This Is What a Villain Is Like

Chapter 126: Chapter 85: Why Else Call It Overwhelming Power, if Not to Deliberately Intimidate Ling Zhuyun?

To put it nicely, he would be feared by all. To put it bluntly, he would become the public enemy of the Nine Provinces.

If the fact that he had obtained the Blood Immortal Sect’s inheritance were ever exposed, his parents would have to be prepared to make enemies of every Daoist Lineage Influence in the entire Nine Provinces just to protect him.

In the original storyline, Ye Ming obtained the Blood Immortal Sect’s inheritance and spent a long time as a pariah, hunted by everyone and forced to hide. But he was a Loose Cultivator, after all. With no family ties to hold him back, he could go wherever he pleased.

But Jiang Lan was different. He had to think these consequences through carefully and plan for future escape routes.

He’d personally had Chu Chan deliver the invitation to Ling Zhuyun. Given Ye Ming’s friendship with Ling Zhuyun, he was sure to be worried and tag along.

"Thank you all for giving me the honor of your presence at this tea gathering today."

"As a show of my sincerity, I have instructed my staff to prepare Bihu Longqing Tea, Celestial Cloud Jade, Ancient Heart Inquiry Tea, and Thousand-Year Thunderstruck Wood Heart Tea... for you all to choose from."

His thoughts returned to the present. Jiang Lan’s gaze swept across the members of the younger generation gathered here as he began to speak.

Each of these teas was renowned and extremely expensive. Jiang Lan had clearly put a great deal of thought into this, all to show how seriously he was taking this tea gathering.

Of course, his true intention was simply to make everyone believe he was dead set on obtaining the fated inheritance from the Purple Mist True Monarch.

Hearing this, the hearts of the many young cultivators stirred.

These teas were undoubtedly rare treasures. They had originally assumed Jiang Lan was just holding this tea gathering for fun.

But now it seemed he was truly serious about the soon-to-be-revealed Purple Mist True Monarch’s Cave Mansion?

’Could he have gotten wind of something? Does he know there’s a rare Heaven and Earth Treasure inside the Purple Mist True Monarch’s Cave Mansion?’

’Knowing this pampered heir’s temperament, that’s probably the real reason. The whole point of this tea gathering is likely to intimidate us into backing down.’

Many of them began to speculate.

For now, however, no one said a word. In this setting, it was impossible to openly oppose Jiang Lan.

Soon, a gentle fragrance began to permeate the Star-Picking Platform. It was rich, lingering, and pleasantly fresh. It seemed to clear the mind and open one’s very pores. Just a single whiff felt as if it could make one ascend to the heavens.

Faint phenomena began to manifest. One could even hear the resonant clang of clashing weapons. Bathed in a golden glow, phantoms of an Ancient Bell, a small pagoda, and a Long Sword flickered through the air, emitting a CLANG CLANG CLANG that was nothing short of extraordinary.

These were the phenomena produced by the Spirit Tea. The effects of Spirit Tea were in no way inferior to those of Elixir Pills.

Sometimes, the creation of certain Spirit Teas even required a baptism by Thunder Tribulation—though, of course, that was something only found in ancient legends.

In the present age, Celestial Tribulations had vanished. Only existences at the Eighth Realm Tribulation Bridge Realm were qualified to personally witness them.

Never mind ordinary people; even prodigies of astounding talent couldn’t trigger a Celestial Tribulation when they were Realm-Breaking.

The tea masters preparing the brew were all masters of their art, having immersed themselves in it for many years, and their skills were exquisite.

In their hands, the very process of brewing tea was imbued with Dao Rhyme. The mingling of water and leaves was like an enactment of Daoist Techniques.

Many of the younger generation present had never witnessed such a scene. After their initial astonishment, they found themselves completely captivated.

As a procession of beautiful maids came forward to serve the tea, every member of the younger generation, regardless of their previous thoughts, now began to savor it earnestly.

"This is truly fine tea. Young Master Jiang is indeed generous."

"Young Master Jiang, you invited us here today not only for a tea gathering but also to discuss the matter of the inheritance from the Purple Mist True Monarch’s Cave Mansion. I wonder, what are your intentions?"

Fairy Miaoyin lifted her light veil with one hand, her lustrous red lips holding the hint of a smile. With her other hand, she delicately raised her Spirit Tea, took a small sip, and offered her praise.

At the same time, she didn’t forget the real reason they were here. Though she knew Jiang Lan’s intentions, she brought the matter up publicly again—a clear gesture of goodwill, prompting him to state his demands.

The other young cultivators glanced at her furtively, wondering at her intentions.

"Within the Purple Mist True Monarch’s Cave Mansion, there is a certain unique item that is of great use to me, so I am determined to obtain it." Jiang Lan seemed to give her a slightly surprised look before smiling and continuing in a serious tone, "Therefore, the purpose of this tea gathering is to ask you all to do me a favor and renounce your claims to the fortune within."

"For this, I will naturally reward you generously."

The moment he spoke, the Star-Picking Platform fell silent. Even Ling Zhuyun, who had been delicately sipping her tea, looked up at him in surprise.

Although the young cultivators had already suspected as much, they hadn’t expected Jiang Lan to be so blunt.

’How casual, how utterly brazen! Does he really think he can make everyone give up such a great fortune just by serving them some tea?’

A Great Divine Ability User from a bygone era like the Purple Mist True Monarch would have had a cultivation at the Eighth Realm, or perhaps even the Ninth Realm or higher. How could the inheritance he left behind possibly be simple?

If Purple Mist Mountain weren’t located within the borders of Great Xia, the Dao Lineages from other regions of the Nine Provinces Land would have surely come to fight for it.

No matter how astonishing the power of the Prime Minister’s Mansion was, it was by no means the ruler of the Nine Provinces. Not even the Great Xia imperial dynasty had the authority or audacity to demand that other Immortal Sect Influences simply hand over such an inheritance.

Of course, while these thoughts ran through their minds, none of the young cultivators voiced them. They all continued to drink their tea in silence.

"And what, might I ask, is this generous reward Young Master Jiang speaks of?"

It was Fairy Miaoyin who spoke. She seemed to have little interest in the Purple Mist True Monarch’s inheritance, her beautiful eyes fixed on Jiang Lan with great curiosity as she asked the question.

"Rare and Exotic Treasures, Cultivation Techniques, Scriptures—whatever you desire, I will be sure to provide it," Jiang Lan said.