Having successfully escaped the Western lands suffused with baleful energy, Li Cha felt the heavens and earth suddenly open wide before him. Looking back, The West shrouded in dark red demonic clouds resembled a ferocious beast lying in wait, filling him with oppression. He did not linger, instead riding Mo Ran as they transformed into a streak of light and sped eastward.
Through this period of seclusion, Li Cha had vaguely sensed that his cultivation realm had become closely tied to the Tea Dao, nearly merging with his path of Dao. If he could obtain the Three Lights Divine Water, then with its supreme power of creation supporting his Tea Dao, he was completely confident that he could break through to the Peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal in one fell swoop! As for Late Da Luo, he had a premonition that once he successfully refined the Tea Table that bore tea affairs and connected to the source, comprehending the Dao rhythm within would naturally reveal the opportunity.
At that thought, he transmitted through Spiritual Sense, "Mo Ran, change direction. We are heading for the East Sea."
"By your command, Master." Mo Ran let out a low roar, and the auspicious clouds beneath his four hooves turned, carrying Li Cha toward the vast, boundless East Sea. The journey was immensely long, spanning more than tens of millions of miles. Even with Mo Ran's current Half-Step Da Luo speed, traveling day and night would take more than a year.
Li Cha sat cross-legged upon Mo Ran's broad back, his mind calm as he examined himself inwardly. His Spiritual Sense was like gentle feelers, carefully brushing over every branch of his true form, the Innate Enlightenment Tea Tree. These branches had all been formed from his origin, but to select material for refining the Tea Table, he had to consider the Dao rhythm they contained, the patterns of their growth rings, and their affinity with his source. He silently weighed and compared the characteristics of the various branches, striving for perfection so that the future Tea Table could perfectly resonate with the Shouyang Pot and Five Elements Furnace, becoming an indispensable part of the Tea Dao system.
Time quietly passed amid travel and meditation. When they were still roughly three million miles from the East Sea, Li Cha, who had been immersed in deduction, suddenly stirred. He sensed an incomparably familiar aura originating from the source of life.
"Hmm?" He abruptly opened his eyes, a trace of surprise and reminiscence flashing through them. This aura... was pure and clear, carrying Dao rhythm of healing and tranquility. It shared his origin, yet it was much weaker.
"Mo Ran, stop." Li Cha gave the order, then carefully sensed the direction of that aura. "Head south."
Mo Ran turned south as instructed. After flying for only about fifteen minutes, the sensation became incomparably clear, as though it lay directly beneath them.
"It is here. Stop."
Li Cha drifted down from the Qilin's back, his body like a green leaf as he silently descended before an inconspicuous little valley below. This valley was nearly the same size as the valley where the Heavenly Dao had sealed him, but the scenery within was worlds apart.
Within the valley, lush trees cast deep shade, fragrant grass flourished, and a stream babbled along, crystal clear to its bottom. Several spirit deer drank beside the stream, while brightly colored spirit birds sang from the branches. The air was filled with the refreshing fragrance of flowers and fruit. Spiritual flowers and exotic herbs could be seen everywhere. Though none were supreme treasures, they were all vigorous with life and abundant Spiritual Energy.
Li Cha paid no attention to the beautiful scenery. His gaze pierced through layer after layer of foliage, locking firmly onto a small tree at the center of the valley.
The tree stood no more than half a meter tall. Its verdant branches and leaves seemed ready to drip with green, its form graceful, and its entire body emitted a gentle, pure clear-spirit aura. A faint Dao rhythm flowed through it, soothing the soul and cleansing impurity.
A low-grade Innate Spiritual Root—the Pure Spirit Tea Tree.
Li Cha slowly stepped forward and extended his hand, his fingertips lightly touching the cool leaves. A familiar intimacy from the source of life instantly surged into his heart, accompanied by a trace of confinement imposed by the Heavenly Dao.
He understood. Every grade of Spiritual Tea Tree in the Primordial World had been formed when the Heavenly Dao struck down his foundation and divided his origin! This Pure Spirit Tea Tree had been transformed from one of his tiny branches from long ago, carrying part of his Dao rhythm of "healing" and "calming the mind." To completely sever the inheritance and growth of his lineage, the Heavenly Dao had placed invisible shackles upon every differentiated Spiritual Tea Tree, forbidding them from developing intelligence and even more strictly forbidding them from transforming and cultivating. They could only exist as spiritual plants, living and dying on their own until their origin was exhausted and they returned to heaven and earth.
