Thousand Day Wine (Thanks to the esteemed "Reflection of Rain and Stars" for the alliance leader support)

The wine seemed like fruit wine. Setting aside the spiritual liquid condensed from Sun Moon Essence, the rest of it had no strong alcoholic taste either. Instead, it was mostly fragrant with fermented fruit, and it tasted very sweet.

"This wine is brewed by the Spirits and Monsters in the mountains, using kiwifruit as its main ingredient along with various rare fruits. It is called Thousand Day Wine."

"Why is it called Thousand Day Wine?"

"There's a tale about Thousand Day Wine in a village below the mountain." The old Daoist sat cross-legged beside him and spoke leisurely. "They say a woodcutter from the village went up the mountain to gather firewood. He rested beneath a huge old tree. He hadn't intended to fell the tree—he couldn't have cut it down anyway. He simply didn't want to keep holding his Firewood Knife, so he chopped it into the tree, hoping to wedge it there. But when he struck, he found the inside wasn't solid. Instead, green wine kept seeping out. The wine was already infused with spiritual energy, and no one could resist its aroma. So he took a sip and promptly fell asleep, not waking for three years."

The old Daoist paused. "After that, the tale of Thousand Day Wine spread through the villages below. I never expected the Spirits and Monsters in the mountains to have actually used that name."

"So that's how it got its name."

Lin Jue couldn't help but freeze. It was a good thing he hadn't drunk any.

"You've cultivated?"

"Answering you, Daoist, I've studied the Qi Nourishing Method."

"Then remember to drink slowly. Use your breathing and guiding techniques to absorb the spiritual energy and draw it into your body. Don't let it disperse freely," the old Daoist said. "This wine is extraordinary in itself, and now the Mountain Lord has added the Sun Moon Essence he gathered. For ordinary people, strengthening the body is the least of its benefits; extending their lifespan is no great feat either. Most ordinary martial artists can break through to a higher level. And for cultivators, it can greatly benefit the early stages of cultivation, when one nourishes qi and transforms it into spirit."

"Thank you for the guidance."

The old Daoist smiled faintly without replying, then turned to the young woman beside him. "Drink a little less. Go ahead and drink; I'll help you."

"Thank you, Master."

The young woman spoke too, her manner respectful.

The sky darkened swiftly. Firelight illuminated the mountaintop. Once the Thousand Day Wine had been distributed, the Mountain Lord at the head of the gathering raised his cup. He didn't offer a toast to anyone in particular; he simply took the first sip.

It was like a signal. The other Spirits and Monsters could no longer suppress their instinctive craving. They hurriedly lowered their heads and drained the wine from their bamboo cups in all sorts of ways. Some even swallowed the cups along with the wine in a single gulp, without spitting anything out.

Lin Jue, on the other hand, was quite refined.

He lifted his bamboo cup and first took a sniff. Its extraordinary fragrance made him feel as if everything from his nostrils to his chest and abdomen had been washed clean. Then, following the old Daoist's instructions, he cautiously took a tiny sip.

It was indeed sweet, with the fragrance of fruit, though not as sweet as it had smelled.

The wine itself was still mild.

But right after that, a surge of pure Spiritual Resonance unfurled inside his body. It seemed to turn into qi, filling every part from his mouth and throat down to his stomach, with a sensation that it was about to spill out in every direction.

"!"

Such pure Spiritual Resonance.

Lin Jue was only an ordinary person who had just begun practicing the Qi Nourishing Method, sensing the Spiritual Resonance of heaven and earth and absorbing the Five Qi from all around him. He could hardly even be considered a beginner, yet he had never encountered Spiritual Resonance like this.

No wonder the Spirits and Monsters were so obsessed with it.

But Lin Jue didn't dare let his thoughts wander now. He hurriedly followed the old Daoist's instructions, breathing deeply as he usually did while meditating, then guiding the energy into his body. This kept the Spiritual Resonance from scattering through his seven apertures or the pores across his body, and stored it safely within him.

