The Expert Actually Called the Dao Ancestor By His Name?

The Three Pure Ones secretly rejoiced. It seemed this exalted expert knew their names as well.

"You mean to say, you're Yuanshi, he's Tongtian, and this is Laozi?"

Seeing Jiang Ping directly identify each of them, the Three Pure Ones admired him all the more. They had never met before, yet this exalted expert had seen through them at a glance.

This expert's cultivation must be unfathomably deep. Such a divine ability—knowing past and future with a single thought, calculating all things—could only be achieved by someone above the realm of a Saint.

With delight on his face, Yuanshi said, "I never expected Senior to know us fellow disciples as well. To be worthy of Senior's notice is truly the greatest honor!"

Jiang Ping's anger rose another few notches. "Oh, cut it out. I don't know you at all. You three, the Three Pure Ones? The real Three Pure Ones are renowned mighty figures of the Primordial World. Would they be anything like the three of you?"

"And I told you not to call me Senior. None of you listened, so don't blame me for being rude."

"Gentlemen, please leave. Turn right when you go out and head down the mountain. I won't see you off!"

The Three Pure Ones were instantly seized by panic. The expert had clearly recognized them just moments ago, yet now his expression had changed completely. It seemed they must have failed in their etiquette.

Tongtian hesitantly transmitted, "Perhaps Kunpeng was right. This exalted expert truly has merged into his own Dao. Hasn't he hinted at it again and again? Why don't we try addressing him as Young Master?"

Laozi asked in confusion, "What sort of form of address is Young Master?"

Yuanshi explained, "It is probably a form of address used among ordinary living beings. They use it this way in certain small places of the Primordial World."

Laozi suddenly understood. Seeing Tongtian and Yuanshi both looking at him now, he, as the eldest Senior Brother, was usually the one who made decisions in important matters.

At this moment, he could only force himself to speak. "Um, Young Master, please do not be angry. We will certainly take care in the future. We were merely overly fatigued just now."

Only then did Jiang Ping's expression ease. He waved his hand. "Forget it, forget it. I wasn't really angry. I just meant that we met by chance, which is a kind of fate. Why bother lying?"

"Actually, I don't care who you are. In any case, I'm just an ordinary living being with no cultivation. Whether you're the Three Pure Ones or Hongjun, I don't mind."

Jiang Ping sighed inwardly. Anyway, if the Three Pure Ones or Hongjun came, one little finger would be enough to crush me.

The Three Pure Ones could not help but suck in a breath of cold air.

In the Primordial World, no one had yet dared to call the Dao Ancestor by name.

Much less do so with such a casual attitude.

The expert spoke with an air as calm as drifting clouds and a gentle breeze. It truly did not seem false in the slightest.

He truly held no reverence whatsoever for the Dao Ancestor. Such an attitude could only belong to someone of the same realm as the Dao Ancestor—or an existence even stronger than the Dao Ancestor!

They were deeply alarmed. After waiting several breaths without detecting the slightest Dao Rhyme descending, they finally believed that not a single word this mighty expert had spoken was false.

One had to know that ordinary Golden Immortals, even Great Luo immortals, would never dare casually speak the Dao Ancestor's name, much less casually comment on him. Otherwise, the Heavenly Dao would notice in an instant and send down the pressure of Dao Rhyme.

Yet now, the Heavenly Dao showed no response at all, while the mighty expert remained calm and composed.

The Three Pure Ones found themselves in a difficult position. Before a terrifying mighty expert like Jiang Ping, they only wished to observe the etiquette of juniors.

Yet this exalted expert insisted on claiming that he was an ordinary living being.

It seemed they had to listen to Kunpeng. They had truly been ashamed before, having misunderstood Kunpeng and nearly missed this enormous opportunity bestowed by heaven.

Watching the Three Pure Ones' expressions shift endlessly, Jiang Ping felt secretly depressed.

