The atmosphere grew awkward and oppressive. Peng Tianqi's eyes were cold and fierce, his beard trembling slightly with anger. This tea was brewed by him personally; throughout his life, aside from cultivating, he had a passion for the art of tea. His skills in this area were unparalleled in Huaxia, but today, he was publicly humiliated by a junior, which was unacceptable to him.
"Young man, this tea was brewed by me. I have been brewing tea for decades; I can confidently say that I have brewed more tea than you have ever encountered. Do you think you have the right to criticize me?" Peng Tianqi's temperament was usually calm, but his tone clearly indicated that he was now furious.
"Mr. Jiang, how about I take you to see some other places? The scenery of the Nangang Wetlands is quite beautiful," Peng Bo quickly interjected, realizing that Jiang Chen dared to act arrogantly in front of his grandfather. Wasn’t this courting death?
"Watching the scenery here is just fine; you should sit down too," Jiang Chen replied casually.
There was no seat for Peng Bo among the four Divine Realm experts present.
Feeling extremely awkward, Peng Bo regretted bringing Jiang Chen along. He had meant well, but Jiang Chen simply did not appreciate it.
"Mr. Jiang, you are putting me in a difficult position. What I told you yesterday was not an exaggeration. Yan Xiaotian from Hongmen is no ordinary person; decades ago, he could sweep through the Huaxia Martial Arts Community. I do not deny your strength, but you truly are not his match. You weren't even born when Yan Xiaotian became the Master of Transformation. The gap is obvious," Peng Bo earnestly advised.
"Let's not discuss that for now, Old Peng. If you don't mind, I would like to brew a pot of tea using your leaves," Jiang Chen said with a smile.
Peng Tianqi's gaze deepened; Jiang Chen's calm demeanor only fueled his doubts. However, seeing that Jiang Chen wanted to brew tea himself, he had no objections.
"Please go ahead, Young Jiang. As long as your skills in tea brewing impress me, if anything happens at the gathering, I will help you out," Peng Tianqi said.
"If Old Peng is willing to help, then it will save me some trouble," Jiang Chen replied with a grin. What trouble could he possibly face? Even if Yan Xiaotian were involved, Jiang Chen did not take him seriously. If Peng Tianqi could defeat Yan Xiaotian, there would be no need for Jiang Chen to intervene.
Jiang Chen took the tea leaves and placed them into a purple clay teapot. Then flames erupted from his palm as he used fire to brew the tea and infused Spiritual Energy into it to create Ling Tea.
Seeing flames emanating from Jiang Chen's hand caused Peng Tianqi and the others to change their expressions slightly; however, they did not pay it much mind since those who practiced Daoist Techniques in Huaxia typically learned fire control techniques—it was nothing extraordinary.
Soon enough, Jiang Chen finished brewing a pot of Ling Tea.
"Bo'er, pour the tea," Peng Tianqi instructed.
Peng Bo hurriedly and carefully filled the cups of tea for Peng Tianqi and the others with Ling Tea. As Peng Tianqi glanced at the tea in his cup, its serene appearance held a hint of green but lacked any fragrance.
"Young friend Jiang, your brewing process is indeed unique; however, it's a pity that the tea lacks even a hint of aroma. I know it’s not subpar quality," Peng Tianqi commented critically.
"Tianqi brother, I think we don’t need to entertain this young man any longer. You are a master of tea; do you really need a young upstart to critique you? Our main focus should still be on Yan Xiaotian," Hua Yuedao said impatiently.
"Exactly! Young man, leave us be; we don't wish to argue with you anymore. You've made enough noise in front of us—don’t test our limits," Luo Xiong added impatiently. Initially harboring some goodwill towards Jiang Chen, he now felt nothing but deep disdain.
Jiang Chen ignored them and turned to Peng Tianqi and the others with a smile: "Old Peng, just because there’s no fragrance doesn’t mean my tea isn’t good. Tea is meant to be drunk, not just smelled."
"Since you're so stubborn, I'll take a sip and let you see for yourself," Peng Tianqi said lightly, clearly skeptical that Jiang Chen could brew anything surprising. He picked up the teacup and took a gentle sip.
As soon as the tea touched his lips, the indifference on Peng Tianqi's face suddenly changed to one of shock.
He drained the tea from his cup in one gulp, a look of intoxication and surprise on his face. Peng Tianqi had been drinking tea for decades, yet he had never encountered anything like this. The tea appeared ordinary, even lacking fragrance, but once it touched his lips, an explosion of aroma filled his senses, refreshing his spirit.
This feeling was indescribable, simply marvelous. In an instant, Peng Tianqi felt as if he were in the Celestial Abode, seated with immortals over a cup of tea.
"What's wrong, Old Peng?" Hua Yuedao and the others noticed Peng Tianqi's dazed expression and couldn't help but feel a pang of concern, quickly pressing him for answers.
Snapping back to reality, Peng Tianqi looked at Jiang Chen with eyes that held no trace of disdain, only admiration and astonishment. "Young friend Jiang, I am truly impressed. In the presence of your tea, my own brewing pales in comparison," he remarked with sincerity, willing to accept defeat.
"How is that possible?" Hua Yuedao and Luo Xiong exchanged incredulous glances upon hearing Peng Tianqi's words. They quickly lifted their cups and drank deeply from their own tea.
As the liquid entered their mouths, they were left speechless, as if standing atop the clouds—an ineffable mystery unfolded before them. The fragrance of the tea spread within their mouths, stimulating every nerve.
Hua Yuedao and Luo Xiong were utterly dumbfounded; they hadn't expected Jiang Chen to be not just arrogant but genuinely skilled in the art of tea.
"Could this tea really be celestial? Your reactions are quite exaggerated," Yan Lianwei interjected with a mocking tone.
"I've never tasted celestial tea before, but to call this celestial wouldn't be an exaggeration," Peng Tianqi said excitedly.
Yan Lianwei frowned; curiosity piqued within him. Unfortunately, he had already discarded his own cup out of disdain and couldn't very well ask for another.
"So what if this kid is skilled in tea? Can he surpass me in martial arts?" Yan Lianwei said darkly.
"Brother Wei, talent is rare. Young friend Jiang is quite young yet possesses such profound knowledge of tea. We should take him seriously. After this Martial Arts Grand Assembly concludes, I must seek his guidance!" Peng Tianqi smiled.
"Tianqi, you're giving him too much credit! The focus here is to deal with Yan Xiaotian!" Yan Lianwei retorted angrily.
Peng Tianqi turned to Jiang Chen and said with a smile, "Rest assured, young friend Jiang. As I mentioned earlier, if your skills in tea can win my respect, then we will handle Yan Xiaotian ourselves; you need not worry."
Jiang Chen had conquered Peng Tianqi solely through the art of tea. He smiled but said nothing further.
At that moment, over a thousand people boarded the painted boat and headed deeper into Wetland Park. The waterways crisscrossed like a maze; without a guide, one could easily get lost within them.
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