Chapter 276: Tea Fragrance

The teahouse wasn't large, consisting of only three connected single-story rooms, but upon entering, Han Li was immediately greeted by an intense aroma of tea.

Han Li was somewhat surprised. Although he didn't know much about the art of tea, he sensed a faint spiritual energy within the aroma.

His interest piqued, he stepped inside without hesitation.

The three rooms, one large and two smaller, were arranged side-by-side and were all filled with groups of tea drinkers. There were even seven or eight people, dressed in various styles, quietly waiting nearby as there were no empty seats inside.

Despite the numerous customers, no one was speaking loudly.

Most had their eyes lightly closed, savoring their tea with relish, while only a select few were whispering.

On the main wall of the large central room, a yellow paper, about ten feet in size, was prominently displayed. On it, written in bold, flowing characters, were the words "Each person limited to one pot per day," among others. It was extremely conspicuous.

Han Li saw these words and found it somewhat amusing. It was the first time he had heard of an establishment selling food and drink limiting the quantity a customer could consume.

However, he merely smiled and didn't bother to think much more about it. After scanning the room, he immediately walked towards a person who looked like a shopkeeper in a corner.

This was likely the teahouse's shopkeeper, a man in his forties with a small mustache, who looked exceptionally shrewd.

At that moment, he was behind a counter, bent over an abacus, occasionally glancing at a ledger beside him.

Han Li took a few steps and stood calmly before the counter, remaining silent. This caused the shopkeeper to look up in surprise and stare at him.

As soon as he recognized Han Li, the man's expression immediately changed drastically. He hastily pushed aside the abacus and ledger, then came out from behind the counter.

He asked respectfully, a hint of trepidation in his voice:

"Senior, is there anything I can help you with? I will do my best!"

To Han Li's surprise, the shopkeeper was also a cultivator, though his cultivation was pitifully low, only at the fourth layer of the Qi Condensation stage.

Now facing Han Li, this unfathomable "senior," he naturally felt uneasy and apprehensive.

Han Li said nothing. With a light flick of his sleeve over the counter, a translucent green jade pendant appeared on the surface.

The shopkeeper was initially stunned upon seeing the jade pendant, but then his face lit up with surprise and delight as he said:

"So it is Senior Han! This junior apologizes for his rudeness! Young Master Qi had already given instructions, saying that Senior would arrive soon. This junior has been waiting for a long time!"

Hearing this, Han Li retrieved the jade pendant in the same manner and calmly stated:

"I need to see your young master now. Lead the way."

"As you command, Senior!" the shopkeeper obediently replied.

The shopkeeper then called over a waiter, gave him a few instructions, and led Han Li out through the back door, exiting the small city and heading west.

West of "Golden Horse City" lay a vast expanse of yellowish-green rolling hills, numerous and varying in size. However, the shopkeeper, like an old hand, led Han Li through them, navigating several turns and detours, until they reached a flat, sunken basin spanning over a hundred *mu*.

In the center of the basin were seven or eight white stone houses. Around them, scattered here and there, were a few lush green bamboo plants, sparse and unremarkable.

After the shopkeeper led Han Li near this location, he bowed and said:

"Senior, my young master is inside. However, there are some formations set up outside. Normally, I would need to inform the young master first before bringing outsiders in, but the young master has already given instructions regarding Senior Han. So, Senior just needs to follow me closely. Otherwise, if the restrictions are triggered, it will be very troublesome!"

Han Li thoughtfully looked around the basin and at the seemingly random green bamboo plants, then casually said:

"Understood. Just lead the way."

Hearing this, the shopkeeper finally took a breath and cautiously led Han Li towards the houses.

His route was very peculiar. He would take three steps forward, then two steps back, then five steps east, only to turn back and walk six steps. His entire movement was disorganized, seemingly without any discernible pattern.

In this manner, the two slowly approached the houses in the basin.

"Young Master, Senior Han has arrived! Please come out to meet him!" When they were only about ten *zhang* away from the houses, the shopkeeper finally let out a sigh of relief and shouted towards the largest house.

"Senior Han is here? Excellent! Just a moment, I'll be right out!" Qi Yunxiao's surprised and delighted voice came from inside the house, but then there was a muffled "thump," followed by Qi Yunxiao's lamenting words.

"Sigh, it failed again!"

