"Brother Niu, long time no see."
Yi Tianxing immediately spotted Niu Ben. Seeing that his temperament remained as hearty as ever, a smile naturally appeared on his face.
Although they had only interacted a few times, their personalities aligned well, making them rare friends.
At Yi Tianxing's level, true friends were few and far between. Niu Ben was someone who didn't change based on status or power, making him someone worth befriending deeply.
Yi Tianxing saw him as a genuine friend, so he didn't put on any airs as the Lord of Great Yi. His demeanor was relaxed, with a naturally warm expression.
"Haha! Brother Yi, it's not so easy to find you these days. Come, come, I've brought some good stuff with me this time. You've got delicious food, and I've brought the finest wine — a true rarity."
Niu Ben walked up with a loud laugh.
Knowing Yi Tianxing was meeting Niu Ben for a discussion, Cai Yan and the others hadn't stayed but had gone off to continue exploring the trade fair — shopping, naturally. Women and shopping were a combination hard to resist.
"Oh? I'm curious now. What kind of rare treasure are you hiding?" Yi Tianxing asked with a smile.
"Heh, it's definitely a treasure. I was nearly chased thousands of miles by a bunch of crazy monkeys just to get this."
Niu Ben laughed and took out a gourd.
The gourd itself wasn't anything special. But once it was opened, a rich fragrance of wine wafted out — fruity, natural, and with the mellow essence of liquor. The scent alone made Yi Tianxing's body react — every cell trembled with delight and longing.
He remembered that sensation all too well.
"This is... Monkey Wine."
Yi Tianxing recognized it instantly.
This wine was no stranger to him. It was a sacred liquor, even more miraculous than Du Kang Immortal Brew. It could induce enlightenment, and was a wine that only the ape and monkey clans could brew. No other race could replicate it — even if they tried, the result would never be the real Monkey Wine.
Years ago, he had obtained a batch — just over twenty catties — and had never touched it. It was sealed in the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower for aging. With time, wine only becomes more potent, especially Monkey Wine, whose vintage enhances its mystical effects.
He had saved it for a special occasion.
And now, once again, that familiar aroma... from Niu Ben's gourd.
Gulp!
Even Yi Tianxing couldn't help but swallow secretly.
"Yes, it's Monkey Wine. Come, you've got food, I've got wine — let's have a proper drink together!" Niu Ben laughed.
He grabbed two wine cups — tripod bone china goblets, beautifully crafted and full of charm. Only with such cups could one truly appreciate the wine's essence.
As the wine poured, it shimmered a golden amber, thick and alluring like layered gold resin. It was captivating.
"Please!" Yi Tianxing raised his cup.
Without hesitation, he brought the cup to his lips and drank.
The moment it touched his tongue, an indescribable sensation surged through him. His entire body began to tremble as if his cells were singing. Almost immediately, his physical strength began to soar.
[Monkey Wine] – A sacred wine brewed only by ape clans. Enhances bodily strength, induces spiritual enlightenment, and facilitates breakthrough in the Law Manifestation Realm.
1,050,000
1,060,000...Each breath brought an increase of tens of thousands of catties in strength. It was astonishing. He felt a blissful ecstasy across his whole body.
Unknowingly, he reached 1.1 million catties — still within First Resonance of the Crimson Cauldron, but to reach the second resonance, he needed 2 million.
At the same time, his mind felt immersed in a sea of Dao, as strands of Law runes emerged, integrating with his Fate Diagram, and even his Heavenly Emperor Dharmic Body seemed more refined and powerful.
He vaguely sensed his soul being pulled into the Dharmic Body — as if it could merge completely.
[Law Manifestation Realm – Spirit Fusion Stage]To advance, one must draw out the Three Souls and Seven Spirits, merge them into the Dharmic Body, transitioning from formless to tangible. Either the Three Souls or Seven Spirits can be fused first; the sequence does not matter.
Now, the sense of the Three Souls and Seven Spirits was unusually clear — they felt almost ready to be separated and merged into the body, reaching a higher level in the Law Manifestation Realm.
But Yi Tianxing chose not to break through here.
Taking a deep breath, he calmed the effects of the wine and whispered, "Good wine. Truly extraordinary. Monkey Wine truly deserves its reputation. Compared to this, even the finest delicacies pale in comparison."
"Hehe, great stuff, right? When I first drank it, I slept for three days straight and even broke through in cultivation. I couldn't keep it to myself — had to share it with you, Brother Yi," Niu Ben chuckled.
"But I doubt you came just to reminisce," Yi Tianxing said directly.
With people like Niu Ben, directness was best — no need for diplomacy.
"You're right. I've come with important news."
At this, Niu Ben's expression turned serious.
"Please speak freely," Yi Tianxing said, sensing the weight of the matter. For Niu Ben to be this solemn meant it was no small affair.
"I recently got word — the Beastman Race is preparing to found a nation and establish a Royal Court."
"What? The Beastmen are forming a kingdom — a Royal Court?" Yi Tianxing's expression shifted. Even he couldn't hide his shock.
This was unexpected.
And the implications… were enormous.
"It's true. I've verified it through multiple sources. They are indeed preparing to establish a Beastman Royal Court. And it seems… it may have something to do with your Great Yi."
Niu Ben gave Yi Tianxing a strange look.
"Has to do with Great Yi?" Yi Tianxing pondered and then nodded, "I suppose our recent rise in power has caused significant alarm among the Beastman tribes, pushing them toward unity. The root of their ambition is, in fact, Great Yi."
He understood.
The Beastmen were not a single race, but a collective term for many diverse tribes. To unite them under one banner was never easy. Even within a single race, internal conflict was common — among many races, even more so.
But when faced with a strong external threat — like Great Yi — all differences could be put aside.
Great Yi's explosive growth was bound to attract fear and caution. Once humanity united under a single banner, its strength was enough to make the other races tremble.
Left unchallenged, Great Yi could destroy the Beastman tribes one by one.
So this was a strategic necessity for them — they had no choice but to unite.
If a powerful leader emerged, it would be easy for them to rally under one banner. Forming a Royal Court was no longer difficult — in fact, it was likely to succeed.
Once formed, the surrounding Beastman forces would consolidate, transforming their fragmented strength into a unified force.
For humanity and Great Yi, this was undoubtedly a serious threat.
"You're right, Brother Yi. Your actions have made the other races feel existentially threatened. If they don't unite, they'll be picked off one by one. They're not fools. Forming a Royal Court is inevitable," Niu Ben said with a chuckle.
"Inevitable, perhaps, but still sudden," Yi Tianxing muttered.
"Do you know who is leading this movement?" Niu Ben asked, his tone suddenly playful.
Seeing his expression, Yi Tianxing calmly replied, "It must be King Behemoth, Meng Wudi."
"You knew?" Niu Ben was startled. He hadn't expected Yi Tianxing to guess so easily.
"In this region, only the Behemoth Clan qualifies as royalty among the Beastmen. Only they have the prestige to command the other races. Anyone else wouldn't be able to unite them. Only King Behemoth has the strength and presence to make this happen," Yi Tianxing replied without surprise.