The wine your Master brewed is the finest in this world, a true nectar of the immortals. Unmatched. With my meager cultivation, naturally I would lose, and lose wholeheartedly, accepting defeat with complete conviction," Song Shang said, his tone brimming with utmost respect.

It reverts to the same principle: "In learning, there is no sequence; the proficient is the master." In the art of brewing, the other party’s achievement indeed surpassed his by far. Song Shang felt no sense of shame in accepting this youth as his master; rather, he felt honored, excited, even thrilled.

"You could have gone further, and you have indeed devoted much to this craft. But you erred, your mistake being stagnation," Jun Mo Xie stated bluntly. "The moment you opened your mouth, you declared that the wine you brewed decades ago was your peak, the world's finest. While it sounds imposing at first, this very statement has blocked your path forward, completely burying your potential for further progress."

"The instant you brewed those two jars and stopped, satisfied, you had already defeated yourself—defeated the version of yourself that claimed supremacy!"

Upon hearing this, Song Shang felt as if struck by a sudden thunderclap, a moment of profound enlightenment, and a wave of cold sweat immediately drenched him. Yes, ever since brewing that batch of wine in the past, he had made no progress whatsoever. Instead, he preened daily, convinced that no one in the world could surpass him, never realizing he had already suffered a crushing defeat...

"It is like profound energy cultivation. If someone believes, 'Three years ago, I already reached the Earth Profound Realm; my rate of progress is unprecedented in history, and reaching the Heaven Profound Realm is only a matter of time,' then this person may never break through to the Heaven Profound Realm or reach even higher stages in their entire life!"

"But profound energy concerns one's own life and that of their family, creating pressure, so there was never any slackening. Advancement was slow, but progress was continuous."

"Brewing is different; you were never sufficiently devoted. Otherwise, even if you lost this competition today, you wouldn't have been defeated so utterly, without any chance to fight back," Jun Mo Xie said earnestly. "Therefore, devotion, that is what matters."

Song Shang, accepting his master’s instruction for the first time, bowed his head in submission. However, Ying Bòkōng and the Prince grew somewhat disdainful: this fellow had just cited classics and spoken volubly, vehemently advocating that devotion was not the most important thing, yet in the blink of an eye, he completely overturned his own conclusion!

This ability to reverse one’s stance faster than turning a page was truly worthy of… a grand toast! Both men’s eyes simultaneously fixed on Jun Mo Xie’s two jars of wine. Each swallowed audibly.

"To use the most ordinary ingredients to brew the finest wine—that is true brewing," Jun Mo Xie stated serenely. "Just as in martial arts, to unleash the greatest power using the most commonplace techniques is the true peak of the Martial Way!"

This remark instantly stunned Ying Bòkōng into stillness.

Those whose cultivation level was insufficient might not grasp this statement, but for a supreme master like Ying Bòkōng, it was utterly deafening!

Consider delivering a punch: which punch carries the most power? It is the plainest move, the 'Black Tiger Steals the Heart'—the one that most effectively concentrates the entirety of one's strength. Even if a punch is flashy, ornate, or perhaps easier to land on an opponent, its power will never match that of a simple 'Black Tiger Steals the Heart.'

The difference can be as vast as heaven and earth!

In a confrontation between masters, where life and death hang in the balance of a single instant, the difference between techniques is the boundary between life and death!

'Black Tiger Steals the Heart' undeniably concentrates power, crowning all moves, but there is always a prerequisite: you must hit the target. How can such a simple move strike an opponent with agile movement?

Ying Bòkōng felt an indistinct notion stirring within his mind, struggling to break free and leap out! Once this notion became clear, Ying Bòkōng was certain he would advance! And by a great margin! Yet, frustratingly, he could not quite grasp it, causing him to frown and ponder deeply.

A casual remark from Jun Mo Xie had, inadvertently, pushed this generation's grand master to the very precipice of a breakthrough!

By the time Ying Bòkōng emerged from his contemplation, the Prince was almost impatient.

"Young brother, this wine... hehe, how much do you have left? Could it be..."

"Er, my esteemed brother, let's not discuss that just yet. Earlier, I mentioned that wine of this quality sells for one hundred thousand taels of silver per jar. Everyone here, do you think it is worth it?" Jun Mo Xie asked calmly, tossing out his bait.

"It is worth far more!" Before the Prince could speak, Song Shang interjected, his tone laced with regret, "Such rare, celestial wine, unparalleled in this world, truly cannot be measured by mere gold and silver! That would only profane such a magnificent brew! Forget one hundred thousand taels of silver; even ten thousand taels of gold per jar would be warranted!"

In his eyes, this wine was no longer mere liquor, but a priceless artistic treasure! An inestimable jewel! One could even call it worth a city!

"In my estimation, it is indeed worth it! This wine surpasses the wine Song Old Third previously sold by at least a hundredfold!" The Prince answered Jun Mo Xie directly, then sighed, "However, actually managing to sell it for one hundred thousand taels of silver per jar will likely be quite difficult."

Difficult? Not just difficult—nearly impossible! The Prince's words were already extremely diplomatic.

"Difficult? Since it is difficult, perhaps I shouldn't retail the wine at all. I might as well hold a limited auction! That might fetch a better price!" Jun Mo Xie smiled, proposing his idea in a 'subtle' and 'implicit' manner.

