Yun Hua Grotto-Heaven Opens, Preaching the Tea Dao for a Thousand Years

Blessed by the Great Dao, Li Cha's cultivation soared to the heavens in a single step, reaching the peak of the Primordial Golden Immortal (Quasi-Saint) realm. He now stood at the very summit of the Primordial Wilderness pyramid. Moreover, he possessed several Postnatal Great Dao Merit Supreme Treasures that slew without accruing karma and remained undamaged through countless calamities. His true combat power and reserves were unfathomable. Even the already-Sainted Hongjun, or Yang Mei, who had attained Primordial Da Luo, would find it far from easy to do anything to him.

After perfecting the Tea Dao, Li Cha did not rush to leave seclusion. Instead, he cultivated diligently for a hundred years, carefully comprehending the mysteries of the Primordial Golden Immortal realm and stabilizing the Dao foundation that had been slightly unsettled by the infusion of merit. A hundred years were but the flick of a finger to him, yet they were enough for that vast power to settle completely and become a solid foundation of his own.

A hundred years later, Li Cha slowly opened his eyes. The divine light in them had withdrawn, and his aura was perfectly harmonious, without the slightest flaw. With a light sweep of his sleeve, he removed the formation barrier around Pure Silence Studio. The tightly shut doors, closed for so long, finally creaked open.

The sight outside made him pause in slight surprise. Shi Qing and Mo Ran stood at the forefront, with Qing Xuan, Lianyi, and the other seven nominal disciples close behind them. Beyond them was a dense sea of several hundred delicate and exquisite little immortal children, all seated cross-legged on the ground. Their large, bright eyes were fixed upon him, full of curiosity and reverence.

It turned out that during the hundred years he had spent in seclusion consolidating his cultivation, he had established the Tea Dao and drawn down Great Dao merit. The immense aura of merit and Dao resonance had fed back into the entire Yun Hua Grotto-Heaven, causing its spiritual energy to surge once more and its Dao resonance to grow ever clearer. Those beings that had already developed spiritual intelligence and listened to his Preaching the Dao had seized this opportunity; several hundred fortunate ones had successfully taken human form! Li Cha's Yunhua Lineage had suddenly flourished.

His first disciple, Shi Qing, relying on his extraordinary innate foundation and the nourishment of Great Dao merit, had broken through into the Da Luo realm in one stroke. The Human Flower above his head had blossomed into nine grades, giving him an exceptionally solid foundation!

Mo Ran had likewise made tremendous progress. His Earth Flower had bloomed into nine grades, and he had firmly entered Mid Da Luo.

The Dragon Eel had also worked hard, but limited by his innate foundation, his Earth Flower had ultimately only bloomed into eight grades. He had barely reached Mid Da Luo, but was still thoroughly satisfied.

Qing Xuan and the other seven nominal disciples, steeped in Dao resonance, had all advanced into the Mystic Immortal realm. As for those newly transformed "Little Radish Heads," they had been born as True Immortals, each brimming with spirituality.

Looking at the hall full of disciples, Li Cha felt gratified as well. At last, the Yunhua Lineage had begun to look the part.

When his Spiritual Sense quietly swept beyond the grotto-heaven, he was startled!

At the entrance to the remodeled Valley outside Yun Hua Grotto-Heaven, several hundred figures had gathered in a dark, crowded mass! Every one of them possessed a vast aura; the weakest were Peak Golden Immortals, while most were Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals! Besides Nuwa, Fuxi, the Twelve Ancestral Witches, Yang Mei, Wang Shu, and the others who had previously been drawn here by the fragrance of tea, there were even more who had heard that he had established the "Great Dao of Tea." Filled with curiosity and yearning, they had come in admiration of his name!

The Three Pure Ones were among them! At first, it had been the Grand Pure One Laozi who sensed the profundity of the Tea Dao and wished to investigate it, while Yuanshi and Tongtian had merely accompanied him. Yet upon arriving at the entrance of the grotto-heaven and smelling the tea fragrance—faint though it had become, yet still carrying a lingering Dao resonance—the two of them could not help but develop a measure of anticipation for Li Cha's "Great Dao of Tea."

