……

“This……”

Xiahou Hongde’s eyes were as wide as copper bells, staring at Wang Shouzhe like a raging fire.

Such an important matter, and you didn’t mention it earlier? He had thought that swallowing the fire spirit stone was a necessary step to drink the Fire Crystal Burn!

Unexpectedly, it was just for lighting a fire… or perhaps to add some ceremonial sense.

Suddenly, Xiahou Hongde felt the burning sensation in his stomach intensifying.

The difficulty of using Xuan Qi to wrap around the fire spirit stone in his stomach was not ordinary! Moreover, that “Fire Crystal Burn” was not simple either. After drinking more than half a bowl, his body was burning hot, and his blood was accelerating.

This was simply double the pleasure.

He hesitated whether to get off the carriage first and force out that damn fire spirit stone.

“However, Lord Xiahou, the city defender, is indeed a cultivator at the Heavenly Realm.” Wang Shouzhe said while bowing to Xiahou Hongde, showing admiration and praising, “You can remain calm even when the fire spirit stone is burning in your stomach. Your Xuan Gong is indeed extraordinary.”

You should know that once the fire spirit stone is activated, it can burn without oxygen, emitting scorching heat waves. This stimulation is unbearable for ordinary people.

Upon hearing this.

The idea of Xiahou Hongde getting off the carriage to vomit was immediately dismissed.

“It’s just a small trick. After you, Lord Wang, ascend to the Heavenly Realm, you will naturally be able to do it.”

He endured the intense discomfort and abnormality as if his internal organs were being roasted in a furnace, and managed to display a profound and casual demeanor.

He picked up the spiritual tea that he had previously found bland, leisurely “savoring” it, showing an indifferent demeanor as if a mountain could collapse in front of him without changing his expression: “Where were we? Right, as long as you give me three hundred jin of Fire Crystal Burn, I will forgive you this time.”

This Fire Crystal Burn is a good thing~

He was fascinated after just one drink. Even though he swallowed the fire spirit stone and his stomach was a bit unbearable.

It’s very suitable for them, um, bold and powerful soldiers to drink. It reminded him of the feeling of fighting on the battlefield with his brothers when he was still in the Lingtai Realm.

Unconsciously, he raised the stakes by a hundred jin.

“Three hundred jin of Fire Crystal Burn is just a small matter. Besides, how long can a little Fire Crystal Burn last?” Wang Shouzhe calmly refilled his tea, speaking leisurely, “Lord Xiahou is only over two hundred years old, in his prime. Even if you only drink a hundred jin a year, you will consume fifty to sixty thousand jin in your lifetime.”

Fifty to sixty thousand jin?

Xiahou Hongde paused, why couldn’t he calculate this account?

Oh, right, this kid included his lifespan at the Purple Mansion Realm.

This kid, he’s quite a talker.

I like it.

However, he was right about one thing, even if he drank a hundred jin a year, he would have to drink at least ten to twenty thousand jin in his lifetime, right?

Immediately, he hesitated and asked: “Lord Wang, how much is this wine per jin?”

Even the Red Mist Burn, which he now found old-fashioned, costs several Top Gold per jin. The “peerless wine” like Fire Crystal Burn is probably not less than ten Top Gold, right?

With his allowance, he could afford to drink it.

But Xiahou Hongde is not a lone man, he has a large family to support, and his descendants are scattered in various camps, he has to subsidize them a bit.

Moreover, cultivators at the Heavenly Realm have expenses of the Heavenly Realm. Daily cultivation consumes resources, and over time it is an astronomical figure. If a cultivator at the Heavenly Realm has some ambition and wants to progress, it is normal to consume tens of thousands of Top Gold on cultivation in a year.

This is why some families that are not good at management and have insufficient financial resources not only can’t afford to ascend to the Heavenly Realm, but even if they barely ascend, if they don’t quickly open up sources of wealth, a single cultivator at the Heavenly Realm can drag down the family.

Of course, if a family has a cultivator at the Heavenly Realm, the status of the family will be different.

With the protection of the Ancestor at the Heavenly Realm, they can quickly develop industries and open up sources of wealth. At worst, the Ancestor at the Heavenly Realm can maintain it by going to the outer domain to fight in the wild.

However, going to the outer domain to fight in the wild is ultimately a dangerous thing. If not careful, it is possible to fall in the outer domain. Therefore, that is not a long-term solution.

Let’s not talk about this for now.

Wang Shouzhe said leisurely: “If it’s for sale, I plan to set it at ten Top Gold per jin.”

As expected!