The three men fell silent simultaneously. These three were all exceptional talents, and they instantly grasped Young Master Jun's intent, muttering internally, What a brilliant idea!

"If it is an auction, when will it begin, and where will it be held?" the Prince asked eagerly, for that was what concerned him most—where could one obtain such exquisite wine? The price was secondary.

"Regarding that, Song Old Third will naturally be the first to know. Song Shang will be involved in the auction of my wine." Jun Mo Xie might harbor doubts about Song Shang in other matters, but concerning the selling of wine, he trusted the man one hundred thousand percent.

Song Shang might betray anyone, but he would never betray wine! Jun Mo Xie was certain his judgment here was sound!

"That is wonderful!" The Prince clapped his hands excitedly. "If there are difficulties, this old fellow can also lend a hand. In Tianxiang City, there are very few things this old man cannot accomplish." To lend a hand would be to gain a favor, and perhaps he could frequently taste such fine wine in the future—that would be marvelous! This was his honest sentiment; after all, the Prince was also a true lover of wine.

"Allow me to introduce Master to His Highness, the current Prince of Equality, Yang Huainong; he is also His Majesty the Emperor of the Tianxiang Empire's only full brother." Since the Prince had been so explicit, Song Shang immediately stepped forward to introduce them. As the saying goes: the poor do not compete with the rich, and the commoner does not contend with the official. This man was, after all, a Prince, so it was best not to offend him if possible.

"Prince of Equality..." Although Jun Mo Xie had already guessed this man's background was significant, he hadn't expected him to be the sole prince of the Tianxiang Empire. He feigned a slight startlement, then quickly composed himself. "Ah, my apologies, my lord. I was remiss."

Everyone expected him to be shocked, perhaps even to kneel in full ceremony, as in the eyes of these three men, Jun Mo Xie was merely a shabby scholar, perhaps possessing a few strands of backbone at best. But someone with backbone, encountering such a great figure who could grant him rapid ascent in a very short time, how could he not be excited? Even performing a grand bow as a gesture of respect would seem appropriate!

Mastered the literary and martial arts, sell them to the Imperial Family!

Yet this youth’s expression didn't shift at all. He completely ignored the Prince's obvious hint of wanting to assist him. While he uttered 'Your Highness' and 'my apologies,' his tone carried no hint of genuine deference!

They were unaware that this young man before them, in either his past or present life, never cared much for mere princes. Just a few days ago, he had publicly played the rogue in front of the Emperor's own son.

If Jun Mo Xie hadn't found the current Prince somewhat agreeable, he probably would have erupted just the same. A prince? If you want my wine, you must follow the rules; otherwise, no deal...

"If it becomes necessary, I would be very pleased to cooperate with His Highness," Jun Mo Xie stated with a faint smile, offering a very, very polite platitude. The tone was conspicuously, unusually, and distinctly lukewarm—cooperation only if 'necessary'; if not necessary...

"That would be best," Prince Yang Huainong of Equality was not offended and laughed heartily, narrowing his eyes. "Although it is inconvenient for me to step forward personally, I certainly will not stand by and watch such fine wine be buried." Jun Mo Xie had clearly offered a subtle refusal, but this only piqued the Prince's interest further.

"How about this: I am willing to invest one million taels of silver for a ten percent share. Consider it me paving a path for my descendants. I implore Young Brother to agree." This statement stunned everyone. Firstly, they were amazed that the Prince referred to himself as 'this old man' instead of 'this Prince,' indicating a desire to participate as an investor outside his royal capacity. Secondly, offering a million silver taels for just a ten percent share clearly showed extreme confidence in the wine's future prospects. Ten percent alone was a million taels; ten shares would amount to ten million silver taels, or perhaps even more!

"This old man is nearly fifty, with only one son and one daughter under my care," the Prince chuckled, though his smile held a hint of self-mockery. "My daughter is grown; securing a good match for her would settle one worry. But my only son, I do not wish for him to follow in my footsteps. Therefore, making arrangements in advance, preparing for a rainy day, is out of necessity. I ask for Young Master's favor."

A hush fell over the gathering.

In the past, the late Emperor had two sons: Crown Prince Yang Huaiyu and Prince Yang Huainong of Equality. The title 'Prince of Equality' alone revealed the late Emperor's immense affection for his youngest son.

Yang Huaiyu was ambitious, strategically brilliant, and renowned for military achievements, commanding the allegiance of the court. But Prince Yang Huainong of Equality had always kept a low profile, never involving himself in politics, living his life akin to a hermit.

He knew that no matter how hard he strove, he could never eclipse the genius-level brilliance of his elder brother, the Crown Prince. Vain struggle would only destroy himself.

Thus, from the very beginning, he withdrew from the pursuit of power. Coupled with his personal disinterest in authority, years of detachment had allowed him to cultivate his character, making him even less inclined toward court affairs.

But now, amidst the struggle for the throne between the three princes, this usually detached Prince was beginning to secure a future for his descendants, even doing so under a guise outside the Imperial Family! This held a profound significance. Did it mean he held no faith in any of his three nephews?!

Otherwise, why would a Prince of his stature need to arrange a fallback path?