Celestial Official!

When Yan Chen arrived at Xiangzhi Mountain, it was already dusk.

Chen Fayan brought him here without lingering, only giving him a few casual words of advice before riding his flying shuttle away in a flash.

Fortunately, before leaving, he specially left a flying shuttle for Yan Chen, which was personally ordered by Steward Zhu, so that he could use it to travel around the valley in the future.

After all, this place is far and the mountains are high, and we can't always rely on others to pick us up and drop us off. It would be inconvenient to carry out our duties and would not be in line with the dignity and status that a disciple in charge should have.

They watched as the streak of light completely disappeared behind the swirling smoke and clouds.

Yan Chen then flicked his sleeve, and immediately a golden stream of light shot out from it, swirling around him like a thin thread before slowly rising into the air and disappearing from sight.

It can be changed with one's thoughts and intentions in the blink of an eye.

In mid-air, the outline of a flying shuttle slowly appeared, narrowing at both ends and bulging in the middle. It was about two or three zhang long and more than a person tall, surrounded by a beam of light, and was hovering in the air.

"This flying shuttle is much smaller than the one that Senior Brother Wang used."

"However, small also has its advantages, namely flexibility, versatility, and portability."

"After this thing is refined with a drop of blood, it becomes connected with my mind. If I can handle it skillfully, it can be used as a magical weapon to fight enemies in the future."

Upon realizing this, Yan Chen raised his hand and retrieved the flying shuttle.

He instantly transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into his robe sleeve.

He immediately turned around and looked around at the scenery.

This place is called "Xiangzhi Mountain". It is located on the mountainside. The terrain is flat and wide, with pebbles like a carpet. The surrounding vegetation is lush, especially the bamboo forest, with its verdant shadows reaching straight into the blue sky. It is quiet and secluded, but also has a touch of desolation and loneliness.

Perhaps it is a good place to live in seclusion and cultivate oneself.

However, it is inevitably monotonous, dull, and lifeless.

It seemed overly repressed.

"My path is to roam freely in the world and survey the mountains and rivers. To live in a corner is not what I desire."

"Well, this trip wasn't entirely fruitless."

"It's only a matter of a few months anyway, so consider it a period of self-cultivation and quiet retreat."

Yan Chen paused for a moment, then shook his sleeves, put his hands behind his back, and walked forward.

The gravel path underfoot gradually widens, and the lush bamboo shadows on both sides seem to draw back the curtain, revealing a bright and open view.

Then you see a dilapidated, dark pavilion built against the mountain.

With its sharp eaves and menacing brackets, it looks like a dark, ferocious beast baring its fangs and claws. The two wooden windows reflect the evening light, the afterglow flowing like gold, like a pair of pupils staring straight at Yan Chen.

"No wonder it was once occupied by heretics; such a style is truly wild and unrestrained."

For some reason, upon seeing this scene, Yan Chen laughed heartily, his mind instantly becoming open and carefree.

He kicked open the half-closed wooden door and strode inside.

The room was simply furnished, dimly lit, and dusty. Yan Chen glanced at it briefly before heading straight upstairs.

The first thing you see is a bedroom, and on one side of the bedroom, there is another wooden door, slightly ajar, from which wisps of air can be seen.

Yan Chen raised an eyebrow and pushed him away.

In an instant, a narrow wooden staircase came into view.

Ascending the wooden steps, one soon arrives at a terrace.

The bright clouds are blowing in my face, and the evening breeze is refreshing. How pleasant!

Yan Chen first glanced in the direction of Xuchunfang, then his gaze shifted downwards, and a thought stirred within him.

But then a lush bamboo forest appeared, like a clear mountain stream, winding for miles, sometimes continuous, sometimes intermittent, all the way to the foot of Xiangzhi Mountain.

"Fragrant Branch Forest... Fragrant Branch Mountain?"

Yan Chen understood.

In this light, his previous concerns were not wrong; the strange phenomena of water and fire beneath the fragrant vine were indeed closely related to the water and fire vine.