I never expected there to be so many fellow Daoists, Li Cha mused. It seems the path of the Great Dao is not one walked alone. My Dao is not solitary!

With a thought, the Qiankun Seal and Sever Formation that had kept Yun Hua Grotto-Heaven sealed for years slowly opened a broad gateway.

"Mo Ran, Qing Xuan, Lianyi... you eight will go in my stead and welcome our fellow Daoists inside," Li Cha instructed. He then turned to Shi Qing. "Shi Qing, you and the Dragon Eel will lead the remaining disciples to arrange the seats at once. Prepare Pure Spirit Tea to receive our guests."

"We obey Master's (Master's) decree!" everyone answered, immediately springing into action.

Mo Ran and the seven nominal disciples arrived at the entrance of the grotto-heaven. Though nervous as they faced the several hundred Primordial Wilderness mighty figures of profound Dao cultivation outside, they still upheld the etiquette of the Yunhua Lineage. Neither servile nor overbearing, they cupped their hands in greeting. "Seniors, fellow Daoists, our master invites you inside. Please follow us."

Seeing Li Cha send his disciples to welcome them personally, the mighty figures also put away their pride and returned the salute courteously. Then, with curiosity and anticipation, they entered the mysterious Yun Hua Grotto-Heaven. In the eyes of almost every mighty figure visiting for the first time flashed a trace of unconcealed amazement!

Within the grotto-heaven, the spiritual energy was so dense it had nearly condensed into spiritual mist. Every breath was filled with pure Dao resonance. Strange flowers, exotic herbs, immortal fruits, and spiritual roots could be seen everywhere, vibrant with life. Spiritual Springs gurgled gently, their waters clear, sweet, and refreshing. Numerous docile spirit beasts moved through the landscape, creating a peaceful scene of an immortal paradise.

Throughout the entire grotto-heaven, there was only one building—Li Cha's place of quiet cultivation, Pure Silence Studio. The three characters "Pure Silence Studio" on the plaque before it were written in strokes like iron paintings and silver hooks, containing boundless true meaning of the Tea Dao. One glance made the heart grow tranquil and stray thoughts vanish, enough to make one almost lose oneself within it.

Under Li Cha's arrangements, the several hundred mighty figures took their seats in orderly fashion in the open space before Pure Silence Studio. The seats varied slightly in height. Great Immortal Yang Mei and Fairy Wang Shu, who were familiar with Li Cha as regular guests and close friends, sat on either side of him. Other foremost mighty figures such as the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa and Fuxi, the Twelve Ancestral Witches, Zhen Yuanzi, and Hong Yun sat cross-legged directly before Li Cha. Their positions were slightly lower than Yang Mei's and Wang Shu's, but they occupied the central area. The remaining Da Luo and Golden Immortal cultivators sat farther out.

No one had the slightest complaint about these arrangements. In the Primordial Wilderness, strength was revered. Given the auras of Li Cha, Yang Mei, and Wang Shu, it was only natural that they occupied the highest seats. Even the Twelve Ancestral Witches, usually the most wild and unruly—who dared to sleep soundly even in Purple Cloud Palace—had now restrained their fierce air and sat like obedient students. Clearly, they held Li Cha and his Tea Dao in great respect.

Li Cha's gaze swept over the three hundred sixty-six mighty figures present. Many were renowned figures of later generations: the Three Pure Ones, the Twelve Ancestral Witches, Nuwa, Fuxi, Zhen Yuanzi, Hong Yun, the Queen Mother of the West, Bai Ze... it could truly be called a gathering of heroes.

He smiled faintly. The disciples who had long been prepared immediately served every guest a steaming cup of tea brewed from Pure Spirit Tea.

"Fellow Daoists, you have traveled far and endured much. Please taste this tea."

Everyone raised their cups as instructed. Although Pure Spirit Tea could not compare to the miraculous Enlightenment Tea, much less the Primordial Chaos Spirit Tea, its effects of clearing the mind, calming the spirit, and harmonizing Dao resonance were already more than astonishing to these mighty figures, most of whom were encountering the Tea Dao for the first time. After a cup, they felt a gentle warmth wash over body and soul. The impatience and baleful energy accumulated through past cultivation seemed to be soothed away somewhat, leaving their minds clearer and filling them with anticipation for the Preaching the Dao about to begin.

