73: Stand or lie down

"Bing Yao, I have a secret technique," Lu Chen said in a low voice.

"What secret technique?" Qin Bingyao spoke coldly.

Aside from a marriage contract on paper, there wasn't even a shred of affection between the two.

"I'm immune to alcohol; I can help you get this moon soul crystal marrow," Lu Chen said with a hint of smugness.

Hearing this, Qin Bingyao frowned slightly. "Really?"

Lu Chen nodded firmly. "Rest assured, I wouldn't lie to you about this."

Qin Bingyao pondered for a moment and chose to believe him.

She wasn't good at drinking to begin with; even if she joined, she would only lose. It was better to let Lu Chen try; what if it worked?

"Alright, then I'll let you try," she nodded.

A glint of craftiness flashed in Lu Chen's eyes. "Bing Yao, look, we've been married for two years and still sleep in separate beds. What do you think?"

Hearing this, Qin Bingyao's expression darkened, and her opinion of Lu Chen dropped even further.

If he could move her with sincerity, it wouldn't be out of the question, but this fellow actually used this to set conditions.

After some thought, she nodded. "Fine, I agree."

"But it's limited to sharing the bed; no wandering hands."

"Also, you must win, or else you can crawl back to your floor mat to sleep."

Lu Chen's Face lit up with joy, and he immediately replied, "It's a deal!"

Qin Bingyao took out a Low Grade Sacred Artifact and placed it on the table in front of her. "It's up to you."

Lu Chen nodded. "Don't worry, leave everything to me."

He looked around, his gaze finally landing on the Wine Emperor.

He was determined to obtain the moon soul crystal marrow.

As for Cao Bu, he didn't care about him at all.

Behind him, Qin Bingyao looked at Lu Chen's high-spirited back, a faint, imperceptible anticipation rising in her heart.

As for what would happen if he actually got the moon soul crystal marrow?

She had already made up her mind; as soon as they returned, she would have someone prepare an oversized bed and have a confidant install a Profound Iron divider in the middle.

Even if they shared a bed, what of it?

On the other side, Leng Yue also took out a Low Grade Sacred Artifact and placed it on the table.

Cao Bu walked over and sat down. To his left and right were Leng Feng and Su Chen, sandwiching him from both sides, clearly harboring ill intentions.

Before them was an oversized oval sandalwood table covered with over a thousand lidded bowls, isolating the alcohol vapor from the outside world such that not even a hint of wine fragrance escaped.

Seeing that all the factions had sent people, the Wine Emperor laughed loudly. "Everyone, let's make things clear before we begin."

"On the table is the glory of my Wine God Temple over the years, a total of 1,200 types of wine, five bowls of each."

"What wine you get depends entirely on luck."

"Some wines will be ordinary to you, while others might knock you out with just a sniff."

"Additionally, considering there are newcomers, this Emperor will explain the rules again."

"Rule One: Only one person can remain standing at this table in the end."

"Rule Two: If you haven't fallen, you must keep drinking; those who can't drink, want to back out, or want to surrender, this Emperor will have someone pour it down your throat; in short, since you've sat down, you either stand or lie down."

"Rule Three: The winner will receive the moon soul crystal marrow in this Emperor's hand, as well as the Low Grade Sacred Artifacts in front of everyone here."

"If anyone is unwilling to accept defeat and causes trouble secretly afterward, don't blame this Emperor for using my status as the Leader of the Righteous Path Alliance to suppress you."

"I believe the Great Emperor Fellow Daoists behind you will still give this Emperor this Face."

Everyone voiced their agreement.

A mere Low Grade Sacred Artifact wasn't enough to make them disregard their reputation to kill and steal.

Of course, that was provided their backing was strong enough.

If it were a power below an Immortal Holy Land, that would be a different story.

"Starting from this Emperor, we will take turns counter-clockwise, each person choosing a bowl to drink." As the Wine Emperor spoke, he tossed the moon soul crystal marrow to the Grand Elder beside him. "Old Jin, you be the referee."

Elder Jin nodded, looked around, and announced loudly, "The Wine Gambling Assembly begins now."

