Penglai Tea

In fact, both sides knew the truth.

Li Qi's ability to say such things clearly indicates that he was hoping the prefect would help him. Moreover, he had suppressed the water gu, which was a small favor and a gift.

Moreover, Li Qi himself was willing to give this gift.

I truly empathize.

The governor naturally understood the implication: Li Qi must have more gifts or something else planned; in short, he genuinely wanted to visit the king.

Although the prefect of Ezhou did not know what use a seventh-rank official could have for visiting the king, he could not refuse because the other party was far superior to him.

The seventh-rank Shaman who suddenly appeared before them was clearly terrifyingly powerful.

In just a few minutes, he easily suppressed all the water monsters in a large river with a curse, and even after suffering the backlash, he could still speak easily...

This is terrifying.

Every cultivator who has reached a high Heavenly Dao knows how terrifying the laws of nature are. Unauthorized alteration of the ecological environment of a region will inevitably bring severe backlash.

If Mu Xiulan were to do this herself, she would have to do it step by step, breaking it down into smaller parts and taking more than ten years to slowly digest the backlash in order to ensure that she would be unharmed.

But he saw with his own eyes that Li Qi swallowed all the backlash in one gulp, and seemed to be unharmed...

Even if the Shaman Path has a small, vibrant inner world within himself, which can use his inner world to fight against the outer world, resulting in a much stronger ability to withstand pressure, it shouldn't be this strong.

The two had a brief conversation and Li Qi's curse, which was enough for them to understand what the other wanted to show.

Since both sides have their own needs, it is only right to sit down and talk. Li Qi followed Mu Xiulan all the way to the Prefect's Mansion.

Upon arriving at the prefect's residence, we finally left the mortal realm and gained a touch of celestial grandeur.

The Prefect's Mansion also reflects typical Daoist aesthetics, with a large mansion inside and a garden outside.

Within the garden, pavilions stand in staggered rows, flowers and trees are lush and vibrant, and verdant mist hangs in the air, creating a beautiful and enchanting scene. A faint fragrance wafts by, refreshing the mind and giving one a sense of soaring into the clouds, as if in another world.

Let's look at the layout of the garden.

The chirping Jiujiu cranes rises in a row at the gate, and the roar of crocodiles echoes through the water.

The emerald green leaves are veiled by the light of the leaves, and the jagged rocks cast shadows like hibiscus flowers.

The clear pond and steep rocks are as secluded as a deep mountain, with exquisite and hidden chambers on all sides. Green vines coil around it, and flowers bloom and fall. Living in it, one would not even realize that one is in the middle of the city.

Li Qi led the Old Ma through the garden and handed Old Ma over to the respectful stableman.

The Old Ma snorted, eagerly pounded its hooves, and stuck out its tongue.

Based on Old Ma's experience, many good things are about to happen.

Li Qi stood at the edge of the garden, walking slowly and admiring the scenery. He said to Mu Xiulan, "It's just a wall away, but the difference is so great, it's like two different worlds."

"Sir, your words are a bit harsh. I, Mu, have not exploited you. On the contrary, I have done my job as governor diligently. I did not have laborers build this governor's mansion; I built it all myself, using only the salary promised to me by the king." Mu Xiulan said with a smile, "As for my influence on them, it is probably only beneficial, not harmful. The reason why there is such a big gap between them and me is entirely due to our cultivation levels."

Li Qi couldn't refute this statement.

Because that is very likely the case in reality.

To be honest, a seventh-grade Daoist cultivator could build this garden entirely on his own, without needing any outsiders.

Those ordinary mortals outside were of no help to him whatsoever.

Even that inferior official position was essentially provided to him by the Sovereign of Lingxiao Kingdom.

Because all the national fortune and status of the Lingxiao Kingdom are exclusively enjoyed by the Sovereign of Lingxiao Kingdom.

The other officials and clerks were merely sharing the king's power and authority with the Sovereign of Lingxiao Kingdom's permission; they had little to do with the people outside the kingdom.

Prefect Mu was essentially just taking the king's money and doing what the king asked him to do, managing the state well.

But this job doesn't have much connection with ordinary people outside.

He has no obligation or responsibility to make these peasants live well. He only needs to be responsible to the king. In any case, he can live well on his own. He has no contact with ordinary people outside and has no need to exploit them.

They could even be considered as different species. He was a dignified seventh-grade Daoist cultivator, and even if he were wild, he would be an immortal being. They did not live in the same society, and there was no link between them in terms of productive forces and relations of production.

Just like aliens and humans, no matter how advanced the civilization on another planet is, it has nothing to do with humans. Aliens have no obligation or responsibility to help humans advance their technology.

