Cultivation Starting from Choosing Augments-Chapter 94 - 91: Liu Zhiyuan’s Speculation, Nine-Brewed Spring Wine
The sprawling Liu Family Mansion had just suffered a great fire, and the flames were now beginning to spread.
With the clan’s Grand Array deactivated, the Liu Family Siblings emerged.
They had also just witnessed Xiao Chen’s methods. Though they couldn’t make out many of the details, the outcome was crystal clear.
Liu Zhiyuan couldn’t help but exclaim, "Such powerful Fire Soldiers, such a powerful Fire Technique."
He then turned and asked, "Shiqing, this Xiao, which Elder’s disciple is he?"
"Could he be from Elder Chai’s tutelage on Blazing Fire Peak?"
Liu Shi Qing shook her head. "Elder... Xiao is from Bishui Peak."
Liu Zhishan was stunned. "What? Don’t tell me he has a Water-Fire Spirit Root?"
Liu Benxin recalled carefully. "Um... I remember Elder Xiao has a Low-Grade Wood Spirit Root."
A Wood Spirit Root, and a Low-Grade one at that?
Hearing this, Liu Zhishan and Liu Zhiyuan glanced at each other.
They were familiar with both terms, but why did they feel so out of place when associated with Xiao Chen?
’You’re telling me this young man, who looks no older than forty and just slaughtered a Foundation Establishment Cultivator using a Fire Element Spiritual Artifact and Fire Magic, has a Low-Grade Wood Spirit Root?’
"It actually makes sense. After all, without a Wood Element Secret Technique, how could he have resisted that Exotic Poison?"
Liu Zhiyuan accepted this fact in an instant.
But Liu Zhishan couldn’t accept it. "Doesn’t this mean Xiao still has trump cards he hasn’t played?"
He was at the third level of Foundation Establishment. They were all Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators. ’This is just too absurd.’
Liu Zhiyuan smiled faintly. "Did you notice how many Magical Artifacts and how many Attack Techniques Xiao used from start to finish?"
"Would a prodigy who reached Foundation Establishment in half a year only have so few tricks up his sleeve?"
Liu Zhishan was stumped by the question.
’That’s right. The Hundred Poison Demon had been forced to use every trick he had.’
’But Xiao Chen had been calm and composed the entire time. He only used the Divine Fire Summoning Banner and a single, exceptionally powerful Fire Magic to finish things.’
"Could it be that he intentionally held back his trump cards while killing a Demon Cultivator of the same level?"
In that instant, a thousand thoughts raced through Liu Zhishan’s mind.
’His true strength is actually even greater? How is that possible?’
Liu Zhishan was startled by his own audacious thought.
He looked at his older brother, only to see Liu Zhiyuan nod slightly. "Some people are born different. You can’t judge them by ordinary standards."
"With the rise of the Divine Fire Sect, a demonic calamity is imminent. It’s inevitable that some will be chosen by fate to face it."
Liu Zhishan and the nearby Liu Family Siblings were completely bewildered.
"Brother, you mean, he’s the one..."
"Not necessarily." Liu Zhiyuan shook his head this time. "Do you take the Golden Core true demons of the Divine Fire Sect for fools who do nothing?"
"If they could be identified that easily, they would have come to eliminate the threat long ago."
Liu Zhishan thought about it carefully.
He then decisively gave up on thinking for himself. "Brother, just tell me directly, what should we do next?"
Liu Zhiyuan shook his head helplessly. "Oh, you."
"In a moment, when Xiao arrives, I will invite him for a casual meal. You go fetch two pots of the Nine Brewed Spring Wine we have in storage to drink with him."
"Hmm... two pots is a little too few. Better make it three. Remember to persuade Xiao to drink a little more."
Liu Zhishan scratched his head. "Brother, isn’t that too much? Nine Brewed Spring Wine is a potent Spirit Wine. I’m afraid Xiao will be passed out drunk before he even finishes three cups."
Liu Zhiyuan smiled faintly. "Getting him drunk is the whole point."
"Halfway through, remember to bring over all the unmarried girls in the clan who are under twenty."
"Whichever one Xiao takes a liking to, arrange for them to go to a room to rest after the meal."
