Chapter 2270: The Twelve Blossoms
“There are plenty of opportunities to exchange blows at the Celestial-Hunting Festival. There’s no hurry today,” said Yan Wushen.
Yan Wushen extended his hand and made a gesture of invitation.
There were 24 copper pillars in the hall. Each of them was carved with thousands of Dimensional Inscriptions. There were nine million strange beast patterns. They seemed to be only as thick as three people, but their true diameter and height could support the heaven and earth of 24 worlds.
Zhang Ruochen sat opposite Yan Wushen. Zhang Ruochen straightened his back and said, “Since it’s not the final battle today, are you just inviting me to drink?”
“Yes, I am.” Yan Wushen said with a smile. He looked down at the wine pot on the red copper table.
The wine pot was a yellowish-brown pottery pot and the wine cup was made of the same material.
It was no different from the earthenware made by mortals. It was rough and even irregular.
It looked simple, but Zhang Ruochen saw something unusual. Both the wine pot and the wine cup had an ancient charm. The shape and lines were in harmony with the precepts of heaven and earth.
No matter where they were placed, they were in harmony with everything around them.
Zhang Ruochen said, “This wine vessel has been pa.s.sed down for at least ten Yuanhui Tribulations, or even longer.”
“How do you know?” Yan Wushen asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Everything in the world will leave special traces of time after a certain age. The traces of time on their surface are very deep and very old. I have seen many ancient vessels, but only one or two of them have traces of time that can be compared to them.”
“Only ancient vessels can be used to hold ancient wine.”
Yan Wushen sat still. He used his spiritual power to control the wine pot. It slowly flew up and filled the gla.s.s in front of Zhang Ruochen.
The wine was very ordinary and there was nothing unusual about it.
“You may have heard of this wine. It’s called The Twelve Blossoms. It was given to our ancestors by a G.o.d of Kunlun three Yuanhui periods ago. I know that Brother Ruochen has deep feelings for Kunlun. You must miss your hometown when you come to the Infernal Court. So, I went to the Fane of Yama and took out one of the jugs.”
Burble
Yan Wushen poured himself some wine as he spoke.
In the distant past before the Celestial Court and Infernal Court were established, although the major worlds had deep conflicts with the ten clans of Infernal Court, they were not incompatible with each other. Some cultivators still had a friends.h.i.+p with each other.
“The Twelve Blossoms,” said Zhang Ruochen.
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen remembered something. He looked surprised and thought to himself, ‘This is the second strongest liquor in the history of Kunlun that the drunkard once mentioned.’
It was said that The Twelve Blossoms were brewed by Bi Luozi. There were only 12 jars in total.
In Kunlun, they are so valuable that not a single drop could be found elsewhere.
If these really are The Twelve Blossoms, how can it be so ordinary? Has the wine strength disappeared after three Yuanhui periods?’ Zhang Ruochen wondered.
Zhang Ruochen had once drunk Flaring-Draco Wine, which was ranked eighth among hard liquors.
Only a saint could withstand the strength of Flaring-Draco Wine.
A half-saint once drank it by mistake and died from spontaneous combustion.
Zhang Ruochen reached out two fingers and touched the wine cup.
SIZZLE!
A shocking burning sensation came from the cup.
Zhang Ruochen’s two fingers burned and turned red in an instant. Fortunately, his physique was strong. Otherwise, his entire arm would be turned into ashes with just a slight touch.
Yan Wushen said, “The Twelve Blossoms were the Twelve Deific Flowers of Flames. Only when the wine enters the stomach will it bloom. It is said that only someone of G.o.dhood can bear this wine. If a saint cultivator or a Supreme Saint drinks it, he will be burned through from the inside out by the Twelve Deific Flowers of Flames, and his soul will be shattered.
“Since Brother Ruochen has the DemiG.o.d-level physique, the Neverwither physique of an ordinary Supreme Saint can not be compared to it naturally. I wonder if you dare to drink this cup of The Twelve Blossoms?”
Zhang Ruochen’s fingers had recovered.
