It was a middle-aged man dressed in gray, with delicate features and three long strands of beard, appearing to be around forty years old.
His clothes were worn out, not made of top-quality material, but they were thoroughly washed. Although he was not young, he exuded the aura of a mature man, giving off a very charming impression.
However, this person's gaze was indifferent, as if nothing could really interest him, giving off an impression of being aloof and arrogant, making him difficult to get along with.
What was most shocking was the aura hidden within this person. Even the two Fourth Heaven Realm King experts felt a chill in their hearts, feeling immense pressure. The two approached Yu Qingxuan, fearing he might harm her.
As soon as that person appeared, his gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Long Chen. To everyone's surprise, he actually gave Long Chen a slight bow: "
I am Xuzhuzi. May I ask your full name, sir?"
Everyone was shocked. This expert from the Wine God Palace was actually so polite to a mere Divine Lord disciple.
"No need to be so formal, senior. Junior Long Chen, greetings." Long Chen also bowed, a smile on his face. This time, it was good—he didn't have to look for it himself—Feng Xiang was helping him.
"Then I won't be polite. Someone sent a Recording Jade earlier, saying someone had commented on my Pear Blossom Brew. Xuzhuzi dared not be negligent, so I came immediately to listen to your guidance."
Mr. Long Chen said that my wine used rootless water, which was a mistake. Morning dew should be used, but I don't understand. Morning dew contains the scent of plants, and brewing pear blossom wine with it inevitably affects the mellow aroma of the wine. I have tried it many times before, and no matter how careful I am, it still affects the taste. Could you teach me, sir? "Xu Zhuzi said.
"Senior's name is well-deserved—truly humble and unashamed to ask questions, truly admirable.
In fact, most morning dew contains the essence of grass and wood; it tastes sweet, is neutral in nature, and carries a hint of bitterness. In my opinion, it is this slight bitterness that gives the wine its more flavor.
As the saying goes, 'Great skill appears clumsy; great achievement seems incomplete.' The elders' pear blossom brew pursued perfection too much and ended up in the mundane way.
The five colors blind the eyes, the five sounds deafen the ears, and the five flavors refresh the mouth. Yet, apart from the five colors, five tones, and five flavors, there must be different colors, different sounds, and different flavors; otherwise, heaven and earth would not be complete and could not serve as a mirror.
Only when the Way of Heaven is complete can positive and opposing each other, height and shortness contrast, size differ, yin and yang generate each other. The pear blossom wine of the predecessors was nearly perfect, yet it lacked this hint of bitterness.
Without bitterness, one knows sweetness; without ease, one does not know difficulty; without a stream, a hundred rivers cannot form; without the earth, how can one look up to the vast sky?
I am speaking nonsense and may have spoken any mistakes, please forgive me, senior. Long Chen gave a slight bow.
At this moment, he had no trace of youthful air; he seemed like a scholar well-versed in ancient and modern times, speaking eloquently yet revealing all secrets, astonishing everyone.
Yu Qingxuan's beautiful eyes shone with a strange light. Long Chen gave her an even more mysterious feeling. How did his head look, and how did he know so much?
Not only her, but even the two Realm King experts felt their minds instantly become much clearer upon hearing Long Chen say this. Some previously incomprehensible issues seemed to become clear and clear.
Long Chen had previously said he had once been a Heaven-level mentor. Yu Qingxuan was skeptical, thinking Long Chen was joking with her. Now she realized Long Chen might really be a Celestial Master.
You have to know, among the major sects, the Celestial Master-level powerhouses are all highly respected, well-versed in ancient and modern knowledge, and possessing astonishing knowledge.
When people think of the Celestial Master, they only think of those elderly with white hair, so old that they lose a piece with every step. So what Long Chen said before, everyone had just taken as jokes, but now they were all amazed by Long Chen's theory.
After listening, Xuzhuzi nodded and sighed, "Mr. Long Chen is absolutely right. Back then, I brought pear blossom brew to invite the priest to evaluate it."
The priest only commented in four words: 'Warm to cool.' At the time, I thought the priest was praising me, saying the timing was perfect, perfectly removing the cold from the pear blossom wine. Looking back now, I realized how foolish I was. "
Warm to cool?" Bitterness and sweetness? Yu Qingxuan was stunned and blurted out.
Xu Zhuzi glanced at Yu Qingxuan and said, "Miss, you have the grace of a refined orchid and the heart of orchids, sharp as ice and snow. You immediately sensed the secret behind it."
Yet I still don't understand the mysteries within. Today, after hearing Mr. Long Chen's teachings, I recalled the words of the Ritual Lord. I am truly ashamed.
The meaning of the ritual lord is exactly the same as Mr. Long Chen's: the pear blossom wine lacks a trace of bitterness, making it flashy but lacking the true essence.
And I actually gave away this kind of wine, which is truly shameful. "
Praised by Xu Zhuzi, Yu Qingxuan was instantly overjoyed. You have to know, people from the Wine God Palace all have extremely strange tempers, and gaining recognition from such people is something to be very proud of.
"Senior, you are too modest. This Pear Blossom Brew is already considered the finest among wines. I dare to comment on it just to lure you out.
To be honest, I have been close friends with the Wine God Palace in the mortal realm. Thanks to their help several times, I was able to survive. I have always been grateful to the Wine God Palace.
To be honest, ever since I ascended, I haven't drunk alcohol at all, because... Hehe, you know what I mean. Long Chen said with a smile.
"Hahaha..."
Xuzhuzi laughed heartily: "A treasured sword is given to a hero, rouge to a beauty, and fine wine is naturally only for those who understand wine."
How about Brother Long Chen, come with me to the Wine God Palace? As long as you're willing to comment and find faults, I'll take the endless fine wine of the Wine God Palace as you wish." "
Hearing Long Chen say that in the mortal realm he has close ties with the Wine God Palace, Xuzhuzi suddenly seemed like a different person—no longer so formal, and his address changed from 'sir' to 'brother.'
As masters of drinking, their spiritual realm is terrifyingly high; no one can lie to them, let alone disguise themselves.
The strong figures of the Wine God Palace have always been distinctive and disliked those who say one thing but mean another, so very few people can get close to them.
But once someone is recognized by them, they will treat that person as one of their own. Long Chen had long experienced this on the Tianwu Continent, so when he saw people from the Wine God Palace, he naturally felt a sense of closeness.
Seeing Xuzhuzi invite Long Chen to the Wine God Palace, Feng Xiang and the others' eyes turned red with anger. They secretly passed the news to the Wine God Palace, hoping it would cause trouble for Long Chen.
But unexpectedly, they became friends as soon as they met, and even invited Long Chen to visit the Wine God Palace. Is there really any room to reason with this? Every time they fought Long Chen, they were always at a disadvantage, and now they were utterly defeated.
Previously, they had mocked Long Chen's background, but now the people from the Wine God Palace have actively invited him to taste fine wine. This single status alone would leave countless people far behind.
"To be able to go to the Wine God Palace to taste fine wine, I am more than happy to hear it. However, I would like to bring a friend along. I wonder if it would be convenient."
Long Chen looked at Yu Qingxuan, who was instantly overjoyed, while the others looked displeased.