Hearing this, the Wine Emperor immediately picked up a bowl of wine in front of him, opened the lid, and downed it in one gulp.

Everyone's eyes gathered on him, wanting to see how the Wine Emperor would change, only to see that aside from his Face turning slightly red, there was no other abnormality.

Next to the Wine Emperor's left was Lu Chen; he unhesitatingly picked up the wine in front of him and drank it all after opening the lid.

Seeing his unchanged Face, a chorus of compliments immediately rang out around him:

"As expected of a Heavenly Emperor, his cultivation is unparalleled in the world, and even his drinking is so formidable!"

"In this old man's view, of everyone present, I'm afraid only the Wine Emperor can compete with Heavenly Emperor Lu."

"The final winner will surely be born between the Wine Emperor and Heavenly Emperor Lu."

Listening to these words, the corners of Lu Chen's mouth curled slightly. He turned to look at Qin Bingyao and saw a flash of surprise in her eyes.

He immediately guaranteed, "Don't worry, Bing Yao, I will definitely get this moon soul crystal marrow for you."

Qin Bingyao nodded calmly.

When Lu Chen opened the lid just now, she had only smelled a hint of the alcohol vapor and felt a bit dizzy.

Lu Chen looked normal after drinking; it seemed he hadn't lied.

The wine gambling proceeded in an orderly fashion.

Soon it was the turn of Cao Bu's trio.

Leng Feng drank first. After opening the lid, he glanced smugly at Cao Bu and tilted his head back to drink it all in one go.

"Steward Cao, one must drink like this to be satisfied." Leng Feng raised the empty bowl in his hand, his Face full of pride.

But in the next moment, a wave of drunkenness hit him. He felt his whole body go weak and almost collapsed, but fortunately, he gritted his teeth and steadied himself at the last moment.

Leng Yue shook her head gently behind him.

This unreliable fellow, already like this after just one bowl.

She couldn't help but pin her hopes on Cao Bu. If what he said was true, her hope of getting the moon soul crystal marrow would be very high.

Cao Bu casually picked up a bowl. The moment he opened the lid, an extreme alcoholic aura swept through the entire hall.

Seeing this, the Wine Emperor laughed heartily. "Little Friend Cao, your luck isn't very good; you picked the strongest one for your first bowl."

He paused and added, "Ordinary people would pass out just from a sniff of this wine. Since you look normal now, it's clear your alcohol tolerance is extraordinary."

The various experts all looked at Cao Bu in surprise.

This luck was truly unique, but being able to hold on until now was already surprising enough.

Beside Cao Bu, Su Chen's head was wobbling on his neck.

Seeing this, Leng Feng immediately felt ashamed.

They had just sent sound transmissions agreeing to drink Cao Bu under the table together; was this guy going to collapse before even drinking the first bowl?

Just as the thought occurred, a "thud" was heard as Su Chen's head slammed heavily onto the table, motionless.

The veins on Leng Yue's temples throbbed. She secretly felt lucky she had believed Cao Bu; otherwise, if she had let Su Chen go up, she would have lost a lot of Face.

"Fellow Daoist Leng, what is this?" The Wine Emperor's Face darkened; he despised those who couldn't drink but tried to force it the most.

Leng Yue immediately drew a line. "This is Su Chen of the Su Clan; he has nothing to do with my Gu Clan."

How embarrassing. He hadn't even drunk yet, and he'd already collapsed?

The Wine Emperor snorted coldly and said to Cao Bu, "Little Friend Cao, continue. Don't let this trash ruin the mood."

"Dammit, the first round isn't even over and someone's already down!"

Saying that, he slapped the table in anger and cursed publicly, "Damn it, next time those who come for the Heavenly Pride Battle host lottery, if they want to enter my Wine God Temple, they'll have to down a bowl of wine first!"

The more he spoke, the angrier he got. "Dammit, this is the Wine God Temple, not the Wine Dregs Temple!"

"Someone, drag this Su Chen out and throw him outside the mountain gate!"

"Furthermore, if the Su Clan sends this fellow again, this Alliance Leader will disqualify them from competing for the hosting rights of the Heavenly Pride Battle!"