Bestowed Three Treasures

In his Previous Life, This Treasure had ultimately fallen into the hands of Jade Pure Primordial Heavenly Venerate, who later bestowed it upon his disciple, Cihang Daoist.

When Cihang Daoist entered Buddhism in the west and attained the fruition of a bodhisattva, this bottle became Guanyin Bodhisattva's treasured personal artifact.

The bottle contained boundless space and could hold the waters of the Four Seas; even Three Lights Divine Water could be contained within it.

In his Previous Life, Guanyin Bodhisattva had used this very bottle to store Three Lights Divine Water.

After the willow branch within the bottle absorbed the divine water's spiritual essence, it became a supreme sacred artifact capable of reviving the dead and restoring flesh to bare bones; it could even save the Ginseng Fruit Tree.

The ripples in Haotian's heart had yet to settle when he saw Hongjun calmly pour the spirit tea from the Ten Thousand Crows Pot into the Pure Glazed Bottle.

Then, with a light sweep of his sleeve, he summoned from the void three gold, three white, and three black jade cups—a total of nine.

The instant these nine cups appeared, they once again drew Haotian's gaze.

He examined them intently and discovered that the Treasure Light of the nine cups reflected one another, their Dao essences naturally linked. They were astonishingly a complete set of Innate Array Treasures!

In the Primordial World, where spirit treasures were rare and precious, this was exceedingly uncommon.

At this point, the shock in Haotian's heart had reached its peak.

The pot for brewing tea, the bottle for holding tea, the cups for drinking tea—every single one was an Innate Spirit Treasure, and all had left behind illustrious renown in the Investiture of Gods War of his Previous Life.

Especially the nine cup-shaped spirit treasures that had appeared last.

In his Previous Life, Nuwa had bestowed them upon Qingluan Bird, the Boy under her tutelage.

Wielding This Treasure, Qingluan had nearly forced Yuan Hong, the Through-Back Ape who had driven Erlang Shen into a bitter battle, into a dead end.

"Is this the foundation of the Primordial World's first Saint...?" Haotian sighed inwardly.

Even with memories of the future and the confidence that he would not lack spirit treasures in time, he could not help but be dazzled by Hongjun's manner of using Innate Spirit Treasures for something as ordinary as drinking tea.

Just to savor a pot of tea, he had used two Mid-grade Innate Spirit Treasures and one High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure.

And the tea he drank was made from Tea Leaves produced by a High-Grade Innate Spiritual Root.

One had to know that any one of these four spiritual items was something that ninety percent of the Living Beings in the Primordial World would likely never obtain in their entire lives.

They might not even have the chance to lay eyes on one.

"No wonder Hongjun was able to establish Treasure Distribution Cliff in his Previous Life and distribute treasures among the Primordial Great Powers..." Enlightenment dawned upon Haotian.

"I fear that by now, more than half of the Primordial World's Innate Spirit Treasures have already fallen into his hands."

Holding the Pure Glazed Bottle, Hongjun poured the tea into the nine cups.

The tea in every cup was a different color. The tea in the gold cups was like the rising morning sun; that in the white cups was clear and crisp, like moonlight condensed into dew; and that in the black cups was deep and profound, like starlight shining through the night.

Hongjun sampled them one by one. Only after draining all nine cups did he nod slightly. "Your words were not empty. It is indeed fine tea."

"It is already this tea's great fortune to receive Esteemed Master's appraisal," Haotian replied respectfully.

Hongjun said no more. With a gentle wave of his broad sleeve, the Ten Thousand Crows Pot, Pure Glazed Bottle, and Three Talents Jade Cups transformed into three streams of light and flew before Haotian.

"Since you entered my tutelage, I have yet to bestow upon you anything for protection."

"This time, you specially ventured into the Primordial World to seek out tea and offer it to me. These three treasures for drinking tea shall be bestowed upon you for your protection."

Haotian was greatly alarmed. He immediately prostrated himself, intending to decline. "This Disciple's cultivation is shallow. How could I possibly deserve to receive so many treasures—"

"Accept them." Hongjun calmly cut him off.

The three treasures immediately transformed into three-colored radiances and entered Haotian's Sea of Consciousness through his brow.

"You must have gained some insight from this journey."

"There is still time before I begin my lectures. You may first return to your Quiet Room and cultivate in seclusion. When I begin lecturing, come attend upon me then."

Warmth surged through Haotian's heart. He solemnly bowed three times. "Thank you for Esteemed Master's consideration. This Disciple takes his leave."

As he left Yan Dao Palace, Haotian's steps were exceptionally light.

