Tea Leaves

'She followed me here by following the spatial talisman's trail? Is such a thing even possible?'

John didn't know the extent of what someone as powerful as the Vice-Sect Leader could do, and he wasn't about to stick around to find out. He turned around and instantly took to the skies, piercing directly towards the top of the Heavenly Lightning Palace.

There was only one person who could save him now from the Vice-Sect Leader's wrath.

'Please be here.'

The Vice-Sect Leader finally stepped through the spatial channel that she had created. Her eyes trailed upwards as she saw John reach the top of the Heavenly Lightning Palace. Her eyes darkened as she realized what he was doing.

John appeared at the top of the Heavenly Lightning Palace, and quickly landed on the balcony that jutted out at the top of the palace. His heart was pounding within his chest, as he only had one shot at salvation. His eyes suddenly brightened as he quickly dashed forward.

"Sect Leader, save me!" John cried out, as if he was about to be murdered. The Sect Leader looked up from his documents he was reading, his face tinged with amused curiosity at what was happening.

Bang!

An incredibly powerful lightning attack pierced through the sky where John was just standing. It narrowly missed him as he dodged forward, and pierced upwards high into the sky. John reached the Sect Leader and stood beside him, his breathing heavy and ragged.

The Vice-Sect Leader suddenly appeared on the balcony, her hawk-like eyes staring at John. Anger was evident in her face.

"You dare run from me?" the Vice-Sect Leader asked in a slightly angered voice.

"Screw you! You said you were going to tie me to a tree and use me as a practice dummy. Why wouldn't I leave?" John cursed back.

"Hmph, you should consider it a privilege and an honor to be able to see my battle arts up close like that," the Vice-Sect Leader retorted. "Maybe you would finally learn a thing or two that way."

"See, she admits it. Sect Leader, please have someone else train me. This wench is far too crazy," John cried out.

While he was learning a lot from the Vice-Sect Leader, she was far too crazy. She would attack John powerfully and viscously, even when he did exactly as she instructed. Were it not for his incredibly strong and durable body, he would be crippled already. John finally realized why the entire sect feared drawing her wrath.

The Sect Leader began to slightly chuckle as the two of them argued before him. He waved his hand, as if to silence them.

"Come now, have a seat and join me for some tea," he said to the two of them.

John instantly took him up on the offer and sat down in the chair right next to him.

The Vice-Sect Leader frowned. "Our training is not done yet. John is coming with me."

The Sect Leader looked towards the Vice-Sect Leader, and then John. He nodded his head in agreement. "I suppose John's training does come first," he agreed.

Panic appeared on John's face as he wracked his head for ideas. He would do anything before returning to be alone with the crazy Vice-Sect Leader. His gaze locked onto the tea the Sect Leader was enjoying, as an idea appeared in his mind.

"Sect Leader, I have some amazing tea leaves that you might want to enjoy. Shouldn't that take priority?" John asked, his voice hurried.

The Sect Leader chuckled, as he realized what John was attempting to do. "Unfortunately for you, I've had more types of tea in my life than the number of days you have lived. There's nothing you can show me that I haven't seen befo-"

The Sect Leader's words instantly cut off as some tea leaves suddenly appeared in his hands. His expression instantly changed, as he closely inspected the leaves.

"What are these? Where did you get these?" Thunderzen asked in an shocked and excited tone. His quick inspection of the leaves revealed them to be unlike anything he had ever seen in his life before.

"I found them. What? Are they to your liking? I thought you've seen it all," John replied with a sly smile on his face. It seemed this ploy of his was working.

These tea leaves were the ones he had found growing within his palace realm, for who knows how long. Since they were part of the palace, surely they were amazing.

The Sect Leader looked from John back to the tea leaves. "I rescind my earlier statement. It seems I still have much to learn about this world," Thunderzen replied, slightly humbling himself.

However, one of his greatest joys in life was savoring delicious tea, and the tea leaves before him were the most incredible he had ever seen before. Not only was the aroma intoxicating, the Sect Leader could tell that each leaf was infused with the Heavenly Dao's. The leaves were also clearly incredibly ancient.

As long as they were cared for properly, tea leaves would become more and more flavorful and enjoyable as they aged. The leaves before him were clearly far older than anything he had ever seen before.

Just by drinking this tea, one would improve their comprehensions towards the Heavenly Dao's.? However, the requirement was that one had a high enough comprehension to even notice such things, and only the Sect-Leader and Vice-Sect Leader were at that realm of comprehension. Such an opportunity was incredibly rare, and would not be passed up on by the Sect Leader.

"How about it," John suddenly spoke up. "If I give you these leaves, will you save me from this crazy woman?" John asked.

The Sect Leader paused, as if he was conflicted. On one hand, he greatly desired the tea, but on the other, John's training was also incredibly important.

John noticed this hesitation, as another item suddenly appeared in his other hand. This time it was the entire tea plant, roots and all. The Sect Leader's eyes nearly popped out of his head upon seeing this.

"How about this. I'll give you this entire plant, which you can plant and grow these leaves forever. However, you have to answer quickly, because I don't know how long a plant like this can survive out in the open."

John had dozens and dozens of these plants in his palace realm. He didn't mind giving one away, especially if he received some benefits from it.

"You have a deal," Thunderzen replied, unable to resist the temptation.

The Vice-Sect Leader's eyes narrowed upon hearing this, but she didn't say anything. John's face brightened, and he quickly handed over the plant to Sect Leader Thunderzen.

"One moment," Thunderzen stated, as his body suddenly disappeared.

He reappeared a short while later, clearly having planted the tea plant in his own personal garden.. His face was radiating happiness, as if he was a child who had just received birthday gifts.

He quickly prepared some tea using one of the leaves John had gifted him.

"Come, come, enjoy some tea with me," Thunderzen stated in an elated voice. He poured some tea for himself, before handing the pot over to John.

John obliged, and poured himself some tea as well. An intoxicating aroma filled his nose, and John felt himself nearly enter a meditative trance just by smelling the tea. Clearly it was more amazing than he realized.

The Sect Leader looked towards the Vice-Sect Leader, who still stood there with an unpleasant look on her face. He warmly smiled at her as he called out to her.

"Come now daughter, why don't you relax for once and join us for some tea!"

John nearly fell off his chair upon hearing this.

"Daughter!?"