Chapter 40 - Concentration (2)

Calm down...

Calm down...

Tang Ling took a deep breath and concentrated to finishing the concoction.

Mix, Heat, Pour. Three seemingly easy steps but these fundamental steps are paramount. Although it would seem easy, you could also say that wielding a sword was easy: it was but hack and slash, horizontally, vertically with sometimes a thrust of something. But everyone knows that it isn't everything. Everything revolves on subtleties, so much that you can find Dao in swords.

Concentration Tea doesn't have a high requirement in techniques. In fact, peerless tea skills would make sub-par tea if it doesn't have temper.

As he entered in a state where only tea and him existed, other disciples got an inspiration from the Rose's fragrance and tried their theories. Tang Ling did not notice the strange behaviour of his neighbour and continued his work.

As he became more and more engrossed in the process, something mystical happened : light purple followed his hand, almost a replica of Master Gu Ze's technique. Unlike Gu Ze's purple mist, the purple formed from Tang Ling's hand could not be detected unless one focused his/her attention to his mouvement.

Master Gu Ze noticed this strange phenomenon. He smiled.

"One who found the correct method without instructions. He can probably become like my senior brother if he doesn't have a talent to cultivation. A legendary tea master, renowned in the realm, who even the almighty former emperor humbly begged for a cup of his collection."

Purple Qi from the East ! The great auspicious sign signalling the coming of a Sage !

It is said in the Warring Periods, when King Xuanze was in a deep struggle against the Barbarian King, he perceived purple qi from the east. As his retainers and officials advised him to retreat in the mountain pass he waited for 7 days until he saw the Sage. The Sage was called the Sage of Changes and he advised Xuanze to enter the Thousand Beasts Mountain Range, recruit the brave warriors of Tianmu who had a grudge against the Barbarian King and set an ambush in a small hill where the terrain was flat and disadvantageous for the defending army.

Two days later, the Barbarian King was defeated in battle.

The Sage was never found again and King Xuanze, at his ascension, classified this phenomena as Purple Qi from the East and the qi, Sagely Qi.

However, it was found later that this Qi didn't come from Sages alone. In the thousands of years after the end of his dynasty, there were rare but multiple apparences of this type of qi. It was a sign of auspiciousness, various forms of auspiciousness.

Gu Ze taught Auspicious Tea Brewing technique and it was the basic skill of the sect. In fact, it isn't unique to the sect itself, it was also taught in many orthodox sects like Pure Jade Sect. As such, since the technique's nature had a form of auspiciousness and the tea's ingredients were spiritual, at its highest level could create purple qi.

Soon, Tang Ling finished and left his special state. Looking at his creation's stats, Tang Ling's eyes twitched.

Transcendant Name : The drink that allows one to see truth under cover, to see through layers of lies and notice the hidden.

This tea grants the clear-sighted state, state that many long to get even one moment in this state. Enlightenment becomes easier when under this effect.

-Provides status [Clear-Sighted]

His skill flew and broke a few grades before reaching Super-Rare. Something that Tang Ling had never seen. It really seemed like a grade straight out of a gacha game ! Not really about strength but about rarity ?!

Anyways, it would seem that it was about becoming Epic but his techniques or the ingredient limited the quality. The skill panel updated, adding a new one:

[Mathematics LV2, Stealing LV2, Medicine LV1, Handicraft LV2, Life LV2, Tea LV2]

[Auspicious Tea Technique Mastered (Basic-->Advanced)]

A contrast could be told in this technique which he was more proficient than Baiji-quan(Wushu) despite not really knowing much about this technique.

"Disciple Tang Ling, I am very surprised about your talent in tea. Although you finished later than her, the quality is beyond compare. To understand the essence of the technique in a single session, that is impressive. The delicate fragrance emitted by your work represents how dedicated you are and how great it is." Master Gu Ze spoke, taking him back of his reverie, honestly it spooked him.

Tang Ling stood up and saluted : "It is because of your guidance. Your demonstrations has enlightened me." he said humbly.

"Hahaha ! You are very humble. But you should know that being to be too much humble can be offensive for some people. It is said that pride is concealed in humility and making oneself humble is to indirectly boast yourself. By luck or by ability, you may think as mere coincidence but it still your achievements. Boasting doesn't harm anybody, in all my life I have boasted and never, did I get harmed from retribution."

"Yes, Master." Tang Ling bowed and thanked. But deep in his heart, he didn't really take his advice to heart. He had seen many boasters being beaten up when trying to showing off. He was of the line of thinking that showing off without capabilities would surely, surely, surely get retributions.

"Go drink your tea. It's your reward for your hard work." The supervisor didn't mind the slight disinterest tone of his disciple and looked at the others who were listening : "Continue preparing a satisfactory Concentration tea ! Remember that if you feel dizzy just from the smell, it is definitely a failure... We have the whole morning and afternoon for this. You ! Yes you ! Don't you see that your drink has a strange colour ? You were surely distracted by the conversation, throw it in the container..."