Seeing that everyone had gained some insight, Li Cha wasted no more time. Sitting cross-legged upright before the Sacred Spirit Table, he began to expound upon his Great Dao of Tea.

"The Tea Dao is not merely a beverage. It is a vessel that bears the Dao, a method of self-cultivation, and a gateway to harmony." His Voice Calm, yet it reached the ears of every listener with perfect clarity.

"The Tea Dao contains the wonder of harmonizing Yin and Yang. Water and fire aid one another; firmness and softness advance together. Like the tea leaves rising and sinking within a cup, it enacts the principle of heaven and earth's balance."

"The Tea Dao can help one see clearly into one's nature. Amid curling tea fragrance, observe the true self, cleanse the mysterious mirror, and recognize one's true suchness and innate nature."

"The Tea Dao values non-contention. Only because one does not contend can none under heaven contend against one. Its virtue is like water: it benefits all things without contending, dwelling in places others disdain, and thus it comes close to the Dao..."

He spoke from the nature of tea to the ultimate principles of heaven and earth contained in its brewing methods; from the cultivation of one's state of mind while tasting tea to the wisdom of conducting oneself in the world; then from the inclusiveness and harmony of the Tea Dao to the grand vision of enlightening all beings and regulating the myriad energies of the Primordial Wilderness.

There were no dazzling visions of Heaven Flowers falling in profusion as when Hongjun preached the Dao, only calm words and Dao resonance that stirred reflection. Yet this seemingly plain exposition possessed a peculiar magic, pointing directly at the essence of cultivation and touching the heart.

This session of Preaching the Dao lasted a full thousand years.

Over those thousand years, Dao resonance flowed through Yun Hua Grotto-Heaven. Some listeners contemplated deeply, some came to sudden realization, some smiled, and some frowned. All were immersed in the profound realm of the Tea Dao.

The gains were immense.

When Li Cha's voice finally fell silent, the auras of many mighty figures began to fluctuate violently, their Dao realms visibly rising. The most outstanding among them, such as Laozi, Nuwa, and Zhen Yuanzi, drew upon their deep understanding of concepts such as "harmony," "creation," and "abundant virtue" within the Tea Dao. Combined with their own accumulated foundation, they broke through on the spot and successfully entered the Primordial Golden Immortal (Quasi-Saint) realm! Though they had only reached the initial stage, they had already surpassed the overwhelming majority present, who still remained in the Da Luo realm!

Even those unable to break through immediately, such as Yuanshi, Tongtian, Fuxi, and Hong Yun, had greatly advanced in their Dao cultivation. The road ahead had become clearer, and their gains were far from shallow.

The thousand-year Preaching the Dao came to a perfect conclusion. Filled with gratitude, the mighty figures solemnly bowed to Li Cha in thanks before taking their leave one after another, eager to return and digest the immense gains they had received from this teaching.

As these mighty figures departed, they spread word of the Yunhua teaching and the profundity of the Tea Dao. The atmosphere throughout the Primordial Wilderness seemed to undergo a subtle, almost imperceptible change. Strife had not ceased, but after Li Cha had sown the seeds of the Tea Dao, a current of thought seeking inner peace and the harmony of all things had quietly begun to sprout.

As time passed, the date of Dao Ancestor Hongjun's second Preaching the Dao at Purple Cloud Palace drew ever closer.

Seated within Purple Cloud Palace, Hongjun clearly sensed that the originally predetermined course of the Primordial Wilderness had seemingly been pried open by a gentle yet resolute force, beginning to shift toward an unknown direction. He tried to deduce it, tried to intervene, only to discover in astonishment that an even more vast and purer will—the Great Dao—was coldly "watching" him like a stern teacher holding a ruler. If he dared make even the slightest move against Li Cha or his Tea Dao again, that ruler would likely fall without hesitation!

For the first time, the Heavenly Dao felt constrained at every turn—and a kind of unprecedented... frustration.

With Li Cha's "Tea Dao" poured into it, the tide of the Primordial Wilderness began turning toward a future more magnificent than ever, and far more unknown.