Chapter 543: Azure Flame Wine

“Fellow Daoist, please take a seat!” The Wind Splitter Beast casually settled into a chair and beckoned to Han Li.

Without a word, Han Li complied, sitting opposite the demonic cultivator.

“Forgive my manners. I haven’t yet asked for your esteemed name. I am Feng Xi,” the Wind Splitter Beast said, narrowing his eyes slightly as he spoke gently.

“My surname is Li,” Han Li replied after a moment’s hesitation, his words measured.

“Ah, so it’s Fellow Daoist Li. You must have some questions in your heart, right? Truth be told, if any other human cultivator were to appear before me, even though I don’t belong to the sea tribes, nine times out of ten I would strike them down with a single claw. There has never been any harmony between humans and us demonic cultivators,” Feng Xi remarked, touching the silver crown on his head with a faint, ambiguous smile.

“Does that mean this junior holds some special significance in Senior Feng’s eyes?” Han Li felt a chill but forced a smile as he asked.

“At only mid Core Formation stage, you dared to venture deep into these waters. You must rely on some remarkable art of qi concealment!” Feng Xi’s eyes flashed with a green light as he spoke slowly.

“Qi concealment art?” Han Li was taken aback, suddenly recalling the unnamed incantation from that beast skin book.

“Indeed. Your qi concealment technique seems somewhat familiar to me; I’ve seen it used by an old acquaintance. What’s strange is that this technique should have been a secret art of that friend. How is it that a human cultivator like you can perform it?” Feng Xi asked with a peculiar expression.

Naturally, Han Li wouldn’t easily bring up the matter of the beast skin book. Unsure how to respond, he fell silent.

Seeing Han Li’s expression, Feng Xi leaned back slightly and chuckled softly.

“There’s no need to worry, Fellow Daoist. That old friend of mine has been dead for many years. I don’t mean to press you for an explanation; I’m merely curious about a human using a secret art of our demon tribe. The main reason I haven’t attacked you is because you practice an extremely pure wood attribute technique. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be sitting here alive,” Feng Xi said nonchalantly.

The reason for his restraint was actually due to the nature of Han Li’s cultivation technique. Hearing this, Han Li was greatly surprised, his face filled with astonishment.

Observing Han Li’s shocked expression, Feng Xi said nothing. Instead, he flipped his hands, and with a flash of white light, an ancient golden pot appeared in one palm while an exquisite white jade cup materialized in the other.

He then lifted the pot and poured a vividly green liquid into the jade cup. An rich, mellow aroma of wine instantly filled the entire hall.

The humanoid demon beast took a deep breath, a look of intoxication appearing on his face. Then, with a light flick of his finger, the jade cup slid smoothly across to Han Li.

“Come, Fellow Daoist Li, try this Green Flame Wine I brewed myself. It’s a true spirit wine that takes over a hundred years to ferment a single jar. It offers a slight benefit to one’s cultivation. Perhaps you might even use this opportunity to break through your current bottleneck!” Feng Xi said, gazing intently at Han Li with profound meaning.

Hearing this, Han Li was first startled. He looked down at the liquid in the cup, feeling a surge of apprehension. That the other could see at a glance that his cultivation was stuck at a bottleneck demonstrated remarkable power. However, he was skeptical that this wine could help him break through.

He had consumed countless pills to advance his cultivation; if medicinal power alone could break through bottlenecks, he would have long mastered the ninth layer of the Green Origin Sword Art instead of remaining at his current stage. Moreover, without knowing the other’s true intentions, how could he dare to drink this wine casually?

As these thoughts raced through his mind, hesitation showed on Han Li’s face.

A cold light flashed in the Wind Splitter Beast’s eyes as if he had discerned Han Li’s thoughts. His expression suddenly darkened. “What? Afraid I’ve tampered with the wine? Don’t forget, if I truly wanted your life, it would take but a snap of my fingers!” Feng Xi said coldly.

“Senior speaks rightly. But this junior would still like to understand the real reason for sparing my life. Otherwise, I’d prefer to remain cautious,” Han Li replied, his face paling slightly as he glanced at the cup before mustering his courage to speak.

The other’s intention to make him drink this wine was becoming increasingly obvious, heightening Han Li’s suspicions.

Feng Xi seemed somewhat surprised, his expression immediately turning icy as a sinister aura faintly emanated from him.

