Chapter 201: Brewing Wine

According to the Void Puppet's divination, Wang Xingyu was a new student deemed unsuitable for cultivating the Can Tong Qi. However, Wang Xingyu possessed a strong and unwavering character. Not only did he rely on his inherent talent to master the foundational level of the Can Tong Qi, but he also emulated Zhongli Tianyu, transforming a third-tier magical treasure inherited from his family into his personal companion artifact for cultivation.

This artifact was a copper bowl, said to be able to hold vast quantities of water. Furthermore, it could also serve as a medicinal pool, proving exceptionally efficient for refining Qi-replenishing spiritual water. However, the Void Puppet's divination results had suggested that Wang Xingyu's ideal companion artifact would be a flying sword. Nevertheless, this was his personal choice, as a third-tier magical treasure was ultimately more enticing than any second-tier flying sword he could obtain.

Having just acquired a million merit points from Shen Juanxiu, Chen Mobai was no longer concerned about finances. He promptly placed an order with Wang Xingyu for one hundred bottles of first-tier, high-grade Qi-replenishing spiritual water. Were it not for the spiritual water's shelf life, he would have purchased a year's supply upfront.

"Old Chen, don't embarrass yourself during the make-up exam," Ming Yihua playfully remarked to Chen Mobai as they parted ways.

Of the entire Divine Transformation class, Chen Mobai was the only one who had failed a subject, making him the butt of jokes throughout the entire holiday break.

"Last year, I was careless and didn't review," Chen Mobai stated confidently. "This year, I diligently studied the Talismans textbook at home, so I guarantee there won't be any issues."

"Hahaha, that's good to hear," Ming Yihua laughed. "But if you fail the make-up exam too, you'll probably be mocked by those upperclassmen for the entire year." Ming Yihua laughed heartily, patting Chen Mobai's shoulder, before everyone parted ways at the school gate. Two of them, like Chen Mobai, had rented independent cave dwellings outside the school.

After returning to his small wooden house, which he had left for a considerable time, Chen Mobai made a trip to the Sky River Realm. He inspected the rice he was drying, confirmed it hadn't been pilfered by birds, beasts, or insects, and returned with satisfaction. In another two days, once it was sufficiently dried, it would be ready for hulling. He had already purchased a multi-functional hulling artifact, valued at 2,000 merit points. The Daoist Academy originally had one available, and given his good standing with Lin Wen Kang, he could have easily borrowed it. However, considering he might build his livelihood in the Sky River Realm using such an item in the future, he decided it was better to purchase his own. Besides the hulling artifact, he also acquired various tools for brewing wine.

After ordering all the necessary items, Chen Mobai began to focus intently on his studies. At the university, there was one make-up exam opportunity for a failed subject at the start of the next semester. His failure in the Talismans course had already become a laughingstock, and his reputation as the "Sleeper" was quickly losing its luster. Even without the aid of an Enlightenment Pill, he had originally planned to thoroughly review the Talismans course during the holiday. Although he had now thoroughly grasped all the textbook knowledge for the first and second years, and even studied some third-year material, he still worried that the exam setter might maliciously include a talisman not found in the textbooks.

While reviewing, he also experienced the genuine concern of his classmates. Zhuang Jialan and Si Guanyu, two top students in the Talismans course, even came to his door after learning of his return, specifically to offer him their notes and ask if he needed tutoring. Deeply moved, Chen Mobai opened another jar of wine he had brought from Green Mountain Village and treated them to a good meal and drinks.

"Class Monitor Si, Committee Member Zhuang, rest assured, I will definitely pass this make-up exam this time," Chen Mobai declared. "During the holiday, I deeply reflected on myself and realized I had been too negligent in the Talismans course. This year, I will definitely study diligently and work hard, ensuring I don't hold the class back."

After listening to Chen Mobai's heartfelt assurances, Zhuang Jialan and Si Guanyu remained skeptical. They had started to question Chen Mobai's true academic abilities.

"Alright, we're reassured by your ambition," Si Guanyu said. "There are still five other students who failed, and we need to check on them as well." After they finished drinking, Si Guanyu didn't forget his responsibilities as class monitor. Last year's exam had been somewhat challenging; besides three students who failed despite pulling strings, Chen Mobai and two others were also stumped and needed to take the make-up exam. It was precisely because so many students in the class had failed that Chen Mobai's own failure wasn't as conspicuous; otherwise, his "Sleeper" reputation would have long been exposed as a sham. Since all the failed students were from their class, Si Guanyu and Zhuang Jialan stated their intention to show concern for everyone who needed it, then bid farewell and departed.

As Chen Mobai had returned to the Daoist Academy early, with half a month still remaining until the make-up exam, he decided to first hull the seven acres of spiritual rice he had planted in Giant Wood Ridge and begin the brewing process before fully dedicating himself to studying. During this period, under the guidance of Lu Jun from the Spirit Plant Department, he completed the takeover of the spiritual vein at Xiao Yang Ridge. The senior disciple who had cultivated medicinal fields here last year, after Lu Jun settled the contribution points for two acres of Condensing Dew Grass and subtly hinted that the per-acre yield was unsatisfactory, tactfully packed his equipment and departed.

"Junior Brother Chen," Lu Jun announced, "from now on, this twenty-li radius will be your territory." After playing the unpleasant role, Lu Jun smilingly transferred a Mountain Array, left by the previous occupant, to Chen Mobai on the spot. This was a second-tier formation that, when combined with the spiritual vein at Xiao Yang Ridge, could withstand even the attacks of Foundation Establishment cultivators for a period.

"Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother Lu," Chen Mobai said. "This pot of spiritual wine was brewed by myself before I joined the sect; please take it back and have a taste." Naturally, the wine Chen Mobai offered was from Green Mountain Village. He had bought up all the wine his maternal grandfather was willing to sell, as he had two storage bags anyway. After purchasing his family's wine, he also selected and bought some of the better quality batches from other families in the village, acquiring a total of one hundred jars, which completely filled one of his storage bags. The wine he gave Lu Jun was, of course, of the finer variety. It was the same two-year-aged yellow wine he had treated Ming Yihua and the others to a few days prior. This was already the best Chen Mobai could purchase; the villagers typically kept the more aged varieties for their own consumption or opened them only when entertaining guests. Any that were sold had been newly brewed within the last two years.

"Alright, alright, thank you, Junior Brother Chen," Lu Jun, assuming Chen Mobai was merely being polite, left with a smile, carrying the pot of wine.

Two days later, Qi Rui and Xi Jinghuo, having received Chen Mobai's message, also arrived at Xiao Yang Ridge. Upon their meeting, Chen Mobai was naturally generous. He immediately opened five jars of fine wine, and they drank to their hearts' content.

"Excellent wine, Junior Brother Chen, you've truly outdone yourself," Qi Rui exclaimed. Qi Rui, a true connoisseur of wine, immediately recognized the extraordinary quality of the drink by its aroma, noting it was entirely superior to what he usually consumed.

"You're about to participate in the Sect Grand Competition," Chen Mobai said. "Let this drink be a toast to your success. I hope you can enter the top twenty-four and be promoted to a true disciple."

The Divine Wood Sect holds a Grand Competition annually, open to all Qi Cultivation disciples under the age of sixty. Qi Rui, already at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation and within the Talisman-making Department's quota, naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity to become a true disciple, especially with the batch of Foundation Establishment Pills coming in ten years. Xi Jinghuo also signed up to participate, intending to temper herself through the competition. Only Chen Mobai, feeling his current skill level was insufficient and unwilling to waste talismans and time, chose to forgo the competition entirely.