With that display of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea technique, the audience both on and off stage was momentarily stunned into silence. Only Shen Wancai, his face flushed crimson with excitement, leaped to his feet, trembling violently as he moved toward the stage. His lips quivered uncontrollably, his eyes fixed on the bowl of Huangshan Maofeng emitting a faint, ethereal white mist. After a long pause, he managed to whisper, "Such mastery of tea artistry truly belongs only in heaven; how rarely is it encountered on earth. Master, will drinking this tea grant eternal life?"

Although Shen Wancai saw that Ziyuan was not only beautiful but also young, he dared not dismiss her as a mere pretty face. He knew that only a grandmaster-level tea artisan could produce such a marvel. Thus, he addressed Ziyuan with utmost respect, calling her "Master" and showing no hint of disrespect.

Ziyuan smiled faintly, bowed slightly, and replied, "Eternal life is perhaps an exaggeration, but it can certainly harmonize the qi and soothe the spirit, aiding longevity."

A flicker of disappointment crossed Shen Wancai's eyes, but he quickly regained his fervor, respectfully inquiring, "May I taste a cup?"

Ziyuan elegantly extended an open palm, gesturing, "Be my guest."

The entire venue fell into profound quiet. Except for Li Yundong, Zhong Qingsong, and Lin Xueqing engaged in their magical contest, and Su Chan and Ruan Hongling using their zhenyuan to stabilize the tea table, everyone’s gaze was locked onto the stage, eagerly watching Shen Wancai—wishing they could drag the old man down and speak with the celestial fairy and taste her immortal tea themselves.

Shen Wancai's hands shook so badly he could barely hold the cup assigned to Zhang Guolao riding his donkey backward. As he lifted the cup, it swayed so violently in the air that much of the tea spilled out, eliciting silent grumbles from many in the audience.

Bringing the cup to his lips, Shen Wancai took a cautious sip, then threw his head back and downed the rest in one gulp. The moment the tea touched his throat, his entire body warmed, radiating heat and surging with power. But as the liquid settled in his stomach, this heat was interwoven with a soothing coolness and fragrance that refreshed the mind and invigorated the spirit.

Even Shen Wancai himself couldn't tell if the startling nature of Ziyuan’s earlier display had created a powerful psychological suggestion—that drinking this celestial tea would lead to transcendence—or if the Huangshan Maofeng truly possessed a purity and elegance unmatched in the world.

After finishing the cup, Shen Wancai was suddenly overwhelmed, tears streaming down his face. He remained on stage for quite some time before letting out a long sigh, choking out, "I have lived most of my life, traveled countless places, yet this is the first time I have witnessed such divine artistry, the first time I have tasted tea fit only for immortals. Only today do I feel my life has not been lived in vain."

Those in the audience unaware of Shen Wancai's stature thought the old man somewhat eccentric. However, the judges on stage and Zheng Youming below knew precisely the background and influence of this man.

This old man had started from nothing at sixteen, traveled across the entire country before he was twenty, moved south to Shenzhen in his thirties, where he earned his first fortune and never looked back, establishing a massive light industry conglomerate spanning the nation. At fifty, he relocated the headquarters to his hometown, Tiannan City, where he was warmly welcomed by the municipal government, effectively becoming the undisputed titan of Tiannan. His name was not only legendary in Tiannan's business circles but also highly resonant in other provinces.

Those familiar with Shen Wancai knew that this man had single-handedly forged a commercial empire with interests stretching across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Having weathered countless storms and experienced countless victories and defeats, his character had been forged as tough as iron, fostering a personality that was proud, self-assured, and stubbornly domineering. It was impossible for ordinary people to exchange even a few words with him, let alone receive such high praise.

Seeing his tearful reaction to the tea, Ziyuan smiled gently. "Joy injures the heart, grief injures the lungs. Old man, when drinking tea, you must maintain a calm and tranquil state of mind; otherwise, if your emotions are unbalanced, even the finest elixirs are useless."

Shen Wancai was usually addressed with honorifics like "CEO Shen" or "Old Master Shen." Never had a young person referred to him as an "old man." Watching from backstage, Shen You and Shen Hui gasped, thinking, It’s bad news; Dad is about to lose his temper. He hates being reminded of his age the most.

Yet, upon hearing Ziyuan call him an old man, Shen Wancai surprisingly showed no anger. Instead, he let out another long sigh. "Indeed, you are right. I suppose I drank that cup of tea in vain."

Finishing his thought, he turned his gaze back to Ziyuan, smiling ingratiatingly, "May I perhaps have another cup?"

Given Shen Wancai’s status—both a judge and a business magnate—his request caused the audience to internally curse him, and the judges on stage to feel resentment: If he drinks another, that's one less for us! Let us taste the flavor of this celestial tea too!

Unaware of their thoughts, Ziyuan smiled at Shen Wancai and replied, "Be my guest."

Shen Wancai was overjoyed, immediately picking up another cup as if it were a priceless treasure. This time, he did not gulp it down. Instead, he savored it slowly, nodding in appreciation, and began reciting poetry: "The people of Yue gifted me the tea of the Shan Stream; gathered as golden buds, brewed in a golden cauldron. White porcelain like snow, emitting a fragrant mist, how does it compare to the nectar of the Jade Dew drunk by the Immortals?"

Ziyuan smiled faintly beside him and responded, "The first sip washes away dullness, filling the world with clear thoughts; the second sip purifies the spirit, like refreshing rain dusting away light motes; the third sip achieves the Dao—why bother with the tiresome effort of dispelling worries?"

Shen Wancai was shocked and delighted that Ziyuan knew this extremely obscure poem about drinking tea. He laughed and, feigning a bit of petulance, said, "Since the third sip brings enlightenment, I am still one cup short."

