Chapter 408: Farewell Banquet with Thousands of Peach Blossoms

Grand Contention Peak, Myriad Monster Cave.

"Hahahaha, my virtuous brother has arrived!" Linghu Jiu laughed heartily, stepping out of the cave entrance and pulling Ning Zhuo by the arm, ushering him inside.

Following the negotiations, the Myriad Medicines Sect, the Ning Family, the Zhu Family, and the Reflected Brilliance Wall formed a secret alliance, thus bringing Linghu Jiu and Ning Zhuo much closer.

Linghu Jiu already held a great deal of goodwill towards Ning Zhuo. Now, with the close alliance, the former treated the latter as one of his own.

Ning Zhuo entered the cave and discovered that Lin Shanhan was also present.

"Miss Lin," he quickly greeted her with a bow.

Lin Shanhan also smiled at Ning Zhuo. Although she harbored quite a few complaints about Ning Zhuo's recent actions, upon receiving Linghu Jiu's invitation, she knew this was a farewell banquet for Ning Zhuo and, with a complex mix of emotions, attended the wine feast.

The dishes at the banquet were exquisite, personally selected by Lin Shanhan.

However, Linghu Jiu and Ning Zhuo's minds were not on the food.

Linghu Jiu brought out a wine jar, enthusiastically showing it to Ning Zhuo. "This is wine I personally brewed using the water from Peach Blossom Pool."

"Peach Blossom Pool?" Ning Zhuo asked, and only then learned that this deep pool was located near Myriad Monster Cave, beneath the waterfall.

Lin Shanhan introduced, "Each year at a fixed time, the upstream peach forest blossoms. Peach blossoms drift in the wind, following the water and waterfall, finally collecting in the deep pool. The peach blossoms and the pool water reflect each other, creating the scene of drifting peach blossoms dancing in the wind, countless shades of red and purple entering the water. The white waterfall flows with a sound like a zither, and the flower-filled jade pool reflects the azure sky."

Ning Zhuo then smiled at Lin Shanhan. "Only today do I learn that the deep pool where I first met Miss Lin is called Peach Blossom Pool."

These words caused Lin Shanhan to pause, her thoughts seemingly returning to the past, to the scene of their first meeting.

Time flows like a river, so many days have passed already!

Time flies too quickly.

In the blink of an eye, they would be separated.

Immediately, a feeling of reluctant parting welled up in Lin Shanhan's heart, instantly dissipating much of her resentment towards Ning Zhuo.

Linghu Jiu, meanwhile, began pouring wine while proudly introducing it. "Allow this elder brother to inform you, this wine is called Three Thousand Peach Blossoms."

"Using the petals of peach blossoms from the vernal equinox each year, and the clear spring water from beneath Peach Blossom Pool, along with this foolish brother's specially made wine starter, brewed using ancient methods, it takes at least three years of fermentation to be considered a small success."

Ning Zhuo focused his gaze and saw that the color of Three Thousand Peach Blossoms wine was crystal clear, with a slight pale pink hue, like a newly bloomed peach blossom. When poured into the wine bowl, the wine was clear, with slight ripples, as if it were the very Peach Blossom Pool.

He raised his wine bowl, clinked glasses with Linghu Jiu and Lin Shanhan, and took a sip, immediately finding it unique.

Three Thousand Peach Blossoms brought a unique sweetness, as if biting into a fresh peach blossom, a delightful taste with a hint of elegant floral fragrance.

Subsequently, the wine spread across his tongue, full-bodied and mellow, with a hint of the coolness of the pool water, leaving an endless aftertaste.

Ning Zhuo shook his head slightly and immediately praised it. "Good wine, the taste is delicate and lingering, possessing both the richness of aged fine wine and the fresh elegance of floral fragrance. The alcohol content is moderate, causing this younger brother to unconsciously become immersed in it."

Linghu Jiu laughed heartily. "The wine is merely ordinary, but I added something to it, only then deeming it presentable."

A flash of inspiration went through Ning Zhuo's mind, and he blurted out, "It wouldn't be Ten Thousand Year Water Essence, would it?"

Linghu Jiu clapped his hands and laughed. "My virtuous brother is intelligent, understanding with just a hint."

Ning Zhuo was speechless.

Previously, he had borrowed two portions of their Ten Thousand Year Water Essence from the Myriad Medicines Sect and was still wondering where Linghu Jiu's portion had gone.

Linghu Jiu, as the chief disciple and the first reserve candidate for future sect master, should logically have found Ten Thousand Year Water Essence extremely useful for the entire Myriad Medicines Sect, yet he didn't bring it out. This was quite strange.

Unexpectedly, he had used it to brew wine!

