As the Second-Tier Azure Spirit Wine finished brewing, Wei Zhong's spirit wine brewing skill on the system interface simultaneously leveled up:
Second-Tier Spirit Wine Brewing - Beginner (61%)
His spirit wine brewing skill had officially advanced to the Second-Tier, absorbing the essence of his First-Tier techniques and pushing his beginner proficiency to 61%.
Wei Zhong took a sip of the Second-Tier Azure Spirit Wine. A surge of potent spiritual energy flooded his mouth and nostrils. Although its concentration was lower than that of a low-grade Qi Harmonizing Pill, the sheer volume more than compensated.
Its cost-effectiveness far surpassed that of the Qi Harmonizing Pill. Wei Zhong resolved to keep this treasure for himself, absolutely refusing to reveal its existence to outsiders.
Unless he reached the Nascent Soul or Spirit Transformation stage and possessed sufficient self-preservation capabilities, this brew would be his own death warrant.
Seizing the momentum, Wei Zhong retrieved the spirit medicines required for the Azure Vine Intoxication and began studying the recipe. After dedicating over half a year to the task and wasting nearly ten thousand spirit stones worth of ingredients, he finally succeeded in brewing it:
Second-Tier Spirit Wine Brewing - Beginner (74%)
The successful brewing of the Second-Tier Azure Vine Intoxication had increased his skill progress by at least 10%.
It seems I'll need to experiment with more diverse wine recipes in the future to further improve this skill, Wei Zhong mused.
Wei Zhong emerged from his seclusion in high spirits, spending several blissful days with Xie Linghua.
Meanwhile, he received troubling news. A year prior, Daoist Bitter Bamboo, the City Lord of Han Bamboo City, had disappeared and was later confirmed dead. His disciple, Qingzhu, was suspected of being replaced by an impostor, who was believed to be the true culprit behind Daoist Bitter Bamboo's murder.
Han Bamboo City, still reeling from the Demonic Cultivator upheaval, grew increasingly unstable. Seizing the opportunity, the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild backed True Person Huang Chun, a Core Formation Loose Cultivator, to take control and stabilize the situation.
This information came from Luo Mingyan of the Azurewood Sect, a rival faction known for their meticulous intelligence gathering. Luo Mingyan had initially intended to trade the news for several jars of Wei Zhong's spirit wine, but finding him in seclusion, he hastily left the message, seemingly preoccupied with urgent matters within the Azurewood Sect itself.
Those two Spirit Transformation cultivators were far too reckless, Wei Zhong thought, his brow frowning. Letting the Blood Sea True Monarch escape like that... won't he come back to haunt me later?
The thought gave him a headache.
What Wei Zhong failed to grasp was that the Spirit Transformation cultivators weren't after the Blood Sea True Monarch's life, but rather fragments of the Blood Sovereign's legacy within his cultivation technique. To them, the path to transcendence outweighed the lives of common people, and besides, they didn't see a mere Nascent Soul cultivator as capable of endangering the masses.
"To forge iron, one must be strong themselves. Cultivation is the foundation. We were fortunate to have a Nascent Soul Senior assist us this time, but such opportunities won't always arise."
As Wei Zhong pondered this, an auspicious cloud suddenly appeared on the horizon, from which two female cultivators descended.
"Speak of the devil, and he appears!"
One wore a crimson silk robe, while the other was clad in a cyan Daoist gown—a striking contrast between a mature woman and a younger one.
It was none other than Shan Qin and Miao Lishan from the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild.
Wei Zhong deactivated the formation, and the two women landed. He bowed respectfully.
"Welcome to Black Lake Island, Seniors."
After the customary greetings, the host and guests settled in. Wei Zhong presented a jar of his recently brewed premium spirit wine.
"Seniors, please try this new vintage I've developed. It's called Jade Forest Green. Though only a First-Tier spirit wine, its color resembles jadeite, its flavor is exquisite, and it possesses mild beauty-enhancing properties."
