Within the vast and boundless Great Desolate, almost every Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land and Mysterious Heaven Secret Realm possesses a Spirit Spring.
Each Spirit Spring is the crystallization of heaven and earth's essence, nurtured over countless eons. When great powers open up Secret Realm spaces, they always seek out locations with Spirit Springs.
Opening a Secret Realm space around a Spirit Spring ensures that the spiritual energy within is both denser and purer than the outside world. Most importantly, after the Secret Realm space is established, the unique environment allows the Spirit Spring to nurture various precious resources.
The Xiaoluo Secret Realm, for instance, has a Spirit Spring. Thanks to this spring, the Secret Realm has also nurtured a Golden Rainbow Spiritual Vein. This Golden Rainbow Spiritual Vein can produce the rather precious Golden Rainbow Crystals. Furthermore, along this Spiritual Vein, Golden Rainbow Trees grow, bearing the rare Golden Rainbow Luo Fruit.
The people of the Xiaoluo Secret Realm often exchange some Golden Rainbow Crystals and Golden Rainbow Luo Fruits for Immortal Stones, either for their own use or to purchase other needed resources.
The only pity is that the Golden Rainbow Spiritual Vein in the Xiaoluo Secret Realm can only be considered a minor vein. Consequently, the number of Golden Rainbow Crystals it produces isn't large; on average, only a handful are produced each year. The Golden Rainbow Luo Fruit is even more precious, flowering and fruiting only once every one or two hundred years.
Fortunately, the population of the Xiaoluo Secret Realm isn't large. Over the years, relying on the Golden Rainbow Spiritual Vein has allowed them to be self-sufficient. Coupled with resources found during periodic excursions for training, their lives have been relatively comfortable and even somewhat prosperous.
On this day,
in the mountain forests of the Xiaoluo Secret Realm,
Gu Qingfeng was lying on a tree trunk, basking in the sun.
Since his awakening, he had already spent over twenty years in the Xiaoluo Secret Realm.
For over twenty years, he still could not sense the existence of Original Sin. The Avici Asura Soul, the Incarnation that reaches the heavens above and the yellow springs below, the Nirvana Bone Jade—everything was completely beyond his perception.
Were they permanently gone, or temporarily vanished?
Gu Qingfeng didn't know, nor did he want to know.
Although his physical body remained in disarray, seemingly decaying, his essence, energy, and spirit grew more refreshed day by day.
What exactly his physical body had become now, Gu Qingfeng also didn't know, and similarly, had no desire to know.
Suddenly,
a rustling sound came from the treetops. A black shadow pounced over like a swift gust of wind. It was a Spirit Monkey, a crimson-red monkey just over a foot tall.
The Spirit Monkey, munching on a wild fruit, swiftly leaped over, landed beside Gu Qingfeng, and casually tossed him a few fruits. It chittered a few times, gesturing for Gu Qingfeng to eat quickly.
Gu Qingfeng opened one eye, looked at the Spirit Monkey, and said helplessly, "You little rascal, did you go steal someone's fruit again?
And Vermilion Fruit at that?
Isn't this stuff planted by that girl Qian Ling?
I say, you little brat, have you forgotten the pain once the wound heals? You were just taught a lesson not long ago, and now you're back to your old tricks?"
The Xiaoluo Secret Realm reared many spirit beasts, including immortal cranes and purple-gold snakes. Gu Qingfeng had noticed this Spirit Monkey was quite intelligent, so he gave it a slight enlightenment. Unexpectedly, this enlightenment opened the monkey's mind. An enlightened Spirit Monkey is truly clever and crafty, with decent comprehension. Gu Qingfeng taught it a cultivation method, and the little fellow learned astonishingly fast. Every few days, it would bring some tasty treats to bribe Gu Qingfeng.
The Spirit Monkey chittered an explanation, saying it wasn't stolen, but given by Miss Qian Ling.
"Really?
You're not fooling me, are you?
How come I remember Miss Qian Ling went out?"
The Spirit Monkey chittered while gesturing, explaining that Qian Ling had already returned, and had just come back not long ago.
"Is that so?"
Gu Qingfeng picked up a fruit and took a bite. "As long as it's not stolen, it's fine."
The Spirit Monkey chittered twice more.
Gu Qingfeng laughed. "What's this?
Bringing two fruits and you want this master to teach you something else?"
The Spirit Monkey grinned, leaped onto a nearby branch, and started massaging Gu Qingfeng with its paws. Surprisingly, its technique was quite decent—tapping his shoulders, kneading his legs.
"You little brat are quite savvy. I guess my enlightenment back then wasn't wasted on you."
Gu Qingfeng enjoyed the monkey's massage. "Alright, seeing how hard you're working, I'll teach you something else today. What should I teach... How about a movement technique Divine Ability? That way, if you encounter danger in the future, you can escape quickly."
Gu Qingfeng imparted the cultivation method for the movement technique Divine Ability to the Spirit Monkey. The monkey looked utterly delighted and massaged even more vigorously.
"Well, well, Little Drunkard, you sure know how to enjoy yourself."
Suddenly,
a voice rang out.
Immediately after, a figure appeared out of thin air.
It was a woman.
A woman dressed in luxurious brocade robes.
Her face was lovely, especially her pair of lively, large eyes, which were particularly captivating.
When she appeared, she stood on a tree branch with her arms crossed, looking at Gu Qingfeng with a half-smile.
It was none other than Qiānniǎo.
Since Gu Qingfeng had never mentioned his name and had a fondness for wine, Qiānniǎo had given him the nickname 'Little Drunkard.' Gu Qingfeng, for his part, rather enjoyed it. Recognizing Qiānniǎo, he smiled and said, "If it isn't Big Sister Qiānniǎo. When did you get back?"
"Little Drunkard, how many times have I told you? Don't call me 'Big Sister'! Call me Immortal! Immortal Qiānniǎo! This Immortal's fame is thunderously resounding throughout the Great Desolate!"
"Really?"
During his over twenty years in the Xiaoluo Secret Realm, aside from daily sunbathing, drinking, and sleeping, Gu Qingfeng interacted most with Qiānniǎo.
Every time this girl returned from an outing, whether she had business or not, she would seek out Gu Qingfeng for a chat. Though called a chat, it was mostly her talking and him listening—listening to her stories about the interesting things she encountered outside. After listening for over twenty years, Gu Qingfeng genuinely found this girl quite adorable.
"What do you mean 'really'? Would this Immortal lie to you? When I get the chance, I'll definitely take you out for a spin. I'll show you how vast my reputation is, guaranteed to shock you into thinking I'm a celestial being!"
"That sounds good."
"Here, take these."
As she spoke, Qiānniǎo raised her hand, and two jars of wine appeared. She tossed them over.
"Oh! You even remembered to bring me two jars of fine wine back!"
At the sight of the wine, Gu Qingfeng immediately sat up.
"Of course! Since this Immortal promised last time to bring you some, I always keep my word!"
Gu Qingfeng opened a jar and gulped down the wine.
He had been craving it badly these past few days. Everything about the Xiaoluo Secret Realm was fine, except few people enjoyed drinking. Gu Qingfeng often found himself having wine for one meal but not the next.
"How is it? How's the wine? I specifically picked two jars of top-quality fine wine for you."
"Passable!"
"What do you mean 'passable'? Do you have any idea how many Immortal Stones these two jars cost me? I'm practically heartbroken."
"Is it really that exaggerated?"
"Of course! These two jars are worth three hundred Immortal Stones, you know? Three hundred Immortal Stones! That's enough for this Immortal to splurge for quite a while."