Secluded Paradise

"Huh? Junior Brother Chen, I already told you about the drawbacks."

Le Feng frowned. He strongly discouraged newly initiated disciples from going to the Spiritual Herb Garden; it was an irresponsible attitude toward both the sect and oneself.

"Rest assured, Senior Brother Le. My family specializes in cultivating spiritual herbs."

Chen Xun spoke earnestly and gave a solemn cupped fist salute. "Thank you, Senior Brother Le, for clearing up my doubts. I will definitely manage the herb garden well."

Although outsiders might think Le Feng was meddling too much, Chen Xun, the one being meddled with, did not see it that way. Le Feng had helped him greatly, and Chen Xun remembered this favor.

"Good. Junior Brother Chen, you have only just entered the sect. If there is anything you do not understand, you may come to my cave abode and find me."

Le Feng smiled mildly. Since it was his family's specialty, he could rest easy. He then took a talisman from his Storage Bag and handed it to Chen Xun. "If anything happens, simply activate it with spiritual power."

Chen Xun accepted it carefully, an unfathomable glint flashing through his eyes. He nodded gravely.

"Junior Brother Chen, cultivate diligently. Do not waste your time. I shall be leaving first."

"Yes, Senior Brother Le."

"Moo~~"

Chen Xun and Big Black Ox watched Le Feng leave, smiles unconsciously rising to both their lips. It felt as though they had returned to that Small Mountain Village of old.

He walked to a raised platform in the hall and said, "Martial Uncle, I wish to manage a herb garden."

"Granted." An ancient old man, so frail he seemed as if a gust of wind could knock him over, spoke airily as he took out a jade pendant and a booklet.

"Thank you, Martial Uncle!"

Chen Xun was delighted. He looked at the jade pendant. This was the Restriction Jade Pendant for a certain herb garden. Without it, one could not enter; forcing one's way in would be considered an invasion of the sect.

"Kid, managing a herb garden is not easy."

The old man looked half-asleep, and it was impossible to tell whether he was sleeping or meditating. "Just bring the spiritual herbs here each year."

"Alright." Chen Xun was brimming with ambition as he nodded in reply.

"This little ox is quite good. It is filled with spirituality." The old man looked at Big Black Ox behind Chen Xun, a trace of interest in his eyes.

"Moo~~"

"Martial Uncle, this is my family's ancestral Big Black Ox..."

"Kid, get going. What are you thinking?!" The old man seemed to perk up somewhat. That disciple's look made it seem as though he wanted to forcefully seize this Qi Condensation Stage 2 spirit beast.

"Hehe, then this junior will not disturb Martial Uncle any longer."

Chen Xun smiled awkwardly. He had indeed misunderstood. This was a great cultivation sect; what spirit beasts did they not have? It was not Nine Stars Valley.

"Old Ox, let's go!"

"Moo~"

Chen Xun happily led Big Black Ox away. The steps of both man and ox became much lighter. At last, they no longer had to live in constant fear and intrigue. Cultivation sects really were better.

Whenever they encountered fellow disciples along the way, they gave way to them, their faces filled with kindness, but did not take the initiative to strike up a conversation.

Following the jade pendant's guidance, they arrived at a quiet, secluded valley. The surroundings were filled with strange flowers and exotic grasses they had never seen before. Spiritual energy filled their nostrils, leaving them refreshed and clear-headed.

In the distance stood a great waterfall. White waves churned as jade-like, silver-bright droplets splashed into the pool below, accompanied without end by dazzling, multicolored rays of light.

Its roar exploded like spring thunder, vast and majestic. This place was like a Secluded Paradise.

"Old Ox, don't go charging around!"

While Chen Xun was still stunned, Big Black Ox had already spread its hooves and was sniffing the fragrance of flowers everywhere as butterflies fluttered around it.

"Moo~~" Big Black Ox was intoxicated by the scene. It hurried to Chen Xun's side, its eyes filled with delight.

"Hahaha..."

Chen Xun wrapped one hand around the ox's head and looked upward. A formation was operating overhead. He sent spiritual power into the jade pendant, and the formation instantly opened a gap.

"Let's go!"

Chen Xun pulled Big Black Ox along, marveling inwardly without pause. The Five Elements Sect was truly enormous; the entire mountain range was sect territory.

