If You Can Brew Spirit Wine Suitable for Our Great Shamans, We Will Conduct Higher-Level Trades with You

Within the Ancestral Witch Hall of the Western Lands, Roushou laughed heartily, his voice bright and forthright.

Though his temper was usually straightforward and he was prone to impulsiveness, he was no fool. He could clearly tell empty courtesies from genuine sincerity.

He was greatly pleased by the heartfelt words of gratitude from Zhu Yin and the others.

The reason he had established the Ancestral Witch Hall in the Western Lands was, on one hand, to form the configuration of the "Twelve Earthly Branches," and on the other, to build good relations with the powerful figures of the Western Lands.

After all, the Witch Clan tribes under his command were close to the Western Lands. Once their numbers grew in the future, people would naturally move here to settle down.

Establishing good relations in advance would benefit future development. Having one more friend was always better than having one more enemy.

Roushou was forthright by nature and spoke directly. After using witch power to help Zhu Yin and the others to their feet, he said plainly:

"Our Witch Clan governs the earth. The Western Lands are also part of the Primordial Wilderness, and helping to sort out the earth veins is simply our duty."

"If descendants of our Witch Clan come here to establish tribes in the future, I hope you will all look after them."

Though the great powers of the Western Lands each had their own calculations, they all smiled and agreed on the surface.

Zhu Yin took his seat again, and only then did the banquet officially begin.

The Witch Clan was not skilled at making refined things. Their food and drink were rougher in style, unable to compare with the grand, ceremonial banquets of the Heavenly Court, but the scale was vast, the offerings substantial, and the bearing no less imposing.

Every guest received:

Two top-grade primordial spirit fruits

Four mid-grade spirit fruits

Six low-grade spirit fruits

Even the spirit wine came in three great jars, not three little pots.

The key was that these spirit fruits were specially meant to nourish the soul, with the top-grade ones being the most effective.

When Zhu Yin saw this, his eyes brightened slightly, and a smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.

At Heavenly Court banquets, only ordinary Quasi-Sages could enjoy such treatment.

It was not that the Heavenly Court was inferior to the Witch Clan, but that the two had different styles.

The Heavenly Court emphasized grandeur and ceremony; the Witch Clan emphasized practicality, directness, and results.

Moreover, the Witch Clan's own circumstances were unique. They did not value the Primordial Spirit as much as other beings of the Primordial Wilderness did.

Many spiritual treasures had little effect on them, yet they had still gathered quite a few, mainly to prevent such treasures from falling into the hands of the Demon Race.

In the Witch Clan's eyes, certain spirit fruits were not even as useful as the flesh and blood of the Demon Race. They did not taste like much when eaten, but throwing them away would be a pity.

Zhu Yin had heard his master Zhunti say that the Witch Clan had also tried cultivating Primordial Spirits in its early days, even collecting three spiritual roots suited for the soul.

But after discovering that it was useless, they gave up and instead focused on tempering their bodies and cultivating laws, taking little interest in such treasures.

Thus, the spirit fruits brought out at this banquet were actually stockpiles they considered useless.

Yet to the other great powers, they were immensely valuable. Everyone understood this clearly, so no one was dissatisfied. Instead, all of them praised the Witch Clan's generosity.

At the banquet, Zhu Yin ate one top-grade spirit fruit and one mid-grade spirit fruit, leaving the rest untouched.

He intended to take them back to Spirit Platform Mountain to strengthen its foundation. He could also use the fruit pits to grow spiritual roots.

If luck was on his side, the pit of a top-grade spirit fruit could even cultivate two low-grade spiritual roots. Even if it failed, it could still grow into a top-grade acquired spiritual root.

Though the Witch Clan could not create spiritual treasures, their skill in roasting meat and brewing wine was first-rate, renowned since the earliest days of the Primordial Wilderness.

This banquet featured roasted meat from a "Great Principle Flood Dragon," and it was Zhu Yin's first time tasting it.

The meat was tender and fresh, charred on the outside and succulent within, brimming with rich energy. After eating it, he felt his entire body being nourished and his bones tempered. It was both delicious and practical.

For that flood dragon to be roasted so well showed how exceptional the Witch Clan's culinary arts were. Its flavor and effects were practically no weaker than immortal pills.

Then, after taking a sip of spirit wine, Zhu Yin's eyes lit up.

It was fiery upon entering his mouth, but after swallowing it, his entire body felt refreshed and comfortable. It even contained the Law of Water, strengthening the Dao body and aiding comprehension of the Great Dao of Water.

He opened the other two jars of spirit wine as well. One contained the Law of Wood, while the other carried the Law of Metal.

He tasted them one by one, carefully sensing the differences among the three. Inspiration kept rising in his mind as he began considering how to brew Great Principle spirit wine at the Quasi-Sage level himself, while also comparing the spirit wine of Spirit Platform Mountain with Witch Wine.

After finishing those three cups, he understood why Great Shaman Yan Zi had taken the initiative to trade spirit wine with him.

The Witch Clan's wine was indeed formidable, but it was too fierce and lacked gentleness.

