190: Chapter 189 Enlightenment Tea

Zhou Qian did not go directly to Yun Ming's small courtyard.

Instead, he first returned to his own residence and carefully inventoried the five sets of Materials for the Xuan Ying Pill.

The Materials were stored in a specially made Storage Pouch, each set sealed in an independent jade box. Labels on the boxes noted the name, origin, age, and quality of the medicinal herbs.

He checked them one by one. Only after confirming everything was correct did he put the Storage Pouch into his sleeve and head out.

Walking along the road, he actually felt rather uncertain in his heart.

With five sets of Xuan Ying Pill Materials, even if given to a High Grade fourth-rank Alchemist, succeeding with just one set would be considered good.

The difficulty of refining fourth-rank Medicinal Pills was on a completely different level from third-rank. Many third-rank Alchemists remained stuck at this barrier for decades, even centuries, unable to advance.

Although Yun Ming excelled at refining third-rank pills, fourth-rank was another matter entirely.

He even thought it would be better for Yun Ming to abandon his stubborn pursuit of the Xuan Ying Pill and switch to a simpler fourth-rank Pill Formula for his Breakthrough.

The Xuan Ying Pill was not the only Low Grade fourth-rank pill. Some formulas were considerably less difficult than the Xuan Ying Pill, making them more suitable for practice.

But he did not voice this thought. The Third Prince had already approved the Materials. As a mere errand-runner, his job was simply to follow orders.

The gate to Yun Ming's small courtyard was not closed.

Zhou Qian pushed the door open and entered. At a glance, he saw Yun Ming lying on a bamboo chair.

Yun Ming was half-reclining, holding a teacup in his hand. His eyes were half-open and half-closed, as if he were asleep, or perhaps simply lost in thought.

On the stone table sat a teapot, a teacup, and a small dish of melon seeds.

The melon seed shells were not large, the kernels plump, with faint golden patterns on their husks.

The color of the tea in the cup was very pale, almost transparent, yet its fragrance was unbelievably rich.

Even standing at the courtyard entrance, the tea aroma drifted into Zhou Qian's nostrils—clear, cool, sweet, and mellow. Just one whiff made his mind feel significantly clearer, and the fatigue from handling official duties for days on end dissipated by more than half.

He was taken aback.

Having lived for several hundred years, he had tasted many fine teas, but never one that produced such an effect from scent alone.

He couldn't help but take several more deep breaths.

As the tea fragrance entered his body, his spiritual platform became utterly clear.

Many things he usually couldn't figure out suddenly began to make sense.

His footsteps involuntarily lightened, afraid of disturbing Yun Ming.

Walking to the side of the stone table, he did not sit down, nor did he make a sound. He simply stood there, quietly waiting.

Yun Ming was in a state of Epiphany.

He had seen people in Epiphany before and had experienced it himself. He knew this state was a rare opportunity, not something one could seek out. Once interrupted, the loss would be immeasurable.

Standing there, breathing in the tea fragrance, his own mind and spirit also grew clearer.

He simply closed his eyes, silently sorting through his years of Cultivation insights and the successes and failures of his administrative duties.

Those problems that had troubled him for so long, under the influence of the tea fragrance, actually began to show promise of solution, one by one.

He was secretly astonished in his heart. What on earth was the origin of this tea?

After roughly the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Yun Ming's eyelids twitched.

He slowly opened his eyes. His gaze shifted from unfocused to clear. His entire person seemed as if he had just been fished out of water—completely transparent and refreshed.

He picked up the teacup and drank the remaining tea in one gulp. Then he grabbed a few melon seeds, tossed them into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

Then he put down the cup, turned his head, and saw Zhou Qian standing to the side.

"Mr. Zhou?" Yun Ming sounded somewhat surprised. "It's not yet the day to collect pills, is it?"

Zhou Qian smiled slightly and cupped his hands in greeting. "I'm not here to collect pills today. It's for another matter."

He sat down opposite the stone table, took the Storage Pouch from his sleeve, and placed it on the table.

"The Third Highness heard that Mr. Yun was searching for Materials for the Xuan Ying Pill. He specifically ordered me to deliver some. He hopes Mr. Yun will soon Breakthrough to the fourth rank and bring benefit to the region."

Yun Ming glanced at the Storage Pouch but did not reach for it.

He picked up the teapot, poured himself another cup of tea, then poured one for Zhou Qian and pushed it in front of him.

"The Third Prince is so generous?" Yun Ming took a sip from his cup. "What are the conditions?"

Zhou Qian picked up the teacup but did not drink.

