"Young Master, may I ask what wine is?"
"The word 'wine' refers to the water of the hour of dusk. Dusk is the tenth of the earthly branches. It is the west, the season when rice is fully ripe. The water brewed from the grains is called wine! "
"These are the words of scriptures. I want to hear your thoughts."
"Wine is what makes people drunk. Beauties, wealth, fame and fortune in the world are all things that can make people drunk. Which of them isn't wine? "
"Young Master, may I ask what is drunkenness?"
"Dying from wine is drunkenness. Being born from wine is sobriety! Between sobriety and drunkenness, there is the meaning of life and death … "
…
The scene of the wine discussion in the Endless Sea in the past slowly emerged in Ning Fan's mind.
Is today's Wei Yu the same person as the one in the past …? If so, why are their auras and cultivation levels so different?!
The Tantai Weiyu that Ning Fan met in the past was just at the Void Fragmentation Realm. Moreover, it was just a trace of her divine sense that descended to the lower world. Now …
The Wei Yu in front of him now was actually at the peak of the fifth eternal tribulation!
She was actually a Peak Immortal King!
In the past, Ning Fan could read her thoughts with the Mind Reading Technique. Today, however, he could not do that. The Mind Reading Technique did not work on her at all …
It was not that Ning Fan's cultivation level was not high enough. Instead, it was because there was a terrifying suction force on her body that seemed to be able to devour all spirit sense and abilities that came close to her …
"The Wei Yu who talked about wine with you in the past was a Witchcraft Gu clone that I left in the Southern Heaven. The Tantai Clan of the Southern Heaven is a branch of my clan. I secretly sent my Witchcraft Gu clone out to play without the elders of the clan knowing about it. So, you must not tell anyone about this, alright?"
Tantai Weiyu took the initiative to explain as if she could see Ning Fan's confusion.
"Witchcraft Gu clone?" Ning Fan was slightly stunned.
"Yes. It's a Witchcraft Gu clone. If I don't send someone to play with me secretly, I will be bored to death. You might not be able to imagine it but I have not stepped out of my house for three million years … Luckily, you scared the elders of my clan. Then, I took this opportunity to go out and play. "
"Scared the elders of your clan?" Ning Fan was stunned.
"My clan is in the Southern Clan. Even though my clan is here, my hometown is not …" Tantai Weiyu sighed softly.
Southern Clan!
Ning Fan's eyes slightly froze. Initially, he still had a lot of doubts in his heart, but after Wei Yu mentioned the two words' Southern Clan ', he understood everything.
The reason why this woman was following him was because of the matter regarding the Southern Tribe!
If this woman was the same person as Wei Yu, then she would definitely know his background! Is this woman here to expose my identity as a cultivator of the Rain World? However, the fact that he was born in the Rain World wasn't something that couldn't be justified …
However …
Ning Fan did not know why but when he met Tantai Weiyu's cunning eyes, he actually had a strange feeling as if everything was exposed in front of her.
Furthermore, if this woman truly had ill intentions, she wouldn't be the only one here. Those Southern Race old freaks wouldn't be merciful to him.
You followed me for seven days, but you didn't show yourself. Could it be that you just wanted to scare me? Ning Fan suddenly had a strange guess.
"You can't blame me for this. Who asked you to shatter Third Grandpa's Quasi-Sage clone and scare my grandpas so much that they were afraid that the Southern Tribe would provoke a great enemy. Hehe, let me scare you as well. An ancient great cultivator? Zhao Jian … Elder Sister almost believed you. How about it? Young Master Ning has been living in fear for the past seven days … "
Tantai Weiyu put down her wine cup and smiled elegantly with her hand covering her mouth. Although she was noble and mature, she gave others a feeling that she was two-faced. It was as if chasing Ning Fan all over the starry sky was a very interesting thing …
Ning Fan was speechless.
During the past seven days, he still thought that a peerless expert had his eyes on him. Even though it was not to the extent of being on tenterhooks, he still lived extremely cautiously as if he was facing a great enemy …
However, it turned out that it was just a prank by this woman!
Could it be that this woman finds it very interesting to scare me for seven days? A two-faced world is really incomprehensible.
Another matter made Ning Fan slightly absent-minded. Tantai Weiyu addressed herself as elder sister. This form of address made Ning Fan inadvertently think of Luo You.
That woman also liked to call herself an elder sister. I wonder where that woman is now. Has she returned to Northern Heaven? After all, Northern Heaven is her hometown …
"Young Master Ning who has countless beauties, are you thinking of another woman?" Tantai Weiyu smiled meaningfully with her hand covering her mouth.
