The Emerald Flame Wine and a Demonic Pact

Chapter 552: Stirrings Overseas, The Emerald Flame Wine

“Fellow Daoist, please, have a seat!” The Riftwind Beast settled himself grandly into a chair, then gestured for Han Li to approach.

Han Li said nothing, but obediently sat down across from the demonic cultivator.

“Forgive my impertinence. I haven’t yet asked for your honored name. I am Feng Xi.” The Riftwind Beast half-closed his eyes and asked in a gentle tone.

“My surname is Li,” Han Li replied slowly after a moment of hesitation.

“Hehe, so it’s Fellow Daoist Li. You must be feeling a bit confused, no? In truth, had any other human cultivator appeared before me, although I am not of the Sea Clans, I would still have killed them with a single claw nine times out of ten. There has never been any harmony between humans and our demonic cultivators, after all.” Feng Xi touched the silver crown on his head and spoke with a faint, unreadable smile.

“Does that mean this junior is somehow special in Senior Feng’s eyes?” Han Li’s heart turned cold, but he forced a smile and asked.

“You’re only at mid Core Formation, yet you dared to venture so deep into this place. The trick is that remarkable Qi Concealment Art of yours, isn’t it?” A flash of green light flickered in Feng Xi’s eyes as he spoke slowly.

“Qi Concealment Art?” Han Li was startled, immediately thinking of the nameless oral formula from that beast-skin book.

“Correct. Your cultivation method seems rather familiar to me. I once saw it in an old acquaintance of mine. What’s strange is that this technique should have been my old acquaintance’s secret art. How could a human cultivator like you possibly be able to execute it?” Feng Xi asked with a curious expression.

Han Li was naturally not going to casually mention the beast-skin book. Unable to think of a reply for the moment, he fell silent.

Seeing Han Li’s expression, Feng Xi leaned back slightly in his chair and chuckled.

“Don’t worry, Fellow Daoist. My old acquaintance has been dead for many years now, and I have no intention of forcing an explanation from you. I was merely curious that a human could use our demonic secret art. The main reason I didn’t strike you down is that you cultivate a supremely pure Wood-attributed technique. If not for that, you wouldn’t be sitting here alive,” Feng Xi said, unconcerned.

The reason his opponent hadn’t attacked was due to his cultivation method’s attribute. Han Li was genuinely surprised by this and showed a look of stunned bewilderment.

Feng Xi watched Han Li’s shocked expression but said nothing. Instead, he flipped both hands over. With a flash of white light, an ancient-looking golden wine flask appeared in one palm, while a delicate white jade cup materialized in the other.

Then, lifting the flask, he poured a liquid of the most vibrant emerald green into the jade cup. A rich, mellow aroma of wine instantly permeated the entire hall.

The humanoid demon beast took a deep breath, a look of intoxicated obsession crossing his face. Then, with a gentle flick of his finger, the jade cup slid smoothly and steadily across the table to land before Han Li.

“Come, Fellow Daoist Li, first try a taste of my self-brewed Emerald Flame Wine. This is a true spirit wine that takes over a hundred years to brew a single jar. It also provides a slight enhancement to one’s cultivation. Perhaps you can use this opportunity to break through your current bottleneck!” Feng Xi stared at Han Li and said with deep meaning.

Hearing this, Han Li was first startled. He lowered his head to look at the liquid in the cup, his heart filled with shock.

The fact that his opponent could even see at a glance that his cultivation was stuck at a bottleneck showed his formidable magical power.

However, Han Li didn’t quite believe that this wine could allow him to break through his bottleneck. How many pills for advancing cultivation had he consumed already? If he could have broken through by relying on the power of pills, he would have already cultivated the Azure Origin Sword Art to the ninth layer long ago. Would he have waited until now?

Furthermore, before knowing the other party’s true intentions, how could he dare to casually drink this wine?

As these thoughts raced through his mind, a look of hesitation appeared on Han Li’s face.

A flash of cold light glinted in the Riftwind Beast’s eyes, seeming to read Han Li’s thoughts. His expression suddenly darkened.

“What? Are you afraid I’ve tampered with the wine? Don’t forget, if I truly wanted your life, it would only take the snap of a finger,” Feng Xi said coldly.

“Senior’s words are true. But this junior would still like to first understand the real reason for not killing me. Otherwise, I’d rather err on the side of caution,” Han Li said, his face paling slightly. But he glanced at the cup before him and still braced himself to speak.

The other party’s intention to make him drink the wine was becoming increasingly obvious, and Han Li’s suspicion grew.

Feng Xi seemed a bit surprised. His expression then turned icy, and a faint, sinister aura began to emanate from his body.

Han Li’s heart skipped a beat. In that instant, the true essence within his body wrapped around the Dry Blue Ice Pearl in his dantian. He stared warily at his opponent, saying nothing.