Breathing in the tea fragrance, he couldn't help but take another deep breath before speaking. "The Third Highness's conditions are simple. Any Xuan Ying Pills Mr. Yun refines using these Materials can only be sold to the City Lord's Manor. The price will be according to market rate; you won't be at a disadvantage."

Yun Ming nodded.

These conditions were not harsh; in fact, they could be considered quite lenient.

The Materials were provided by them; selling the refined pills to them first was only natural.

As for the price, he believed the Third Prince would not play tricks in such matters.

"Alright." Yun Ming put the Storage Pouch into his sleeve without checking the contents or asking further questions.

Watching him put away the pouch, Zhou Qian felt relieved inside.

He had thought he would need to expend more effort in persuasion. He hadn't expected Yun Ming to agree so straightforwardly.

This person had a forthright nature—no affectation, no evasion. He took what he should take and agreed to what he should agree to.

Yun Ming took another sip of tea, his gaze falling on the cup in front of Zhou Qian.

"Mr. Zhou, aren't you going to drink? This tea doesn't taste as good once it cools."

Only then did Zhou Qian pick up the teacup and look down at it.

The tea liquid was clear, almost transparent. A faint mist swirled at the rim of the cup, and the tea fragrance emanated from this mist.

He took a small sip.

The moment the tea entered his throat, his entire being felt as if struck by lightning.

Not pain, but awakening.

That clarity welling up from the depths of his Soul was like dust covering his heart being swept clean in one stroke, like blockages clogging his mind being flushed open by a clear stream.

He closed his eyes, feeling that clear stream coursing through his body, scouring his Meridians, cleansing his Divine Soul.

He felt as if he were sitting on a cloud, yet also sinking into a deep pool. Everything around him was crystal clear, even his breathing became light.

He opened his eyes, looked at the remaining half-cup of tea liquid, his hand trembling slightly.

"Mr. Yun, what kind of tea is this?" His voice was somewhat tight.

Yun Ming cracked another melon seed, chewed, swallowed, and said casually, "Just some wild tea I grew myself, not worth much. If Mr. Zhou likes it, I can give you some to take back later."

Looking at Yun Ming's calm and indifferent demeanor, Zhou Qian's heart was in turmoil.

This tea—just smelling it could refresh one's spirit, and drinking a single sip directly induced a state of Epiphany.

He had lived for several hundred years and had never heard of such a tea.

The Zifu Immortal Dynasty had enlightenment tea, but that was a thing of legend. It was said to exist only in ancient ruins, a single leaf worth a fortune.

He dared not let his thoughts go in that direction.

It was too extravagant, extravagant to the point of being unreal.

How could a Golden Core Middle Stage Loose Cultivator possibly possess such a thing?

But if it wasn't enlightenment tea, what other tea could have such an effect?

He did not ask further.

Since Yun Ming said it was wild tea, then it was wild tea.

Asking too much would only make him seem tactless.

He drank the remaining tea in his cup in one gulp, set down the cup, and stood up.

"Mr. Yun, I won't disturb you further then. Regarding the Materials, please take your time using them; there's no hurry. The Alchemy matter is also not urgent. If Mr. Yun needs anything, just send someone to the City Lord's Manor at any time."

Yun Ming nodded but did not rise to see him out.

He leaned back in the bamboo chair and picked up his teacup again.

Zhou Qian turned and walked out of the courtyard gate, his steps much lighter than when he arrived.

He walked to the mouth of the alley, looked back at the small courtyard, stood for a moment, then turned and left.

In the courtyard, Yun Ming finished the remaining tea in his cup and poured another.

He picked up the teacup, looked at the transparent tea liquid inside, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

Zhou Qian had not asked him what this tea was, and he had not explained.

Some things did not need explanation.

He set down the teacup, took the Storage Pouch from his sleeve, and sent his Divine Sense inside. The five sets of Xuan Ying Pill Materials were neatly arranged within.

Five sets.

The Third Prince was certainly generous.

When he had bought Materials himself before, he had visited three pill pavilions just to gather three sets.

The Third Prince provided five sets in one go, and their quality was far superior to the ones he had purchased.

He put the Storage Pouch away safely and took another sip of tea.

The tea fragrance spread in his mouth, his spiritual platform utterly clear.

He closed his eyes and began to recall the records concerning the Xuan Ying Pill in the Secret Volume of Qingwei Alchemy.

The Pill Formula, medicinal herb processing, fire control, pill technique application—he reviewed each step in his mind over and over.

The difficulty of fourth-rank pills was more than a level higher than third-rank. His previous three sets of Materials had all failed due to problems with the Pill Furnace, fire control, and unskilled application of pill techniques. This time, with five sets of Materials, he could not afford to waste them.

He opened his eyes, finished the tea in his cup, stood up, and walked into the house.