Qing Yi sat cross-legged on the lush green grass, her ethereal beauty glowing with a rosy flush, a hint of bewilderment in her eyes—she was thoroughly intoxicated.
Her silky black hair shimmered like satin, her delicate brows arched gracefully, and her usually lively eyes now held a dreamy haze. Her plump, crimson lips parted slightly as she exhaled breath laced with the fragrance of wine, exuding a bewitching allure. Her pearly teeth gleamed like jade, radiating a soft glow.
It had to be said—this wine was beyond extraordinary. Even divine-level experts were on the verge of collapsing from its potency. Sitting close to Shi Hao, she clinked cups with him, and in the blink of an eye, they had already downed their fifth round.
Shi Hao, with an arm slung over her shoulder, could feel the warmth of her snow-white neck, the smoothness of her skin, and the intoxicating scent of orchids and musk that clung to her.
Though drunk, Qing Yi still retained her senses. The proximity between them, coupled with the way he held her neck in such an intimate manner, made her ivory-like skin tense up.
*Thud!*
She promptly smacked the wine cup against Shi Hao’s forehead, sending droplets of golden-amber liquor splashing onto both of them.
“Y-you… wasted it… this is… divine wine,” Shi Hao slurred.
Qing Yi, clad in pristine white robes, looked almost unreal in her beauty, her flawless skin so delicate it seemed it might tear at a touch. Now, droplets of wine adorned her smooth, exquisite face, the glistening liquid enhancing her already radiant complexion.
As if possessed, Shi Hao leaned in after accusing her of wastefulness and… *drank* the wine from her cheek, savoring its fragrant aroma.
The peerless Qing Yi, usually transcendent and untouchable, stiffened. Even in her drunken stupor, she jolted awake at this audacity. With a startled cry, runes burst forth from her, intending to blast Shi Hao away.
However, Shi Hao had already taken that so-called final step, cultivating a strand of immortal energy. His power was terrifying. A protective glow flickered around him, effortlessly neutralizing her attack.
Reacting instinctively, he countered—grabbing her slender wrist. His fingers glowed as he released her, dispersing the runes with a casual flick before wrapping an arm around her slender waist.
“Uh… what are you two doing?” The little rabbit, swaying drunkenly, hiccuped as she blinked at them in confusion.
Finally, the two snapped back to reality.
Qing Yi broke free, her silky hair fluttering as she twisted away, her jade-like arms glowing as she flung Shi Hao aside.
*Thud!*
Shi Hao, now somewhat sober, didn’t resist and landed squarely on Cao Yusheng.
“Oof! My formations! My grand Dao! Why is heaven striking me with tribulation? Trying to block my path?” the fatty howled.
“This wine… is strange,” Shi Hao muttered, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. He was genuinely shocked—how could it intoxicate even their divine souls?
At their level, no ordinary wine could affect them. Yet, after just a few cups, they were already in such a state.
“Hey, sis, why were you two hugging?” The little rabbit pressed, her big eyes blinking drunkenly.
“Nonsense! You saw wrong,” Qing Yi retorted, her flawless face tinged with embarrassment. A beam of light shot from her fingertip, striking Shi Hao.
“Then why are you blushing?” the rabbit persisted.
Qing Yi took a deep breath, circulating her Dao techniques to calm herself. But as she recollected the earlier incident, she couldn’t help but touch her cheek—still burning from where the wine had been… *licked off*.
“*Ahhh!*” Unable to contain herself, she let out a sharp cry, her divine grace now carrying an indignant charm.
“Sis, be ladylike! Why the screaming?” the rabbit chided innocently.
*Ladylike? Fine.* Qing Yi suppressed her urge to pummel Shi Hao, forcing herself to regain her usual serene, saintly demeanor.
“This wine is peculiar. Activating bone runes can slightly sober you up—it aids in Dao comprehension!”
This was Shi Hao’s discovery, inspired by Cao Yusheng’s state. Testing it, he found it true.
Soon, Qing Yi and the little rabbit sat cross-legged, immersing themselves in Dao enlightenment, astonished before sinking into deep meditation.
It was a surreal sensation—slightly drunk yet immersed in enlightenment, allowing them to vaguely trace the threads of the Great Dao.
Time blurred. Only when the wine’s effects faded did they awaken from their profound state.
“So weird… I want more,” the rabbit mumbled.
“Truly miraculous!” Cao Yusheng eyed the wine jar greedily.
“Feels good,” Shi Hao agreed.
Only Qing Yi remained silent, her white robes fluttering, exuding an icy, transcendent aura.
The rabbit, ever mischievous, grinned. “Oh right, sis! You never answered me—why did I see you two hugging earlier? And Shi Hao drinking wine off your face?”
Qing Yi’s saintly composure shattered. She grabbed the rabbit’s hand. “You saw wrong.”
“Nope! Absolutely not!”
“You little troublemaker!” Qing Yi flicked her forehead.
“This wine is amazing,” Shi Hao praised, glancing at Qing Yi’s cheek.
The rabbit giggled. Qing Yi shot him a murderous glare.
Cao Yusheng burst out laughing. “I feel like I missed something while meditating. Want me to divine your fortunes?”
“You can divine?” the rabbit gasped.
“Of course! My master could glimpse the heavens’ secrets, even foresee fragments of the future. As his sole disciple, I’ve got skills!” The fatty puffed his chest proudly.
