Happy Life Relies on Oneself

"You call this a cave abode?"

Li Ping'an stared at the massive cave in front of him, looking as if it had been punched out of the mountainside, then glanced up at the numerous cracks covering the mountain.

The cave abode was located on the western side of the mountain gate, halfway up an unremarkable small hill. There were no other Heavenly Immortals' residences on the mountain; it was a case of what you see is what you get, with a hundred percent natural greenery.

Inside the cave, a straw mat, two wooden tables, and three cushions were the only furniture.

"Master?"

"Hmm?"

"Are we living here from now on?"

Qingxu lowered her head and murmured a few times, as if contemplating a rather serious issue. After a moment, she turned to look at Li Ping'an and said earnestly, "Yes."

"It's fine," Li Ping'an chuckled. "I'll gradually expand this place later."

Qingxu pointed at the cave. "I'll seal this place with a barrier later... I see their cave abodes all have formations. I'll learn how to set them up too."

Li Ping'an quickly replied, "Master, you should focus on comprehending the Dao. I'll handle these mundane tasks. Master, why don't you open up an inner cave? You can cultivate in the inner cave, and I'll stay outside."

"Good."

Qingxu walked into the cave abode with her hands behind her back. In front of Li Ping'an, she clenched her right fist and pushed forward slightly.

BOOM!

The small mountain trembled violently, and flocks of birds flew out from the surrounding forests.

After the tremor, the cracks inside and outside the cave became even more apparent. Many immortal senses from within the sect probed towards their location.

Qingxu slowly pressed her slender right hand downwards, and the dust swirling inside the cave rapidly coalesced into a ball.

A brand new, spherical inner cave was thus carved out.

Li Ping'an's forehead was covered in dark lines.

So it really is a cave abode made by punching it out...

"Disciple, I'm going into closed-door cultivation. You can get used to the environment here first."

Qingxu levitated a cushion and walked into the newly created inner cave. She sat in meditation in the center of the inner cave and sealed the entire area with her immortal power.

Li Ping'an walked into his new home with a smile. A transparent immortal light rose from the cave entrance.

This was an immortal power barrier, which required the expenditure of immortal power to maintain. It was different from formations that operated autonomously using formation bases and was generally only used temporarily.

A new beginning, so a bit of hardship is normal.

Li Ping'an took out some furniture he had brought from the wooden building and simply decorated the outer cave.

This cave abode was indeed too rudimentary. The ground was also curved, making it impossible to place bookshelves and difficult to arrange furniture.

Li Ping'an fussed with it for a long time, leveling and hardening the ground, and then reshaping the walls into curved surfaces. Once everything looked presentable, he began to meditate.

His Master's personality was truly unique within the entire Myriad Cloud Sect.

While fleeing for thousands of miles outside the mountain gate, Li Ping'an had already noticed that Immortal Qingxu had no interest in anything other than cultivation, comprehending the Dao, and combat.

When she was at Colorful Cloud Peak before, she must have been taken care of by her senior and junior sisters.

Li Ping'an couldn't help but feel a little uneasy...

Could it be that I'll also be responsible for taking care of Master's daily needs?

Immortals usually go into closed-door cultivation for a very long time, don't they?

Will Master guide my cultivation? And how would she do that?

Li Ping'an suddenly realized that his Dao heart, which had been calm for three years, was now somewhat unsettled.

Cultivate, then.

He decided to cultivate for a while to calm his mind. He would create a courtyard near the cave abode and draw out the boundaries of the cave.

He wondered how large an area the cave abode assigned to Master by the sect would be.

The sect had just rewarded him with a residential compound, which he hadn't gone to the Affairs Hall to collect yet. If Master's cave abode area wasn't enough, he could use his own residential compound's share.

Within the barrier, Li Ping'an set up a small spirit gathering formation with some spirit stones, calmed his mind, and closed his eyes to cultivate.

Outside the barrier, two figures hid among the white clouds beyond the mountain.

Li Dazhi frowned as he watched the scene below, then turned to look at Wei Yanzi, who was yawning incessantly.

"What's up with the Ancestor Master?"

Wei Yanzi chuckled.

"I'll be departing for the coast of the Eastern Sea soon. Do you have any other instructions for me? While I'm still in the sect, I can run errands for you and get them done all at once."

