Heavenly Destined Tree! . . .
Cha Eun Xiao raised an intrigued eyebrow. "Oh? I'm curious, how many varieties of tea are at my disposal in your establishment? Can I freely choose any that catches my fancy?"
Master Bai responded with a serene smile. "From the southernmost regions to the northernmost reaches, from the skies above to the earth below, within the vast expanse of the universe, whatever tea you desire, we possess it."
He continued to gaze at Cha Eun Xiao, a smile gracing his lips. "The only choice we lack is yours."
In a nonchalant tone, Cha Eun Xiao remarked, "In that case, I shall accept such generous hospitality without hesitation. You profess to offer a selection of teas, and while your confidence is impressive, I harbor a degree of skepticism. Therefore, I shall make an audacious choice—something that transcends the ordinary boundaries of the world. Furthermore, I request that after partaking in this unique tea, no other soul shall be privileged to savor it. In essence, I seek exclusivity; I wish to be the sole beneficiary."
He turned his gaze to Master Bai, his voice earnest as he explained, "Before me, no one shall have sampled it, and after me, none shall partake. It is my wish for this tea to be the finest offering in your collection. I trust this request is not too cumbersome for you, nor does it trouble you?"
Master Bai maintained his smile, his gaze unwavering. "Not at all. I never anticipated such discerning taste in you. It has indeed taken me by surprise."
Internally, Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but feel a touch of impatience. He regarded Master Bai and pondered, "Since my arrival, you've tested me at every turn, even when the matter is as simple as offering tea. A test, is it? Humph..."
Beneath the surface, he couldn't help but feel somewhat irritated. He scrutinized Master Bai's countenance and mused, "He may have a striking appearance, but he's no more than a cripple. I'd venture to say that I, as Cha Eun Xiao, could rival or even surpass his looks. Who is he to be so arrogantly testing me?"
Silently, Cha Eun Xiao challenged Master Bai, "You beckon me to choose a tea, and I shall oblige. You claim to house all varieties of tea within your realm. Very well, this is my selection! Are you truly capable of providing it?"
"Should you fall short, you will have to retract those boastful words of yours!" His inner frustrations fueled his determination.
Master Bai observed him for a moment and then, with an enigmatic smile, produced a small bag of tea from a space ring on his finger. "I've made a statement, and I must now honor it. Regardless of the difficulty, I am obligated to make the attempt. Ultimately, the result is all that matters. Today, I've gained a valuable lesson—sometimes, it's wiser not to indulge in excessive self-praise. In fact, silence may be the best course, for words have unforeseen consequences, as we are witnessing now."
Still wearing a smile, he cast a peculiar gaze at Cha Eun Xiao and playfully shook the small bag of tea in his hand. "Feng Monarch, care to hazard a guess? Do I possess precisely the tea you seek?"
Cha Eun Xiao nearly swore in frustration. "Another test?" he thought incredulously. "Is it truly necessary to make it so trying? This is but a youthful facade. Zuo Wuji may be a genuine young man, but Master Bai is a monster who has existed for an unfathomable span of time!"
Maintaining his outward composure, he responded with flattery, "As an illustrious figure such as yourself, I can only imagine the treasures you must hold. Let me venture a guess—you undoubtedly have it. Show me the exquisite rarity in your possession." His smile was ingratiating, but his internal exasperation was difficult to conceal.
Master Bai hesitated for a moment, his gaze fixed on the small bag of tea in his hand. He couldn't help but smile wryly. "Well, I can certainly provide it, but it comes at a significant cost," he admitted, a touch of regret in his tone. "I suppose this is a lesson in humility I shall take to heart. It's not every day I meet someone as earnest and determined as you, Feng Monarch."
Cha Eun Xiao raised an eyebrow, maintaining his unyielding demeanor. "If you find it burdensome, there's no need to proceed. You could simply claim that you've consumed the last remnants of the tea I seek before my arrival. I would accept the truth."
Master Bai's smile remained as he responded, "Had I been someone other than Bai Chen, I might have heeded your counsel. However, since I made the boast, and you issued the request, I am Bai Chen. I shall stand by my words."
He regarded Cha Eun Xiao with an unwavering gaze. "As you wish."
Cha Eun Xiao was unabashed by the unfolding theatrics. "Very well, I shall patiently await the moment when I experience the sensation of uniqueness. I am quite eager to discover if it feels like a splendid dream or if it carries a more profound impact, like ripples in a pond."
He showed no hesitation or remorse for his audacious request; instead, he chose to embrace the drama of the situation.
Master Bai appeared taken aback but couldn't help but find the situation fascinating. "Truly intriguing."
In ordinary circumstances, when a host inquired about a guest's tea preference, the responses typically fell within the expected range. Most guests would express appreciation for any tea the host offered, and some, with a closer rapport, might request a particular tea they had heard was exceptional.
Yet, in Master Bai's long history, he had never encountered a guest quite like Cha Eun Xiao. It was as if his audacity had no bounds, and his ability to surprise knew no limits. In this regard, Cha Eun Xiao was indeed a unique figure.
Master Bai shifted the conversation, introducing a new topic. "Feng Monarch, have you ever heard of the Heavenly Destined Tree?" With practiced ease, he produced a tea pot, tea cups, and water from his space ring.
Cha Eun Xiao furrowed his brows, clearly unfamiliar with the term. "The Heavenly Destined Tree? I'm afraid I haven't had the privilege of hearing about it before."
Master Bai carefully opened the small tea bag and explained, "It's understandable that you haven't heard of it. The Heavenly Destined Tree is no ordinary entity; it hails from the Hongmeng Heavens."
He went on to describe the tree's origins, sharing its existence beyond the thirty-third layer of heaven since the separation of sky and earth. "This is the Heavenly Destined Tree, and there exists only one in the entire universe."
The revelations continued. "The Heavenly Destined Tree bears fruit once every era. Its fruit can serve as both nourishment and medicine. Mortals who consume the fruit gain immortality and the ability to fly, while immortals experience an advancement of thousands of years in their cultivation. When used in medicinal concoctions alongside eighteen other precious treasures, it yields the legendary Innate Nature dan. Ingesting this dan bestows the recipient with the cultivation abilities of an entire era."
Master Bai's eyebrows arched, and he couldn't help but wear a knowing smile as he emphasized, "One era equates to one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred years."
Cha Eun Xiao coughed lightly, feigning surprise and admiration. "The universe is truly a vast and wondrous place. I had no idea such a remarkable tree existed in the world. What a marvel."
Others might assume that Master Bai was attempting to inflate his own worth by exaggerating his knowledge, but Cha Eun Xiao knew better. He understood that Master Bai spoke the truth.