He pulled out fragments of jade-like tortoise shells, each inscribed with intricate, sacred patterns.
*Clatter!*
Scattering them, he studied the results. “What nonsense is this? I was divining you two, but now there’s a third entangled?”
“Fatty, what nonsense are you spouting?” Qing Yi snapped.
“Oh, right—the main body.” He looked up. “Uh-oh. You’ve dragged her into misfortune too.”
*Whoosh!*
Cao Yusheng went flying, courtesy of Qing Yi’s strike, crashing onto a distant peak.
“My master was right—divination is dangerous. One misstep and you suffer backlash,” he grumbled.
Truthfully, he had no idea what he was doing—just tossing shells randomly. But the sacred runes had formed a pattern, which he half-understood.
Nervous, he stashed the shells—his defensive treasures—not daring to mess further.
“So fragrant!” The rabbit’s nose twitched at the aroma of roasting meat.
“Let’s eat!” Shi Hao declared.
Ahead lay a spiritual lake, its waters crystalline blue, misted with rising spiritual energy.
The Divine Striking Stone had been hard at work, preparing the dragon-headed, crane-bodied treasure, now stewing in a cauldron over mystical flames. The aroma was intoxicating.
“Ugh, I’m exhausted! This thing’s indestructible—still not fully cooked!” the stone complained.
A pair of dragon-blood crane wings roasted over a fire, golden but not yet done.
The cauldron and roasting rack both contained spatial laws—otherwise, the mountain-sized meat wouldn’t fit. Now, the wings appeared normal-sized.
“My turn!” Shi Hao stepped in, also retrieving the golden-striped white tiger, cleaning it by the lake before adding it to the cauldron.
“Dragon-Tiger Battle!” Cao Yusheng cheered.
Combining dragon and tiger in one pot—their divine essences resonated, bursting with radiant light.
Naturally, the “dragon” was stronger, its flesh brimming with divine energy. The tiger, added later, would finish cooking simultaneously.
Soon, the “Dragon-Tiger Battle” was served, alongside the golden crane wings, now gleaming with auspicious light.
Wine flowed freely as they feasted, savoring both the delicacies and their Dao insights by the serene lake.
Though meant for enlightenment, with gluttons like Shi Hao and the rabbit present, focus quickly devolved into indulgence. Even Cao Yusheng and Qing Yi got distracted.
“Hey… is that a snow-white phoenix?” The rabbit rubbed her eyes, staring across the lake.
“A divine bird, flawless and radiant—utterly perfect,” Cao Yusheng marveled.
“Is that… a true phoenix?” Qing Yi gasped.
As their focus wavered, the wine’s effects surged, making their vision hazy. Across the lake, a snowy phoenix seemed to materialize.
“Can’t be… pure-blooded phoenixes are near-extinct,” Shi Hao muttered.
But when he looked up, he froze.
There it was—a divine bird, white as jade, like the heavens’ most exquisite masterpiece. Elegant, ethereal, unmistakably a snow phoenix.
“Ghosts! I’m seeing a phoenix!” Cao Yusheng shook his head.
“Flawless and dazzling!” the rabbit squealed.
“Must be delicious,” Shi Hao blurted reflexively.
“*What?* That’s likely a *snow phoenix*!” Qing Yi glared.
“Snow phoenix? Looks familiar… I think I caught one before.” Shi Hao squinted, growing tipsier. “Though that one didn’t have golden markings on its forehead.”
“Liar!” The rabbit rolled her eyes.
Cao Yusheng scoffed.
“Can you *not*?” Qing Yi snapped, recalling the wine-licking incident with a shudder.
“I’m serious!” Shi Hao insisted, his breath reeking of alcohol. “Back when I first arrived in the upper realm, I caught a silver phoenix. Even named it—Yinzi.”
Unbeknownst to him, the snow phoenix across the lake bristled, its feathers standing on end, eyes blazing as it stared daggers at him.
Drunk, he rambled on. “In the lower realm, I had a big red bird, subdued a ‘Two-Baldie,’ even caught a black turtle called ‘Three-Black.’ Wanted to name the phoenix ‘Four-Silver,’ but it refused. So, ‘Yinzi’ it was.”
As he spoke, the stunning divine bird’s eyes nearly spat flames, its pristine feathers quivering with rage.
“Ask the Divine Striking Stone—it was there!” Shi Hao gulped another cup, growing dizzier.
The stone, mimicking a human gesture, *shrank its neck* and *bolted*.
Because it saw the snow phoenix *swooping toward them*, its wings radiant with fury.
Shi Hao was drunk—the stone wasn’t!
The phoenix landed on their shore, transforming into a breathtaking silver-haired maiden, her every step exuding innate nobility.
The Imperial Butterfly fluttered, trying to warn Shi Hao.
But he was too far gone, still boasting to the others.
“I *did* catch one like her—just no gold marks. Held her in my arms, even trimmed her feathers. *Snip-snip*—turned her into a white pigeon!”
The silver-haired beauty’s eyes could kill, yet her poise remained regal as she approached.
“You… *held* a phoenix? *Trimmed* her?” The rabbit grinned impishly.
“Yep! Gave her a full groom—wash, cut, *and* blow-dry.” Shi Hao downed another cup.
The Imperial Butterfly facepalmed, retreating.
Finally, the silver-haired maiden stood before him, her fury palpable.
“Hey… you look just like her!” Shi Hao slurred, pointing drunkenly.
He was *way* past sober.
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