"There's nothing else."

Li Dazhi clasped his hands behind his back and frowned.

"Immortal Qingxu doesn't know how to build a cave abode, and she hasn't even set up any formations. If someone with ill intentions were to attack, wouldn't it be easy to injure Ping'an, who hasn't even reached Foundation Establishment yet?"

"This..."

Wei Yanzi was in a difficult spot:

"Ancestor Master, this is a private matter between master and disciple. Qingxu is a Heavenly Immortal, and I hear she's not easy to get along with.

If we rashly intervene to help, it might displease Immortal Qingxu."

"What you say has merit."

Li Dazhi pondered for a moment, his eyes darting slightly. He had already made up his mind.

"Steward, come closer and listen."

"Yes, yes... Ancestor Master, you could just send me a telepathic message. We're both men, this touching and pulling... Just tell me what you want, I'm listening."

Thus, he spoke his plan.

Wei Yanzi quickly turned into a rainbow and flew away.

Li Dazhi took out a jade slip that recorded the sect's 'drinking buddies.' He searched carefully and then rode a cloud towards the peak where a Heavenly Immortal elder resided.

That elder was skilled in setting up mountain-protecting formations.

After two or three hours.

Li Ping'an found his Dao heart to be stable, so he ended his meditation.

He took off his long robe, put on a fine linen tunic and trousers, and stepped out of the barrier his Master had set up.

Li Ping'an wandered around the vicinity of his cave abode. Fearing he might disturb his Master's cultivation with any noise, he didn't use any spells. Instead, he took out a sharp magic artifact long saber and manually cleared the bushes and weeds near the cave abode.

On the white clouds outside the mountain, Li Dazhi and Wei Yanzi quietly poked their heads out.

"Steward, go ahead."

"Ancestor Master, rest assured," Wei Yanzi cupped his hands. "This humble Daoist will not fail the mission!"

Wei Yanzi used an escape technique and quietly departed.

He first went to a river valley within the sect's mountain gate. With a flick of his large sleeve, he scooped up a large amount of river water. Then, using his immortal power, he cast a Cloud Control technique, transforming the water into a mass of dark clouds that drifted towards Li Ping'an's cave abode.

Rumble...

After a series of weak thunderclaps, a localized area of the small mountain began to experience torrential rain.

Li Ping'an frowned and retreated into his cave abode, sniffing the air.

This rain... why did it smell like immortal techniques?

Suddenly, faint lights appeared in the rain. Two large beds, inlaid with gold and jade, complete with curtains and bedding, were enveloped in immortal light and landed steadily in front of the cave abode.

Li Ping'an was completely bewildered.

Following that, a mirror stand made from a thousand-year-old ordinary spirit root, a pair of wooden chairs with built-in spirit gathering and ventilation formations, several hollowed-out immortal spirit cabinets with intricate carvings, and a bonsai made from a three-hundred-year-old Dao-comprehending tea tree...

More than ten pieces of valuable furniture, wrapped in immortal light, slowly descended from the sky, forming two columns in front of the cave abode.

The rain immediately stopped.

Li Ping'an couldn't help but raise his hand to his forehead, utterly confused as to what his father was doing.

If he wanted to send furniture, why not just send it directly? Why not show himself?

Just then, with a flash of immortal light beside Li Ping'an, Qingxu stood with her hands behind her back at the cave entrance, appraising the furniture outside, a hint of admiration in her eyes.

Li Ping'an was about to explain, "Master, this should be..."

When he heard Qingxu murmur, "So what my junior sisters said was true, the things they eat and use just fall from the sky."

Master, why don't you use your immortal sense to check that dark cloud that hasn't drifted away yet!

That's either Steward Wei Yanzi or Steward Wang Xinhui!

"Disciple, bring it in."

Qingxu turned and looked at the cave abode, finding that the one she had created with two punches was still too small. She clenched her delicate fist again.

"Master! No need!"

Li Ping'an quickly stepped forward:

"Master, give me half a day, and I'll build a cave abode! If you punch again, the mountain itself will shatter!"

Qingxu frowned, "But you're too weak."

Li Ping'an: ...

She also realized her words were inappropriate and explained, "I mean, your magic power is too low, doing these things will be very troublesome."

