Soon, Clam Maidens brought out spirit wine and delicacies.
The disciples of the Three Sects needed no tables or chairs. They sat on the ground, drinking and singing.
Never before had they been so united, setting aside the old grudges they'd held on Kunlun Mountain.
Duobao drank heartily, wine running down his neck.
He slung an arm around Guang Chengzi and joked,
"Senior Brother, you're always so stern. Tonight, you have to drink your fill!"
Guang Chengzi smiled and shook his head helplessly. He took the cup and drained it in one go.
Chi Jingzi stood up, clapping his hands and praising him.
"Senior Brother, you can really hold your liquor! I'll drink with you!"
Qiu Shou Xian sat beside Manjushri Guangfa Tianzun.
By now, his face was flushed. He patted Manjushri on the shoulder.
"We've fought at least fifty times on Kunlun Mountain—maybe even a hundred. Do you admit defeat?"
Manjushri glanced at Qiu Shou Xian and chided him with a laugh.
"I could count your victories on one hand."
"How can you even ask if I admit defeat?"
Qiu Shou Xian's face reddened. It was hard to tell whether he'd had too much to drink or was embarrassed.
"That's not the point. Just tell me, have I ever beaten you?"
"I'm an outer disciple of the Interception Sect, and I beat an inner disciple of the Chan Sect. So, do you admit defeat or not?"
Manjushri slowly raised his cup, his tone still casual.
"We're all disciples of the Xuan Sect, all under the Three Pure Ones. What's this about outer disciples of the Interception Sect and inner disciples of the Chan Sect?"
"You and I are senior and junior brothers. Don't talk nonsense."
The Chan Sect disciples and Interception Sect outer disciples gathered around them were also taken aback.
They quickly came to their senses, eyes gleaming as they raised their cups and drank together.
"Exactly! We're all senior and junior brothers. There's no distinction between you, me, and anyone else. Bottoms up!"
"Drink!"
The disciples of the Three Sects wore genuine smiles.
They raised their cups and drank, and the old prejudices they'd held on Kunlun Mountain
had now disappeared.
Outside the Dragon Palace, countless Strange Beasts roared as they instinctively threw themselves against its defensive array with all their might.
Inside, the disciples of the Three Sects were already raising their cups and singing.
It was as though there were no divisions between the Three Sects, nor between inner and outer disciples.
Their fortunes were bound together as senior and junior brothers, and all three sects shared the same origin.
It seemed there should never have been any real divisions between them.
The Three Pure Ones were one family. How could the disciples of the Three Sects be any different?
They smiled, raised their cups, drank, and sang at the top of their lungs.
Their songs drifted out of the Dragon Palace, while the Strange Beasts' roars became the most wonderful accompaniment.
They sang—
"The Dragon Palace's wine is worth ten thousand coins; on Kunlun, we sought the Dao for ten thousand years.
We meet in high spirits, and for you I drink; my sword points at Strange Beasts beneath the blue sea and sky.
The Three Sects feast together, debating their feats of war in the East Sea.
The Sages favor us and pass down wondrous arts; the disciples test their swords and astonish ten thousand immortals.
At dawn, I roam the East Sea; at dusk, Kunlun—beneath the heavens, I rule my cave.
The treasured sword in its case cries out again and again; I swear not to pass it on until I meet a kindred spirit!"
Thunderous rumbling!
The entire Dragon Palace suddenly shook and trembled.
The surrounding luminous pearls flickered, adding to the sense of danger.
The disciples of the Three Sects, who had been drinking and singing, stopped what they were doing.
Their smiles vanished, replaced by worry.
The East Sea Dragon King appeared in an instant, looking frantic.
"Honored young friends, the array can't hold any longer. The Strange Beasts have breached it!"
He'd been delighted to see the disciples of the Three Sects drinking and singing in the Dragon Palace.
But the situation was now dire. This clearly wasn't the time for celebration.
The disciples of the Three Sects rose one after another, ready to help.
Then a hearty laugh rang out, making everyone turn to look.
"Senior and junior brothers, don't worry. Leave this to me!"
Duobao's face was flushed. Swaying to his feet, he brandished the Qingping Sword and made a bold declaration.
His gaze landed on Xuan Du. In his drunkenness, he said,
"Hic... Senior Brother, we hardly ever see each other on Kunlun Mountain."
"Today, watch the sword in my hand. You'll have to warm some wine for me."
Xuan Du smiled and lifted his cup. Samadhi True Fire blazed within it.
"The wine is warm. Now all that's left is for Junior Brother to return victorious."
Duobao threw back his head and laughed, then transformed into a streak of light and shot toward the breach in the array.
Everyone else continued drinking as they waited for good news.
Outside the Dragon Palace,
Duobao was drunk to the skies. He swung the Qingping Sword, sending Sword Qi surging across a hundred thousand miles.
Silvery light poured down from the heavens. His fierce Sword Qi, thick with killing intent, swept over countless Strange Beasts.
In an instant, blood dyed the seawater red and severed limbs flew everywhere.
He casually tossed out the array materials Tongtian had given him.
His hands moved through a series of Magic Seals as he carved dozens of Great Dao Inscriptions.
The breach in the array was repaired in the blink of an eye.
He turned to face the oncoming horde of Strange Beasts, tilted his head back, and drained another gourd of wine.
"Ha ha! Wonderful! Wonderful!"
He charged out with sword in hand, blue Sword Qi cleaving through the surrounding sea.
In the blink of an eye, tens of thousands of Strange Beasts lost their lives.
Duobao casually brought back the head of a Golden Immortal Beast to the Dragon Palace.
He tossed the bloodied head onto the ground.
All around him, his fellow disciples looked on with admiration.
"Here's something for all you senior and junior brothers to drink to! Come on, bottoms up!"
Xuan Du tossed over his wine gourd. The wine was still warm.
"Let's drink together!"
By now, the East Sea Dragon King was staring in utter shock.
Wait, were all the disciples of Sages this terrifying?
They could repair the Dragon Palace Grand Array with a casual gesture,
and kill a Golden Immortal Beast with a single sword strike.
He came to his senses and hurriedly called for the Clam Maidens to take the beast's head away and prepare it. His heart was already full of astonishment.
"I need to take good care of these precious disciples of the Sages. Earning their favor is a fortunate opportunity for the Dragon Palace, too."
Xuandan was in high spirits from drinking. He stood up and took out a large handful of pills he'd refined.
"Senior and junior brothers, I'm deeply grateful that you came to help."
"As it happens, I have some pills I've refined here. Don't be shy—take them."
The East Sea Dragon King's eyes lit up at once.
He could hardly wait to step forward, bow in thanks, and accept the pills.
But the disciples of the Three Sects around them suddenly fell silent.
They exchanged glances, their smiles a little awkward.
Xuan Du hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over.
"Junior Brother, you're mistaken. We're all fellow disciples. There's no need to talk about gifts."
Guang Chengzi recalled Huanglong's earlier transformation into a Loli.
He even raised his cup and stepped forward to reassure Xuandan.
"Junior Brother, don't mention gifts again. Come, let's drink!"
Before you continue