Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Celestial Light Cloud River, Mountains and Rivers Become Leaves
"Is this Bitter Spirit Gourd really troublesome."
On the fourth morning, Li Ye murmured curiously to himself.
He seemed not to feel anything troublesome about it, didn’t even mention needing to adjust any Spiritual Qi.
After it quickly matured, it hardly changed at all.
He was worried for nothing, even had the Beaver keep an eye on it during sleepless nights, and extended a branch of the Spirit Vein Willow here.
But after a few days, there was nothing to worry about at all.
"If that’s the case, I can leave with peace of mind."
Li Ye took out a Jade Scroll and waved it lightly in front of him, from which emerged the virtual image of Su Ya: "Taoist Friend Li, meet at the marketplace dock in two days."
Honestly, he was a bit reluctant to leave his home like this.
But cultivation indeed shouldn’t just be staying at home, going out appropriately is also beneficial.
Moreover, he truly didn’t understand why Spring Wheat was distributed to mortals, he heard that this task with Spring Wheat even allowed some regular farming cultivators to earn plenty of Spirit Stones.
The Four Seasons Sect spent so many Spirit Stones, and then gifted them to mortals, which was quite puzzling.
But this mystery was about to be solved.
He walked up to the Love Life and Death Beans, reached out, and plucked the last two Red Beans: "This time when leaving, I’m counting on you to look after the place."
"The Beaver may be smart, but it still has the mind of a child."
"I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but I’ll have to trouble you."
— Over the past few days, he had already prepared everything at home; he estimated it would take at least half a month away. If things weren’t arranged, it would become a mess upon his return.
The surface of the Love Life and Death Beans flowed with a deep red brilliance, falling softly, making the Red Bean mark on Li Ye’s wrist feel a surge of warmth, accompanied by fluctuating emotions.
It said nothing, only conveying its emotions to Li Ye.
It was the ripples of yearning, stirred by Li Ye’s imminent departure, conveying its concern and unease to Li Ye, allowing him to experience this extremely uncomfortable feeling.
This was the cost brought by the powerful force of the Love Life and Death Beans.
Li Ye sighed gently and turned to leave.
As the courtyard gate closed with a creak, the powerful Array belonging to the Four Seasons Sect isolated the entire courtyard almost completely from the outside world.
The Beavers looked up silently at the distance, even the Golden Red Dragon Carp paused its movement.
It seemed that in that moment, the Spirit Beasts and Spirit Plants in the small courtyard all fell into a stillness.
The courtyard returned to tranquility.
...
Dock.
When Li Ye arrived here, Su Ya had already been waiting for quite some time.
At this moment, he was already dressed in a neatly arranged blue Taoist Robe, having groomed himself again, appearing extraordinarily ethereal and handsome.
Upon seeing Li Ye arrive, he took out a Taoist Robe and urged, "Quickly go into the ship cabin and change, the Cloud Boat is about to set off."
Li Ye glanced at the Taoist Robe in his hand: "This is the Four Seasons Sect cultivator’s Taoist Robe, Taoist friend..."
"Ah!" Su Ya waved his hand: "When distributing wheat, remember to call me Senior Brother. Even the Uncle Master has imparted teachings to you, these trivial matters are irrelevant.
Quickly, go!"
Seeing his unyielding stance, Li Ye simply entered the Cloud Boat, casually finding a cabin to change into the Taoist Robe.
Once he put it on, the surrounding breeze seemed to become refreshing.
A Jade Pendant engraved with his name appeared at the waistband of the Taoist Robe unbeknownst to him.
After flickering for a moment, it swayed with his steps. Although the Spiritual Light receded, it retained the lustrous sheen of white jade.
Having been used to dressing casually, Li Ye found wearing the Taoist Robe somewhat unfamiliar.
But it must be said that wearing the Taoist Robe indeed enhanced his aura, transforming him entirely.
He stepped to the deck; by then, the Cloud Boat had begun its journey.
On both sides were rolling clouds and light-like flowing water, lifting the Cloud Boat gradually upward.