"It's fine!"

Li Ping'an reached into his sleeve and pulled out a spear and a sword.

The spear was entirely silver-white, with a lifelike azure dragon coiled around its shaft, emitting strong fluctuations of immortal power.

The sword was gleaming white, and it was also a divine artifact capable of slicing through iron like mud.

"This disciple will use magic treasures to cut!"

Qingxu tilted her head slightly, turned, and sat down on the exquisitely carved chair. She crossed her legs, propped her chin with one hand, and waited for Li Ping'an to show his might.

Li Ping'an searched through his storage artifacts for a formation, taking out a yellowed blueprint.

He had designed a few cave abodes in his spare time, and now he could use one directly.

He decided to act immediately and started working.

Li Ping'an took a pill to restore his magic power in advance. His spiritual sense probed the gaps in the mountain body, sensing its load-bearing structure. He marked various points, preparing to expand outward from the existing cave abode structure.

Then, holding a sword in his left hand and a spear in his right, he began to work diligently.

These two immortal treasures were obtained by Li Dazhi for his son's self-defense. They had gone out with Li Ping'an but had no opportunity to display their power in combat. Upon returning to the mountain, they became construction tools...

Fortunately, these two immortal treasures had no sentience.

Qingxu watched her disciple busy at work, her eyes gradually closing.

She had previously participated in the treasure hunt at the ancient ruins of the Eastern Sea. After several days of fighting, she had been severely injured, fled, entered closed-door cultivation, and broken through. She hadn't had a good rest, and her primordial spirit was already extremely fatigued.

Li Ping'an's movements became increasingly swift, constantly moving large stones out of the mountain body. Several supporting stone pillars quickly took shape.

As night fell, the cave abode Li Ping'an had envisioned began to take its initial form.

Qingxu curled up her legs, her tall body shrinking in the chair, and gradually fell asleep.

—Before the Golden Immortal realm, the best way for a Qi cultivator to replenish their spirit was to get a good night's sleep, followed by meditation that wasn't related to cultivation insights.

Li Ping'an moved a screen to block the noise from the construction site in front of his Master.

Then, he devoted himself entirely to the construction of the cave abode, repeating the process of cutting stones, shaping stones, moving stones, and polishing stones.

The night passed quietly like this.

When a ray of dawn fell on the thin eyelids of Immortal Qingxu, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she opened her eyes to look forward.

Li Ping'an was standing on his sword sheath, hovering half a zhang off the ground, squatting in front of a pair of vermilion doors, carefully drawing the rivets on them.

"Hmm?"

Qingxu was stunned for a moment.

Her immortal sense was powerful. With just a glance, she saw the entire structure of the cave abode.

These two doors and the stone wall into which they were set were all extensions of the cave abode outward, perfectly integrated with the entire mountain body.

The stone material used to form this part of the structure was those square blocks Li Ping'an had moved out; these blocks had been fused together, achieving a natural, seamless effect.

"Master, you're awake?"

Li Ping'an jumped down from the sword sheath and said with a smile, "The main body of the cave abode is done. I'll fill in the details slowly later. Do you want to go in and take a look?"

Qingxu frowned and asked, "Did you do this?"

"Although your disciple is only in the Light Condensation Realm, I can still excavate mountains and move stones. Please tell me if there's anything you need corrected, and I'll change it immediately."

Qingxu pursed her lips, frowned, and her figure flashed behind Li Ping'an. She gently pushed open the large door.

Behind the door was a long, empty space. The ground was paved with neat bluestones, and a small path made of light white jade stones was laid out in the center.

Following the jade stone path forward, there was a narrow lotus pond, with two wooden bridges leading to the main hall of the cave abode on either side.

The main hall was six zhang wide, with wooden false walls on both sides providing concealment.

Dozens of precious pearls were embedded in the ceiling, three zhang above the ground. The soft, glowing light emitted by the pearls filled the front half of the cave abode.

Exploring further back from the main hall, there was a clear pool in the center that had not yet been filled with water. The bottom of the pool was already covered with a layer of crushed waste spirit stones.

To the left of the clear pool was the lecture hall, and to the right was the training hall. Further inside was the main attraction.

—Li Ping'an had almost hollowed out the interior of the small mountain to create a large bedroom for his Master.

