Taking Advantage of Laozi Wasn't Easy

Laozi shook his head at Lu Xuan and said, "The Six Ding Six Jia Divine Fire is a gentle flame. It is suitable for refining artifacts, but if you wish to boil this Three Lights Divine Water, it will take some effort."

"There is a wisp of Heaven-Burning Purple Flame within my Eight Views Palace Lantern. It is one of the five great innate divine fires, making it perfect for boiling this Three Lights Divine Water."

With that, he raised the Eight Views Palace Lantern. A wisp of purple flame immediately surged forth from the lantern, and in mere moments, the Three Lights Divine Water was brought to a rolling boil.

At that moment, Primordial Heavenly Venerable spoke as well. He looked at the teapot and teacups Lu Xuan had taken out, then shook his head and said.

"Fellow Daoist, you say this Primordial Enlightenment Tea is so wondrous. Would using such ordinary jade cups not be a waste of heaven's gifts?"

"I happen to have some scraps of Chaos Jade. Why not use them to refine a set of tea ware?"

As he spoke, Primordial Heavenly Venerable waved his hand, and the Yin-Yang Five-Elements Furnace appeared out of thin air. At the same time, he tossed the Chaos Jade into it.

Lu Xuan could not help feeling utterly helpless. These two brothers are showing off their skills in front of me. Don't they realize what cultivation they have? Is there really any need to intimidate a Great Luo Golden Immortal like me?

Since you two are so eager to show off, don't blame me for making you bleed a little. I just hope you won't be too heartbroken later.

Before long, Primordial Heavenly Venerable used the Chaos Jade to refine a high-grade tea set identical to Lu Xuan's own.

Meanwhile, the Eight Views Palace Lantern had never gone out. It continued to pour forth firepower, keeping the Three Lights Divine Water constantly boiling.

Seeing the faint smiles on the two brothers' faces, Lu Xuan immediately said to Tongtian, "Brother Tongtian, you truly have two fine elder brothers."

"I merely brought a little Primordial Enlightenment Tea to offer my congratulations. Yet Brother Tongtian's two elder brothers are giving such heavy treasures in return."

"By rights, I should not accept such precious gifts. But a Sage's gift cannot be refused. If I do not accept this generous offering, it would be the same as refusing to give the two Sages face."

Tongtian was dumbfounded by Lu Xuan's words, not to mention Laozi and Primordial Heavenly Venerable. By the time the Three Pure Ones came to their senses, Lu Xuan had already put away the Eight Views Palace Lantern.

He even collected the tea set that Primordial Heavenly Venerable had refined from Chaos Jade, clearly having no intention of using it to serve the Three Pure Ones tea.

After putting them away, he did not forget to bow to Laozi and Primordial Heavenly Venerable. "Thank you, two Sages, for bestowing these treasures. I, Lu Xuan, will remember this favor."

Primordial Heavenly Venerable did not particularly mind. He had merely spent a few heavenly materials and earthly treasures to refine a tea set.

But Laozi's heart ached somewhat. That was a High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the Eight Views Palace Lantern, one of the five great divine lanterns from the dawn of creation.

The five great divine lanterns were the Precious Lotus Lamp, which contained Seven-Treasure Spiritual Flame; the Jade Void Glazed Lamp, which contained Eternal Spiritual Flame; the Vulture Palace Lantern, which contained Netherworld Ghostfire; and the Verdant Two-Forms Lantern, which contained Great Sun Golden Flame.

The remaining one was the Eight Views Palace Lantern, which contained Heaven-Burning Purple Flame. It was said that when all five divine lanterns were gathered, they could form the Primordial Five-Fire Formation. Even a Sage who entered it would be stripped of a layer of skin.

Such a precious treasure had been taken right before his eyes and placed into Lu Xuan's pocket. Laozi's heart could not help bleeding.

Yet he could not ask Lu Xuan to return it now. Otherwise, a Sage would lose face. He could only suppress the pain in his heart and say.

