Chapter 562 - 572: 9 Dragon Tea

When Xiaoyu heard Wen Qingye confirm it, her whole face changed, growing scalding hot. If there was a hole in the ground, she would have dived right in.

She had just been mocking Wen Qingye. ’Heavens, I actually mocked Wen Qingye.’

But no one present paid any mind to Xiaoyu, whose face was shifting between shades of green and purple. All eyes were fixed on Wen Qingye in stunned silence.

Youu Junlian quickly said, "Alright, Junior Brother Wen, come with me. The selection will probably be starting soon."

"Okay. There’s no time to waste, let’s go in," Wen Qingye nodded.

Youu Junlian looked at Little Ling, Xiaoyu, and the others. "You all should stay too. The selection for my sect’s Sect Leader Candidate is about to begin. You’ll all have to enter the Celestial Jade Hall, so just wait here for a moment."

After she spoke, Youu Junlian led Wen Qingye into the Celestial Jade Hall.

The moment he entered the grand hall, Wen Qingye could sense the Jade Maiden Sect’s profound heritage.

Pearlescent green tiles and glittering purple-gold adorned the majestic, imposing structure.

A row of Elders sat ahead. They were the pillars of the Jade Maiden Sect, their strength unfathomable. Clearly, none of them had a cultivation below the Life and Death Realm Second Layer.

Among them was an acquaintance of Wen Qingye’s: Bu Yanting, the Fourteenth Elder of the Jade Maiden Sect.

As for the Elder at the head of the group, Wen Qingye had a faint feeling that her cultivation was on par with that of Meng Yiyu.

Seated in the center, on a raised dais, was a middle-aged woman. She was graceful and regal, and her every move exuded a powerful aura. Her eyes were fixed on Wen Qingye, as if trying to see straight through to his soul.

To the right, among the figures standing behind several women, Wen Qingye recognized a few faces.

One of them was Ling Tianyu. When he saw Wen Qingye walk in, Ling Tianyu acted as if he hadn’t noticed a thing, keeping his eyes closed in meditation.

Everyone was well aware that Wen Qingye had killed Zhuo Xiangqun. But since Zhuo Xiangqun had first aided the Heaven-Burying Sect and then disguised himself in a mask, the Taiyi Pavilion would naturally never admit that the black-robed man was him. It was an open secret—everyone knew the truth, but no one would be the one to voice it.

As for the two men next to him, one was the Xiaoxiang Wanderer, Duan Chi, whom he had met once at Hua Lie’s banquet. The other was a monk.

The monk met Wen Qingye’s gaze, then brought his palms together and gave a slight nod.

’So this monk is Jiechen? He seems rather formidable.’

Wen Qingye’s heart skipped a beat, and he frowned inwardly.

Jiechen was the most outstanding disciple of his generation from Baoling Temple. His mastery of the Buddhist Dharma was so profound that few in the entire temple could match him, and his talent for Martial Arts was equally remarkable.

Wen Qingye had a feeling that this Jiechen was even more impressive than Ling Tianyu.

Youu Junlian whispered, "The Elder at the head of the row is the Great Elder of our Jade Maiden Sect. She’s the one who favors cooperation with the Taiyi Pavilion, so she’s hoping Yanm Fang wins the Sect Leader Candidate position. And the woman seated in the center is our Sect Leader, Fang Huatong."

The Jade Maiden Sect Leader, Fang Huatong, looked at Wen Qingye and frowned inwardly. ’This young man is truly remarkable. I can’t see through him at all. Just as the rumors say, he really has some skill.’

Everyone in the great hall turned to look at Wen Qingye. Some gazed with a trace of curiosity, while others watched with disdain.

Meng Fei sneered. "An incompetent fool who relies on a Secret Technique. Hmph. To think Youu Junlian actually invited him. And she wants to compete for the position of Sect Leader Candidate?"

