Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!-Chapter 751 - 727: Two Jars of Wine

"No matter how precious it is, it’s not worth more than my life!"

Qu Luming grumbled, bending over and bringing his face closer, tapping the black flower beside his ear with his finger, and shouted, "Isn’t this mess on my back because of you? Now I’ve finally found a solution, shouldn’t you contribute an array?"

Perhaps his movements were too large and pulled at it, or perhaps sensing Du Li’s cautious aura, the black flower gently swayed, as if it could drill out from under the skin at any moment.

Du Li slowly put down the pen, leaned closer, squinted slightly as he examined it carefully for a while, and sighed, "You really have rotten luck, how did you just happen to encounter her. So many years with no news, I thought Yuan Man had long perished and disappeared like ash, but worthy of a cultivator with the top-grade dual spirit roots of earth and wood, truly resilient."

Qu Luming: ...

At this critical moment, you still have the mind to marvel at how resilient others are; do you have any serious matters?

"Have you created other alternate bodies behind my back? Favoring other alternate bodies and neglecting my life?" He slapped the table and questioned, "Otherwise, why didn’t you tell me about such a deep-seated hatred? If I had known earlier, I’d have dodged her!"

"Also, you’re to blame for asking me to investigate the Demon Race’s undercover agent. If it wasn’t for helping you, would I have needed to go to the market? If I hadn’t gone on a private visit to the market, how would I have run into her!"

"Look, just with you here, it’s chaos every so often; the more alternate bodies there are, the more annoying it gets."

"Don’t change the subject. Now get me the highest-level array right away, one that can protect an entire city. Also, tell me how many secrets you’ve kept, how many big shots you’ve offended outside, so I can be cautious!"

What a headache, if back then I hadn’t had the reckless hope of keeping him alive, this alternate body dying wouldn’t have made my ears so often uneasy now.

Casually opening the storage ring, he pulled out an array and tossed it over, Du Li said nonchalantly, "Both Trapped Snake Island and Moon Snail Mountain use this array. It can only be destroyed by the presence of a Tribulation Crossing realm powerhouse, is that enough?"

Heh heh, true to the Vice Alliance Hierarch’s name, indeed has good stuff!

Qu Luming grabbed it instantly, storing it away, and pursued further, "Why did you attack Yuan Man back then? Knowing full well she’s some sort of guardian with great karmic merits for this world, weren’t you afraid of being struck by heavenly lightning?"

After a long silence, Du Li leisurely counterasked, "You’ve been mingling in the Fengdu Underworld for quite a while now, do you know what secrets lie in the deepest part of the Eighteen Layers of Hell?"

"You know?" Recalling the fugitive incident from some time ago, his excessively pale face turned green instantly, and his voice quivered slightly as he said, "Don’t tell me the fierce spirits that escaped from the Eighteen Layers of Hell have something to do with you!"

Du Li rolled his eyes at him again, "Fool. Can mere fierce spirits escape from hell with heavy treasures? It’s uncertain what escaped. Don’t worry, it’s unrelated to me. Knowing what’s inside, I have no desire to take such great risks to seize anything."

Successfully drawn in, Qu Luming bent even lower, pressing his voice down and pursued, "What exactly is inside?"

"If I told you there’s a secret to ascension inside, would you dare to see it?"

"Lying again!" He too rolled his eyes, "Stop changing the subject, hurry up and tell why you attacked Yuan Man? Do you have some kind of grudge with her? Explain clearly, if she’s even slightly in the wrong, next time I encounter her, I could be more bold."

Leisurely grinding ink, Du Li shook his head and said, "She has done nothing wrong, and we have no grudges. It’s just that I unintentionally glimpsed the secret of ascension and wanted to borrow a bit of her fortune.

At that time, I wasn’t the only one plotting against her, some wanted to directly pick the fruit and acted even more ruthlessly, but I was the only one who succeeded in seizing some life origin. It’s not too much of a problem, when you encounter her just be obsequious, she has always been magnanimous and wouldn’t bother with a junior, especially not an alternate body.

