Cui Hao gently swirled the small jar of Chunnuan in his hand, a faint smile on his lips. Though Zheng Zhaoling's expression remained unchanged, the fact that she didn't reply immediately proved she hadn't expected him to actually bring Chunnuan.
The matters on the Southern Zhanbu Continent weren't entirely over, but one day — no one knew what the Second Senior Brother said to the Eldest Senior Sister — the Eldest Senior Sister made her decision. Except for the Fourth Senior Sister, who remained behind with Li Junzi, everyone else was to withdraw back to Tianyan Sect.
Though the Fourth Senior Sister was still on the Southern Zhanbu Continent, it was said a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator was watching over her.
Cui Hao didn't know the specifics, because he hadn't even gone back to Tianyan Sect. Halfway there, he'd been summoned by an urgent jade token from the Third Senior Sister — sent straight to Yunmeng Pavilion.
The message said there was a Celestial Demon situation in the Northern Julu Continent, and he was to contact Yunmeng Pavilion first. After all, he knew their current core disciple, Zheng Zhaoling — could he try to build some rapport?
Though Yunmeng Pavilion's outward attitude was extremely supportive, words were often prettier than deeds.
If there was personal rapport to add, it would certainly help.
The reason was perfectly logical, but Cui Hao couldn't shake the feeling that the Third Senior Sister was getting revenge for him exposing her secret plots on the Southern Zhanbu Continent.
Still, complaints were complaints — the work had to get done.
Once this was finished, he'd go find the Third Senior Sister and… properly apologize.
Cui Hao understood that you could push anyone's buttons except the Third Senior Sister's — her shoes pinched too hard, easy to go permanently crippled.
"Yunmeng Liulu must be drunk fresh." Zheng Zhaoling finally spoke. "Since I promised Fellow Daoist Cui, naturally I'll treat you."
Cui Hao's lips curved: "Chunnuan first, or Yunmeng Liulu?"
Zheng Zhaoling regarded him, her tone indifferent:
"Let's drink the Yunmeng Liulu first. Pair the Chunnuan with your good news."
"Naturally." Cui Hao nodded in agreement, while also catching the implication behind her words.
If what he'd come to tell Zheng Zhaoling wasn't good news, she wouldn't drink the wine, and she might not help him with the matter at all.
Zheng Zhaoling turned slightly, her gaze finding Pei Liang. She cupped her fists politely:
"Apologies — Fellow Daoist Cui is a bit eccentric. I have business to discuss with him. Thank you for receiving him. Please don't take his words to heart."
Pei Liang's lips pressed tight, his gaze fixed on Cui Hao with visible unwillingness.
Cui Hao, seeing this, also cupped his fists toward Pei Liang with a light smile:
"Fellow Daoist, making snap judgments is unbecoming. Some things are better handled with generosity — that's what truly shows class."
Hearing this, Zheng Zhaoling very much wanted to kick Cui Hao right there. But with so many people around, she held back — only shooting him a fierce glare before walking out.
Cui Hao hurried to follow Zheng Zhaoling's footsteps.
Pei Liang watched the two departing figures, his eyes brimming with intense resentment.
Once outside, Zheng Zhaoling led Cui Hao toward a certain location.
Cui Hao trailed behind, his expression playful:
"Truly worthy of a Fellow Daoist — so much charisma! But that's what gives a prodigy their flair!"
Zheng Zhaoling hadn't seen Cui Hao in a long time and had grown somewhat distant. These words were clearly teasing, but they pulled her back to those days gone by — this man was still just as sharp-tongued.
After hearing this, Zheng Zhaoling struck back without mercy:
"Fellow Daoist Cui is also extraordinary — how come you're only at Golden Core Great Perfection?"
Cui Hao replied matter-of-factly: "Because the Golden Core is the key of all keys. Naturally, I need to spend extra time polishing it."
Zheng Zhaoling chuckled: "I don't see your cultivation improving from all that polishing, but your skin has certainly grown thicker than before."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"As long as it is to me, that's enough."
