Boiling Tea to Shock a Great Power

At these words, Haotian and Yaochi were both taken aback. They exchanged a glance, each seeing the astonishment in the other's eyes.

They had never expected Hongjun to deliberately permit—or rather, instruct—them to step in and take part in the Dao discussions among the Great Powers.

This was something never mentioned in any of the myths or records Haotian knew.

Haotian's thoughts raced... and in but a moment, he arrived at a guess.

Of course. The Primordial Wilderness is a real and boundless world, vast and profound, with endless variables.

The tales that unfolded among the three thousand guests of Purple Firmament Palace alone must number far beyond hundreds of millions.

How could the scant legends of later ages possibly record them all?

Hongjun's actions naturally carry deeper meaning. Perhaps this is merely a tempering and test for them, nothing particularly extraordinary, which is why history never recorded it.

Seeing that the Two People still hesitated, Hongjun spoke again in an indifferent voice, "Go."

The two words fell without a ripple, yet carried an authority that brooked no doubt.

Haotian and Yaochi immediately felt their minds clear. They no longer dared hesitate, and bowed together. "We respectfully obey Esteemed Master's edict."

The Two People then straightened their robes and sleeves, stepped upon Dao Patterns in the void, and slowly descended from the purple-jade High Platform, formally entering this gathering for Dao discussion, where nearly all the foremost Great Powers of the present Primordial Wilderness had assembled.

Meanwhile, Hongjun watched Haotian's departing back, a trace of doubt passing through his eyes—one no one could detect.

As Haotian and Yaochi left the Saint's side, quite a few Great Powers inside the hall cast surprised, probing looks their way.

Facing such a scene for the first time, Yaochi could not help feeling somewhat nervous despite having the Saint's Edict to bolster her courage. Subconsciously, she moved half a step closer to Haotian.

Haotian, meanwhile, remained calm-faced, his gaze like lightning as he swiftly swept over the dozens of Dao-discussion circles, large and small, that had already formed of their own accord.

These circles had gathered by region, by friendship, or by similarity of Dao Path.

The Three Pure Ones stood as one, surrounded by Pure Qi.

Around Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi gathered several demon immortals with blazing auras.

Nuwa and Fuxi conversed with several Great Powers whose auras were upright and tranquil.

Though only Houtu of the Twelve Ancestral Witches had come, she too was gathered with several Ancient Gods whose Qi and Blood surged like vast seas...

After a brief consideration, Haotian had already settled on a plan.

Leading Yaochi, he walked directly toward a relatively small circle not far from the purple-jade High Platform.

Four people were seated there, discussing the Dao.

They were Zhunti, Jieyin, Zhenyuanzi, and Hongyun, with whom they had formed a measure of acquaintance over the earlier matter of "giving up seats."

When Haotian and Yaochi approached together, the expressions of the four people in the circle shifted slightly. They halted their conversation and rose together to welcome them.

Haotian stopped three steps away, cupped his hands in greeting, and spoke aloud with a warm smile:

"Greetings, Dao Brothers."

"By the Saint's Edict, my sister and I have also come to seek out Daoists with whom to discuss and verify the Dao."

"After giving it much thought, we felt that we have at least met the four Dao Brothers before, and found ourselves quite compatible."

"Would it be possible... for us to impose upon you, and for my sister and me to listen in and seek your instruction?"

At these words, the surprise on Zhunti and the other three's faces deepened.

But their surprise was swiftly replaced by solemnity.

Zhunti reacted the fastest. He immediately stepped forward, returned the greeting with a deep bow, and said with utmost sincerity:

"For Daoists Haotian and Yaochi to condescend to grace us with your presence and offer instruction is truly the fortune of us four!"

"Please, take your seats at once. We have been feeling that the Great Dao is deep and obscure, with many points we do not understand. We eagerly hope to exchange insights and spar with the two Daoists!"

Jieyin, Zhenyuanzi, and Hongyun likewise followed with solemn bows, repeatedly voicing their welcome. Their manner was warm and respectful.

For a time, this small circle became quite eye-catching inside the hall because of the arrival of these two "special guests."

Haotian and Yaochi calmly took their seats opposite Zhunti and the other four.

Naturally, he knew that more than one person's eyes were fixed upon him at this moment.

