Crackle—!
The bonfire popped, sending sparks into the air, dancing alongside the fireflies in the quiet forest.
The fragrance of wine mingled with the rich aroma of roasted meat.
Now that the earlier melancholy had faded…
The atmosphere had unknowingly turned warm and almost… intimate.
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her flushed face.
Li Zhexian shook the now nearly empty wine gourd with a look of regret.
"Good wine… but not enough of it."
His Clear Spring Wine Gourd held a liquor both pure and rich in flavor.
But having a new taste all of a sudden—especially one with floral undertones—was quite delightful too.
"Huh?"
As the floral-scented fruit wine lingered on his tongue, a flash of inspiration struck Li Zhexian.
"Zhuqing-jie, give me my wine back."
Zhu Zhuqing blinked at his sudden excitement but handed over the Clear Spring Wine Gourd.
Li Zhexian now held one gourd in each hand—his own and Zhu Zhuqing's.
"What if…"
"I pour someone else's wine into my gourd—what would happen?"
"Could the Wine Martial Soul absorb the strengths of other brews, becoming even more refined?"
His eyes gleamed.
According to his plan, the Wine Martial Soul would require a Spirit Ring of at least ten-thousand-year age to properly develop.
Only then could he fully awaken its potential.
But that approach was too slow.
His sword and wine were meant to complement each other.
Yet the Qinglian Sword was evolving too quickly—at this rate, the Wine Martial Soul would be left behind.
So, he thought: Could he enhance it without consuming its future potential?
"Worth a try."
Li Zhexian tilted Zhu Zhuqing's wine into the Clear Spring Wine Gourd.
And to his delight—and Zhu Zhuqing's astonishment—
The surface of the gourd began to emit a faint glow.
Where once the gourd bore only the symbol of a clear spring, new engravings of fruits began to take shape, etched into its surface.
Whoosh—
A white mist spilled from the gourd's mouth.
A rich, mellow aroma of wine drifted into the air.
Li Zhexian licked his lips.
Just the scent alone had him salivating.
Without hesitation—
He took a big gulp.
The amber-colored wine flowed down his throat. First came the delicate sweetness of apricot on the tip of his tongue, followed by a smooth, warm current that surged into his chest, unleashing a wave of energy through his body.
Buzz—!
Buzz—!
He hadn't summoned the Qinglian Sword, yet deep within his spirit sea, it trembled in response. A faint sword-shaped mark pulsed between his brows.
After absorbing the Spirit Ring from the Three-Tailed Sword Scorpion King, his Spirit Power had reached the peak of Level 21.
Now, with just this one drink—
He broke through the bottleneck and advanced to Level 22.
"Hahhh—!"
Li Zhexian exhaled deeply.
Even his breath stirred the campfire, causing it to flare with greater intensity.
"Good wine… truly good wine!"
Zhu Zhuqing stared at him, her eyes filled with wonder.
"You… your Spirit Power increased?!"
"Mm."
Li Zhexian tilted his head back and took another gulp of wine.
A look of deep satisfaction appeared on his handsome face—but then he sighed.
"The fusion of fruit and aroma is fantastic… but what a shame… there's no floral note."
Zhu Zhuqing: "…"
Can we stop with the floral note already?!
Looking at him, Zhu Zhuqing felt her own thirst awaken.
She licked her lips, a little embarrassed.
"Li Zhexian… could I have a sip too?"
"Here."
He handed her the gourd.
Zhu Zhuqing eagerly took a drink.
"Mmm…"
The wine's fire spread through her body, and her cheeks instantly turned red. Her eyes grew misty, her gaze slightly dazed.
"So… good…"
"Hahahahaha!"
Li Zhexian burst into loud laughter.
The fusion of the two wines had doubled the potency.
Even a wine fanatic like him felt the heat rising in his blood.
It was clear—
As more brews were added to the gourd, his Wine Martial Soul would only grow stronger.
Eventually, even he would succumb to intoxication.
"To wield the sword while drunk—now that's living!"
Li Zhexian took another gulp of wine, then tore into the roasted meat beside him.
Across the fire, Zhu Zhuqing watched him with glazed, happy eyes.
Her usual coldness had melted completely under the wine's warmth.
Suddenly—
As if remembering something, she straightened nervously.
"Li Zhexian… I'm going to enroll in a school that's said to accept only 'monsters'."
"And I don't think anyone fits that title more than you."
"Will you come with me?"
Li Zhexian paused, wine still in hand—then shook his head without hesitation.
"No thanks."
"I'm not cut out for school."
He knew exactly where she meant:
Shrek Academy.
And his refusal wasn't just about disliking discipline—
More importantly, he knew…
Shrek Academy couldn't make him stronger.
He had his own blueprint for Spirit Ring progression.
As for that so-called Grandmaster?
He didn't think much of him at all.
And if there was another reason…
Maybe he just didn't want to deal with Ning Rongrong.
To Li Zhexian, even a roasted rabbit was more appealing than her.
She was just a stranger—nothing more.
Zhu Zhuqing had already suspected his answer.
But when he said it aloud, a shadow still passed over her eyes.
She hesitated, then asked:
"Then… Li Zhexian…"
"Where will you go? What do you plan to do?"
Li Zhexian chewed on a piece of roasted rabbit and tilted his head up to gaze at the moon.
"Me?"
"I'm going to drink the finest wines across the continent—
challenge the strongest swordsmen—"
He raised the gourd high and drank deeply.
Wine streamed freely from the corners of his mouth, glinting in the firelight.
The youth looked wild, fierce, and untamed.
"I'll gather every fine brew under the heavens in my gourd—
Three thousand vintages across the realm, all flowing into my cup!"
"And I'll forge my own swordsmanship—
Kill with a stroke in ten steps, vanish without a trace for a thousand miles!"
That's right!
This was Li Zhexian's dream—
A life of sword and wine.
He had finally found a way to empower his Wine Martial Soul.
But he also realized…
His swordsmanship was far from complete.
All he had was "Greenblade Severance".
His techniques were too few.
"Three Swords of Elegance" was a buff-type ability—not an attack.
He refused to rely solely on Spirit Power and Spirit Abilities.
That was the path of mediocrity.
Looking across the continent—
All true powerhouses had more than just Spirit Rings.
Like Tang San and his hidden weapons from a previous life.
Or the Clear Sky School's Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique.
And even Chen Xin, the continent's most renowned swordsman, had his own sword style.
Marvelous! Inspiring!
But Li Zhexian?
He wouldn't be outdone.
He would create a sword technique of his own!
Zhu Zhuqing sat stunned, watching Li Zhexian drink beneath the moonlight.
Her heart thudded uncontrollably in her chest.
How strange…
The wine should've worn off by now—
But she felt like she was even more drunk than before.
"Li Zhexian…"
She suddenly spoke up.
"Hm?"
He looked toward her.
"Don't forget what you said. If I ever come looking for you—you'll come help me."
"Of course."