Baxia did not excel in escape techniques, but as a dragon son at the Peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, he was innately capable of riding clouds and mist. At full speed, Forget Worry could not compare to him. On the journey here, Li Cha had leisurely traveled atop Forget Worry for over a hundred years before reaching the Ren Water Grotto-Heaven. Yet on this return journey, carried by the primordial beast Baxia, they spotted the Buzhou Mountain that connected heaven and earth in less than three years.
By calculation, more than seven hundred years remained until the end of Hongjun's third Preaching the Dao, so there was ample time.
Upon receiving news of Li Cha's return, all the disciples of Yun Hua Grotto-Heaven swiftly gathered before the Immortal Welcoming Platform at the entrance, standing solemnly in orderly ranks to welcome their patriarch home. Rosy clouds paved the way, immortal cranes cried clearly, and the grotto-heaven's formation slowly opened, revealing Li Cha and his party.
Li Cha drifted down gracefully. Behind him followed Wu Zhiqi, who scratched his ears and cheeks while curiously surveying his surroundings, as well as Baxia, whose body had shrunk but whose vast aura and ancient dragon might remained impossible to conceal. Such a group immediately drew quiet amazement from the disciples. Baxia's distinctive dragon-headed, turtle-bodied form, along with the faint Da Luo pressure he exuded, inspired particular awe.
"Welcome Master—Patriarch—back to the mountain!" Led by Mo Ran, everyone bowed in unison, their voices shaking the clouds.
Li Cha nodded slightly and swept his gaze over them. Seeing that everyone's cultivation had improved and the grotto-heaven was in perfect order, he felt deeply gratified. He briefly introduced Wu Zhiqi and Baxia. "This is my newly accepted disciple, Wu Zhiqi. He was born from innate water-element qi and has a lively, restless nature. You must look after him well in the future. As for this one, he is Baxia, one of Ancestral Dragon's nine sons and an elder of the Dragon Clan. He will be staying temporarily in my Yun Hua Grotto-Heaven. Treat him with courtesy and do not neglect him."
Wu Zhiqi grinned and cupped his hands toward the crowd, while Baxia steadily nodded his enormous dragon head. Though pride still lingered in his dragon eyes, his viciousness had receded considerably, making him seem far more peaceful. Everyone was curious about the origins of these two, but since Li Cha had no intention of elaborating, they did not dare ask and merely returned the greeting.
Just as everyone was exchanging pleasantries, the Guardian Grand Formation suddenly sent out a gentle ripple. It was not an enemy attack, but a signal that guests had arrived.
With a thought, Li Cha waved his hand and opened the formation's gate. Two figures, a man and a woman, entered side by side with unhurried steps, as natural as if they were strolling through the countryside to visit friends. They were Li Cha's two old friends, Wang Shu and Yang Mei.
"Daoist Friend Yun Hua, it has been a long time!" Yang Mei spoke first, his voice carrying a trace of teasing as he bowed.
Li Cha and Wang Shu returned the greeting at the same time. Li Cha smiled. "Daoist Brother Yang Mei, you jest. It has only been a few thousand years. For you, that was probably not even as long as a nap, was it?" He turned his gaze toward Wang Shu, slightly puzzled. "Fellow Daoist Wang Shu, what brings you here today with Daoist Brother Yang Mei to my humble abode?"
Wang Shu cast Li Cha a sidelong glance with her cool eyes, her tone carrying a hint of reproach. "What else could it be? A certain Daoist Friend left for several thousand years without a word. The two of us had been thinking of the Pure Tea in your Yun Hua Grotto-Heaven, waiting and waiting, but you never returned. Today, we finally sensed your gates opening. Of course we came at once, afraid we might miss you again."
Li Cha immediately looked somewhat embarrassed and hurriedly apologized. "My fault, my fault! This journey truly delayed me for too long. As it happens, I obtained a new tea this time. Its quality is passable, so please sample it, the two of you. Consider it my apology."
"Oh? New tea?" Ancestor Yang Mei was instantly interested, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes. Aside from studying the Great Dao of Space, he loved nothing more than a fine drink. "Anything Daoist Friend Yun Hua calls 'passable' must be extraordinary. Fellow Daoist Wang Shu, what do you think...?" He turned to Wang Shu, hoping to mediate.
Seeing Li Cha's sincere attitude and hearing there was new tea, Wang Shu's expression softened somewhat. She gave a soft snort. "Very well. For Daoist Brother Yang Mei's sake, I shall forgive a certain someone this once. But if the tea is poor, there will be further punishment!"