In the center of the bedroom was a spring eye emitting misty spiritual energy. All the furnishings were arranged around this spiritual spring. Most of the furniture Li Dazhi had sent yesterday had been placed here.

Seven or eight skylights were left above the bedroom, making it bright during the day and allowing for stargazing at night. Li Ping'an planned to move a few insect-repelling spirit trees over later, and then make a hanging basket by the spring for his Master, as well as some wardrobes and bookshelves...

For his Master, no amount of effort was too much.

"Did you do all this?"

Qingxu asked again, seemingly displeased.

"Uh," Li Ping'an felt a little uneasy, "Of course, this is a small, insignificant achievement made under Master's guidance."

"Amazing."

Qingxu praised softly, then frowned and pursed her lips, murmuring:

"I... I'm not good at doing these things."

"Master, you just need to teach me cultivation!"

Li Ping'an breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "I enjoy doing these miscellaneous tasks."

"Mm," Qingxu nodded gently, pointing to the spring eye, "I'm going to take a bath and change. You go wait in that room for enlightenment and cultivation. I'll preach the Dao for you later."

Li Ping'an was overjoyed: "Your disciple obeys!"

Half an hour later.

Qingxu, with her wet long hair and wearing a loose long dress, walked barefoot. She sat down in front of the character 'Dao'.

Li Ping'an had adjusted his condition to its peak. His eyes were clear, his spiritual sense transparent, and he quietly awaited his Master's lecture.

Qingxu pinched her chin, trying hard to recall how her own Master had guided her cultivation. Soon, she felt confident.

She declared with full assurance:

"For this first lecture, I will explain all my insights from the beginning of my cultivation journey until now, from shallow to deep. Understand as much as you can, and remember, do not force yourself.

"Note down what you don't understand, and we will start with a detailed explanation of those points."

She's not going to teach me an internal sect cultivation technique?

Li Ping'an was momentarily stunned, then filled with emotion.

This must be the benefit of taking a Master.

Qingxu's thin lips parted slightly: "Where does the cloud come from? Heaven and Earth were created, separating the pure and the turbid..."

Six hours later.

Qingxu strolled barefoot around the cave abode, humming a soft melody.

Li Ping'an sat in meditation before the character 'Dao', enveloped by the Heavenly Immortal energy Qingxu had sprinkled around him.

Qingxu's generous sharing and detailed explanations had benefited Li Ping'an greatly, directly elevating his understanding of the "Myriad Cloud Technique" by two levels.

Insights surged within him, and he was breaking through minor realms in succession.

A soft rumble echoed from outside the cave entrance.

Immortal light flickered around Qingxu as she appeared at the cave's mouth, tilting her head to look at the middle-aged Daoist who had tumbled headfirst onto the ground outside.

It was Wei Yanzi, the Outer Sect Deacon.

"Ouch!"

Wei Yanzi got up, clutching his forehead, and grumbled:

"How did I crash into a cloud! Hey! Watch where you're flying! Why are you flying so fast within the sect! Immortal Qingxu, did I disturb you?"

Qingxu shook her head. "No..."

"Ah, I truly deserve to die!"

Wei Yanzi slapped his forehead in annoyance:

"Disturbing a Heavenly Immortal's cultivation might cause them to miss an insight into eternal life! I truly don't know how to compensate you, fellow Daoist! Ah, yes, I have a diagram for a mountain-protecting formation here, consider it a replacement for you! Here are also two boxes of treasures for setting up the formation, consider them my apology gifts!

"Please don't be offended, fellow Daoist! I shall take my leave now, farewell!"

Wei Yanzi turned and fled, soaring into the sky on his cloud.

Qingxu looked at the boxes and formation diagram placed before her, falling into thought.

Her junior sister Qingxu's reminder echoed in her ears once more:

'Senior Sister Qingxu, you only focus on cultivation, which works fine for you on Colorful Cloud Peak. But once you go out, you need to learn how to deal with people. Never let your guard down. Everyone likes to take advantage of others; few people are truly selfless.'

At this moment, Immortal Qingxu had a slight objection to her junior sister's advice.

Spiritual energy fluctuations appeared once more within the cave abode. Li Ping'an had broken through another minor realm.