This was Wei Zhong's improved version of the Jade Forest Green wine recipe he had obtained from Daoist Hu Yang. He had refined its flavor to more closely resemble the fruit wines and beverages he remembered from his previous life, while also imbuing it with subtle beauty-enhancing effects.
Though less potent than beauty pills, the cumulative benefits of regular consumption were not to be underestimated.
The two women each took a sip of the jade-green spirit wine, their eyes lighting up.
Miao Lishan exclaimed without thinking:
"Excellent wine!" Miao Lishan exclaimed. "The spiritual energy is modest, but the flavor far surpasses most spirit wines I've ever tasted. After just one cup, I crave another—it clings to you like a captivating little demon, utterly irresistible."
Wei Zhong nearly choked on his drink, startled by the peculiar metaphor. He thought to himself, "This Nascent Soul Senior certainly has a unique temperament."
Shan Qin, standing beside them, rolled her eyes, but inwardly she admired Wei Zhong's skill. Though he hadn't succeeded in producing a Second-Tier Spirit Wine, he had created this remarkable First-Tier brew. If they brought it back and promoted it through the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild, it would undoubtedly sell exceptionally well, slightly enhancing her own standing within the organization.
"Fellow Daoist," Shan Qin inquired, "would you consider selling this wine through our Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild?"
"Certainly," Wei Zhong replied.
Wei Zhong had intended to offer the wine to them from the start. Since she had initiated the discussion, there was no reason for him to refuse. While Wei Zhong himself possessed ample spirit stones, his alternate identity, Chu Zhong, was lacking in funds. This arrangement would help him replenish his resources and facilitate future endeavors.
Miao Lishan chimed in, "If you can elevate this wine—or the Azure Vine Intoxication—to the Second-Tier, Little Qin might even offer you a position as a Guest Elder."
"A Guest Elder?" Wei Zhong hesitated.
Shan Qin quickly added, "We're not like the Azurewood Sect, demanding blind loyalty. You'd be a genuine business partner with the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild.
Every year, our guild recruits talents from various prefectures, acquiring rare treasures and trading spiritual materials to bolster our strength. Over the years, our foundation has grown into a vast network of skilled artisans and experts.
For someone as capable as Fellow Daoist Chu, there's certainly a chance to join our guild's inner circle."
Wei Zhong dismissed these polite compliments inwardly, but he was genuinely surprised by the guild's structure. Could there truly be an organization in the Cultivation World where merit mattered more than sheer power?
"Senior Shan is too kind," Wei Zhong replied. "I'm perfectly content earning a few spirit stones with my craft. I wouldn't dare aspire to anything more."
"You're not wrong," Miao Lishan retorted, her words far sharper than Shan Qin's. "A share of this spirit wine revenue would keep you comfortable for a century. Just by looking at you, it's clear your aptitude is mediocre. Core Formation is beyond your reach."
Wei Zhong's face flushed with feigned shame, as if his disguise had been pierced. He sighed dramatically, "Alas, a Red-Clad Senior once told me the same thing—that I'm a misshapen gourd, unfit for cultivation..."
Shan Qin looked slightly surprised. "Are you referring to the senior who appears as a young boy?"
Wei Zhong eagerly agreed. "Exactly! There was also a white-robed Daoist present who called him Fellow Daoist Red Beard. How do you two Immortal Maidens know this senior?"
The two women exchanged glances, surprised that this unremarkable Foundation Establishment cultivator had actually crossed paths with two Spirit Transformation seniors. Even if it was just a fleeting encounter, it was enough to make them take him more seriously.
"Ahem," Shan Qin coughed. "Fellow Daoist, it's best not to discuss those seniors so casually. While their profound cultivation base might mean they wouldn't care, their enemies could overhear and seek retribution against you."
Wei Zhong immediately fell silent, muttering, "My apologies for my carelessness."
Then, as if unwilling to give up, he asked, "May I ask, is there truly no way to improve my meager aptitude?"
"This..." Shan Qin hesitated, reluctant to elaborate. Miao Lishan, however, answered frankly:
"In this vast world, anything is possible. Techniques for reshaping one's innate potential certainly exist."