He had thought that with three people arriving at once, they could have a proper chat. Who would have expected three fools to show up instead?

Whenever he said a single sentence, they would dawdle over it for ages. Could it be that the living beings of the Primordial World could not understand what he was saying?

With a soft sigh, Jiang Ping poured each of them a cup of tea. "You three have traveled through wind and dust all the way here. You must be thirsty. Hurry and have some tea."

"This little courtyard is remote. These tea leaves are nothing more than wild mountain tea I picked and cultivated myself."

Upon hearing this, Yuanshi shook his head imperceptibly.

What use could tea grown by oneself possibly have?

Only that which was born Innately could be extraordinary.

As for tea leaves, there was nothing in the Primordial World more precious than the few Enlightenment Tea leaves he had stored away.

Still, this was the expert's kindness, so he had to treat it courteously.

Yuanshi lifted the teacup. Looking at the murky tea broth and the few shriveled, dark tea leaves floating within, he secretly frowned.

These tea leaves were truly crude, practically an insult to the expert's status.

If he had the chance next time, he had to give the expert two Enlightenment Tea leaves to taste.

One had to know that once Enlightenment Tea was steeped, there was a great chance it would emit Dao Rhyme. Otherwise, it would not be so precious. It was nearly impossible to find in the Primordial World, and its value was almost comparable to the Ten Great Innate Spiritual Roots.

Pinching his nose, Yuanshi drank it all in one gulp. He had no desire to taste such an astringent flavor.

Jiang Ping chuckled. "Slow down. The tea is hot."

Yuanshi waved his hand. "It is nothing. To tell the truth, this tea is mediocre."

Jiang Ping smiled. "Right, hearing you say that makes me happy. It means you're honest and not merely humoring me. This was ordinary wild tea to begin with."

"I don't usually like drinking it either. It's just that this little courtyard is so remote, and I have nothing better with which to entertain you three. Please don't mind it."

Yuanshi waved his hand and was just about to speak.

Tongtian's face flushed crimson, and he suddenly shouted, "Good tea! Good tea!"

The aura around his entire body surged explosively, on the verge of erupting at any moment!

Yuanshi panicked and hurriedly sent a voice transmission. "Tongtian, have you lost your mind? How dare you behave so recklessly before the exalted one!"

Tongtian swiftly suppressed his aura and sent back a halting transmission. "Second Brother, this tea is... no... ordinary... I can't... control it..."

Yuanshi was astonished. How was it extraordinary? It was clearly just ordinary tea leaves.

Just then, Yuanshi's spiritual senses flashed frantically. Oh no! I'm about to lose control too!

Wave after wave of powerful Dao Rhyme surged from within his body, violently battering his Primordial Spirit.

Even as he was shaken to the core, wild joy erupted in his heart.

This was Dao Rhyme!

And not just one strand—this cup of tea had actually contained seven strands of Dao Rhyme!

It was equivalent to seven fragments of the Great Dao!

How was he supposed to absorb this? Without three to five years, it would be difficult to fully comprehend it all.

Laozi had it easier. Out of restraint, he had only taken a light sip just now, so he could suppress it with ease.

Tongtian, on the other hand, had taken a huge gulp, while Yuanshi alone had drained his cup in one breath.

At this moment, regret flooded him. Had I known, I wouldn't have been in such a hurry.

So much Dao Rhyme was a heaven-sent opportunity. If he could not suppress and absorb it in time, some of it would inevitably dissipate.

Damn it! Such precious tea could have lasted two or three days per cup. It needed to be savored slowly, sip by sip. I've simply thrown away a priceless treasure!

Compared to these unremarkable tea leaves, Enlightenment Tea was utterly insignificant!

"It seems you really were thirsty. You drank such scalding tea in one go. I was careless. How about I fetch the three of you a few cups of cold water?" Jiang Ping said, about to rise.

Tongtian immediately spoke up. "Young Master, there's no need to trouble yourself. We're not afraid of heat."