I was just making up techniques... how did all of you become Emperors?

Night had deepened.

Inside a guest room of the Ye Residence, the lights were still brightly lit.

Chu Feng sat on the bed, using his divine sense to erase the spiritual imprint on Jiuyang's storage rings.

An hour later, a pleased smile appeared on Chu Feng's face as he murmured, "Finally done. Time to open the loot boxes. Let's see how much gold this old thing dropped for me."

No rituals, no lucky charms, no invoking the power of a thirty-year-old bachelor.

Chu Feng directly opened one of the storage rings. What greeted his eyes was a massive pile of spirit stones—about a hundred cubic meters in volume—with every grade from low to supreme all included.

He only gave it a quick glance before losing interest. Was Chu Feng the kind of man who lacked spirit stones?

He opened the second ring. It was also around one hundred cubic meters in size, but this one was filled with ornate boxes neatly arranged in perfect order.

Some were made of wood, others of metal, but without exception, all of them were at least at the artifact level—some even reached the spirit artifact level.

"Didn't expect this old guy to have OCD. Now, which of these boxes is hiding the heavenly flame?"

Heavenly flames possessed their own sentience, and sealing them with ordinary artifacts wouldn't do.

Chu Feng finally locked his gaze on ten spirit-grade treasure boxes.

Two of them were placed alone in the corner, emanating a sharp chill. After a brief glance, he pulled the two boxes out from the storage ring.

He examined them carefully, then chose one to open first.

As soon as the lid was lifted, a burst of blazing brown fire surged forth, shaped like a giant turtle covered in fiery spikes. The flame roared from the box like a living creature.

Turtle-Spirit Earthfire.

The name flashed across Chu Feng's mind immediately. He quickly suppressed the flame with his divine sense and resealed the box.

"Didn't think that old man had something even better than the Volcanic Stone Flame. This trip really paid off!"

He wasn't in a rush to refine the flame. Casually checking the second box and confirming it contained the Volcanic Stone Flame, Chu Feng began opening the other boxes.

Millennium herbs, Saint-grade Fire-Lin Armor, Skyfire Crystals… an endless array of treasures dazzled his eyes.

After a night of opening loot boxes, Chu Feng felt completely refreshed.

Indeed, there's nothing quite like the thrill of getting luxury goods for free!

He stored the remaining boxes back into the storage ring and carried the one with the Volcanic Stone Flame to go complete the trade with the Ye Clan Ancestor.

Two days later, at dusk—

The Baiyun City Exchange Conference came to an end.

After bidding farewell to Xiao Chen and Cao Youqian, who continued on their training journey, Chu Feng led the rest of the disciples back to Wendao Academy.

Upon returning, everyone threw themselves into cultivation.

Having returned with a full haul, Chu Feng resumed his winemaking. After dividing the Enlightenment Wine he brewed last time among the disciples, he had little left for himself. He had to make a new batch of Saint Wine to satisfy his own cravings.

Three months passed in a flash, and the end of the year approached.

Chu Feng's new Saint Wine was finally complete. At the same time, Nie Xiuyuan also finished brewing his Dreamwine.

After sealing their wine, Chu Feng patted Nie Xiuyuan on the shoulder and said, "Xiuyuan, what do you think? Should we host another wine tasting and invite some old friends for a lively gathering?"

Nie Xiuyuan nodded. "Great idea. I've also been meaning to see if my Dreamwine can really make me dream myself into... bliss."

Chu Feng's smile froze immediately, shooting him a look. "You brat. All you ever think about is good dreams. How's your progress on the Nanhua Classic I gave you?"

Nie Xiuyuan replied, "Master, I've nearly grasped it all. I just need this cup of Dreamwine to give me a final push—maybe I'll gain true freedom in the dream and comprehend the true essence of the Nanhua Classic."

Chu Feng laughed. "Alright, then let's send out invites. I bet those old friends have been impatiently waiting in their respective pavilions."

With that, the two returned to their own quarters.

Chu Feng immediately wrote over a dozen invitations, each bearing just a few large characters:

Wine Tasting Tonight at Miaomiao Mountain. Come Quickly!

In the nine remaining branches, many elders who were on good terms with Chu Feng paced restlessly around their courtyards after seeing strange signs vanish in the direction of Miaomiao Mountain.

Inside the External Affairs Pavilion—

Elder Bai was stroking his beard nonstop, itching with curiosity like ten thousand ants crawling across his heart. Chief Chu, can't you be a little more low-key?

It hasn't even been that long, and now you're pulling out another Saint Wine? How am I supposed to shamelessly show up asking for a drink again?

The deacons and disciples nearby looked at Elder Bai with puzzled expressions.

One bold disciple finally asked, "Master… what's wrong?"

Just as Elder Bai was about to scold his disciple for meddling in others' affairs, a paper crane descended from the sky and fluttered down in front of him.

The crane slowly spoke: "Wine tasting tonight at Miaomiao Mountain. Come quickly!"

Elder Bai's eyes lit up at once, and he exclaimed with joy, "I knew it! Chief Chu would never forget me!"

The gathered disciples were stunned to see Elder Bai put on a full Sichuan opera face-change right there on the spot.

Without paying them any mind, Elder Bai turned and hurried back to his room, rummaging through his belongings for a suitable gift to bring to the wine banquet. Even if Chief Chu might not care for it, showing up empty-handed would be entirely his fault.

Elsewhere, in the Beast Taming Pavilion, Elder Shi paused what he was doing the moment he heard the paper crane's message. He turned to his disciples and said, "Tonight's schedule is canceled. I'm attending Chief Chu's banquet."

???

All the disciples stared at him, bewildered—But didn't you promise to take us spirit beast hunting tonight?

Similar scenes played out across the other pavilions.

By evening, elders from all directions arrived bearing gifts, eager to attend the wine tasting banquet.

Wang Baole was personally in charge of the kitchen and absolutely thrilled. Though he had cultivated the culinary path for years, this was his first time hosting a banquet of this scale.

Fortunately, he had already stepped into the True Fate Realm. His knife techniques were impeccable, and his dishes—crafted through Yin-Yang harmony and Taiji techniques—were nothing short of gourmet masterpieces.

Soon, the wine tasting banquet began.

Wine flowed freely, and the guests drank to their heart's content.

After three rounds of wine—

Elder Shi asked, "Chief Chu, what is this Saint Wine you brewed this time called?"

Chu Feng smiled and replied, "This batch is called 'Immortal Drunkenness.' Even if an immortal drank it, they'd still get drunk. It's brewed from millennia-old spiritual fruits. After drinking it, it not only enhances cultivation but also expels pill poison and heals hidden ailments. It's an excellent wine for health and longevity."

The moment he finished speaking, the entire banquet fell silent.

All the elders had the same thought flash through their minds: You call that a health wine?

Chu Feng ignored their stunned expressions and gave Nie Xiuyuan a glance. "Xiuyuan, go ahead and introduce your Dreamwine."

There's more wine?

The elders snapped out of their shock and turned their eyes to Nie Xiuyuan—formerly Wendao Academy's top wine-making master.

Nie Xiuyuan chuckled. "This Dreamwine of mine is a weaker variant of the Enlightenment Wine I drank from Master last time. After drinking it, one can kill in dreams—or cultivate within them. Whether training or doing anything else, your clarity will be greater than in waking life."

Hiss…

The elders collectively drew in a sharp breath.

Elder Bai muttered, "Xiuyuan… you've changed. Your old wines used to get people drunker the more they drank. Now your wine makes people more awake?"

Nie Xiuyuan replied, "I suppose it's because I've been reading the Nanhua Classic lately."

Elder Bai: "…"

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