"This seclusion came far too suddenly. This poor Daoist's preparations were still insufficient."
"Next time, I must be more cautious."
Ren Qing sank his mind into the Imperial Court Scroll. The scene within the Small Grotto-Heaven had already become vastly different. Though its area had not noticeably increased, every corner brimmed with life.
Half a setting sun hung upon the horizon, its afterglow dyeing the clouds gold and crimson.
The vegetation on the island swayed in the evening breeze. One could even see dew refracting the light; the flourishing and withering of every branch and leaf differed from the next.
The Mouse Children darted through the Small Grotto-Heaven, digging out crisscrossing chambers.
Having followed Ren Qing into the True Immortal realm, they had finally washed away the title of weakest Yin Immortals. Of course, they were now the weakest True Immortals instead. Individually, they were even weaker than some Yin Immortals, but they won through sheer numbers.
Ren Qing could sense that the distinction between Yin Immortals and True Immortals lay in body and soul becoming a unified whole.
Immortal Talismans covered the body and soul, inside and out, without the slightest flaw visible.
"The Small Grotto-Heaven should be close to becoming fully real."
Ren Qing nodded to himself. "Once this poor Daoist advances to Profound Immortal, perhaps the Imperial Court Scroll can become a true small world."
"It can house the Mouse Children for now, but if ordinary people lived here for too long, their intelligence would likely gradually decline."
With a thought from him, the Imperial Court Scroll suspended above Primordial Beginning Temple unfurled.
House mice, field mice, bats, otters, and hedgehogs leaped from the scroll one after another. Upon landing, they lined up in orderly ranks and gathered before the main hall.
Ren Qing withdrew his gaze