Zhao Gongming: So That Was It, I Have Understood

"It's just something to stand on."

Lin Tian didn't want to keep talking about that lousy qin.

He placed the freshly boiled water on the tea table.

He slowly poured the tea leaves the system had given him into the crystal-clear teapot.

Then he poured in the boiling water.

His movements flowed smoothly, like running water, rich with Dao resonance.

For Lin Tian at this point,

brewing tea had become second nature.

After all, the system's reward of level 99999 in the Way of Tea hadn't been for nothing.

At the sight, Zhao Gongming's gaze froze, and a flash of astonishment crossed his eyes.

Although Lin Tian's movements as he brewed the tea were extremely simple,

the Dao resonance around him was extraordinarily rich.

It was as though he were brewing not tea, but the Dao.

Zhao Gongming stared blankly at Lin Tian's flowing movements.

He didn't know how much time had passed.

Suddenly, a refreshing fragrance wafted over from in front of him.

Zhao Gongming felt a wave of warmth and immediately came back to his senses.

His gaze fell on the teacup in front of him.

At that moment, emerald-green tea rippled in the crystal-clear cup.

As it swayed gently, a mysterious ripple formed.

The ripple was rich with pure Dao resonance; wisps of immortal Qi drifted about, and the fragrance of tea rose and fell.

Zhao Gongming was briefly taken aback. His primordial spirit felt settled, and he was calm and composed.

The weariness in his primordial spirit seemed to have been swept away as well.

He felt as though he were floating in an ocean of spiritual power, utterly at ease.

"This tea..."

"What powerful spiritual Qi!"

Just as Zhao Gongming was reeling with shock,

Lin Tian's calm voice suddenly reached his ears.

"Fellow Daoist, please have some tea."

Hearing that voice,

Zhao Gongming looked up in surprise, only to see that Lin Tian had already raised his teacup.

He hurriedly picked up his own cup.

He took a gentle sip.

Hum!

The tea was wonderfully fragrant and delicate.

It flowed down his throat and straight into his stomach.

The fragrant tea instantly transformed into countless streams of pure spiritual Qi.

They burst open in his stomach

and surged through his body and limbs.

In an instant,

Zhao Gongming's primordial spirit grew more solid than before.

Even his cultivation had grown a fraction stronger!

If he had sat in quiet cultivation, even a month's effort might not have brought him as much improvement as this one sip of tea!

Feeling the spiritual Qi surging within him,

Zhao Gongming downed the rest of the tea in one gulp.

In an instant,

a refreshing sensation spread through him.

He was immediately full of vigor, and even the vexation in his heart dissipated.

"Fellow Daoist, this tea... what kind of tea is it? How can it have such an effect?!"

Zhao Gongming took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart.

He slowly set down the teacup in his hand.

Only then did he cup his hands to Lin Tian and speak.

As the head disciple of the Interception Sect's outer sect,

Zhao Gongming, who had already reached the Peak Daluo Golden Immortal realm, was no ordinary cultivator.

Just one sip of tea had improved his primordial spirit.

This tea was anything but ordinary!

Calling it tea was almost an insult to it.

In Zhao Gongming's eyes, it should have been called jade nectar and ambrosia.

But

when Lin Tian, seated across from him, heard Zhao Gongming's slightly excited voice,

he couldn't help giving him a somewhat strange look.

"It's just ordinary tea."

"As for the effect, it's really just brewed a little strong."

"There's nothing special about it."

Across from him, upon hearing Lin Tian's words,

Zhao Gongming couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.

This tea's spiritual Qi is clearly surging, and it's brimming with Dao resonance.

Yet Senior calls it ordinary?

If this tea is ordinary, then there's hardly any good tea in the Primordial World!

As Zhao Gongming thought this,

he couldn't help sighing.

A thought stirred, and he suddenly remembered why he had come. He hesitated, then gritted his teeth and prepared to ask.

But just as the words reached his lips,

he remembered that this senior had come here to live in seclusion.

Perhaps he had already seen through the mortal world and completely transcended the self.

If Zhao Gongming brought up worldly matters again, he would surely displease the senior.

So there were some things he clearly couldn't say outright.

He had to find another way to voice the question in his heart...

But how should he put it?

Just as Zhao Gongming was considering how to ask the question,

Lin Tian picked up the teapot and filled his cup again.

When he finished pouring, Zhao Gongming heard Lin Tian speak calmly.

"Fellow Daoist, that's not how you drink tea."

"You're drinking it so fast; you're a little too impatient."

"You have to savor this tea slowly. Then you'll find that, at the end, a trace of sweetness lingers in your mouth."

After speaking, Lin Tian put down the teapot, picked up his own cup, and took a sip.

He was unhurried and composed.

Hearing Lin Tian's words,

Zhao Gongming trembled all over.

Something suddenly stirred in the depths of his primordial spirit!

A feeling of the fog lifting instantly spread through his heart.

Though he had not quite achieved enlightenment, he had figured out many things!

Too impatient?

