Chapter 522: Tea and Thunder

In the sky of Penglai, Li Qi was chatting with Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong.

The conversation with Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, was actually quite pleasant.

Unlike Shen Shuibi's introversion, although both were from Dao Orthodoxy, Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, was not only magnanimous and cheerful but also discerning and tactful, acting with proper measure; one could feel his arrogance, but beneath this arrogance, he remained approachable.

This feeling was actually quite wonderful.

You could feel his pride, yet you didn't think there was anything wrong with him, as if he should be proud.

Proud, complacent, and conceited, he achieved half of it.

Proud but not neglectful, content but not satisfied, confident but with measure—indeed, he was another outstanding individual.

If the Demonic Prince occasionally revealed peace and tenderness amidst his gloom, similar to that contrast in a classroom where a student from a gangster family, who was solitary, gloomy, and aloof, would occasionally feed a kitten, then Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, was precisely the opposite.

Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, was like the captain of the school's football team, a rich second-generation, cheerful and generous, excellent in academics, sunny in disposition, handsome, and of excellent moral character; he was the kind of person whose divine light would pierce the eyes even when he walked to the damp back row of the classroom.

The Disciples selected by the Great Dao Orthodoxy really had guaranteed quality.

Li Qi even felt a bit inferior.

Moreover, Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, was very skilled at brewing tea. Li Qi used to often bring out penglai immortal tea to show off, but now he tasted true penglai immortal tea.

Good heavens, compared to Zhu Fengdan's yellowish tea leaves, it was not on the same level at all; the difference was too great!

Teacher Zhu, you—!

Forget it, let's not talk about that, let's just enjoy the tea.

Li Qi truly tasted penglai immortal tea this time, and it was a top-grade spiritual tea, all of which were excellent.

The tea was emerald green, shaped like silkworm hooks, with its veins picked out and its tips removed. When brewed with spiritual spring water, its color was like jade dew. Its meticulous preparation and the subtlety of its heat control made a difference of a thousand li from a hair's breadth. Without careful study, one would truly not know that the taste could vary so much.

As the spiritual spring water was poured in, the surface of the water resembled milky pearls, and its sound was like the rustling of pines. As the tea and water blended, the clouds gradually parted, and milky flowers covered the surface. A small sip brought a clear and fragrant beauty; a slightly larger sip made it smoother and longer-lasting in taste, and one would unconsciously feel the sweet dew arising from the splendid pool.

Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong's mastery of heating the water was akin to Hongjian's profound skill, truly a peerless technique of the present age. The tea soup was placed before him, and no fragrance was perceived, yet it was truly like sitting for a long time without knowing the fragrance was in the room, and when the window was opened, butterflies would fly in—how could there be such pure beauty?

After seven bowls, a refreshing breeze immediately arose from his armpits. Li Qi instantly praised, "Golden millstones stir up green dust, and emerald waves rise in jade bowls; truly good tea, and Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong's tea art is even more admirable."

It was truly refreshing. After this tea, Li Qi felt that the demonic thoughts in his heart had dissipated, and the Dao Orthodoxy's 'harmony' and 'Tai Chi' seemed to have integrated into his body, calming down the conflicting Dao paths within him.

Truly, formidable.

As expected of a true penglai immortal tea tree.

Normally, Li Qi used Dao Orthodoxy's methods to calm the conflict between Human and Shaman Dao. Now, with this tea, it seemed to inherently carry some Dao Resonance, slowly circulating, making the movements of the various Qi in the human body's microcosm even more harmonious.

It was indeed a treasure, but Li Qi brewing it himself wouldn't have this effect. It was clear that tea art played a significant role in this. Should he learn how to brew tea?

As Li Qi thought this, Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, smiled and explained, "Sweetness spreads to all mouths, and nobility claims its name before the fire. Our Dao Orthodoxy has three methods: water, fire, and thunder. When performing rituals, we have the custom of sprinkling water."

Li Qi nodded.

It was often seen that when a Daoist performed a ritual, they would wave a Spiritual Tool with one hand, shake a Talisman with the other, stride the Big Dipper underfoot, chant incantations, and finally, the Master would 'spray water' onto the altar.

This spraying of water was the method of sprinkling water. Chanting incantations accompanied by water could 'illuminate the Dao'.

The Dao Ancestor of Dao Orthodoxy stated in his scriptures: "Water benefits all things and does not contend; it dwells in places that people dislike, thus it is close to the Dao."

Therefore, water methods were very important in Dao Orthodoxy.

Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, continued, "And fire methods are even more important. From ancient times, it has been said: 'Sages transmit medicine but not fire; few ever know the precise heat. Do not treat the Great Dao as child's play; one must carefully deduce it with immortals.'"

Li Qi nodded; he knew this too.

