Chapter 628: Return Gift

Pure Nine-Lantern Illumination: 10,000, 20,000, 30,000, 40,000, 50,000, 60,000, 70,000, 80,000, 90,000, plus another 90,000.

“Bingxuan, this is my friend Wenren Xuewei, a teacher at Jumang Daoist Academy. She and your teacher, Immortal Qiongzhi, are good friends. You must have heard of her, right?”

When Chen Mobai saw Yan Bingxuan approach, he naturally introduced them, waving for her to come and sit down as he spoke.

“She's also the most outstanding tea master in the Immortal Sect. Come and try the tea she brews!”

Yan Bingxuan nodded, clearly aware of the renowned master of the Evergreen Art. After a moment of hesitation, she greeted Wenren Xuewei, who was seated at the head of the table, addressing her as 'True Person,' and then sat down.

“So you're Qiongzhi's student. I've heard her mention you; I've wanted to meet you for a while. This is Fengming Black Tea. It has a sweet and mellow taste. If women drink it regularly, their skin will become more delicate and fair, slowing down physical aging and preserving youth. Give it a try.”

Seeing Yan Bingxuan sit down, Wenren Fengming elegantly raised a slender hand to pick up the teapot nearby. With her other hand, she made a gesture, and a crystal-clear, jade-like teacup descended from her spiritual domain into her fair palm.

Yan Bingxuan looked at the teacup offered to her. The clear, bright, yellowish tea exuded a rich aroma. She instinctively reached out and took it, unable to resist asking, “Does this really benefit the skin?”

No woman is indifferent to such matters. Even though she was a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a lifespan of 240 years, she was already 52. By mortal standards of a hundred-year lifespan, she was well past 20 and no longer a youthful maiden.

Chai Lun was quite blunt and said so directly in front of Chen Mobai: “Bingxuan, just accept it. Senior Sister Wenren has no shortage of anything, especially not all sorts of spiritual teas.”

Lin Wudong didn't quite approve of Wenren Fengming's words; he just wanted the company to be under Zhu Xinzhu's name anyway.

Wenren Fengming gave Lin Wudong a small jar of eighth-grade Enlightenment Tea from her spiritual domain. If consumed entirely, its effects could last for a full year.

“The theory of artificially synthesizing telluric energy has, for the most part, been successfully tackled since the time of Revered Yuanxu.”

“Senior Sister, you're too kind. How could my talent compare to yours?”

“Although the Qi cultivation department of our Jumang Daoist Academy is not as strong as the Heaven-Mending department, it has a solid foundation. If it's truly necessary, I can send three teachers to assist you.”

“Perhaps it's beginner's luck. Next time, I might just get a blank slate.”

Lin Wudong burst into laughter. Zhu Xinzhu, standing beside him, was shaken and about to speak, seeing that he had given away such a valuable item just for the box of black tea she had taken. “This...”

Everyone waited for a long time. They had already gone through three rounds of Wenren Fengming's tea, and seeing that it was almost dark, they couldn't help but look dejected.

“The Qi cultivation department of Taiyuan Academy is second only to our Heaven-Mending department. Perhaps you could ask them?”

Lin Wudong was very modest. In the entire Immortal Sect, who would dare to claim to be more outstanding than Wenren Fengming, a cultivator with eight-element Heavenly Spiritual Roots?

However, Wenren Fengming's eighth-grade premium Enlightenment White Tea already had one-tenth the effect of genuine Enlightenment Tea. Lin Wudong happened to want to use this to solve a problem that had concerned him for a long time.

Upon hearing his words, Zhu Xinzhu, who had been declining, hesitated, then politely accepted it.

“Junior Brother, with your character and such outstanding talent, you are truly likable!”

Actually, Wuqi Daoist Academy also had a Qi cultivation department, but this elective course was purely unpopular within the academy, even less so than some academies and schools that had established cooperative relationships with Heaven-Mending Daoist Academy.

Although the matter wasn't resolved, Lin Wudong still politely thanked them. Deep down, she still very much wanted it. After all, compared to the four eighth-grade puppeteers, Zhu Xinzhu was merely a seventh-grade Geomancer.

“Our project will definitely require perseverance to see results. With a ten-year cycle for each batch, I believe after three or four batches, we will accumulate enough personnel.”

“How about moving the company to Zhu Xinzhu Heaven? The Azure Wood Fiend energy resources there are the most abundant in the entire Immortal Sect. Moreover, although our academy's Qi cultivation department is not as good as Heaven-Mending, after years of catching up, forming a team of a hundred people would not be an issue.”

