The Thunder Pool.
After Xu Youxia's punch scattered the clouds across the sky, nothing remained to block the heavens.
The Great Sun poured down, gilding all of Heart-of-the-Lake Island in a thick layer of gold.
The courtyard was steeped in its warm glow.
The lingering effects of the Nine-Yang Lifebuilding Brew still surged through Ji Yuan's body, its scorching power slowly settling deep within his meridians.
Ji Yuan felt the extra stretch of life inside him, but his expression barely changed. He merely lifted the spirit wine Bai Zhan had just poured and took another sip.
Fifty years of life might have been a heaven-defying opportunity others could never obtain even if they gave everything they had. To him, it truly was nothing much.
Just an ounce or two of spirit wine.
In another two years, the Wine Cellar would produce more Nine-Yang Lifebuilding Brew. He could have another drink then.
Partridge Whistle took his tobacco pipe from his mouth. The embers in its bowl flickered.
He turned his head and swept his keen old eyes over Ji Yuan, then suddenly asked, "You've cultivated a Primordial Spirit?"
He asked casually, but the courtyard fell silent as soon as the words left his mouth.
Bai Zhan had been pouring wine for Xu Youxia. His hand shook, and the spout struck the rim of the cup with a clear ding.
He whipped his head around, looking as though he had heard something impossible.
Xu Youxia's wine bowl stopped halfway to his lips. Eyes wide, he looked Ji Yuan up and down as if Ji Yuan were some rare curiosity.
Ji Yuan set down his chopsticks and nodded. "Nothing gets past you, Master."
Partridge Whistle stroked the few sparse hairs of his goatee. His eyes flashed, and his smile held undisguised approval.
"Not