After leaving home, Lu Yuan wandered about for a time. The territory of the Great Jin Dynasty was quite vast.

The East Ping Province alone spanned several million li, and the Great Jin Dynasty comprised dozens of provinces; this revealed the sheer immensity and incredibility of the land, the entire dynasty likely stretching for a hundred million li. Lu Yuan bought a horse and casually ambled through East Ping Province, though at this time, East Ping Province, and indeed the entirety of the Great Jin Dynasty, enjoyed a period of profound peace and prosperity.

The entrances to the tunnels connecting the Underworld to the surface world were guarded by forces from the Five Great Immortal Sects and other minor sects. Since the Great Jin Dynasty suffered no indigenous subterranean fiends, it was naturally an era of utter tranquility.

After exploring East Ping Province for a while without encountering any further demonic disturbances, he stumbled upon what was called a Martial Arts Gathering, allegedly organized by masters of the Jianghu. The Jianghu, it was rumored, was a place for those with excess time on their hands, and Lu Yuan, while admittedly idle, didn't consider himself that bored, so after circling East Ping Province and checking the time, nearly half a year had passed.

It was time to return to the mountain. Of course, there was another reason for thinking of returning now: from the spoils he gathered after slaying the Asura, he had acquired a Spirit Sealing Plaque, within which he had obtained three exceedingly precious Cloud-element spirit beasts—a haul that far exceeded his expectations.

Cloud-element spirit beasts possessed the ability to continuously exhale Cloud-element vital energy, significantly accelerating one's cultivation speed. Since then, even without specifically meditating, the rate at which his magical power increased had been quite good.

However, these Cloud-element spirit beasts also required feeding. Naturally, this feeding was extremely worthwhile; using a rough ratio for comparison, feeding one unit resulted in a gain of about three units.

Such an investment was certainly not something to begrudge. Lu Yuan was, of course, willing to pay.

Yet, willingness aside, he was now completely out of low-grade spirit stones—a true tragedy—and precisely when it was time to feed them again. Due to the long hiatus, the vital energy flowing into him from the Spirit Sealing Plaque had diminished somewhat.

It was all because the twenty-two low-grade spirit stones obtained from the spoils of the battle against the Asura had been used up too quickly; otherwise, he would have had some now. For the sake of low-grade spirit stones, he had no choice but to return to the mountain.

The mountain, it remained the same mountain. Mount Hua.

The towering Mount Hua. A mountain ten thousand zhang high was almost unimaginable to mortals; it seemed to cleave the sky in two when viewed from the ground.

The sheer majesty and height of the mountain were almost beyond conception. This sort of massive landform, born from the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, possessed vital energy far denser than what could be found outside.

While this place might not be classified as a 'Grotto-Heaven,' calling it a 'Blessed Land' would be appropriate. It was only fitting that such a Blessed Land was occupied by the Great Immortal Sects.

Finally returning, Lu Yuan let out a breath as he gazed upon the soaring mountain range that nearly split the heavens. Upon reaching the Mount Hua Immortal Sect, he found layers of protective restrictions and seven-colored celestial light that made forcing entry impossible.

Lu Yuan announced his name outside, and after verification, he was finally able to return smoothly to the Mount Hua Immortal Sect. —————— After returning to the mountain, there were also several matters demanding his attention.

First, he went to greet his Master. Half a year away, his Master’s complexion had grown even paler, faintly tinged with a deathly aura.

His Master was one of the Six Sword Immortals of the North Peak, possessing unparalleled, robust magical power, yet even such a person could not arrest the advance of age, his lifespan rapidly diminishing. Lu Yuan sighed inwardly, exchanging a few casual words with his Master.

Li Yuanbai inquired about his life off the mountain, nodding and smiling faintly when he heard of Lu Yuan's confrontation with the Asura. Having cultivated to such a high level, having slain countless powerful Asuras—some comparable to Great Asuras of the Body Tempering stage, which he himself had personally defeated—a mere single Asura was nothing to concern himself over.

He simply listened to his apprentice's story, heard of his apprentice's victory, and felt a simple, pure happiness, nothing more. The closer one drew to their final reckoning, the more one treasured familial bonds.

His master-disciple affection for Lu Yuan now resembled a genuine kinship. Afterward, Lu Yuan proceeded to the Administration Office to claim ten spirit stones before heading to his own quarters.

The room was just as spartan as ever. One bed, one chair, one table.

Hanging on the wall was a flying sword—its hilt slightly red, its scabbard ancient—the Changhong Sword, which he had won from Sima Bo during the North Peak Grand Competition. He unfastened his own accompanying Yangwu Sword and hung it beside the other.

Six years in this familiar nest made sleeping here incomparably comfortable. After lying on the bed for a while, regaining the familiar sensation of the mattress, he sprang up.

It was time to feed the Cloud-element spirit beasts in the Spirit Sealing Plaque. He picked up a low-grade spirit stone, formed a hand seal, and whispered, "All Laws Return to One, Spirit Sealing Returns to Restriction, Spirit Sealing Plaque, Enter." He stepped into the grassy world within the plaque, the low-grade spirit stone held tightly in his hand.

As soon as he entered, he saw the three spirit beasts within the plaque excitedly rushing toward him; those three Cloud Rabbits bounded over with extreme delight. In this age, bribery truly was the kingly way.

When he had entered previously without bringing spirit stones, the three beasts had barely deigned to acknowledge him, but now they were so enthusiastic and eager. Before Lu Yuan could react, the three Cloud Rabbits had devoured the low-grade spirit stone.

After consuming it, they stared at him with wide, pleading eyes; their gaze was pitifully earnest. No choice but to go out again.

On this second trip, he brought out two low-grade spirit stones. These two stones made the Fire Hound and the three Cloud Rabbits feast heartily.

The Fire Hound and the three Cloud Rabbits, having eaten their fill with utmost satisfaction, no longer ignored him; instead, they rubbed affectionately against him. The three Cloud Rabbits were especially charming, rolling on the ground while affectionately nudging his legs, their bellies round.

It seemed they would not need feeding again soon; they appeared thoroughly satiated. After this excursion, returning outside the Spirit Sealing Plaque and regaining consciousness in his physical body, Lu Yuan immediately felt the Cloud-element magical power emanating from the plaque return to its initial standard level.

Roughly calculating the expenditure of low-grade spirit stones against the Cloud-element vital energy received, this transaction was proven exceedingly profitable. This was, of course, natural.

Cultivators absorbing the spiritual energy from spirit stones still needed to convert it into their own elemental magic power, resulting in losses during the transformation. But the spirit beasts achieved one hundred percent conversion without any loss.

Furthermore, since the Cloud Beasts inherently contained vital energy of that element, some would naturally radiate outwards anyway. Thus, raising spirit beasts was fundamentally the most worthwhile endeavor.

Pillowed by the Spirit Sealing Plaque, Lu Yuan fell into a deep sleep. Sleeping in the familiar small house where he had resided for over six years felt particularly comforting.