As for being struck by heavenly lightning, there’s nothing to fear, not only Yuan Man has shed sweat and blood for this world. I didn’t truly endanger her life, balancing the merits and demerits, at most some fleshly suffering.

If you can resolve the conflict and restore Yuan Man to her peak, it counts as atonement for me, and might lessen or even negate any retribution."

Seeing the alternate body’s shocked face, Du Li waved his hand, "Go on, leave me in peace for a while."

During today’s "conversation," there was quite a lot of information, the truth of what the main body said was unknown, Qu Luming couldn’t take advantage of the benefit given, so after paying his respects and saying goodbye, his form vanished from the quiet room.

Du Li picked up the pen, looked at the unfinished painting on the paper, sighed and set it down again, muttering under his breath, "So bothersome every day."

"Isn’t it you indulging it? If it were up to me, I’d have long given him a crispy snap for his audacity! If it happened again, just swallow him. An alternate body is just a tool, use it when needed, and take it back when not, more cost-effective."

A somewhat sharp and sarcastic voice echoed in the void, Du Li shook his head and laughed, "Back then I was too obsessed, solely focused on ascension to the Celestial Realm, causing great trouble and thinking of letting the alternate body take the blame, but couldn’t bear to watch him die for real. Now I really am old, obsession has faded, thoughts have changed."

"Indecisive, as always! Otherwise upon discovering the secret and occupying the perfect timing and conditions, you’d have already ascended and become immortal!"

"No, I can’t become immortal, nor can you. After all that happened, to finally see and think clearly, yet it’s too late. Hopefully, I can do my utmost to preserve this world from falling, and other aspiring people can successfully ascend, go to the Upper Realm, and take a look for us."

Picking up the brush again, a drop of ink fell on the snow-white rice paper, spreading in layers of different shades.

The slowly flowing, richly colored liquid shone with twinkling starlight, falling into the wine glass like a miniature galaxy. At the same time, a strong fragrance of wine filled the air. Just the scent alone made Qu Luming feel tipsy.

"What a fine wine!" he exclaimed sincerely, swallowing a bit of saliva to avoid revealing an indulgent look of greed when something good was available. "Last time I tasted Mr. Jiang’s spirit tea and incense, and today I’ve witnessed your extraordinary winemaking skills. Truly something to marvel at!"

Jiang Yuan made a gesturing invitation, "This wine is called ’Starlit Dream’, crafted from various spirit medicines. One cup will make the vine cage drunk and cease to obey commands. Consume one cup a day for three days, and the fragrance of the wine will completely dissolve the thorny vines. Brother Qu, you can then rest easy."

To resolve this big trouble, he had been running around seeking spirit elixirs, only to find out that drinking spiritual wine could solve it?

Qu Luming was immediately stunned and, after repeatedly expressing his gratitude, picked up the wine glass and drank it in one gulp.

The fragrance lingered with infinite aftertaste. A warmth spread from the tip of the tongue to the stomach, then throughout the body, giving a slightly tipsy feeling.

The black flower by his ear seemed to be befuddled by the spiritual wine too, swaying slightly, truly looking intoxicated, as the bud closed and drooped, no longer moving.

"Mr. Jiang is truly formidable!" The prickly sense of danger felt moments ago disappeared, and Qu Luming sincerely felt relaxed. He quickly stood up to thank him, "Thank you, Mr. Jiang, for your help!"

"This is a top-grade array given by the Demon Realm Alliance for use in the market, obtained from my true body. Unless a Tribulation Crossing Realm expert personally destroys it, no petty thief can get near, ensuring complete safety."

After a pause, he added, "The true body said it’s on par with the likes of Trapped Snake Island and Moon Snail Mountain. I’m not skilled in this art, so it should be authentic."

