The news spread like wildfire, faster than any storm or battle ever had. Red banners adorned with golden letters fluttered across every city, village, and fortress in the Immortal Realms. The declaration from the Immortal Emperor was simple but powerful: The Enemy Has Been Defeated!
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, the realms could breathe freely. Across the lands, immortals and mortals alike celebrated in the streets, temples, and grand halls. The threat of the Devourer of Nihility, the looming darkness that had threatened to consume existence itself, had been vanquished—or so the people were told. The details were carefully omitted from the official declarations, but rumors spread swiftly through the realm.
And one rumor, in particular, captured the imagination of everyone.
In taverns, marketplaces, and cultivation sects, the story was told again and again—how a drunken wanderer, clad in tattered red and white robes, had stumbled onto the battlefield at the height of the conflict. The armies had been fighting valiantly, but the Devourer’s minions had proven nearly impossible to defeat. It had taken every ounce of strength for the immortal soldiers to bring down just one of the monstrous creatures.
Yet, this old drunkard, a man with bloodshot eyes and unkempt hair, had supposedly walked right into the middle of the fray. He had taken a swig from his flask, swiped his sword once, and in that single motion, 1,000 of the Devourer’s minions—creatures the armies had struggled to fight even one-on-one—were obliterated.
The tale sounded like a drunken exaggeration, but the witnesses who had survived the battle swore it was true. Zui Tian, the legendary figure who had been whispered about for eras, had revealed himself in a single, devastating act of power.
As the story spread, Zui Tian’s legend grew.
“Did you hear? They say he was so drunk, he could barely stand, but the moment he touched his sword, the entire battlefield shook.”
“They say his wine flask is endless, and each sip gives him the power to reshape reality.”
“Some say he’s not just a drunkard, but an ancient being—older than the Immortal Emperor himself!”
“That can’t be true… can it?”
“Who knows? But I heard that after the battle, he disappeared like smoke, leaving behind only the smell of strong wine and the devastation of his enemies.”
In the capital city of the Immortal Realms, the grand halls were filled with laughter, song, and celebration. Fireworks of spiritual energy lit the skies in dazzling colors, and immortal cultivators toasted to their victory. The streets were lined with musicians, dancers, and performers, all celebrating the defeat of the Devourer’s forces. Children ran through the streets, waving banners, and street vendors handed out food and drinks to the celebrating masses.
In the midst of all this, the Immortal Emperor stood atop his balcony overlooking the capital city. His heart, though lighter than it had been in many years, was still filled with a strange sense of uncertainty. Yes, the enemy had been defeated, but the method of victory still lingered in his mind. He turned to his trusted advisor, a man who had stood by his side for countless centuries.
“Do you think they truly understand what happened?” the Immortal Emperor asked, his voice low, as his gaze scanned the endless sea of celebration below.
The advisor, an elderly immortal with a long, white beard and kind eyes, shook his head. “No, Your Majesty. They know only that they are safe. The people crave hope, and the story of a mysterious hero, an old drunkard with a magic sword, gives them just that. They don’t need the details of how close we came to annihilation.”
The Immortal Emperor nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. “Zui Tian… he saved us all, didn’t he? And yet, no one truly knows who he is or what he represents. Not even I fully understand his power.”
The advisor’s eyes gleamed with wisdom. “Perhaps it is better that way. Sometimes the greatest power comes not from understanding, but from the mystery itself. Zui Tian is a legend now, a symbol. The people believe in him, even if they cannot comprehend him.”
As the Emperor listened, he thought back to the moment when Zui Tian had appeared on the battlefield, seemingly out of nowhere, to face the Devourer’s forces. The casual way he had approached the fight, his unkempt appearance, and his seemingly careless attitude had masked the sheer depth of his power. The Emperor, who had stood at the pinnacle of the Immortal Realms for so long, had been humbled by Zui Tian’s effortless display of strength.
“And the Aether?” the Emperor asked, his voice barely more than a whisper. “Do they know what truly saved them?”
The advisor sighed. “No, Your Majesty. The Aether is beyond their understanding, and perhaps it is best kept that way. The people do not need to know about the forces that govern their existence—only that they are safe for now. Let them have their celebration.”
Down in the streets, the people celebrated with abandon, completely unaware of the cosmic forces at play or how close they had come to losing everything. To them, the war was over, the danger had passed, and they had a new hero to celebrate. The Immortal Emperor, their steadfast ruler, had announced the victory, and the mysterious drunken hero had become the new legend of the Immortal Realms.
As the night wore on, songs were sung about Zui Tian, the Drunken Master, the Celestial Drunkard who had appeared when all seemed lost. The legend of Zui Tian would only grow in the coming days, his name spreading across the realms, whispered by cultivators in hidden sects and commoners alike.
And yet, even as the realms rejoiced, there were those who remained wary—the Immortal Emperor, the Abyssal Master, and a handful of others who had witnessed the true scope of the Aether’s intervention. They knew that while the immediate danger had passed, the future was still uncertain. Zui Tian, the man who seemed to care for nothing beyond his next drink, had played a role far greater than any of them could have imagined.
For now, the Immortal Realms basked in their hard-earned peace, and Zui Tian’s name was on the lips of every immortal and god, from the lowest cultivator to the highest elder. But even as the red banners fluttered across the cities, and the songs of victory filled the air, a quiet tension lingered beneath the surface.
Because somewhere, in the back of their minds, the powerful few knew—Zui Tian’s story was far from over.
The battlefield, once teeming with the fury and chaos of war, now lay quiet under the soft light of twilight. The armies of the Abyss and the Immortal Realms had long since departed, leaving behind a stillness that felt almost surreal after the carnage that had just unfolded. The final battle against the Sea of Nihility had been won, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, there was peace.
