"One leaf, two leaves..." Some people counted, then burst into delighted cheers.
Although the tree looked bare, a careful count revealed three thousand leaves on its branches-not one more, not one less, exactly matching the number of the three thousand Daos.
"Three thousand leaves, three thousand great Daos, three thousand leaves of Enlightenment Tea! Haha, this is wonderful! Another bountiful harvest!" Everyone was overjoyed.
For the moment, they forgot that He Xian had opened the tea gathering ahead of schedule.
No one knew how many years had to pass before the Enlightenment Tea Tree could be harvested again. It often took hundreds or thousands of years to mature, and each time, it produced exceedingly few leaves, usually just over a hundred. Only under exceptional circumstances would it yield three thousand.
It was exceedingly rare.
Many people's eyes shone, their expressions excited. They were delighted that the Enlightenment Tea gathering had begun early, for this was an excellent turn of events for them.
These people were the foremost experts of the various King Clans. In an era when the Emperor Clans did not emerge, few could contend with them. With the Enlightenment Tea gathering beginning early, their chances of obtaining its leaves had greatly increased.
"Perform the rites!"
Before the harvest, they actually had to conduct a special sacrificial ceremony.
Only afterward did the elders guarding the Enlightenment Tea leaves begin harvesting, plucking each leaf with the utmost care.
They did not crudely tear them off with a sweep of the hand as He Xian had done.
Clang!
The void shattered. When one leaf was touched, it actually released sword light, accompanied by the ringing of a blade.
The leaf was long and slender, shaped like a divine sword, and floated in the void.
Dong!
A lingering bell tone sounded. Another leaf glowed with an earthy yellow radiance, rumbling like a great bell.
Its shape was particularly unusual. Rather than being flat, it resembled a bell, wondrous beyond belief!
These leaves came in all manner of strange shapes.
Upon closer inspection, every one of the three thousand leaves growing on the tree was different. Each was utterly distinct, resembling living creatures or weapons of the great Dao, astonishingly lifelike and bearing their very pressure.
They were just like the Buddha-shaped leaf He Xian had picked.
This was the Enlightenment Tea Tree. Its leaves possessed the true forms of the great Dao!
They could allow people to comprehend the Dao.
It was precisely this mysterious and miraculous nature that had earned it the title of a worldly marvel, a peerless treasure tree that countless supreme experts dreamed of obtaining!
Meanwhile.
The elders harvesting the tea leaves were extremely careful, afraid of damaging them. In the end, they placed the leaves separately into two thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine small jade jars and solemnly sealed them.
The next stage was the contest for the leaves.
He Xian swept his gaze over the crowd, knowing it was time for him to speak.
Standing before the two thousand nine hundred small jars, he looked at all the cultivators attending the gathering atop Enlightenment Mountain. After a pause, he slowly said:
"Everyone, thank you for traveling so far to attend the tea gathering I have hosted. As for the reason, I imagine you all already know. There are still people who refuse to submit to me, who refuse to acknowledge my standing or my title, Sky-Supporting with Both Arms, and seek to challenge me."
"They have even taken my tolerance for weakness, and my concessions as an invitation to trample on me." The more He Xian spoke, the angrier he became.
"And so I, He Sky-Supporting, am enraged. Only blood can quell my fury." He delivered his final words.
He had directly passed judgment on those Emperor Clan heirs who had yet to arrive, branding them guilty and pronouncing his murderous intent.
"Where is He Ziming?!" He suddenly noticed the absence. "Good, good, very good!"
"Begin!" He Xian looked at the elders and urged them on calmly. At this moment, he wanted to kill them all and did not want anyone arriving halfway through.
The elders on the raised platform exchanged glances and announced:
"Rely on your own strength and fortune. Take the tea!"
"Furthermore, you may take only one leaf at a time. Only after brewing it, drinking it, and successfully comprehending the Dao may you take another," another elder reminded them.
Boom!
The next moment, many people acted, unable to restrain themselves any longer. They used their powerful magical energy to seize jade jars from the altar.
This was Enlightenment Tea! It could grant comprehension of the Dao. No one cared about maintaining their dignity.
Yet most people found themselves drenched in sweat, unable to shake the altar. Despite trying every means at their disposal, their efforts were fruitless. They could not obtain even a single leaf.
It was nothing like He Xian's effortless, casual display.
Hum!
At last, some jade jars moved, lifting off the earthen altar and flying toward the crowd.
Only a few dozen-a pitifully small number-rose into the air one after another.
Still, that did nothing to dampen the crowd's excitement.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Dozens of jade jars streaked across the summit of Enlightenment Mountain, filling it with brilliant, flowing colors, like a shower of comet light.
It was sacred and dazzling.
Those were rare substances emitted by the Enlightenment Tea leaves, stirring everyone's hearts and filling them with anticipation.
"You should go too!" At that moment, He Xian walked over to Hao Feng, Chi Menghong, and their companion. "This is no longer useful to me, but it can still be of great use to you."
He offered the reminder, barely able to muster a smile.
"Give me back my weapon," Hao Feng demanded, holding a new great halberd, his gaze blazing.
He Xian's expression turned utterly cold. "Survive a hundred moves against me, and I'll return it."
"Fine. After this gathering, we'll fight again! If I lose, you may do with me as you please," Hao Feng said.
"Haha, I got one!" Some people laughed, overjoyed, holding a leaf in their hands. These Enlightenment Tea leaves were truly precious. With luck, a single leaf could allow them to comprehend the Dao and advance to the next stage.
"Haha... I got one too!" Soon, someone else laughed along with them.
One after another, they succeeded.
They were top experts who had distinguished themselves among tens of thousands of people, winning one of the few dozen Enlightenment Tea leaves. They were elated.
"I shall go as well." Chi Menghong moved. Towering in his crimson armor like a demonic god, he strode forward and reached for the few remaining Enlightenment Tea leaves still circling in the sky.
Before long, Chi Menghong succeeded. He was from an Emperor Clan, after all, and easily seized several Enlightenment Tea leaves.
The few dozen small jade jars were divided up, leaving none behind.
Soon, fragrance wafted everywhere and the essence of the Dao spread as people began brewing their tea.
Once this contest ended, another chance to seize Enlightenment Tea leaves arrived.
"Very well. From here on, it depends on your own fortune. Whoever has the stronger methods will obtain more!" the elder on the raised platform shouted, pointing at the earthen altar and the more than two thousand jade jars upon it.
They maintained the Foreign Realm's tradition: the weak were prey to the strong.
The rules had changed this time. They were no longer limited to one jar. It all depended on strength-if someone was powerful enough, they could take everything!
That meant obtaining more than two thousand Enlightenment Tea leaves. The mere thought was enough to drive people mad.
The Heavenly Blade and Hao Feng both entered the fray.
They, too, needed these Enlightenment Tea leaves. One leaf meant one heaven-granted chance at sudden enlightenment. Never mind the other races-even those from Emperor Clans would covet them.
In an instant, killing intent filled the air. Atop the mountain, every clan stood ready!