Settling in

The top floor of the three-story building had no walls enclosing it. It stood empty, with only a Spirit Gathering Formation carved into the floor.

Presumably, this had once been where that member of the Scale Feather Clan lived. Dragonflame Daoist had thrown out all the furnishings, leaving Jiang Yan to supply his own.

After some thought, Jiang Yan took out a meditation cushion and tossed it onto the floor.

He sat cross-legged and began reviewing everything he had seen and heard that day.

He had thought taking Blowing Fire High Person as his master would merely give him some confidence to fall back on. Who could have imagined that today's experiences would show he had found himself a mighty backer?

The master-disciple relationship between Jiang Yan and Blowing Fire High Person was far beyond anything between a Dao Academy instructor and a student.

Presumably, this was how the truly talented disciples at the Prefecture Academy lived.

Only those without enough talent had to struggle bitterly to scrape by all day.

No wonder Jiang Yan had never heard of any prominent figures among the Prefecture Academy's disciples in the half year since he arrived.

Presumably, the disciples in town lacked the experience and might not even know about them.

Now that he had roots and a backer, he needed to keep working hard at his cultivation.

Desire Corpse Daoist probably would not dare harbor designs on him again, but he still had to remain on guard, lest the man leap over the wall like a cornered dog.

As for asking Dragonflame Daoist to help?

Since Dragonflame Daoist had not offered, he presumably had his own thoughts on the matter.

Perhaps, in his eyes, Desire Corpse Daoist counted as nothing more than a trial to temper Jiang Yan. Better not to ask rashly.

As for his cousin Jiang Yunyao, he could simply have Muling Daoist Boy make a trip back when there was time.

And his family-now that he had taken a master and finally settled securely into the Prefecture Academy, he needed to send a letter home too...

Having made plans for everything, Jiang Yan took out the booklet Dragonflame Daoist had given him and began reading.

The booklet was thin, only a handful of pages, recording the various spiritual objects found within the Fire Vein.

Presumably, it was meant for Jiang Yan to memorize in advance, so he would know what he was looking at if he encountered them.

He did not use the Stone Book. With ordinary text like this, a single reading was enough for Jiang Yan to commit it firmly to memory.

Putting away the booklet, Jiang Yan began cultivating with the Guiding Method.

The Blowing Fire Daoist Arena truly lived up to having been built by a Sixth Grade High Person. Its concentration of Spiritual Qi was the highest Jiang Yan had ever encountered. Excited, he circulated his cultivation method at full strength.

Downstairs, Muling Daoist Boy had also received the Lishi and Celestial Maidens assigned to Jiang Yan.

There were no steps leading up Jiang Yan's mountain, so the cultivator delivering them had brought them aboard a Spirit Boat.

He was probably an old Daoist Attendant. His cultivation was at the upper ninth-rank realm, his hair was already graying, and his face showed his age.

With the hundred and fifty years of life his ninth-rank Daoist Attendant realm should grant him, this old Daoist Attendant had to be at least around a hundred and twenty to look like that.

Facing Muling, a young man likewise in the ninth grade realm, he was all smiles, even somewhat obsequious.

As they spoke, he occasionally asked after Jiang Yan, the mountain's new master.

Naturally, Muling Daoist Boy did not tell him much. After checking all the supplies, he casually sent him away.

There was no telling where these things had been brought out from. Perhaps Blowing Fire Daoist's Daoist Arena had a Prefecture Academy storehouse of its own?

The four Lishi had each received transplanted ox hooves or horse legs, and all were powerfully built. Muling sent them outside the courtyard to build their own lodgings.

The two Celestial Maidens also had alluring figures. One had a short rabbit tail, while the other had a fox tail. It was unclear whether they were human-demon hybrids or had received transplants later in life.

Muling Daoist Boy temporarily settled them in the small rooms in the courtyard, waiting for Jiang Yan to decide where they would go.

Besides the four Lishi and two Celestial Maidens, there was a set of ceremonial regalia, a box of Spirit Stones, a Daoist Robe, and assorted other resources.

