Chương 222: Chapter 111: The Crisis Gradually Unfolds, Drinking Wine to Calm the Mind

A moment later, within the empty subterranean stone grotto, a sinister, eerie voice suddenly reverberated from all directions, drenched in contempt and mocking derision.

"Heh heh... how many cultivators is this that you have brought here now? So much time has passed that this Demon can no longer remember clearly. Yet what this Demon admires most about you is your sheer hypocritical benevolence. You are blatantly plotting against these people, yet you still force them to feel deeply grateful to you right before their deaths." The origin of this voice was impossible to pinpoint.

It seemed to echo out from every single inch of space inside the cavernous stone room, hazy, elusive, and impossible to capture.

"Hmph!" Hearing this, Mu Daguang let out a chilling snort, his voice turning darkly menacing.

"How this old master chooses to conduct himself is not for you to judge! I have already provided you with more than enough sacrifices. If you dare to play any tricks, this old master will personally see to it that your soul is shattered into mist, wiped out from this world forever!" The mysterious voice fell silent for a short while before bursting into a shrill, piercing screech.

"You dare kill me?! By what right do you think you can kill me?! If you kill me, this Spirit-Devouring Array can never be used again! Your Mu Family's feebly lingering bloodline power will be completely exhausted in a few short centuries! When that time comes, how could the grand number one force in the Zhao Kingdom's cultivation world ever hope to produce even a single Golden Core cultivator?! You will sink into utter and absolute ruin!"

"So, since you lack the courage to kill me, do not adopt such a harsh tone in my presence! This Demon maintains a cooperative alliance with your Mu Family—we are partners, not slaves for you to bark orders at as you please!" Upon hearing these words, Mu Daguang's face turned immensely unsightly, dark and grim. After a moment of heavy silence, he released a cold snort, whirled around, and departed without another word.

The entity behind the voice likewise seemed unwilling to push him into a corner; after letting out two low, sinister chuckles, it faded back into the dark depths. Once again, profound tranquility settled over the stone cavern.... Reyn followed behind the guiding Mu Family cultivator as they made their way toward the exit. Suddenly, a burst of mad, rambling laughter echoed from the hallway ahead.

"Candies, candies, red ones and green ones! One for you and one for me, let's all go sing together!" Reyn's brows creased slightly as he halted his steps. He looked up just in time to see a disheveled, crazed figure rushing straight toward him. The lunatic grabbed hold of Reyn's arm, shaking it while shouting loudly, "It's you! I remember you! Last time, Little Gray tricked me! He said that if I let you go, he would give me heaps and heaps of candies! But when I went back, there wasn't any!

He even locked me inside the room and wouldn't let me out!"

"Little Gray... that despicable Little Gray! If he doesn't hand over all the candies right to my face today, I definitely won't let you leave!" Saying this, the madman plopped himself straight down onto the cold stone floor, wrapping his arms tightly around Reyn's leg while a look of fierce vigilance flashed across his face. The guiding Mu Family cultivator clearly had not anticipated running into this lunatic here.

An expression of deep impatience washed over his face, and he whirled around to bark a low reprimand at the junior disciple following behind the madman.

"Why haven't you dragged him away yet?! If he disturbs the Ancestor's peaceful seclusion, I will see to it that you are severely punished!" The young disciple's face instantly collapsed into bitter helplessness. Who could have foreseen such an unlucky coincidence as running into Reyn twice? Seeing the lunatic squatting firmly on the ground, he hurriedly crouched down, fished several colorful candies out of his storage bag, held them out in his palm, and coaxed in a gentle tone, "Be good and let go quickly!

All these candies will be yours. Otherwise, if the Ancestor catches sight of us, both of us will suffer severe consequences!" The madman was visibly terrified at the mention of the word "Ancestor," a flicker of hesitation crossing his unkempt face. Nevertheless, he stubbornly continued to bargain, "You have to give me all the candies on you this time! And the ones from last time, too! Plus the little clay figurine—you have to replace the one I broke last time... If...

if you don't agree, then even if I get punished, I won't let go of him!"

"Fine, fine! Everything will be done according to your demands! Just quickly let go of Senior Brother Reyn!" Sensing the urgency, the Mu Family cultivator hurriedly reached into his storage bag again, pulled out a massive handful of sweets, and shoved them straight into the lunatic's hands. Only then did the madman grin foolishly and scramble up from the floor. Reyn watched the two of them depart, his dark eyes flickering with a subtle, indecipherable light.