Liu Zhishan’s eyes lit up with understanding. "Oh, so we’re playing matchmaker! I get it."
But Liu Zhiyuan’s face immediately darkened. He warned, "Do exactly as I say. Don’t go messing things up again this time. And absolutely no secretly lighting any Joyful Fragrance."
...
Meanwhile, Xiao Chen waved the Divine Fire Summoning Banner, recalling the Fire Soldiers and happily helping himself to the Hundred Poison Demon’s Magical Artifacts.
First, of course, was the Three Talents Life-Taking Bell.
This string of small bells was only the size of three walnuts, strung together by a golden thread.
When shaken lightly, they jingled with a sound as pleasant as a spring splashing, quite lovely to hear.
Each bell was engraved with a different pattern—light rain, a crabapple flower, and a beautiful woman—and the craftsmanship was quite exquisite.
Judging by its appearance alone, you would never guess it was a poisoned Demon Soldier; it was actually quite beautiful and elegant.
Next was the Triangle Square Scarf. It was an Upper-Grade Defensive Spiritual Artifact that barely met the standard, worth around two thousand Spirit Stones.
Its use was simple: after infusing it with Magical Power, it would expand and could help block an enemy’s attack.
Finally, there was the Jade Bowl that had fallen to the ground after its Magical Power supply was cut off.
Xiao Chen had originally thought it was also an ordinary Upper-Grade Magical Artifact. After all, besides trapping the Fire Soldier, he hadn’t seen it do anything impressive.
However, the moment he picked it up, he immediately sensed something was off.
This was actually a damaged Top-Grade Magical Artifact!
Its original function was no longer usable, but thanks to its inherent sturdiness, it could still be used as a makeshift Defensive Spiritual Artifact.
It just had one obvious drawback: if used to trap an enemy, the Cultivator themselves would be unable to bypass the Jade Bowl to attack the person inside.
After collecting his spoils of war, Xiao Chen also helped the Liu Clan members control the fire.
Fortunately, they were all Cultivators, so they weren’t as helpless against a large fire as mortals would be.
Liu Zhiyuan waited until Xiao Chen was free before warmly approaching him. "Xiao, your righteous intervention has helped my Liu Family eliminate a great threat. I am truly grateful beyond words."
"Please, join me in the side hall for a simple meal, and allow me to thank you properly."
Xiao Chen waved his hand. "Patriarch Liu, you exaggerate. As a disciple of the Li Huo Sect, how could I stand by and watch a Demon Cultivator harass fellow sect members? It was simply my duty."
Liu Zhiyuan grabbed his arm. "Xiao is right! We are all people of the Li Huo Sect. Since you are here, you should consider this your own home."
"And no one should go hungry when they’re home."
"Besides, I have a family-cellared Nine-Brewed Spring Wine. It has been steeped with twenty-eight kinds of Spirit Medicines and aged for a full fifty years. It is a great restorative. Xiao must come and have a taste."
Xiao Chen had long heard that many families would dig cellars and add a batch of Spirit Wine to them each year. Over time, this would become a significant asset for the family.
Since that was the case, he wouldn’t be polite.
’Free Spirit Wine? It would be a waste not to drink it.’
Upon entering the side hall and taking a seat, he saw that Liu Zhishan had already laid out a table of dishes to accompany the wine.
A rich and unique aroma, characteristic of wine starter, wafted towards him.
Liu Zhiyuan picked up the wine pot and poured Xiao Chen a full cup of Nine-Brewed Spring Wine. It was a translucent golden color, clear yet with a sense of richness.
The first sip was delicate, smooth yet potent. The flavor was complex, with the sweetness of wheat ears and a slight bitterness from the wine starter.
’In short—it was delicious.’
As the Spirit Wine entered his stomach, its medicinal properties quickly took effect.
Under normal circumstances, the Nine Brewed Spring Wine could reinforce one’s foundation, replenish vitality, and regulate Qi Blood.
However, Xiao Chen had just achieved Celestial Dao Foundation Establishment, and his body was in a near-perfect state.
As a result, the wine’s potency circulated through his body before surging entirely into his Inner Core, acting as a Spiritual Object to refine it.
After three cups of wine, Xiao Chen felt his Inner Core actually begin to proactively absorb the Magical Power within his Dantian.
