With the success of the first trial, Chu Feng naturally had no fear of the challenges ahead.
Following this rhythm, he continued to move forward.
The further he walked, the more eerie the atmosphere became.
After walking for some time, the temperature suddenly dropped sharply.
Once again, the wind sounded with "wu wu", and its frequency increased.
At the beginning, it only occasionally appeared once or twice, but when he reached the middle of the bridge, the eerie sound of the wind never stopped, lingering around his ears.
Even ordinary people, not to mention inner disciples who had completed their Foundation Establishment at Shu Mountain, would likely be scared to death by these sounds, losing their composure and possibly falling into the abyss below.
The Wine Daoist seemed indifferent, focused only on moving forward. If Chu Feng fell, he might just stand by and watch.
"Is this a test for me?" Chu Feng thought to himself, realizing that this "Chance" might not be something anyone could handle.
As he progressed further, Chu Feng discovered that this trial was not simply a test of his physical skills. The surrounding sounds seemed to possess a bewitching ability. If one's will was not firm, a slight mistake could lead to falling into the abyss.
Fortunately, after activating the Thousand Ages Divine Eye, a cool sensation emanated from his left eye, keeping his mind sharp and focused at all times.
He passed the iron rope safely.
The scenery ahead wasn't much better than what he had seen on the way.
According to the Wine Daoist, he lived on this peak. His daily meals were simple, relying on spiritual energy for sustenance. Chu Feng needed to solve his own problems of food, clothing, shelter, and transportation upon arriving here. The environment was highly restrictive, with even worse treatment than that of test disciples.
In the distance, numerous iron ropes connected to a tall tower where demonic energy surged. Occasionally, eerie sounds of wailing could be heard, likely emanating from that Demon-Locking Tower.
Chu Feng was startled. Although he hadn't heard the legends of Shu Mountain, through the introductions on the World Tower Panel, he could guess that cultivators of Shu Mountain were archenemies of demons. The ancient demons confined in the Demon-Locking Tower were highly cultivated and might not even be killable by the head of Shu Mountain.
Demon cultivation progressed faster than orthodox cultivation, but practitioners could lose their humanity, becoming grotesque monsters who ultimately lost their minds and harmed living beings.
Some ancient Demon Kings had cultivated to a high level where ordinary means were ineffective against them. They could even use various dark arts to revive after death. Thus, sealing them away was safer than attempting to kill them.
However, over thousands of years, the number of ancient Demon Kings confined in the Demon-Locking Tower had grown. If one day the seals were broken, it would bring catastrophic disaster to the world.
"Want to drink?" Just as Chu Feng stared at the distant Demon-Locking Tower in a daze, the Wine Daoist suddenly appeared with a wine jug, offering it to him.
"Can I drink this wine?" Chu Feng scratched his head in confusion. Wasn't he still considered underage, even in ancient times?
"Drink. Your method of cultivation is unique. This wine might be somewhat helpful to you," the Wine Daoist said with a gentler expression. His eyes seemed to wander, as if reminiscing about past events.
Chu Feng's heart skipped a beat. From the Wine Daoist's words, he realized the Daoist had discerned the cultivation technique he practiced was the "Great Dao to Immortality."
Even the head of Shu Mountain hadn't noticed, but the Wine Daoist had!
This alone showed the Wine Daoist's extraordinary status.
"Since Senior says so, then I'll drink this jug of wine!" Chu Feng took the wine jug from the Wine Daoist's hand in a courteous manner and promptly gulped down the entire contents in one go!
The Wine Daoist watched in surprise.
"Kid, I didn't expect you to hold your liquor so well. Originally, I planned to share this jug with two people, but you managed to finish it all on your own!"
"Heh heh," Chu Feng chuckled, not bothering to be overly polite with him.
In his previous life, he was a carefree soul who enjoyed drinking alone in a bustling city. When he grew tired, he would drink until he was drunk and then fall asleep, forgetting all his troubles!
"Good wine!" Chu Feng exclaimed after finishing the jug.
After activating the Thousand Ages Divine Eye, his blood had become extraordinary. Normal wine only needed that cool sensation from his left eye to keep him alert at all times.
However, after finishing this jug of wine, he felt a burst of heat throughout his body, as if his throat were on fire.
The scenery before him became hallucinatory, his body felt weightless one moment and heavy the next, and his consciousness gradually blurred.
The Wine Daoist's voice suddenly sounded somewhat helpless.
"This was an Immortal Wine I brewed over many years. I didn't expect you, kid, to finish the whole thing. I was still looking forward to relieving my boredom!"
"Forget it. Over the centuries, I've brewed quite a lot of wine. Fortunately, I still have enough stock to squander!"
"Hmph, I hope you can gain some benefits from this and complete your Foundation Establishment as soon as possible. Otherwise, it would be a waste of my insights into this wine of enlightenment!"
With that, the Wine Daoist casually refilled the jug, then walked toward his small cabin, seeming unconcerned about what might happen to Chu Feng next.
Meanwhile, Chu Feng took a few steps forward, then collapsed to the ground, but instead of lying down, he unconsciously sat cross-legged.
Although the spiritual energy around him was thin, in this environment, Chu Feng felt closer to the essence of the Great Dao, able to contemplate his inner self.
That elusive path, as if separated by a thin film, appeared clearer, touchable, audible after he got drunk.
Of course, Chu Feng didn't rush to find answers. He simply calmed his mind completely, listened to that voice, and felt the change.
He didn't hurry to search for answers.
The incredibly elusive Dao felt like it was behind a thin veil, visible through fog, seen through water.
Although he was far from fully understanding the true essence of the Dao, Chu Feng felt that he was getting closer to grasping something.
His five senses became more and more empty, more and more illusory.
Finally, Chu Feng closed his eyes, no longer thinking about these things, and fell asleep heavily.
He didn't know how long it had passed when he groggily opened his eyes, activated the Thousand Ages Divine Eye, and looked inside himself, only to be stunned.
"Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage?"