Yes!

I have been too impatient!

No matter what I do, I'm always in a rush!

When I see others break through, I want to break through too!

It's good not to be content with falling behind, but on the path of cultivation, it's a grave mistake!

I've been in such a hurry for so long, yet not only has my cultivation failed to advance, I've wasted precious time!

And Senior's words are a hint to me!!

As long as I slow down and stop being impatient, opportunity will be waiting ahead!!

So that's it!

Senior knew why I came all along.

That's why I was invited to tea as soon as I came in.

He wanted to use the tea to guide me!

He wants me to cultivate with a calm mind and stop being impatient!

Zhao Gongming understood it all in an instant.

Shock immediately rose in his heart.

He abruptly looked up, his expression turning respectful and restrained.

He hurried to his feet and spoke to Lin Tian with the utmost respect.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior. I have understood."

Hearing Zhao Gongming suddenly speak so strangely,

Lin Tian was dumbfounded.

???

What the hell?

I just saw you drinking tea so fast, so I casually grumbled about it to start a conversation, that's all?

How did you reach an understanding?

What did you understand?

Are all the natives of the Primordial World this bizarre?!

That thought flashed through his mind.

Lin Tian felt a little awkward.

For a moment, he didn't know how to respond.

But before he could speak,

Zhao Gongming produced six blue balls of light from his sleeve as if by magic.

He placed them on the table in front of him.

Facing Lin Tian, he said respectfully,

"Senior, thank you for your tea and your guidance. I have gained some insight and need to return to my cave abode to contemplate it."

"These are magical treasures I carry with me, though I imagine they're beneath your notice."

"But they're the most precious magical treasures I possess, so please accept them as thanks for this visit."

"Thank you for your hospitality, Senior!"

"I'll come again another day to seek your guidance."

Hearing this, Lin Tian glanced at the blue balls of light.

The six blue balls were smooth and glossy on the outside.

They looked like crystal balls, but also a little like synthetic plastic.

Lin Tian took one look and was rendered somewhat speechless.

I thought it would be something rare and unusual! These look just like the marbles sold in little roadside shops in later times. Two yuan could buy a big handful.

How could these count as magical treasures?

This Primordial World native named Gongming must be so poor he can barely put food in the pot.

His magical treasures are so shabby, and he drank his tea so fast. Who knows what hardships he's suffered.

Still, his manners are good; he's quite well brought up...

If I don't accept these six little balls of light, won't Gongming think I look down on him?

Young men who are down and out like this have hearts of glass.

As Lin Tian thought this, he forgot to respond to Zhao Gongming for a moment.

Zhao Gongming, too, remained silent.

But when he saw Lin Tian merely glance at the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls on the table

and look away, seemingly paying them no regard at all,

Zhao Gongming was taken aback.

On second thought, though, he felt it was only natural.

That's right. Although the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls are extremely precious magical treasures,

before Senior, they're little more than trinkets.

Just as Zhao Gongming stood lost in thought.

Lin Tian's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"I'll accept this little thing as a token of our fateful encounter."

"It would be impolite not to offer something in return, so I'll give you some tea leaves."

"Later, just steep them in hot water, and you can drink the tea."

Hearing this.

Zhao Gongming's eyes widened, and his heart leaped with joy.

I never expected Senior to be so generous!

He could even give me such a rare and precious treasure so casually!

That tea was comparable to top-grade spiritual tea.

Could it be even more potent than Three Lights Divine Water?

At that thought, Zhao Gongming hurriedly cupped his hands toward Lin Tian and bowed in thanks.

"Many thanks, Senior."

Zhao Gongming's respectful gesture left Lin Tian at a loss.

It was just a little tea.

Was there any need to be so excited?

But he couldn't be bothered to dwell on it. He had plenty of tea leaves, so he could just grab a handful for Zhao Gongming.

With that thought, Lin Tian turned and walked toward the room.

Zhao Gongming remained standing in the pavilion, watching Lin Tian's retreating figure.

He was still shaken and had yet to recover.

When he saw Lin Tian reach the threshold, he saw him step onto the wooden zither again.

This time.

Zhao Gongming actually thought it was perfectly normal.

Senior truly looked down on this kind of magical treasure...

Just how far had Senior's strength reached?

He used a wooden zither that was at least a Supreme-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure as a stepping stone.

He didn't even look at the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls.

Even the tea he brewed so casually could nourish the primordial spirit and increase its power.

And I never even mentioned the problem I encountered earlier.

Yet he still saw through it. Such an ability to know things before they happen... that didn't sound like a Quasi-Saint!

He was just like Master, all-knowing and all-powerful...

Hmm?

All-knowing and all-powerful!?!

As that thought flashed through his mind, Zhao Gongming's eyes widened, his pupils contracted, and his expression changed slightly.

A terrifying thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.

Could Senior be a reclusive Sage from legend?!

At that thought.

Zhao Gongming's heart couldn't help but skip a beat.

A look of horror spread across his face in an instant!