Chapter 622 - 253: It’s Free Anyway, Might as Well Believe It a Little

Chapter 622: Chapter 253: It’s Free Anyway, Might as Well Believe It a Little

"In that case, I will humbly accept your offer."

Xiao Chen didn’t refuse, graciously taking a seat across the square table.

His crisp, decisive movement took True Monarch Can Ye slightly by surprise.

To face an unfamiliar Nascent Soul True Monarch with such composure, neither obsequious nor arrogant, was no simple feat.

Many cultivators would feel nervous just seeing their own clan’s patriarch, let alone a stranger.

True Monarch Can Ye thus became even more certain that Xiao Chen’s background was anything but simple, which must be the source of his profound confidence.

He reached for the teapot and poured a cup. "Young friend, your timing is perfect. The tea has just finished steeping."

"You should try it while it’s hot. The flavor won’t be as good once it cools."

Xiao Chen’s gaze swept over the pale, tender buds drifting in the cup. A rich, fragrant aroma, carried on a wave of heat, wafted toward him.

’It’s fine. He wasn’t afraid of the heat.’

"Thank you for the tea, True Monarch!"

After a polite word of thanks, Xiao Chen lifted the white porcelain teacup and drained it in a single gulp. He immediately felt a stream of pure energy rise from his abdomen, heading straight for his Sea of Consciousness.

However, as it passed his Shenting Acupoint, the dormant Star Core trembled slightly.

It instantly absorbed the pure energy, expanding slightly in size.

Huh?

Xiao Chen was taken aback. ’I was supposed to gain some benefit from tasting a High Tier Spirit Tea for the first time.’

’But the Star Core intercepted it instead? What’s going on?’

Fortunately, he soon felt that familiar sensation again—his Divine Sense was being tempered.

Under normal circumstances, the range of a typical Late-stage Golden Core Cultivator’s Divine Sense was about ninety li.

However, thanks to the baptism of starlight on Celestial Star Island, two months ago—six months after he had obtained the Star Core...

...his Range of Divine Sense had already grown from the original sixty li to eighty li.

After his breakthrough to the Late-stage Golden Core last month, his total Range of Divine Sense had increased to a full one hundred li.

It might seem like the previous twenty-li gain had been reduced to just ten li.

But the greater the Range of Divine Sense, the more difficult it is to expand.

The Star Core’s power had been depleted after tempering his Divine Sense, and it had fallen dormant two months ago.

He never expected that after absorbing the pure energy from the tea, it would seem to be replenished.

It had begun to temper Xiao Chen’s Divine Sense once more, causing its strength to slowly increase again.

’I can’t believe the Star Core can be recharged.’

’Then again, it makes sense. Back in the day, only elites who passed through rigorous selections were qualified for the starlight baptism.’

’It’s just... why wasn’t something so important mentioned in the Celestial Star Sect’s Inheritance Jade Scroll?’

This time, Xiao Chen had guessed correctly. It was, in fact, an oversight.

The main reason was that for disciples of the Celestial Star Sect, they would hear about the Star Core’s marvelous uses from others countless times upon entering the Inner Sect. It was common knowledge that didn’t need to be explicitly stated.

Even the Celestial Star Sect’s rival factions of that era were well aware of these details.

The person who left the Inheritance Jade Scroll probably never imagined that what was once "common sense" would become an ancient secret a million years later.

Fortunately, Xiao Chen’s luck was good. He had stumbled upon this discovery by accident.

’In that case, I’ll have to consider deliberately collecting these kinds of Spiritual Objects to keep recharging the Star Core.’

’Of course, this is definitely less important than Nascent Soul Formation.’

’I’ll just have to keep an eye out for them while I’m collecting Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects.’

"Young friend, how do you find the tea?"

True Monarch Can Ye asked gently, carefully observing Xiao Chen’s reaction.

The first time a Golden Core Cultivator drank a Tier Four Spirit Tea, they would receive a certain benefit.

In the specific case of Cloud Cliff Cyan Leaf, which strengthens one’s Divine Sense, most Golden Core Cultivators would need some time to adapt to the sudden growth after drinking it.

An ordinary cultivator would need at least a Quarter Hour to recover.

Only cultivators with exceptionally strong Divine Sense or geniuses with extremely high aptitude would recover faster.

Therefore, this served as an effective way to test him.

And since this test was also a beneficial opportunity for the subject, it wouldn’t provoke any resentment.

"The aroma is mellow and rich, and the tea itself is sweet and refreshing. It is truly a top-grade Spirit Tea!"

Xiao Chen first praised it generally before elaborating, "And that pure energy that nourishes the Divine Sense after drinking... I have benefited greatly."

By pointing out its specific effects, his praise sounded well-founded and convincing.

At these words, True Monarch Can Ye’s pupils constricted. He couldn’t help but feel a flicker of astonishment.

He was even more shocked to see that Xiao Chen’s expression was clear and his bearing was natural, showing no sign of being affected by the Spirit Tea’s potency.

’But how could he be completely unaffected?’

A thought flashed through True Monarch Can Ye’s mind, and he came up with two possibilities.

The first possibility was that Xiao Chen had drunk Cloud Cliff Cyan Leaf before.

More than once, in fact.

Therefore, the tea’s effects on him would have diminished to a negligible point, explaining why he was unaffected.

The problem, however, was that inviting him today had been a spontaneous decision.

The young man couldn’t have known he would be served Cloud Cliff Cyan Leaf, and thus couldn’t have prepared for it.

This could only mean one thing: the faction backing Xiao Chen was extraordinarily powerful.

They must regularly supply him with countless varieties of Tier Four Spirit Tea, Cloud Cliff Cyan Leaf among them.

Such a practice was incredibly extravagant; even a power like the Feiye Commerce Association would struggle to afford it.