Requesting battle

"This wine is brewed from rare treasures of nature, and it has greatly benefited me. It is an even more potent medicine for you, yet you only feel slightly intoxicated after drinking it!"

Hongku's use of the Nine Treasures Wine reduced the effects of vomiting, although it didn't reach his ideal level, it was still only a slight improvement over his previous condition.

He regretted being too wary of Zhang Xuezhou, which led him to share half the drinks.

However, seeing that the Jiuzhen Wine had no effect on Zhang Xuezhou, his doubts, which had been dispelled, resurfaced.

Hongku worried that Zhang Xuezhou might have hidden poison in the wine, but he never expected that Zhang Xuezhou would not benefit from drinking the Nine Treasures Wine.

Looking at Zhang Xuezhou's rosy face, Hongku felt that Zhang Xuezhou's aura had not changed at all, and his magical Law Power lacked any unusual fluctuations.

It was as if the other person had consumed ordinary alcohol, or even just water.

This unusual situation aroused Hongku's suspicions, and he became doubtful about the effects of the Nine Treasures Wine again.

"Tell me honestly, did you drink all the wine in this bottle and then fill it with water?" Hongku.

Hongku's doubts are understandable, since he has only ever drunk the semi-finished product of wine lees and has never drunk the normal Nine Treasures Wine. Therefore, Hongku does not have the ability to distinguish between them.

He glanced at the trace of wine left in the glass, feeling both amazed by the effects of the Nine Treasures Wine and suspicious that Zhang Xuezhou had already drunk it, rendering any subsequent diluted wine ineffective against Zhang Xuezhou.

"I swear to God I did not put water into the bottle," Zhang Xuezhou said, raising his hand.

"Then why hasn't your body changed at all!"

Hongku stared at Zhang Xuezhou, but couldn't detect any change in Zhang Xuezhou's aura.

Although Zhang Xuezhou's cultivation level was higher than before, almost reaching the same cultivation speed and level as Wu Chao when he was under his tutelage, it was still within the normal range.

If a cultivator at the True Self Realm experiences no change after consuming the Nine Treasures Wine, Hongku could tolerate it, finding the explanation plausible.

But his body has changed; it's abnormal that a cultivator at the Consciousness Creation Realm hasn't changed.

Any abnormality must involve a combination of factors.

Hongku felt that he had drunk the sealed wine, while Zhang Xuezhou had consumed the real wine beforehand.

"This brings me to a very unfortunate experience," Zhang Xuezhou sighed. "Don't tell me that drinking the Nine Treasures Wine didn't change me; even if you found me some other rare and precious heavenly materials and earthly treasures that could generate Law Power, I'd still hardly experience any change!"

I don't believe it!

"If you don't believe me, give me some heavenly materials and earthly treasures that enhance my magical Law Power!" Zhang Xuezhou shouted. "See if they have any effect after I take them!"

"What kind of circumstances could be so dire that the medication wouldn't be effective?"

Despite his rebuttals, Hongku's desire to verify the claims remained undiminished.

If Zhang Xuezhou doesn't give him an explanation, he will give Zhang Xuezhou an explanation.

He took out a green pill, blinked his eyes Hongku, and then handed it over.

"This is the Azure Condensation Pill, which can restore thirty percent of my Law Power," Hongku said. "If used on you, this pill can activate at least three times your current Law Power, but it will also cause your Law Power to overflow and continuously leak out... you..."

Before Hongku could finish speaking, Zhang Xuezhou, who was somewhat dizzy, grabbed the Bi Ning Dan and stuffed it into his mouth.

After burping out a mouthful of alcohol fumes, he swallowed the pill.

"You really have a health problem!"

If the consumption of Nine Treasures Wine lacks a comparison, then the Jade Condensation Pill is a life-saving elixir taken from Hongku's body.

This elixir can be rapidly activated in a short period of time, thereby generating a large amount of Law Power for him to squander.

Hongku well aware of the effects of Bi Ning Dan, which was why he was puzzled by the lack of effect of Bi Ning Dan on Zhang Xuezhou.

"Did you abandon your cultivation techniques and become a martial artist?"

Hongku pondered for a few seconds before asking the question.

The Jade Condensation Pill is designed to restore Law Power. However, the Qi and Blood and blood in a martial artist's body are different in nature from Law Power, so the Jade Condensation Pill will not have any restorative effect on the martial artist.

