Newcomers Enter the Valley

This research set Jiang Yun's heart racing. He could hardly wait to start refining pills.

The problem was, he did not even have a furnace. The pill room only had an iron pot.

Jiang Yun could not—at the very least, should not—refine pills in an iron pot.

He studied the formulas for these Golden Cores, memorizing each spiritual herb they contained so he could keep an eye out for these extraordinary medicinal treasures in the future.

As Jiang Yun immersed himself in studying the formulas, he heard Jiang Shuanglan return.

When he walked out of the pill room, he saw a trace of worry on Jiang Shuanglan's delicate face. It seemed things had not gone well.

Jiang Yun asked what had happened.

It turned out Jiang Shuanglan had gone to seek justice and wanted the Heavenly Cave's enforcement department to deal with those people.

But Chen Yu and Chen Feng had left no evidence behind and had instead presented themselves as the righteous party.

The Heavenly Cave could not punish them and only penalized the other two disciples, fining each of them two bottles of Hundred-Grass Liquid.

If not for Jiang Shuanglan's status as a member of the Jiang Family, those two disciples likely would not have been punished at all.

"Brother Yun, what if Xia Weier gets bullied and targeted again? She's so kind that she doesn't know how to fight back. She's afraid of causing me trouble. I brought her to the Heavenly Cave, but instead I've harmed her by making her face this kind of danger."

Jiang Shuanglan cared deeply about Xia Weier, her childhood friend. It was more like the affection an older sister had for a younger one.

This younger sister was far too kind and timid, which had always pained Jiang Shuanglan. The cruel world of cultivation was difficult for Xia Weier to adapt to.

"If you're worried, you can bring her here. This whole valley belongs to us now. It would be good to have her help us reclaim some medicinal fields. If the harvest is good, we can give her a share of the Hundred-Grass Liquid."

Jiang Yun offered a solution to Jiang Shuanglan's concerns. An Immortal Seedling held a high status.

He had some holdings within the Heavenly Cave now. Having a disciple help tend them was something the Heavenly Cave encouraged.

Jiang Shuanglan's eyes lit up when she heard that. She truly had not considered this before, and she felt a little ashamed.

After becoming Dao companions, neither of them had bothered with such trivial matters and had focused only on cultivation.

These were matters she should have managed in the first place. She silently resolved to learn some experience in this area.

If her cultivation talent was lacking, then she would manage these matters well and become Jiang Yun's capable wife.

"Alright, I'll go find Wei'er tomorrow and bring her over. The valley is so large; we can build another small courtyard outside."

Jiang Shuanglan held Jiang Yun's arm as she spoke excitedly, growing more and more eager for their future life.

Early the next morning, Jiang Shuanglan set out. Bringing Xia Weier over was simple, but the proper procedures within the Heavenly Cave still had to be followed.

Xia Weier had previously held a post in Medicine Valley, planting spiritual herbs. She first had to resign from her position there.

Then she would be registered under their name, so the Heavenly Cave would not assign Xia Weier any other duties.

By afternoon, Jiang Shuanglan returned with Xia Weier, and she had also brought along a little tagalong, Dingdang.

Jiang Yun had no objections. An Immortal Seedling could register ten people under their name, and he had made no arrangements for those slots.

He had a good connection with Little Dingdang, and bringing her along would let her help Xia Weier.

Jiang Yun was already quite familiar with Little Dingdang, so he turned a slightly scrutinizing gaze toward Xia Weier.

Xia Weier stood quietly beneath the peach blossom tree. She looked somewhat restrained and uneasy, yet she still tried to hold her head high and accept Jiang Yun's scrutiny.

The eyes were the windows to the soul. Xia Weier's autumn-water eyes were incomparably pure, with a faint mist gathering within them. Her long lashes fluttered, making her seem vulnerable and easy to bully.

Her delicate nose was high and refined, her red lips crystal-clear and moist. Her girlish body was like a jade willow, slender and tender. Her glossy black hair was so lustrous it seemed to reflect light, falling naturally to her waist.

