Chapter 84

Seeing the new-style fireball talisman Zhang Xingyu handed over, Huo Lingwu was truly stunned into speechlessness.

This brat really does have a talent for talisman making.

It's a pity he has a Hidden Spiritual Root and his cultivation is too low; I fear it will be hard for him to reach the peak of the talisman-making Dao.

Otherwise, having him inherit the talisman lineage of the Myriad Laws Immortal Palace would be a fine choice.

What a pity, what a pity!

Beyond her astonishment, Huo Lingwu felt mostly regret.

Seeing Huo Lingwu's expression shifting constantly, Zhang Xingyu couldn't help but ask, "Beautiful Teacher, what's wrong?"

Huo Lingwu came back to her senses and gave him a faint smile: "Good disciple, your teacher is just happy. To be able to produce a perfect-quality spirit talisman within a month—this talent for talisman making is already catching up to your teacher."

As she spoke, her smile turned into a wry one: "It's just a pity that your spiritual root is too poor and your cultivation too weak; I fear this talent of yours will be wasted."

"Beautiful Teacher, don't worry. If my cultivation is too poor, I'll raise it; if my spiritual root is too poor, I'll improve it. I think there are always more solutions than problems, and I will find a way," Zhang Xingyu said.

Huo Lingwu nodded, took a storage bag from her waist, and handed it to Zhang Xingyu.

Zhang Xingyu happily took it and opened it slightly to look inside.

"Wow, so many high-grade spirit stones. Beautiful Teacher, is this a reward for me?" Zhang Xingyu called out happily.

Huo Lingwu glared at him: "What are you thinking? This is a loan from your teacher, a total of one thousand high-grade spirit stones. Use these stones to raise your cultivation first. Within three months, if you haven't reached the middle stage of Qi Refining, don't come to see me."

"Alrighty. Don't worry, Beautiful Teacher. With these spirit stones, the middle stage of Qi Refining is a piece of cake for me." Zhang Xingyu thanked her while patting his chest.

Huo Lingwu glared at him and shouted softly: "Then why aren't you going yet? Three months from now, if you haven't reached the middle stage of Qi Refining, see if I don't peel your skin off."

Zhang Xingyu nodded, then stretched his neck and sang loudly: "Meeting once was all too hurried, the flowers in the school bloom red several times. Deep friendship remains in soul and dream, profound grace is forever etched in my heart."

After reciting, he bowed to Huo Lingwu and strode away.

"Deep friendship remains in soul and dream, profound grace is forever etched in my heart, deep friendship remains in soul and dream, profound grace is forever etched in my heart..."

Huo Lingwu muttered it repeatedly, and for a moment, she was actually entranced.

After bidding farewell to his beautiful teacher, Zhang Xingyu pondered finding Fifth Senior Brother Cheng Haonan.

Now that he had spirit stones, he still needed to ask Ouyang Lanlan to set up the Spirit Gathering Array.

But to invite Ouyang Lanlan, he absolutely had to get Fifth Senior Brother Cheng Haonan to step in.

The Fifth Senior Brother was Ouyang Lanlan's Achilles' heel; once he moved the Fifth Senior Brother, she would have to obediently help him set up the array.

But to visit someone and ask for a favor, he naturally couldn't go empty-handed.

Got it! Zhang Xingyu slapped his forehead. As long as I'm willing to part with my treasures, I can definitely get this done.

Half an hour later, Zhang Xingyu knocked on the courtyard gate of Fifth Senior Brother Cheng Haonan.

"Is Fifth Senior Brother in? Your junior brother Zhang Xingyu has come to visit." Zhang Xingyu called out inside while knocking.

"Junior brother, wait a moment, I'm opening the door now." Cheng Haonan's voice came from inside.

Immediately after, a series of light footsteps sounded, and the courtyard gate creaked open.

"Junior brother, you are a rare guest, please come in." Cheng Haonan invited him with a face full of smiles.

"Fifth Senior Brother, I came here rashly, I hope I'm not disturbing your cultivation?" Zhang Xingyu asked with a chuckle.