Presumably, these were the stipend and benefits Dragonflame Daoist had mentioned.

Besides these, there was a separately sealed jade bottle. Daoist Muling did not handle it further, merely delivering it to the first floor of Jiang Yan's building along with the Spirit Stones and resources.

As for the ceremonial regalia and the rest, he simply put them all into the storeroom the Lishi had just built.

These Lishi truly lived up to having been trained by the Prefecture Academy specifically for physical labor. They worked quickly and deftly.

In just a few hours, they had not only finished their own lodgings but built a storehouse as well.

Seeing how industrious they were, Muling Daoist Boy simply had them carve out a flight of steps down the mountain too.

The clinking of chisels against stone rang out, but Jiang Yan remained entirely undisturbed inside the building.

He cultivated until dawn before finally ending his practice and opening his eyes.

Circulating his Law Power, he swept himself clean from head to toe. He did not know when Senior Brother Long Yan would arrive, so naturally, he needed to prepare in advance.

Taking Jinbao downstairs, he found that Muling Daoist Boy had not rested all night and was still busy in the courtyard.

The Prefecture Academy had delivered a small spring yesterday, contained within a Water Storage Talisman. He wanted to dig out a pond and create a leisurely scenic feature.

Seeing Jiang Yan come out, Muling hurried forward.

He first reported the various Spirit Stones and materials the Prefecture Academy had delivered, then asked Jiang Yan about his requirements for the courtyard's layout.

"I saw the materials and have already put them away. Arrange the courtyard as you see fit. First, bring those people over for me to see."

When Jiang Yan came downstairs earlier, he had already put away everything on the first floor.

Muling Daoist Boy summoned the six of them, who stood together in a row before him.

"Do you have names?"

The Lishi and Celestial Maidens exchanged glances. In the end, the woman with the fox tail stepped forward.

"Master, we have no names. The Prefecture Academy only gave us designations."

"Hmm..."

Jiang Yan considered for a moment, then raised a hand to point at the four Lishi. As it happened, two had transplanted ox hooves and two had transplanted horse legs.

"The four of you will be named Niu Da, Niu Er, Ma Yi, and Ma Er."

"As for you two, you'll be Rabbit Tail and Fox Tail."

Though he had named them so casually, all six were delighted and knelt to thank him for his favor.

Jiang Yan assigned the two Celestial Maidens to the second floor of his building, instructing them not to go upstairs or downstairs without permission.

As for the four Lishi, they could carry on working.

Having arranged matters for them, Jiang Yan took out tables, chairs, tea utensils, and other items, furnishing the first floor entirely for receiving guests.

With his permission, Muling also placed the spring in a corner of the courtyard and had the Lishi build a pavilion beside it, setting out a chessboard, tea utensils, and other items there too.

After all this, the courtyard did have something of an ethereal air, removed from the mortal dust.

Seeing that the sun was high, Jiang Yan began brewing tea.

Dragonflame Daoist was responsible; presumably, he would not wait until the afternoon to come.

Sure enough, just as the tea began to boil, Dragonflame Daoist landed on the mountain.

Rather than landing directly in the courtyard, he pushed open the gate and entered from outside.

After looking around and seeing that Jiang Yan had arranged things quite well and seemed to have settled in, Long Yan nodded.

"How are you finding it here, junior brother?"

"Very good."

Jiang Yan rose to welcome Long Yan, and the two sat facing each other and talked.

Once they had drunk more than half a pot of tea, Dragonflame Daoist spoke again.

"We're heading to the Fire Vein today. Are you ready, junior brother?"

Hearing a hint of guidance in his words, Jiang Yan asked:

"Senior brother, what do I need to prepare?"

"Simple, simple. Where are the things delivered yesterday?"

Hearing this, Jiang Yan waved a hand and brought everything out. He was not worried that Dragonflame Daoist might harbor any designs on these possessions of his.

Dragonflame Daoist rose and picked through the items, taking out the Daoist Robe along with the jade bottle.

He gestured for Jiang Yan to put the rest away. Jiang Yan stored them with a light wave of his hand, his gaze returning to Long Yan.