Shi Teng sized up the Suanni's body, a wicked grin creeping onto his lips.
If he could trick this fellow into coming to Stone Village, the village would gain another powerful ally. He might even swindle the Suanni Precious Technique out of him.
With a slight stir of his will, Shi Teng took a bottle of Wuliangye from his Inventory.
He opened the cap, and the fragrance of liquor immediately filled the air. Wuliangye was even richer and more aromatic than Moutai.
"Sniff, sniff!"
Catching the fragrance wafting through the air, the Suanni could not help sniffing lightly.
Then his gaze settled on Shi Teng's hand.
"W-what is that? It smells wonderful!"
Shi Teng spoke heartily. "You may be a beast and I a human, but our meeting is still a kind of fate. I have a bottle of fine liquor here. Consider it my thanks for helping me cultivate the Scarlet Emperor Fire Emperor Qi to minor perfection!"
"Liquor? Liquor from the Mystic Yellow Domain?"
Upon hearing that it was liquor, the Suanni nearly drooled.
"Quick, let me have a taste!"
The Suanni took the Wuliangye from Shi Teng and immediately tried a mouthful, his face filling with bliss.
"Ah! It's been so long since I last felt this way. In the past, the Yellow Springs Great Emperor broke through the planes and descended upon the Mystic Yellow Domain. When he returned, he brought back plenty of liquor from there. I was fortunate enough to taste some.
"Later, he even drained the Yellow Springs River to forge an unrivaled treasure, the Yellow Springs Diagram. Inside it was an endless supply of Yellow Springs liquor!"
Shi Teng immediately pressed him. "Then where is the Yellow Springs Diagram now?"
The Suanni shook his head lightly. "It fell along with the Yellow Springs Great Emperor when he perished. By now, it's probably lying in some corner of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
"Or perhaps some mighty expert has already claimed it."
"Oh!"
The Suanni took another sip, utter intoxication spreading across his face. "Boy, barriers separate the planes. With your little bit of cultivation, you couldn't possibly break through them. How do you have liquor from the Mystic Yellow Domain?"
Shi Teng chuckled. "Our Shi Clan happened to master a Brewing Secret Method preserved in ancient texts. Naturally, we have liquor to drink-as much as we want!"
A gleam flashed across the Suanni's face. "Didn't you just ask whether I knew any tricks for quickly cultivating the Five Emperors Great Demon Divine Ability? Having followed the Yellow Springs Great Emperor for so long, I really do have some insights.
"Why not trade your liquor for them? I can tell you how to quickly cultivate the White Emperor Gold Sovereign Slash, the Black Emperor Water Sovereign Fist, and the Yellow Emperor Earth Sovereign Way!"
"No deal. I don't feel like learning them anymore!"
A fierce look appeared on the Suanni's face. "Boy, don't spurn a favor! It's your honor to supply me with liquor!"
"Honor, my ass! Why should I supply you with liquor? It's not as though I've stuffed myself so full I have nothing better to do!"
"I just helped you cultivate the Scarlet Emperor Fire Emperor Qi to minor perfection," the Suanni continued.
"And I just saved your dog's life!"
"Hmm?"
Seeing the Suanni's savage glare, Shi Teng hurriedly corrected himself. "I just saved your life!"
The Suanni snorted repeatedly, then licked his lips, unwilling to waste even a drop of liquor. To think he had lived for over ten thousand years and still could not outtalk a human brat.
Clearly, speaking really was an art.
After a pause, the Suanni spoke again. "Tell me, then. What would it take for you to supply me with liquor?"
Delight appeared on Shi Teng's face. "How about you give me the Suanni Precious Technique, and I give you five bottles of Wuliangye?"
The Suanni Precious Technique!
That was the Suanni's bread and butter. How could he possibly give it to someone else?
A fierce look immediately appeared on his face, and streaks of purple lightning flickered around his body, making Shi Teng blanch.
He was terrified that this beast would turn on him without mercy.
"Fine. Deal!"
Holy shit! Never in his wildest dreams had Shi Teng imagined that this fellow would agree without even thinking.
Was this liquor really that good?
As a Treasure Bone radiating lightning landed in his hand, Shi Teng's heart trembled again.
In ancient times, Liyang had been sold for a bowl of dumplings.
Today, five bottles of Wuliangye bought the Suanni Precious Technique!
It was a surefire profit either way, so Shi Teng handed the Suanni five bottles of Wuliangye without the slightest hesitation.
Unexpectedly, this fellow could really hold his liquor. He drained all five bottles of Wuliangye in one go.
His face flushed with drink, his eyes blinked open and shut, and even his steps swayed from side to side.
Every so often, he let out a low growl. "Fine liquor!"
Shi Teng began coaxing him again. "Since you like drinking so much, why not come back to Stone Village with me? You can drink as much as you want.
"Besides, our Stone Village is full of spiritual energy and very peaceful. You'll be able to improve your cultivation quickly there too!"
The Suanni considered it for a moment, then nodded slightly.
Above all, he believed that Shi Teng meant him no harm.
Shi Teng leaped onto the Suanni's back and retraced their route. Uncle Lin Hu had been waiting so long that he must already have been getting anxious.
From far away, he heard the sounds of battle coming from the forest.
"Kill them! Don't leave a single one alive! Once we finish these fellows off, we'll storm Stone Village and seize its resources!"
"Kill!"
Dozens of young men from Bei Village had surrounded Shi Linhu and the others.
At Bei Feng's command, dozens of arrows immediately shot toward Shi Linhu's group.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The arrows tore through the air with sharp, piercing whistles.
Shi Linhu was leading a dozen or so men in a desperate defense. Several arrows were already embedded in his chest, and blood had stained his armor red.
"Despicable! Once our Little Teng comes back, he won't spare you!"
Bei Feng burst into loud laughter.
Shi Linhu seemed to sense that something was wrong and immediately shouted, "Where's Little Teng? Why hasn't he come back yet?"
Bei Feng sneered. "Sorry, but he won't be coming back.
"By now, he's probably already in the Suanni's belly. He must be just about ready to get shat out!"
The Suanni?
Shi Linhu's expression changed drastically. "Boy, what did you say?"
Bei Feng continued, "That brat really was quite formidable. Too bad he was such an idiot. Tell him not to be a human next time. He should be a pig instead!"
"Despicable! It's all my fault for not stopping him!"
Savage light blazed from Shi Linhu's eyes as he swung his enormous axe straight at Bei Feng.
Several arrows pierced Shi Linhu's body, leaving it riddled with holes.
But Shi Linhu did not pause in the slightest. His enormous axe still cleaved fiercely down toward Bei Feng, intent on avenging Shi Teng.
Seizing his opening, Bei Feng immediately fired three repeating-crossbow bolts at Shi Linhu, piercing straight through his body.
Seeing this, Shi Feijiao immediately rushed over, only to be struck by several more arrows in an instant.
Shi Feijiao shielded Shi Linhu with his body and said in a low voice, "Looks like we really are done for this time. If we die, we die. But Little Teng was only in his teens. Damn Bei Village!"
Bei Feng raised his repeating crossbow and aimed it at Shi Feijiao. "Then die!"
Just as he was about to fire, a fist came hurtling toward him.
Bei Feng had barely reacted when his entire body went flying. He rolled across the ground several times before finally coming to a halt.
Countless arrows shot toward Shi Teng once more.
But Shi Teng paid them no heed. The arrows struck his body and bounced straight off.
Looking at the grievously wounded people of Stone Village, Shi Teng's eyes blazed with savage light. "Die! I want every last one of you dead!"
Before you continue