The banquet was set in the Xu Family’s main hall, with one main table and two guest tables; aside from the seat of honor, every place was already taken.

The tables were piled high with rich dishes, and every cup was filled with top‑grade liquor. Yet no one was picking up their chopsticks.

When Lin Tian led Miaoqiu into the main hall, he smiled an apology, then strode straight up to the main seat, raised his cup, and said, "I’m late, so I should punish myself with three cups."

As he spoke, he poured the wine in the cup down his throat in one go.

The icy liquor hit his throat, incredibly strong, yet it was like swallowing a ball of fire, burning fiercely.

The cup was a clay cup. Ordinary clay cups were rough in texture and ugly in color, but the one in Lin Tian’s hand was finely fired, very comfortable to hold in one hand.

This cup might not meet the four major appraisal standards of a tasting cup—color, aroma, taste, and character—but it was perfect for drinking naturally, best suited for swigging booze and chomping down meat. Don’t be fooled by how small it looked; it could still hold a tael of liquor.

The liquor was the famous Baodaozi, also a kind of ancient brew that preserved the essence of the old Sushen brewing art, made from northeastern sorghum, extremely high in proof. Because of its intense flavor, burning like fire, it got its name, and was known as the king of spirits.

This kind of liquor was especially beloved by heroes of the jianghu.

After one cup went down, Lin Tian also frowned. This was his first time drinking something this strong; he wasn’t used to it yet.

"Hahaha, Lin, downing three cups of this in one go will really hit you."

Lin Tian waved his big hand. "It’s fine!"

Then two more cups of hard liquor followed. That fiery feeling had Lin Tian sweating all over.

"How does it feel?" Tieguai Li shouted.

Lin Tian looked at the now‑empty cup and shouted, "Great!"

"Hahaha, Lin, you can really hold your liquor—you’re a man of temperament. As far as I know, our twelve ancient martial families have never all gathered like this to drink together before. How about it, Lin, why don’t you give us a little toast speech first?"

Lin Tian picked up the wine pot, filled his cup again, and said, "I don’t know any fancy toast speeches. Since it’s rare for us to gather, let’s just knock this one back first!"

"Cheers!"

After the burning liquor went down his throat, Lin Tian finally sat back down.

Miaoqiu sat right beside him—this was a seat the Xu Family had deliberately saved for her.

Miaoqiu picked up two morsels of food for Lin Tian, gently patted his back, and whispered, "Don’t drink so much, it’s bad for your stomach."

Just then, someone else walked over with a wine cup in hand. Lin Tian glanced up and saw that it was Tieguai Li.

"Lin, heroic young man, I, Li, am no smooth talker. It’s a pity we met so late. Come, let’s drink a cup!" Tieguai Li held up his cup, his voice full of bold heroism.

Before Lin Tian could speak, Miaoqiu stood up first, clinked her cup against Tieguai Li’s, and said, "Let him rest a bit. I’ll drink in his place."

As soon as the words fell, Miaoqiu raised that clay cup and sent the liquor down her throat. She drained it in one go and even tilted it to show the empty bottom.

Tieguai Li was stunned for a second, then burst out laughing. "I’ve long heard of you, girl, but seeing you today, you’re quite different from the rumors. A woman no less than any man."

With that, Tieguai Li also drained his cup.

At this moment, someone at the side started teasing, "Lin has a great beauty worrying over him. We’d better go easy and toast him less, or we’ll earn the lady’s ire."

"Hahaha..." Everyone roared with laughter.

"It’s fine, it’s fine. Even if Lin gets drunk, he’s got a considerate person to take care of him. Holding a clay cup and drinking Baodaozi, you’ve gotta go all out."

"Right, right, drinking means not going home till you’re drunk. Lin, I’ll drink another cup with you! This time that little Xu girl can’t step in. Since when do men need women to block for them when they drink?"

He then downed seven big cups in a row. Miaoqiu wanted to block for him, but she couldn’t keep up with his drinking speed at all. So she didn’t dare help anymore—she’d only make Lin Tian drink even faster and hurt his stomach more.

Once Lin Tian sat down, Miaoqiu fussed over him like a considerate little wife, asking softly, "Should I go get you a hangover pill? It’ll make you feel a bit better."

Eleven cups of Baodaozi in a row—who could handle that?

"Don’t worry, I’m fine." Lin Tian quietly winked at Miaoqiu. "I’m not drunk."

Miaoqiu understood instantly and realized there was something off here. But she still couldn’t see what was off—the wine was real, and Lin Tian had definitely drunk it; four big cups straight, and she still couldn’t see what was strange. Could his alcohol tolerance really be that freakish?

As the saying goes, alcohol is poison passing through the intestines.

There’s also a saying that alcohol shortens the distance between people.

It hadn’t been long, but everyone at those three tables had already drunk plenty. Quite a few had started calling Lin Tian brother, all slightly tipsy already; give it a few more cups and they’d be out cold.

Lin Tian could naturally see what they were up to: they wanted to get closer, then get some good stuff out of him.

It was no different from those people who drink with their leaders. This was an open scheme, so Lin Tian didn’t resent it. But he had one condition—they had to drink him drunk first. Want to get something for nothing? Not that easy.

But could Lin Tian get drunk?

Yes—if he didn’t use Spiritual Qi. Once he circulated Spiritual Qi, the alcohol would be diluted and dissolved quite a bit.

The experts of these ancient martial families could do that too, but Inner Strength cost much more effort than Spiritual Qi, and the effect wasn’t as good.

So when it came to a drinking contest, Lin Tian wasn’t scared at all.

At this moment, someone came over lugging a stool and holding a wine cup, then sat down right next to Lin Tian, like he was planning to put down roots there.

Mr. Tang had also drunk quite a bit earlier; his face was flushed red. He casually put his hand on Lin Tian’s shoulder and said quietly, "Lin, that Clear Wind Evil Qi Elixir is of paramount importance to the Wang Family. For that alone, I should drink three big cups with you!"

Lin Tian welcomed him with open arms and, pretending to be a little drunk, waved his hand. "Three cups isn’t enough—five!"

"Hahaha, five it is. Lin, you’re straightforward. Come, cheers!"

After five cups went down, the sheer power of the Baodaozi knocked Mr. Tang flat. The disciples who had come with him hurriedly carried their Patriarch back home.

Soon, someone else took the spot Mr. Tang had just vacated. This time it was a ninety‑three‑year‑old Golden Core expert. Don’t be fooled by the fact that the old man was nearly a hundred—he had the nickname "Wine God." When he drank, he was ferocious, and his toasts came one after another.

But before long, he too was drunk under the table by Lin Tian.

The banquet had started at five‑thirty; now it was already eight. Two and a half hours of nothing but Baodaozi, with almost everyone coming up to toast—and in the end, they had all collapsed drunk.

Three whole tables, all wasted!

The only ones still sober were Lin Tian and Miaoqiu.

The sight left Miaoqiu completely stunned—this alcohol tolerance was just too heaven‑defying.