Chapter 359: It’s Just Understanding A Sutra, I Don’t Need To Drink Tea For That
The surrounding crowd had pained expressions on their faces. However, the Purple Mansion Sacred Leader’s eyes were shining as he accepted the enlightenment tea.
He inhaled the tea fragrance and felt a clear, refreshing feeling in his heart. Even his soul felt re-energized, suddenly understanding many unresolved, complex problems he had previously faced.
Even if he wasn’t face to face with that Dao Imparting Tablet now, just this enlightenment tea alone was enough to improve the Purple Mansion Sacred Leader’s cultivation level.
This instantly lightened the ache in his heart over that Sage artifact.
After all, Sage artifacts were precious to a sacred leader, but one more or one less really didn’t make that much of a difference to their power.
Although the enlightenment tea was a consumable, it could greatly enhance his abilities. He knew very well what he gained and lost.
And with this Dao Imparting Tablet before him, the value of this Golden Crow Enlightenment Tea had been magnified several dozens of times.
After all, this was the Imperial Sutra of Sun. If he could really decipher its core concept, the value of the tea would not just be one or two Sage artifacts. It would surpa.s.s even that of over a dozen Sage artifacts!
“This is indeed the legendary enlightenment tea. A tea that belongs to the Celestial World. How often can one taste this in the mortal world?”
“Delicious, delicious!”
The Purple Mansion Sacred Leader took a small sip and smacked his lips.
Suddenly, a boundless sacred light erupted from his body, tainting half the sky purple.
A faint divine chanting could be heard in the void. It was extraordinary. This was the amalgamation of the Purple Mansion Sacred Leader’s cultivation—heaven and man merging into one!
“Friends, I am gaining a lot of epiphanies at this moment. I will start cultivating now. Please excuse me.”
With that, the Purple Mansion Sacred Leader finished the final sip of tea and walked toward the Dao Imparting Tablet.
Rumble!
The moment the Purple Mansion Sacred Leader arrived in front of the tablet, the runes on it exuded a dazzling glow.
The divine light shot out of the tablet and formed multiple rings of rune images around the Purple Mansion Sacred Leader. It looked very mystical.
The runes were very complex and mysterious. Even other Sages would not be able to understand them.
But as the Purple Mansion Sacred Leader sat amongst those runes, his eyes blazed brighter and brighter. “Incredible! Just too incredible!”
As more and more runes appeared around the Purple Mansion Sacred Leader, his aura also became increasingly powerful.
An endless Sage glow appeared behind him as a purple aura spread across 30,000 miles from the east. It was like a deity was about to descend.
That boundless purple aura acc.u.mulated behind the Purple Mansion Sacred Leader to form a mighty purple sun. Its dazzling light lit up the lands for tens of thousands of miles.
Under this purple light, even the surrounding Sages felt its intense pressure.
It was clear that trying to understand the Dao Imparting Tablet after drinking the enlightenment tea was greatly beneficial to the Purple Mansion Sacred Leader. His cultivation level and power were rapidly improving.
From the looks of his avatar, the Purple Mansion Sacred Leader appeared to have deciphered part of the Imperial Sutra of Sun and even integrated it with part of the Purple Mansion Imperial Sutra.
After deciphering it, the Purple Mansion Sacred Leader’s cultivation level would definitely surge quickly.
Consequently, his status amongst the Sages of Eastern Wilderness and the five regions instantly shot up.
For a moment there, many of the other Sages all looked extremely jealous.
Other than envy, they also had an intense desire and greed.
Sage artifacts were very valuable and precious, but which sacred ground did not have a horde of them?
Even if they didn’t, they could just give away what they had now and then refine a few more in the future.
But this enlightenment tea was invaluable and one of a kind. If they missed this opportunity today, when would they have another chance like this again?
If you had enough talent, all the money you spent would be returned to you over a thousand-fold!
At that moment, all the Sages came to a conclusion.
They walked one by one toward Shen Tian with solicitous smiles on their faces.
“The Divine Firmament Sacred Leader is so lucky to have this group of disciples. I am really envious. This Li Fire Cauldron is a Sage artifact for refining elixirs. I am giving this to Saint Shen as a gift!”
“The Divine Firmament Sacred Ground and our sect have been good friends for a long time. The Sacred Leader and I are like brothers. If Saint Shen is interested, you can come over to our Zenith Heaven Sacred Ground when you are free as our guest. This Zenith Heaven Net is as wide as the sky and can catch anything, including demons and ghosts. Please take this as a token of our friendship.”
d.a.m.n! You are all willing to use Sage artifacts to exchange for a cup of tea? Such wanton and wasteful behavior. How did you guys manage to become sacred leaders? Shouldn’t you at least show some thriftiness and hesitation!?
“Saint Shen, I am giving you two Sage artifacts. Can you give me a cup of tea?”
...
