In the past few days, Chen Tang indeed encountered several experts from the Earth Ranking.

Relying on his means like Entering the Divine State and Flood Dragon Armor, he surpassed the opponents by a half-move.

These experts respected their own status and did not entangle further, thus departing.

If they had continued to fight, and once the Divine Illumination time was exhausted, Chen Tang would be undoubtedly defeated if he couldn’t restrain the opponent.

Moreover, in terms of strength, he was clearly weaker than these Earth Ranking experts by a notch.

Currently, he had only opened Six Apertures.

The Seventh Aperture could be further divided into the Mouth Aperture and the Tongue Aperture.

However, in martial arts, the mouth and tongue are considered one aperture.

Chen Tang had opened the Mouth Aperture, but the Tongue Aperture was yet to be opened.

The Seventh Aperture could only be considered half-open, not to mention the two major Yin Apertures that come afterward.

The Earth Ranking experts are almost all martial artists who have unblocked the Ren and Du Meridians, with all Eight Meridians open, forming a self-contained world within, with inner qi running unimpeded and the dantian like a sea, accommodating countless streams.

Not to mention, with all Eight Meridians open, they can release inner qi at any time. Common weapons, fists, and kicks, even if defended against, may not necessarily injure them!

Their offensive means are even more formidable.

Releasing inner qi, fusing it onto the sword’s body, merging with the blade, can trigger sword qi, expanding the attack range, and adding countless variations to the sword technique, making it impossible to defend.

Normally, a martial artist in the Fourth Grade Opening Acupoints Realm can absolutely not withstand the power impact of an Earth Ranking expert.

Chen Tang surpassing those few Earth Ranking experts by a half-move relied not only on his trump card, Entering the Divine State, but also on the solid foundation laid on the Snow Mountain under Emperor Wu’s guidance.

In fact, in Changze County, considering Chen Tang’s talent and resources, along with Emperor Wu’s guidance, his cultivation speed could have been even faster.

However, Emperor Wu suggested he should refine every realm to perfection, pushing the body’s potential to its limits!

With continuous accumulation, he became the unparalleled prodigy shaking the Great Xia Martial World!

But Chen Tang knew in his heart that those few Earth Ranking experts were not even high-ranked on the Earth Ranking.

The highest one, ’Rakshasa Spear’ Zhao Wuji, was only ranked thirty-seventh.

The pattern of such lists is generally similar, with possibly enormous differences in combat strength between the top ten and the following dozens of ranks!

Among the top ten, the top three form another threshold.

To become the number one on the Earth Ranking is even more unique!

This point is evidenced by the Wind and Cloud Ranking he is on.

So when Boss Li revealed He Shiyao’s identity as the number one on the Earth Ranking, Chen Tang knew he was not a match for this person.

Moreover, he himself had hidden injuries.

Chen Tang gently traced the rim of the teacup with his finger, glanced at the riverside dock from the corner of his eye, measured the distance, made up his mind, and then raised the teacup, drinking it all in one go.

He was extremely thirsty, and with the method of Entering the Divine State in hand, he was not afraid of being poisoned by the tea.

After the tea went down, Chen Tang felt a stir in his heart.

There was indeed something in the tea!

However, it was not poison but medicine for healing internal injuries.

Chen Tang felt a warm sensation in his stomach, and a warm current slowly spread, the medicinal power seeped into his five viscera and six bowels, nurturing the previously impacted organs, which was very comforting.

Thinking of what Boss Li had said just now, he knew that this pot of tea was specially brewed for him by this person.

The influence of the Drunken Immortal Tower is great, and the visitor is the young shopkeeper of the Drunken Immortal Tower, top-ranked on the Earth Ranking.

The Tea Dao Sect could not possibly offend the Drunken Immortal Tower for his sake.

Boss Li helping him in this manner, secretly, was already quite a favor.

Along the way, although he was pursued by many people, he also encountered people like Yang Jianzhi from the Celestial Horse Escort Agency and Boss Li from the Tea Dao Sect.

He Shiyao carefully watched Boss Li for a moment, then laughed: "Alright, I’ll also have a pot of tea to sober up, the same as his will do."

"Of course, of course."

Boss Li chuckled as he said, "Young Shopkeeper, please have a seat, I’ll serve it to you shortly."

After a while, Boss Li came over with a pot of tea, placed it on He Shiyao’s table, and personally poured him a cup.

"Boss Li, drinking tea should be done at a certain time, don’t you agree?"

He Shiyao smiled slightly.

"You can just call me Old Li."

Old Li maintained his smile and said, "The Young Shopkeeper is right, generally guests leave after drinking a pot of tea."

He Shiyao asked again, "But what if someone stays with a pot of tea all day?"

Old Li lightly coughed and said, "Then we can’t very well drive them away either."

He Shiyao ignored this and instead picked up the teacup, ignored the scalding tea, tilted his head back, drank it all, and finally closed his eyes and smacked his lips.

"Old Li."

He Shiyao suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of cold light flickered as he said eerily: "This tea is different from his!"

"Ah?"

Old Li’s eyes flickered, showing a hint of surprise, and said, "Young Shopkeeper, how could that be, they are both top-grade Dragon Well tea."

"No."

He Shiyao shook his head and said, "My pot of tea is missing a bit of medicinal taste."

Old Li awkwardly chuckled a few times.

Chen Tang thought to himself, "This person is from the Drunken Immortal Tower, has learned the true skills of the Drunken Elder, and must be extremely sensitive to scents and medicines, just by smelling it, he guessed the gist."

He Shiyao said lightly: "I’ll give him the time of one incense stick burning."

As soon as the words left his mouth, someone stepped forward, lit an incense stick, and inserted it into the ground.

Old Li fell silent.

The implication of He Shiyao’s words was that he would make a move after the incense burnt through.

His intention to secretly help Chen Tang had been seen through by He Shiyao.

However, he did not expose it publicly, and only hinted at it.

Moreover, he did not immediately make a move and left the time of one incense stick, which was quite face-saving for the Tea Dao Sect.

He really couldn’t find any more reasons to prevent or delay it.

Old Li sighed in his heart and shook his head.

All he could do was this much.

As for what happens next, Chen Tang could only rely on himself and hope for the best.

Old Li glanced once at Chen Tang’s side.

Chen Tang did not deliberately delay, but had already drunk the whole pot of tea, medicating with his eyes closed, appearing calm and composed, as if entirely unaware of the dangerous situation he was in.

This calm composure actually made him somewhat admired.

He was already over fifty, yet did not possess such steady composure in dire times.

He Shiyao suddenly chuckled and said, "Chen Tang, actually, there are two paths before you. Choosing the wrong one leads to an abyss."

Chen Tang, as if not hearing, continued meditating with closed eyes, while mobilizing his qi and blood, drawing out the potency of the medicinal tea to the fullest, in order to adjust his state.

He Shiyao intended to disrupt Chen Tang’s mental state, but Chen Tang completely ignored him, so to outsiders it seemed he was talking to himself.

If he continued, it would only add to his own embarrassment.

He Shiyao stopped speaking, waiting quietly for the duration of an incense stick.

At the riverside dock, the passing Jianghu travelers sensed the atmosphere on this side, seemingly aware that something was about to happen.

Some recognized He Shiyao’s identity and were secretly startled.

Ordinary people had already fled far away, fearing collateral damage.

Other patrons of the tea house had also left.

The large tea house, aside from Old Li and a few staff, was left only with Chen Tang and He Shiyao.

Suddenly!

The incense stick on the side burnt out, the red light extinguished, and the ash fell!

The moment had arrived.