Xiahou Hongde’s eyes were slightly serious, a thousand Top Gold was not an astronomical figure for a cultivator at the Heavenly Realm. But if it is consumed every year, it is a huge expense.

“How about this, I will give Lord Xiahou three thousand jin quota every year at the price of seven Top Gold per jin.” Wang Shouzhe, who preferred to drink spiritual tea, said while pouring his own drink, “After all, my Wang’s Clan doesn’t rely solely on selling wine for a living.”

Seven Top Gold per jin? Three thousand jin quota! And it’s every year!

Xiahou Hongde’s eyes widened instantly.

If he could resell it, wouldn’t he be able to make more than twenty thousand Top Gold out of thin air?

He fell silent all of a sudden, looking at Wang Shouzhe with a strange look in his eyes.

This kid was talking about a business worth tens of thousands of Top Gold a year as if it was nothing. No wonder… he could unite so many noble families in such a short time, even the Xu Clan of Changning seemed to be looking up to him.

This is a god of wealth~ Who wouldn’t like the god of wealth?

“Lord Wang, you are bribing me.” Xiahou Hongde said with a serious expression, “What is your purpose?”

As a city defender, he had seen a lot of the world.

He dared to take the shares of the casino because it was an unspoken hidden income for the city defenders of all generations, it would be a waste not to take it.But if Wang Shouzhe wanted to use money to involve him in the family disputes, wouldn’t that be dragging him into the mire? That would be more harm than good.

“Lord Xiahou is overthinking.” Wang Shouzhe laughed, “If I wanted to use you in the family disputes, wouldn’t I have mentioned it earlier? I merely value your military connections and am trying to expand the family’s financial resources by selling some wine. This is purely a business collaboration, nothing more.”

“Of course, if it’s reasonable, legal, and within your jurisdiction, I would be grateful if you could lend a hand. Consider it mutual assistance.”

“Very well.” Xiahou Hongde, unable to resist the temptation, agreed with a smile, “I can only promise you that during my term, I will provide some conveniences for your family that are in accordance with Daqian’s laws. At the same time, I will subtly hint to the Huangfu’s Clan not to cause trouble during my term.”

“In that case, I thank Lord Xiahou.”

Wang Shouzhe bowed to him, his smile becoming even more sincere.

He did believe that Xiahou Hongde would warn the Huangfu’s Clan, as it also concerned the peace of Changning Guard during his term.

However, Xiahou Hongde overestimated his deterrent effect on the Huangfu’s Clan and underestimated the immense pressure they faced for survival and promotion.

The development of the situation was bound to disappoint Xiahou Hongde~

After the cooperation was established, Xiahou Hongde’s attitude towards Wang Shouzhe changed somewhat.

After a few more exchanges, Xiahou Hongde took his leave with several jars of Fire Crystal Liquor gifted by Wang Shouzhe.

Once he got off the carriage, his calm demeanor vanished, his face flushed with embarrassment and discomfort.

Finding a corner, he didn’t care about anything else and immediately rushed towards the city guard mansion.

Because that damned fire spirit stone had unknowingly slipped down to his stomach, entering an indescribable, longest organ of the human body.

……

Meanwhile, Wang Shouzhe, having just seen off Lord Xiahou, welcomed another wave of guests.

It was Fang You’an, a direct disciple of the Zifu Academy.

He still had the demeanor of a gentle and composed noble son, even his posture when tasting the spiritual tea was particularly graceful.

He joked with a smile, “Brother Shouzhe, you are too popular. Now I have to queue up to see you.”

“Hehe, Brother You’an is joking.” Wang Shouzhe sat across from him, his expression slightly apologetic, “I know why Brother You’an is here. It was indeed my fault today. I stirred up a storm while you were in Changning Guard, using the prestige of the academy to deter Ancestor Huaye, making him temporarily dare not act.”

Although Fang You’an and other disciples of the academy didn’t speak or express their stance in the whole matter, it didn’t mean they weren’t part of Wang Shouzhe’s calculations.

In fact, if they weren’t present, given the influence of the Huangfu’s Clan and Ancestor Huaye in Changning Guard, they might have been able to cover up the matter, and Xiahou Hongde wouldn’t have decided to handle it impartially so decisively.

After all, the academy does have a significant influence on the official side. Xiahou Hongde was also afraid that any hesitation on his part would affect his upcoming promotion and reputation.

Therefore, the presence of Fang You’an and other disciples of the academy was actually the most crucial part of his plan.