Inside were several large spiritual fields, filled with all sorts of bizarrely shaped spiritual herbs. Ancient trees twisted like dragons surrounded them, fragrant grass carpeted the ground, and a faint fragrance permeated the air. Everything brimmed with life.

Chen Xun and Big Black Ox were dazzled. There were even some spiritual herbs they could not recognize.

At the very depths stood a Thatched Cottage. Outside it, a disheveled old man stared eagerly into the distance, looking at Chen Xun as though he had seen his own father.

"You came..."

"I came."

"Moo!"

A chill rose in Chen Xun and Big Black Ox's eyes. Why did it feel like this old man was almost suffering Qi Deviation?

"Ten years... someone finally came. Hahaha, Heaven has eyes..."

The little old man knelt down, spreading open both hands as he raised his face to the sky with a long sigh. Two streams of clear tears soaked his wrinkled old face.

Qi Condensation Ninth Layer—a true expert. Chen Xun looked at him in confusion. How had he ended up in such a state? He was worse off than they had been in the Ningyun Mountain Range.

"Junior Brother, Junior Brother! I'm going to report for duty. I'll leave this place to you."

The little old man's expression was agitated. He sent out a stream of earth-colored spiritual power, stepped onto a flying sword, and shot past Chen Xun, seeming unwilling to remain here for even a moment longer.

Tears filled his eyes. Ten years ago, the sect had forcibly assigned him here, condemning him to a life among spiritual herbs. Not only had his cultivation progressed slowly, but who could understand that loneliness and solitude?

"Hehe." Chen Xun watched his retreating figure, then looked at Big Black Ox.

"Moo?"

Big Black Ox could not understand that man's actions either. He was blessed without knowing it.

They entered the Thatched Cottage. Inside were quite a few books, all containing insights on cultivating spiritual herbs. Chen Xun accepted them all without hesitation.

Chen Xun then led Big Black Ox to the waterfall. Big Black Ox set its things down and rushed straight in, splashing up a burst of water.

He sat to one side and began flipping through the small booklet. It listed the various types of spiritual herbs, as well as all the rules.

For example, one could not embezzle spiritual herbs. Every single spiritual herb was recorded in the register, and every five years, disciples from the Pill Refining Hall would come to check the accounts.

The yearly quota to be handed over, along with all the required varieties, was listed in full. Chen Xun read it carefully, committing every rule to heart.

"Moo~~"

Big Black Ox bellowed from the water. It was not worried about the growth of the spiritual herbs at all. It had once discovered that their Essence of All Things could be diluted in water.

Moreover, it quite enjoyed cultivating spiritual herbs. This made it even happier than plowing fields.

"Old Ox, we can't use that Thatched Cottage. Let's open up a few Mountain Caves ourselves."

Chen Xun looked around. Steep cliffs rose everywhere, making the place highly suitable for opening up cave abodes.

"Moo!" Big Black Ox replied. They were already used to living in Mountain Caves, and besides, they still had to cultivate spiritual herbs themselves.

"Sword Control Technique."

Chen Xun took a spell manual from his Storage Bag, but he did not have a sword. He would need to exchange contribution points for one; the Five Elements Sect really had some tricks up its sleeve.

There was also a pill in the Five Elements Sect that was especially popular among low-level disciples: the Bigu Pill. One pill would last a month, and there was no need to excrete.

"The sect truly has many good things, but it also has many rules."

Chen Xun continued reading the Sect Rules. Private duels were forbidden; if caught, one would be sent to the Law Enforcement Hall to receive a whipping. If there were grievances, one had to apply to settle them in a duel on the arena.

Other than disciples carrying out missions beyond the sect, no one could descend the mountain without permission. However, one could go down the mountain twice each year, for one month each time, and the time could also be accumulated.

But after reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, there were not so many tedious rules. Foundation Establishment cultivators were already the backbone of the sect, figures comparable to elders.

"This Five Elements Sect is larger than an entire city and has everything. There's no real need to descend the mountain."

Chen Xun muttered, "If we need to trade for spiritual herbs, we can go down and take a look. Twice a year is enough; there's no need to stand out too much within the sect."

"Old Ox."

"Moo~"

Big Black Ox came running over, soaked from head to hoof, its eyes burning as it stared at Chen Xun. It seemed it had not had enough fun yet.