Lin Shanhan snorted coldly. "Wine, wine, wine, all you know is drinking. Do you know, regarding this matter, my father is very disappointed in you, Senior Brother!"

Linghu Jiu rubbed his nose and chuckled awkwardly. "Shanhan, you don't understand. Why did your father name me Linghu Jiu back then? His old self had profound foresight, naturally knowing the significant importance of wine to me, hence he specifically pointed it out."

"Haha, Master didn't forcefully order me to hand over the Ten Thousand Year Water Essence, so he naturally agreed with my choice. It's useless for you to say anything more."

These words caused Lin Shanhan to roll her eyes dramatically.

Ning Zhuo quickly raised his wine bowl, clinked glasses with the two, and said a few amusing words to ease the atmosphere.

After a round of toasting and exchanging pleasantries, Ning Zhuo looked at Linghu Jiu and Lin Shanhan with sincere eyes and lamented, "Virtuous Brother Linghu is like a deep pool, possessing noble character, accepting the waterfall without overflowing, profound and steady, truly a drinking confidant of mine."

"Miss Lin's beauty is like blooming peach blossoms, enchanting and moving, and she is also helpful and kind-hearted. In the past, this younger brother acted recklessly, kidnapping Miss Lin and constantly opposing your esteemed father, for which I feel truly ashamed and unable to bear it."

Lin Shanhan snorted coldly. "Hearing these words, I suppose you still have some conscience."

Linghu Jiu, on the other hand, laughed heartily. "Each serves their own master, and striving for benefits is a common occurrence. Contending without breaking, peacefully vying, and reaching the current secret alliance is already the best outcome. This is our destiny, and also the result of our individual efforts."

Hearing this, Ning Zhuo was even more moved.

He knew very well that during the difficult negotiations within the Reflected Brilliance Wall, Linghu Jiu not only firmly protected his own interests but also did his best to assist him, build relations, and console Lin Bufan many times.

In contrast, Lin Shanhan, the young lady who had helped Ning Zhuo so much in the past, when she spoke during the negotiations, was like a sharp sword, constantly stabbing at Ning Zhuo.

Under the watchful eyes of the Sages' Manifestations, and in front of Zhu Xuanji, Shen Ling Shu, and Lin Bufan, Ning Zhuo did not dare to be so audacious as to use the Human Fate Suspended Thread Divine Ability.

But he understood Lin Shanhan very well.

Fortunately, the result was good.

Now that the negotiations had concluded, the relationship between the Myriad Medicines Sect and the Ning Family was closer than ever before. The relationship between Ning Zhuo and Lin Shanhan and Linghu Jiu had also been secured with a very high baseline.

"Come, let's drink!" Ning Zhuo raised his wine bowl again.

Linghu Jiu laughed heartily.

Lin Shanhan remained silent, raising her wine bowl in response.

The three of them tasted the wine and discussed the future.

Ning Zhuo asked Linghu Jiu about his feelings regarding killing demons within the Reflected Brilliance Wall.

In the past few days, Linghu Jiu had still been kept in "confinement" in Myriad Monster Cave. In reality, his true body had secretly gone to the quasi-immortal artifact frequently to engage in life-and-death battles with many demonic beasts.

Linghu Jiu was in high spirits when talking about the dangers of war, but also the immense tempering it provided him. He could clearly feel his combat strength rising steadily. Previously, he was like rough stone, but now he was being polished. Under immense external pressure, various spells, sword techniques, and so on were severely compressed, leading to many insights and the removal of many wasteful moves, making his combat rhythm increasingly swift and clear.

"It's a pity that virtuous brother has other important matters and is in a hurry to leave the valley. Otherwise, if we could kill demons side-by-side and drink together after the battles, it would surely be a great joy in life!"

Ning Zhuo was quite moved by these words. Imagining the scene, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl upwards. He sighed, "If I have time in the future, I will definitely cultivate together with virtuous brother. Just thinking about it now makes me feel incredibly invigorated!"

Linghu Jiu laughed heartily and drank three large bowls in a row with Ning Zhuo.

Lin Shanhan: ...

At this moment, she suddenly felt a little redundant.

Linghu Jiu's face turned red, and spraying alcohol fumes, he grabbed Ning Zhuo's arm. "Virtuous brother, before you leave, you must leave behind your imprint."

"In the future, when I miss my virtuous brother, I can talk with your imprint, which will also alleviate this foolish brother's longing."

"Moreover, this foolish brother can take virtuous brother's imprint and kill enemies and slay demons many times. In the future, when virtuous brother returns to the valley, perhaps the abundance of spoils will greatly surprise you, hahahaha."

Ning Zhuo nodded repeatedly. "This younger brother had the same thought!"

