Pingyan City.
As a sizable ancient city in the Northern Region, it may not be as prosperous as the Holy City in the core area.
The city was bustling with activity, a mix of cultivators and mortals, filled with the atmosphere of the mortal world.
The Jade Pool residence is located in the Pingyan City. It is not the magnificent palace one might imagine, but rather a vast garden with an extremely elegant environment.
Surrounded by high walls and ancient trees, it casts a large area of shade.
Even before entering, one can feel a sense of tranquility and natural seclusion, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the world.
It was nearing noon, and the gates of Jade Pool Immortal Stone Workshop were already open. A few leaves lay on the bluestone steps, giving a very natural and harmonious feeling, unlike the hustle and bustle of a typical stone gambling shop.
When the Jade Carriage of the Jade Pool Holy Maiden, along with Li Qingshan, the Black Emperor, and their entourage, arrived, it naturally attracted the attention of some people inside and outside the Immortal Stone Workshop.
In particular, the iconic jade chariot bathed in rosy light and the ethereal figures appearing and disappearing within it invigorated many cultivators who came from afar.
"It's the Jade Carriage of the Jade Pool Holy Maiden!"
She's back!
"As expected, she has come to Pingyan City in person!"
The Immortal Stone Workshop Pavilion was closed this morning, presumably to welcome the Holy Maiden.
"Hiss, look who that young man behind us is? He has an extraordinary air about him, how could he ride in the same carriage as the Holy Maiden?"
"And that Big Black Dog, it looks so strange, its aura is so intimidating!"
The crowd whispered amongst themselves, their eyes lingering curiously on Li Qingshan and Black Emperor.
To be personally guided by the Jade Pool Holy Maiden, one must be no ordinary person. Even the holy sons and daughters of other families are far inferior. Could he be a divine son from an ancient dynasty in the Central Continent, or a master disciple from a reclusive sect?
Although Li Qingshan concealed his aura, the perfect Daoist charm and subtle sense of oppression made people secretly startled.
The imperial carriage did not stop in front of the stone archway, but drove directly into the depths of the encampment.
Black Emperor followed closely behind.
Deep within the compound, a serene and tranquil atmosphere prevailed, seemingly a world apart from the faint clamor in the front courtyard of Immortal Stone Workshop.
The Jade Pool Holy Maiden, Lin Qingyao, had some official business to attend to first, and gave Li Qingshan an apologetic smile.
As that ethereal figure turned, a faint, lingering fragrance followed, before disappearing at the end of the winding corridor, leaving only a few white-clad maids standing quietly waiting.
Li Qingshan and Black Emperor were led to a separate guesthouse.
The guesthouse is built by the water. Push open the carved wooden window and you can see the shimmering lake and the pavilions and towers hidden in the ancient trees and mist in the distance.
The interior is simply furnished yet elegant, with the fragrance of sandalwood creating a calming and tranquil atmosphere. Faint runes circulate on the walls, gathering a far richer essence of heaven and earth than the outside world.
Lunch was quickly served by a maid.
It was not the usual rich and luxurious food, but rather several translucent jade plates and a white jade wine pot.
The plate holds several exotic fruits, about the size of longans, shimmering with a purple aura, their skin glowing with a rosy light. These are called "Purple Cloud Mist Fruits," and eating them is said to cleanse the meridians and purify one's divine power.
Or it could be a root, as white as jade and shaped like a lotus root, emitting a refreshing fragrance; this is the root of "Jade Marrow Snow Lotus," which has the wonderful effect of warming and nourishing qi and blood, and strengthening the foundation of one's Dao.
There was also a dish of vibrant green leaves, seemingly imbued with the essence of heaven and earth—the tender buds of the rare "Azure Spirit Immortal Tea." A gentle chew brought forth a burst of saliva, instantly clearing the mind.
Even the wine in that pot was no ordinary brew; it was "Hundred Flower Immortal Wine," made by collecting morning dew from a hundred kinds of spiritual flowers and using the secret methods of Jade Pool. The wine was crystal clear and brimming with spiritual energy. After drinking a cup, one felt warm and comfortable throughout the body.
This meal may seem simple, but it is actually quite valuable. Any one of its ingredients, if it were to fall into the outside world, would be enough to make ordinary cultivators from the Dao Palace Secret Realm fight tooth and nail for it.
Black Emperor stared wide-eyed, his drool almost dripping onto the gleaming floor.
Before Li Qingshan could even pick up his chopsticks, it eagerly stood up on its own.
With one paw, it grabbed a Purple Cloud Orchid Fruit and stuffed it into its mouth, swallowing it whole. The other paw was already reaching for the Hundred Flower Immortal Wine.
"Wow, what a find! These fairies from Jade Pool are truly wealthy!"
Kid, finally there's something to gain from following you!
It wolfed down its food while mumbling incoherently, its face full of bliss.
Li Qingshan shook his head and chuckled, but let it be.
He remained composed, savoring these spiritual objects.
The fruit is mellow, the roots and stems are refreshingly sweet, the tea cleanses the soul, and the wine nourishes the body.
With each bite, pure energy was transformed into his limbs and bones, nourishing his physical body and divine sense, which had just survived the tribulation and were in a period of rapid consolidation and improvement.
He could feel that his Ninth Transformation of Dragon Transformation was becoming perfect and flawless in a steady and rapid manner, the great dragon of his spine was becoming more and more solid, and his connection with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth was becoming clearer and clearer.
In the afternoon, sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves of the ancient trees, casting dappled shadows in the courtyard, creating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
Li Qingshan did not rush to cultivate, but instead strolled out of the inn and wandered around this Jade Pool residence.