"Heavenly Dao, you truly are... meticulous in your schemes." Complex emotions rose within Li Cha's heart: anger, pity, and an even deeper sorrow for those of his kind. He tenderly stroked the branches and leaves of the Pure Spirit Tea Tree, feeling its faint yet incomparably tenacious source aura.
"If you remain here, you will only waste away through the years. You might as well come with me; perhaps there will be a chance of survival." Li Cha spoke softly, then circulated his mana and carefully relocated the entire Pure Spirit Tea Tree, along with a large mass of spiritual soil surrounding its roots. With a flash of green light, he stored the Pure Spirit Tea Tree within the Chaos Pearl, placing it somewhere rich in spiritual energy and suitable for its growth. With the Chaos Pearl concealing heavenly secrets and blocking the Heavenly Dao's scrutiny, this Pure Spirit Tea Tree might truly escape its shackles. Even if it could not transform in the future, it could still thrive under Li Cha's care rather than have its brilliance buried.
Once the tea tree had been moved, a Stubborn Stone previously covered by its roots was revealed. The stone was roughly the size of a millstone, grayish-white in color and rough on the surface, appearing utterly ordinary. Yet Li Cha keenly sensed that this Stubborn Stone had already developed spirituality.
"Oh?" Curiosity arose in Li Cha's heart. He secretly activated his divine ability and calculated its origins with his fingers. A moment later, a trace of astonishment flashed in his eyes.
This Stubborn Stone had actually been formed from a fragment of Great God Pangu's little fingernail, shattered during World Creation! Because it contained a trace of Pangu's indestructible will and possessed extraordinary material quality, it had endured countless calamities without being destroyed. It had fallen here and coexisted with this Pure Spirit Tea Tree for who knew how many years. Nourished day and night by the tree's clear-spirit aura, that dormant trace of Pangu's will had slowly given birth to new intelligence!
"Interesting, truly interesting!" Li Cha clapped his hands and laughed. He had not expected this journey to bring such an unexpected gain. Formed from Pangu's Fingernail, its foundation was truly extraordinary. Its intelligence had only just emerged, however, and it remained ignorant and unaware.
He took out his companion spiritual treasure, the Spirit Origin Ruler. This ruler contained the divine ability to enlighten and awaken wisdom. Li Cha formed hand seals, merging a thread of his own source Dao rhythm into it, then lightly pointed it toward the Stubborn Stone.
"Awaken spirit and wisdom, help you take form!"
A hazy, mysterious light shot from the tip of the Spirit Origin Ruler and entered the Stubborn Stone. In an instant, the Stubborn Stone shook violently. Its dull gray outer shell peeled away inch by inch, revealing a warm, jade-like texture within. At the same time, the skies abruptly changed. Dark clouds gathered overhead. Though it was a Transformation Heavenly Tribulation, its scale was far less than Li Cha's had been. It was merely Three-Nine Small Heavenly Thunder.
Boom! Twenty-seven ordinary heavenly thunderbolts fell in succession, striking the Stubborn Stone as though tempering its form. They caused it little damage. After the lightning tribulation passed, the Stubborn Stone emitted a soft white glow and, in the blink of an eye, transformed into a child of seven or eight.
The child had red lips, white teeth, and delicate features. His hair was tied into two little topknots, and he wore a light-gray short jacket. His dark eyes darted about constantly, making him appear rather lively. His aura was rounded and harmonious, and he had actually already reached the early Golden Immortal realm. This showed how deep his innate foundation was.
The child blinked and looked at Li Cha. Immediately sensing the familiar aura that had helped him transform and awakened his intelligence, he unhesitatingly knelt in worship, his voice clear and bright. "Thank you, Great Master, for the grace of enlightenment!"
Li Cha accepted his bow with a smile and gently asked, "Good child, rise. Do you have a name?"
The child blankly shook his head. "I do not. I ask Great Master to bestow one upon me."