If one were to look for a reason, this would be the only one Hongku could think of.

"It's almost done," Zhang Xuezhou nodded. "I'm not seeing any effect from eating anything now, so please don't doubt whether there's something wrong with the Nine Treasures Wine. I will absolutely keep my promise to you and would never cheat you."

"Hehe!"

Hongku laugh.

Zhang Xuezhou's words sounded nice, but he was still uneasy.

Not only has he been swindled out of half of his Nine Treasures Wine, but he has also swallowed one of his life-saving pills.

Even if you don't actively try to trick him, Hongku feels he will be tricked passively anyway.

At least for now, he felt little joy at the relief of his physical symptoms; instead, he was heartbroken at the loss of half of the Nine Treasures Wine and the Jade Condensation Pill.

"You've been staying here for several days, have you been rummaging through everything?"

Having to put the matter aside, Hongku casually inquired about related matters.

"After Dharma Master Hongyi brought me here, I searched everywhere to avoid being killed by the traps and formations you set up," Zhang Xuezhou said. "Then I went to sleep!"

"Didn't you notice anything?" Hongku asked.

"I've been sleeping here for seven days, and I haven't dared to rummage through anything else," Zhang Xuezhou said helplessly. "If you don't believe me, go to the Secret Realm and ask the Lord of the Underworld; he should be able to testify!"

"Oh!"

Hongku spoke up in surprise, momentarily unable to understand why Dao Tongjun might be paying attention to Zhang Xuezhou.

But since Zhang Xuezhou can bring up Daojun as a witness, the probability of this guy causing trouble is very low.

With his doubts fading, Hongku couldn't help but feel a bit more favorably disposed towards Zhang Xuezhou for managing to travel from Liang to the Yedie River Holy Land.

This was a rare emotion for him.

The difficulty in generating this emotion cannot be blamed on either Zhang Xuezhou or Hongku. The two sides had gone through mutual killing, and it was already extremely difficult for them to resolve their differences and get along peacefully now. To evoke goodwill from them was even more difficult.

However, this goodwill was not much; at least Hongku had no immediate intention of taking out the Book of Changes, and then the two sides would work together to restore the glory of the Xiang family.

Like Zhang Xuezhou's Nine Treasures Wine, this copy of the Book of Changes was also a treasure that Hongku kept hidden away, and he would definitely not pass it on to Zhang Xuezhou and Wu Chao unless it was a critical moment.

Of course, Hongku wasn't afraid of Zhang Xuezhou rummaging through things.

The Book of Changes, as an important part of the Xiangmen tradition, was not incorporated into the inheritance jade. This was naturally because there was no fear of it being stolen. Even if Hongku showed it to Zhang Xuezhou, Zhang Xuezhou would most likely not understand it.

He studied it for decades but only learned the basics. If others could master it with just a glance, Hongku would inevitably doubt his life.

After some thought, Hongku's breathing calmed down, and he started chatting with Zhang Xuezhou about this and that.

"You never talk much unless there's something wrong. Could it be that you've gotten into trouble outside and are trying to use me as a scapegoat?"

After only a few sentences of conversation, Zhang Xuezhou's suspicions had already been aroused.

This prompted him to make a casual joke, and then he stood up.

If Hongku is alright, he will have to set off for Yanmen Pass to find Zhang Qian to take him in for a while.

"I certainly won't use you as a scapegoat," Hongku said, waving his hands repeatedly. "But if you get harmed by someone else, don't say I didn't warn you!"

Why would someone want to harm me?

"Because many people in the Sacred Land say that our master-disciple relationship is not yet over, and that we still have lingering ties," Hongku said. "Once you leave my place, others will be even more likely to believe it!"

"But it shouldn't be that bad..."

"Normally, few people target you, but things can get complicated once some people have suffered a loss. They might take their anger out on you and then use it to claim a reward from the royal family!"

Hongku pointed outside, indicating that Zhang Xuezhou's current situation was awkward, as he was wanted by the royal family of Xiong State, and it would be perfectly legitimate for him to be targeted.

"Who are these 'some people'?" Zhang Xuezhou asked, his head aching.

"If you can cooperate to some extent, perhaps you'll have a chance to find out who he is?"

Hongku did not respond directly, but instead gestured with his hand.

This made Zhang Xuezhou frown for a long time.

It wasn't until a voice from within the Sacred Land volunteered for battle that Zhang Xuezhou suddenly understood.