Lin Shanhan said, "However, Senior Brother, it seems you don't have much time left in the valley either. I overheard Father mentioning that he wants you to personally lead a team to Fire Persimmon Immortal City to scout the battlefield in advance."

Linghu Jiu's smile slightly diminished. He sat down again, looked at the two of them, and nodded. "Master did indeed reveal this idea to me."

Linghu Jiu was always punished with confinement by Lin Bufan. The true reason was that Lin Bufan wanted to use this opportunity to infiltrate the Reflected Brilliance Wall. Incidentally, by punishing Linghu Jiu for protecting his fellow disciples, he was boosting the chief disciple's reputation and popularity.

Currently, Linghu Jiu already knew the truth. Lin Bufan also deeply realized that the importance of the quasi-immortal artifact was not something he alone or a single faction could plot.

Coupled with the alliance, Ning Zhuo had already reached an agreement with Lin Bufan on the terms and successfully invited Lin Bufan to assist in Fire Persimmon Immortal City!

That's right.

For a period of time henceforth, Lin Bufan would actively prepare for battle, assisting Ning Shoufan and Granny Yuan in their efforts to secure the Ten Thousand Year Fire Essence.

As for Granny Yuan's injuries, the Royal Zhu Family had already taken over and was doing their utmost to heal her as quickly as possible.

Linghu Jiu said in a deep voice, "This battle requires utmost caution. If not handled properly, if Ning Family's Granny Yuan suffers a loss, then the Ning Family and the Royal Family's control over Fire Persimmon Immortal City and Molten Lava Immortal Palace will be significantly weakened."

After the alliance was formed, the Myriad Medicines Sect gained a true understanding of the situation in Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

However, it was still not completely understood.

Ning Zhuo's preservation of the Dragon-Turtle Fire Spirit remained a secret, not even known to Ning Shoufan.

Regarding Ning Zhuo's secret possession of the My Buddha Heart Demon Seal, Zhu Xuanji also actively kept this secret, with only a limited number of people, including the King of Southern Bean Country, being aware of it.

"I have decided to go to Fire Persimmon Immortal City," Linghu Jiu said. "Virtuous brother, how should you instruct me?"

Ning Zhuo smiled, already prepared. He handed over a jade slip, which contained detailed information about Fire Persimmon Immortal City and Molten Lava Immortal Palace.

Linghu Jiu probed it with his divine sense and found that much of the information was clearer, especially his understanding of Molten Lava Immortal Palace, which was quite in-depth. He couldn't help but be overjoyed.

"With this jade slip, I have already succeeded in half of this battlefield scouting. Thank you, virtuous brother!"

Ning Zhuo quickly waved his hand, humbly declining the praise repeatedly.

He turned his head and looked at Lin Shanhan, requesting her help in looking after the Spiritual Concealing Willow. He himself would send letters from time to time, earnestly asking Lin Shanhan to reply and inform him of the Spiritual Concealing Willow's condition.

Lin Shanhan nodded and agreed.

Ning Zhuo observed her expression and, seeing that she was in good spirits, pushed his luck further. "That Hua Guzi specializes in wood-attribute cultivation methods. I intend to arrange for her to reside here, on the one hand to represent me in looking after the Spiritual Concealing Willow, and on the other hand to assist my clansmen in successfully settling in Minor Contention Peak."

Lin Shanhan immediately frowned.

"Hua Guzi?" She didn't have much good impression of this crazy woman.

Ning Zhuo showed a slightly awkward expression. "This female cultivator has a strange personality, extremely... close to me, and also wants to depend on me. If I don't find something for her to do, I'm afraid she'll search the world for me."

"Furthermore, she is quite strong, not only in her own combat power, but she is also skilled in cooking."

"Oh, I learned from her back then that Profound Thought Meditation Brew was fake wine."

Speaking of this, Linghu Jiu immediately spoke up, defending his esteemed master. "Virtuous brother, your words are mistaken. Profound Thought Meditation Brew absolutely cannot be considered fake wine."

"It has a unique taste, and it is fine wine, it's just that the recipe is not outstanding."

"It can indeed make it more convenient for me to communicate with the Sages' Manifestations in the Reflected Brilliance Wall. Didn't Virtuous Brother Ning Zhuo also benefit from it back then?"

Ning Zhuo had no intention of getting into such a dispute with Linghu Jiu. He immediately raised his wine bowl. "This younger brother spoke carelessly, I will penalize myself with a drink!"

Lin Shanhan showed a hint of a smile and said through gritted teeth, "You certainly deserve a penalty."

Linghu Jiu, on the other hand, laughed heartily, pointing at Ning Zhuo. "Is this a punishment or a reward?"

Thus, the farewell banquet concluded with both hosts and guests enjoying themselves.

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