Jiang Yun rode the Evasion Light, traveling with the Three Xiao, speeding Northern Region.
Bixiao followed him with great interest, pointing to the mountains and rivers below the sea of clouds and asking all sorts of questions. Jiang Yun patiently answered them and occasionally told them some interesting stories from his early travels in the Primordial World, which made Bixiao giggle. Qiongxiao and Yunxiao listened with great interest.
Halfway through their journey, Jiang Yun suddenly descended from the clouds, pointed to a mountain range shrouded in Spirit Mist below, and said, "This place is called Pengxuan Grotto-Heaven. It was a separate residence I established during my travels in my early years. Now it has developed into a Spirit Land, and it happens to be on the way back to Spirit Bamboo Mountain. I'll take you inside to have a look."
Upon hearing this, Yunxiao's eyes flashed with curiosity. "Senior Brother's villa? I'd like to have a good look at it."
The four descended from the clouds and landed on a mountain peak on the outskirts of Pengxuan Grotto-Heaven.
Looking around, one can see that the Beyond Heaven is no longer the desolate and uninhabited place it once was. Instead, it is now crisscrossed with spiritual fields and lush with Spirit Plants. In the distance, several palaces stand in the Spirit Mist, and cultivators can be vaguely seen coming and going, presenting a prosperous scene.
"This Pengxuan Grotto-Heaven has actually developed to this extent?" Qiongxiao somewhat surprised.
She had assumed that since Jiang Yun was away for most of the year, this place should be deserted, but to her surprise, it was more prosperous than many powerful Dao Field.
Jiang Yun smiled slightly and explained, "When I left the Daoist Dao Field, Spirit Bamboo Valley, to go to Mount Sumeru to become a disciple, I came across this cave heaven when I arrived at this mountain. I think it was a reward from the Heavenly Dao for my diligent cultivation of the Earth Veins."
After I refined the grotto-heaven, all the creatures within it revered me. Later, I proposed a Spirit Land Construction plan to my teacher at Mount Sumeru. I thought that the creatures in this grotto-heaven were perfect for assisting me in managing the Spirit Land, allowing me to have no worries.
Therefore, I used this grotto-heaven as a talent reserve, training them in various Formations, Divine Abilities, and other skills needed for the Spirit Land Construction, as well as my construction philosophy.
I first established Office here. The Spirit Land Node Office structure that you have learned about was gradually developed through practice in this cave. I selected several people from the various races of beings in the cave to serve as Hall Master and manage it on their behalf.
In retrospect, they did a good job.
As they were talking, several streaks of Evasion Light rushed over from afar and landed in front of the four. The leader, a cultivator in Green-Robed, saw Jiang Yun and immediately bowed excitedly, saying, "Cave Master, you've finally returned!"
Jiang Yun glanced at him and laughed, "Huang Ya! You've actually broken through to the peak of the Golden Immortal Perfection. Not bad, not bad."
This Green-Robed cultivator was none other than Huang Ya, the Beyond Heaven appointed by him back then. At that time, his combat strength was the strongest among everyone, so he was asked to lead a group of Guard Team to establish a long-term stronghold Beyond Heaven, so that the creatures inside the cave heaven could go out to carry out the missions assigned by the Mission Hall, and at the same time, regularly sweep the area within a radius of 10,000 miles around the cave heaven to ensure the safety of the surrounding area.
Now, many years have passed, and his cultivation has greatly improved. His body is filled with abundant Aura of Merit, clearly indicating that he has achieved considerable mastery in the Merit Golden Body Method.
Behind Huang Ya were three others: Di Yong, who was in charge of the Web of Luo Diyong; Yuan Jin, who was in charge of the Mission Hall; and Heifeng, who was in charge of the Cave Heaven Enforcement Hall. All four were Cave Heaven beings that Jiang Yun had carefully cultivated back then, and now the lowest of them was at least Late Golden Immortal, making them figures of considerable stature in the Primordial World.
"Many years have passed since the Cave Master left, but we have not dared to slacken our efforts and have continued to develop the Cave Heaven according to your original plan," Yuan Jin said respectfully. "Now the core area of the Cave Heaven covers an area of three million li and can radiate to the surrounding area of tens of millions of li."
The Spirit Vein within the grotto-heaven have also been upgraded to Medium Spirit Vein. In another 30,000 to 50,000 years, they may be able to border Spirit Bamboo Mountain.
Jiang Yun nodded in satisfaction. "You did a great job."
Afterwards, he led the Three Xiaos and the four others into the cave.
Over the years, the cave has undergone tremendous changes.