"Not at all, not at all. I couldn't ask for more than you coming, junior brother. Please, come in." Cheng Haonan said while pulling Zhang Xingyu through the gate.

Cheng Haonan's small courtyard wasn't large, but it was built quite uniquely.

On the left was a rockery with a tinkling spring; on the right was a lotus pond with a small four-cornered pavilion in the middle.

The pillars of the pavilion were carved with a couplet: "Those who arrive here on auspicious clouds bring a touch of immortal aura; once seated, one should cultivate a bit of Daoist heart, free from worldly obstacles."

"Senior brother truly has an immortal air; even this courtyard is filled with the flavor of cultivation," Zhang Xingyu praised.

"Not at all, not at all, you flatter me, junior brother." Cheng Haonan was humble in speech, but there was an irrepressible pride in the corners of his eyes.

Cheng Haonan led Zhang Xingyu to the pavilion in the lotus pond to sit down, then asked: "Junior brother, you came today, is there something you need?"

"Haha, nothing major. It's just that I heard Fifth Senior Brother likes tea, and I happened to obtain some fine Spiritual Tea a few days ago, so I brought it specially for you to taste." Zhang Xingyu replied while offering the tea leaves in a jade box.

Cheng Haonan gently opened the jade box, looked at it, smelled it, and praised loudly: "Good tea. Even before brewing, the tea fragrance is overwhelming. Junior brother, what kind of tea is this?"

Zhang Xingyu nodded: "Senior brother has a sharp eye. This tea is called Fairy Tea, and it is tribute tea from the royal family of the Nanyue Kingdom. This tea is produced on the Fairy Tea Mountain by the Fairy Lake, where there are a dozen ancient tea trees said to have been brought to the mortal world by a fairy from the Immortal Realm."

Cheng Haonan nodded: "I have often heard of the great name of Fairy Tea. Today, thanks to you, junior brother, I shall have a feast for my palate."

Cheng Haonan busied himself boiling water while chatting with Zhang Xingyu.

"Junior brother, do you know the requirements for brewing this tea?" Cheng Haonan asked.

Zhang Xingyu shook his head: "I was just about to ask for your guidance, Fifth Senior Brother."

Cheng Haonan explained softly while waiting for the water to boil: "The water for brewing tea requires five qualities: clear, light, sweet, cold, and lively. The water must be clear, light in body, sweet in taste, cold in temperature, and fresh at the source. Therefore, high mountain spring water and mountain stream water are best, followed by rainwater and snow water, while river, lake, and well water are the worst."

Zhang Xingyu nodded continuously as he listened: "Fifth Senior Brother, I never imagined there were so many requirements for the art of tea drinking."

Cheng Haonan laughed: "Everything in the world has its principles. The tea Dao is one of them."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xingyu felt a flash of light in his divine court; his soul thread vibrated, and it seemed as if a talisman rune had appeared upon it.

Seeing Zhang Xingyu lost in thought, Cheng Haonan didn't interrupt, sitting quietly to the side drinking tea and waiting.

After a while, Zhang Xingyu woke up, bowed, and said: "Senior brother's words are full of wisdom. I have benefited greatly from hearing them."

Cheng Haonan waved his hand: "On the path of cultivation, we should point things out to each other. It was just a few words, nothing worth mentioning."

He changed the subject and asked Zhang Xingyu: "Junior brother, I see you have a troubled look; is there something you need my help with?"

"This, that..." Zhang Xingyu stammered for a long time before finally explaining the matter of asking Ouyang Lanlan to set up the array.

"Fifth Senior Brother, I once promised Senior Sister Ouyang that I would avoid her and take a detour whenever I saw her. I need to trouble you to step in and smooth things over for me," Zhang Xingyu pleaded.

Cheng Haonan nodded: "Easy enough, I'll go find Junior Sister Ouyang for this."

As the two were talking, a "dong dong dong dong" knocking sound came from outside the courtyard.

Immediately after, Ouyang Lanlan's voice sounded at the gate: "Fifth Senior Brother, are you in? It's me, Ouyang Lanlan."