Simply put, Witch Wine leaned toward "yang," while Spirit Platform Mountain's spirit wine leaned toward "yin."

"A lone yin cannot give birth; a lone yang cannot grow."

Though Witch Wine was tyrannical, it lacked that mellow warmth. Though Spirit Platform Mountain's wine was smooth and gentle, it likewise lacked explosive force. Only by combining the two could perfection be achieved.

It could also be said that Witch Wine emphasized strength, while Spirit Platform Mountain's spirit wine valued finesse. This was related to the differences in their cultivation systems... the Witch Clan had no Primordial Spirits and cultivated laws from birth, whereas other beings of the Primordial Wilderness only began to touch upon laws after reaching the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm. Naturally, the wines they brewed each had their own focus.

It was precisely because they had seen this complementarity that the Witch Clan was willing to initiate this trade.

After understanding all this, Zhu Yin finally felt at ease.

Spirit wine had its own unique advantage, and Spirit Platform Mountain therefore possessed the capital for long-term cooperation with the Witch Clan.

If his spirit wine were inferior to theirs, there would be no basis for cooperation at all.

Several decades later, the banquet came to an end.

Zhu Yin did not hastily bring up cooperation. Instead, he left together with everyone else.

Because he understood: haste makes waste.

In business, the side that rushed forward usually suffered losses.

If the Witch Clan truly valued Spirit Platform Mountain's spirit wine, they would certainly come calling again.

When that time came, raising the matter of cooperation would be as natural as water flowing into a channel.

But if the Witch Clan did not return for a long time, there was no need for him to force the matter. He could simply remain in the mountains cultivating, watch the winds and clouds rise and fall, guard a patch of pure land, and remain true to his heart.

On Spirit Platform Mountain, grass and trees swayed gently, spiritual energy overflowing as though welcoming their master's return.

Passing through the mountain-protecting formation, Zhu Yin flicked a finger and tossed the drunken jade chick back into its nest atop the Flame Mulberry Tree. Then he kicked Jin Tu, who was drunk senseless, into his cave dwelling and casually set down a restriction.

It was one thing for him to drink himself, but he had actually led Bi Lan astray as well.

Even if he had been emotionally stirred by meeting Jin Sheng and his son, he could not indulge himself like this.

He had to be taught a lesson!

Unless he broke through to the Late Golden Immortal realm, he would obediently remain in Mountain Lord Cave for five thousand years!

Five hundred years passed.

Great Shaman Yan Zi came to the Spirit Platform Dao Domain once more.

She wore a golden robe, her full head of golden hair flowing in the wind. Her bearing was even more outstanding than before.

By now, her strength was comparable to that of a Late Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal.

This time, Zhu Yin personally welcomed her into Spirit Platform Mountain.

The two still met in the pavilion beside the Primordial Lotus Pool, and the wine was still the same golden spirit wine from last time.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Yan Zi went straight to the point:

"This time, I took over the Western Sea on behalf of Ancestral Witch Roushou, managing countless immortal islands and the beings within them. I also visited the Western Sea Dragon Clan."

"I heard that Spirit Platform Mountain has a long-term wine partnership with them, so this time, on behalf of Ancestral Witch Roushou, I also wish to secure similar cooperation for the Golden Witch Tribe."

"Your spirit wine has a distinctive character. Last time, you should also have tasted the differences in our Witch Wine. The two wines each have their strengths and can complement one another."

"Ancestral Witch Roushou hopes that every ten thousand years, he can trade with you for five thousand jars of spirit wine suitable for the divine witches of the Witch Clan to drink."

"The method of exchange can remain the same as last time: primordial spirit fruits, primordial spirit treasures, or our Witch Wine. You may choose."

"Additionally, Ancestral Witch Roushou is willing to give you the brewing insights of our Golden Witch Tribe, including techniques at the Great Principle level."

"If you can brew spirit wine suitable for our Great Shamans in the future, we will conduct higher-level trades with you. When that time comes, even top-grade spirit fruits and spiritual treasures will not be a problem."

"What do you think?"

Silence fell over the pavilion.

Zhu Yin watched the lotus leaves in the pond sway with the wind, but inwardly, he was already bursting with joy.

This trade was exactly what he wanted, and after little hesitation, he agreed.

Thus, the two drank and spoke freely together.

After the wine, Zhu Yin even took her around Spirit Platform Mountain and exchanged moves with her.

Because spiritual energy was scarce and treasures few in the Western Lands, those there often had to rely on their own cultivation if they wished to grow stronger.

The lineage of Mount Sumeru therefore placed great importance on strengthening the body, Primordial Spirit, and divine abilities, mastering many methods for body refinement and divine abilities.

Influenced by memories of his former life, Zhu Yin had always cultivated both the Dao and the body. He had even created the Great Freedom Divine Ability, which combined the two, so his physical combat strength was not lacking either.

Even though Yan Zi's body was exceptionally powerful, she still needed three hundred years to barely secure victory.

Both gained much from it... Zhu Yin learned many practical combat techniques, while Yan Zi was also inspired and saw a new path for physical divine abilities.

Afterward, they continued comprehending laws together and discussed them for a full five hundred years before Yan Zi finally took her leave.