74: Drinking the Emperor's Small Dishes

Two Disciples immediately stepped forward and dragged Su Chen away.

The powerhouses watched Su Chen's departing figure, their faces filled with dissatisfaction.

This wasn't the Su Clan's first time participating, yet they still sent such trash. Truly bad luck.

“Little friend Cao, you may drink now.”

Wine Emperor turned his gaze to Cao Bu, his eyes filled with anticipation.

He claimed that drinking had nothing to do with cultivation base, but in truth, there was still some connection.

Those with higher cultivation could usually hold out a bit longer.

Of course, Su Chen was the exception.

The others also stared at Cao Bu, wanting to see if he could withstand this bowl of wine.

“Senior Wine Emperor, you said this is the strongest wine. Before this Junior drinks it, may I know its name?” Cao Bu asked, neither humble nor arrogant. “Otherwise, if I really am knocked down by a single bowl, this Junior won't be convinced in his heart.”

Wine Emperor laughed loudly: “There is no harm in telling you. This Emperor named this wine arrogant soul of the azure sky.”

“arrogant soul of the azure sky.” Cao Bu repeated softly, a glint flashing in his eyes as he immediately drained the bowl in one gulp.

The powerhouses' gazes were locked onto Cao Bu, and Lu Chen and Qin Bingyao were no exception.

Leng Yue stared even more breathlessly. If Cao Bu didn't fall after drinking this bowl, it meant that even if he wasn't immune to alcohol, he could still surpass most people.

Cao Bu put down the empty bowl and narrowed his eyes slightly, as if savoring the aftertaste.

The powerhouses silently counted down in their hearts, even their breathing subconsciously slowing down.

Someone couldn't hold back and began to count down in a low voice: “Ten, nine, eight...”

When they reached the last few numbers, their voice unintentionally carried a hint of tension: “Three, two, one!”

“Good wine!”

Cao Bu suddenly opened his eyes, a trace of relish flashing in the depths of his gaze.

The powerhouses' eyes were firmly locked on his face, scanning his brows, cheeks, and neck inch by inch.

His skin was as usual, without a hint of drunken flush, and even his breathing was as steady as a deep well.

“Hiss—!”

Someone took a sharp breath, breaking the silence in the hall.

“This... how is this possible?” someone whispered, their tone full of disbelief.

“This is arrogant soul of the azure sky; even a Quasi-Emperor couldn't hold out. He's only in the Heavenly Bridge Realm, yet he doesn't show a single sign of drunkenness. It's simply terrifying!”

“Truly, one cannot judge a person by their appearance! This drinking capacity, I'm afraid he can rival the Wine Emperor!”

Low discussions broke out. The eyes with which the powerhouses looked at Cao Bu no longer held the initial contempt, only deep shock and admiration.

At this moment, Cao Bu coughed lightly, his gaze sweeping across the hall as he spoke with a hint of helplessness: “Seniors, this Junior must say one more thing.”

“This Junior's sexual orientation is absolutely normal. I like peerless beauties, not bearded men.”

He paused, then changed the subject with a touch of enthusiasm: “But then again, if any Senior truly has other preferences, this Junior knows a place where the young gentlemen are all handsome, elegant, and exceptionally talented. I guarantee that all Seniors will go there in high spirits and return fully satisfied.”

“The prices are fair for everyone, and this Junior can even get a discount for all the Seniors. How about it?”

As soon as these words came out, the hall instantly became dead silent.

The powerhouses who had been staring at Cao Bu just now all withdrew their gazes in unison.

Each one looked at their nose and then their heart, their expressions becoming as serious as could be.

No one dared to look at Cao Bu again, deeply afraid that others would misunderstand them as having special hobbies and get them into trouble they couldn't wash away.

Behind Cao Bu, Leng Yue's shoulders were shaking uncontrollably.

She quickly turned her face away, trying hard not to let any laughter escape.

Even the usually cold Qin Bingyao lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes hiding the smile in her eyes.

Lu Chen glanced at the laughter-suppressing Qin Bingyao, then looked at the normal-looking Cao Bu, his brows furrowing tightly.

This bastard is actually hitting on his girl. Simply abominable.

