The guards were astonished to see Zhang Hua treating a young man with such reverence, even addressing him as "Immortal Master." Not everyone deserved such a title.
Along the way, Zhang Hua briefed Zhou Yan on the affairs of his kingdom, hoping to receive a positive response.
Zhou Yan casually surveyed the entire Luoyun Kingdom. Compared to the imperial dynasties of the Youming Dynasty, Luoyun Kingdom seemed rather pathetic.
The entire imperial palace was not only small but also dilapidated, showing signs of age and disrepair. From this, it was evident that the kingdom's national strength was not great.
Zhang Hua led Zhou Yan to an independent royal courtyard, the finest part of the palace, usually reserved for royal guests or honored retainers.
However, this particular area had remained unoccupied by any royal personages, as the royal family had not yet found a suitable resident.
Upon bringing Zhou Yan here, Zhang Hua eagerly inquired, "What are your needs, please command me, and I will ensure they are met properly."
"When will the people from Xuan Yin Hall arrive?" Zhou Yan casually produced a table made of immortal wood, a jade stool refined from spiritual jade, Immortal Spirit Enlightenment Tea, a Nine Revolutions Exquisite Cup, and a Purple Extreme Sacred Dragon Teapot.
He then produced some divine liquid, and instantly, the entire courtyard was filled with a rich spiritual essence.
Zhang Hua was dumbfounded. Even without recognizing these items, the mere scent made him feel as though he were floating on clouds. He clearly understood that these were no ordinary objects.
This made Zhang Hua believe even more strongly that Zhou Yan was no simple individual. If mere items used for making tea were this extraordinary, who exactly was this person?
"They will arrive three days from now," Zhang Hua replied quickly.
"You trust so much that I can destroy Xuan Yin Hall? You should think carefully. If I fail, your entire nation could face utter destruction."
Zhou Yan casually poured the divine liquid into the teapot and, with a wave of his hand, the water in the pot began to emit white mist.
Divine liquid, as the name suggested, was a liquid only deities could use, yet Zhou Yan was using it as water for tea. This was not just a lavish act but a wasteful one.
Even the steam produced by the divine liquid was akin to spiritual essence, instantly elevating the spiritual energy of the entire courtyard to a very high level.
Across all the myriad realms, Zhou Yan was likely the only one audacious enough to be so wasteful. Others would treat such items as precious treasures, but Zhou Yan treated them as commonplace.
While these items were indeed precious, for Zhou Yan, he had an abundance of them.
His territory contained an entire lake of divine liquid; did he lack such things?
"Zhang Hua trusts that Immortal Master Zhou Yan will surely be able to eliminate Xuan Yin Hall," Zhang Hua said with utmost respect.
"Would you like a cup?" Zhou Yan asked, looking at Zhang Hua.
"No need, Immortal Master. I am likely not blessed to partake of such a thing," Zhang Hua hastily refused.
It wasn't that he didn't want it, but he truly didn't dare to drink it.
This was indeed a good thing, but who would dare to drink it like Zhou Yan? Wasn't he afraid of exploding from consuming it?
Without sufficient strength, drinking it would only lead to death.
Zhou Yan was merely testing Zhang Hua, and the man had clearly satisfied him. He knew his limits and understood his own capabilities, which pleased Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan poured two cups of tea, taking one himself. The spiritual mist formed by the divine liquid permeated the courtyard. With another wave of his hand, he placed the second cup in front of Zhang Hua.
"Drink it. With me here, what do you have to fear?" Zhou Yan said nonchalantly.
Zhang Hua hesitated, glancing at Zhou Yan. He couldn't discern any emotion from Zhou Yan's face; it was too placid, as if he were indifferent.
This was tea brewed with various "divine objects." If his frail body were to consume it, wouldn't he explode without a doubt?
Zhang Hua cupped his hands and said, "Since Immortal Master bestows this tea, Zhang Hua respectfully accepts."
Zhang Hua drank it in one gulp. Instantly, a violent surge of spiritual energy erupted within him, like a great explosion, charging wildly through his body, as if it were about to destroy him.
Zhang Hua quickly circulated his cultivation technique, attempting to digest it. However, with his current strength, how could he refine such terrifying spiritual liquid?
Streams of formidable spiritual power rapidly broke through his meridians. Zhang Hua thought he was going to die, but these meridians quickly healed.
Zhang Hua realized he had not exploded, but he was enduring immense pain. Anyone whose meridians repeatedly broke and reformed would suffer greatly.
Crucially, Zhang Hua remained fully conscious, enduring each bit of pain. He suddenly understood that this was a great fortune bestowed by Zhou Yan. Without him, he would have exploded the moment he drank the tea.
Yet, sounds of agonizing screams echoed throughout the hall and beyond, as if Zhang Hua were suffering inhuman torture.
In fact, it was quite similar. Such pain was not something an ordinary person could endure. Zhang Hua grit his teeth, enduring the torment as formidable spiritual energy continued to converge upon him.
"If you can't hold on, I will help you dissipate it," Zhou Yan said casually.
"No... No... No need, I... can... persist!"
Zhang Hua knew this was a monumental opportunity. If he couldn't even endure this much pain, how could he ever achieve his grand ambitions?
Zhou Yan's current cultivation level was already very powerful. At this moment, he felt a connection forming with Zhang Hua, as if future destiny would draw some of it from him.
Zhou Yan was somewhat surprised. He seemed to have gained some enlightenment, yet also felt he understood nothing.
"All things are connected in some way."
"'Cause' and 'effect,' perhaps this is it."
"Sow a cause, reap a cause."
"Sow an effect, reap an effect."
Zhou Yan seemed to understand something and smiled knowingly. He felt this tempering experience was quite effective, and he had discovered another way to strengthen himself.
He also understood why the ancient deities had always favored doing good deeds.
Everything had a reason. Within heaven and earth, there was always a subtle causal relationship, unseen and unfelt, yet constantly influencing and affecting one another.
Zhou Yan's act of helping Zhang Hua was merely a casual gesture, and it was through this casual act that he grasped some of the 'Dao'.
This was something that could not be achieved through closed-door cultivation; only through tempering and engaging with the world could one truly comprehend it.
Zhou Yan smiled faintly. The path of myriad realms was vast, and he felt he could gain much more understanding.
By solidifying his foundation in the lower realms, he would have greater capital to contend with other deities upon ascending to the God Realm!
Zhou Yan's destruction of the ancient imperial dynasty and the Youming Imperial Dynasty had already alerted the deities of the upper realms of these two dynasties.
Zhou Yan also felt this causal connection. The foundations of the deities of the two imperial dynasties' upper realms had been destroyed, their destinies extinguished by him, which naturally led to a greater causal relationship.