“No harm done, your ability to take advantage of the situation is your skill.” Fang You’an said with a faint smile, “Besides, the other party does have connections with the Yinsha Sect. Since you took action to clean them up, it can be considered a contribution to Daqian.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Brother You’an.” Wang Shouzhe said with a smile, “You came at a good time, Brother You’an. Come, try my personally brewed ‘Iceberg Fire’.”

With that, he raised his hand and brought out another jar of spirit wine.

“……”

Fang You’an was slightly curious.

“Iceberg Fire” was also a strong liquor. However, Wang Shouzhe’s “Iceberg Fire” was brewed with white jade orchid spirit rice and ice dew grass, crystal clear like ice, emitting a slight chill.

As soon as the liquor was poured into the specially thickened glass, wisps of white mist rose, looking quite ethereal.

“This wine is even more suitable when paired with an ice spirit stone.”

With that, Wang Shouzhe took out an ice spirit stone, activated it with his spiritual energy, and dropped it into the cup.

In an instant, the white mist turned into frost, and a beautiful layer of ice flowers formed on the rim of the cup.

“Interesting, let me try.”

Fang You’an picked up the thickened glass, ready to drink.

Remembering the previous incident, Wang Shouzhe quickly reminded, “Brother You’an, don’t drink the spirit stone along with it.”

Fang You’an gave Wang Shouzhe a strange look, “Brother Shouzhe, why do you need to remind me? I’m not a fool who would swallow a spirit stone.”

“Uh…hehe~ I was being overly cautious.” Wang Shouzhe laughed awkwardly, raising his hand, “Brother You’an, please.”

Fang You’an sniffed the aroma, then took a sip with a stylish posture.

The next moment, his calm face changed slightly, then changed again, and again, his eyes becoming somewhat blurred, as if he had fallen into some kind of emotional memory.

It wasn’t until more than ten breaths later that his eyes cleared, and he sighed slightly, “Now I understand why this wine is called ‘Iceberg Fire’. It’s like drinking ice brew when it enters the mouth, making the body feel cool, but after the coolness, the internal organs feel like they’re burning like fire. Good wine, good wine. But…”

“Does Brother You’an feel that it’s still lacking?” Wang Shouzhe asked humbly.

“There’s nothing lacking, but the name, could we change it?” Fang You’an squinted slightly, “At first glance, this wine is like a gentle and pure woman, and the first sip is indescribable. But when you really drink it, you find that it’s as fiery and domineering as it tortures you to great pain. Yet when you come to your senses, you find yourself falling in love with this indescribable taste. How about renaming it to – ‘Ice Maiden’?”

“……”

Wang Shouzhe was speechless. It seemed that Brother You’an had quite a rich life experience~

He wondered which senior sister was so skilled that she even managed to handle Brother You’an.

But as for the name Ice Maiden——

Fine! If you’re happy, that’s all that matters. Who can argue with a Sky Realm cultivator? Might makes right.

Wang Shouzhe decided that this description from Brother You’an would be used in the future packaging of the wine, and the source must be cited.

A wine that even the direct disciples of the academy praise, don’t you want to try it?

Then, Wang Shouzhe sent Fang You’an off to sell the wine in the same old way.

Don’t think that because he’s a direct disciple of the academy, he doesn’t need to gather resources to break through to the Purple Mansion, right?

It’s a win-win situation~

……

After Fang You’an left, the carriage that Wang Shouzhe “borrowed” welcomed another customer in line.

It was “Lady Ji”, disguised by Wang Mei.

In this operation to eliminate the claws of Huangfu’s Clan, she made a significant contribution. Moreover, her identity would still be useful in the upcoming strategic arrangements.

Especially after Ji Mingyu unintentionally certified her, her identity as a representative of the “Ji’s Clan” was “undoubtedly confirmed”.

“Wang Mei.” Wang Shouzhe still “borrowed” the “Jade Hook Green” to entertain her, saying, “You’ve worked hard this time, and I need you to endure a little longer.”

“Master Shouzhe, please call me ‘Lady Ji’.” Lady Ji had a charming and enchanting look on her face, with a hint of long-standing resentment in her eyes, “Don’t get my name wrong.”

“His~”

Wang Shouzhe was helpless, Wang Mei was good in every aspect, but once she got into character, it would be too much for him.

“This…” Wang Shouzhe coughed, “You came to find me in the middle of the night, aren’t you afraid that Huangfu’s Clan will be furious?”

“What’s there to be afraid of?” Lady Ji’s eyes slanted, her voice was incredibly seductive, “The more I provoke them, the more they fear I will run away, the more they will cherish me. It’s the same with men……”

Uh……

What you said makes sense, but I’m afraid my wife won’t understand.

Wang Shouzhe also secretly thought in his heart.

……