Reunion with Bai Ze

Martial Spirit's expression turned solemn as he answered gravely, "This disciple obeys!"

"This disciple will certainly give it everything he has, guard the mountain gate well, and await the Mountain Lord's return!"

Haotian said no more. With a single step, his figure faded from where he stood and vanished.

In the next instant, he appeared before the towering, verdant Great Red Robe Mother Tree.

After a hundred years of preaching, the tree had been nourished by the willpower and Dao rhymes of myriad beings, becoming ever more spiritually radiant, its branches and leaves shimmering with flowing light.

With a gentle sweep of Haotian's sleeve, three thousand six hundred supreme-grade tea leaves, already Crimson like Blood and brimming with spiritual charm, detached from the branches as though summoned. They transformed into streaks of red light and entered the "Great Dao Space" within his Primordial Spirit, where they were carefully stored.

Once the picking was finished, Haotian immediately began setting up the formation.

Using his finger as a brush, he drew upon the spiritual aura of Mount Wuyi's Earth Veins and his own Dao rhymes, tracing layer upon layer of intricate, profound formation patterns through the void.

Some sank into the rock strata of the Mountain Body; some merged into streams, clouds, and mist; others connected with the spiritual roots of Ancient Trees.

Each time he completed a Formation Eye, Haotian sent in a strand of pure mana and a Divine Sense imprint, establishing a connection with the core of Martial Spirit's spiritual soul.

The work was meticulous and taxing. Even with Haotian's current cultivation, it took him several decades to perfectly complete the composite grand formation he had envisioned.

Once the formation was complete, Mount Wuyi's core region became increasingly elusive and difficult to locate in outside perception. The Heavenly Secrets were thrown into confusion, and ordinary divinations could not trace its whereabouts. Layer upon layer of illusions and hidden defenses lay within—do not enter without invitation.

With every arrangement in place, Haotian wasted no more time. With a thought, he connected to the Purple Firmament Token glowing with purple radiance in his robes.

The token flashed. Wrapping around his body, it transformed into a golden streak that crossed the earth, tore through space, and sped toward the towering Kunlun Mountain Range in the east of the Primordial Wilderness.

In the blink of an eye, an unknown amount of time passed.

Haotian arrived at the East Sea Coast, at the Kunlun Branch Courtyard—the place where he had encountered Bai Ze years ago.

Suspended in midair, he looked toward the Immortal Mountain and called aloud, "Daoist Bai Ze, Haotian has come to visit!"

Mana carried the Dao Sound into the mountain.

Before long, a young man in white Daoist robes flew out from within the mountain.

It was Bai Ze.

Bai Ze flew over to Haotian, smiling as he cupped his hands. "Daoist, we have not seen each other for many years. What brings you, with such leisure, to my desolate mountain today?"

Haotian returned the salute with a smile. "To be honest, the spirit tea in my mountain has matured. I came especially to bring some spirit tea for you, Daoist."

"Oh?" Bai Ze's eyes immediately lit up. "I never expected you to remember me so fondly, Daoist. Quickly, please come into the mountain."

"You and I are dear friends. How could I not think of you?" With that, Haotian entered the residence shoulder to shoulder with Bai Ze.

They were still in the cave where the Two People had drunk tea before, seated facing one another.

"After so many years apart, Daoist, your cultivation seems to have improved considerably." Once they had settled down, Bai Ze took out a tea set as he spoke.

Haotian did not deny it, admitting with pleasure, "Daoist, your eye is as sharp as ever."

As he spoke, he stopped Bai Ze from laying out his own tea set.

Under Bai Ze's puzzled gaze, Haotian smiled. "Daoist, I also acquired a set of tea ware during my trip home. I was hoping to ask you to appraise it."

At this, Bai Ze's interest was immediately piqued. He put away his own tea set and said, "In that case, Daoist, quickly take out these treasures."

Haotian nodded, then took out the Ten Thousand Crows Pot, the Pure Glazed Bottle, and the Three Talents Jade Cups one by one.

Bai Ze watched as he brought out the tea ware.

At first, he was merely curious. But when he saw the Ten Thousand Crows Pot, curiosity turned into shock.