Li Cha pondered briefly, then said, "You were originally a Stubborn Stone formed from a fragment of Pangu's fingernail. You coexisted with the Pure Spirit Tea Tree, which nourished your intelligence and gave you this day. Stone is your origin, while clear corresponds to the Pure Spirit Tea's aid in awakening your wisdom. You shall be called Shi Qing. What do you think?"
"Shi Qing... Shi Qing..." The child murmured the name twice, joy blooming in his eyes. He kowtowed again. "Shi Qing thanks Great Master for bestowing this name!"
The more Li Cha looked at him, the more he felt that this child was fated with him. His foundation was exceptional, and his nature was pure—like blank paper, as befitted a newly born spirit—so Li Cha developed the intention to take him as a disciple. He said, "Shi Qing, your intelligence has only just awakened, and the path of Dao stretches endlessly ahead. Are you willing to take me as your master and follow me in cultivating the Great Dao?"
Though Shi Qing had only just been born, he knew that taking a master was a major matter. Sensing Li Cha's gentle yet powerful Dao rhythm and sincere goodwill, he immediately knelt again and performed the great rite of three kneelings and nine kowtows. "This disciple Shi Qing is willing!"
"Good, good, good!" Li Cha said "good" three times in a row, his heart filled with joy as well. He raised a hand, and a gentle force lifted Shi Qing to his feet. "Since you have entered my sect, I shall bestow upon you a cultivation method." With a touch of his finger, a stream of light containing profound information entered Shi Qing's brow. "This is the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique. It was created by your master after comprehending Great God Pangu's body-tempering method and combining it with my own insights. It is most suited to an Innate Stone Spirit such as you, with an extraordinary physique. Cultivate it diligently, and do not slacken."
Shi Qing felt countless profound methods flood into his mind, all supreme secrets for tempering the body and developing potential. He was instantly overjoyed and respectfully said, "Shi Qing will certainly not disappoint Master's high hopes. I will cultivate diligently without cease!"
"As for a protective treasure..." Li Cha looked over his own possessions. He only had a few bonded items, and indeed had no magic treasure suitable for Shi Qing at this stage. Feeling slightly apologetic, he said, "Your master does not presently have a magic treasure suited to you. Once we travel through the Primordial Wilderness in the future, I will certainly find you a fine weapon or spiritual treasure."
"Master's grace has already left Shi Qing endlessly grateful. I would not dare ask for a magic treasure," Shi Qing obediently replied.
Nearby, Mo Ran watched as Shi Qing was accepted as Master's Personal Disciple the moment he transformed and was bestowed a profound technique. His eyes could not help but reveal deep envy.
Li Cha noticed Mo Ran's emotions, and a thought came to him. Mo Ran had followed him for a long time, loyally and diligently traveling far and wide. Though his foundation was somewhat inferior, his nature had become quite pure under the influence of the Tea Dao. Li Cha said, "Mo Ran, you have followed me for a long time and served diligently. Today, I shall formally accept you as a Nominal Disciple and pass down to you the upper portion of the Primordial Chaos Great Dao True Scripture. This technique is your master's primary cultivation method. You may use it for reference, but you must not imitate it rigidly. With your nature and understanding, I believe it will not be long before you reach the Da Luo realm."
Upon hearing this, excitement instantly welled up in Mo Ran's enormous Qilin eyes. He hurriedly lowered his body and said in a muffled voice, "Mo Ran thanks Master... no, thanks Master for this grace! This disciple will certainly cultivate diligently and not disappoint Master's high expectations!"
Li Cha nodded with a smile and transmitted the technique into Mo Ran's Spiritual Sense. Thus, he now had Shi Qing as a Personal Disciple and Mo Ran as a Nominal Disciple. This Tea Dao lineage could finally no longer be considered a lone and isolated one.
He looked over the tranquil valley, then toward the direction of the East Sea. A plan had already formed in his heart.
"Our business here is finished. We will continue eastward. Shi Qing, you have only just transformed, so enter your master's treasure space and stabilize your cultivation while familiarizing yourself with the technique." As he spoke, he also stored Shi Qing within the Chaos Pearl, placing him together with the Pure Spirit Tea Tree.
Afterward, he once again stepped onto Mo Ran's back.
"Let us go, Mo Ran. Our destination remains unchanged—the East Sea!"
The group transformed into a streak of light once more and vanished beyond the horizon.
Before you continue