The Grotto-Heaven World constantly Jieyin Starlight Spiritual Energy. Nourished by the starlight, the concentration of spiritual energy within the world has greatly increased. As the Spirit Vein grow, the Grotto-Heaven Great World itself also advances to a higher level, and the Root Foundation of the beings within the world are significantly improved.
The Pengxuan Daoist Temple, which he built next to the White Lotus Pond years ago, has become increasingly magnificent over the years thanks to the expansions by the Hall Master.
"Senior Brother, is this your temple? It looks really impressive. Its grandeur is no less than that of Zhenyuanzi Yuanzi's Wuzhuang Temple!" Bixiao said with envy as she looked at the temple.
"I like hearing that. I built it based on the model of Wuzhuang Temple. Later, my disciples expanded it, which is how it became what it is today."
With that, he took the lead and walked into the temple, gesturing for the others to follow.
Not long after entering the main hall, the Hall Master of the other halls also received the news and came to the temple.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Jiang Yun asked Three Xiaos others to wait aside while he took care of some matters.
After speaking with the other Hall Master, he paused for a moment, then said solemnly, "I am now the Chief Senior Disciple of the Western Teachings and in charge of the Engineering Institute. I am in need of capable people right now."
"You four have followed me for many years. Today, I formally accept you as my Registered Disciples, placing you under the tutelage of my Western Teachings. Are you willing?"
Upon hearing this, the eight were first taken aback, then overjoyed, and simultaneously bowed down. "Disciples greet Master!"
Jiang Yun raised her hand in a gesture of support and said with a smile, "Alright, everyone, get up!"
He then gestured to the Three Xiao beside him, saying, "These three are my fellow disciples, Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao. Please come forward and pay your respects!"
When Yunxiao and Qiongxiao saw that these Hall Masters were much more powerful than them and had suddenly become their junior disciples, they were still adjusting to their new roles and looked somewhat reserved.
On the contrary, Bixiao was born with a carefree and unpretentious nature. She was overjoyed to have so many junior disciples not long after becoming a disciple, and she was just waiting for them to come and pay their respects to her!
Upon hearing this, the eight people bowed in unison and said, "Disciples greet the three Martial Aunt, Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, Bixiao!"
After Yunxiao finished exchanging greetings, she quickly asked them to stand up. Qiongxiao maintained her posture, nodding with a smile, while Bixiao smiled with a radiant glow.
After they had finished bowing, Jiang Yun continued, "
Now that you have joined my sect, I will bestow upon you a protective treasure.
Come on, let me show you my most prized treasure— the White Lotus Pond!
After saying that, he led the group to the back Rear Courtyard of the temple.
In the vast Rear Courtyard, there was only a pond of about ten acres, filled with Bailian. The lotuses on the outermost edge were of the lowest grade, not even classified as grade, but they were the most numerous, all being Heavenly Crown plants. Further in, there were some Three-Rank Bailian, a considerable number of twenty-seven, followed by Six-Rank Bailian, nine in total. In the center, three Nine-Rank White Lotus grew in the Three Powers directions. The very center of the pond was empty, with only a section of root at the bottom.
Although Jiang Yun's newly accepted disciples were creatures from within the cave, the White Lotus Pond had been hidden from the world when the cave was unclaimed. Even after it appeared, Jiang Yun enclosed it again, and they had never had the chance to see it.
The Three Xiaos of them looked at the Bailian that exuded a pure and immaculate aura and fell in love with it at first sight. They stared at it longingly for a long time before finally shifting their gaze. But when they discovered that the entire pool of water was actually the Three Lights Divine Water, their expressions were so shocked that their mouths were practically agape!
Upon seeing this, Jiang Yun waved his sleeve, and eight pure white lotus flowers, each as if carved from white jade, flew out of the pond.
"This Bailian is the protective treasure I bestow upon you. Although it is only of the third grade, it is still of the innate Xiantian and is a rare Defensive Spirit Treasure. It can also protect your Primordial Spirit and resist Heart Demon. Use it well."
Huang Ya and the others took the Bailian and quickly refined it.
Bixiao, watching with envy, tugged at Jiang Yun's sleeve. "Senior Brother, do we get any?"
Jiang Yun chuckled, "You three girls certainly know how to take advantage."
He pointed, and three more Three-Rank Bailian flew out from the lotus pond deep within the cave, landing in the hands of the Three Xiao. Bixiao happily held them in her palms, immediately sat cross-legged, and began to refine them. Yunxiao and Qiongxiao also smiled and expressed their gratitude.