Hah.”

The warm current did not take effect immediately like poison. Instead, it transformed into countless small streams of heat, even helping to soothe several hidden injuries left over from continuous battles.

“Huh?”

Su Lin was slightly surprised.

“This wine... seems genuinely good?”

Did that girl Chu Weiwei suddenly have a change of heart, or did the medicine expire?

“How is it, Revered Master? Does it taste good?”

Chu Weiwei had been watching Su Lin's reaction. Seeing that he hadn't immediately collapsed after drinking it, but instead looked ruddy, the anticipation in her eyes grew stronger.

“This wine is called 'Thousand Day Drunken.' It feels soft and weak when first consumed, but its after-effect is immense.”

She smiled and placed a piece of “Pure Heart Benevolent Grand Pork Hock” into Su Lin's bowl with her chopsticks.

“And the most wonderful thing about this wine is that it's not poison; it's a tonic.

The higher a person's cultivation, the faster they absorb it, and the better the medicinal effect... will manifest.”

“Indeed, it is good wine.”

“Since Revered Master thinks it's good, have another bowl!”

Su Hongling couldn't wait any longer. Seeing that Su Lin was fine after drinking, she immediately grabbed the wine jar in front of her, which was larger than a washbasin, and unceremoniously filled Su Lin's bowl again.

“This bowl, your Disciple toasts you! I wish Revered Master a speedy return to the Peak, so you can take us to poke a hole in the sky!”

This girl's toast is always so wild.

“Alright.”

Perhaps it was the effect of the alcohol, or perhaps the warm sensation made Su Lin drop his guard. He did not refuse, picked up the bowl, and drained it once more.

This time, as the wine went down, the feeling of warmth became even more pronounced.

It was as if his entire body was submerged in a hot spring, every pore cheering with joy. Even his vision became slightly hazy, and everything looked like it had a soft-focus filter applied.

“Revered Master's spirit is grand!”

“Second Senior Sister toasted passion; then this cup from your Disciple is a toast to gratitude.”

“If not for Revered Master, there would be no Demon Venerable today. Revered Master's great kindness and virtue, Ximei... has no way to repay, and can only use this body... and this cup of wine, to express my sincerity.”

That slender neck looked especially alluring under the moonlight.

Su Lin looked at her, finding Luo Ximei particularly pleasing to the eye today. Her usual hostility seemed to have vanished, replaced only by a captivating charm.

“Alright, Your Revered Master drinks.”

Su Lin took the wine cup and drained it.

The third bowl of wine went down.

“Revered Master, there's also me.”

Mu Qingxue also walked over.

She was still dressed in white, cold and aloof like a Moon Palace Fairy. But at this moment, a faint blush stained her cheeks, and a shimmer of moisture actually rippled in those eyes that were usually devoid of emotion.

“Qingxue is not good with words.”

“This cup of wine is a toast to the past.”

“A toast to you rescuing the little girl who was about to freeze to death on the snowy mountain Peak.”

“A toast to you... giving me a home.”

After speaking, she drank it all.

“Alright, to the past.”

“Anyway... anyway, wherever Revered Master is, I will be!”

The fifth bowl.

Five rounds of wine had passed.

The two jars of Thousand Day Drunken were already empty.

And Su Lin's state finally underwent a noticeable change.

His cheeks were flushed, his eyes no longer deep and clear as usual, but instead clouded with a layer of mist, becoming somewhat hazy and unfocused.

He leaned back against the chair, his collar slightly open, revealing the golden dragon imprint on his collarbone. His entire being exuded a lazy and decadent charm.

The aloof demeanor of the Revered Master was slowly crumbling.

“Hot...”

Su Lin tugged at his collar and mumbled.

“This wine... why does it get hotter the more I drink?”

He felt a ball of fire burning inside him.

That wasn't just the heat of the alcohol; a strange restlessness was surging through his blood, making him unable to sit still.

He tried to stand up, but found his legs felt like they were stepping on cotton, soft and powerless.

His body swayed, and he began to slide toward the floor beneath the table.

“Revered Master!”

Five figures moved simultaneously.

But the fastest was Luo Ximei, who was the closest and had planned this beforehand.

Like a fragrant breeze, she instantly caught Su Lin's sliding body, letting him lean against her chest.

“Oh dear, Revered Master is drunk.”

Luo Ximei's voice was filled with unconcealed excitement, and her heterochromatic eye glowed terrifyingly in the dark.

“His body is so hot... Looks like the medicinal effect has kicked in.”