After the test just now, Zhang Ruochen understood that Yan Wushen wasn’t exaggerating at all. The Neverwither physique of a Supreme Saint couldn’t withstand The Twelve Blossoms.
Zhang Ruochen stared at the cup in front of Yan wushen and said, “Since Brother Wushen is so generous, how can I not drink? Let me drink first.”
Zhang Ruochen’s entire right hand was burning while holding the cup.
He drank the wine in one gulp.
The terrifying burning energy flowed down from his throat, entered his stomach, and seeped into his entire body. Suddenly, the Deific Flowers of Flames bloomed in his body. They were in his internal organs and sea of Qi.
Zhang Ruochen’s blood boiled, and the flames burned from internally to externally.
The rich fragrance of wine and flowers spread out with the flames, filling the entire palace and twelve gorgeous illusory flowers appeared.
Zhang Ruochen felt the pain erode his entire body. It was like a purgatory of torture.
A moment later, although the pain was still there, Zhang Ruochen felt an indescribable sense of comfort. More than 10,000 Spirits in his body seemed to have been refined hundreds of times.
Boom
Zhang Ruochen’s spiritual power strength had broken through the limit and reached the 62nd level.
“What a fine wine! Brother Wushen, it’s your turn!” said Zhang Ruochen as he invited Yan Wushen to try.
At that point, how could Zhang Ruochen not understand that Yan Wushen’s invitation to drink was fake? Yan Wushen wanted to use the wine to test the depth of Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation.
Zhang Ruochen had the DemiG.o.d-level physique. It was already difficult for him to bear The Twelve Blossoms in a cup.
Yan Wushen didn’t have the DemiG.o.d-level physique, so would he dare to drink it?
“It seems like Brother Ruochen is indeed worthy of drinking The Twelve Blossoms,” said Yan Wushen.
Yan Wushen picked up the cup and drank it all in one gulp.
Sizzle
Yan Wushen’s body started to burn, and the 12 illusory deific flowers bloomed around his body. They were lifelike, and the vines coiled and connected the 12 flowers together.
Yan Wushen’s body wasn’t simple. He was able to withstand The Twelve Blossoms in a cup. His body wasn’t weaker than his DemiG.o.d-level physique. The key was that Zhang Ruochen couldn’t see through it.
Yan Wushen gave Zhang Ruochen an unfathomable feeling.
Yan Wushen’s face was red. He smiled brightly and said, “Actually, this is my first time drinking The Twelve Blossoms. It’s really good wine. Do you know that its biggest benefit isn’t increasing the strength of spiritual power?”
“Brother Wushen, what are you talking about?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Yan Wushen said, “Brother Ruochen’s cultivation has already reached the pinnacle of the Neverwilt Realm, right? You’re only one step away from the Hundred-Shackle Realm.”
“That’s right,” Zhang Ruochen said calmly.
Yan Wushen said, “But you can’t break through the first shackle. Thus, you can’t enter the Hundred-Shackle Realm.”
Zhang Ruochen had a thought and said, “It seems that Brother Wushen has the same problem as me.”
Just as Zhang Ruochen had guessed, it wasn’t that Yan Wushen had seen through him. It was because both of them were facing the same problem.
Yan wushen nodded and said, “You have a DemiG.o.d-level physique. Your battle strength in the Neverwilt Realm far surpa.s.ses that of a Supreme Saint in the same. You can even defeat a powerhouse at the pinnacle of the Hundred-Shackle Realm.
“However, even the DemiG.o.d-level physique was shackled with 100 shackles. Moreover, these 100 shackles are much stronger than other Supreme Saints, so is the shackling.
“In this way, the DemiG.o.d-level physique becomes an obstacle and a problem. It is harder for you to break each shackle than other Supreme Saints. They are the shackles that bind a DemiG.o.d-level physique. They have already exceeded the range that your realm can break.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “However, as long as you break these 100 shackles and reach the Great Perfection stage of the Hundred-Shackle Realm, the DemiG.o.d-level physique will no longer be bound. With the DemiG.o.d-level physique, even if you can’t be invincible in the divine realm, you can still enter the top-tier.”
