The sudden appearance of Gong Cheng significantly dampened Luo Huasheng and Ye Guichen's interest in drinking.

Before Ye Guichen could even speak, Luo Huasheng had already stood up, his bald head and explosive muscles leaving an intimidating impression.

Luo Huasheng walked up to Gong Cheng and asked, "Who are you?"

"I'm Gong Cheng from Medicine King Valley, and these two barrels of spiritual spring water belong to us!" Gong Cheng remained calm.

Even if the other party was from the Buddhist sect, they dared not easily provoke him.

Zhang Chongchen hurriedly pulled Luo Huasheng aside and briefly explained the situation.

After listening, Ye Guichen chuckled, "Hehe, Elder Gong, these two barrels of spiritual spring water are from your Medicine King Valley? What evidence do you have?"

"What evidence do you need!" Gong Cheng scoffed, "Surely, you haven't been informed that every three years, the spiritual spring beneath Qingcheng Mountain must change hands. For these three years, we've been the ones mining it from Medicine King Valley. Even Master Zhang acknowledges this. Are you saying you don't even trust the words of Master Zhang?"

Ye Guichen looked up at Zhang Chongchen, "Brother Zhang, is that how it is?"

Zhang Chongchen nodded, "That's right, this spiritual spring water is incredibly magical. Although it's under Qingcheng Mountain, even we at Heavenly Master Tao have no right to it. Every three years, there's an auction to determine the ownership of the spring. For the past three years, it has belonged to Medicine King Valley, but in a few days, the triennial auction will commence again, and who knows who it will belong to then."

"Hmph, Daoist Zhang, that's not quite accurate." Sensing the insinuation in Zhang Chongchen's words, Gong Cheng snorted coldly, "Spiritual spring water greatly benefits our medicine refinement. Medicine King Valley can use it to save lives and help the wounded. Even if it's up for auction, it will certainly belong to us."

Zhang Chongchen, unwilling to argue with Gong Cheng, lowered his head and stayed silent.

Ye Guichen sneered, "Save lives and help the wounded? Heh, does Medicine King Valley even deserve to use those words?"

Saying this, Ye Guichen walked up to Gong Cheng, "These two barrels of spiritual spring water are mine. If you want to take them, let's see if you're capable."

"What? You... you want to oppose Medicine King Valley?" Gong Cheng's complexion darkened.

Ye Guichen laughed coldly, "Is Medicine King Valley even worthy of opposing me? Just wait, when the time comes for the auction of the spiritual spring, our Shennong Sect will participate."

"Shennong Sect?" Gong Cheng was taken aback, "Who are you?"

"Sect Leader of Shennong Sect, Ye Guichen." As he spoke, Ye Guichen picked up a barrel of spiritual spring water, poured out all the wine from the bowl in front of Luo Huasheng, filled it with spiritual spring water, then filled his own bowl and passed it to Zhang Chongchen, "Brother Zhang, this water indeed tastes better than mineral water, with a natural sweetness. Come on, have a drink."

Zhang Chongchen didn't dare drink.

Currently, the Taoist sect and Medicine King Valley are not at war or on bad terms. Drinking a bowl of spiritual spring water would entangle him further.

Additionally, to drink spiritual spring water as if it were mineral water would be a tremendous waste.

Zhang Chongchen wasn't sure what spiritual spring water was exactly, but he'd heard Zhang Chonglou mention that drinking it over the years could prolong life and ward off all diseases.

It sounded rather miraculous, perhaps even exaggerated, but there was no doubt it was a good thing.

Seeing Zhang Chongchen hesitate, Ye Guichen didn't insist, tilting his head back to down it himself.

Seeing Gong Cheng still there, Ye Guichen poured another cup, "What is it, Elder Gong? Is there something else?"

Gong Cheng's face flushed purple with anger. He never expected Ye Guichen to be so audacious, "You brat! You've got guts! Fine, you're determined to oppose Medicine King Valley, aren't you?"

"I told you, you're thinking too highly of yourself." Ye Guichen waved him off, "While I'm in a good mood, get lost quickly. Otherwise, believe me, I'll stuff these leftover bones in your mouth?"

"Fine, kid, you've got some nerve! Just you wait! Just you wait!" Gong Cheng was furious, but seeing Ye Guichen disregarding him, realized there was no benefit to staying, pointed angrily at Ye Guichen, and left.

Ye Guichen sneered, "Medicine King Valley, what a joke."

Then he sat down and said to Luo Huasheng, "Come on, Huasheng, drink up!"

Luo Huasheng didn't care much for the confrontation, seemingly aware the spiritual spring water was of great value. He took a sip, his eyes lighting up instantly, then he gulped down the entire bowl and praised, "Delicious! Absolutely delicious! After drinking this, I feel invigorated and want to go out and practice a set of boxing techniques!"

"Then go practice!" Ye Guichen laughed heartily, grabbing a jar of white wine with his left hand and the remaining half barrel of spiritual spring water with his right, striding out.

Fueled by the wine's effects, Luo Huasheng quickly made his way to the courtyard.

The Heavenly Master Tao's houses were all bungalows with a history of over a hundred years. Though they had undergone countless renovations, they still retained their original appearance.

Ye Guichen's courtyard wasn't large but was a private one, used by Heavenly Master Tao to host distinguished guests.

Upon reaching the backyard, Ye Guichen found himself energized, as if he had boundless strength, and started to move around.

While moving, the alcohol and spiritual spring water in both his hands didn't spill a drop.

Luo Huasheng performed the Hidden Tiger Fist Technique with great vigor, like he had truly transformed into a fierce tiger.

Seeing this, Zhang Chongchen could only smile wryly, quickly leaving to report to Zhang Chonglou.

Meanwhile, in another room,

Gongsun Fengying was holding an elder's hand, speaking softly with intimacy.

The elder affectionately stroked Gongsun Fengying's hair, "Young lady, it seems that young man named Ye Guichen is indeed something special, doesn't he?"

"Hmph, Grandpa, what's so special about him? He's just a show-off," Gongsun Fengying pouted, lifting her head in apparent reluctance to talk further about Ye Guichen. She changed the topic, "By the way, Grandpa, even if the Eternal Life Hall shows up again, you don't have to go to the Heavenly Master Tao in person, do you? Whatever it is could be said over the phone, and besides, you could have my dad go instead."

"Haha, young lady, I'm just here to chat with Master Zhang, and besides, this time I want to resolve a personal matter." The elder took Gongsun Fengying by the shoulders, straightening her up to gaze into her eyes, "Do you remember the engagement I set up for you with Master Zhang when you were little?"

Gongsun Fengying's expression turned peculiar, but she nodded, "I seem to remember, but I never took it seriously. Hmph, I haven't even thought about marriage, I want to stay with Grandpa. Besides, my health's improving gradually, and I need to focus on my cultivation, so I have no mind for such things."

The elder stated seriously, "Young lady, these are separate matters. Cultivation and marriage don't conflict; even after marriage, your cultivation won't be affected, it might even help."

Gongsun Fengying looked dejected, "No, Grandpa, I'm still young. I haven't considered these things yet."

"Knock, knock!"

The elder was about to say something when there was a sudden knock at the door.

The elder smiled gently, "They're here, young lady, go open the door."