Emerging from Seclusion After Three Months, Heaven and Earth Begin to Take Shape

Bai Yi sank his consciousness into the Buddha Kingdom in the Palm.

This space was already completely different from how it had been three months ago.

A small piece of land floated in the void, covered with soil and stones brought in from outside, and planted with trees, flowers, and grass transplanted from the outskirts of Suotuo City.

Soft light maintained by the Light Generation technique shone in the sky, while slow currents of air created by the Wind Borrowing technique drifted through the atmosphere.

A shallow stream ran through the center of the land. The water had been brought in from outside, and under Bai Yi's control, it slowly flowed around the floating landmass.

Everything looked fairly convincing.

If one did not look closely, one might even think this was a real world.

The only incongruous thing was the enormous boulder at the very center of the land, atop which a dark-gold Titan Giant Ape lay curled up.

The giant ape sprawled across the top of the stone, limbs spread wide and belly facing upward, its mouth slightly open as it slept soundly.

Bai Yi's consciousness entered the space, his voice echoing throughout the entire world.

"Er Ming, you're slacking off again. Get up and get to work."

Er Ming jolted awake and flipped over, sitting up from the boulder.

Its golden eyes rolled around blankly before it finally made out its surroundings.

Its already wrinkled monkey face immediately scrunched up even further, its mouth pouting enough to hang an oil bottle from it.

Er Ming was suffering.

It recalled being taken into this pitch-black space by Bai Yi three months ago, thinking it had landed some nice job.

But starting from the very next day, Bai Yi had made it work.

Moving mountains, planting trees, digging up the ground, creating light.

Every dirty and exhausting task fell to it.

It was the mighty overlord of the Star Dou Great Forest. Back then, it could nap whenever it wanted and roar whenever it pleased. The entire core region had been its territory.

But now?

Now, it had to move stones, dig dirt, plant trees, and water them every day, working harder than an ordinary rat.

Er Ming raised its head and stared blankly at the sky illuminated by Light Generation, letting out a mournful whimper. "Wuu~"

Big Sister Xiao Wu, I miss you.

Big Brother, I miss you.

Where had that Titan Giant Ape that used to swagger through the Star Dou Great Forest gone? How had it become a laborer hauling bricks every day?

Seeing Er Ming's utterly lifeless expression, Bai Yi gave a light cough inwardly.

Clearing his throat, he said, "Er Ming, this is actually for your own good. It's training for you, tempering your will. Don't worry, I'll soon drag your big brother in to keep you company too. All of this is for our future as gods."

Er Ming had been rolling its eyes through the first half, but when it heard "drag your big brother in," its ears perked up. When it heard "our future as gods," its tail began wagging unconsciously.

Though its face was still full of reluctance, it jumped down from the boulder and walked on all fours toward the stream.

A pile of trees Bai Yi had brought in yesterday was still waiting there to be planted.

Bai Yi withdrew his consciousness from the Buddha Kingdom in the Palm.

He silently calculated that he wanted to transform this space into a normal world as soon as possible. Then he could go to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and bring its entire landscape inside.

But the current progress was still far too slow.

Looking at it this way, Er Ming would just have to suffer a little longer for now.

It was thick-skinned and tough anyway, and it was a spirit soul. It would not die from exhaustion.

At worst, when they went to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well later, he could pick a few more immortal herbs for it to nourish its body.

After consoling himself a few times, Bai Yi casually tossed several more clones into the space to help out.

He walked out of his room just as sunlight fell across the courtyard.

Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling were drinking tea at a stone table in the corner of the yard.

The moment Ning Rongrong saw Bai Yi emerge from seclusion, she immediately set down her teacup and hurried over.

With a hint of pride and smugness on her face, she lifted her chin and said, "Bai Yi, I've broken through to level forty-four. I've worked very hard during this time, okay? I haven't slacked off for even a single day."

After saying that, she stood there with sparkling eyes fixed on Bai Yi, her expression plainly saying, "Praise me, praise me, hurry up and praise me."

Bai Yi swept his gaze over her, somewhat surprised inwardly.

Four levels in three months—her cultivation speed was indeed genuine.

It seemed this girl really had not been slacking off.

His expression remained calm, but the corners of his lips curled up slightly. "Alright, then I'll give you a reward."

Ning Rongrong tilted her head. "What reward?"

Bai Yi did not answer.

He stepped forward, raised his hand, placed it atop Ning Rongrong's head, and gently rubbed it.

Then he bent down, opened his arms, and pulled her into an embrace.

Ning Rongrong's entire body stiffened.

She could feel Bai Yi's arms around her back, carrying a trace of warmth and a faint scent of grass and trees.

Her face instantly flushed bright red.

She remained stiff in his arms for about two breaths before suddenly breaking free and retreating two steps. Covering her cheeks with both hands, even her voice went shrill. "Y-you, you, you! What did you do to me?!"

Seeing her like this, Bai Yi smiled faintly. "A hug is the reward. What's wrong with that?"

Ning Rongrong pointed at his nose, wanting to curse him, but the blush on her face had spread from her ears all the way down her neck.

When she used to act arrogant, she had dared to say anything and strike any pose. Yet after Bai Yi hugged her once, she unexpectedly lost her nerve.

She stammered for a long while before finally stamping her foot hard. "Hmph! I'm ignoring you!"

She turned around and ran quickly back to her room, not even daring to look back.

Watching her figure disappear behind the door, Bai Yi lowered his head and glanced at his palm, then shook his head with a laugh.

Wasn't this girl usually pretty arrogant? So she was just all bark.

Ye Lingling sat beside the stone table, holding a teacup as she looked at Bai Yi with a faint smile in her eyes.

Bai Yi walked over to her. "We need to return to Heaven Dou City first. There's something there that I need."

Ye Lingling nodded. "When are we leaving?"

"Before we go, there's one more thing I need to ask of you."

He raised his right hand, and the golden pattern in his palm flashed.

"I need to bring you inside first as well. The plants in there need your care. Use your Nine Heart Begonia to make their vitality even more flourishing."

Without the slightest hesitation, Ye Lingling stood and walked over to Bai Yi.

Her martial soul had already been completely transformed by Bai Yi using the Great Immortal Art of Grand Quality. After later consuming the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, her Nine Heart Begonia had gained the power to restore all things to life.

There could be no one more suitable than her to transform the vegetation within the Buddha Kingdom in the Palm.

Bai Yi gently clenched his fist. A stream of light swept over Ye Lingling, and her figure instantly vanished from the spot.

Within the Buddha Kingdom in the Palm, Ye Lingling landed upon that stretch of land.

She looked around and saw the glow of Light Generation in the sky, the flowing stream in the distance, and the Titan Giant Ape carrying a tree toward this place.

When Er Ming saw Ye Lingling appear, its steps abruptly halted.

It was stunned at first, then a long-awaited look of joy appeared on its wrinkled monkey face.

Finally, someone had come to keep it company.