His cultivation was far above Haotian's, and his Supernatural Power was exceptional. Naturally, he saw at a glance that the Ten Thousand Crows Pot was an Innate Spirit Treasure.

Yet before he could determine what grade of Innate Spirit Treasure the Ten Thousand Crows Pot was, Haotian immediately brought out the Pure Glazed Bottle.

The spiritual charm of the Pure Glazed Bottle surpassed even that of the Ten Thousand Crows Pot, turning Bai Ze's shock into disbelief.

And when Haotian took out the complete set of Three Talents Jade Cups, he was left utterly dumbfounded.

Three Innate Spirit Treasures—and not one of them was low-grade.

More importantly, the last Innate Spirit Treasure was clearly a complete set.

Bai Ze was stunned for a long while. At last, with a bitter smile, he said, "Daoist, you have truly broadened my horizons today."

"To be honest, after cultivating for who knows how many years, I have obtained only a single Mid-grade Innate Spirit Treasure to keep by my side."

"Yet you, Daoist, casually bring out three. It truly puts me to shame."

"Daoist, there is no need to be discouraged." Seeing his spirits sink somewhat, Haotian comforted him. "Daoist, there is no need to be saddened."

"These three Innate Spirit Treasures were all bestowed upon me by elders of my family. I did not find them myself."

That was indeed the truth.

So far, Haotian himself had found only two Innate Spiritual Objects.

One was the High-Grade Innate Spiritual Root, the Great Red Robe Mother Tree.

The other was the supreme-grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the Treasure Dropping Gold Coin.

The three treasures for brewing tea, meanwhile, had been bestowed upon Haotian by Hongjun.

However, if Bai Ze were to learn the whole truth, he would probably be even more shattered.

"Daoist, there is no need to worry." Bai Ze smiled with easy grace. "I was merely depressed for a moment."

"On the path of the Great Dao, there are more than a million whose foundations surpass mine. If I could not let go, I would never have made it to where I am today."

Seeing this, Haotian could not help clapping his hands in praise. "Daoist, your will is truly steadfast. I deeply admire you."

Bai Ze cupped his hands. "You flatter me, Daoist. Please brew the tea. Let me taste what sort of flavor this Spirit Tea, jointly brewed by four Innate Spiritual Objects, possesses."

Haotian nodded. "Very well."

As the words fell, he waved a hand and sent more than a hundred tea leaves picked from the Great Red Robe Mother Tree into the Ten Thousand Crows Pot.

Then, with a turn of his thoughts, he drew upon the spiritual energy between heaven and earth, transforming it into spiritual liquid and pouring it into the pot.

Wrapped in the spiritual liquid and seared by the Samadhi True Fire within the Ten Thousand Crows Pot, the Spirit Tea soon began to emit billowing fragrance.

The fragrance of the Spirit Tea drifted from the pot's mouth, forming countless strange phenomena in midair.

Bai Ze observed them closely and discovered that within those phenomena, an immortal realm seemed to be taking shape.

"Extraordinary—truly extraordinary!" he could not help exclaiming.

Haotian, however, remained calm.

He had already seen this sight several times, so he found nothing surprising about it.

Soon, ten breaths passed.

The Ten Thousand Crows Pot began to hum.

At the sight, Haotian lightly swept his sleeve, and a golden and a white jade cup flew from among nine jade cups, landing before the two of them.

Then the Ten Thousand Crows Pot tipped over, pouring all the Spirit Tea into the Pure Glazed Bottle.

Once the Spirit Tea entered the bottle, it mixed with the sweet dew inside, and its spiritual essence grew even richer.

Another ten breaths passed.

Haotian controlled the Pure Glazed Bottle and poured out the amber-colored tea, filling the two cups.

"Daoist, please." He raised his cup first in invitation.

Bai Ze followed suit. "Please!"

The two drained their cups in one gulp.

Haotian's expression remained unchanged.

But Bai Ze's pupils shook violently.

The gentle spiritual essence slipped over his lips and teeth, flowing down his throat.

It gave Bai Ze's spirit a sudden lift.

At the same time, it caused his cultivation, which had stagnated for who knew how long, to increase ever so slightly.

"Fine tea, fine tea!"

"Today, I have truly accepted Daoist's kindness!"