The hall was filled with the clinking of cups and the cheerful chatter of people toasting each other.
The spiritual wine, brewed with ten-thousand-year-old vintage, was not only rich in flavor but also carried an extraordinary aura and spirit after its long maturation.
Even Iron Old Fourth and Iron Mo, imperial-level connoisseurs among colossal beasts, could only manage about twenty catties before their eyes grew hazy with drunkenness.
As for Patriarch Li Bai, hailed as the Wine Sword Immortal of a generation, he had barely downed a catty of wine before he sold himself to the Lin family, signing a contract without a second word. He was now poised to become the first godfather of the primary dark organization on the mother star.
Da Yu shook his head with a wry smile and said to Lin Zhan with a helpless tone:
"Zhan'er, my child, please give your old ancestor some peace. Currently, Huaxia is the king in the outside world. Except for those serving as generals under Wu Ding, only the two kings of the Great Han are in charge of logistics at the royal court. You've taken all the rest, and they're all here working for you, leaving us old fellows without anyone to command."
Lin Zhan, his face flushed red from drinking, slurred his words:
"Old Ancestor, don't you think I know that each of you old folks is hiding a legion? Take our own Xuanniao Army, for instance. Besides Patriarch Bigan and Patriarch Wenzhong, there must be at least ten kings in the army."
"You old scoundrels are all so sly. Besides, even if I'm to do the work, you should give me some helpers, shouldn't you? Otherwise, relying on my Golden-tier little brothers, wouldn't we just be fodder for the ten thousand races?"
Seeing Da Yu about to get angry, Lin Zhan waved to a nearby maid. The maid quickly brought over two food boxes, one large and one small.
Turning back to Da Yu, he said:
"Old Ancestor, this large food box contains a full spread prepared according to today's standard. Take it back for the other ancestors to taste. It also includes three jars of ten-thousand-year spiritual wine, each hundred catties. This small food box contains the dishes you particularly enjoyed tonight, thirty-six dishes prepared just for you, along with a jar of ten-thousand-year spiritual wine."
He then continued, looking at Da Yu:
"Old Ancestor, Zhan'er knows that you elders care for me. Without the support of all you ancestors, no matter how much I could leap and bound, I would at best be a Platinum-tier shrimp right now, nothing at all."
"Please rest assured, esteemed ancestors, Zhan'er and these brothers will not disgrace Huaxia. This great banner of Huaxia, we will carry it forward even if we have to give our lives."
With that, Lin Zhan stood up unsteadily, bowed deeply to Da Yu, and shouted loudly, "Please rest assured, Old Ancestor, Huaxia will forever stand among the heavens, unshakeable for eternity."
After speaking, he slumped down with a thud.
Da Yu nodded with a hint of emotion. Looking at the younger Daoist priests who had also drunk a bit too much, he waved to a maid nearby to help the two of them away.
Then, he exchanged glances with Iron Old Fourth and Iron Mo. Their eyes were clear, devoid of any trace of drunkenness.
"Old Fifth, Old Fourth, and I are leaving. Huaxia will be left in your and Old Sixth's defense. Your Imperial Uncle Hou Yi needs to visit Asgard to see if the battles there also involve the presence of the ten thousand races."
Iron Mo nodded and said, "Rest assured, Brother Yu. With our Shitie Beast clan here, Huaxia will be safe. Old Sixth has already dug pits for those old fellows of the ten thousand races. They're just waiting to fall in. We'll bury one for each one that comes."
Da Yu nodded in agreement. After all, Iron Old Sixth had perfectly inherited the mischievous attribute of the Shitie Beast ancestor. All the members of the ten thousand races who died at his hands were tricked to their deaths.
Seeing that Da Yu still wanted to ask something, Iron Mo quickly said, "I understand, Brother Yu. I also think highly of this kid Lin Zhan. Didn't Patriarch Ming Ya say that the younger one's fortune was also tied to Lin Zhan?"
Da Yu nodded and said:
"Indeed, that old charlatan was surprisingly accurate. Otherwise, your old man wouldn't have sealed Xiao Bao when he was still young. Alright, we'll have to catch up properly another time. Old Fourth and I are leaving now."
Iron Mo nodded, then said with a worried expression:
"Brother Yu, you and Imperial Uncle Hou Yi must be careful. Your main bodies have not yet recovered. If these avatars were to perish, it would be troublesome."
Da Yu nodded, placed Iron Old Fourth into the Human Emperor's Kingdom, and tore through the void with a wave of his hand, entering it directly.
Iron Mo shook his head. Looking at the few kings who were genuinely drunk and snoring, he grumbled, "A bunch of fools."
With that, he put away an unopened jar of ten-thousand-year spiritual wine from the table and turned, disappearing into the void as well.
Suddenly, a bear paw reached out from the void and picked up the half-full jar of ten-thousand-year spiritual wine from the table, shaking it:
"There's still quite a bit left. It would be a waste to give it to these fools. Better for Grandpa Mo to enjoy it."
Outside the villa, the four younger ones suddenly glowed with golden light, and the four colossal beasts instantly transformed into four adorable creatures, each about a foot in size.
"Damn it, brothers, we finally succeeded! Let's hurry inside for dinner, or those old guys will gobble it all up."
The four little ones rushed into the room and saw that the kings were all being helped away by attendants to rest, and the table was completely bare. They were so angry they almost wailed:
"These old guys are so heartless! They didn't even leave us any soup."
"Why have you four become so small?" Zhang Lingxiu's voice came from behind the four little ones.
Looking at Zhang Lingxiu, the four little ones said with a hint of grievance:
"Big Sister-in-law, it's just that after we four advanced, our bodies became too large to fit into the room. Xiao Bao's fifth brother taught us a technique, and now we can change our size at will."
Zhang Lingxiu looked at the four little ones curiously and nodded:
"That's really good. This is much better. It was indeed too troublesome like before with your large sizes. Well, don't be upset, each of you. I've saved some dishes for you, all your favorites."
She then took out four crystal bottles, each containing about two catties of ten-thousand-year spiritual wine, and said to the four little ones:
"These four bottles are the ten-thousand-year spiritual wine. I saved them for you in advance. Your elder brother said this stuff is too precious, so he couldn't give you whole jars."
Watching as the maid set up a table for the four little ones, although not on the same level as Iron Mo's, it still had thirty-six dishes and various pastries and fruits.
Zhang Lingxiu placed the four bottles of ten-thousand-year spiritual wine on the table and then said to the four little ones, "You four eat quickly. I'm going back now. Your elder brother drank too much, and I need to take care of him."
The four little ones nodded gratefully and said, "Understood, Big Sister-in-law. You should also rest early."
Watching Zhang Lingxiu's figure ascend the stairs, Xiao Hei sighed and said, "Ever since I can remember, Big Sister-in-law has treated us the best."
Xiao Ji also nodded and said, "Me too."
"Then it's settled, brothers. If Elder Brother wants to keep a second wife in the future, we'll be the first to object."