After eating and drinking his fill, Black Emperor, with his belly protruding, followed behind him with a swagger. His thieving eyes were still restlessly scanning the surroundings, as if assessing where good things might be hidden, or which array patterns could be silently broken.
The site covers a vast area, with pavilions, towers, bridges, and flowing water, its layout exquisite and in harmony with the way of nature.
Many places are scattered with strangely shaped rocks. They are not randomly piled up, but rather seem to have grown naturally, blending into the surrounding vegetation and springs to form a unique landscape.
Some stones are simple and unadorned, bearing the marks of time;
Some of them have an inner radiance that seems to hold something extraordinary within them.
Li Qingshan activated his spiritual senses, which originated from the " Source Heaven Book," and silently sensed the surroundings.
He could sense that most of these stones were extraordinary, with varying degrees of "source" energy within them.
Some of them emanated extremely subtle fluctuations, like sleeping spirits, carrying the aura of the primordial, clearly treasures collected from those Life Forbidden Zone or ancient mineral veins.
The Yaochi Stone Workshop is famous, and the treasures inside are indeed extraordinary.
He even spotted several stones bathed in a soft glow in some inconspicuous corners.
It was protected by subtle array patterns, clearly indicating that it was marked by Jade Pool as a "treasure of the town" containing rare treasures and not for sale.
"Woof! That pitch-black stone definitely has something inside! I can smell the Daoist aura from a mile away!"
Black Emperor suddenly stood up, pointing to an inconspicuous black rock in the shadow of the artificial hill, its dog eyes gleaming with greed. "Kid, can you be sure your cultivation Source Heaven Book is stronger than mine? Let's meet tonight..."
"Silence!"
Li Qingshan glared at it and rebuked it with his divine sense, "This is the sacred ground of Jade Pool, how dare you be so presumptuous! If you spout nonsense again, be careful of being suppressed by the formation, skinned alive and having your soul extracted!"
Black Emperor lowered his claws, but muttered defiantly, "What's there to be afraid of? My mastery of array formations is unparalleled. The mere outer array of Jade Pool... cough cough, alright, those old hags are a bit troublesome."
Li Qingshan ignored the lazy fellow and continued his stroll.
He walked to the edge of the clear lake, its surface like a mirror, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and ancient wooden pavilions on the shore.
Occasionally, a lively koi carp leaps out of the water, its scales shimmering with iridescent colors in the sunlight.
The air by the lake is exceptionally fresh, brimming with the essence of water and the breath of life.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and his innate Innate Immortal Fetus naturally blended with the surrounding environment.
He could "hear" the rhythm of the plants breathing, "sense" the faint flow of the earth's dragon energy, and "touch" the supreme, tranquil, and all-encompassing Daoist charm permeating the air, originating from the Queen Mother of the West's lineage.
This environment has an ineffable benefit for him in consolidating his spiritual realm and comprehending the Natural Dao nature.
He even vaguely sensed that the Origin Heaven Secret Technique he cultivated seemed to have become more active, and some of the book's descriptions of mountains, rivers, and the source energy of all things appeared particularly clear and easy to understand here.
" The Western Emperor Scripture," Li Qingshan murmured to himself.
The Jade Pool Holy Maiden promised to lend him the Dao Palace Scroll " Western Emperor Scripture," which was the most important opportunity he could have at the moment.
He possesses an upgraded version of the Innate Dao Embryo, the Innate Immortal Fetus. If he could glimpse the Supreme God Scripture of the same origin, they could mutually verify each other.
This will greatly accelerate his cultivation, make up for the deficiencies in his own inheritance, and may even allow him to glimpse more of the mysteries of the origin of his physique.
Without realizing it.
Entering the depths of the Jade Pool camp on the other side felt like stepping into another world.
"Tsk tsk, those women from Jade Pool really know how to enjoy themselves. This place is decorated almost as well as the villa of the Great Emperor Wushi back then."
While looking around, Black Emperor communicated with Li Qingshan using his divine sense, his dog eyes filled with nostalgia and a hint of subtle complexity.
Li Qingshan ignored it and silently sensed the Daoist essence of the place.
The Jade Pool tradition originates from the Queen Mother of the West, and its cultivation methods naturally align with the Great Dao. Every blade of grass, every tree, every mountain, and every stone in this place seems to subtly resonate with a certain natural Daoist rhythm, bringing peace of mind and making it easier to comprehend the Dao.
The Innate Immortal Fetus within his body also resonated faintly with it, autonomously absorbing the pure essence of heaven and earth and the traces of the Great Dao.
The man and his dog walked through several courtyards and arrived at a pavilion built by the water.
There is a small lake here, with clear, bright water like a sapphire, and old vines entwined along the shore, making it lush and green.
The pavilion is nestled among ancient trees and a hazy mist, appearing and disappearing intermittently. The melodious sound of a guzheng (a traditional Chinese zither) emanates from within, subtle and gentle, refreshing and soothing, with endless charm, cleansing the mind and allowing one to relax involuntarily.
The melodious sound of the zither seemed to paint a dreamlike scene:
Amidst drifting clouds and mist, celestial palaces and pavilions appear and disappear, while a flawless fairy stands alone atop the clouds, detached from the world.
This kind of music is close to the Dao Realm, and it can touch people's hearts.
Even the fish in the lake gathered in the clear water in front of the pavilion, swaying gently to the music, as if dancing.
"Ding-dong"
The last tremolo faded away, and the zither music came to a gentle end.