Settling in the Valley, Building a Cultivation Place

After hearing the rustle of dry leaves, I immediately turned and stared into the depths of the mist. There was no second sound, the wind didn't stir, and the valley was as silent as a stone at the bottom of a pond.

I looked down at the crystal fragments at my feet, still clutched in my hand. They no longer glowed, only felt cold. I put the fragments into my sleeve and took three steps forward, crossing the line I had drawn with stones.

From this moment on, I was no longer just passing through.

I walked to the center of the clearing, took out the last spirit stone, and crouched down, pressing it into the earth. The moment my fingertips left it, the spirit stone flickered, as if responding to something. A faint warm current spread across the ground, and I could feel its range—within ten paces, the soil was soft, the grass roots neat, with no signs of being trampled.

This was where I would build my home.

The System chimed in at this moment: "Stable spiritual energy field detected. Dwelling core can be set."

I didn't speak, only nodded. I knew it couldn't see me, but the action made me feel a little more grounded.

I first walked around the clearing, surveying the surrounding terrain. To the left, down a slope, was a small stream with clear water. To the right was a rock face, with a few Ironwood Pines growing on it. Their trunks were blackened, clearly struck by lightning, but they hadn't died completely. I walked closer and touched one of them; the wood was hard, the cracks neat, suitable for making pillars.

I had no tools, so I could only use my hands to break off low-hanging branches. After a few attempts, my fingers were worn raw, and blood seeped out. I gritted my teeth and continued until I found a horizontal branch with a crack at its base. I picked up a sharp-edged stone and repeatedly struck the crack.

"Leverage the crack, follow the flow," the System suddenly prompted.

I stopped what I was doing, stared at the crack for two breaths, then changed my angle, wedged the stone in an inch, and suddenly pressed down. With a snap, the entire branch broke off and fell at my feet.

I took a breath and dragged the broken branch back to the clearing. Then I went to cut the second and third branches. Each time I cut, my right shoulder twinged with pain, but I didn't stop. The sky had darkened at some point, and the mist had thickened, but I could still see what I was doing.

Four main pillars were set up. I used the crystal shards to carve grooves at the top of each pillar, then placed the crossbeams on top. They were unstable when I tried to join them, wobbling several times. The System prompted: "Recommend using a 'three-layer tenon' structure to enhance stability."

I didn't understand and asked, "How do I join them?"

"Vertical interlocking, double-sided buckle," it replied.

I adjusted it twice according to its instructions, and finally, the crossbeams were firmly in place. The framework for the roof began to take shape. Next was the roofing.

I remembered the hide of the Qiu Niu that had died at the valley entrance. I had peeled it off and rolled it up at the time, carrying it on my back. When I took it out, the hide was thick, and some edges were dry and hard, but it was mostly intact. I used a sharp stone shard to cut it into two pieces, draped them over the roof, and then secured them tightly with vines.

After finishing this, it must have been completely dark. I didn't feel hungry, only tired. The wounds were still bleeding, so I tore off a piece of cloth and re-bandaged them. Then, I spread some dry grass in a corner of the house and lay down.

The first night passed just like that.

I woke up early the next morning. Not because it was light, but because it was cold. The mountain mist sank at night, and the dampness seeped into the house, making the grass mat damp. I sat up and found that the walls offered no protection; the wind blew in through the gaps.

I needed to build walls.

I walked out of the house and looked for some relatively flat stone slabs nearby. I carried six back and leaned them between the wooden pillars, forming three low walls. I left an opening on the south side, large enough for entry and exit, and also for ventilation. I filled the gaps between the stone slabs with mud and reinforced them with a few thin vines.

The roof needed another layer. I went back to the stream, cut some broad-leafed grass, and dried it in the sun for half a day. In the afternoon, I spread it over the animal hide. This time, the wind and rain would have a harder time leaking in.

By the third day, the house was basically complete. The corners were stable, the roof was sealed, and the walls could block the wind. I dug a shallow pit in the northern part of the house and placed the spirit stone inside. As it lit up, the entire house was bathed in a faint glow.

The System said: "Environmental compatibility reaches seventy percent. Basic meditation can be supported."

I didn't rush to use it, just stood at the doorway and looked around. The house was small; if I stood up straight, my head would almost touch the beams, but it was complete. The door could be opened and closed by inserting a thin board into grooves on either side. The window was a hole left in the wall, and outside, a piece of translucent mica was hung, allowing light to pass through.

I did a few other things.

Around the house, I buried a small piece of crystal shard every five paces. They didn't glow, but the System said they could sense movement. As soon as someone or some beast approached, I would know immediately.

I found four more flat stones and arranged them in a simple formation in front of the house. The System scanned them and prompted: "Possesses basic spirit gathering effect. Spiritual power can be slowly restored."

Everything was slowly settling down.

In the evening, I sat on a stone in front of the door eating. I didn't have much dry food left, but I found several types of edible wild vegetables and cooked a bowl of soup. After drinking it, I set the bowl aside and looked up at the sky.

The mist was still the same, unmoving, un-dispersed. I didn't know what the world outside the valley was like, but it was quiet here.

I reached out and touched the door frame. The wood was rough, but I had smoothed the edges myself. This door wouldn't close on its own; it had to be pushed by hand, but it could block the wind and rain.

I wasn't running anymore.

I was here.

I stood up and went inside, folding the last spare animal hide and placing it beside the grass mat. Then, I took out the incomplete cultivation technique rewarded by the System and placed it next to the spirit stone. Starting tomorrow, I would begin practicing.

But not yet.

There was still one more thing I needed to do.

I walked out of the house to the edge of the clearing and buried a broken horn I had picked up during the fight. It was from the Qiu Niu, and I had originally intended to throw it away, but I had kept it. Now, I used it as a marker and erected a stone tablet, with nothing carved on it.

After doing this, I returned to the front of the door and stood there for a long time.

The night wind blew, and a string of small stone bells I had hung under the eaves tinkled. The sound was very light, but it carried far in the silence.

I was about to raise my hand to close the door—

In the mist in the distance, a leaf began to float.