Women and petty men are the hardest to deal with. The ancients truly did not deceive me. Fairy Wang Shu looks so cool and otherworldly, yet she holds grudges too. Li Cha grumbled inwardly, but his face was all smiles as he led them toward the Pure Silence Studio.
Inside, Wang Shu and Yang Mei sat on opposite sides of a round spiritual-wood table, while Li Cha occupied the seat of honor and personally boiled water and brewed tea. Before long, the tea fragrance overflowed from the Three Talents Cups. Unlike the light, distant aroma of Pure Spirit Tea, this fragrance carried a rich, lingering sweetness that refreshed the heart and mind. Faint Dao rhythms also circulated within the scent, making one feel clear-headed and invigorated at a mere whiff.
Yang Mei impatiently lifted his Tea Cup. First, he observed its color: the tea liquor was clear purple-gold, with faint rosy radiance within. Then he inhaled its aroma, and that distinctive, intense sweetness rushed straight into his sea of consciousness. Finally, he carefully took a sip and closed his eyes to savor it. After a long while, he opened his eyes and praised, "Excellent! This tea suits my taste perfectly! Sweet and rich, with a powerful aroma and a long aftertaste. It is not as overly delicate as Pure Spirit Tea. Daoist Friend Yun Hua, what is this tea called?"
"This is Purple Firmament Tea. It grew alongside Innate Ren Water from birth and was nourished by it, which is why it possesses such a unique flavor," Li Cha explained.
Wang Shu moved with elegant grace as she carefully felt the changes in the tea upon her tongue. She said softly, "This tea is indeed extraordinary. It is sweet, mellow, and vibrant, with its Dao rhythm restrained within. However, for me, the delicate and lingering mood of Pure Spirit Tea, with its drifting aftertaste, is more to my liking."
Li Cha smiled and nodded. Everyone had their own preferences, and every Dao was different. Such things could not be forced. After three rounds of tea, however, the atmosphere in the room gradually quieted, taking on a barely perceptible solemnity.
Li Cha set down his Tea Cup and looked over his two friends, taking the initiative to break the silence. "All right, fellow Daoists. You came together today, so I presume it was not merely to taste this new tea of mine?"
Since Li Cha had brought it up, Yang Mei no longer concealed anything. He set down his Tea Cup, his expression turning solemn, and asked directly, "Daoist Friend Yun Hua, I will not beat around the bush. Hongjun is about to unite with the Heavenly Dao. From then on, he alone will reign supreme in the Primordial Wilderness. What are your plans?"
Rather than answer directly, Li Cha looked at Yang Mei with a probing gleam in his eyes. "What insight does Daoist Brother have? Could it be that... you intend to leave the Primordial Wilderness and travel through Chaos?" Li Cha had spoken of Yang Mei's fate from his previous life.
A flicker of surprise passed through Yang Mei's eyes. "How did you know? Yes, I do have that intention. After Hongjun unifies with the Dao, within the Primordial Wilderness, backed by the Heavenly Dao's power, I will be no match for him. But beyond the Primordial Wilderness, once he is separated from the Heavenly Dao, his little bit of ability... Before he unifies with the Dao is the best time for me to leave. Otherwise, with his petty nature, how could he possibly let me off?"
Curiosity rising, Li Cha pressed further. "Old brother, from the sound of it, just how did you 'offend' him?"
A trace of embarrassment appeared on Yang Mei's face. He hemmed and hawed without answering at once. Wang Shu could not help covering her mouth as she laughed, speaking for him instead. "Him? He had nothing better to do. After the first Preaching the Dao at Purple Cloud Palace ended, he ran to Jade Capital Mountain to seek Hongjun out for a 'friendly exchange of the Dao.' In the end... relying on the profundity of his spatial divine abilities, he took away every magic treasure Hongjun brought out. He returned them later, but before leaving, he even taunted him, saying, 'Before Hongjun, there was Heaven; I existed several thousand years before Hongjun.' He angered Daoist Friend Hongjun terribly. His face turned green at the time."
Li Cha was dumbfounded. Good heavens, those Primordial Wilderness novels I read before were actually true?! Ancestor Yang Mei really did this and said that! Imagining Hongjun's aggrieved yet helpless expression at the time, he nearly laughed aloud and quickly raised his Tea Cup to hide it.
