It wasn't entirely柳不离's fault. From the perspective of an ordinary cultivator, the drink Qiyu called "wine" was simply terrifying.
To put it bluntly, it was nothing more than an extremely concentrated form of spiritual energy manifesting as liquid, forcefully contained within a small cup.
If someone else had offered him such a concoction, regardless of whether they could even achieve such a feat, 柳不离 would have assumed they intended to kill him. Drinking something like that directly would almost certainly lead to self-detonation.
However, this drink was from Qiyu.
Before offering it to him, Qiyu had herself taken a sip.
Under these circumstances, the notion of her trying to harm him seemed utterly illogical. Moreover, Qiyu's expectant demeanor did not resemble that of someone skilled in deception.
With this thought, 柳不离 sighed.
Meeting her gaze, which was filled with incomprehension, he asked, "Master, in your era, did the gods drink wine like this when they feasted?"
Upon hearing his question, Qiyu nodded earnestly.
Her response was exactly as 柳不离 had surmised. She said, "Yes, but the wine usually served at feasts was of a much higher grade and possessed more spiritual energy than this. Because those deities had more spiritual power than I do, and their essence was richer, the wine they brewed was even more potent than mine."
As she spoke of this, Qiyu seemed a little embarrassed.
Rubbing her cheek, she tried to recommend her own creation again, "But, my little disciple, why don't you try a sip first? I don't know what your current wines are like, but I, your master, am quite particular. While this may not compare to those divine brews, I personally think it's quite good!"
柳不离 could tell that Qiyu genuinely, eagerly wanted him to try it.
But alas, for the sake of his own life, he could only disappoint her expectations.
Explaining the true situation to Qiyu, 柳不离 expressed his distress and helplessness. Qiyu listened with utter astonishment but did not doubt him. She merely blinked and murmured somewhat blankly, "Is life in your world so pitiful? If you cannot even drink this kind of wine, doesn't that mean another path to advancement is lost?"
Indeed, that was the case.
If one could directly consume such wine and absorb its spiritual energy, their cultivation would undoubtedly advance by leaps and bounds over time.
Unfortunately, no cultivator of the present era could achieve this. Attempting to grow stronger through such means was, therefore, impossible.
As 柳不离 pondered these thoughts, he was unaware that while he was deliberating, 陆无名 stepped forward. He asked, "Master, may I try this cup of wine?"
柳不离 immediately wanted to refuse.
Frowning, he asked, "Did you hear what we just said?"
"I did," 陆无名 replied honestly, nodding. "It's precisely because I heard that I wish to try. Master, didn't you say this could make one stronger? Since I won't die anyway, wouldn't it be a shame not to try?"
柳不离 obviously did not agree.
His expression turned grim, and he frowned, "But..."
Before he could finish his sentence, the cup was already in 陆无名's hand. Without any hesitation or pause, he drank the contents in one gulp. Then, blinking, he waited patiently. The sensation of spiritual energy violently erupting within him instantly spread to every part of his body.
At that moment, 陆无名 confirmed that 柳不离 had not been joking.
Thanks to his immortal body, even as his internal organs repeatedly exploded and reformed, he would not truly perish.
But without his regenerative ability, a normal person would likely have exploded and died the instant the potent spiritual energy entered their throat.
陆无名 thought to himself, then gritted his teeth, controlling the expression on his face. Even though the pain within him was almost enough to make him faint, he maintained his composure through sheer willpower. He forced himself to remain rational and quiet, which was precisely why 柳不离 could not discern anything unusual.
The tense silence continued. 柳不离 was unsure whether to blame himself for being too lax or to scold his foolish disciple for being so disobedient.
He held his breath in panic, unsure of what to do or what he could do.
He knew very well that no matter how the wine felt going down, 陆无名 would not be in any mortal danger. Yet, even so, he could not bear to see his foolish disciple in agony. His frown deepened, and 柳不离 was growing frantic.
Neither he nor 陆无名 expected that at this moment, Qiyu, who had been standing by somewhat dazed, suddenly moved. She took a pill from her pocket and, with lightning speed, placed it into 陆无名's mouth.
Watching him swallow it, Qiyu let out a slight sigh of relief and explained, "This pill will help regulate the stagnant spiritual energy within you. Try to circulate your breath in conjunction with it, and you should feel more comfortable."
As she spoke, she supervised 陆无名 for a while longer. Only when she saw that he had visibly improved did she relax slightly.
She then turned to 柳不离 beside her, shaking her head with a hint of worry. "My little disciple's disciple, what's wrong with him? He has a habit of eating things indiscriminately. That's rather foolish!"