She reached out and touched Su Lin's scorching hot face. The sensation was so pleasant that she couldn't help but sigh in satisfaction.

“Third Senior Sister, your medicine is truly potent.”

“Of course!”

Chu Weiwei proudly lifted her chin, playing with the empty wine bottle in her hand.

“This is a formula that can knock out even a True Immortal! Right now, Revered Master... is just a baby with no defenses, oh.”

“A baby?”

Su Hongling leaned closer, looked at the flushed and hazy-eyed Su Lin, and couldn't help but poke his cheek with her finger.

“Hehe, the Old Man looks... really obedient right now.”

“He won't scold people, and he won't hit me anymore.”

“Can I... bully him just a little bit?”

“I want to too...”

Ye You licked her lips, and that look of wanting to swallow Su Lin whole reappeared.

“Let's take him back to a room.”

Cold Moon stood up. Although she had also drunk quite a bit and looked tipsy, a sliver of rationality remained as the leader.

“It's windy here; don't let Revered Master catch a cold.”

“Go back to a room?”

Luo Ximei held Su Lin tightly, refusing to let go.

“Whose room?”

As soon as this question was asked, the previously harmonious atmosphere instantly shattered.

Five pairs of eyes collided in the air, sparks flying everywhere.

“Mine, of course!”

Su Hongling declared righteously, “I'm strong, I'll carry him back!”

“With your strength, you might crush Revered Master.”

Chu Weiwei sneered, “He should come to my place. I have hangover medicine.”

“You just want to give him more medicine, right?” Mu Qingxue pierced the heart of the matter.

Cold Moon brought out the dignity of an Empress. “My place is the most spacious, and the bed is the biggest.”

“What's the use of being big?”

Luo Ximei held Su Lin tightly. “Revered Master is in my arms right now, so he's mine!”

Just as the five of them were arguing incessantly.

“Arguing... what are you arguing about...”

He spoke thickly, his voice soft and weak, completely lacking in deterrent power, sounding more like he was whining.

“My head hurts...”

He reached up and rubbed his temples, then performed an action that surprised everyone.

Rationality?

What is that? Can it be eaten?

“Revered Master!!!”

...The next day.

The sun was high up.

When Su Lin woke up, he felt like he had died once.

No, it was worse than death.

Not a single bone in his body felt right; every inch of muscle screamed in protest.

Especially his waist, which felt as if it had been severed in two.

“Hiss...”

He tried to move, but found himself unable to budge.

“This life... is unlivable!”

Su Lin was consumed by grief and indignation. He wanted to howl at the sky but found his throat too hoarse to make a sound.

Just then.

“Revered Master... good morning.”

Su Lin closed his eyes, and two lines of clear tears slipped from the corners.

What a disaster!

If I had known... I wouldn't have drunk that bowl of wine even if it killed me!!

“Revered Master, where are you going?”

“It's still early; let's go back to sleep~”

“Sleep your head!”

Su Lin gritted his teeth and mobilized the sliver of Star Power he had managed to gather within his body.

But unfortunately.

The moment that sliver of Star Power emerged, it was suppressed by a blast of cold air from Mu Qingxue.

“Revered Master's internal heat is too strong; it is not advisable to use spiritual power.”

Mu Qingxue closed her eyes and said, “The weather is nice today.”

“Lie down a little longer.”

“...”

“Tonight, all of you go back to your own mountain Peaks to sleep!

No unauthorized entry into the Main Peak!”

“Ah?!”

A chorus of wails erupted.

“Separation? This is separation!”

Su Hongling yelled, “Revered Master, you are abandoning us after seducing us!”

“Exactly! Last night you called us 'Sweetie,' and today you're chasing us off to sleep on the mountain Peak!” Luo Ximei joined the ruckus.

“Revered Master... don't you need Weiwei to warm your bed anymore?” Chu Weiwei's eyes were teary.

“Shut up!”

Su Lin felt his blood pressure rising.

“This is an order!”

“Anyone who dares to disobey will go face the wall at Reflection Cliff!”

Under Su Lin's forceful suppression, the matter of dividing the Peaks was settled.

Although the disciples were full of complaints, since Revered Master had given the word, they could only comply.

However, for every policy from above, there is a countermeasure from below.

Since they couldn't live on the Main Peak, they would just build their own Peaks closer to the Main Peak, or perhaps dig a secret tunnel... The disciples exchanged glances and shared knowing, strange smiles.

The other disciples went to their assigned Peaks and began “major construction.”

Su Lin finally found some peace and quiet, taking a walk alone in the bamboo forest behind the mountain, taking the opportunity to contemplate life.