"… Mm." Ning Fan did not deny it. Then, he thought of another woman and asked. "In the past, it was your Witchcraft Gu clone that led Suqiu to ascend. Is Suqiu doing well now? Has she adapted to the life in the Purple Mansion Academy?"
This time, he was asking about Yin Suqiu.
"Junior Sister is doing very well. According to the news from my Witchcraft Gu clone, Junior Sister has already attained the Void Refinement Realm …"
Tantai Weiyu paused for a moment and continued.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. You haven't answered me. Do you want to drink the wine from my hometown?"
"The wine from my hometown …"
Ning Fan nodded and poured himself a cup. After tasting it, he was slightly stunned.
It's not wine … It's actually water!
However, it's not ordinary water …
It doesn't have any special taste and it doesn't have any spiritual power. It can't even be considered as wine. However, for some reason, Ning Fan's heart directly felt peaceful after drinking this cup of water.
Ning Fan drank the first cup. Then, he drank the second cup and the third cup. After three cups, he slowly closed his eyes. At this moment, he seemed to have forgotten the massacre that happened seven days ago. He forgot about the sea of blood that he went through in these years. He forgot about the path of bones and blades. He forgot about his cultivation base and the cultivation world …
He seemed to have regained the feeling when he was a mortal. He remembered the days when he treaded on the soil to go up the mountain to gather herbs when he was young … He remembered his hometown, Hai Ning. He remembered that there was a river there. That river seemed to have the same taste …
He seemed to have recalled Yue Country and the snow in Seven Apricot City. The wine from this water seemed to be the melted snow water …
No. No. This is not the real water …
Brewing water into wine is a transformation.
Brewing wine into water is a retroactive process.
This is not water. Instead, it's water brewed from wine. If you insist on calling it wine, it would be clear wine!
"Good wine."
Ning Fan slowly opened his eyes and gave a pertinent comment.
His voice was not loud but it attracted the attention of many cultivators in the tavern. These low-grade cultivators gathered in the tavern were naturally people who loved wine. As soon as they heard that it was good wine, they would naturally pay attention to it. Unfortunately, they were destined to be disappointed. When they scanned Ning Fan's cup with their spirit sense, they realized that it was not wine but water.
"Is this person stupid? He obviously drank water but he said that it's good wine. Is there something wrong with his head? This is not even wine, okay?! "
"Let's not talk about this person anymore. In my opinion, my Drunk Immortal wine brewed from the Thousand Years Cold Dew is the real good wine."
"Nonsense. Compared to my three thousand years old Jade Lady, your Drunk Immortal wine is not even worth a fart!"
"My Red Heaven and Earth …"
"My Purple Jade Nectar …"
The tavern was filled with arguments, instantly suppressing Ning Fan's previous cheers. There were even a few old drunkards who were experts in this field. They slapped the table and laughed loudly, treating Ning Fan's embarrassing incident of mistaking clear water as wine as a joke. Of course, these drunkards just casually laughed for a while and continued to drink their wine. They were too lazy to care about Ning Fan who was a novice in the Dao of Wine.
Tantai Weiyu, on the other hand, closed her eyes silently. She could not hide the shock in her heart.
Even though she let Ning Fan drink this wine, she did not expect him to understand it. After all, until today, there was no cultivator in the Eastern Heaven who could understand the magic of this clear water.
Even she herself did not understand it …
Ning Fan, however, understood it …
The image of that big brother of hers seemed to appear in front of Tantai Weiyu's eyes again. Day after day, he stood at the entrance of Tantai Ferry and looked in the direction of the Vast Expanse Path. From dawn to dusk, then to the Eternal Night, from spring to autumn, and then to midwinter …
She could not forget the lonely expression on her big brother's face when he gulped down the clear water and wine.