Suppressing his laughter, he said seriously to Yang Mei, "Well... Daoist Brother. In that case, perhaps you really should go out and hide for a while?" His words were half teasing, half earnest. Hongjun was about to unify with the Dao and become the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao. At that time, within the Primordial Wilderness, his word would become law. Yang Mei was a Primordial Da Luo, untouched by karma and beyond tribulations, but if the Heavenly Dao wished to target him, it could still use the power of the Primordial World to make every step impossible for him.
Yang Mei sighed and gave Li Cha a complicated look, knowing that his friend was sincerely concerned for him. He took out a talisman that was neither gold nor jade, flickering with spatial ripples, and handed it to Li Cha. "I knew you would say that. Very well. Chaos is dangerous, but it is also vast. Keep this Void Communication Talisman safe. If you encounter a crisis in the Primordial Wilderness that cannot be resolved, use this talisman to call me. I will surely rush back and help with all my strength!"
Li Cha solemnly accepted the talisman. Feeling the profound Space Laws contained within it, warmth surged through his heart. He nodded. "Thank you, Daoist Brother!"
He then looked at Wang Shu. "Fellow Daoist Wang Shu, what about you? What are your plans?"
Fairy Wang Shu's expression remained as cool as ever, but a trace of determination flashed in her eyes. "My origin is connected to the Moon Star. Through my perception of heavenly secrets, I have faintly touched the threshold of the Primordial Da Luo realm, yet I remain one step short. I intend to return to the Moon Star and enter closed-door cultivation in Star Hall to comprehend the Dao of Supreme Lunar Infinity. Unless I attain Primordial Da Luo, I will not leave seclusion!"
Li Cha pondered for a moment after hearing this. Wang Shu was different from Yang Mei. Her roots lay in the Primordial Wilderness, and her Dao path was also connected to the stars. Leaving was not the best course for her. With a flip of his hand, he took out a jade box containing three tea leaves intertwined with Great Dao divine patterns and shining with brilliant spiritual light. They were Enlightenment Tea leaves, obtained by Li Cha plucking his own hair.
"Fellow Daoist Wang Shu's aspirations toward the Great Dao are admirable. I give this to you. Perhaps at a crucial moment, it may help you Clear the Mind and See the True Nature, allowing you to seize that trace of Spiritual Energy needed for a breakthrough. May you soon comprehend the mysterious pass, attain the Dao fruit of Primordial Da Luo, and roam the world freely!" Li Cha handed over the jade box.
A trace of emotion flashed through Wang Shu's eyes. She knew full well how precious Enlightenment Tea was, so she did not decline and accepted it solemnly. "Daoist Friend Yun Hua, Wang Shu will remember this kindness. Thank you!"
At last, both their gazes fell upon Li Cha. Yang Mei asked, "Daoist Friend Yun Hua, what about you? After unifying with the Dao, Hongjun will surely restrict and suppress you in every possible way. How will you conduct yourself?"
Li Cha rose to his feet and walked to the window of the studio. Looking out at the vibrant Yun Hua Grotto-Heaven, his gaze gradually became deep and resolute. He said slowly, "Me? I will not leave. The Primordial Wilderness was opened by Great God Pangu, the home of all living beings. If the Heavenly Dao wishes to follow its own path, I have no power to stop it, nor do I wish to. But what I seek is not my own transcendence. I wish to remain in this world and seek a measure of fairness for All Beings of the Primordial World, to fight for a sliver of eternal hope. Even if the road ahead is perilous and the Heavenly Dao stands in my way, I will still press onward."
His voice was not loud, yet it carried an unquestionable determination and compassion, as though he were making some vast vow.
"Daoist Friend Yun Hua..." Wang Shu and Yang Mei were both moved. They could feel the weight and resolve in Li Cha's words. It was a path that stood in faint opposition to the Heavenly Dao order soon to take shape, a path destined to be covered in thorns.
"There is no need to persuade me further." Li Cha turned around, a free and easy smile appearing on his face. He solemnly cupped his hands toward the two friends who knew and understood him. "The immortal path is long, and the Dao is arduous. Fairy Wang Shu, take care! Daoist Brother Yang Mei, stay safe!"
"Stay safe!"
"Take care!"
Wang Shu and Yang Mei also returned the salute solemnly.
Thus, Li Cha's two closest friends in the Primordial World parted ways. One resolutely entered boundless Chaos, where danger and opportunity coexisted, both to avoid the sharp edge of conflict and to pursue a broader Dao path. The other returned to her place of origin, entering a life-or-death seclusion whose duration and outcome were unknown, in pursuit of a breakthrough into the supreme realm. None knew when she would appear in the mortal world again.
Within the quiet room, the fragrance of tea still lingered, but the old friends had already departed.
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