This time, Ziyuan remained silent, but the audience erupted. "You old rascal, you have such a thick skin! Two cups weren't enough, and now you want a third? Shameless!"

"Exactly! Get off the stage!"

Shen Wancai wasn't angered. He grinned mischievously, cupped his hands, and waved to the judges on stage. "Why don't you all come and sample these cups too!"

At his invitation, the other judges dared to step down from their seats and gathered near the tea table to taste the remaining cups. Among them, those with some literary knowledge began reciting verses and nodding profoundly after tasting; those with less knowledge simply shouted their approval.

Zheng Youming, watching from below, felt his eyes burn with envy. He squeezed forward during the commotion on stage. Just as he reached out for the last cup, Shen Wancai suddenly spoke, "Manager Zheng, would you mind letting me have this cup?"

Zheng Youming’s outstretched hand froze mid-air. He looked up at Shen Wancai, forcing a stiff, dry smile onto his face.

Shen Wancai leaned in, tilted his head, and glanced sideways at him. "What? You are unwilling?"

Caught by Shen Wancai’s gaze, Zheng Youming shuddered, snatching his hand back as if electrocuted. He bowed, placating him with a smile, "Of course not, Old Master Shen wishes to drink tea; how could I dare contest?"

Shen Wancai chuckled darkly, then turned to the other judges. "Do any of you have objections?"

Though he phrased it as a question, none dared to utter a single dissent, shaking their heads instead. They quickly chimed in with flattery: "If we drink, we are but half-immortals after two sips. If Old Master Shen drinks three, he becomes a complete Immortal! It is better to have one full Immortal than another half-Immortal, so that we may all ascend together!"

Shen Wancai laughed heartily. "I am hardly an Immortal..." He pointed at Ziyuan and declared, "She is the Immortal!"

With that, he bowed to Ziyuan, raised the cup, and announced loudly to the audience below, "Since everyone insists I drink, then I shall."

The audience below laughed and cursed at the old man’s brazenness.

Ignoring their chatter, Shen Wancai threw his head back and drained the third cup completely. Those on stage noticed that his cup was clean as if washed, not a single drop remaining. Though their faces were smiling, a sense of loss filled their hearts.

Zheng Youming, especially, stared wistfully at the empty cup, thinking: As the organizer of this Tea Culture Arts Challenge, he couldn't even have a taste of the immortal tea. What kind of affair was this?

Seeing Shen Wancai finish, Ziyuan smiled gently. "Since the tea is finished, please deliver your verdict. Who is the first place winner?"

At her words, Zheng Youming jumped, frantically signaling Shen Wancai.

Shen Wancai acted as if he hadn't noticed. Having drunk the three cups, he regained his composure. He studied Ziyuan with interest and suddenly asked, "When I requested the third cup, why didn't you ask this question first? If you had, I surely would have named you first. Were you not afraid that now that I have finished, I might change my mind?"

Ziyuan smiled serenely. "Heaven's justice resides in the hearts of men! If you were to speak against your conscience now, this immortal tea would turn into ordinary water, and even if you had become an immortal, you would become a mortal. As the saying goes, the true person speaks no falsehoods; that is precisely the meaning."

Shen Wancai burst out laughing, clapping his hands loudly. "Well said! You are undeniably the first! If you do not win first place, I, Shen Wancai, will be the first to object!"

As he spoke, the other judges, who had been watching him intently, quickly followed suit: "Ziyuan should rightfully be first!"

Zheng Youming’s legs trembled, and his face turned ashen. The anger churning inside him was immense: Damn this old scoundrel, using my money and acting so generous! This is my competition, I'm paying the prize money, and in the end, I don't get a single sip of immortal tea, but I have to fork over two million? What kind of logic is this?

Zheng Youming was internally weeping, feeling this was the greatest tragedy in the world. But what made it even more tragic was... he still had to force a smile onto his face and loudly announce Ziyuan as the winner.

What kind of era was this? Where was the justice? Where was the law?

However, Zheng Youming was no simple man. The moment his face froze, he forcefully pulled a smile back onto it, adopting an expression of exhilarated joy and shared honor, announcing loudly, "Congratulations to Miss Ziyuan and her competing Huangshan Maofeng for winning first place in the competition!"

His performance made Su Chan and Ruan Hongling below marvel at the sheer thickness of this man's skin and the speed of his emotional transition—truly rare in the world.

The instant Zheng Youming proclaimed the result, the audience below erupted in earth-shattering cheers. Amidst this uproar, Li Yundong, Zhong Qingsong, and Lin Xueqing suddenly reached their climax.

Li Yundong, holding off two opponents, showed no sign of being at a disadvantage. In contrast, although Zhong Qingsong and Lin Xueqing were both at the Yang Shen Nascent Soul realm, their internal zhenyuan could not match Li Yundong’s Virgin Gold Core qi, and they were suppressed firmly by him.

Li Yundong fought them discreetly, yet remained keenly aware of everything around him. Hearing that Ziyuan had won first place instantly settled his mind. He had no desire to let the confrontation with these two escalate in front of so many onlookers, so he spoke up, "The battle on stage has concluded; must the contest below only end in death?"

Zhong Qingsong and Lin Xueqing were using all their strength to fend off Li Yundong's formidable zhenyuan, completely focused, not daring to glance aside or even shift their eyeballs. It was extremely difficult for them to speak, let alone move their eyes. Yet, they saw Li Yundong, fighting two opponents, still able to speak clearly in a steady voice. They were instantly horrified, their minds reeling: This Li Yundong looks barely twenty, why is his internal zhenyuan so vast? To be able to speak while fighting two opponents—even if he had cultivated since birth, he shouldn't have reached this level!

============================================== Starting tomorrow, three updates daily until the thirtieth, followed by a seven-day burst.