Absolute Destiny Game
Chapter 387 - 25: Turmoil Lies Ahead in the Worldly Society

Chapter 387: Chapter 25: Turmoil Lies Ahead in the Worldly Society

Xiao Jie rode up to the Mad Taoist and glanced at the name above his head, but he was slightly surprised.

Mad Taoist: Level 13 civilian, Life Value 300.

Eh, he actually leveled up three levels since our last encounter. Could NPCs also level up by fighting monsters?

He dismounted and smiled, "Daoist, long time no see. How have you been lately?"

The Mad Taoist sighed, "How can I be good? Those Xuanxu Palace old Taoists have gone mad, and sent many returnees to hunt me down. I’ve been hiding in the gullies of the mountains for who knows how long just to slightly avoid their pursuit.

Now, I can’t go to Xiaofeng City anymore and can only wander around this remote and desolate place, hoping to find the destined one to pass on my Immortal Technique Secret and ensure the survival of my Immortal Business."

Xiao Jie thought to himself, this lunatic still wants to sell his fake secret books?

The Mad Taoist was still rambling to himself, "It’s a pity that there’s not even a tavern in this godforsaken place, let alone fine wine. Even watered-down poor wine isn’t available. Young brother, the fine wine you gave me last time has been unforgettable. Though it can’t compare with the Immortal Brew from the heavens, it was a rare delicious treat on earth. Do you still carry any with you? Give me another bottle to taste."

Xiao Jie thought giving him another bottle wouldn’t really hurt. He opened his backpack and glanced inside, then suddenly an idea struck him.

He spotted another type of wine in the bag—Immortal Drunk.

This wine was something he learned to brew during his time learning Qi Refining Skill in Konglao Mountain. Back in the city, he made a few bottles while idle, but unfortunately, it wasn’t very popular. The main issue was that the benefits it provided were a bit abstract.

[Immortal Drunk (Fine Wine)

Usage: +1 satiety, gives you the ’Drunk Immortal’ buff.

Item Introduction: An ancient beverage, said to have been brewed by an Immortal before his Ascension. The drinker enters a dreamlike state, neither entirely sober nor drunk.]

Xiao Jie had also tried a bottle, and aside from acquiring a ’Drunk Immortal’ status above his head, there was no change.

The description of ’Drunk Immortal’ was ambiguous. Xiao Jie tried various methods but couldn’t discern any clear effects.

He tried selling two bottles in the auction house, couldn’t sell them even for one silver.

Seeing this bottle of Immortal Drunk, he suddenly remembered something the Mad Taoist had once mentioned. When he offered him wine back then, the Mad Taoist had said, "Though this wine is good, it sadly cannot compare to the Immortal Brew in the Immortal Palace..."

If this guy’s real identity was indeed an Immortal, and his avatar retained some of the original’s memories, giving him this drink might just trigger a hidden plot.

Thinking this, Xiao Jie decisively clicked on Immortal Drunk in his backpack and right-clicked to gift it to the Mad Taoist.

"Hey, what kind of wine did you give me?" The Mad Taoist looked puzzled as he examined the bottle in his hand.

"This is an Immortal’s brew, Daoist. Isn’t it what you’ve been longing for from the Immortal Palace? Try this and see how it compares."

The Mad Taoist grinned and said, "You sly kid, always trying to fool me. How could Immortal Brew be so easily obtained? Well, let me taste it first."

Saying this, he lifted the wine jug and drained it in one go.

Xiao Jie watched the Mad Taoist expectantly, but after a moment, apart from a new ’Drunk Immortal’ buff above his head, there was no change.

Instead, with a disdainful expression, he said, "What garbage is this? It tastes like plain water, too bland, far worse than what you gave me before.

Ah, you young people, if you don’t intend to give me fine wine, just say so. Why bother tricking me with this watered-down stuff?

Wuwuwu, poor old Daoist, I’ve hidden for so long and can’t even drink a good wine, even my old acquaintance here is deceiving me. How miserable I am."

Xiao Jie watched the Mad Taoist throwing a tantrum on the ground and was momentarily speechless, thinking that he hadn’t triggered any special stories?

"Are you sure there’s nothing special?"

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey, you call this Immortal Brew? Even a dog wouldn’t drink it," he said, tossing the wine bottle aside.

Xiao Jie sighed; it seemed triggering hidden plots wasn’t so easy.

"Here’s a jug of Monkey Wine; try this one, Daoist."

"Oh yes, yes, this is what you call fine wine!" The Daoist was overjoyed and gulped it down.

Glug, glug, glug, he downed a whole bottle in one go, then stood up wiping his mouth.

"Good wine, good wine! Young brother, you’ve really helped me out.

Unfortunately, I have nothing valuable to repay you with. You already have the only Immortal Technique Secret but, hey, how about I divine your fortune? It’s the least I can do to repay you for the wine. I’m not boasting, but I have some skill in divination—predicting five hundred years into the future and three thousand years into the past, nothing in heaven and earth I can’t divine.

I usually don’t do divinations for just anyone. If I set up a stall in the city, I’d charge at least two or three taels of silver."

He then made a show of calculating with his fingers.

"Ah—Got it!

I’ve seen some clues about your past and future. Here’s a divination poem for you, listen carefully!"

Xiao Jie eagerly listened.

"Journeys in the worldly society will twist and turn, seeking scriptures and asking about the Dao will test you much.

A Demon Star you can’t avoid, why worry about different paths leading to the same end."

Xiao Jie puzzled, "What does this mean?"

"It can’t be explained, can’t be explained. When you achieve fame and success, you will naturally understand its profound meaning."

