When the second wish scroll was opened, Jiang Chen was momentarily stunned.
He'd always assumed that the wishes housed in the Wish Tower, at a level as high as the twelfth floor, would all be something grand, elegant, and sophisticated.
Instead, he found that he had been far too naive.
The two wish scrolls he'd drawn in a row were both utterly mind-boggling.
The first had been posted by a narcissistic female elder from the Qianlan Southern Palace who fantasized about eternal youth. The wish-poster was, naturally, the kind of woman hopelessly attached to her own beauty and young looks.
And the person behind this second wish scroll was, of all things, a drunkard.
This man had once tasted a particular wine at some place called the Nine Hua Jade Dew Wine. He'd only had half a shallow cup, yet afterward, despite traveling across countless mountains and rivers, he had never managed to find that wine again.
The flavor of that wine had haunted him day and night for decades, lingering in his mind and heart until it had nearly become an obsession.
So this wish scroll was for a chance to taste the Nine Hua Jade Dew Wine one more time and soothe the aching longing of all those years.
And whoever could help him fulfill this wish could come find him at the Duobao Dojo — where this man, astonishingly enough, held the position of Deputy Sect Master.
The reward he offered was nothing short of a mid-to-senior position within the Duobao Dojo itself, along with the status of a Fifth-Rank Noble. This was even more generous and lavish than what the female elder of the Qianlan Southern Palace had put up.
The two wishes, each more speech-worthy than the last, left Jiang Chen utterly at a loss for words.
Women are born loving beauty. Drunkards are born loving wine.
"The world is a big place, sure enough — you find all kinds of birds in the forest. I really thought that by the twelfth floor, the wishes would be something more refined. Sigh, I was too naive," Jiang Chen remarked.
Qiao Baishi and Gouyu glanced at the wish scroll and found themselves equally speechless.
At the same time, they realized that in the Royal Capital of Tiangui, the lives of those with power and those without were truly worlds apart.
Anyone capable of posting such a frivolous wish was, without question, someone of tremendous influence — possessing vast resources and wielding formidable authority.
Otherwise, they would never have squandered a noble title on something as trivial as a personal whim.
It wasn't exactly decadence, but the way the elite played the game was certainly on an entirely different level.
"Young Master, why don't we draw a few more?" Qiao Baishi was no stranger to wealth either.
"Those two will do." Jiang Chen waved his hand. These wishes had been posted by private individuals, which made them far easier to fulfill than getting entangled in the struggles of power.
"Those two?" Qiao Baishi was briefly taken aback. "But we—"
"What's the big deal? It's just alchemy and winemaking. Nothing we can't handle." Jiang Chen tucked the two scrolls under his arm and headed for the reception counter.
"Good day, sir. How may I help you?" The receptionist greeted him politely, her voice soft and pleasant to the ear.
"I can fulfill both of these wishes. Is there any time limit?" Jiang Chen asked.
"Hello, sir. In theory, wish scrolls have no time limit. However, the sooner the better, since other people may draw the same wish, which could create competition. With competition, whoever fulfills it first earns the reward."
"So the wish scroll can't be taken away?" Jiang Chen nodded.
"That's correct, I'm afraid. You cannot take the wish scroll with you. Once you've fulfilled the wish, come back to claim your reward and we will conduct a thorough review through various means. Please rest assured on that count. The Wish Tower has been a tradition of the Tiangui Kingdom for over a thousand years — it has always been airtight, and not a single error has ever occurred."
"Excellent. Then these two wishes it is."
"Very well. Let me register them. One moment, please." The paperwork was completed swiftly.
"Sir, please keep these documents safe — you'll need them as proof. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Jiang Chen chuckled. "I'll just look around some more."
Everything in moderation. Drawing wish scrolls gave him a significant advantage over others, but performing too miraculously would make him conspicuous — and that was never a good thing.
Right now, all he wanted was a noble status that would let him establish a foothold and build a reputation in the Royal Capital. That would have to wait until his foundations were solid.
If he drew too much attention too soon, he'd attract all the wrong kinds of interest and invite unnecessary trouble.
The examples of those struck down for being the tallest nail were far too numerous.
In an unfamiliar environment with his footing still uncertain, the last thing Jiang Chen wanted was to become the center of attention in the Royal Capital and roast himself over an open fire. It would do him no good whatsoever.
After drawing the wishes, Jiang Chen wandered through the various floors of the Wish Tower. Seeing more and more people pouring in, he decided it was time to leave.
He finally squeezed his way out of the tower and stood at its base, breathing in the fresh air and the clean fragrance of osmanthus. He couldn't help but sigh. "I never imagined this country would be so fanatical about the Wish Tower."
The Wish Tower had been a tradition for over a thousand years, and it was far more than just a place to have wishes granted. In truth, it was a cultural inheritance, a psychological anchor.
Much like the New Year celebrations observed in most countries — a tradition passed down through generations.
From the King and Princes down to the common folk, everyone was eager to participate. This was precisely why the scene had been so frenzied when the Wish Tower opened.
Back at the inn, Jiang Chen locked himself in his room, took out paper and pen, and began to sketch and write.
His memories spanning a million years from his previous life touched on virtually every field, and the art of winemaking was one area in which he had considerable expertise.