Translator: Ashish
Translation Checker: Silavin
At this moment, seemingly aware of Yu Zi Yu’s scrutinizing gaze, the Panda suddenly turned his head and grinned, asking, “Divine Tree, have you thought of a name for me?”
“A name, huh?” Yu Zi Yu then smiled and nodded.
“What is it?” the Panda asked with a hint of surprise, looking a bit excited.
“Do you enjoy drinking alcohol?” Yu Zi Yu threw another question, and did not give a direct answer.
“Drink alcohol?” The Panda was momentarily taken aback, and a little puzzled.
But after a moment, as if he had realized something, the Panda’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Are you talking about the alcohol of Humans?”
“No.” Yu Zi Yu shook his head slightly, a sly smile forming on his lips.
He then looked towards a nearby Golden Monkey and said, “Fetch some Monkey Wine for the Panda.”
“Yes, Lord Divine Tree.” Pursing his lips into a smile, the Golden Monkey immediately dashed towards the depths of Misty Mountains.
As for the ‘Monkey Wine,’ it was something Golden Monkey had found by chance when he tamed a group of monkeys.
Legend had it that the Monkeys stored all kinds of fruits in a hole, initially intending to store them for the winter. However, when there was no shortage of food in the winter, the Monkeys forgot that they ever stored fruit in the hole, and then, the fruits gradually fermented over time, turning into Monkey Wine.
Such a naturally brewed wine was a stroke of luck. Moreover, due to the resurgence of Spiritual Energy and the abundance of Spirit Flowers and Fruits, the Monkey Wine was particularly precious. The Spiritual Energy in it was no less than a huge opportunity for ordinary Mutant Beasts.
However, this kind of fine wine was not suitable for Tier-0 Mutant Beasts. Even Golden Monkey took a sip of it only once in a while.
In fact, even the Panda needed to be cautious because of the abundance of Spirit Fruits in the Monkey Wine.
With so many Spirit Fruits in the wine, it was a great test on the drinker’s body. Yet, it was perfect for entertaining the Panda.
Furthermore, based on Yu Zi Yu’s speculation, the Panda had been devouring Fire-Attribute Spirit Stones for a long time, which had made his Spiritual Energy excessively violent and unstable. So, cleansing it with strong alcohol like Monkey Wine might be beneficial for his condition.
Much to the Panda’s eager anticipation, Golden Monkey returned with a sealed stone jar in no time.
“Is this the Monkey Wine?” the Panda asked in surprise as he sniffed the air.
After careful consideration, the Panda’s eyes widened in astonishment.
[This rich fragrance…] Taken aback, the Panda ran and took the stone jar from Golden Monkey’s hands before opening it without a moment of hesitation.
However, this was a grave mistake. The moment the jar was opened, it caused a great uproar among the Mutant Beasts in the entire canyon as a rich aroma of wine spread.
The less powerful Mutant Beasts, such as the Storm Wolves, had their faces turned red with intoxication.
“Step back,” a voice echoed in their ears.
Hearing the voice of the Divine Tree, the Storm Wolves quickly retreated towards the exit of the canyon. However, if one observed their steps carefully, they seemed a bit unsteady.
Clearly, the Monkey Wine’s aroma alone had intoxicated a large group of Mutant Beasts.
Meanwhile…
“Great wine, great wine…” Peals of laughter rang through the canyon. In the heart of North Canyon, a Panda was swaying back and forth, hugging the stone jar. Eventually, it slumped down on the ground.
As Yu Zi Yu observed the flushed face of the Panda, he could not help but wonder just how much he had drunk.
At that moment, as if he had sensed Yu Zi Yu’s gaze, the Panda suddenly raised his head and stated, “Lord Divine Tree, I like it, I really like it, I feel like I’ve fallen in love with this taste.”
Saying so, the Panda once again lifted the stone jar.
As the crystal-clear liquid poured into his mouth, the aroma of the wine filled the canyon.
*Gulp* In the distance, watching the Panda drinking the Monkey Wine heartily, White Tiger could not help but swallow saliva, a look of amazement on his face.
While others might not know, he was well aware of the effects of the wine.
When Golden Monkey first harvested the Monkey Wine, he had taken just a sip, a small sip. But just after taking that sup, he felt dizzy and could not even walk steadily.
Now, as he watched the Panda drinking the Monkey Wine so freely, White Tiger felt like the Panda was drinking fake Monkey Wine.