One by one, Sage artifacts were handed over to Shen Tian. Every single of them glowed with sacred light, and some of them had mystical runes swirling around them. The other young prodigies all looked on with envious expressions.
So much envy. Even the air started to smell like jealousy.
Most of the young prodigies used Spirit artifacts. Those who could use supreme-grade Spirit artifacts were already their sacred grounds’ Saints and Saintesses.
Only those who were considered the elite amongst the Saints and Saintesses would obtain Sage artifacts. And they would only receive them when they were at the peak of their levels.
But Shen Tian?
If they remembered correctly, the Divine Firmament Saint was just at the Golden Body realm!
And he now had over a dozen Sage artifacts hanging off his body!
Comparing yourself to others all the time was an aggravating exercise!
“Seniors, you are all too generous. Too generous!
“How can I accept all these? Please stop giving me more. I cannot accept any more.”
Shen Tian hung those Sage artifacts on himself with an air of exasperation. He hurriedly performed the initial refining step on those artifacts first before storing them in his storage ring.
Just dripping a drop of blood on those artifacts to get them to acknowledge him as their owner was a tiresome ch.o.r.e.
Never mind, let me give away some of them to score some brownie points!
Shen Tian thought for a moment before turning his gaze toward those Divine Firmament disciples behind him.
“Senior Sister, this Golden Phoenix Sacred Sword is sharper than your White Tiger Sword. Please take this!”
Shen Tian picked a longsword and handed it to Zhang Yunxi. The sword was silver and surrounded by thick metal elemental energy. Golden phoenix runes were carved all over it.
It looked extremely formidable!
Upon looking at the longsword, Zhang Yunxi’s face turned red.
Junior Brother still cares about me. He’s willing to give me a Sage artifact just like that!
Zhang Yunxi nodded, her eyes glittering. “I fully understand Junior Brother’s intentions—”
Unexpectedly, Shen Tian’s voice interrupted her before she could finish her sentence. “First Senior Brother, this Domineering Dragon Spear is mighty and intimidating. It fits your style perfectly.
“Second Senior Brother, the zither is your main weapon, and you are good at using sound as your form of attack. You will be able to unleash the full potential of this Sky Dragon Seven Note Zither!
“Junior Brother Zhao, you are good at long-distance attacks and possess Nan Ming Li Fire. This Red-Black Cloud Staff is very suitable for you.”
Shen Tian smiled when he saw the three fellows were about to reject him. “Everyone, please don’t refuse. We are all from the same sect. How can a mere Sage artifact compare to our friendship?
“If you feel uncomfortable accepting this, you can just return it to me when you get a new Sage artifact in the future.
“Perhaps I will need your help in the future!”
...
Shen Tian’s words dazed all the Sages and disciples from the sacred grounds.
The Sages using Sage artifacts to exchange for the enlightenment tea was already considered very generous.
Shen Tian smilingly giving away four Sage artifacts to his own fellow sect members was just jaw-dropping.
Although Shen Tian said that they could just return it when they obtained a new Sage artifact in the future, even a fool knew that that was just a polite manner of speaking. It was just to convince Fang Chang and the rest to accept the Sage artifacts. To make them feel less embarra.s.sed about accepting them.
On the surface, it might just be a loan. But in reality, it was a pure gift—an investment!
My goodness!
These are Sage artifacts, and you are giving them away just like that?
Is the relationship between you and your fellow sect members really that good?
Is the Divine Firmament Sacred Ground really one big harmonious family? The Saint is that good to his comrades?
I suddenly want to join the Divine Firmament Sacred Ground so badly!
I wonder if it is too late for me to betray my own sect and switch allegiance to the Divine Firmament Sacred Ground?
For a moment there, the disciples of the Divine Firmament Sacred Ground all stood with their chests puffed up, proudly accepting the envious gazes of the other sacred grounds!
They were just bystanders enjoying a good show.
Meanwhile, Fang Chang and the other three were feeling a completely different set of emotions.
The corners of Zhang Yunxi’s mouth twitched as she looked at the Sage artifacts of the other three. She could feel the intense aura those artifacts radiated.
She had first been under the impression that Shen Tian would give a Sage artifact only to her and had been feeling extremely pleased.
But now, it seemed like it had just been wishful thinking on her part.
Boohoohoo! The artifacts which Junior Brother gave to my brother and Zhao Hao look to be as good as the Golden Sacred Phoenix Sword.
And that Domineering Dragon Spear appears to be of a higher quality than my Golden Sacred Phoenix Sword!
d.a.m.n it! Why is Junior Brother so good to First Senior Brother!
Don’t tell me that First Senior Brother is more important to Junior Brother than I am to him!?
I’m so angry! I suddenly don’t like this sword that much any more!
As for Fang Chang, Zhang Yunting, and Zhao Hao, they were still staring at their Sage artifacts in a daze. A million conflicted emotions occupied their hearts.
