Within the Grand Purity Palace, the scent of spirits permeated the air as Taishang had retrieved all the spiritual fruits, a fragrance no one but he knew the origin of.
Tongtian, unable to contain his curiosity, quickly inquired, "Elder Brother, what is this substance? Since my birth, I have never encountered such a heavenly elixir!"
Yuanshi also looked at Taishang with curiosity. He truly had never encountered such a thing and had no idea what it was.
Taishang chuckled and explained, "This thing is called 'jiu' (wine)! It is brewed from spiritual fruits and can be called an elixir to dispel worries!"
Upon hearing this, Tongtian took another cup from the vat and, with a look of satisfaction, remarked, "Elder Brother, if you have such good things, why didn't you bring them out sooner!"
Taishang chuckled and ignored Tongtian. Yuanshi also sighed, "Elder Brother is indeed Elder Brother, knowing so much!"
Taishang's old face blushed. He had merely benefited from the kindness of predecessors. However, now Taishang could not explain clearly, so he shamelessly stated, "This is just something I discovered by chance!"
Yuanshi and Tongtian took it as Taishang's superior intellect and that he possessed more knowledge than the two of them. Tongtian, however, was solely focused on the stone vats, pondering how to persuade Taishang to move them all to his own Supreme Purity Palace.
Just as Tongtian was contemplating what excuse to use, Taishang suddenly took out three jade bottles. After drawing a mystical symbol on the mouths of the bottles, the fruit wine from the stone vats surged into them.
Seeing Taishang collecting all the fruit wine, Tongtian became anxious. As the last few vats were about to be collected by Taishang using spiritual treasures, Tongtian quickly intervened, interrupting Taishang's spell.
Taishang looked at Tongtian with a puzzled expression. Tongtian chuckled upon seeing this.
"Elder Brother, these remaining few vats, would you gift them to your younger brother? I quite like this stuff."
Taishang laughed heartily and replied, "Since Third Brother fancies them, then these remaining vats are yours."
Tongtian was overjoyed. However, his joy was short-lived as he saw Taishang hand one of the jade bottles to Yuanshi.
Tongtian stared in disbelief. That one jade bottle contained the equivalent of far more than just a few vats.
Tongtian couldn't help but exclaim, "Elder Brother, why are you so biased!"
Taishang chuckled and, picking up another jade bottle, said to Tongtian, "Third Brother misunderstands. My original intention was for us brothers to divide it equally. However, since you like those few vats, I will reserve your share to gift to other fellow Daoists later."
Without giving Tongtian a chance to react, Taishang immediately pulled Yuanshi and left the Grand Purity Palace, leaving Tongtian bewildered in the wind.
After Taishang and Yuanshi left the Grand Purity Palace, Taishang looked up and saw that more than half of the spiritual fruit remnants he had placed by the medicinal field were gone. A large panda, black and white, lay drunk beside the pile of spiritual fruit remnants.
Taishang suddenly had an ominous feeling and quickly went to check.
Seeing Bai Yao's drunken state, Taishang became enraged. He had only warned Bai Yao not to bury the spiritual fruit remnants in the medicinal field; he had not told the idiot to eat them clean!
Taishang was so angered by Bai Yao's foolish actions that he was speechless. Yuanshi, seeing Taishang's furious demeanor, couldn't help but ask, "Elder Brother! What is this?"
Taishang could only explain, "Second Brother, although this wine is delicious, it can intoxicate one if drunk in excess. This foolish creature is drunk."
After speaking, Taishang pointed to Bai Yao on the ground and casually restored him to human form.
Taishang looked at Bai Yao, who lay unconscious on the ground, and stepped forward to shake Bai Yao's face.
"Yao'er, wake up!"
Upon waking, Bai Yao saw Taishang and Yuanshi. Dazed, he mistook them for Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao and threw himself into Taishang's arms, saying, "Jin Jiao, you're finally back. Do you know how much I missed you!"
Yuanshi was about to pull Bai Yao away when he suddenly saw Bai Yao fly off into the distance. His elder brother's face had turned as dark as charcoal.
Yuanshi quickly went to retrieve Bai Yao. Seeing that Bai Yao was unharmed, he realized Taishang had not struck him severely, otherwise, with Bai Yao's small physique, he wouldn't have flown so far without sustaining any injuries.
After Yuanshi brought Bai Yao back, Taishang took several deep breaths to suppress the murderous intent in his heart. He then cast a spell to evaporate the alcohol from Bai Yao's system, finally sobering him up.
As soon as Bai Yao woke up, he complained to Taishang, completely unaware of what had just happened.
"Master, I told you not to mess with those spiritual fruits, but you didn't listen. Although these spiritual fruits smell good, they taste awful!"
Bai Yao then pointed to the spiritual fruit dregs beside him.
Yuanshi was deeply shocked by Bai Yao's actions. Which Kunlun disciple dared to speak to his elder brother like that? Coupled with Bai Yao's previous behavior, Yuanshi truly feared that his elder brother might, in a fit of rage, strike Bai Yao down with a single palm.
Taishang listened to Bai Yao's complaints and couldn't help but say, "I only told you to deal with the dregs, not to eat them!"
Bai Yao retorted, "Master, besides eating, is there any other way?"
Taishang rolled his eyes and asked, "Tell me honestly, who taught you to manage the medicinal field? Was it Jin Jiao?"
Upon hearing this, Bai Yao lowered his head and remained silent. Seeing Bai Yao's expression, Taishang understood. He couldn't help but say, "He didn't teach you how to manage the medicinal field, did he? He managed it for you, didn't he?"
Taishang had originally planned to hand the Purple Gold Gourd and the Jade Net Bottle to Bai Yao to take to the Heavenly Court. But seeing Bai Yao's performance just now, he feared that this fool would be taken advantage of and not even realize it.
Taishang couldn't help but roar, "From now on, you will stay in the medicinal field and diligently study the staff and rod techniques that your Uncle-Master Tongtian passed down to you. You are not to go anywhere until you have mastered them!"
With a wave of his hand, Taishang then shoveled the spiritual fruit dregs into the medicinal field and, fuming, swept away.