She was undoubtedly a beauty no less lovely than Jiang Shuanglan, carrying a hint of innocent charm while also evoking an orchid blooming in an empty valley.

"Don't scare Wei'er. She's rather timid. Dingdang wanted to come along too, so she can help Wei'er out."

Seeing Jiang Yun's seemingly stern expression, Jiang Shuanglan hurriedly spoke.

"That's right, Brother Jiang Yun. Sister Wei'er is even more timid than Dingdang. You'll scare her."

Little Dingdang said it in an innocent tone.

"It's nothing. I never paid much attention to Wei'er before. From now on, you're part of our side, so shouldn't I get to know you properly?"

Jiang Yun replied somewhat awkwardly. He had not expected Xia Weier to appear so fragile.

"It's alright, I'm not timid. I'm just a little... a little nervous. Yes, nervous."

Xia Weier's gentle voice rang out, seemingly trembling. It was clear she had mustered a great deal of courage.

"Don't be afraid. It's not as if I eat people. Sorry for the trouble, but you'll both have to help manage the medicinal fields from now on." Jiang Yun made a small joke.

"Mhm, mhm. I'll definitely work hard."

Knowing Jiang Yun had agreed, Xia Weier's tense expression eased, and she cautiously lowered her head again.

"Dingdang may be little, but Dingdang is also very good at growing medicinal herbs."

Little Dingdang raised her head and looked at Jiang Yun as she spoke seriously.

"Yes, yes, Little Dingdang is the best." Jiang Yun readily agreed with her.

The group chatted for a while longer and discussed the arrangements ahead.

Once they began talking about planting spiritual herbs, Xia Weier became more talkative and offered many constructive suggestions.

That night, Jiang Yun personally cooked a table full of delicious dishes to entertain the two girls. Little Dingdang ate until her mouth was slick with oil.

Xia Weier returned to her timid, bashful manner. She only dared to pick at the dishes in front of her bit by bit, taking tiny bites without making a sound.

Some people needed an entire lifetime to heal from their childhoods.

Xia Weier was one of them. Her parents had died when she was five or six. Though she had guarded a small house, many neighbors coveted it, and she had nearly become a beggar.

If an old servant of the Jiang Family had not seen her and taken her in as an adopted daughter, there might not have been a Xia Weier today.

Jiang Yun first arranged for the two girls to stay in Ye Fan's former room. After some time, he planned to build several new houses.

Their courtyard was over three hundred square meters and quite spacious. When the time came, they could simply build them inside the courtyard.

Over the following days, Jiang Yun and Xia Weier discussed the development and planning of the medicinal fields in the valley on site.

They also bought some tools within the Heavenly Cave, and Jiang Yun gradually became more familiar with Xia Weier.

The herbs planted in the Heavenly Cave's medicinal fields were primarily used to make Hundred-Grass Liquid.

The main ingredient of Hundred-Grass Liquid was a spiritual herb, while the other supplementary ingredients were ordinary, younger ginseng, Solomon's seal, Fo-Ti Root, and the like.

These ordinary medicinal herbs, when grown in places rich in spiritual essence, could become spiritual herbs after a hundred years if they did not wither.

However, the cultivation cycle was too long. Unless one had a Blessed Land suited for growing spiritual herbs, which could accelerate their growth.

For example, their Jade Cauldron Paradise possessed the Jade Cauldron Blessed Land, where large quantities of spiritual herbs were grown to support the cultivation of the elders and disciples of Jade Cauldron Paradise.

Some were also planted in medicinal fields outside, but their potency and cultivation speed were far inferior to those of the Jade Cauldron Blessed Land.

Jiang Yun finally understood. No wonder the patriarch lived on the outskirts of the Jade Cauldron Blessed Land; he was likely guarding the spiritual herbs. That was the foundation of Jade Cauldron Paradise.

Since they were going to reclaim medicinal fields and plant spiritual herbs, seeds were naturally indispensable. Although the Heavenly Cave sold them as well, its selection was not comprehensive.