At this moment, as if he had sensed White Tiger’s doubtful gaze, the nearby Golden Monkey suddenly threw a gourd at him.
“Third Brother, I’ve saved a sip for you.”
“Good job.” With a loud laugh, the White Tiger bit into the gourd.
In a moment, the fiery-hot liquor flowed down his throat, searing his throat.
*Roar, Roar, Roar…* The next moment, White Tiger started roaring in pain, rolling on the ground, stimulated by the spiciness of the Monkey Wine.
“So hot, so hot…” White Tiger cried in pain, almost in tears.
*Haaa…* Sighing, a helpless look appeared on Golden Monkey’s face.
[Indeed, as Lord Divine Tree had said, most people could not enjoy this fine wine. Only those with Innate Talent like ‘Extreme Absorption’ and bodies like the Panda could withstand the hotness of Monkey Wine and then savor its delicious fragrance.]
Watching the Panda joyfully drinking, Yu Zi Yu could not help but smile. Just as he had expected, the Panda loved Monkey Wine.
Firstly, Monkey Wine was quite an exquisite wine, and if one could withstand its spiciness, it would undoubtedly become irresistible to the naturally greedy Panda.
The second reason was the Panda itself.
Having consumed Fire-Attribute Spirit Stones for a long time, his body was already filled with extremely violent Fire-Attribute Spiritual Energy. Normally, it might not have been that apparent, but during his recent explosive display of power, especially when he unleashed the massive Fireball, it was evident.
The Panda was now finding it difficult to control his own rampaging Spiritual Energy.
And Monkey Wine happened to neutralize the rampant Spiritual Energy within the Panda’s body, allowing him to refine his body further. The benefits were self-evident.
Rather than saying that Yu Zi Yu knew the Panda liked Monkey Wine, it was more accurate to say that he could see that the Panda’s body required Monkey Wine.
Thinking of this, Yu Zi Yu looked at the plump figure not far away and smiled, saying, “Now, can I ask you again, do you like to drink alcohol?”
“I like it, I love it,” the Panda responded excitedly.
In his enthusiastic response, the Panda used his claws to wipe the glistening drops of wine from the corners of his mouth. Then, with reluctance, he licked the paw that had touched the wine, before stating, “Lord Divine Tree, I have not come to the wrong place. I did not expect to find such delicious wine here. If I had known, I would have come earlier.”
Yu Zi Yu chuckled before he changed the topic and stated, “Since you like to drink, how about I call you the ‘Brewmaster’ from now on?”
“Brewmaster?” The Panda was at a loss for words, slightly puzzled.
“The finest wine experts in the world are called Brewmasters. Since you enjoy drinking, in the future, the difference between you and these top-notch wine experts should not be too far. So, the name ‘Brewmaster’ should be suitable for you,” Yu Zi Yu explained.
“Okay.” The Panda repeatedly nodded as a tinge of excitement filled his face. He liked this name very much. Or, to be more accurate, he had already fallen in love with the word ‘brew.’
With that in mind, the Panda got up from the ground and looked around at the many Mutant Beasts.
“In the future, I will be called Brewmaster. Don’t forget.”
Saying this, the Panda looked back at Yu Zi Yu and laughed, “Lord Divine Tree, I heard from the big guy that the highest status among you is the ‘Nine Great Beasts.’ I wonder if there’s any hope for me.”
“Uh…” Yu Zi Yu was at a loss for words for a moment, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.
Actually, he had regarded the Panda as an ally, someone with a similar status. On the other hand, the Nine Great Beasts were a force under Yu Zi Yu’s command.
The two positions were not on the same level.
However, after looking at the Panda’s eager gaze, Yu Zi Yu contemplated for a moment and carefully chose his words, “Now, under my command, there are already six Great Beasts already. If you want to become one of the Beasts, you can become the Ninth Great Beast.”
“Nine is an extreme number, and the Ninth Great Beast represents both mystery and terror… Alright.”
(Ashish: In Chinese culture, the number 9 is often associated with the concept of “forever” or “eternity” because it sounds similar to the word for “long-lasting” or “forever” (久, pronounced as “jiǔ”). It is considered an auspicious number, and it’s often used in various contexts to signify longevity, permanence, and positive outcomes. The number 9 is also linked to the idea of completeness and fulfillment.)