Not long after.

The second round reached Leng Feng again.

Cao Bu glanced at the swaying Leng Feng and said with a smile on his lips: “You can't handle it already?”

Leng Feng stiffened his neck, his voice floating: “Who... who says I can't.”

After saying that, he grabbed a bowl of wine and tilted his head back to gulp it down.

When he put down the empty bowl, his body swayed, and he gritted his teeth to keep from falling.

Cao Bu didn't delay, picked up a bowl of wine, and drained it.

The third round came to Leng Feng again.

He was slumped over the table. The people around him called out several times, but he didn't react at all.

Wine Emperor looked at his half-collapsed state and waved his hand in annoyance: “Someone, pour the wine.”

Cao Bu immediately stood up and cupped his fists toward Wine Emperor: “Wine Emperor, I can handle this kind of thing.”

Wine Emperor didn't respond, but his eyes held a hint of amusement, which was a silent agreement.

Seeing this situation, Leng Yue simply turned around, out of sight, out of mind.

It was truly too embarrassing.

These two brothers, one was the first to fall, and the other was the second.

Cao Bu turned to the two Quasi-Emperors beside him and cupped his hands: “Two Seniors, please help me hold him down.”

When the two heard this, they immediately became energized.

In fact, even without Cao Bu saying anything, they had long wanted to lend a hand. This kind of forcing someone to drink was what they were best at.

Feeling someone holding him down, Leng Feng muttered, his voice slurred and unclear: “What are you doing? Can't I just admit defeat?”

Cao Bu casually opened a bowl of wine, pinched Leng Feng's chin to pry his mouth open, and poured the wine directly in.

As the liquid entered his throat, Leng Feng's eyes instantly cleared a bit.

He suddenly stood up and pointed at Cao Bu, shouting angrily: “Cao Bu, you...”

Before he could finish, his body stiffened and he fell straight back, showing no more movement.

Cao Bu turned around and calmly spat out two words: “Continue.”

The powerhouses scanned Cao Bu, the shock in their eyes growing stronger and stronger.

This kid was actually still fine.

One must know that most of them had long been unable to hold out, and right now they were just making their final struggle.

On Lu Chen's side, he was also a picture of calm.

The redness on Wine Emperor's face became more apparent, yet his eyes remained clear. This bit of wine was clearly just child's play to him.

Not long after, the twentieth round ended.

Only three people remained on the field: Cao Bu, Wine Emperor, and Lu Chen.

This kind of three-way standoff was something no one had expected.

As for the others, they were lying all over the ground, a truly spectacular scene.

“There are still two thousand bowls left. If the three of them split them equally, it's six hundred and sixty-six bowls each.”

“The real competition is only beginning now. Wine Emperor and the other two don't even have a hint of drunkenness. Truly terrifying!”

“Who do you think the final winner will be?”

While everyone was discussing, Cao Bu and the other two had already continued drinking.

After the thirtieth round.

“Drinking like this is boring. Let's just do twenty bowls at a time.” When it was Wine Emperor's turn, he slapped the table, and twenty bowls of wine flew into the air and landed in front of him.

He opened his mouth and sucked, and all twenty bowls of wine entered his stomach, followed by a burp.

When it was Lu Chen's turn, he gritted his teeth and also downed twenty bowls.

Cao Bu easily did the same, downing twenty bowls.

By the sixty-third round.

Eight bowls of wine remained in front of the three.

Cao Bu and Lu Chen hadn't changed at all, while Wine Emperor was already swaying, looking as if he might fall at any moment.

“Wine Emperor is already drunk, yet Cao Bu and Heavenly Emperor Lu are completely fine. Truly strange.”

“If Wine Emperor is out, the final winner will definitely be between Cao Bu and Heavenly Emperor Lu. But looking at them, I'm afraid it's impossible for these remaining few bowls to knock them down.”

“I really didn't expect that this year's Wine Gambling would produce two people who can drink this much.”

Everyone watched, their exclamations of surprise rising one after another.

Elder Jin stepped forward and divided the eight bowls of wine into three portions.

“Everyone, if this last big bowl still doesn't decide a winner, I think it's better to call it a draw?”