After a long moment, Feng Xi’s brow furrowed slightly, and his expression eased once more.

“It seems that if I don’t tell you the truth, Fellow Daoist Li will truly misunderstand my good intentions.” After a moment of deliberation, Feng Xi spoke in a deep voice.

“This Emerald Flame Wine is not only troublesome to brew and takes a hundred years to complete, but it also requires the demon core of a Transformation-level demon beast as its main ingredient. Furthermore, only our Riftwind Beast clan has the ability to brew this wine. Even if other demonic cultivators had the recipe, they couldn’t make it due to a lack of inherent talent. For me, this wine merely satisfies a craving of the palate. But for a Core Formation cultivator like yourself, the first time you drink it, there is a high probability that it will stimulate the true essence within your body, allowing you to break through your cultivation bottleneck.”

“Of course, the reason I am taking out such a precious item for Brother Li to drink is mainly for my own benefit. I need to use your Wood-attributed technique for an important matter. However, mid Core Formation is simply too low. In truth, even a late Core Formation cultivator would be somewhat lacking for what I need. But your technique is quite extraordinary; your mana is far deeper and more profound than those of the same stage. This should be barely enough to be of help. Of course, if Fellow Daoist Li insists on not drinking this wine, you should be well aware of the consequences.”

Knowing that he wouldn’t get Han Li to cooperate willingly without a full explanation, Feng Xi simply laid it all out.

Upon hearing these words, Han Li’s expression changed several times. After a while, he asked, his voice dry.

“And if I drink this wine and still cannot break through the bottleneck?”

“Hehe! Then Brother Li will be of no use to me. Since my Emerald Flame Wine is not easy to brew, I’ll have to take your life to make up for the loss,” Feng Xi said with a cold laugh, quite frankly admitting the truth.

Though he had already guessed the outcome, Han Li’s face still twitched upon hearing these words.

“Fine, I’ll drink it!”

After only a moment’s deliberation, Han Li’s expression of uncertainty vanished. He took a deep breath and spoke.

Hearing this, Feng Xi’s face immediately showed delight.

Han Li slapped his hand on the table. With a flash of green light, the emerald liquid in the cup automatically transformed into a thin stream of water, flying into his open mouth.

Without even tasting it, the liquid went straight down his throat.

“Good. I knew Fellow Daoist Li would make the wise choice. Follow me. I have already prepared a meditation room.” Feng Xi said with a satisfied expression.

Then he stood up and walked towards a side door.

Without a word, Han Li followed, his expression calm.

Under the demonic cultivator’s lead, after a few twists and turns, they arrived before a fiery red stone wall.

Upon closer inspection, Han Li was astonished to find that this shining red wall was actually made from an enormous coral reef, cut and polished smooth.

While Han Li was puzzled, Feng Xi reached out and pressed against the coral wall. With a flash of white light, an opening about three meters wide appeared.

“Refine the medicinal power of the wine in this secret chamber. According to my estimates, you should be finished within at most half a year. I will release the restrictions and let you out then.” Feng Xi pointed at the opening and said impassively.

Han Li looked at the opening and walked in without any expression. At this point, any further words would be meaningless.

The moment Han Li stepped inside, the opening behind him vanished instantly.

Outside, only the demonic cultivator Feng Xi remained.

Feng Xi stood there for a moment, not leaving immediately. He stared at the fiery red coral wall, a strange, excited look on his face.

A moment later, with a flash of white light, he disappeared into thin air.

...

Inside the coral wall, Han Li was examining the so-called secret chamber.

The space was not small, measuring roughly a hundred meters in length and width, and about twenty meters in height.

Other than a green, glowing jade bed in the center, the room was barren.

What Han Li found somewhat strange was that the surrounding stone walls were covered in small, round pits, like chickenpox marks, which looked rather peculiar.

After scowling at the walls for a while, Han Li walked over to the jade bed, sat down cross-legged, and gently closed his eyes. At the same time, he slowly released his spiritual sense, using himself as the center.

As expected, a moment later, his spiritual sense touched the surrounding chamber walls and rebounded from all directions.

Then, Han Li used his spiritual sense to inspect every dead angle, but he found no flaw he could exploit.

Frowning, Han Li opened his eyes, a trace of cold light flashing within them.

After thinking for a moment, Han Li got down from the jade bed and walked directly to one of the chamber walls.

Staring at the coral wall before him for a while with narrowed eyes, Han Li raised a single hand and extended one finger.

Instantly, a blindingly bright azure sword light shot out from the tip of his finger, about an inch in size, flickering unsteadily.

(The author's note: It seems I can only manage this single chapter tonight. Everyone should get to bed early. Staying up late is truly unbearable. I hope you all can go to bed early and get up early, and stay healthy!)