"Alas, with your level of perception, teaching you the great Dao is truly a challenge..."
Chen Xiaoming let out a long sigh. It was rare for him to take on a disciple, and he genuinely wanted to teach her everything he had. Yet, the profound and, admittedly, flashy Dao he cultivated didn't seem suitable for transmission—what a deep regret.
But considering Xiao Xun'er's temperament, she really wasn't the ideal candidate for his flamboyant path of cultivation.
For a moment, a parade of faces flashed through Chen Xiaoming's mind.
Old Devil Wang? No good. That guy was so gloomy, he could smother a flame—definitely not a match.
Han "Runaway" Pao? Forget it. That guy did nothing but run away all day.
…
Wait—there was one. A certain "sheep-seeker" came to mind. Maybe he could have a chat with him someday.
While Chen Xiaoming was deep in thought, Xiao Xun'er was left reeling from his comment. She, a bearer of the Ancient Emperor's bloodline, had just been told by her own teacher that her comprehension was... subpar?
Could it be that she really was that bad? Was she truly unworthy of inheriting her teacher's Dao?
She thought back to Chen Xiaoming's ability to contend with a Dou Saint while only being a Dou Ancestor. In that light, maybe what he said wasn't wrong. Perhaps she really couldn't inherit such a powerful Dao.
"…I'm sorry, Teacher. I've disappointed you."
Chen Xiaoming blinked, momentarily stunned. Then he reached out, gently patting her head and offering a few soft words of comfort. Once she had somewhat recovered, he continued his explanation.
"'Law of Tea'—it's probably hard for you to grasp right now. To put it plainly, think of it as the bloodline legacy of a Dou God."
"A Dou God's bloodline legacy?!"
The old man nearby was visibly shaken by the statement. Weren't they supposed to be talking about alchemy? How did it turn into a discussion about Dou God bloodlines?
He was utterly lost. So was Xiao Xun'er. But Chen Xiaoming simply smiled. He was talking about tea, yes—but also about alchemy, and more than that, the cultivation path he had come to understand.
"Disciple, listen closely."
With a gentle tone, he gave the instruction and then ignored whether the old man could follow along. Since he was already on the topic, he might as well use the opportunity to broaden Xiao Xun'er's horizons a bit.
"After the 'Law of Tea' comes the 'Dao of Tea'. Follow nature as your teacher. A single flower contains a world. A single leaf holds a Bodhi."
"Tea is taken from leaves, and the 'Dao of Tea' is that Bodhi leaf—it is the tea of the world, the tea of transcendence."
Complex, abstract terms poured from Chen Xiaoming's lips. Xiao Xun'er quickly found her mind unable to keep up. Still, she committed every word to memory. Something inside her told her that this knowledge would one day prove invaluable.
Meanwhile, the old man froze. He sensed a hidden meaning behind Chen Xiaoming's words—something beyond mere alchemy.
"Originally, I hadn't planned to tell you about what comes after the 'Dao of Tea' so soon… but since we're here, I might as well lay it all out for you."
Given that he couldn't stay in this world for long, and now had a rare disciple, Chen Xiaoming saw no reason to hold anything back.
"After the 'Dao of Tea' comes the 'Chaotic Tea'. Beyond the world lies chaos—endless and intangible. 'Chaotic Tea' is a glimmer of spiritual light within that chaos. As long as that light exists, the chaos cannot erase it. Thus, 'Chaotic Tea' came to be."
Chen Xiaoming spoke slowly, giving Xiao Xun'er time to digest and comprehend. But when he saw the utterly lost look on her face, he knew—she didn't understand.
After all, she hadn't stood atop the shoulders of giants as he had.
"Following the 'Chaotic Tea' is the 'Dao Fruit Tea'. Chaos is eternal, so from the 'Dao of Tea', a blossom may bloom—and bear fruit. That fruit is the 'Dao Fruit Tea'. The 'Dao Fruit' signifies unity and return to origin—invulnerable to all laws."
There was yearning in Chen Xiaoming's eyes as he spoke, a desire for that far-off realm. It was a height even he had not reached.
As his voice faded, Xiao Xun'er and the old man each sank into silence—one quietly etching every word into memory, the other frowning deeply in thought.
Chen Xiaoming wasn't in a rush. Everything he had just shared was to point Xiao Xun'er toward the future. She might not understand it now, but once she reached a certain level, she would.
As for what came after the 'Dao Fruit Tea'... Chen Xiaoming didn't speak of it. That realm was merely a pursuit, and beyond that? Even he didn't know what awaited.
After a long while—
"…Your words truly provoke deep thought."
The old man exhaled deeply. Though much of it went over his head, he still gained some insight. Looking at the still-confused Xiao Xun'er, he couldn't help but think: nearly everything Chen Xiaoming said was for her benefit.
Chen Xiaoming didn't respond. He simply picked up his teacup and took a sip.
The Dou Qi Continent… it was far too small. Would Xiao Xun'er one day be able to step into the myriad realms of the heavens?
His gaze drifted beyond the Pill Tower, as if piercing the void to see the endless starry skies, ablaze with radiance.
Some time later—
By the time Xiao Xun'er returned to her senses, Chen Xiaoming and the old man were already chatting away merrily.
Once they explained their intentions, the old man—one of the Three Pill Sovereigns of the Pill Tower—welcomed them warmly.
After all, forging a bond with someone as powerful as Chen Xiaoming was nothing short of a blessing for the Pill Tower.
As for alchemy? Elder Xuan Kongzi wasn't too concerned. Judging from Chen Xiaoming's grasp of "tea," it was clear the man had a deep and solid foundation.
And so, Chen Xiaoming and Xiao Xun'er settled in at the Pill Tower.
After two days of exchanging insights with Xuan Kongzi, Chen Xiaoming bathed, burned incense, and chose a suitable alchemy chamber.
Xiao Xun'er watched him go with unease. For some reason, a vague sense of foreboding stirred in her heart.
...
Inside the Alchemy Chamber.
As soon as he stepped inside, Chen Xiaoming caught a strong, fragrant whiff of medicinal herbs. Behind him, the stone door shut with a dull thud. Silence was essential for refining pills.
He swept his gaze around the room. In the spacious center stood a black, unadorned alchemy cauldron, faintly exuding a medicinal scent.
Other than that, there were only a few round cushions and neatly arranged jade bottles lining the walls—containers for completed pills.
The chamber was plain, ancient in design, and Chen Xiaoming was quite satisfied. With a flicker of movement, he seated himself cross-legged on a cushion.
A scroll appeared in his hand—the alchemical insights recorded by Medicine Elder. Chen Xiaoming had studied it extensively during his travels. With his extraordinary talent, he believed he had already mastered it in theory. All that remained was practice.
In fact, Chen Xiaoming had gone a step further. Based on Medicine Elder's writings, he had drafted a full guide for today's alchemy session.
He took out another densely written scroll from his robes. It was filled with notes, precautions, and precisely timed steps—accurate down to the second.
This was his masterpiece, painstakingly composed through sleepless nights. Calling it a labor of blood, sweat, and tears would be no exaggeration.
"Alright… let's begin. Step by step."
With a deep breath to calm himself, Chen Xiaoming placed his hand on the cauldron and channeled Dou Qi, igniting the flames within.
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