Zheng Zhaoling was struck speechless. She then led Cui Hao onto Yunmeng Pavilion's unique Yunmeng Immortal Bridge — a structure spanning across all the peaks.
The Yunmeng Immortal Bridge was constructed from a special formation array that connected the various peaks. Simply taking one step — no cultivation required — would carry you across a thousand zhang in an instant.
From a distance, the bridge appeared as nothing more than a seemingly insignificant ribbon of faint light. Its mysteries were known only to those Yunmeng Pavilion cultivators who understood.
Zheng Zhaoling lightly tapped Cui Hao, then pulled him forward with spirit energy, bringing the curiosity-filled Cui Hao directly onto the bridge.
After a few steps—
When Cui Hao came to his senses, Zheng Zhaoling had brought him before a great waterfall cascading down in a torrent.
"What was that just now?" Cui Hao's expression was somewhat wistful as he looked back, his gaze even more curious as he studied the broad stream of light behind them.
Zheng Zhaoling replied coolly: "Yunmeng Pavilion's highest secret. If you defect to Yunmeng Pavilion, I can tell you."
"Forget it then." Cui Hao looked somewhat regretful. He then gazed at the waterfall ahead, his tone curious: "Could it be that the Yunmeng Liulu is hidden behind this waterfall?"
Zheng Zhaoling didn't answer. Instead, she drew a token of unusual texture from her spatial ring, channeled spirit energy into it, and the token shot upward before dissolving into scattered motes of light.
Cui Hao watched with curiosity — but in the next moment, lights of various colors came flying from every direction.
They all surged into the source of the waterfall.
Then the entire waterfall began to shift from transparent water to a color — something indescribable, somewhat chaotic, yet somehow felt perfectly orderly — cascading down like weeping willow branches.
The glowing luminescence splashed to the ground.
Spirit energy surged and swept through the area. Cui Hao felt the very earth beneath them trembling.
After a moment, the phenomenon vanished, and the waterfall returned to its original color.
Only then did Zheng Zhaoling raise her hand, drawing out thread after thread of pale golden liquid from beneath the waterfall. She wrapped each in spirit energy — the quantity wasn't large. At most, there were about two cups.
She caught one cup's worth in a jade cup, then extended it to Cui Hao:
"Strictly speaking, Yunmeng Liulu isn't wine. But once you drink it, its depth surpasses any wine. Yunmeng Liulu can be produced endlessly, but authentic Chunnuan — every cup you drink is one fewer cup in the world."
"Otherwise, if we truly compared value, Yunmeng Liulu wouldn't lose to your Chunnuan."
"However, once you drink this cup, you probably won't be able to keep polishing that Golden Core of yours."
Cui Hao listened to this with a somewhat dumbfounded expression, his heart sighing in admiration — as expected of a great sect, they had treasures of every kind.
He spoke with some hesitation: "This is too valuable… it doesn't seem right. And you probably have a limited supply of this too?"
Zheng Zhaoling borrowed Cui Hao's own words:
"I thought our friendship had reached that level, which is why I invited you. I didn't expect you to only see its value."
Cui Hao immediately reached out and took the jade cup from Zheng Zhaoling's hand, gazing at the golden liquid that flowed quietly within — like condensed light.
"Drink it. If you really break through, I'll guard you." Zheng Zhaoling spoke calmly. "Your Golden Core foundation is truly solid. If you're going to break through, it won't take more than a few days."
"If what you came to tell me isn't urgent, you can wait until after the breakthrough."
Cui Hao didn't answer right away. His gaze drifted to the other pool of Yunmeng Liulu.
Zheng Zhaoling was about to warn him that given his cultivation level, he shouldn't drink that much at once — when she saw Cui Hao raise his cup, a free and easy smile on his face:
"Of course I trust you, Fellow Daoist. But drinking is something that should only count when done together."
"If Fellow Daoist Zheng has no intention of skipping out on the drink, shall we toast?"
Hearing this, Zheng Zhaoling's eyes lifted slightly. Without a word, she produced another jade cup and poured Yunmeng Liulu into it.
She raised the cup and clinked it gently against his:
"I, Zheng Zhaoling, have never skipped out on a drink."
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