In the distance, countless clouds could be seen cascading down from the Heavenly Dome, much like ascending a waterfall from below.
The view was exceedingly magnificent, with the celestial light and clouds spreading over the Cloud Boat, flowing through his fingertips and side, bringing strands of coolness.
He couldn’t help but extend his hand, attempting to grasp a handful of clouds, but they merely scattered and vanished quickly without a trace.
"This scenery is truly beautiful."
For some reason, at that moment, he suddenly longed to take his Spirit Beasts out to behold such scenes.
The cultivation realm was so vast; it was good having a home of his own.
It seems I need to save some Spirit Stones to buy something like a Spirit Beast Ring for extended carrying.
With such thoughts, he continued to gaze into the distance.
The location of Huiya’s marketplace dock was at a tributary of the Cloud Light Celestial River, flowing through the entire Eastern Domain.
This so-called Cloud Light Celestial River flowed from the Heavenly Dome, linked with various marketplaces and forces through tributaries.
Previously, he only heard of it, considering that passing through the Cloud Light Celestial River to various places required some fees.
This fee was the "feed money" for the Heavenly River White Dolphins raised by the Four Seasons Sect, living within the Cloud Light Celestial River.
— At this moment, near the Cloud Boat, one could see, faintly visible, completely translucent Heavenly River White Dolphins, seemingly forged from radiance, assisting the Cloud Boat upwards, soon entering the stable upper Celestial River.
Looking into the distance, clouds, and celestial light surged endlessly in every direction, vast and boundless.
This Cloud Boat, even of considerable size, seemed as small as a leaf within the Celestial River.
"How is it?" Su Ya approached him, "This Taoist Robe is woven from the silk of the Qingsui Silkworm; it is warm in winter and cool in summer, resistant to water and fire."
"Wearing it is truly comfortable... huh, didn’t Senior Teng say a few days ago that the Silkworms and Mulberry Trees would be delivered soon, yet it’s been six or seven days, and there’s no sign of them?" Li Ye wondered.
"Oh, various complex tasks," Su Ya shook his head, "I’d better first explain this task of delivering wheat to you."
His expression turned a bit solemn:
"Remember not to put on airs as a cultivator once you reach the mortal territories. Each mortal town marked by our sect is protected by the Divine Power of the Temple of All Gods.
These generations of mortals might be our future Junior Brothers and Sisters; we, having cultivated from mortal origins, naturally should not look down upon mortals."
Li Ye promptly nodded solemnly: "What Senior Brother says is correct, Junior Brother will remember."
Su Ya smiled, "That’s right, and as for why we’re delivering wheat.
It’s also meant to assist mortals in shedding a bit of their mortal roots. Long-term consumption of such Spiritual Qi and vitality-enriched wheat will naturally endow their future offspring with a bit of talent."
"This initiative is presided over by a senior ancestor, who delineated the realm of the Temple of All Gods and designated various Mountain and River Grotto Heavens for the mortals to reside in."
Pausing here, he pointed to the distance:
"Look there!"
Li Ye quickly looked in the direction he pointed, only to see in the celestial light and clouds some sudden appearances of green foliage.
Within each leaf were clear views of mortal towns and landscapes.
Through a panel, he could observe the conditions of those leaves —
[Name]: Mountain and River Void Leaf · Immortal God Decree
[Status]: Normal
[Mood]: None
Although visible, they were pitifully few, and there wasn’t enough time to observe further.
For the Cloud Boat began to slowly accelerate.
As the surrounding light flowing from the Cloud Boat gradually shrank, directly rushing toward a certain leaf, Su Ya’s voice still lingered in Li Ye’s ear:
"Look, this is the Immortal and Mortal Barrier demarcated by that senior in the Eastern Domain, utilizing the branches of the sect’s treasured Jianmu.
In the eyes of mortals, we cultivators reside within the Grotto Heaven Blessed Lands."
In the end, the voice became quite vague.
For the Cloud Boat had already turned into a radiant streak, crashing into a green leaf.