“The process from puppets to Five-Element Vital Qi would certainly be problem-free with the authoritative control of you four immortal puppetry experts. However, your Xuewei City is too remote and lacks sufficient masters from the Qi cultivation department to oversee it. I'm afraid the research into telluric energy won't go smoothly in the future.”

Zhu Xinzhu said something that shocked Chen Mobai and everyone else present. Only Wenren Fengming's expression remained normal; back when the two of them opened their spiritual domains on Seven Peaks Immortal Mountain, their mentor was Revered Qingping.

Chai Lun spoke with some hesitation.

The four top experts in puppet research from the Immortal Sect, along with Chen Mobai, a graduate of the Heaven-Mending Daoist Academy's Qi cultivation department, began discussing the process from basic spiritual energy evolving into Five-Element spiritual power through cultivation techniques, and then spiritual power transforming into Five-Element Vital Qi.

As the Sect Master of Divine Wood Sect, Lin Wudong now primarily drank eighth-grade Snow Needle Immortal Buds and Green Cicada Spiritual Tea. For seventh-grade tea, he felt it could only be used as a small gift for a junior.

“That item alone could buy all the spiritual tea I possess. It's too valuable; I can't accept it. You should keep it for someone close to you.”

“This is a documentary promoting tea culture filmed by the Immortal Sect Television. The academy recommended me to film three episodes, and this is one of them.”

Zhou Tiangong returned to manufacturing equipment, while Chai Lun activated his puppet company to custom-make the Five-Element Vital Qi puppets that had been finalized these past few days.

“Senior Sister, I previously opened a Void Blind Box and obtained this pearl rich in water spiritual energy. Coincidentally, you have Heavenly Water Spiritual Roots, and I thought it could unleash its best effects in your hands, so why not give it to you?”

Moreover, what was most terrifying was that Zhu Xinzhu's physical body wouldn't pass its peak and begin to decline in vitality until she was 870 years old. The rest awaited verification!

As for what Wenren Fengming intended to do with it, he wouldn't interfere.

His Divine Sense cultivation technique!

After watching, Lin Wudong couldn't help but pick up the bright yellow tea that Wenren Fengming had refilled. And truly, it tasted even better.

Lin Wudong immediately stopped her. He remembered Wenren Fengming had given Chen Mobai seventh-grade spiritual tea as a meeting gift, so he couldn't be stingy either. He simply took out a smooth, clear pearl as a return gift.

“Niece Xuan'er, take this box of second-grade black tea. Just take three leaves daily, and it will be enough to drink all day.”

Wenren Fengming was essentially speaking up for Zhu Xinzhu, and her suggestion was approved by the other two as well.

“It's just that the faculty for the Qi cultivation department might need to be invited from the Heaven-Mending Daoist Academy. I'm not sure if Yan Bingxuan would give me that much consideration.”

Wenren Fengming and Zhu Xinzhu conversed, surprisingly following Immortal Qiongzhi's seniority. Zhu Xinzhu felt it was a bit strange, but since both female cultivators had already spoken, he just quietly drank his tea.

“But it would be best if we could apply for ten pieces; that way, they could be rotated for charging, which would greatly accelerate the research for the experiment.”

Lin Wudong couldn't help but inwardly praise Wenren Fengming. She truly deserved to be the future Sect Master of Jumang Daoist Academy; her way of handling people and affairs was something he should learn from.

“The main issue is that it requires a vast amount of human resources for experiments and observation. If there are only a few, or a dozen people, at most they can only focus on researching one or two types of telluric energy.”

Wenren Fengming initially wanted to decline, but upon seeing the large pearl in Lin Wudong's palm, her outstretched hand, which had been meant to refuse, stopped. It instinctively landed on the pearl, feeling its smooth, delicate texture and the immense water spiritual energy within. Even her usually elegant and composed face showed a hint of shock.

The Immortal Sect's assessment for eighth-grade was very lenient.

Lin Wudong felt the same way after hearing this. Moreover, Revered Qingping was his idol, and he wanted to maintain a positive and favorable image in the Revered One's mind.

After regaining her composure, Wenren Fengming said, a little unconvinced, “Junior Brother, my Enlightenment White Tea is indeed good, but if consumed long-term, its effects will gradually diminish, until eventually it only lasts a few minutes. So we only consume it at critical moments of cultivation and comprehension. Please remember not to waste it too much.”

Wenren Fengming spoke, and Lin Wudong nodded, agreeing that this was the only way for now.

As a senior meeting a junior, Wenren Fengming generously presented a box of seventh-grade spiritual tea as a meeting gift. However, he wasn't particularly concerned about the effects of preserving youth or improving skin.

