Chapter 115: The Imperial Court's Jade Nectar Wine...

Chapter 115: The Imperial Jade Nectar Wine...

In an instant, amidst the radiant light, the mental scriptures of the Immortal Seal Technique flowed through Zheng Jian’s mind line by line. To his astonishment, he found himself memorizing them outright!

“I can have a photographic memory now too!”

Elated, he recalled the arduous effort it took to memorize the Lone Nine Swords’ ultimate formula, feeling as if the hardship had finally borne sweet fruit.

“So the points I invested in comprehension weren’t wasted... and with the memory enhancement pill on top! The system is incredible! The system is like a little cow flying an airplane—awesome beyond measure!”

Zheng Jian’s joy was indescribable. After relentless effort, he finally felt his intelligence rival that of a typical protagonist, at least enough to deserve the label “smart.”

At this moment, he realized just how powerful those attribute boosts like “Comprehension +1” really were.

Suppressing his rising excitement, Zheng Jian thoroughly browsed through the Immortal Seal Technique. He could only say this martial art was among the strongest innate-level skills. Its rapid transformation between the energies of life and death was already formidable. Yet even more precious was the profound philosophy it contained: neither here nor there, nor in between—a blend of Buddhist notions of emptiness and Taoist ideas of purposeful non-purpose, a most enigmatic essence that formed the true heart of this martial art.

Upon reaching the innate realm, one’s strength became quite profound. Unless unleashing world-shattering ultimate moves that consumed vast true energy—as seen in the world of Storm and Cloud—the usual techniques were sufficient.

Therefore, at this stage, metaphysical aspects like spirit, state of mind, momentum, and artistic conception became the keys to advancement. The fifteenth sword of Yan Thirteen, or the peak sword god state achieved by Xie Xiaofeng in Crescent Moon Saber, where sword is sword, self is self, yet sword is not sword, self is not self; or the pinnacle duels between Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue in the Lu Xiaofeng Legend—all could be classified within this realm.

Zheng Jian now realized what he lacked most was a martial art capable of grasping such spiritual conception.

To enter the Way through martial arts is not relying on brute external force; ultimately, it must belong to the power of one’s own soul. The “Supreme Grandmaster” Ling Donglai’s death at the Ten Absolute Passes, shattering and fading away, actually confirmed this truth.

Martial arts, in the end, return to the Way. Martial arts without the Way, no matter how strong, remain confined within martial arts and cannot transcend to the Way.

This applied equally to righteous martial arts and demonic arts—different paths leading to the same destination.

With these thoughts, Zheng Jian set aside his immediate urge to cultivate the Immortal Seal Technique. He felt he first needed to settle and harmonize his essence, energy, and spirit before undertaking such a powerful innate skill.

Coming back to his senses, he found over a thousand resentment points remaining and pondered for a moment before opening the lottery panel.

“Why not try my luck while I’m on a roll?”

Tempted by the sweet taste of “Comprehension +1,” Zheng Jian was reluctant to stop.

“Take a gamble—turn a bicycle into a motorcycle!”

Without hesitation, he chose to draw once.

The wheel spun rapidly. After a moment of silence, Zheng Jian said, “Stop!”

The wheel halted, and with hopeful eyes he looked—and was stunned beyond words.

“Holy hell! What the heck!”

The pointer rested on—ten jars of Imperial Jade Nectar Wine!!!

“...”

Could anything truly be possible?

Zheng Jian stared at the system panel, now showing the credited Imperial Jade Nectar Wine, overwhelmed by a sense of absurdity. Yet the most significant thing was the classic phrase associated with it.

“Imperial Jade Nectar Wine.”

“One hundred eighty per cup.”

“Well, I admit I’m truly unlucky...” Zheng Jian muttered, frustratedly logging out of the system.

After years of hard work, he was back to square one overnight: over thirty thousand resentment points wiped clean, leaving just over six hundred.

...

At dawn, after washing up, Zheng Jian headed to the front where Xue Keren had already opened the door.

Early in the morning, there were few people around. Unless one was like Lu Xiaofeng, that drunken soul fond of “Resurrection Wine,” who would come to a tavern so early?

“Boss... tsk tsk, I was going to leave you for Aji to kill, but why do you seek death yourself?” Zheng Jian sat before the tavern, propping his chin on his hand, watching the rising sun.

“Now, who else does the boss have under his command?” Zheng Jian pondered. The timeline had shifted forward considerably. Originally, Xie Xiaodi had infiltrated the boss’s side, but now Xie Xiaodi was still just a half-grown boy...

According to the original story, Lei Zhenhu might also be a man of the Celestial Venerable. Perhaps the boss was already seeking aid from the Celestial Venerable...

Just then, a graceful figure suddenly blocked the sunlight. Zheng Jian looked up.

“Oh, there really is a drunk who drinks Resurrection Wine! Miss Murong, does Seven Star Pond lack wine? Why do you come here so often?”

It was none other than Murong Qiudi. Zheng Jian wondered what was going on; it had only been a few days since she last appeared, yet here she was again.

Murong Qiudi looked much better today, no longer as heartbroken as before. She had regained her former grace.

“Why? Can’t I come for a drink?”

“Of course! How could you not? The noble daughter of Seven Star Pond gracing my humble tavern brings great honor!” Zheng Jian smiled warmly. Something was off with her today.

Murong Qiudi snorted lightly and settled at a window seat. “Boss Zheng, today I want to try something different. Do you have any good wine?”

“What, have you grown tired of poor liquor?” Zheng Jian teased.

“You know I’m from Seven Star Pond. I can’t drink poor wine all the time. If you don’t have any... never mind,” Murong Qiudi said with a coy smile.

Zheng Jian was about to retort when a thought struck him. Smiling, he said, “Of course I have good wine. But the price isn’t cheap.” After all, he had just drawn the Imperial Jade Nectar Wine and could use it to impress.

Murong Qiudi smiled, “Price is no problem. Bring it on!”

Zheng Jian laughed, “Wait a moment.”

He pulled Xue Keren aside and led her to the backyard. “Like this, like that... so and so...”

Soon, the time of an incense stick passed. Zheng Jian and Xue Keren returned, smiling, to Murong Qiudi.

At first, Xue Keren shyly sang:

“Imperial Jade Nectar Wine, one hundred eighty per cup.”

Zheng Jian naturally played along: “How’s the wine?”

Xue Keren, amused by Zheng Jian’s teasing, got into character. “Listen as I praise it.”

Zheng Jian’s face turned serious. “Praise away!”

Xue Keren began:

“Look at my mouth, one cup whets your appetite!”

Zheng Jian: “I shout ‘beautiful!’”

Xue Keren: “Two cups, your kidneys won’t suffer.”

Zheng Jian: “Haha, still beautiful.”

Xue Keren: “Three or five cups down the hatch, your little face will glow—white with a flush of red, red tinged with black, black as coal, turning green and blue, purple too...”

Only when Murong Qiudi’s complexion paled did Xue Keren softly conclude:

“Rosy and radiant, so beautiful!”

...

Thanks to the passerby who tipped 100 coins.

(End of chapter)