Nine Star Hegemon Body Arts

“What a wonderful wine aroma! It directly penetrates the heart and soul! I never imagined that just smelling wine could feel so good,” Chi Yutong said once they stepped out of the transportation formation.

They had arrived in Cloud Dream Province, a stunning region built high in the mountains. The province was full of winding peaks, with seventy-two cities, thirty-six plains, and twelve well-known springs.

The mountains rose steeply, like monuments reaching for the sky. The whole area felt like a wonderland and belonged to the Wine God Palace.

The seventy-two cities formed a ring, with the Wine God Palace at the center. The city Long Chen and the others were in was the only one open to outsiders.

All other places besides this city were off-limits, especially the twelve springs. Anyone who tried to sneak in would anger the Wine God Palace. After all, everyone in the seventy-two cities relied on the springwater to make their wine. The twelve springs were truly their lifeblood.

The wine produced in the seventy-two cities was available for sale, and the money they earned was used to buy needed materials and protect the cities.

Everyone in the cities made their living by making wine, and they saw the Wine God Palace as the supreme temple of learning. Their dream was to enter the Wine God Palace one day and study the deeper secrets of the Wine Dao.

There was no fighting here as everyone focused on the Wine Dao. Although it was usually peaceful, some people had caused trouble in the past, and all of them met bad ends.

Some factions were wiped out because of this. After that, no one dared to cause a fuss here. Even when buying wine, everyone was polite.

The wine here had fixed prices and set types, with no room for bargaining. Only a limited amount was sold, and most of it was quickly bought by the major factions. Regular sects could hardly ever buy any.

Even first-tier sects like the Flame God Sect and Spirit Heart Sect didn’t have much of the wine from the seventy-two cities. It was only provided during grand occasions, or perhaps when important guests came.

Just breathing the air here amazed Chi Yutong and the others. It was their first visit. After all, this place did not welcome outsiders. Not to mention the Wine God Palace, even entering the other cities was impossible.

Only the four of them stood in the large transportation formation. It felt lonely, and they didn’t see anyone on the streets.

But inside the buildings, they could hear people working. They saw colorful mist rising from some places and noticed unique fragrances in the air.

“Long Chen, is our arrival a bit too sudden? No one is paying us the slightest attention,” Xin Yu said as she looked around at the empty street.

They could just make out some people working through the windows, and although people noticed them, no one greeted them.

Long Chen was about to speak when footsteps rang out. Over ten white-robed men and women approached them.

Chi Yutong was startled. These people were very young, and even though they hid their auras, they still gave off strong energy. All of them were clearly on the level of divine sons and daughters, and they seemed especially strong even among them.

They were all strikingly handsome or beautiful, almost as if they had just stepped out of a painting.

The handsome man at the front stepped forward and cupped his fists.

“Mister Long Chen, I, Zi Nuo, was sent to welcome you when you arrived. I apologize for being late!”

Long Chen returned his greeting and replied, “Brother Zi Nuo is too polite. It’s my fault for coming so suddenly without warning. I also didn’t bring a gift, but I have a deep connection with the Wine God Palace. In my heart, the Wine God Palace feels like my second home. I wanted to return here quickly, so please forgive me.”

Xin Yu stared at Long Chen. He arrived with nothing—no calling card or gift. He even used a noble excuse to justify it. Long Chen’s skin was truly exceptionally thick.

Zi Nuo simply said, “Mister Long Chen is too courteous. Let me introduce myself. I am the High Deacon of the Wine God Palace, and these are my junior apprentice-brothers and sisters. They are the most outstanding disciples of the Wine God Palace’s junior generation.”

“Greetings, Mister Long Chen!”

All those disciples stepped forward and bowed, and Long Chen promptly returned the gesture.

“High Deacon? Then you’re the future High Priest?!” Xin Yu exclaimed, shocked.

Chi Yutong and Yan Li were also deeply shocked. The future High Priest personally welcomed Long Chen? That was enough to prove how highly the Wine God Palace valued Long Chen.

Zi Nuo smiled ruefully. “I am still lacking, but I somehow gained the trust of the High Priest. I am working hard, but I don’t know whether I will be able to repay his sincerity and take on his duties in the future.”

As the future master of the Wine God Palace, Zi Nuo showed no arrogance and did not stand on airs. He was very humble.

Compared to the so-called divine sons of the major factions who were incredibly overbearing, the two were like night and day. It was quite laughable.

Long Chen, Li Chenggang, Zheng Wenlong, and even Zi Nuo were all major figures, but they were always modest and open-minded. That was a manner only peak experts displayed.

Furthermore, this was neither something cultivated nor something understood. It was something that naturally awakened upon reaching that height.

Long Chen introduced Chi Yutong, Xin Yu, and Yan Li.

Zi Nuo and the others bowed to each of them in turn, showing no sign of looking down on them. This made Chi Yutong and the others both excited and nervous. Yan Li, especially, was shaking with nerves.

Once the introductions were complete, Zi Nuo extended his hand to lead the way.

“Mister Long Chen, the High Priest is waiting for you in the Wine God Palace. Let us head there now.”

After that, Long Chen and Zi Nuo walked through the city until they reached a platform where a giant rainbow-winged crane waited for them.

This was a spirit beast. Even though it had rainbow wings, it wasn’t related to the rainbow crane race by blood.

The crane spread its wings and carried them into the sky. As they passed through the clouds, Chi Yutong and Xin Yu couldn’t help but cry out in amazement.

They could see twelve waterfalls falling from the sky like giant ribbons.

They looked like heavenly springs, with rainbows shining through the mist, making the place seem magical.

Zi Nuo smiled and explained that these were the twelve springs. These twelve springs contained the dew of the Heavenly Daos. This water was condensed from air, so the wine made from it was naturally very different from the wine of other places.

Each spring produced a unique flavor and reflected a different aspect of the Heavenly Daos. The wine made from each spring also had its own taste and qualities.

As they talked, they reached the center of Cloud Dream Province. The rainbow-winged crane landed on another platform.

Long Chen saw a statue on the platform, and a mix of emotions rose up inside him.