(During today's review, I discovered that a previous chapter, 360, was missing. However, the content is not lacking, only the chapter number is off by one. So today, I must repeat the chapter number once more, or else things won't add up.)
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Joe Di, a mere ant with only the cultivation of an Immortal Monarch, had slain three powerful cultivators who dared offend him in Great Cauldron City—one of them was the daughter of Ethan Huang, the Guild Master of Thousand Maple Guild. News of this event swept through the city like wildfire, and many came to Joe Di's residence, eager to see what manner of outsider this Immortal Monarch was—did he truly possess several heads and arms, and why was he so fierce?
So when Joe Di's Starlight Teahouse was about to open, word of it spread instantly across Great Cauldron City.
Everyone now knew Joe Di was a Third-Rank Immortal Alchemist. Shouldn't such a master be opening a Pill Pavilion? Why choose to open a Starlight Teahouse instead?
Before the Starlight Teahouse opened, the street outside was packed with cultivators, some even climbing onto the rooftops of neighboring shops just to catch a glimpse of the spectacle.
Everyone wanted to see what kind of Starlight Teahouse this audacious newcomer would open in Great Cauldron City.
"Immortal Spirit Tea is just Immortal Spirit Tea—even if the spiritual energy is richer, could it really be anything special? I don't get it. He's a Third-Rank Immortal Alchemist, so why bother with an Immortal Spirit Teahouse?"
"Heh, if you were a Third-Rank Immortal Alchemist, would you dare open a Pill Pavilion in Great Cauldron City?"
"True enough. Even he has things to fear—I thought he was above it all..."
"What does it mean to be above everything? He simply did what you didn't dare to do. People like you, if someone hit your left cheek, you'd probably offer up your right one right away."
......
The area in front of Joe Di's shop was packed with people, and all kinds of discussions buzzed through the crowd.
Aaron Jace stood proudly at the shop entrance after opening the barrier. Lately, Joe Di had promised him something, so he was no longer worried about his health. Furthermore, the Starlight Tea had greatly soothed his state of mind. Now, even without Master Luan's pills, he could last a whole day.
"He's coming out." As they saw Aaron Jace emerge from the shop, the noisy crowd outside fell silent.
"Fellow Daoists!" Aaron Jace cupped his fists and announced in a booming voice, "Today is the grand opening of my Starlight Teahouse, and it is a joyous occasion for all of you..."
Someone in the crowd laughed, "What does this have to do with us? Even if it's a joyous occasion, it's only for the Starlight Teahouse."
"Hahaha..." Aaron Jace laughed heartily. "Once you've tasted the Starspire Tea from my Starlight Teahouse, you'll realize how pitiful you were before. Why? Because you've never had real tea, and real tea is the Starlight Tea from my teahouse. That's why I say, it's a joyous occasion for everyone."
The crowd burst into laughter, as Aaron Jace's shameless boasting hit their funny bone.
"So it sounds like all the other teahouses in Great Cauldron Liberty City will be closing soon." Someone in the crowd couldn't help but joke.
Aaron Jace waved his hand dismissively and said, "Closing down isn't likely. My Starlight Teahouse caters to the top cultivators. Good things naturally come with the highest prices. So our products are limited, and many people won't even be able to buy them. Enough chatter—I'm Aaron Jace, a shareholder of the Starlight Teahouse and its Sales Director..."
"What's a Sales Director?"
Aaron Jace scoffed, "Clearly, you're not educated. Don't even know what culture is, do you? Let me explain: the best businessperson is called the Sales Director, got it? My big brother is the Grand Sales Director, too."
"Enough with the nonsense, just open the shop and let us see what this Starlight Tea you're bragging about really is." Someone in the crowd grew impatient with Aaron Jace's rambling.
Aaron Jace didn't get angry. He extended his hand and revealed a faint array formation.
The three characters for 'Starlight Tea', imbued with the vast Dao resonance of the cosmos, appeared atop the Starlight Teahouse. Just one glance filled people with a sense of cosmic charm.
"Beautiful calligraphy, profound Dao..." Some knowledgeable people in the crowd couldn't help but praise the three characters as soon as they appeared.
Aaron Jace chuckled, "That's nothing. Watch the advertisement for my Starlight Teahouse."
With another wave of his hand, two more lines appeared beside the words 'Starlight Tea.' The first line read: "Buy a single tea leaf, and I'll give you a piece of the cosmos!"
The second line read: "Starlight Tea—one leaf, one world!"
Such bold claims! Although everyone had come to see what kind of person Joe Di was, the words 'Starlight Tea' had already caught their interest, and the two lines of advertising made them even more curious.
The shop doors swung open, revealing exquisitely crafted tea racks. Each rack was protected by a barrier, and Sprout, dressed in new clothes, was already waiting beside them.
Even Moria Lane came down to help; she was in charge of collecting payments.
The elegant tea racks were lined with transparent jade boxes of all sizes, allowing everyone to clearly see the number of tea leaves inside each box.
When everyone saw the quantity of tea leaves and the prices inside the jade boxes, they all gasped in shock.
Some people, frustrated, could only laugh, "You really have guts. Why not just resort to robbery?"
A small jade box containing ten tea leaves was priced at ten thousand Liberty Credits. If you wanted to add a cup, the price jumped to twenty thousand. A box with a hundred tea leaves cost one hundred thousand Liberty Credits—and that came with a free cup. As for a specially refined Starlight Teapot with four Starlight Teacups, the price was also fifty thousand Liberty Credits.
Aaron Jace chuckled, "Robbery isn't as profitable as this! Let me tell you, our tea leaves are limited. Today, on the first day, the stock is plentiful, but if you hesitate, I can't guarantee there will be any left when you come back."
"Director Jace, I really admire your Grand Director, Fellow Daoist Joe Di, and wanted to support his business, but your prices are a bit outrageous!" Someone entering the shop complained, genuinely wanting to support Joe Di.
"Not expensive, not expensive." Aaron Jace waved his hand repeatedly, refusing to lower the price.
"Can we try a sip?" someone asked. They noticed that the Immortal Spirit Tea here was different from elsewhere. In other places, Immortal Spirit Tea was refined with various ingredients, but here it seemed to be pure tea leaves. Even after being refined into Starlight Tea, it remained just tea leaves.
"Let's go, let's go. After enjoying the excitement, it's time for everyone to leave." Most cultivators, seeing the prices, turned and left.
Ten thousand Liberty Credits could do a lot in Great Cauldron City. Few cultivators would be foolish enough to buy ten tea leaves.
"I'll take a box of ten Starlight Tea leaves." Ten thousand Liberty Credits was a sky-high price for most ordinary cultivators, but there were always some who could afford it.
The buyer was a male cultivator with a weathered, starry look. He bought the Starlight Tea simply because he saw the words 'Starlight Tea' outside.
As a long-time wanderer in the cosmos, he understood the Dao resonance contained in those three characters.
Sprout hurried forward and handed the box of tea leaves to the man, smiling broadly. "Honored guest, if you brew our tea using one of our cups, the effect will be even better. You should only use one tea leaf at a time."
The man nodded. "In that case, give me a cup as well."
In a flash, a deal worth twenty thousand Liberty Credits was made. The cultivators watching could only shake their heads helplessly. The buyer was clearly a top-tier cosmic cultivator—wealthy and willful.
Everyone thought the cultivator would leave with his tea, but instead, he opened the jade box, took out a cup, and placed a tea leaf inside. With a wave of his hand, a swirling ball of Immortal Spirit Water appeared in the air.