Yet his expression remained composed, without the slightest hint of timidity.

After all, his greatest support—the Saint—was still present. No one would dare harbor ill intentions toward him.

"Dao Brothers, the Great Dao is profound and wondrous. How can one discuss the Dao in idle conversation without fine tea to accompany it?" Haotian broke into a smile, his voice clear and bright.

"Today, I am delighted that you have not spurned us and have allowed my sister and me to share your table in discussing the Dao."

"As it happens, I have obtained a little Spirit Tea. I wish to share it with you all, as a modest token of my feelings."

With that, Haotian lightly swept his broad sleeve.

Several hundred emerald-green Tea Leaves appeared out of thin air, faint Innate Dao Patterns flowing between their veins as they quietly hovered in the void before them.

Every Tea Leaf was wreathed in hazy spiritual radiance.

A clear, spiritual aura spread outward, spontaneously forming subtle phenomena of rosy clouds unfurling and dew hanging like pearls.

"Eh?" Zhunti let out a soft cry of surprise.

Jieyin, Hongyun, and Zhenyuanzi likewise revealed astonishment in their eyes.

Even the other Great Powers secretly watching this place could not help but feel their hearts stir when their Divine Sense swept over it.

With their discerning eyes, how could they fail to see that this tea was anything but ordinary?

Its clear, ethereal origin was utterly pure, its Dao essence overflowing—it was clearly a treasure produced by a High-Grade Innate Spiritual Root!

Even many of the Great Powers present might not possess such a spiritual item.

Haotian took in everyone's expressions and smiled faintly.

With a light tap of his fingertip, an ancient yet elegant treasure pot appeared before him, its body faintly embossed with ten thousand crows greeting the sun. It was none other than the Mid-grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the Ten Thousand Crows Pot.

The suspended Tea Leaves seemed sentient as they drifted into the pot one after another.

At a thought from Haotian, the Innate Spiritual Energy within Yan Dao Palace, so dense it seemed impossible to dissolve, responded to his summons and condensed into streams of jade nectar, pouring into the pot with a gurgle.

The Samadhi True Fire naturally born within the pot immediately rose soundlessly, yet it contained the might to melt gold and iron.

In but an instant, clear waves were already roiling within the pot.

A tea fragrance, accompanied by a strange Dao essence that cleansed the Divine Soul, quietly wafted out. It was delicate at first, then gradually grew rich and mellow, lingering without dispersing.

At this moment, the expressions of the Great Powers watching in secret had become exceedingly complicated.

Not only had they recognized the Ten Thousand Crows Pot as a Mid-grade Innate Spirit Treasure of exceptional quality—one that combined offense and defense and possessed the wondrous ability to refine things—

They were even more astonished that Haotian was using such a spiritual treasure to... brew tea?

Haotian naturally sensed their reactions, yet he did not care in the slightest. The smile at his lips deepened subtly.

He knew that what would truly draw their gaze was still to come.

Seeing that the tea within the pot had reached a rolling boil, amber in color and containing spiritual charm within, Haotian remained unhurried as he took a jade purification bottle, crystal-clear throughout and flowing with seven-colored glazed Treasure Light, from the mysterious and unfathomable "Great Dao Space."

The moment this object appeared, the surrounding light seemed to clear!

The bottle was naturally round and flawless, faint Dao patterns emerging across its surface. It radiated a peaceful Aura that calmed the mind and purified all things.

It was precisely the High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the Pure Glazed Bottle!

Although This Treasure had yet to be refined by Haotian, he could still wield it in a simple manner through the Magical Power Imprint left behind by Hongjun.

The mouth of the Pure Glazed Bottle tilted slightly, releasing a gentle suction force.

The tea infusion within the Ten Thousand Crows Pot, which had gathered the essence of High-Grade Spirit Tea Leaves and a vast amount of Innate Spiritual Energy, flowed into the bottle in thin streams like an obedient little golden dragon, while its Treasure Light grew ever brighter.

"High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure!" This time, quite a few Great Powers nearly cried out, the shock and envy in their eyes no longer concealable.

Zhunti and Jieyin in particular, already utterly destitute, had their gazes glued firmly to the Pure Glazed Bottle, their Adam's apples bobbing faintly.