Chapter 1199: 1199
This person was over two meters tall . His hair fell to his shoulders, and his fierce-looking face looked like it was made of copper or bronze . An ominous glint was present within his eyes, making him seem like a demon blocking their path .
None of his aura was leaking out, but his eyes were as sharp as blades . Their scalps turned numb just from being stared at by him .
Han Wenjun, Li Wanji, and Xia Yunchong were all appalled . They recognized this person to be a legendary figure who had once shaken the majority of the continent, the Fierce Yang Butcher Tu Qianshang .
“Damn fatty, do you have to frighten people like this? Today, I’m accompanying my friend to see the High Priest, so wash your neck and wait for me . I’ll crush you till you don’t have any fingers left . ” Long Chen extended a fist confidently .
Xia Yunchong’s soul almost fled in terror, and his face turned green . Did Long Chen not want his life any longer?
As expected, Tu Qianshang furiously frowned, and he also extended a fist at Long Chen, saying, “Fine, I’ll wait for you to return . I don’t believe I can’t beat you . ”
“Uncle fatty, last time you lost so miserably . Are you going to get revenge this time?” In front of this terrifying, demon-like Tu Qianshang, Xia Youluo wasn’t the slightest bit afraid, and she even giggled .
This Tu Qianshang wasn’t scary . The true terror had come when Long Chen and Tu Qianshang had started drinking . At that time, they had begun furiously cursing each other . His current appearance was actually his friendly one .
Tu Qianshang raged, “Damn girl, do you know how to speak? What are you talking about, what miserable losses? He… he’s a guest, and a child, so I naturally had to let him win a few . Hurry up and go so you can come back . This time, I’m going to wipe out all my losses . ”
Tu Qianshang’s final words ended up confirming Xia Youluo’s words . Tu Qianshang had been defeated last time, and he refused to accept that .
Walking past Tu Qianshang’s area, they followed the Wine God Palace’s welcoming disciple forward .
“Long Chen, you beat that terrifying fellow? How did you do it?” Xia Yunchong couldn’t help but ask .
“It’s not like what you’re thinking . We were playing a finger-guessing drinking game . He couldn’t beat me, and as soon as he lost, he began to curse me . When I get cursed, I cursed back, and he couldn’t beat me in cursing either . Now he’s looking to be beaten again . ” Long Chen shook his head .
“Are you not afraid of him…?” Xia Yunchong was shocked .
“Afraid of what? He’s now a disciple of the Wine God Palace, and he’s long since exchanged his butcher’s blade for a wine barrel . He doesn’t dare hit me . So, he couldn’t beat me in the finger-guessing game, he couldn’t beat me in cursing, and he doesn’t dare hit me . Didn’t you see his furious expression just now? It’s because he has no way to beat me . In truth, he should be thanking me . Rather than spending all day making wine, I can accompany him with some games, some drinking, and some cursing . Think about how great such a life is . He should be very grateful to me,” said Long Chen with a laugh .
Xia Youluo giggled, “Big brother Long Chen is very evil . That uncle fatty lost to him so badly that I couldn’t even keep watching . In the end, big brother Long Chen was so shameless as to even demand wine from him, and he cursed him when he didn’t give it to him . The two of them both cursed each other fiercely, but in the end, uncle fatty still gave the wine to big brother Long Chen . That’s why I feel that big brother Long Chen is eviler and fiercer than uncle fatty!”
“Ungrateful person who forgets kindness, spit out all my wine,” demanded Long Chen frostily .
“Tch, put out your hand and I’ll spit it out . ” Xia Youluo stuck out her tongue at him and made a vomiting motion .
“Youluo, pay attention to your manners . You are a princess . ” Xia Yunchong pulled on Xia Youluo . How had this child turned so foolish as to make such an improper action?
Zi Yan smiled slightly . “Long Chen is someone who likes to act naturally without caring about trifles . And sister Youluo is also very good . You’re kind and pure, so being casual is fine . ”
“Oh, big sister Zi Yan overpraises me!” Xia Youluo was incredibly excited to receive Zi Yan’s praise .
Han Wenjun and Li Wanji exchanged a glance, both seeing the anger in the other’s eyes . The two of them were like shadows, completely ignored .
However, their main goal in coming to the Grand Xia this time was to curry favor with the Wine God Palace . They had no choice but to follow them .
As the welcoming disciple led the way, they crossed a large mountain, arriving in a flat land with a palace built on top of it .
“Please go inside . ” The welcoming disciple only led them to the gate before stopping and expressing that they could enter .
Entering, the first thing they saw was a folding screen . There was a poem written on top of it:
“Wine contains the great universe, the pot contains the passing of time . All things are in motion, freely changing . Clear wine is tasteless like water, turbid wine is dense like soup . Primal chaos devolves into clearness and turbidness . A hundred flavors brew within the sky . Wine allows one to escape the pathless chase of fame and fortune . To become intoxicated is to dream of ten thousand Daos, to wake is to see the world . ”
This poem was written using immortal characters . The strokes of the characters never paused, making the poem look like it had been written in one go . It looked a bit messy and also carefree . It was like it had been written to vent emotions .