Xiao Jie was half-convinced. This Mad Taoist was just an avatar of an Evil Man; logically, he shouldn’t possess significant powers, but these things were hard to predict. When he gave him the Immortal Technique Secret before, it turned into the Unnamed Taoist Scripture: Human Dao Chapter.

This divination poem he spoke might not necessarily be worthless.

After all, his original identity was probably an Immortal.

"Thanks for the divination poem, Daoist. Do you have anything else to say?"

"Nothing else, nothing else. Oh my, this wine really packs a punch. I need to take a nap first."

"Hold on!" the Mad Taoist exclaimed, lying down under a ruined wall and quickly falling asleep.

Xiao Jie turned to look at the others, but they exchanged puzzled glances, especially Hidden Dragon, who thought, "Is this what they call a fortuitous encounter?"

Xiao Jie chuckled bitterly and shook his head. "Let’s go, we should be on our way."

After the group had disappeared on horseback, the Mad Taoist lying on the ground suddenly opened his eyes. Watching the direction they had gone, the crazy smile on his face gradually faded. He picked up a bottle from the ground, poured the last few drops into his mouth, and savored it.

All of a sudden, he burst into laughter and began to sing wildly.

"Immortal Brew, relieve my sorrow.

Fine wine, dispel my separation woes.

Muddled and confused, dreams come often when drunk.

Once enlightened, I shall wander no more.

Though mad and crazy, I was once an immortal.

The great path is distant, but perhaps we will meet again.

Young lad, you’ve helped me immensely, letting me discover who I am. Yet, this is all the help I can offer."

Suddenly, his expression turned cold as if he sensed something. He pinched a magic formula and vanished instantly.

Shortly afterward, two horses galloped over lightning-fast. The riders dismounted; one whistled, and an eagle immediately descended from the sky.

"Hey, how come he’s gone? My baby clearly identified the target!" exclaimed one Level 19 Beast Tamer in surprise.

The other Level 19 Swordsman, silent, searched the surroundings but found nothing.

The duo had accepted a bounty mission from the Xuanxu Palace to find the Evil Man, Mad Taoist, and Foolish Taoist.

They dared not mess with the Evil Man, but they had killed several Mad and Foolish Taoists before. Little by little, they hoped they might just earn a place as menials at the Xuanxu Palace.

Unfortunately, many had taken on this task, and recently, with more wolves than meat, it was tough to accumulate enough reputation.

Frustrated by the disappearance of a found Mad Taoist, both were quite anxious.

"Are you looking for me?"

Suddenly, a voice came from behind them.

Turning around, they saw the Mad Taoist standing there, which made them overly joyful.

The Swordsman said, "Esteemed Taoist, we brothers have something to discuss with you; please stand still, let’s move closer and talk this through."

The Beast Tamer also excitedly said, "Yes, yes, we’re coming over."

However, the Mad Taoist just laughed loudly. "No need to come over, I’ll come to you." As he spoke, he raised his hand; a mass of crimson thunder condensed in his palm. His face still wore a smile, but his eyes revealed a cold killing intent.

————

Xiao Jie had no idea what consequences his bottle of Immortal Drunk had caused. At that moment, the group had arrived at the border between Fengyin State and Canglin State—Jiaomu Ridge.

This mountain ridge marked the boundary between the two states. However, due to the convergence of leylines, flames burst forth, scorching the trees of Jiaomu Ridge, hence its name.

Not only did the eruptions of fire from the ground pose a threat to players, but the monsters here were also quite tricky: Fire Spirits, Molten Rock Pythons, Mountain Fire Puppets, Flame Zombies...

All were monsters of Level 20 to 30, with very high damage.

Even with the strength of four, carving a way through was perilous, not to mention they also had a newcomer with them.

Fortunately, Jiaomu Ridge was not unbreachable. At a convoluted part of the mountain, there was a river they could follow downstream to reach Canglin State.

Having been here once before, Hidden Dragon became familiar with the terrain and led the group to the riverbank, only to find a boatman dozing off at the dock.

Hidden Dragon approached and said, "Boatman, we need to go to Canglin State. Could you ferry us across?"

"Naturally, though with merfolk currently causing trouble in the river—I’ll need to charge extra."

After shelling out five taels of silver, they finally boarded the boat. The vessel drifted slowly down the stream, with everyone standing at the bow maintaining vigilance.

Initially, they were somewhat tense, but soon realized it might have been an overreaction.

They encountered no monsters along the way, but the river grew rougher, making them slightly uneasy.

"No need to worry," the old boatman reassured them. "I’ve been rowing in this Canglin River for decades. I could do it with my eyes closed. As long as we don’t run into any merfolk obstructing the way, there should be no risk."

Xiao Jie felt slightly relieved inside, but still couldn’t let his guard down completely since they were playing with their lives at stake.

And Haoye Xinghe was even more nervous than the rest.

Watching the boat rise and fall with the waves, everyone’s hearts followed the undulating rhythm.

After a while, the waters calmed and entered a large lake, stabilizing the boat. Only then did the group breathe a sigh of relief.

The boatman smiled, "See, old man wasn’t bragging—it’s safe from here. This is ’Jiang Lake’. Once you cross this lake, you’ll arrive at Canglin State. Just wait to disembark."

Just as Xiao Jie was about to relax, the boatman’s words made him pause—Jiang Lake? Was this the ’worldly society’ the mad Taoist’s divination poem spoke of?

The first line started with ’Your journey will have twists and turns’.

Could the Mad Taoist have been referring to this place?

"Feng—look!" I Want to Be Immortal suddenly shouted.

Xiao Jie looked up and saw a huge whirlpool forming on the surface of the lake!