They knew very well that the Divine Firmament Sacred Ground was not rich. That great battle 10,000 years ago had been a major blow to their sacred ground, such that they did not have many strong pract.i.tioners or resources left.
The other sacred grounds might have quite a store of Sage artifacts, but it was definitely a scarce resource to the Divine Firmament Sacred Ground.
Even Fang Chang and the rest, who held a higher status than the Saints from the other sacred grounds, did not have any Sage artifacts. They had to wait until they reached the Soul Formation/Mighty Prowess stage/realm before they would receive any.
But today, before the sacred ground had given them any Sage artifacts, the Saint himself had already given each of them one.
Was this the generosity of a Saint? Was this the benevolence of a Son of Providence?
As haughty as Fang Chang usually was, as detached as Zhang Yunting usually was, and as steady as Zhao Hao usually was—they were all intensely shocked and moved.
The Saint is so good to me. I must devote myself to him from now on!
In the future, whenever we meet with powerful foes, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Saint, with this Sage artifact in hand, to defend the honor of our Divine Firmament!
At that moment, the Sage artifacts felt as heavy as Mount Tai!
Meanwhile, on the other side...
By the time the last Sage finished his enlightenment tea and sat cross-legged in front of the tablet, there was only one last cup of tea left.
Shen Tian handed that cup to the Divine Firmament Sacred Leader with a respectful smile. “Master, please have some tea.”
The Divine Firmament Sacred Leader’s heavenly aura rippled. He said calmly, “I have already completed my cultivation path, and this tablet is not that useful to me. Tian’er, you should drink the tea yourself!”
Shen Tian replied, “I still have some in my ring. Master treats me so well. I really hope that you will accept this cup of tea.”
The Divine Firmament Sacred Leader’s heavenly aura rippled more clearly. “You are talented and possess extraordinary providence. But you are still so filial. It is rare to come across someone like you.
“Alright then. The enlightenment tea is indeed not that valuable to you. I won’t refuse then.”
With that, the Divine Firmament Sacred Leader accepted the cup of tea and drank it.
Over this entire process, jealous eyes from all directions were fixed upon them.
What did they just say!?
The enlightenment tea is not that valuable? Can you please at least pretend for our sakes?
So what if your disciple is a mighty Son of Providence? And that he is so filial to you? Do you think you are so great now?
Talking as if you have no regard for anyone else...
Fine! I really don’t have such a formidable disciple!
All the Sages were puckered up with jealousy.
They quietly swore that they would beat up their own lousy disciples the moment they returned home.
Look at how wonderful the Divine Firmament Saint is compared to you!
Comparing yourself to others all the time was an aggravating exercise!
The Divine Firmament Sacred Leader drank the enlightenment tea, and his lightning and heavenly aura instantly magnified. He went to sit cross-legged in front of the Dao Imparting Tablet.
In that instant, the entire tablet started to shake.
Countless divine runes shot out of the tablet and surrounded the Divine Firmament Sacred Leader.
They were clearer than the Purple Mansion Sacred Leader’s, and a mystical resonance rang out around the Divine Firmament Sacred Leader.
...
A large golden sun appeared behind the Divine Firmament Sacred Leader.
If the Purple Mansion Sacred Leader’s purple sun had been considered regal and mighty, then the Divine Firmament Sacred Leader’s golden sun was even more dazzling, more regal, and mightier.
In the Divine Firmament Sacred Leader’s avatar, a large golden sun filled the sky with endless golden lightning clouds surrounding it. Countless divine beasts could be seen amidst those clouds.
It was magnificent and grand beyond words!
The Divine Firmament Sacred Leader closed his eyes as if merging as one with heaven and earth.
Soon, a second golden sun rose behind him, aligning itself beside the first one.
Thereafter, a third sun also slowly emerged.
“He is able to reach the three-sun stage so quickly? How is that possible!?”
Watching by the side, the corners of the mouths of the other Sages twitched.
We drank the same enlightenment tea and were sitting before the same Dao Imparting Tablet. Yet, compared to the Divine Firmament Sacred Leader, it’s like I have learned nothing!
...
“Master is indeed powerful. You are second to none in this world!”
Shen Tian was rendered speechless. He took another three unripened purple leaves out of his storage ring and added them to the teapot, mixing them with that silver Golden Crow Enlightenment tea leaf.
A large quant.i.ty of spirit spring water was poured into the teapot. He wanted to prepare enlightenment tea for the Divine Firmament disciples.
It was easy to break a single chopstick. But it would be very difficult to break a whole bunch altogether.
As long as all the disciples in the sacred ground grew stronger together, he would never have to worry about the lack of fortuitous opportunities.
This second batch of enlightenment tea was not as effective as the first. But it was enough for these cultivators, who were below the Sage stage.
As for Shen Tian himself?
The enlightenment tea was just good for quenching his thirst now. It was no longer that effective for him.
Moreover, it was just understanding a sutra, right? Did he still need to drink tea for that?
You can just use your brains, can’t you?