Wenren Fengming seemed to notice Chen Mobai's expression and smiled slightly, withdrawing her hand from the large pearl and shaking her head in refusal. Lin Wudong, however, with a dominant expression, directly placed the large pearl into Wenren Fengming's palm. The latter trembled slightly, but after consulting her inner feelings, found that she truly desired it, and thus nodded.

Lin Wudong had actually realized this point: his Enlightenment White Tea was indeed seventh-grade, but due to frequent consumption, he now needed to drink it constantly to ensure its long-term effects.

“Then I'll call Revered Qingping and ask?”

“With your two identities and statuses, a bit of maneuvering should allow you to apply for two rechargeable mid-grade spirit stones without issue.”

On Xuewei Mountain peak, Wenren Fengming nodded slightly to Lin Wudong and Chen Mobai, then was about to perform a Minor Void Teleportation in front of them.

According to his lifespan, because he broke through realms early, his physical body had always remained at its most youthful, equivalent to a fourteen-year-old, with no signs of aging until he reached a hundred years old.

Next, the group of experts began discussing methods for using puppets to create Five-Element Vital Qi.

“Of course. This second-grade black tea was discovered by a former sage of Jumang Daoist Academy deep within Immortal Mist Mountain in Qingcheng Cave Heaven. It absorbs the essence of the earth and the dew of sweet springs. When stir-fried, I also meticulously selected a hundred kinds of mountain flowers to contribute their fragrance, and further, with the academy's authority, drew upon the essence of the sun and moon for smoking and drying, resulting in this spiritual tea.”

“As for your matter, that might be a bit difficult...”

Chen Mobai accepted it, thinking it was no big deal, and that when Wenren Fengming left, he would also prepare a gift as a return for her.

Upon hearing that, Lin Wudong knew that Yan Bingxuan had tactfully refused. Xuewei City was simply too remote. Teachers from Heaven-Mending Daoist Academy who aspired to advance wouldn't come here.

At this moment, Wenren Fengming refilled Chen Mobai's cup. The somewhat subtle atmosphere between the two now became harmonious and pleasant.

Regarding Lin Wudong's proposal to establish Qi cultivation courses in his three major academies, Yan Bingxuan spoke with a tone of difficulty.

“That's a Revered One; wouldn't it be too presumptuous to bother him with such a minor matter?”

“That video was filmed very professionally.”

“Then let's prepare on two fronts. I'll also set up a Fiend Energy company here in Fu Borong Heaven, and you can all take a share.”

“Then I'll send him a text message first. If he doesn't reply, then so be it.”

“How is your luck so good? I opened three Void Blind Boxes, and the most valuable thing I got was just a bag of mixed high-grade and mid-grade spirit stones!”

A day later, Chai Lun and Zhou Tiangong also arrived. One must know that even Lin Wudong hadn't yet passed the assessment to become an eighth-grade Talisman Master!

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xinzhu waved her hand, embarrassed, indicating she couldn't accept it.

With eight hundred years of peak cultivation, if abundant resources were found in the alien world that followed, as long as he was willing to participate, he would definitely be able to obtain at least one Nascent Soul forming spiritual medicine.

“It's like this: I plan to apply to the Ministry of Education to establish the Qi cultivation department as a new discipline in the Qingsang Academy, Chixia Academy, and Danzhu Academy under my jurisdiction, and even make it a key support target, building it into the signature discipline of the three major academies.”

Lin Wudong was fundamentally unwilling to let Chen Mobai move the company to Fu Borong Heaven. The reason he pursued artificial synthesis of fiend energy was precisely for his own cultivation. It wasn't at all like Wenren Fengming and the others imagined, for the sake of changing the future landscape of the Immortal Sect.

“There's no reason to take back something I've given away. If Senior Sister feels unworthy, why not give me some of your eighth-grade Enlightenment Tea? I happen to have a difficult point in my cultivation that I need to comprehend using it.”

As Wenren Fengming spoke, she took out her phone and immediately played a video for Lin Wudong and Chen Mobai: it showed her picking tea leaves in Qingcheng Cave Heaven, stir-frying them with solar vital energy, and drying them with lunar essence.

“Alright, thank you, Director Fu!”

It was precisely for this reason that, among this batch of Golden Core True Persons in the Immortal Sect, he was not only second to Wenren Fengming but also seen by the upper echelons as someone capable of forming a Nascent Soul.

Wenren Fengming saw him hang up the phone and nodded, indicating that Yan Bingxuan had spoken the truth. After finishing the last cup of tea, they each said their goodbyes and departed.

After editing the content and sending it, Revered Qingping never replied. And the Immortal Sect highly valued human rights; Lin Wudong's influence wasn't significant enough for Yan Bingxuan to force Qi cultivation teachers to come and teach.