It's cruel, and it's also very realistic.

Like the Tang Kingdom, powerful cultivators have an obligation to assume social responsibility through pure dedication; only Human Path can do this in the entire world.

At this moment, Li Qi waved his hand and said with a relaxed smile, "Prefect, you are joking. I didn't mean that. I was just a little surprised that you could build such a fairy garden in such a place."

"After all, look at the Baiyue region. The spiritual source is weakening and the struggle for Dao is constant. Establishing cave abode here would be much less efficient than in the direction of Wushen Mountain."

Hearing Li Qi's explanation, Mu Xiulan seemed to relax a little. He also gave a wry smile and sighed, "That's true, but what can we do since we were born in Baiyue?"

"In Baiyue, I am the governor of a prefecture with a cultivation level of 7th grade. Apart from the kings and their 6th grade confidants, I can do whatever I want in Baiyue. Although the resources are not as abundant as outside, and the environment is not as good as outside, the competition is not great. I can always get my hands on the resources of this small plot of land."

"Being caught between Human Path and Shaman Path is indeed difficult, but it also means that things are less likely to go wrong... Anyone who wants to interfere in Baiyue affairs should think twice about whether they are qualified."

"If I were to choose Wushen Mountain or Tang Kingdom, not to mention their vast number of high-ranking beings, what use would I be among the seventh-rank beings like myself?"

As she said this, Mu Xiulan looked at Li Qi: "With your strength, sir, you can easily withstand the backlash of a great river. Naturally, you can thrive outside and spread your wings and soar. But if we leave Baiyue, we will go from being local bullies to toads."

Upon hearing this, Li Qi stopped speaking.

It would be impolite to say that again.

The two fell into a brief silence, then quickly left the garden and went to the main hall of the mansion, where they sat facing each other.

The prefect spoke up, saying, "Someone, bring tea."

But at this moment, Li Qi smiled and shook his head, "I came here suddenly this time, and I have to ask the prefect to help me convey my arrival. How can I accept the prefect's tea? I happen to have some good stuff here, which the prefect can sample."

"Oh? Such fine tea is praised by someone as sir? Then I shall certainly have the pleasure of trying it," Mu Xiulan said immediately.

He was also a little curious; was this the 'benefit' Li Qi was preparing for him?

It doesn't seem like it. They're all seventh grade, so how good can their tea be?

It's probably just about building a relationship with him.

However, it's definitely not something that can be taken out casually. This time, I guess I can open my eyes and see what kind of good things these people from outside Baiyue are enjoying.

Thinking this, Mu Xiulan watched as Li Qi carefully took out a few tea leaves from the Mustard Seed Bag.

These tea leaves are unremarkable in appearance; they look withered and yellowish, and they are also soft.

It's obvious that the leaves weren't stir-fried or baked; they were simply picked and not properly preserved, left to gradually wither and turn yellow.

Under these storage conditions... even the best tea would be ruined! Is this still drinkable?

Suspicious, Li Qi watched as the other party took out the tea leaves and carefully selected four leaves, two for each person.

Next, without using any fresh water or Spirit Spring, simply gather water vapor in the air, condense it into two water balls, boil them with Fire Qi, and then put them into a cup.

It wasn't even a teapot...

Without the teapot, the flavor of the tea would be diminished by a significant amount.

Is there something wrong with this tea that it can only be brewed this way, or does this person... simply not understand tea at all?

Mu Xiulan leans towards the former, probably because the tea has something special about it.

However, in reality, Li Qi was the latter.

He had read books on tea ceremony, but he was too embarrassed to say he had ever brewed tea himself.

Don't embarrass yourself by showing off things that are only theoretical; you'll only make a fool of yourself later.

It would be better to just boil water and brew tea out of thin air; that way, you can at least maintain the air of a master.

After all, his tea is really good.

These are tea leaves from the immortal tea trees of Penglai Immortal Mountain, which I obtained from Zhu Fengdan. Even if you don't brew them, just chew them dry, the saliva that comes out is also the best tea in the world.

There's no way around it, the quality is simply superior.

Even with Yu Mengniang's elegant and perfect tea-making skills, it was all for naught, wasn't it?

Li Qi quickly and efficiently brewed two cups of tea, ignoring any distinctions like first or second infusions, and placed the cups directly in front of Mu Xiulan, saying, "Please, Prefect, enjoy."

The governor was initially in a dilemma, but suddenly he smelled a wonderful fragrance that made him feel refreshed.

He couldn't wait to pick it up and take a sip.

This... this tea—!?

