Immortal Wine and Poisoned Wine

Night fell, and the moon hung high.

A crescent moon hung in the sky, its clear light spilling over the earth and draping it in silver.

Inside the great hall.

The High Priest's banquet had already begun, and the people of the Snake-People Tribe flocked to the hall to pray for their queen and Long Xiao.

Medusa wore a red robe, exuding an alluring, bewitching charm. She sat upright on the Throne, her face solemn, yet impossible to look away from.

The Eight Great Commanders sat on either side.

Medusa glanced at the hall's entrance out of the corner of her eye. Seeing that Long Xiao had yet to arrive, she frowned.

Didn't that fellow say he would come tonight? Why wasn't he here yet? He really had no sense of priorities.

Just then, footsteps reached everyone's ears.

Medusa's eyes lit up. She quickly looked up and saw Long Xiao dressed in a white robe with a golden sash around his waist. He looked particularly dashing, as though he had taken special care with his appearance.

So handsome!

Both Medusa and Yue Mei instinctively exclaimed inwardly the moment they saw him.

Smiling, Long Xiao strode up to the Throne and bowed to Medusa.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"You may rise." Medusa gave a light cough, deliberately keeping a stern face.

Yet she could not stop ripples from stirring in her heart.

What was that wretched Long Xiao up to? Did he really need to flatter her like this?

Medusa rose and looked at the gathered tribespeople below. "I'm sure you all know the occasion for tonight's banquet. Dispense with the formalities and enjoy your drinks while we wait for the High Priest to arrive."

"Yes!"

The Snake-People Tribe members answered in unison, then found their seats and began drinking and making merry. Strong liquor was indispensable to their tribe.

"I wish Young Master Long Xiao and Her Majesty hearts forever united, never parted even when their hair turns white."

Holding a cup of wine, Yue Mei approached Long Xiao and raised it. "Young Master Long Xiao, those rough fellows are rather shy, so I'll offer you a toast on their behalf."

He nodded. He had won the goddess of their hearts, so it was only natural that they found it hard to settle their feelings. He understood.

Long Xiao raised his cup, clinked it against Yue Mei's, and drained it in one gulp.

After toasting Long Xiao, Yue Mei handed another cup to Medusa and said with a bright smile, "Your Majesty, this toast is for you!"

Medusa raised her cup as well, clinked it against Yue Mei's, and tilted her head back to drain it. Setting the cup down, she nodded to Yue Mei.

Yue Mei was her confidante, and the person she trusted most.

Long Xiao took the opportunity to sweep his gaze over the crowd. As though he had discovered something, his eyes narrowed slightly. "So this is the backup plan you left in place? Heh."

His perception was exceptionally keen. He sensed someone watching him, but it was no concern.

"Mei'er, I have a jug of Immortal Wine here. Take it and share it with everyone as a small token of my goodwill."

As he spoke, Long Xiao took out a large jug of Immortal Wine and handed it to Yue Mei. Though the jug itself was not large, it was a magical artifact and held a considerable amount of wine.

"Immortal Wine?"

Looking at the extraordinary jug, Yue Mei's eyes instantly gleamed. She knew that anything Long Xiao produced was bound to be of the finest quality.

Just the fragrance wafting from it had loosened the bottleneck in her cultivation. To think it had such an effect-how miraculous!

She looked at Long Xiao excitedly. "Thank you, Young Master Long Xiao."

Long Xiao shook his head and smiled. "It's only a small token of goodwill. Nothing worth mentioning."

Holding the jug, Yue Mei's face shone with fervor. She bowed deeply to Long Xiao, then turned and hurried to the commanders to distribute the Immortal Wine.

Before long, a rough shout rang through the hall.

"Hahaha! I finally broke through! Good heavens, this wine is miraculous!"

The one shouting was Commander Mo Bass. The moment Long Xiao's wine reached his stomach, it had helped him advance by one star. What would happen if he drank it every day?

"Congratulations, Commander Mo Bass."

The Snake-People all saluted him.

"You're too kind, too kind! I must thank Young Master Long Xiao for generously giving us this wine. Otherwise, who knows when I would have broken through! Young Master Long Xiao, before, I had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai. From now on, I, old Mo, bow to no one but you and the queen!" Mo Bass said, looking humbly at Long Xiao.

Hearing this, Long Xiao broke into a brilliant smile. He waved a hand at Mo Bass. "Commander Mo Bass, don't say that. You deserved it. Everyone, hurry and have a taste."

Seeing this, the other commanders followed suit, draining their cups in one gulp, their faces filled with bliss.

Soon afterward, quite a few felt a stir in their cultivation, and excitement spread across their faces.

"Hahaha! From this day forward, anyone who opposes Young Master Long Xiao opposes us!"

"Congratulations to you all."

Seeing this, Medusa's face filled with gratification.

The atmosphere in the hall grew lively.

Outside the hall, the High Priest looked at Long Xiao from a distance and could not help marveling inwardly. Long Xiao truly possessed extraordinary means!

Medusa suddenly approached Long Xiao with a cup in hand. "Young Master Long Xiao, allow me to offer you a toast on behalf of my subordinates tonight."

Although those were her words, Long Xiao detected a somewhat barbed undertone.

After thinking for a moment, Long Xiao understood and immediately sent Medusa a voice transmission.

"Uh, Your Majesty, I have plenty of this stuff. You can have as much as you want. But these are external aids, after all. They can only support you. Truly powerful people must climb upward themselves, one step at a time."

"Besides, making l*ve with me every day is the best way for you to cultivate. I guarantee it's all natural and harmless, without any side effects! Hehe."

The suggestiveness in Long Xiao's tone instantly brought a blush to Medusa's lovely face.

She glared at Long Xiao. This fellow really spoke without the slightest restraint. Still, his words made enough sense that she did not know how to refute him.

"The High Priest has arrived!"

The announcement from outside the hall interrupted Medusa and Long Xiao's exchange.

Hearing it, Medusa immediately regained her composure and sat quietly on the Throne.

"Finally here?" Long Xiao's gaze sharpened slightly.

Everyone turned toward the entrance. An aged figure wearing black robes and a mask slowly entered, swaying his snake tail.

He carried a tray holding two cups of wine.

This was the Snake God Wine that Medusa and Long Xiao were to drink together.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

The High Priest approached the Throne and knelt on one knee before Medusa.

He raised the wine cups on the tray, offering them to Medusa.

"Your Majesty, Young Master Long Xiao, please drink."

Medusa looked at the cup before her, her gaze flickering.

The hall was silent now. All the Snake-People gazed enviously at Long Xiao and their queen. Once they drank this wine, their love would receive the Snake God's favor and remain unwavering until death.

Long Xiao also stared at the wine in the cup. Its lurid green color and churning bubbles looked exceedingly unnatural.

This was Snake God Wine?

Could it be any more blatant?

He glanced at Medusa beside him and found her expression a little strange as well, as though she was conflicted.

This was her first time seeing Snake God Wine, too. Its disgusting green appearance made it seem difficult to swallow.

"Your Majesty, while the wine is still warm, please drink it, both of you."

The High Priest urged them.

"Once you drink this cup of Snake God Wine, you and Young Master Long Xiao will receive the Snake God's blessing!"

Long Xiao kept staring at the wine cup. After a brief examination, he frowned.

This wine was poisoned!

It was Bewildering Soul Poison!

It could plunge people into hallucinations and rob them of their sense of self!