It wasn’t just her; several of the Jade Maiden Sect Elders also looked at Wen Qingye with expressions of disapproval.

Fang Huatong gestured with her hand and smiled faintly. "You must be Wen Qingye from the Celestial Profound Sect. To come all this way to the Jade Maiden Sect makes you our honored guest. Please, take your seat."

Wen Qingye nodded and sat down.

According to the arrangement, Wen Qingye was given the last seat. Although he was the last to arrive, the seating was not determined by arrival time, but by strength.

But Wen Qingye didn’t seem to mind, calmly taking his seat next to the Xiaoxiang Wanderer.

Fang Huatong looked at Bu Yanting and said, "Yann Ting, go and ring the bell. Have all disciples in the sect gather at Yuhua Hall. It is time to begin the competition for the Sect Leader Candidate."

"Yes, Sect Leader," Bu Yanting said, slowly rising to her feet.

After Bu Yanting had left, Fang Huatong addressed Zhao Dan’Er, Meng Fei, Yanm Fang, and Youu Junlian. "The four of you will compete today. The winner will become the final Sect Leader Candidate. Of course, you may call upon your invited helpers."

The four women all nodded in understanding.

Fang Huatong then turned to Wen Qingye and the other three helpers. "While you are all waiting, please, have a cup of tea. The leaves are Biyun Tea from Qinghua Mountain, and I have used water from the Nine Dragon Spring to brew this Nine Dragon Tea. Please, have a taste."

The four men nodded and slowly drank the tea from their cups.

Fang Huatong watched them, her eyes holding a profound, hidden meaning.

Jiechen looked at the contents of his cup and shivered slightly. He then parted his lips and murmured to himself, "Zen and tea are of a single flavor. The mind, unified and undisturbed. Cast away worldly cares and vexations with a heart of peace and tranquil emptiness."

Hearing Jiechen’s words, everyone felt a jolt, as if his words had sparked a moment of epiphany within them.

"CLAP, CLAP." The Jade Maiden Sect’s Great Elder couldn’t help but clap her hands and laugh. "A fine interpretation! Truly, a fine interpretation! Little Master Jiechen is indeed worthy of his profound comprehension of the Buddhist Dharma, to be able to perceive such a deep realm from a small cup of Ginseng Tea. I am truly impressed."

Jiechen brought his palms together and said softly, "Amitabha Buddha. Great Elder, you flatter me."

The Jade Maiden Sect’s Great Elder then turned to Ling Tianyu. "I wonder, does the Feather Venerable of the Taiyi Pavilion have any unique insights into this Nine Dragon Tea, specially brewed by our Sect Leader?"

As the Great Elder’s voice faded, all eyes turned to Ling Tianyu, filled with faint anticipation.

Ling Tianyu nodded. "I did have a unique sort of comprehension. Since the Great Elder has asked, I will share my humble perceptions."

Ling Tianyu slowly rose, his gaze fixed rapturously on the teacup in his hand. He spoke in a low voice, "Life is short, and to taste tea is to taste life itself. Let go of sorrow and vexation, cast aside fame and fortune, and transcend the mortal world. Only then can one’s state of mind achieve transcendence, and only then can one’s cultivation improve by leaps and bounds."

Hearing Ling Tianyu’s words, the crowd nodded to themselves. His speech was not as profound as Jiechen’s, but it was simple and easy to grasp. And compared to Jiechen’s philosophical Zen principles, it felt much more practical.

When Ling Tianyu finished, he glanced over at Wen Qingye, his eyes filled with blatant provocation.

It had to be said, there was a certain substance to Ling Tianyu’s words.

The Jade Maiden Sect’s Great Elder laughed heartily. "Well said! I think this is precisely the mentality my Jade Maiden Sect disciples are lacking! Otherwise, our sect might have produced a peerless genius of its own by now."

The surrounding disciples of the Jade Maiden Sect all blushed and lowered their heads in shame.