In the courtyard.
Major Snow fell in flurries, like drifting willow catkins.
"Fine wine!" Ji Minghao downed the wine Jiang Ning had offered him in one gulp. Several breaths later, he opened his eyes and praised it endlessly.
Then he pointed at the remaining half-cup of wine, shimmering like water from the Milky Way, and asked, "Brother Jiang, what wine is this? I have always loved wine, yet I cannot even identify it!!"
"It is icy cold upon entry, as though it could freeze one's thoughts!"
"Yet after entering the stomach, extreme heat rises after that extreme cold. In this land of ice and snow, it even makes my entire body break out in a fine sweat."
As he spoke, flashes of brilliance gleamed in Ji Minghao's eyes.
Jiang Ning said, "It is merely ordinary wine."
"Ordinary wine?" Ji Minghao looked stunned. "How could ordinary wine possess such marvels?"
Jiang Ning said, "I mixed in a special heavenly treasure."
Then he briefly described the form of the Water Within Water he had discovered in the cave beneath the lake.
Upon hearing this, Ji Minghao held his wine cup, his brows knitting slightly as he sank into thought.
Several breaths later.
His brows relaxed, and his unfocused gaze sharpened once more as he looked at the wine swaying gently in the cup before him, ripples spreading across its surface.
At this moment, the wine resembled the waters of the Milky Way. Countless silver starry gleams floated within it, making for an exceptionally splendid sight.
"I seem to have thought of one possibility," Ji Minghao said calmly.
"What possibility?" Jiang Ning asked.
Ji Minghao said, "According to Brother Jiang's description, the thing you encountered bears a strong resemblance to Emperor's Flowing Essence."
"Emperor's Flowing Essence?" Jiang Ning looked slightly surprised.
"Mhm!" Ji