In the center of the battlefield, a simple stone table had been conjured up, surrounded by the few who had borne witness to the most pivotal moment in the realms. Zui Tian, his sister Wújìn Mèng, the Twins of Chaos, the Godly Manager, and the mysterious shadowy figure who had delivered the solution to the Sea of Nihility sat together, basking in the calm after the storm.
Zui Tian laughed heartily, his voice booming across the silent landscape, as he wiped down his gleaming sword. His tattered red and white robes were as disheveled as ever, but his spirit was high. With a satisfied grin, he looked around the table at his companions, raising his Endless Wine Flask in a playful toast.
“Well, that was quite the fight!” Zui chuckled, taking a swig of his wine. “But it seems we’ve earned ourselves a little celebration, eh?”
The others chuckled softly, the tension that had gripped them during the battle now replaced by a rare moment of camaraderie. The Twins of Chaos, still towering and radiating the residual energy of their battle forms, sat side by side. Their expressions, usually so fierce and determined, had softened as they relaxed in the presence of their elder companions. The Godly Manager leaned back with a knowing smile, watching Zui with amusement.
But it was the shadowy figure who drew Zui Tian’s attention. For eras, this enigmatic being had followed Zui across the realms, always lingering on the edge of his adventures, never revealing its true purpose. Tonight, Zui had finally pieced together the truth.
Zui Tian grinned at the shadowy figure, his eyes glinting with mischief. “So, after all this time, you’re the First Darkness, huh?” He pointed at the figure with his flask, sloshing a bit of wine over the rim. “The very first essence of darkness born from the Aether itself. Could be said you’re almost as old as me and Big Sis over here.”
The shadowy figure remained silent for a moment, the dark mist swirling around its form. Then, a deep, ancient voice emerged from within, smooth as velvet yet filled with the weight of eons. “Yes, Zui Tian. I am the First Darkness, born from the very beginning, alongside you and Wújìn. I have followed your journey across the realms because, like you, I seek balance between the forces of creation and destruction.”
Zui nodded, leaning back with a satisfied smile. “Well, I suppose it’s time we properly welcome you to the table, then.” With a flourish, he reached into his tattered robes and pulled out a series of small, intricately designed flasks. These were not his usual Endless Wine Flasks—these were special.
“Elemental Wines,” Zui declared with pride. “Aged for more eras than even I can count. These are the oldest series of wine I’ve ever made, each one distilled from the purest essences of creation.”
He placed a flask before the First Darkness. It was a sleek, obsidian-colored vessel, its surface reflecting no light, as though it absorbed all the darkness around it. “For you, Darkness Wine,” Zui said with a grin. “Condensed from the purest darkness born after the chaos. You’ll find no deeper shadow than this.”
The First Darkness reached out with a hand made of swirling shadow and accepted the flask. It opened the lid and took a deep drink. A soft hum of approval reverberated through the air as the darkness around the figure seemed to thicken, becoming richer and more intense.
Zui Tian then turned to his sister, Wújìn Mèng, who had been watching the exchange with an amused smile. For her, Zui placed a silver flask that shimmered in the dim light of the setting sun. “And for you, Big Sis, the Soul Wine. Distilled from the souls of one trillion people who died happy and peacefully, with no malice in their hearts. It’s the perfect drink for someone who knows the arts of the soul as well as you do.”
Wújìn Mèng laughed softly, shaking her head at her brother’s theatrics. “You really do think of everything, don’t you?” She took the flask and raised it in a toast to Zui, then drank deeply. As she did, her eyes sparkled with the light of a thousand souls, and a calmness seemed to settle over her entire being. “Ah, Zui, you always did know how to make the perfect drink.”
Next, Zui turned to the Twins of Chaos, their towering forms looming over the table, though they were relaxed for the first time in what felt like forever. For them, Zui placed two identical flasks—black and gold, swirling with chaotic energy that seemed to pulse and hum with life. “For you two, Chaos Wine,” Zui said. “Made from the finest Xuanhuang, or primordial qi. There’s no drink more fitting for beings born from the heart of chaos itself.”
The older twin, always the first to speak, nodded his thanks as he took the flask. His younger sister followed suit, both of them raising the flasks to Zui in a sign of respect before taking a drink. As the primordial qi flowed into their bodies, their chaotic energy seemed to stabilize, harmonizing with the natural order of the universe.
Finally, Zui turned to the Godly Manager, who had been watching the proceedings with an amused smile. “And for you, my old friend, I’ve saved something special,” Zui said, pulling out a flask that glowed with a soft golden light. “A Chaos Wine with a twist—imbued with the essence of the realms themselves. I figured someone like you, who’s always managing things, might appreciate a drink that helps balance both chaos and order.”
The Godly Manager chuckled softly as he accepted the flask. “You always did know how to make a fitting drink, Zui.” He took a sip, and his eyes briefly flashed with a radiant light, his power resonating with the drink in a way that only someone of his stature could appreciate.
As the group settled into their drinks, the mood around the table became lighter. Zui Tian, always the life of the party, leaned back in his chair and looked around at his companions, a genuine smile on his face.
“To old friends, new revelations, and the end of the Sea of Nihility!” Zui toasted, raising his flask high.
The others raised their flasks in response, their voices echoing his sentiment. “To the end of the Sea of Nihility!”
For the first time in ages, there was laughter and joy among these ancient beings. The weight of their responsibilities, the burdens they had carried for eons, melted away as they shared stories, drank, and celebrated their victory together.