The stone door opened, and Qi Yunxiao walked out, his face filled with disappointment, carrying a hot aura with him.

However, when he saw Han Li, his expression immediately brightened, and he excitedly hurried forward, saying:

"It really is Senior! This is excellent! Please come with me, allow this junior to show you some hospitality. There isn't much else here, but we do have a few cups of excellent fragrant tea."

Qi Yunxiao enthusiastically invited Han Li into an adjacent room. His demeanor was much more mature and seasoned than it had been a few years ago.

"Then I shall trouble you, fellow Daoist!" Han Li said politely, knowing he still needed something from him.

He then entered the room and sat down close to a rectangular table.

"Senior, about that..." As Qi Yunxiao instructed the shopkeeper to brew some tea, he turned to Han Li, appearing to hesitate as if wanting to say something.

Han Li smiled faintly, and with a flick of his hand, the book "Qi Yunxiao's Insights" appeared on the table. The book still shimmered with silver light, indicating it was still sealed.

Qi Yunxiao's spirits lifted upon seeing the book. Just as he was about to reach for it, he suddenly remembered something and quickly said, "Senior, please wait a moment."

Han Li chuckled softly, seeming to have guessed his intention.

Not long after, Qi Yunxiao excitedly returned to the room, carrying a wooden box about a foot long.

"Senior, this is a set of improved Inverted Five Elements Array formation artifacts," Qi Yunxiao said with a hint of apology. "Although its power isn't as high as originally anticipated, reaching only half the power of the original formation, it has been upgraded to one-third the power of the original formation, which is much stronger than before!" He was clearly uneasy about not being able to elevate the formation artifacts to the agreed-upon power.

"One-third?" Han Li's expression shifted, and he was extremely surprised inwardly.

It was important to know that he hadn't originally expected the set of formation flags to be truly improved. The Inverted Five Elements Array, which could exert one-tenth of its power, had already made Han Li extremely satisfied. Moreover, even Core Formation stage cultivators like Lei Wanhe found this formation quite troublesome. If its power truly increased by another two or three times, wouldn't it be capable of repelling Core Formation stage cultivators?

Thinking of this, Han Li couldn't help but take the wooden box, preparing to examine it closely. Meanwhile, Qi Yunxiao picked up the silver book and began to examine it.

As soon as the lid was opened, a set of formation flags and a formation disk, exuding spiritual energy, appeared inside the box.

Han Li took them out one by one and examined them carefully. The number of formation flags and the formation disk in this set of artifacts was much greater than the original set, and the patterns and runes on the flags and disk were also noticeably more complex. It seemed the other party's words were true; its power should indeed be greater than the original set.

Han Li joyfully put away this set of formation flags, then glanced at the person opposite him.

At this moment, Qi Yunxiao was stroking "Qi Yunxiao's Insights" with a delighted expression; it seemed he had also verified the seal.

"I am very satisfied with this improved set of formation artifacts! I have truly troubled you, fellow Daoist," Han Li said with a smile.

"Senior, what are you saying?" Qi Yunxiao replied sincerely, shaking his head like a rattle-drum. "This junior should be extremely grateful to you for returning this book intact. I am the one who should be thanking you more!"

Han Li smiled and exchanged a few humble words, then began conversing with Qi Yunxiao.

After the shopkeeper went down for a moment, he returned with two cups of glistening green tea.

The aroma of this tea was clearly more fragrant than the "Clear Spring Teahouse" tea, indicating a higher quality of tea leaves, and the spiritual energy it emitted was also richer.

At Qi Yunxiao's earnest invitation, Han Li took two sips. He immediately felt a refreshing sensation in his mouth and his mind cleared, so he couldn't help but praise it:

"Excellent tea!" Han Li praised sincerely. "I never imagined that even the tea leaves could be imbued with spiritual energy; it's truly marvelous! This must be something you personally brewed, fellow Daoist, and I am filled with admiration." To infuse ordinary tea leaves with spiritual energy was indeed unheard of, and the tea was truly exceptionally fragrant, certainly no worse than any of the world's most renowned teas.

Hearing Han Li's words, Qi Yunxiao's face showed a hint of embarrassment, and he hastily explained:

"Senior, you've misunderstood. This tea was not prepared by me; it was a gift from a friend. My friend spent nearly ten years researching to produce these tea leaves!"