Not only had he escaped punishment this time, but he had even obtained three precious spirit treasures. It was truly an unexpected delight.

When Haotian returned to his Quiet Room, he found Yaochi already waiting within.

She had not entered meditation to cultivate. Instead, she stared toward the door with knitted brows, the worry in her eyes still unrelieved.

Only upon seeing Haotian return safely did she let out a long breath and hurry forward. "Elder Brother, Esteemed Mas... did you receive punishment?"

Haotian smiled and shook his head. "Your Elder Brother is fine. I was not punished."

"Moreover, because I rendered merit by offering tea, Esteemed Master even bestowed three Innate Spirit Treasures upon me."

"What?" Yaochi froze at his words, disbelief written across her face. "Could Elder Brother be deceiving your Younger Sister?"

Seeing that she did not believe him, Haotian stirred his thoughts, and the three spirit treasures manifested from Great Dao Space.

At once, Treasure Light flowed forth, casting the Quiet Room in a dreamlike, illusory glow.

As Dao essence filled the air, the spiritual qi in the room condensed into blossoming golden lotuses.

Yaochi stood dumbstruck by the sight. Only after a long while did she recover, gently pressing a hand to her chest as she sighed. "This... this Treasure Light..."

Seeing her like this, Haotian could not help but smile.

Yaochi noticed the smile in her Elder Brother's eyes, and her cheeks instantly flushed crimson. She lightly clenched her delicate fist and thumped Haotian on the shoulder, chiding, "Elder Brother deliberately watched Younger Sister make a fool of herself!"

Haotian reined in his smile and said solemnly, "How would I dare?"

"Younger Sister, listen while I explain..." As he spoke, he recounted in detail everything that had happened when he met Hongjun.

Once Yaochi had heard it all, admiration gradually rose in her eyes. "Elder Brother truly possesses extraordinary courage."

"Only... how did Elder Brother know Esteemed Master would not pursue the matter of your entering the Primordial World without permission?"

Haotian smiled faintly and explained, "If Esteemed Master truly meant to forbid us from entering the world, he would not have granted us the Purple Firmament Token, which allows us to travel freely between the Primordial World and the chaos."

"Furthermore, as disciples of the Dao Ancestor, our cultivation also concerns Esteemed Master's standing."

"My entering the world this time was for the sake of seeking the Dao. How could Esteemed Master truly blame me?"

"On the contrary, if I were lax in cultivation, that is when I would truly be punished."

After a pause, he added, "Besides, I specifically found Spirit Tea for Esteemed Master. He will naturally see clearly this filial devotion of mine."

Yaochi nodded again and again, the reverence in her eyes growing ever deeper. "Elder Brother's considerations are thorough indeed. Younger Sister cannot compare in even one ten-thousandth."

Hearing this, Haotian unconsciously raised a hand, intending to stroke the top of her head.

Yet he had forgotten that the two of them presently wore the forms of young attendants, their heights nearly equal.

With that lift of his hand, his fingertips lightly brushed Yaochi's cheek.

Yaochi's body trembled slightly, and the blush on her face deepened until even the roots of her ears were stained with rosy color.

Sensing that the atmosphere had become somewhat strange, Haotian gave a light cough and changed the subject. "Would Younger Sister like to hear about what I saw and experienced in the Primordial World this time?"

Light immediately rippled through Yaochi's eyes, and she nodded repeatedly. "I would love to hear all about it!"

Haotian swiftly gathered his thoughts, then explained one by one all that he had experienced after entering the Primordial World.

Encountering the Black Tiger, breaking the Wuyi formation, battling the Mountain Spirit fiercely, and even accidentally entering Beside the East Sea, where he met Bai Ze and received the Primordial World's inheritance as a gift...

He told it so vividly that Yaochi listened as if entranced, as though she had journeyed alongside him through that magnificent, turbulent adventure.

"Elder Brother truly possesses deep fortune and blessings, wisdom and courage alike." Yaochi sighed from the bottom of her heart. "Just hearing Elder Brother recount it makes this journey seem incomparably thrilling, enough to fill one with longing."

Seeing her delight, Haotian too felt his heart brighten.

A thought came to him, and he took out a Jade Slip and offered it to her. "After obtaining Fellow Daoist Bai Ze's permission, I inscribed within this the inheritance of the Primordial World. Younger Sister may take it and study it."

Yaochi accepted the Jade Slip, and glistening tears suddenly welled in her eyes. "Elder Brother traveled so far from home, yet still remembered Younger Sister..."

Haotian said warmly, "What are you saying?"

"We came from the same source and have kept each other company until now. If I do not think of you, then who should I think of?"