In fact, Shen Shuibi was quite skilled in fire methods because she specialized in Alchemy, which required the use of fire methods. When she dealt with the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord, she once used fire methods to try and refine the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lord into ashes of calamity.

The so-called Samadhi True Fire was one of Dao Orthodoxy's famous true fires. Besides that, there were also Six Ding Divine Fires and the like. Judging from the popularity of Alchemy in Dao Orthodoxy, fire methods must also be important methods.

"You see, tea needs to be roasted over a gentle fire and brewed with living water. The art of brewing tea requires meticulous study of both water and fire methods, subtly conforming to the Dao of water and fire complementing each other, Yin within Yang, Yang within Yin, Yin and Yang uniting, water and fire acting in concert, thus achieving Great Power. Brewing tea is like this, and cultivating the Dao is also like this," Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, said.

Li Qi deeply agreed, nodding and saying, "Indeed, and from this, thunder methods can also be derived. Shaman Dao says: Earth Qi rises, Heaven Qi descends, Yin and Yang rub against each other, Heaven and Earth collide, spurred by thunder; hence the saying, 'Heaven and Earth unravel, and thunder and rain begin.' Water and fire complement each other, Yin and Yang unite, and thunder methods also arise from within."

"Haha, the Great Dao has different paths but leads to the same destination. Shaman Dao also has methods of controlling thunder. So, this tea brewing method, though a Minor Achievement, actually contains the Great Dao. It can simultaneously train the three methods of water, fire, and thunder, so it is naturally worth practicing well. That's why I have the good fortune today to receive Li Qi brother's praise for such a Minor Achievement. It's truly a good thing!" Zhang Zong raised the teapot and poured Li Qi another cup of tea.

"Alright, alright, I've already had seven bowls. Any more would be too much. Though tea is good, one still needs to exercise restraint. Too much is as bad as not enough, too much is as bad as not enough!" Li Qi reached out, politely declining the offer of more tea.

The conversation with Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, was quite pleasant. They sat and discussed the Dao, enjoying tea and chatting about cultivation methods. They only briefly mentioned the Demonic Prince at the beginning, without delving too deeply into his affairs, which showed their discretion. Dealing with such a person was truly like basking in a spring breeze.

So, without waiting for the other party to react, Li Qi said, "Things here are settled, and I've formed a connection with Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong. The battle has begun. I wish Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, to exert his full strength and display his brilliance."

"Oh, it seems Li Qi brother still doesn't have much confidence in me~. Well, you and the Demonic Prince are also good friends, so I can't really ask you to wish me victory, can I? Then I'll take my leave. The battle is about to begin, and I need to go chat with the Demonic Prince first. To choose to challenge all the young talents of Dao Orthodoxy, I'm truly looking forward to it!" Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, said.

Then, he excitedly stood up, bid farewell to Li Qi and Shen Shuibi, then turned and rode on a cloud, transforming into a streak of light and disappearing.

Li Qi watched him leave, then glanced at Shen Shuibi and asked, "Shui Bi, who do you think will win between the two of them?"

"Hmm... I don't know. I feel like both of them are stronger than you. What's going on? Why are there people breaking through theoretical limits every day recently? Should this theory be changed...?" Shen Shuibi mumbled.

Li Qi shrugged, not refuting.

It really should be changed.

Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, was truly terrifying, and he had even concealed his true abilities from him.

Brewing tea only involved the water and fire methods, and it was well-known that the Celestial Master Dao lineage was most skilled in thunder methods.

Thunder methods were known as the progenitor of all methods, the command of Heaven, and the highest representation of Dao Orthodoxy's Spells. He had not displayed thunder methods in front of Li Qi, only using the water and fire methods for brewing tea.

"I'm really looking forward to the outcome of this one," Li Qi said, sitting back relaxed.

Although these two were stronger than him, what did that have to do with Li Qi? Li Qi didn't have to fight them.

On the path of Dao, pursuing the Dao was the most important thing; all struggles and rivalries were merely minor details.

Only when there was a Dao dispute between parties was it a situation requiring a fight to the death. As for minor personal grudges, how could a Great Power not even have such magnanimity?

A smile at meeting resolves all past grievances. For these long-lived beings, infinite time would dilute all personal grudges; only Dao disputes were eternal.

One wondered how narrow-minded one would have to be to hold a grudge against someone for a single victory or two, for tens of thousands of years, constantly thinking about fighting them to the death?

Such narrow-minded people would likely not go far or reach a high position in cultivation.

Not to mention the nearly infinite time of these Great Powers, let's just talk about ordinary Mortals.

Mortals, as young children, would feel furious when another child snatched their favorite book, wanting to stab the other child twice, and would constantly fight them in school and tell tales to the teacher.

Then everyone graduated from kindergarten.

Later, after graduating from university, they might meet again in the workplace.

