The Dao-Devil War finally came to an end in the brutal fashion of Luohu detonating himself and three Ancestors meeting their tribulations. At the center of the battlefield, the area that had been completely reduced to Void by the explosion's force, where space was still slowly repairing itself, resembled a massive scar burned into the already barren Western Land.
Daoist Hongjun's expression was as dark as water. The wound on his shoulder still throbbed faintly; though the Demonic Energy had been suppressed, it would be difficult to eradicate in a short time. His gaze swept across that patch of Void before flicking toward several ownerless spiritual treasures scattered about—the Yin-Yang Ancestor's Taiji Diagram, Qiankun Ancestor's Qiankun Cauldron, and Hongmeng Measuring Heaven Ruler. A barely perceptible heat flashed through his eyes. Then, with a sweep of his sleeve, without even greeting Wang Shu or Yang Mei, he unceremoniously collected the three Innate Spirit Treasures of boundless power and transformed into a somewhat hurried Purple Rainbow, tearing through the air and departing.
Rather than returning in victory, he looked more like he was fleeing with stolen treasure. He could not even be bothered to maintain the last shred of appearances. Clearly, Luohu's final scheme had infuriated him badly—or perhaps he had sensed that his opportunity to become a saint was at hand and did not wish to linger any longer.
"He... he just took them?" Wang Shu watched the direction in which Hongjun had vanished, her willow brows knitting slightly in displeasure. Those three spiritual treasures had been the relics of fellow Daoists Yin Yang and Qiankun. Hongjun's conduct was far too cold-hearted.
Great Immortal Yang Mei merely shook his head and stopped Wang Shu from demanding an explanation. He transmitted, "Fairy, wait. This poor Daoist sees that Fellow Daoist Hongjun's aura has begun to faintly merge with the Heavenly Dao, with purple qi surging around him. I fear that... his chance to become a saint has arrived. At such a time, it would be best not to offend him lightly."
Wang Shu's heart tightened at his words. All beneath saints were ants. If Hongjun truly became a saint at this moment, then it was indeed unwise to become his enemy. She suppressed her displeasure and let out a soft sigh.
Just then, the space beside them rippled slightly, and a figure in green robes silently emerged. It was Li Cha, who had withdrawn his concealment.
"Haha, Fellow Daoist Li Cha, I knew it was you!" Yang Mei laughed first upon seeing Li Cha. He stepped forward and made a Daoist salute. "That wisp of Demon-Breaking Fragrance just now—apart from your Tea Dao, I fear there is no second source to be found in the Primordial Wilderness."
Li Cha hurriedly returned the salute and said with a hint of apology, "Daoist Brother Yang Mei, please forgive me. It was not that this poor Daoist wished to hide his abilities. My cultivation is simply too weak, and I did not dare face the Demon Ancestor's edge directly. I could only resort to some unpresentable little tricks from the sidelines. I have made Daoist Brother laugh."
"Ah, you are too modest, Fellow Daoist." Yang Mei waved a hand, but his gaze could not help drifting over Li Cha's body. His nostrils twitched slightly as he smiled. "Still, this tea fragrance seems even richer and more enduring than before. Its Dao rhythm is restrained yet profound. Could it be that those tea utensils have finally been completed?"
What he had been thinking about all this time was still the "Primordial First Tea" Li Cha had mentioned, the one that required Three Lights Divine Water to brew.
Li Cha nodded with a smile. "Thank you for your concern, Daoist Brother. The tea table, Tea Furnace, and Teapot have all been refined. Now, only the Tea Cups fired from Nine Heavens Breathing Soil and the most crucial Three Lights Divine Water remain. Then it will be complete."
"Three Lights Divine Water?" Hearing this, Wang Shu could not help interrupting. Her beautiful eyes held a trace of surprise as she looked at Li Cha. "You need Three Lights Divine Water? Why did you not tell me earlier?"
Li Cha froze at first, then abruptly slapped his thigh, his face filling with regret. "Ah! Look at this brain of mine! I kept thinking only of the legends of overseas immortal islands. How could I forget that you, Fairy, are the mistress of the Primordial Wilderness's stars?"
The so-called Three Lights Divine Water was formed by combining Sunlight Divine Water, which wore away blood essence, flesh, and bone; Moonlight Divine Water, which corroded primordial spirits and souls; and Starlight Divine Water, which devoured true spirits and consciousness. It was the Primordial Wilderness's foremost sacred healing medicine! It could cure all poisons, heal all wounds, restore flesh to white bones, and revive the dead! Its source was the purest essence of the sun, moon, and stars. As the Moon Star Lord and Mother of Ten Thousand Stars, gathering such divine water was not easy for Wang Shu, but it was far from impossible.
"Fairy, do you think... you might grant this poor Daoist some?" Li Cha no longer cared about maintaining his composure. His eyes were filled with longing and urgency. This concerned the completion of his Tea Dao; he could not help losing his bearings.
It was Wang Shu's first time seeing Li Cha like this. Finding it amusing and wishing to tease him, she feigned contemplation. "Hmm... this water is not easy to gather and consumes one's origin. Giving you some... is not impossible. But what does Fellow Daoist intend to offer in exchange?"
"This..." Li Cha wore an expression of pained reluctance, as though making an agonizing choice. He hesitated, but eventually gritted his teeth and swept his sleeve. Several treasures floated into the air.
They were the Five Spirit Pearls, Five Elements Whip, half of the God-Slaying Spear, and the Yin Yang Mirror!