It was impossible to tell what thoughts were currently traversing his mind. Once he exited the Hall of Ten Thousand Longevities and stood upon the grand stone plaza before the entrance, Reyn watched as the massive temple doors slowly creaked shut. Taking a deep, deliberate breath, he turned on his heel and walked toward his quarters. Though he had successfully obtained the method for Foundation Establishment, for some inexplicable reason, the sinister foreboding lingering in his chest had not dissipated at all.

Instead, it grew increasingly sharp and pronounced with every step he took. Upon returning to the Qinyuan Residence, Reyn did not immediately enter the isolated cultivation chamber. Instead, he retrieved a jar of fine wine from inside the pavilion, sat down at the stone table in the courtyard, and began to pour himself drinks in solitary quietude. It was exceptional wine—a century-old vintage known as Snow Wine, stocked exclusively in the private residences of core disciples and high elders of the Mu Family.

Lifting his cup, the exquisite liquid slid down his throat. As the warmth spread through his chest, the quiet turbulence on Reyn's face gradually smoothed out into composure, leaving behind an exceptionally bright and unwavering resolve in his gaze. Although this Mu Family Ancestor treats me with extraordinary favor on the surface, I can't shake the sensation that it is all a veneer of false warmth and duplicity.

I have harbored guarded vigilance against him from the start and have never truly regarded him as a master. Yet the most crucial task for me right now is to maintain absolute inner calm. To panic or overthink would only throw my own footing into disarray. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Calm the mind, settle the spirit. Since I have no clear clues at hand, I shall adapt to all changes by remaining steadfast.

If the Mu Family is indeed plotting some sinister scheme against me, there will be no need for me to search frantically—they will eventually reveal their true colors on their own. And if they truly dare to move against me... then even if my current cultivation falls short, I, Reyn, will never sit idly by and await death! Within his eyes, a glint of lethal coldness flashed! Deep within a secluded secret chamber beneath the Hall of Ten Thousand Longevities, Mu Daguang sat cross-legged atop a woven meditation mat.

Positioned respectfully below his dais stood Mu Yunshen, the family patriarch, along with Mu Nianxing, the most brilliant young scion of the clan.

"Ancestor, that Reyn is remarkably meticulous and acts with extreme caution. At this juncture, he appears to have already harboring doubts and suspicions," Mu Yunshen remarked, his face etched with a palpable veil of worry. After pausing in solemn hesitation for a brief moment, he continued, "In my humble opinion, it would be far better to complete this matter as swiftly as possible, lest unexpected twists and complications arise."

Hearing this, Mu Nianxing nodded repeatedly in eager agreement, an unrestrainable look of urgency sweeping across his youthful face.

"Ancestor, your grandson has already cultivated his condition to its absolute peak. Why not summon him here right this moment to bring this affair to a definitive conclusion?" Upon hearing their pleas, Mu Daguang slowly opened his eyes, his cold, piercing gaze settling heavily upon the two standing before him. After a short pause, he spoke in a deliberate, measured tone.

"Activating the grand array is naturally a trivial matter. However, that Demonic Spirit's appetite has grown significantly larger than before. Until the sacrifice is completely fulfilled, it will under no circumstances agree to expend its primordial strength to assist you in executing the Spirit-Devouring process." As he spoke to this point, a dark, gloomy glint flashed through his eyes.

Relying on the fact that the Mu Family's Spirit-Devouring Array desperately required its core assistance to function, this Demonic Spirit had grown increasingly insatiable and greedy. The demanded sacrifice this time—two hundred young boys and maidens—was causing him a massive, persistent headache.

"Mu Yunshen, hear my command," Mu Daguang instructed, his voice turning exceedingly stern and unyielding as he went on.

"Regarding the purchase and acquisition of those young boys and maidens, not a single member of our Mu Family is permitted to participate directly. Entrust the entire matter strictly to mortal agents in the secular world. Even if the process moves slightly slower, under no circumstances must we draw the attention of external powers!" Mu Yunshen's expression turned extraordinarily grave upon hearing these strict directives. He nodded slowly, bowing his head in total deference.

"Understood, Ancestor!" Mu Daguang gave a curt nod of approval before turning his cold eyes onto Mu Nianxing, speaking in an indifferent tone.

"There is no need for you to be so impatient. So long as Reyn has not yet stepped into the Foundation Establishment stage, then even if suspicions linger within his mind, he will absolutely never leave the estate of the Mu Family."