“Alas...”

He sighed, looking at the ancient sword destiny in his hand.

Although he had resolved the crisis of the foreign tribes and temporarily appeased these troublesome disciples.

The road ahead was still difficult.

Although his current cultivation had recovered to the Great Perfection of Integration Stage, and he even had the enhancement of immortal spiritual qi, he was still one final step away from the true Mahayana Stage.

Moreover, the matter of the Immortal Path was still unclear.

“To achieve a stable Breakthrough, relying solely on the disciples acting as Protectors is not enough.”

“One must be strong oneself to forge iron.”

Su Lin quickly calculated in his mind.

“First, I need a top-tier defensive Formation.”

“Preferably one that can obscure Heavenly Secrets, or even reverse the power of the Heavenly Tribulation.”

“The Nine Heavens Ten Earths Annihilation Grand Formation is good, but its killing intent is too heavy. Using it for Undergoing Tribulation could easily invite greater backlash.”

“The Ten Thousand Laws Returning to Origin Formation is balanced and peaceful, but its defensive power is slightly lacking.”

Su Lin pondered for a moment and made a decision.

“Perhaps I can try combining the Star Constellation Grand Formation within the Myriad Heavens Star Chart with the Space Law of the world core to create my own Star River Chaos Grand Formation.”

“However, this would require a large quantity of star-type Materials for the Formation Foundation.”

“Star Sand, Meteorite Iron Essence, Void Crystals... Although that girl Gu Qiuyue is rich, she might not be able to acquire all of these.”

After all, most of these items are rare treasures that are hard to come by.

“Secondly, I need Medicinal Pills.”

“During Undergoing Tribulation, I must not only fight the Heavenly Lightning but also constantly keep my Divine Soul clear to prevent Heart Demons from invading.”

“The Nine Revolutions Golden Core is good, but its medicinal properties are too overbearing and can easily damage the Foundation.”

“If I could refine the legendary Grand Supreme Forgetfulness Pill, it might have miraculous effects.”

However, the main ingredient for this pill, Forgetfulness Water, is one of the Ten Great Exotic Poisons of the Cultivation World and is extremely difficult to find.

“That girl Chu Weiwei is skilled at handling poisons; I wonder if she has any in stock.”

“But...”

Su Lin remembered Chu Weiwei's insane medical skills, where “as long as they don't die, it's a victory,” and his mouth couldn't help but twitch.

“Never mind. Asking her for medicine is worse than gathering it myself.”

“Finally, and most crucially.”

Su Lin's finger lightly traced the sword body, eliciting a crisp sword chime.

“Magic Treasure.”

“Although destiny has undergone Awakening, its current grade is still insufficient to withstand the full force of a Heavenly Dao strike.”

“I must upgrade it.”

“I need... Immortal Gold.”

“True Immortal Gold, originating from the Upper Realm.”

Su Lin stood up, his gaze cast toward the distance.

“It seems I absolutely must attend this trade fair.”

The largest trade fair in the Cultivation World—the Ten Thousand Treasures Convention—is held once every hundred years, gathering the world's exotic treasures. Even some reclusive old monsters will make an appearance.

If luck is on my side, I might genuinely find what I need.

“However...”

Su Lin stroked his chin.

What if I take these four troublemakers to the trade fair?

Su Lin shook his head, preparing to invent an excuse to send the disciples away so he could sneak off alone.

However.

“What is Revered Master thinking about?”

A sinister voice suddenly came from behind him.

Su Lin stiffened all over and slowly turned his head.

He saw Luo Ximei had appeared behind him at some unknown time, her platinum heterochromatic eye gleaming with all-seeing light, a subtle smirk hanging on her lips.

“Revered Master wouldn't be thinking of... abandoning us to go enjoy himself alone, would he?”

“Enjoy myself?”

Su Lin's mouth twitched slightly as he slowly turned around.

It wasn't just Luo Ximei.

Su Hongling was sticking her head in through the window, still clutching an unfinished Spiritual Chicken Leg, wearing an expression that screamed, “If you dare run, I dare cry.”

Chu Weiwei was squatting in the corner, and upon hearing the movement, she slowly raised her head.

Even the usually aloof Mu Qingxue was standing by the door, hugging her Ice Sword, the air temperature around her having dropped below freezing.

“Revered Master, where do you intend to go?”

Mu Qingxue asked faintly.

“If you're going for a secret rendezvous... Qingxue wouldn't mind freezing that vixen into an ice sculpture and placing it at the mountain entrance as decoration.”