This Spiritual Resonance was different from the elusive, intangible Five Qi. Lin Jue could clearly feel its presence.

"Tsk..."

Lin Jue took another sip.

Since its alcohol content was so low, it clearly wasn't alcohol that could make someone sleep for a thousand days and keep them alive throughout. And with its fresh, fruity taste, even setting aside the unusual Spiritual Resonance it contained, the wine itself was still delicious.

At the same time, he felt the eyes on him from all around.

They belonged to the Spirits and Monsters who had already finished their Thousand Day Wine. Seeing that he hadn't finished his, they couldn't help turning their gazes toward him, instinctive yearning and greed in their eyes.

With so many Spirits and Monsters gathered here, and the sun already set, those gazes would have been enough to make anyone's blood run cold. But Lin Jue knew how much the Mountain Lord's presence commanded, so he wasn't afraid at all. He even felt as though he had stepped into one of the strange tales he'd heard long ago. A curious delight welled in his heart, and he savored the Thousand Day Wine all the more leisurely.

The Mountain Lord waved a hand, and another macaque opened a wine jar. It, too, was filled with Thousand Day Wine, and the wine was passed around for everyone to drink freely. This time, however, none of the Mountain Lord's unique Sun Moon Essence was added.

Dusk deepened. The clouds burned to ash, leaving only dreamlike colors fading across the horizon. Their splendor defied description. Atop the great mountain, the woodpile continued to burn, casting the shadows of countless Spirits and Monsters, reflected in a multitude of different eyes.

With a hint of drunkenness, the Mountain Lord took out a book.

"This is the Great Way of Yin Yang, which I obtained from Mount Qi Yun at the cost of quite a few treasures. It's perfect for beings like us! Every one of you became a monster through the Yin Yang Qi. With this text, if you can comprehend it, you won't have to rely on instinct to absorb Yin Yang Qi anymore! Most of you have known me for a long time and know that I'm generous. Whenever I come across something good, I share it with you all. Besides, life is hard for us Spirits and Monsters. Since everyone has come today, I'll share the first chapter so we can study it together!"

At these words, the many Spirits and Monsters finally turned their gazes away from Lin Jue, who was still savoring his wine, and looked toward the Mountain Lord. Their eyes still shone brightly.

"I'll read it to you:

"Heaven gives birth to the Five Qi; earth bears Yin and Yang. Day gives way to night, and the four seasons turn—these are all the Way of Yin and Yang...

"...

"Yang is movement, and yin is stillness. Yang is firm, and yin is yielding. Without yang, nothing can take form; without yin, nothing can be born. Yin and yang interact, and all things multiply without end...

"..."

All the Spirits and Monsters stared wide-eyed. It was impossible to tell whether the flames from the bonfire were reflected in their eyes or whether they had simply been shining all along. They fixed their gazes on the Mountain Lord and refused to blink.

Every Spirit and Monster strained to listen attentively. Now and then, one would scratch his head in frustration at not understanding, but none dared let their mind wander or miss a single word. They were like the best students in the world.

So much so that atop the mountain, apart from the wind, the fire, and the Mountain Lord's chanting, not a single other sound could be heard.

Among them, Lin Jue could feel just how eager these Spirits and Monsters were to learn. They yearned and hungered for knowledge and the Great Dao with all their being.

Naturally, Lin Jue listened attentively too.

This was a lecture on the Great Way of Yin Yang.

In other words, it explained the nature of the Yin Yang Qi of heaven and earth.

The Mountain Lord finished reading the short chapter before long.

Even after the last word of his voice had faded, the gathering remained utterly silent. The firewood in the bonfire was almost burned up, but no one went to add more. The Spirits and Monsters sat motionless where they were, waiting, ravenous for knowledge. Even after the Mountain Lord put down the book, they couldn't bring themselves to look away.

A long while later, perhaps realizing there really was no more, they finally lowered their heads, reluctant to do so.

And all this was despite the fact that the vast majority of them hadn't understood a thing.

How many students in the Human Realm below could compare to them?

For a moment, Lin Jue felt as though he, too, had been shaken.