"According to my calculations, everything will be fully prepared in another month's time. Let us simply wait out these few weeks with patience!" Neither Mu Yunshen nor Mu Nianxing dared to voice any further objections. They offered a deep, respectful bow toward the ancestor on the dais, turned around, and walked silently out of the secret chamber.... Time slipped away silently like flowing water. During this period, Reyn did not enter secluded cultivation again.

Instead, he carried two jars of fine, fragrant wine into the courtyard every single day, sitting by himself and drinking slowly. With no restless thoughts cluttering his mind, his overall state of consciousness and mental fortitude gradually settled into a deep, unshakable tranquility. During this quiet interval, Xing Tianxie and Ling You'er came to visit him several times.

The three of them gathered around flickering candlelight late into the night, engaging in uninhibited discussions that spanned across the heavens and the vast realms of cultivation, finding great joy in each other's congenial company. It was not until the seventeenth day that Reyn sat calmly in the courtyard, lightly swirling a delicate wine cup between his fingers. His brows knitted into a faint, thoughtful frown, as though he were patiently waiting for someone to arrive.

"How could there be a lunatic wandering around here?!"

"Who is this madman? Why have I never seen him around before?"

"Senior Brother, let's hurry up and leave! This fellow is filthy and reeking of stink—why are we even bothering to watch him?" Right at that instant, a noisy, chaotic clamor drifted in from outside the courtyard walls. Reyn set down his wine cup, a sharp brow lifting slightly as a low whisper escaped his lips.

"He's here." Hardly had his voice faded when a distressed, tearful voice pleaded loudly outside the entrance.

"You can't go in there! This is Senior Brother Reyn's private residence! If we disturb his cultivation, neither of us can afford the consequences!"

"No! I want to go in! Stop following me, or else I'm going to punch you!" Bang! Following the heavy thud of a body slamming against the hard floor, the courtyard gate was shoved open from the outside. The person who shuffled inside was none other than the madman whom Reyn had encountered twice before. Pushing the door open, he strode right over without the slightest hint of politeness, plopping himself down directly across from Reyn, grabbing a wine jar, and guzzling it down in greedy, loud gulps.

"Senior Brother Reyn, please do not be angry! I will take him away immediately!" Limping through the entrance, the Mu Family cultivator whom Reyn had seen previously hobbled inside, hurriedly trying to coax and drag the lunatic away. Reyn gently waved his hand, a calm smile spreading across his face.

"Since the two of you and I have crossed paths time and again, there must be a destined affinity between us. Why doesn't Junior Brother come over and take a seat as well? The three of us can share a drink together."

"This..." Hearing Reyn's invitation, the cultivator's face immediately flushed with hesitation.

"If he tells you to come over, then come over! Why didn't you ever give me wine this delicious before? Did you secretly drink up my share all by yourself?!" the madman mumbled incoherently, clutching the wine jar tight as he gulped down the liquor.

"Since Senior Brother Reyn invites me, I will express my gratitude." Letting out a bitter laugh, the man ceased his reluctance and took a seat upon the stone bench beside them.

"Are you kidding me? Not only did Senior Brother Reyn refrain from punishing them, but he's actually treating them to drinks! That's century-old Snow Wine! Normally, we can't even get a single drop of it!"

"If I had known Senior Brother Reyn was this approachable, I should have gone to pay my respects to him long ago."

"It shouldn't be too late now. Surely Senior Brother Reyn won't mind a few more of us joining him for a drink." As this person finished speaking, several Mu Family disciples nearby clearly showed eager, temptable expressions. However, at that very second, Reyn suddenly turned his head around and stated calmly, "Cease your noisy babbling outside my door. Scatter at once."

With a flick of his wide robe sleeve, a wave of spiritual power surged forth, swinging the courtyard gates shut on their own hinges and completely severing the prying eyes of the onlookers outside. Outside the courtyard, the group of cultivators exchanged stunned, awkward glances before shaking their heads in collective disappointment and slowly dispersing.

"Come, let the three of us share a glass first," Reyn raised his wine cup, a composed smile gracing his lips.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Reyn!" Flattered and visibly overwhelmed by the honor, the Mu Family cultivator lifted his cup and drained it in a single gulp, while the madman continued to guzzle voraciously straight from his wine jar. One cup down! Clatter! The wine cup in the Mu Family cultivator's hand suddenly slipped from his fingers, clattering onto the stone table. Unbelievably, he slumped forward and passed out cold on the spot.

Not a hint of surprise crossed Reyn's face, as though he had foreseen this exact turn of events all along. Setting his own wine cup down onto the table, he looked straight at the madman and spoke in an even, tranquil tone.

"I presume Daoist friend did not come here today merely to beg for a taste of fine wine?"