She could not forget the vicissitudes of his voice when he touched her little head and told her stories about the Vast Expanse Path …
"My name is Ni Fan. I'm a cultivator of the Vast Expanse Path but I'm not …"
"What I'm looking at is not the Vast Expanse Path. Instead, I'm waiting for an encounter with the butterflies. It's not the Nine Butterflies of the Vast Expanse Path but the tiny me in the past. "
"… The Vast Expanse Path is the home of the butterflies. The cultivators in this place worship the butterflies as gods because the Nine Butterflies of the Vast Expanse Path were born in this place. As for the ordinary butterflies, they are innumerable … The people of the world only know that only the Nine Butterflies of the Vast Expanse Path have ever flown out of the Vast Expanse Path. If ordinary butterflies step on the Vast Expanse Path, they will turn into ashes … Only a few people know that there was once an ordinary butterfly that flew out of the Vast Expanse Path … On that day, when the Sword Master of the Desolate Ancient Sword entered the Vast Expanse Path to cleanse his sword, an extremely daring butterfly hid inside his body …"
"… It wasn't strong and could be considered as ordinary. However, it was precisely because of this ordinariness that it caught Immortal Emperor Zi Dou's eyes. He saw a glimmer of hope within the darkness. Thus, he showed mercy and agreed to the Sword Master of the Desolate Ancient Sword and gave the butterfly a second life …"
"… When it entered the Dream Realm, it was still an ordinary butterfly. After reincarnating for many times, it was still an ordinary butterfly. Immortal Emperor Zi Dou did not help the butterfly too much as he was afraid of damaging its darkness. The only time he interfered was to link the karma between the Great Emperor of Ancient Chaos and the butterfly … Unfortunately, the hope was still too small. Even before Immortal Emperor Zi Dou died in battle, he did not have any hope for the butterfly. Instead, he had high hopes for the Ten Ancient Spirits … Unfortunately, the Ten Ancient Spirits failed to live up to Immortal Emperor Zi Dou's expectations and the trust of billions of Immortal Emperor Zi Dou …"
"… There's an old saying in our Vast Expanse Path. A single flap of a butterfly's wings is enough to change a cycle of reincarnation … Although the butterfly's origin was ordinary, it did not have the bloodline of the Ancient Era and the support of its clan's fate. If it wasn't ruthless, it would have no future. No one would have thought that the path that the butterfly chose was one that no cultivator in the True World would dare to try! If it doesn't die, it will eventually return to the Vast Expanse Path. I have to wait for it. Only then can my path be complete! "
I don't understand. I don't understand why Big Brother wants to wait for a butterfly.
I don't understand. I don't understand why Big Brother likes to drink this wine …
Tantai Weiyu could not see the benefits of this wine. She had always known that if her Big Brother likes something, it would be good … Today, she just wanted to share this wine with Ning Fan, who was her bosom friend.
However, Ning Fan knew …
"Young Master is indeed a person who understands wine. Since we have reunited today, allow me to be rude again. May I ask Young Master, what is wine?"
The first time Tantai Weiyu asked about the Dao of Wine, Ning Fan's reply was about life and death, true and false, karma and reincarnation. However, it was different this time.
The question was still the same. However, Tantai Weiyu was no longer asking about the Dao.
It's just that the wine …
She recalled everything that happened in the Vast Expanse Path. She thought of her Big Brother. She wanted to understand the reason why her Big Brother loved to drink the wine. She wanted to understand the person that she could never understand … Her eyes were filled with sadness and bitterness. However, most of them were longing.
I will never forget you even at the end of the world …
Ning Fan frowned slightly. For some reason, he could not bear to see Tantai Weiyu sad. It was the same for the last time. It was the same for this time. He was not moved by this woman. Instead, he treated her like a junior, just like how Zhao Die 'er treated him. It was a strange feeling that a senior would feel sorry for a junior. It was a strange feeling as if they had known each other for countless years.
However, Ning Fan was very sure that he had only met Tantai Weiyu twice in his life. If that was the case, the feeling of familiarity he had with her could only be explained as an illusion.
"Miss, are you asking about the wine?"
"You really know what I want to ask." Tantai Weiyu's sadness lessened slightly and she nodded.
"Miss, you let me drink the wine first. Then, you asked me this question. I, Ning Fan, am naturally able to make some guesses."
Ning Fan paused for a moment, reminiscing the taste of the wine. For some reason, he recalled the scene of the old man fishing. After pondering for a while, he continued.
"Last time, I saw life and death, true and false, karma and samsara in the wine. This time, I saw perfection …"
Ning Fan moved the wine pot and cup away. He stretched out his finger and used his magic power to draw a circle on the table. The circle glowed faintly.
"When I draw the next circle, there must be a starting point. And the starting point of the circle must be the ending point of the circle. This is perfection."
"From water to wine, what I seek is sublimation. From wine back to water, it is a trace. This trace is exactly walking out from the starting point. After circling around the circle, it will return to the starting point. Even though it is still at the starting point, the circle has already been formed. Therefore, this wine can no longer be considered as water. Because it has already reached perfection, it is naturally extraordinary. "
"Life and death are a circle. From life to death, from death to life, and from death to life, this cycle forms a circle."
