The Prodigies War

Although Mu Wansu was somewhat surprised by Lin Xun’s composure, her expression changed slightly when she saw the wine pot brought out by the first young master.

“First Young Master…” Mu Wansu could not help but speak as worry appeared between her brows.

“It’s fine.” The first young master waved his hand, stopping her from continuing. He lifted the wine pot and poured a cup for Lin Xun.

The dark blue wine was translucent like amber, giving off a simple, elegant, and refreshing fragrance.

Lin Xun’s eyes shone when he looked at the cup, “Good wine!”

He had seen Mu Wansu’s expression and could roughly guess that the wine was either poisonous or an extremely valuable and rare brew.

In Lin Xun’s opinion, the second possibility was more likely. After all, based on their terrifying auras, it was unnecessary for the man and woman to resort to such measures to kill him.

Lin Xun downed the entire cup and his eyes soon brightened again.

As the wine entered his mouth, it gave off a sensation of the never-ending spring rain. Warm and gentle aeth power soon began spreading to his entire body.

Lin Xun felt his aeth power gradually boil as it slowly saturated. It flowed in a lively manner as if cheering.

Lin Xun could not help but compliment it again, “It is indeed an excellent wine!”

At the sight of Lin Xun’s carefree attitude and straightforward wine mannerisms, the first young master could not help but look at him again in surprise. Soon after, the first young master chuckled, “This wine is called Four Seasons, and was personally brewed by Qinglu Academy Heavenly Workshop’s Grandmaster Mei. The first cup tastes like a spring breeze in the night and focuses on bringing out the ‘moistness’ of spring.”

As he explained, he poured Lin Xun another cup, “Try the second cup.”

Lin Xun did not hold back this time either and downed the second cup in a single gulp. He seemed to feel rumbling as a fiery torrent was poured down his throat. A surge of unbearable and fierce qi began to run amok inside his body, causing him to tremble uncontrollably. His skin began to turn red inch by inch and his face instantly flushed red as well.

It felt like he was amidst the scorching heat of summer. Fire burned in his body like a furnace, evaporating the moisture outside while every aperture on his body spouted abundant aeth qi.

Lin Xun opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue, “To think that the same pot of wine would have two such unique and distinct flavors. Qinglu Academy’s Grandmaster Mei is definitely an amazing grandmaster brewer.”

Mu Wansu was speechless. This kid was so ignorant. Grandmaster Mei was a first-class grandmaster alchemist in the empire!

His Four Seasons Brew was considered a priceless treasure even in the Forbidden City, and was enjoyed by only the most powerful and influential figures!

Although Mu Wansu was considered an influential figure, even she did not dare to hope for a taste of the Four Seasons Brew.

Despite this, the first young master was using this precious wine to entertain a boy from a poor and remote village. This made Mu Wansu dumbfounded and envious, feeling that this ignorant boy really had some unbelievable luck.

However, no one else would know of Mu Wansu’s thoughts. The first young master let out a hearty laugh and said, “The second cup feels like a scorching sun down the throat and will make your organs feel as if they’re burning. Its focus is intensity.”

He looked at Lin Xun’s bright red face and asked, “Young brother, would you like a third cup?”

Lin Xun could not seem to properly gather his thoughts. It was not because he had a low alcohol tolerance, but because a mere two cups of the brew had caused his aeth power to grow drastically. It was as if a raging river was flowing into a tiny pond and was about to overwhelm its capacity.

The Four Seasons Brew was clearly an aeth wine! Moreover, it must be extremely rare and valuable!

Lin Xun forcefully circulated his cultivation, using his qi to cycle the rapidly increasing aeth power in his body in an effort to digest its potent energy.

Meanwhile, he smiled and said, “Since it’s called the Four Seasons Brew, it would be far too regretful to not have a taste of the third and fourth cups.”

This kid is so shameless!

Mu Wansu cursed inside. She could roughly tell that Lin Xun had already experienced the benefits of the Four Seasons Brew. Logically speaking, he should have been panicking as he tried to decline. After all, who would be so shameless as to voluntarily ask for such a valuable wine?

However, this kid was clearly trying to take a mile after being given an inch!

The first young master was also taken aback. He did a quick doubletake of Lin Xun again and said, “To be honest, you have somewhat surprised me. An ordinary True Martial cultivator would have fallen drunk on the ground after the first cup, unable to bear the aeth power in the wine. However, you are clearly different from others.”

Lin Xun squinted as if he was drunk. His cheeks were flushed as his mouth seemed to loosen, “Eh, I might be quite a good drinker.”

The first young master chuckled and poured Lin Xun a third cup. The first young master suddenly pointed to the meat and skins hanging around the yard and asked, “Were these savage beasts hunted by you?”

Lin Xun shook his head, “Nope, there was a battle in the mountain forest some distance from here a few days ago. Most of these savage beasts were unlucky victims that were caught in the aftershocks of the battle. I was just lucky enough to take advantage of the situation.”

A battle!

The first young master’s and Mu Wansu’s eyes suddenly became focused.

Lin Xun continued to talk to himself as if he was drunk, “You might not know this, but the two combatants were Spirit Sea stage experts. One of them traveled on a flying sword like a sword immortal…”

So it was Xie Yutang!

The first young master and Mu Wansu were now certain.

Mu Wansu could not help but ask, “Who was his opponent?”