Mu Xiulan's eyes widened! A fantastical vision was appearing before her eyes!

He seemed to have seen a fairyland.

That was some kind of supreme, pure aura, something he had always been searching for!

A light rain falls over Liugong Palace, and a gentle breeze chills the sunny beach.

The majestic mountain is covered in snow for ten thousand years, and the bright night sky is filled with the chill of a thousand trees.

When the clouds clear, the sky is high; when the floodwaters recede, the water is clean.

The dewdrops are chillingly cold, the green mountains are clear and serene.

The rumbling waves shake the sea air, and boats travel a hundred miles along the shimmering water.

Here, the soul wanders, witnessing the Unseen realms of humanity.

Just a wisp of energy was enough to create such an illusion for me...

Wait, this isn't an illusion! This is a phenomenon that occurs after my cultivation has become pure?!

The difference between a vision and a hallucination is simple.

The illusion is fake; it's a self-deception.

The visions are real, and they are usually a partial manifestation of something; that is to say, he was not deceived, but truly saw a projection of something.

He sensed that this tea leaf was guiding his cultivation in a more 'orthodox' direction.

Mu Xiulan even gave up communicating with Li Qi.

He immediately entered a meditative state and began to imitate that wisp of energy, adjusting his golden core.

Regardless of right or wrong, everything is judged by that wisp of breath!

Because he sensed it—

The aroma wafting from these tea leaves... it's from Penglai!

Penglai is a sacred site of Daoism and one of the Three Immortal Mountain.

The so-called Three Immortal Mountain are Penglai, Fanghu, and Yingzhou.

This is the most important gathering place of the Daoist sect, located in the northeast of the world, sandwiched between the East China Sea and the North Pole Spiritual Way, half of which is sea and half of which is mountain.

The Three Immortal Mountain and the Ten Grotto Heavens represent the absolute orthodoxy of Daoism.

This is fortuitous opportunity, a truly extraordinary fortuitous opportunity!

A man like him might never have the chance to visit Penglai in his lifetime, because to go to Penglai, one must first find Huliang is hidden in the ocean, carried on the back of a giant turtle and moved at any time, making it impossible to find.

In the East China Sea and the sea within the Daoist territory, there are quite a few fourth-rank beings. Fifth and sixth-rank beings can only be local tyrants, similar to the Baiyue Sovereign.

The Baiyue region, though small, has dozens of rulers, at least dozens of whom are of the fifth rank.

This is the world, the center of all realms, it's terrifying.

A seventh-rank official might be able to protect himself here, but to try to traverse the entire world, from Baiyue to Penglai, is simply courting death.

That monk, too, would most likely die on the way from Baiyue to the Western Regions.

Therefore, Li Qi was moved by his desire to seek the Tao.

Now, with the aura of Penglai right before her eyes, how could Mu Xiulan remain calm?!

This practice lasted for eighteen Chen.

Until that wisp of aura from Penglai completely merged into his golden core, he instantly transformed from a wild Daoist into a wild Daoist with a tiny bit of Penglai aura.

But that's enough.

This has already taken him a big step forward on his Dao Path, even to the Dao Path of a dead end, where there is now a slim chance of a breakthrough.

Originally, the seventh rank was already Mu Xiulan's limit, but now... if he uses this wisp of Penglai Qi as a foundation, there might still be a possibility of breaking through to the sixth rank. Although the chance is one in ten thousand, there is still hope.

Mu Xiulan opened her eyes with a complicated expression and found that Li Qi was still sitting in front of her.

Indeed, for someone of the same seventh rank, a dozen or so Chen is just the time it takes to take a nap.

In just the time it takes to take a nap, he has become completely different from before, and even his future and prospects have been rewritten.

"Sir... no, sir! What is that tea?" He stood up, no longer daring to sit opposite Li Qi.

"Penglai Immortal Tea is made from the mother tea tree on the mountaintop. Of course, it's a degraded version because it's picked from a half-dead tree. If it were fresh, properly processed, and finally aged in a cellar, then it could be considered the real Penglai Immortal Tea."

"The one I have here has lost nine-tenths of its effectiveness," Li Qi said.

This is a true story. The tea tree that Zhu Fengdan stole is already half dead. He probably got tired of drinking from it and just left it there. He'll probably send it back in a while.

As for the processing techniques... Li Qi neither understood nor knew how to prepare them.

Even so, it was enough for Mu Xiulan to owe her a huge favor.

"Now that the tea is finished, Prefect, may I ask for permission before the King—" Li Qi stood up.

"Leave it to me! Even if the Queen is in seclusion, I'll risk everything and get her out!" Mu Xiulan's tone was resolute.