It turned out that while Hongjun had hurriedly swept away the Taiji Diagram and the others, Li Cha had relied on the Chaos Pearl's concealment and the speed of Spirit Vine Boundless to act first, silently "picking up" these spiritual treasures that carried no karmic ties.
"Fairy, please take a look... choose one?" Li Cha pointed at the treasures, each of which would have made the great powers of the Primordial Wilderness fight until their heads bled, and spoke with a pained expression.
Wang Shu stared at the spiritual treasures, especially the half of the God-Slaying Spear, whose baleful aura had yet to fade. Her beautiful eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, she did not know what to say. Yang Mei, standing nearby, could not help chuckling as he shook his head.
"You... you rascal!" Wang Shu finally managed after a long while, both annoyed and amused. "We were fighting for our lives at the front, while you were in the back picking up easy spoils!"
"Hehe, it was a fortunate coincidence." Li Cha gave a dry laugh.
"Hmph!" Wang Shu snorted in feigned displeasure. Her gaze passed over the treasures before finally settling on the ancient Yin Yang Mirror. This mirror contained the Great Dao of Yin and Yang, which shared common ground with her Dao of Stars and could serve as a source of insight. "I'll take this one!"
She reached out and took the Yin Yang Mirror. Seeing that she had not taken the Five Spirit Pearls, Li Cha felt more than half his worry lift. The other treasures were good, but compared to the Five Spirit Pearls, which could allow the Chaos Pearl to evolve Innate Five Spirits and bring the world within it another step forward, they were still lacking.
"Daoist Brother Yang Mei, won't you choose one as well?" Li Cha turned to Yang Mei and offered proactively. He had brought out these treasures with the intention of sharing them, using them to forge deeper goodwill with these two peak great powers. Dividing treasures—or rather, dividing the spoils—was undoubtedly one of the quickest ways to close the distance between people.
Yang Mei looked at him with a half-smile. "Oh? Are you truly willing? You do not feel pained?"
Li Cha put on an utterly "frank" expression. "Of course I do! How could I not? After all, I picked up an advantage from everyone. If the two of you found out and I refused to part with even a hair, this poor Daoist would feel guilty as well!" His words were half true and half false. His desire to make friends was genuine, and so was his reluctance.
Yang Mei laughed loudly. "Good! Since that is the case, this poor Daoist will not stand on ceremony. I will take the Five Elements Whip!" His eye was keen. He could see that Li Cha valued the Five Spirit Pearls immensely, while even half of the God-Slaying Spear was not something an upper-grade Innate Spirit Treasure like the Five Elements Whip could compare to.
Once Yang Mei accepted the Five Elements Whip, Li Cha swiftly tucked the remaining two spiritual treasures back into his sleeve, as though afraid they might change their minds. Then he immediately put on an incomparably sincere expression and looked eagerly at Wang Shu. "Fairy, about that Three Lights Divine Water..."
Seeing his sudden change in attitude, and how he was willing to throw away all dignity for the sake of "tea," Wang Shu truly did not know whether to laugh or cry. She irritably tossed him a Precious Vase. "Here! Take it!"
Li Cha received it as though it were the greatest treasure. He immediately probed it with his Spiritual Sense. Within the vase was divine water flickering with wondrous lights of sun, moon, and stars, containing endless vitality and the Power of Creation. There was enough for five brews of his Primordial First Tea! He solemnly bowed. "Many thanks for your generous gift, Fairy! This poor Daoist will remember this favor!"
Having obtained the Three Lights Divine Water, Li Cha was so excited that he wished he could immediately fly back to Yun Hua Grotto-Heaven and attempt to brew the Primordial Chaos Spirit Tea. Yet just as he took a step, he suddenly stopped. His gaze swept over this Western Land, shattered by the great battle and utterly drained of Spiritual Energy. Then he remembered the descendants of the Spiritual Tea Tree, struggling bitterly amid the Demonic Energy, and a thought arose in his heart.
"Fellow Daoist, are you not leaving? This poor Daoist can hardly wait to taste what sort of flavor immortal tea brewed with Three Lights Divine Water will have." Yang Mei was puzzled when he saw Li Cha stop.
Li Cha turned around and said to the two, "Please go on ahead, Fellow Daoists. This poor Daoist still has a few private matters to settle here and must remain for some time."
"Oh?" Yang Mei raised a brow. Though somewhat curious, he did not ask further. In his carefree manner, he said, "In that case, Fellow Daoist, do as you please. Once the immortal tea is brewed, do not forget to call for this poor Daoist." With that, his figure flickered and merged into the ripples of space, vanishing from sight.
"Once the tea is ready, remember to call me." Wang Shu also gave Li Cha a deep look before transforming into a streak of cool moonlight and returning to the Moon Star.
In the blink of an eye, Li Cha was the only one left upon this barren, deathly silent battlefield.
He did not leave. Instead, he began walking alone across the shattered Western Land. Beneath his feet lay scorched earth and fractured mountains and rivers, while the air still carried the faint scent of Demonic Energy and blood. He came before a dying Spiritual Tea Tree, looked at its withered yellow leaves, then crouched down and nourished it with his own pure Wood Spirit Origin. He also used Great Mana to carefully sort out the severed and clogged minor spiritual veins beneath his feet.
He wanted to try, upon this abandoned wasteland, to barely reshape a small patch of land where his "descendants" could survive. It was no easy task, nearly an act against the heavens, but he was willing to spend his effort and time on it. His figure was lonely yet resolute as he began silently cultivating this scarred Western Land.
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