"True and false are perfection. From seeing what is true and what is not, to seeing what is true and what is true and what is true. Only after completing this circle can the Dao of True and Void be perfected."
"Karma and karma are similarly perfection. Today, people fish while others fish me. The cycle of karma is also like a circle. "
"Look at the cultivation planets. Why are they round? Look at the sun and the moon. Why are they round? Look at the human eyes. Why are they round? Look at the vast starry sky. Are there no circles … All the living beings in this world are pursuing perfection. The edges of a cobblestone will be polished by the tides. The will of a young man will be polished by the Dao of the world. This circle is the path recognized by Heaven. It is the final destination of every living being in this world. However, there are also exceptions … "
"In this world, there is also a type of cultivator who will not polish off his edges. Heaven's rebuke is gentle but he insists on showing it to be tough! Heaven's rebuke is round but he wants to go against it! It was the same as walking back to the end from the starting point. However … he would rather knock his head until it bled in the Reincarnation Cycle in order to preserve his edge and reveal his edge. It was not that he could not back down, it was just that he could not compromise. That was because his edge was his Dao. It was something even more important than his life. There is an ancient saying that the sky is round and the earth is square. The people of this world always pursue perfection but they have forgotten that there is still a path called 'square' … "
The sky is round and the earth is square … Big Brother seemed to have said something similar in the past …
Tantai Weiyu stared at Ning Fan blankly. For a moment, she actually had an illusion. It was as if she had returned to the past countless years. It was as if she had returned to the Vast Expanse Path, to Tantai Du and to the days and nights where the rain had yet to fall.
She recalled that day when Big Brother Ni Fan stood at the entrance of the road and let out a long sigh. He said that this Qingshui Wine was the best wine to drink when one was homesick.
However, it was not the best wine in the underground world …
On that day, she had promised her big brother that she would brew the best wine in the underground world. However, she only made her big brother laugh.
"Young Master Ning, do you think this Qingshui Wine is worthy of the title of the best wine in the world?" Tantai Weiyu suddenly asked.
"The best wine in the world … When I drink this wine, I actually feel like I have returned home. It is like I have returned to my youth. This wine is worthy of being called the best wine in the world." Ning Fan answered.
"Then Young Master Ning, do you think this wine is worthy of being called the best wine in the underground world …?"
"The best wine in the underground world?"
Ning Fan was stunned. It was his first time hearing such a term.
However, when he thought about it, it was not surprising. If there was a world, there would also be an underground world. What was wrong with that? The world was Yang while the underground world was Yin. Roundness was recognized by the heavens. This Qingshui Wine had a perfect wine intent. It was indeed worthy of being called the best wine in the world. However, if it wants to be called the best wine in the underground world, it cannot be round. It must be spicy and not plain …
"This wine is not worthy of being called the best wine in the underground world." Ning Fan answered.
"If Young Master wants to brew the best wine in the underground world, how do you plan to do it …?" Tantai Weiyu continued to ask.
At this moment, she actually felt a little expectant. If Ning Fan knows how to brew it, will she be able to fulfill her promise to her big brother in the past and brew this wine?
Even if … her big brother is no longer around …
"If I brew it …" Ning Fan thought of his father and the scene where his father used his blood to brew the wine in the past. He could not forget that spicy feeling until now.
"If you really want me to brew the best wine in the underground world, I will still brew it using the perfect method. However, I will add the blood and bones that I have killed along the way into the wine and use them as the edge of the wine. Only by using the blood and bones to brew the wine can one be drunk with flesh and blood. Then, it will be worthy of the title of the best wine in the underground world! "
The wine of the Persistent Cultivator should be spicy in the first place. It should walk on the path of righteousness!
If roundness is Yang, righteousness is Yin and it is the ultimate Yin …
Even though they were talking about wine, Ning Fan seemed to have gained a great understanding. It was as if he had recognized his own path at this moment.
The Heaven Exterminates the Persistent Cultivator. This path is blocked … It means that this path has always existed but it has already been blocked.
"This word 'righteousness' … Could it be the path of the Persistent Cultivator that the Heaven wants to block?!"
Other people cultivate the Heaven Path while the Persistent Cultivator cultivates … Could it be the Earth Path?!
As soon as this thought appeared, the way Ning Fan looked at the mountains and rivers of the Southern Dipper Star changed! (To be continued.)
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