Yan Wushen said, “Drinking The Twelve Blossoms will make it easier for us to break the shackles. Do you think this is beneficial?”
“I see. It seems that I have to thank Brother Wushen for today’s hospitality. I will treat you to a drink in the future.” said Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen continued, “Since we have drunk the wine, we should get down to business. Where is Kunlun? Where is he?”
Yan Wushen stared at Zhang Ruochen and asked, “Are you going to take him away?”
“Of course,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yan Wushen said, “I’ve taken him as my disciple. He won’t be wronged in the Yanluo clan. Don’t worry. I’m different from Asurendra Samay.”
“But he doesn’t belong to the Yanluo clan,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yan Wushen paused for a moment before speaking in a meaningful tone, “Do you think it’s a good thing to bring him back to your side? All the G.o.ds in Infernal Court know that you were forced into Infernal Court for Chi Kongyue and Chi Kunlun.
“Chi Kongyue has been saved. If Chi Kunlun returns to your side, what’s the point of you staying in Infernal Court? What else can restrain you in Infernal Court?
“Should a Yuanhui level genius like you be killed in the cradle or nurtured?
“If I were a G.o.d of the Infernal Court, I would definitely support you first. I would kill you now to prevent future trouble.”
Zhang Ruochen was silent. He had guessed everything in his mind.
It seemed like an invitation, but the two were competing everywhere. From spiritual power, physical quality, and mentality.
From the moment Zhang Ruochen stepped into the hall, he was at a disadvantage.
The initiative had always been in Yan Wushen’s hands.
There was nothing he could do. Whether it was the Infernal Court or this hall, it was Yan Wushen’s territory. Moreover, Yan Wushen had the winning card of Chi Kunlun in his hands.
The compet.i.tion had been unfair From the beginning.
Yan Wushen said, “Chi Kunlun is safer with me than any other place in the Infernal Court. If he stays with the Yanluo clan, he can enjoy the cultivation resources that you won’t be able to provide. Neither will the Xue Jue Family nor Empress Chi Yao of Kunlun! I know you don’t lack G.o.dstones, but there are many cultivation resources that G.o.dstones can’t buy.”
Zhang Ruochen looked up and pointed. “There’s a G.o.d three feet above you. Aren’t you afraid that the G.o.d of the Infernal Court will hear what you just said?”
“In this Hall of Wushen, all the secrets of heaven have been cut off. The G.o.d won’t know anything,” Yan Wushen said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “In that case, I’ll take my leave.”
“Hold on.”
Yan Wushen tapped on the table lightly and stopped him. He pointed at the ceramic wine pot and said, “We’ve only had one drink. Why are you in such a hurry to leave? We should drink to our heart’s content.”
Zhang Ruochen wasn’t willing to admit defeat. He sat back down and said, “Fine! Since Brother Wushen wants to drink to his heart’s content, I’ll risk my life to accompany you today. I won’t miss a drop.”
Drinking alone was a battle that could kill people.
The Twelve Blossoms bloomed, and each flower killed people.
Yan Wushen laughed loudly and poured another cup for him and Zhang Ruochen. He said, “As I said before, all the banquets and activities before the Celestial-Hunting Festival are too boring and meaningless. But I still invited you and broke the rule of the Yanluo clan. Do you know why?”
“I’d like to hear about it,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yan Wushen said solemnly, “Because my instinct tells me that you, Zhang Ruochen, are the only threat of the Yanluo clan at this Celestial-Hunting Festival. I might as well tell you that the purpose of my banquet is to find out more about you. But up until now, I still can’t see through you completely.”
“Brother Wushen, are you kidding me? The Yanluo clan shook the Infernal Court. They always came first at the Celestial-Hunting Festival. How could I be a threat to the Yanluo clan? The Nether Clan, Deathkin, Asura, and Ghost. They are the enemies you Yanluo clan should be wary of.” Zhang Ruochen said calmly.
At the same time, Zhang Ruochen picked up the cup and took a sip.
Zhang Ruochen and Yan Wushen couldn’t drink all The Twelve Blossoms in one go. It depended on who could last longer..