"It is merely a small gift. Why should Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan take it to heart? When Fellow Daoist has good things in the future, just do not forget this poor Daoist and his brothers."

Lu Xuan could not help cursing inwardly. Laozi truly was an old fox. Once he said that, Lu Xuan would have no choice but to nod in agreement.

Then, if Laozi ever took a liking to something Lu Xuan possessed, Lu Xuan would have no reason not to part with it.

This was Lu Xuan's first taste of Laozi's scheming. In the future, he would have to be all the more cautious around this fellow.

As he brewed the tea, he nodded and said, "I only fear that my meager possessions will not catch a Sage's eye. If a Sage ever has need of anything, I will certainly offer it with both hands."

As Lu Xuan finished brewing the tea, a refreshing fragrance instantly spread throughout the Azure Wandering Palace. Duobao and the other two, who had been standing obediently beside Tongtian, slowly closed their eyes.

Seeing this, Tongtian smiled and said, "I did not expect these three little ones to have such fortune. Once they awaken from their state of enlightenment, their cultivation will surely advance once again."

As he spoke, Tongtian waved his hand. The teacups that had been resting on the low table flew into the air, hovering steadily before each person.

Laozi and Primordial Heavenly Venerable did not stand on ceremony. They lifted their teacups and drained the tea in a single gulp, immediately sensing the extraordinary nature of the Primordial Enlightenment Tea.

After receiving his teacup, however, Lu Xuan only took a light sip. Then he gently closed his eyes and slowly savored the aftertaste.

Laozi and Primordial Heavenly Venerable could not help feeling somewhat embarrassed, secretly regretting their impatience. They had made fools of themselves before Lu Xuan.

Tongtian naturally noticed the expressions of his two elder brothers and silently shook his head. Then he followed Lu Xuan's example and lightly sipped the Enlightenment Tea.

In an instant, Tongtian felt his soul become incomparably clear and unobstructed. His spiritual platform was clearer than ever before.

"Brother Lu Xuan, this Primordial Enlightenment Tea truly is extraordinary. Why don't we take advantage of it and discuss the Dao here in the Azure Wandering Palace?"

Tongtian naturally had his own plans. He hoped Lu Xuan could offer some guidance to his two elder brothers and see whether they had a chance to cultivate the Dao of Laws anew.

Laozi and Primordial Heavenly Venerable repeatedly nodded at this, both turning their gazes toward Lu Xuan. Naturally, Lu Xuan could not refuse.

He immediately said, "Since that is the case, this poor Daoist will make a fool of himself. I will speak of my own understanding of the Dao. Should there be any shortcomings, I ask the three of you to correct me."

Then Lu Xuan began, "The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the beginning of Heaven and Earth; the named is the mother of all things..."

Lu Xuan's approach was simple: walk someone else's road and leave them nowhere to go. He shamelessly plagiarized Laozi's Tao Te Ching.

The entire Tao Te Ching flowed from Lu Xuan's lips. For a time, Dao essence circulated through the Azure Wandering Palace. Though it could not compare to the Dao Ancestor's lectures, it produced its own extraordinary phenomenon.

Even the Three Pure Ones were unable to extricate themselves, becoming immersed in it. Laozi in particular felt that the Dao Lu Xuan spoke of suited him perfectly.

Was this not the Way of Nonaction he had pursued through countless epochs? The profound principles of the laws that had eluded him despite all his contemplation were now emerging from Lu Xuan's mouth.

Without the slightest hesitation, he also expounded upon his own understanding of the Way of Nonaction.

Primordial Heavenly Venerable was unwilling to be outdone, and he likewise described the Dao he had grasped. However, Lu Xuan did not entirely agree with it.

After all, Primordial Heavenly Venerable advocated Teaching According to Aptitude. To put it bluntly, he divided the living beings of the Primordial World into different ranks, believing that low-level beings were simply unqualified to cultivate high-level Dao methods.

Next came Tongtian, who also publicly expounded upon his understanding of the Sword Formation Dao.