Chapter 2344: Chapter 2344 Stygian’s Secret
The private chamber was furnished much alike the reception area outside.
"This is where I usually train and rest. You can find me here anytime!"
Scythe told Ye Liuyun as he pulled out a tea set and began brewing. While preparing the tea, he explained the layout of the place in detail to Ye Liuyun.
Scythe even delved deeper into the structure of the Stygian organization.
"Stygian has only one headquarter, while all other secret realms scattered across the land are equal in rank and report directly to the headquarter. No matter which branch you visit in the future, the protocol remains the same.
The setup of each Stygian’s secret realms are also similar. You can head straight to the back hall of the exchange chamber and use any private room to submit completed missions."
"So, you’re saying I can accept a mission here but turn in the results elsewhere to earn the corresponding points? And I can freely enter the back halls of other branches?" Ye Liuyun asked.
Qisha nodded in confirmation. "Exactly! Every secret realm’s back hall will recognize your insignia. Any outsiders without the insignia can’t enter."
Ye Liuyun could not help but marvel at Stygian’s meticulous design and seamless information-sharing, reinforcing his belief that this organization was anything but ordinary.
"Who runs Stygian’s headquarter?" Ye Liuyun was curious about the masterminds behind the operation.
Scythe explained to Ye Liuyun, "The headquarters has only a small number of people. They are mostly elders who oversee daily operations. They manage affairs, allocate resources, and provide support to members..."
"If a major mission arises that requires the headquarters’ direct involvement, Stygian operatives from various branches will be summoned to carry it out together. Of course, different tasks call for operatives of different ranks."
"There are ranks?" Ye Liuyun sounded surprised.
"Of course." Scythe replied with a nod. "From level seven to nine, each 500 points marks a new level. Stygian members are divided into nine ranks, with nine being the lowest and one the highest. Advancing to another level between level six and three requires a thousand points per level..."
"What’s the difference between ranks?" Ye Liuyun pressed further.
"The higher your rank, the more points you’ll earn from missions and the better the perks! But rank doesn’t necessarily reflect strength. Most Stygian members are at level eight or nine and there’re very few ever reach level six."
Ye Liuyun did not press for more details. He figured Scythe would not divulge all of Stygian’s secrets right away and there was no point pushing. He would have to wait and see.
After Stygian finished briefing him, Ye Liuyun left the private room and took a seat at an empty table outside, hoping to pick up some useful information.
The place buzzed with casual chatter, and he could easily overhear the conversations around him.
A waitress soon approached, placing a jug of emerald-green liquid and an empty cup on Ye Liuyun’s table.
"You’re new here, aren’t you?" The waitress asked Ye Liuyun.
"Yeah!" Ye Liuyun nodded.
"All members get a free jug of our house-brewed medicinal wine, Pure Brew, whenever they visit. But if you want more, you’ll have to pay with spirit crystals." The waitress explained.
"This is the medicinal wine? For free?" Ye Liuyun double checked.
"That’s right! Go ahead and try it." With a polite bow, she left.
Ye Liuyun took a sniff and he could get the aroma of a crisp blend of herbs and alcohol.
He scrutinized it with his Golden Phantom Eyes and divine sense but found nothing suspicious. If anything, the medicinal ingredients seemed beneficial to the body.
Though he was not a master in alchemy, he had enough knowledge to recognize the wine was of good quality when he saw it.
Still, wary of Stygian’s motives, he poured a small amount for Lin Luoyi to examine.
Until she confirmed it was safe, he would not risk drinking. It was just in case it contained something addictive.
But a quick glance around revealed that many others had similar wine flasks before them.
Just then, a slightly disheveled man with a scruffy beard sidled up and plopped down beside Ye Liuyun.
"If you’re worried the wine’s poisoned, why not hand it over to me?"
Ye Liuyun instinctively tightened his grip on the flask since he had not expected to run into a freeloader.
Noticing Ye Liuyun’s reaction, the man chuckled awkwardly. "Relax! Members aren’t allowed to fight each other here. I’m not going to snatch it from you!"
I’ll tell you what. I won’t take anything from you. How about pouring me a glass and we can make acquaintances?"
As he spoke, he pulled out his own cup and set it pointedly in front of Ye Liuyun.
"This guy’s got some nerve." Ye Liuyun was slightly speechless.
At that moment, someone from the next table saw that the man was asking for wine from Ye Liuyun and scoffed. "Seriously, Drunkard? Picking on a newcomer now?"
"Yeah, don’t give him any! Let him buy his own damn wine for once! He’s always mooching off others!" Someone chimed in.
"Mind your own business!" The man waved them off dismissively. "He just made three hundred points in one go. What’s a single cup to him?"
Turning back to Ye Liuyun with a grin, he added. "Haha! I forgot my manners. I’m Drunkard. How about we make acquaintance, Brother Liuyun?"
While drunkard was introducing himself, he nudged his cup forward again hinting Ye Liuyun to pour for him.
"You know who I am?" Ye Liuyun ignored the unspoken request, questioning him instead.
The man chuckled, "Of course I do. We’re all regulars here and know each other inside out. A fresh face like yours is easy to spot!"
Ye Liuyun chuckled, deciding not to refuse further. As he poured the wine, he asked, "Is ’drunkard’ your actual name or just a nickname?"
"Haha! Both! I’ve been called that for so long, it doesn’t matter anymore. Just go with it!" Drunkard replied, though his eyes remained fixed on the wine cup.
The moment Ye Liuyun filled it to the brim, he downed the entire glass in one gulp.
With his Golden Phantom Eyes, Ye Liuyun observed the effects within drunkard’s body. He noticed the medicinal properties dispersed, seeping into his flesh and blood, aiding in expelling bodily impurities. It was clearly designed for physical cultivation.
Meanwhile, Lin Luoyi reaffirmed Ye Liuyun that the medicinal wine contained no toxins or addictive substances. She even sampled it herself, verifying its purpose for body refinement.
Reassured, Ye Liuyun took a swig directly from the flask.
As the wine coursed through him, he personally confirmed its effects was indeed a tonic for physical cultivation.
Judging by how freely everyone else was drinking, it seemed this was a long-term regimen.
However, for someone like Ye Liuyun, who had rigorously trained his body for years, the potency was negligible.
Without hesitation, he tipped the flask and drank the remaining wine in one go.
Drunkard immediately protested, "Hey, hey—slow down! I wasn’t going to ask for more. Chugging like that—can your body even handle it?"
The other martial cultivators turned and stared at Ye Liuyun.
Even the maid hurried over, looking concerned.
But to Ye Liuyun, only this intensity could deliver the palpable enhancement he sought.