Jiang Yuan glanced at the system appraisal; indeed, it was a rare treasure. Not only could it ensure that external defenses remain impenetrable, inside the city, apart from the set teleportation array, no private teleportation was allowed. It also prohibited fighting, theft, and other specific activities.

However, this high-grade artifact came at a cost — it burned through money.

In normal energy-saving mode, a thousand Spirit Stones per month would suffice. Once the defense mode needed to be activated to repel outside intrusion, a constant supply of Spirit Stones was required. The advantage: as long as there are enough Spirit Stones, unless under full-scale attack by a Tribulation Crossing Realm expert, it can repair and restore itself.

Jiang Yuan even considered installing a set in his small courtyard or the Netherworld estate, but for now, the priority was Sand Hill City. Once Hou Ze sorts out the clientele, the flint stones are successfully transformed into cash, and purchase prices increase, City Lord Ming would have enough Spirit Stones to fuel the City Defense Array.

"We originally agreed to meet and discuss matters in the Netherworld when there’s time," Qu Luming recalled what the true body mentioned, hesitating, "But now it seems to involve some very terrifying beings. I’m merely a leopard tail, excluded from the start and unaware of the details.

If found, it won’t be without a bloody battle; if not found... it might be quiet for a few years, but when there’s movement again, the world would turn upside down. Let’s hope that being hasn’t escaped the Netherworld, otherwise, let’s hope it fled to another world and doesn’t involve the Wilderness.

What is the name of that friend of yours, Mr. Jiang? I can inquire when I return, and if it’s not too involved, find a reason to acquit them.

This way, we can meet to handle your urgent matters; also, when it involves terrifying beings, those ghost cultivators might likely just be cannon fodder, drawing them out can avoid the crisis too."

Jiang Yuan expressed his thanks and informed him about the situation with Tang Qin, the Yin Mountain female corpse. Qu Luming then took the remaining two cups of spiritual wine and hurriedly departed.

"A terrifying being? Surely not the Baron of Hell, right?" he jokingly muttered to himself, put away the array, and headed out the door back to his courtyard, heading straight for Cloud City.

The security of Sand Hill City was assured; Hou Ze, playing a key role in trading logistics, was at too low a Realm. First, finding a protective treasure for him was necessary. Once it’s verified that he’s capable, the responsibility can be handed to him, at least ensuring his safety.

"Is Mr. Jiang truly here? Please come inside!" Yuan Man was handling chores at home, pondering over the pre-agreed time to repair the Demon Mirror. Today was the agreed date, unsure if Mr. Jiang would come.

She was immediately informed by a subordinate, so she quickly put down her current affairs and exited the study to greet him.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Jiang Yuan took out the Demon Mirror from his storage bag. Though still tattered, it gleamed enough to show reflections and handed it over. "This object is severely damaged. After initial maintenance, I’ve infused it with sufficient spiritual power for temporary use. To restore it further, many forging materials are required."

[Side Quest: Daughter of Fortune]

[Task 3: Conduct initial maintenance on the severely damaged Demon Mirror at the Treasure Forging Workshop and infuse it with sufficient spiritual power - Completed. Reward: Demon Mirror upgrade blueprint +1 issued]

[Task 4: Upgrade the severely damaged Demon Mirror to a broken Demon Mirror at the Treasure Forging Workshop. Reward: Select Special Material Gift Pack +1]

Upon receiving the Demon Mirror, a task completion prompt and a new task appeared in her view.

"I noticed last time that City Lord Yuan seemed a bit lacking in vigor. Just now, a batch of Celestial Drunk was brewed in the winery at the small courtyard. Made with Primordial Yang rice as the main ingredient, supplemented with forty-nine spirit medicines and spirit fruits, the brewed spiritual wine is sweet and sour, nourishing the heart and meridians, eliminating fatigue, and uplifting the mood when consumed."

Jiang Yuan handed over the spiritual wine needed for task 2, "City Lord Yuan can try it to see if it suits your taste. If you need more, let me know, and I can brew more once I’ve gathered the spirit medicines."