“He seems to have been called…a brute warrior.” Lin Xun frowned in thought. “I can’t really remember.”

While answering, he downed his third cup of wine. The taste this time was fresh, cool, and cleansing like a flowing stream. It gave him a broad sensation like he was high up in the autumn sky, alone in the vast emptiness.

Rumble!

The aeth power in his body erupted like a volcano, rushing and crashing through his channels with increasing ferocity.

Even the repeated refining by the aeth power vortex at Lin Xun’s four heart acupuncture points was unable to restrain the rapidly rising momentum.

At this rate, instead of benefiting him, the violent aeth power would do irreversible damage to his body.

Lin Xin gritted his teeth and cast away all unnecessary thoughts. With a deep breath, he got into a cross-legged sitting posture and began to attack the next cultivation level!

His unusual actions were not much of a surprise to the first young master and Mu Wansu, who instead felt it normal.

After all, the Four Seasons Brew was made for Spirit Dipper stage and above cultivators and contained a tremendous amount of aeth power. It was unimaginable for a True Martial third layer youngster like Lin Xun to have finished three entire cups without passing out immediately.

However, what currently drew the two guests’ attention was the brute warrior Lin Xun had mentioned.

“To think that the Darkness Kingdom’s experts have also come to the Three Thousand Great Mountains. Could they have also heard the news about the exceptional treasure that might have appeared?” The first young master frowned as killing intent spread from between his brows.

The Darkness Kingdom was located deep within the wastelands and was the Ziyao Empire’s mortal enemy!

“It should not be wrong since it was said by Xie Yutang. I never expected the Darkness Kingdom would become restless again after a thousand years.” Mu Wanyu pursed her lips as worry appeared in her eyes.

“Putting aside this matter for the moment, I’m curious whether Xie Yutang managed to find the treasure.” Iciness flowed in the first young master’s eyes.

Mu Wansu did not know what to say. There were still far too few clues. There was no way to get any reliable information unless they found Xie Yutang and asked him.

The first young master also understood this and shook his head. His gaze turned towards Lin Xun.

Mu Wansu also shifted her attention to the boy and could not help but ask in a low voice, “First Young Master, why did you bring out the Four Seasons Brew to entertain such a person? Isn’t this far too wasteful?”

The first young master shook his head to tell her not to speak any further on this topic.

Although Mu Wansu was still confused, she ceased her questioning.

The time it took to brew a pot of tea passed.

Lin Xun opened his eyes as abundant aeth power pulsed strongly around him. His entire aura had changed in a short span of time, now possessing a certain sharpness akin to a sword leaving its sheath.

Inside his body, pure and rich aeth power swam through his channels, apertures, and the four heart acupuncture points; it made a round through his five organs before returning to his channels.

In contrast to before, faint light now flowed in his many apertures, creating better harmony in his qi and blood.

This was the True Martial fourth layer, Orifice Unlocking!

By unlocking the orifices, the flow of qi and blood would improve. Upon reaching this cultivation stage, the cultivator’s qi and power would undergo a complete transformation.

“Congratulations on advancing another step on your cultivation journey.” The first young master smiled and cupped his hands together.

Lin Xun hurriedly rose to his feet and returned the gesture, “It was thanks to the young master’s generosity. How else would I have obtained such a blessing?”

The first young master chuckled and waved his hand, “No need to be courteous. It was only a few small cups of wine. Please sit down.”

Lin Xun happily obliged.

Although this cultivation advancement had been far too out of the blue and had caught him off guard, when he thought about it, he realized that he now unknowingly owed the other party a debt of gratitude.

However, Lin Xun would not say this out loud. After all, who knew whether the other party had done so intentionally? He would return the favor if he found an opportunity to do so in the future, but if no chance came by, he would take it as if it had never happened.

Lin Xun was not a stubborn and old-fashioned person. He would not try to desperately repay a debt of gratitude.

Upon seeing Lin Xun sit down in a cool and relaxed manner, Mu Wansu could not help but increase her opinion of him. Would another person have been able to maintain such a delicate balance between knowing when to advance or retreat?

“To be frank, I’ve come to the Three Thousand Mountains in search of a special treasure. I’ve heard that a strange phenomenon occurred here three months ago. Do you know anything about this matter?” The first young master casually asked as he poured Lin Xun a fourth cup.

“I don’t recall anything.” Lin Xun shook his head. “I would definitely remember if anything special happened over the past few months, but nothing really comes to mind. The villagers can verify this.”

The first young master acknowledged this and fell into deep thought.

Mu Wansu frowned, “Are you certain?”

Before Lin Xun could reply, the first young master waved his hand and said, “It’s alright. No need to probe any further. I already have my answer.”

Mu Wansu was clearly unsatisfied and viciously glared at Lin Xun. Never mind that the brat did not know how to be grateful after drinking the Four Seasons Brew, but he could not even give them any useful information. This was truly infuriating.

However, she also understood that a youngster from a poor and remote village like Lin Xun most likely would not know any details about the treasure.

It was at this moment that the residence’s gates were pushed open as Village Chief Xiao Tianren excitedly rushed in, “Good news, we had an excellent haul today…”

His words came to an abrupt halt.

Xiao Tianren’s expression changed slightly when he suddenly discovered that there were two strangers in the yard with Lin Xun.