Few would still harbor any hatred; instead, they would view it as 'childhood fun,' and the two might even reminisce about their childhood stories and have a drink together.

The power of time!

Twenty years were enough for Mortals to extinguish grudges. What about tens of thousands... or even hundreds of thousands of years for these young Geniuses who were only a few decades old?

This matter wasn't even comparable to a book snatched in kindergarten; it was more like a baby kicking someone while lying in bed.

This world was still very big.

The future, ah, was still very long.

Li Qi thought this, and his heart couldn't help but relax a little.

These thoughts came to him suddenly after chatting with Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong.

Perhaps in the distant future, he, the Demonic Prince, Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, and even others, could all sit together, recounting these 'interesting anecdotes' of today.

At this thought, Li Qi suddenly felt that the world was vast and boundless.

He felt that his life of over thirty years, which he was currently experiencing, was actually very short, so short that it passed in the blink of an eye.

Thinking of this, his long-standing anxiety seemed to lessen a lot.

The fire that Zhu Fengdan had stirred up in his heart also extinguished a lot.

The reason was simple.

He was only in his thirties, but he still had at least five hundred years of peaceful days ahead.

Five hundred years! Li Qi didn't even have a real sense of this number. These weren't just three light words; it was ten times Li Qi's current life.

The joys and sorrows he had experienced, his every day and every hour, his every emotion, every detail of his life, were all condensed into these short thirty-odd years.

All of his life, all of his experiences, all of his emotions, insights, and everything he had gone through, added together, didn't even amount to a fraction of five hundred years.

Five hundred years, it sounded so easy, but what kind of profound weight would it carry when actually experienced?

Five hundred years meant that in the future, he would experience more than ten times such things.

Under the torrent of time, what would these current entanglements look like under such a profound torrent of time?

Li Qi thought about these things and reached out to hold Shen Shuibi's hand.

"Figured some things out?" the little rabbit asked first.

She could feel that many of the Qi blockages in Li Qi's body had suddenly cleared, as if he had resolved some inner knot. That's how it should be; why so many unnecessary worries?

Life was already very good, Li Qi really didn't know what he was rushing for.

Facing Shen Shuibi's question, Li Qi nodded and replied, "Yes, I suppose so."

"That's good," the little rabbit said, then rested her chin on Li Qi's shoulder, letting Li Qi support her head, and began to look into the distance.

They came to Penglai and did nothing, yet both seemed to have gained something.

This was luck, perhaps.

The two no longer dwelled on other matters, and Li Qi also followed her gaze.

Over there, the battle was about to begin.

— — — — — — — —

The battle between the Demonic Prince and Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, in the end... it was truly hard to say who would win.

Everyone present, even the high-grade existences, were astonished by the Demonic Prince's will.

Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong's power far exceeded Li Qi's imagination. Li Qi now truly believed that even if he were at Sixth Grade, facing the Seventh Grade Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, his chances of winning would not exceed fifty percent.

The head of all thunders, the lord of all gods, orchestrating the pivot of Heaven and Earth, moving the transformations of Yin and Yang, when the thunder method was unleashed, eighty thousand kinds of divine thunder moved in unison.

An elder of Dao Orthodoxy once said: "Among the thunders of the world, there are heavenly thunder, earthly thunder, Dragon thunder, water thunder, and ancestral thunder. There are more than eighty thousand names for thunder."

And Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, mastered all eighty thousand different kinds of thunder, their terrifying power shocked everyone present.

After this battle, the theoretical limit for Seventh Grade really had to be revised; both of them had surpassed the previous theoretical limit.

The Demonic Prince was having an extremely difficult time being struck by such thunder methods. Unlike his slow pace when facing Li Qi, in front of Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, he unleashed his full power in the very first instant.

The battle was incredibly spectacular, with both sides displaying their Divine Ability, refreshing everyone's understanding of Seventh Grade.

In the end, Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, gained the upper hand. The Demonic Prince was inherently restrained by heavenly thunder, which was a weakness Li Qi had found earlier, and Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, naturally found it after fighting a battle.

His supreme Yang thunder almost shattered the Demonic Prince into pieces.

But this was the most terrifying point.

No matter how severe the Demonic Prince's injuries were, even if his Spirit Soul was directly torn apart by heavenly thunder, he showed no wavering, not even a change in his eyes, as if these injuries didn't exist.

Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, was still prepared to hold back, fearing he might kill him, but in the end, he was forced by the Demonic Qi, which was like maggots clinging to bones, to strike with deadly force, using his ultimate technique, 'Heaven's Five Thunders Strike'.

Everyone thought the Demonic Prince was dead; Li Qi even stood up at that moment.

However, the Demonic Prince, like a machine, relied purely on will to seize the throat of death. The underworld officials dared not approach, and Reincarnation could not take him in, leaving Lesser Heavenly Master Zhang Zong, dumbfounded!