In other words, that grove of fragrant branches was merely the remaining shade.

Tracing back to its roots, it's mostly because of Xiangzhi Mountain beneath our feet.

Only in such an environment can this water-fire vine be cultivated.

Yan Chen shifted his gaze and activated the "Divine Furnace Fire Burns Passion and Desire Spell," burning away his chaotic emotions.

He then looked at a long-uncultivated wasteland and took out a Water-Fire Vine Spirit Seed from his sleeve.

With a flick of his sleeves, he went downstairs.

Although he had only received the appointment, he had developed a certain interest in the Water-Fire Vine.

……

……

Danlan Valley.

Inside the waterside pavilion.

Zheng Bingqian sat with his legs spread wide, his eyes vacant, seemingly lost in thought.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the corridor.

A short while later, a voice rang out, speaking respectfully:

"I have been informed that Junior Brother Yan has arrived at Xiangzhi Mountain. Should I go and invite him over?"

Zheng Bingqian snapped out of his reverie, closed his eyes and pondered for a moment before shaking his head and saying:

"No rush. Let that little guy experience firsthand how troublesome the Water-Fire Vine is."

"Understood."

The voice outside the corridor paused for a moment, then was about to say goodbye.

But then Zheng Bingqian suddenly changed his mind and said:

"Forget it, this kid is quick-witted. Given enough time, he might actually come up with some unorthodox methods."

"Summon him tomorrow."

……

……

The next morning.

Xiangzhi Mountain.

Behind the pavilion on the mountainside, the abandoned farmland has now been reclaimed. The soil is moist and soft, exuding a faint fragrance of grass.

A faint, oppressive heat could be felt emanating from the ground.

"Indeed, it is the Qi of Earth (戊土)..."

Yan Chen had changed out of his crimson Taoist robe and was dressed in ordinary short clothes, as if he were a hermit who had grown tired of the turbid currents of the world and had returned to the mountains to live in seclusion.

He was squatting by the field, carefully digging a small hole, and then burying the water-fire vine spirit seed in it.

Immediately afterwards, he took a water bag and poured the clear water he had just collected from the mountain spring onto the water.

This water contains the Qi of Gui water, which belongs to Yin. If there is too little, it will be suppressed by Wu earth, and if there is too much earth, the water will be blocked; if there is too much, it will cause imbalance and damage, with the water overflowing and the earth being washed away.

A delicate balance must be maintained in order to achieve a harmonious balance between strength and gentleness, and for the earth and water to find their proper harmony.

Fortunately, Yan Chen had already reached the third level of Qi Refining and had gained some insights into the mutual restraint and mutual generation among the five elements.

Therefore, this process was not difficult for him.

"But this is only the first step. After planting and watering, there are still many crucial steps such as sprouting, vine training, nurturing, guarding, and harvesting. Along the way, the Guishui mountain spring must be watered on time every day without stopping."

"In addition, as the vines grow more luxuriantly, maintaining the balance of the various virtuous energies within them is also a tricky matter."

Vines are naturally spreading plants; once they take root, they continuously sprout branches, grow tendrils, and spread along the ground.

A single plant can cover a hillside and an entire field.

Yan Chen only thought about it briefly before feeling a headache coming on, troubled as he didn't know how to take care of and maintain it.

"It seems that Senior Sister Zhu only has a superficial understanding of the cultivation of this Water-Fire Vine; otherwise, she could have spent some time to understand the cause and effect."

"But then again, this matter concerns him personally. If he knew the ins and outs, he would have already told everything. Why would he keep anything to himself?"

"But judging from Senior Sister Zhu's style of doing things, she wouldn't do something without a reason..."

Just then, a series of whistling sounds came from afar.

Yan Chen looked up and saw a snow-white crane carrying a Taoist priest, flapping its wings and flying towards him.

"Junior Brother Yan, it's been many days. Do you still recognize me?"