[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dragon-lies-hidden":3,"chapter-the-dragon-lies-hidden-the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-982":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dragon Lies Hidden",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2290280,4477,"Chapter 982: Four Cups of Immortal Tea","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-982",982,"\u003Cp>In the side hall of the Jiangong, Xuan Yue Zhenjun let out wave after wave of desperate roars: “You’ll never get it! The Tianqing Hall will never submit! Unless...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several terrifying sword qi merged into one, emitting a deafening sword cry that shook the mountains: “Shut up! This is Jiangong’s internal affair—no outsider has the right to meddle!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword qi then split into several streams; the central one was calm and balanced, utterly devoid of sharpness. Another sword qi blazed with radiant brilliance, its edge reaching the ultimate extreme of Jiangong’s most traditional sword light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two immortal swords stood in fierce opposition, neither willing to yield an inch. Three other non-immortal sword qi stood behind the radiant one, one of which itself reached nine thousand zhang, glowing with immortal light within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All Jiangong disciples stared in awe—such a spectacle had not been seen in a hundred years. No one knew which formidable foe had forced both sect masters and several Supreme Elders to respond with full power. Many disciples who cultivated the Invincible Heart quietly tucked away their robes and shoeboxes, preparing to slip away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as they watched the unfolding scene, it seemed the two masters were merely quarreling, so the disciples put their belongings back and resumed cultivating their Invincible Heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the side hall, Feng Hanzhou stood facing the sect master who looked like a wealthy merchant; between them, countless sword lights flickered and died, transforming into sheets of black ripples. Even Xuan Yue, who prized his pride above all, paled at the sight and had to step back several paces to distance himself—yet in doing so, he also moved away from the spiritual image retaining Zhang Sheng’s aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tiny Sword Tomb of the World floated calmly at the heart of the sword qi storm, untouched. The two immortal sword cultivators clashed violently, yet every blade of sword qi curved around it—none dared approach, even when colliding or splashing, demonstrating perfectly the exquisite control of an Immortal’s skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three Supreme Elders at the peak of the Divine View realm—including the female sword cultivator—stood behind Feng Hanzhou. Though they could not intervene in the Immortal duel, their allegiance was unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Hanzhou’s face was as cold as water: “White Master, your inaction these years I’ve tolerated. But today’s reckless, perverse act—I cannot stand by! Though we are fellow disciples, righteousness comes first. I must offend you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wealthy-merchant sect master’s small eyes gleamed with murderous intent, yet his face still smiled warmly: “Feng Guangding, how you begged me back then—have you forgotten? Very well. You were no match for me then, and you’re no match now. Let me polish your Invincible Heart once more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Feng Guangding?” Beyond the female sword cultivator, the other two Supreme Elders and all disciples outside the hall perked up their ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Hanzhou’s killing intent surged instantly: “Fat thief! Today, it’s either you or me! Don’t think you’ve already won! Remember: those who follow the Dao gain support; those who abandon it lose it. Can’t you see where the hearts of men lie? Right now, in Jiangong, you’re a lone tyrant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The White Master sighed lightly: “You still think so carelessly. Have you ever considered what will become of your two direct disciples?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Hanzhou, decisive in battle, replied at once: “Since I’ve seen my worthy disciples today, I’ll give them away! Two Elders—you’ve both always liked them, haven’t you? One each, then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Hanzhou turned to his left and right—only to find the two Supreme Elders now standing behind the sect master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wealthy-merchant smiled: “Now do you see where the hearts of men truly lie?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Feng Hanzhou realize he had fallen into the old fox’s trap. His expression remained unchanged, but his heart burned with urgency as he frantically searched for a solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the female sword cultivator appeared beside Xuan Yue Zhenjun, summoned a table and chair, and invited him to sit: “Teaching such a grand-disciple must be exhausting, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hardly need to manage them—let them roam free,” Xuan Yue Zhenjun replied without ceremony, lifted his teacup, drained it in one gulp, and signaled for more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiangong’s tea was several degrees better than the one in Yan Shi’s hand. The female sword cultivator, under the guise of official duty, had brought out the finest. Before Wei Yuan’s arrival, a single cup of this tea would have taken Xuan Yue Zhenjun a full year of hard work. Such a treasure could nurture sword qi within the finest depths of the flesh—Xuan Yue, a cultivation method reliant on the physical body, would never let such an opportunity slip away, even if it meant sacrificing his dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female sword cultivator showed no hesitation, pouring three more cups for Xuan Yue. At this, both Feng Hanzhou and the sect master ceased their clash, turning their gazes toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female sword cultivator remained unmoved. Only after Xuan Yue finished his tea did she speak: “That child, under your care, must have suffered greatly. Did she not leave to work as a laborer even before establishing her Dao foundation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Yue was stunned, his face warming with shame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female sword cultivator continued: “This child has endured too much. As an elder, you can’t think only of yourself, can you? Here’s an idea: every so often, send her to stay with me for a few days—I’ll make up for your neglect. What do you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Yue wanted to refuse, but the brightness of the female sword cultivator’s gaze, combined with the lingering aftertaste of the immortal tea in his mouth, caused his refusal to vanish back into his throat. Yet this subtle hesitation did not escape the eyes of the sword cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Yue finally nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>",963,"2026-06-20T03:38:38.899Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f8d9a7f3d43c31286b210609bd4d812039e1c4d1c7f772e0ab79e3fe58763190","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-983","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-981",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-lies-hidden-cover.jpg"]