Han Li’s heart sank. He instantly wrapped his true essence around the Dry Blue Ice Pearl in his abdomen, watching the other cautiously without saying a word.

After a long while, Feng Xi frowned, his expression softening again.

“It seems without speaking plainly, Fellow Daoist Li truly misunderstands my good intentions,” Feng Xi said solemnly after a moment’s contemplation.

“This Green Flame Wine is not only troublesome to refine, taking a century to brew, but it also requires a shaped demon core as its main ingredient. Moreover, only our Wind Splitter Beast tribe has the method to brew it. Other demon cultivators, even with the recipe, cannot produce this wine due to innate limitations. For me, this wine is merely a indulgence for the palate, but for a Core Formation cultivator like you, drinking it for the first time can greatly stimulate your true essence, potentially breaking through your cultivation bottleneck. Of course, the reason I’m offering such a precious thing to you, Fellow Daoist Li, is primarily for my own benefit. I need to borrow your wood attribute technique for an important matter. But mid Core Formation cultivation is truly too low. Actually, even an ordinary late Core Formation cultivator would still fall short for my purposes. However, your technique is extraordinary, with depth of magic power far surpassing others of your level. Thus, you might barely be of help. Naturally, if you insist on not drinking this wine, you should be well aware of the consequences!”

Knowing that without a full explanation the other wouldn’t comply obediently, Feng Xi straightforwardly laid out his terms.

Hearing this, Han Li’s expression changed several times. After a moment, he asked hoarsely, “If I drink this wine and still fail to break through the bottleneck?”

“Heh! Then Fellow Daoist Li would be of no use to me. And since my Green Flame Wine isn’t easily brewed, I’ll have to compensate by taking your life!” Feng Xi sneered, stating calmly.

Though Han Li had anticipated this outcome, hearing it still made his face twitch.

“Fine, I’ll drink it!” After only a brief moment of consideration, Han Li’s uncertain expression vanished as he took a deep breath and spoke.

Hearing this, Feng Xi immediately showed delight.

Han Li slapped the table with one hand. With a flash of blue light, the green liquid in the cup automatically transformed into a stream and flew into his open mouth.

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

“Good, I knew Fellow Daoist Li would make a wise choice. Follow me, I’ve already prepared a quiet room,” Feng Xi said with a satisfied expression, then stood up and headed towards a side door.

Without another word, Han Li followed with a calm demeanor.

Led by the demonic cultivator, Han Li turned several corners before arriving before a fiery red stone wall.

Upon closer inspection, Han Li was surprised to discover that this glowing red wall was actually carved from an enormous coral reef. Just as he was puzzling over this, Feng Xi pressed a hand against the coral wall. With a flash of white light, an opening about three meters wide automatically appeared.

“Refine the wine in this chamber. By my estimate, it should take at most half a year for you to achieve success. I will naturally lift the restrictions to let you out when the time comes,” Feng Xi said impassively, pointing towards the opening.

Han Li glanced inside, then expressionlessly entered the cave. At this point, any further words would be meaningless.

The moment Han Li stepped inside, the opening behind him instantly vanished, leaving only the demonic cultivator Feng Xi outside.

Feng Xi remained standing there for a moment instead of leaving immediately, gazing at the fiery coral wall with a trace of eerie excitement on his face. After a moment, with a flash of white light, he disappeared into thin air.

Inside the coral wall, Han Li was examining this so-called quiet room.

The space was reasonably large, about thirty to forty zhang in length and width, and seven to eight zhang in height. Aside from a blue-glowing jade couch in the center, the room was completely empty.

What struck Han Li as strange were the numerous small round pits covering the chamber walls, like pockmarks, giving the place a peculiar appearance.

After staring darkly for a while, Han Li walked to the jade couch and sat cross-legged, gently closing his eyes as he slowly extended his spiritual sense outward from himself.

Moments later, his spiritual sense rebounded upon contacting the chamber walls, exactly as expected. Then, Han Li searched every corner with his spiritual sense but found no vulnerabilities to exploit.

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

After some thought, he rose from the jade couch and walked directly to one of the chamber walls. Squinting at the coral surface before him, Han Li raised a single hand, extending one finger.

Instantly, a dazzling blue sword light several inches long shot from his fingertip, flickering uncertainly.