It was as if a master calligrapher had gotten drunk and written it without any care for tidiness . It was confident and easy, and contained its own Dao charm .
Zi Yan and the others stood in front of the screen and were lost in thought as they looked over the words . Whether it was the actual words or the calligraphy, they all contained boundless Dao charm . If they could comprehend the profundities within it, it would benefit them for a lifetime .
“This is a kind of peak realm and also an artistic realm . A flash of emotion and insight from the writer made them use this rapid and carefree method to express their comprehension . This kind of wisdom, this magical power…” praised Han Wenjun as he examined the writing .
It was unknown whether he was doing it intentionally, but his huge mass of praise made Long Chen’s hair stand on end .
Did he really have no shame? Even if he had to give praise, he should base it on the facts . The way Han Wenjun put it, it seemed like these words could bring the dead back to life .
“You flatter me . As expected of the Grand Han’s prince, this imaginative power and brilliance with words are admirable . I wonder if the other friends can appraise this old man’s scribble?” An ancient voice rang out from within the palace .
Everyone was shocked . For this person to be speaking from within the palace, it had to be the High Priest . It was unexpected that this poem had been personally written by the High Priest .
“Senior’s calligraphy is carefree and uninhibited . The bold strokes are like coiling dragons expressing their own transcendent wills…” said Li Wanji .
Following Han Wenjun, Li Wanji also began to overflow with praise, making Long Chen speechless .
The High Priest’s voice rang out, “This old man’s calligraphy is very unskilled . For young friend to praise me like this makes me blush with shame . Do the other friends have anything to say? Please, don’t be constrained . ”
The High Priest’s voice was extremely kind and peaceful . He didn’t have any of the domineering air of a peerless expert . He seemed more like a kind elder .
“This little one doesn’t understand calligraphy, but within the words, I can sense a boundless and majestic artistic realm . It’s very beneficial to my cultivation, so senior’s divine masterpiece has already greatly benefitted me,” said Xia Yunchong respectfully .
“Young friend cultivates the Undefeatable Dao, which requires paying particular attention to the heart . To keep a heart worry-free is very difficult,” said the High Priest .
“Long Chen, I…” Xia Youluo was a bit nervous .
“It’s fine . Worst case, just say a bunch of nonsense . The High Priest is a very nice person; he won’t kill you . ” Long Chen smiled at the pale Xia Youluo .
Now even Zi Yan was speechless . Long Chen really did dare to say anything . Did he not know how to judge the situation first?
“Haha, young friend, don’t be nervous . You can say whatever you want,” laughed the High Priest .
“Then I’ll tell you the truth . I didn’t feel anything . I don’t even recognize most of these characters,” said Xia Youluo embarrassedly .
“Hahaha, good . It’s rare to have someone be so frank . If you know, then you know . If you don’t know, then you don’t know . Considering the vastness of the world, who could possibly know everything?” laughed the High Priest, sounding surprisingly happy .
“Many thanks, grandpa High Priest,” said Xia Youluo happily, being so intimate as to even change the way she called the High Priest, from senior to grandpa . But Xia Youluo did look cute, especially when she wasn’t being obstinate . She looked like a pure child who naturally had no schemes .
“The Illusive Music Immortal Palace’s distinguished disciple, do you have any comments on my scribbling?” The High Priest’s tone was clearly different when it came toward Zi Yan . It actually had the feeling of him speaking to someone of the same generation .
“Using the Wine Dao to approach the Heavenly Daos, attempting to break through . ” Zi Yan softly opened her mouth and only said a few words .
“Truly worthy of being a genius of the Illusive Music Immortal Palace . You even managed to see through my realm . ” The High Priest seemed to greatly appreciate Zi Yan’s comment .
“Young friend Long Chen, last time you came, I was in seclusion so we had no opportunity to meet . It was truly regretful . But I heard that you managed to plunder everything from my Wine God Palace’s disciples . This ability fills me with admiration . ” Now the High Priest’s voice contained a joking tone .
Long Chen immediately felt like his face was burning . It was as though he had tricked a child of their lollipop, and now their family head had come to ask what had happened . He awkwardly said, “Cough, In truth, it was just a social exchange . Yes, a social exchange . ”
Long Chen wouldn’t admit to something like swindling people even if he was beaten to death . That was his strongest point .
“Haha, it was just a joke . I wonder if young friend can give me some comments about my scribblings?” said the High Priest .
Long Chen thought about it for a moment and said, “Other than wine, there is nothing else . ”
When Zi Yan heard this, she became lost in thought . When she looked at those words once more, a flash of insight appeared in her eyes, and her lips curled up into a beautiful smile .
“Other than wine, there is nothing else . Haha, other than wine, there is nothing else…” The High Priest laughed delightedly .
The screen slowly moved away, revealing a bricked path . The bricks were so old that they were grey and covered in fine cracks .
Behind the screen was a statue . It was around the same size as a real person .
It depicted a man holding a wine pot in one hand and a wine cup in another, drinking without restraint . A tranquil and peaceful light shone in his eyes, along with divine light .
Once they approached the statue, Zi Yan, Xia Yunchong, Han Wenjun, and the others all involuntarily knelt on the ground, dumbfounding Long Chen .