Hermit in the Mountains

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the Guardian Bell and the Calm Bell completed their transformation, evolving into spiritual treasure embryos.

Gu Changsheng looked at the two bells in front of him and felt an indescribable sense of peace and tranquility.

He raised his right hand, flicked his sleeve, and sent two bells flying, one towards the front hall and the other towards the back hall.

He took the natal magic weapons of his four direct disciples and infused them with innate, undying spiritual energy without any attributes.

He did not use the innate, indestructible spiritual energy with attributes, so as not to affect the unique Daoist charm within the magical artifact.

Three more days passed, and four spiritual treasure embryos floated in front of Gu Changsheng, each emitting a different aura.

The eldest disciple's Earthly Seal emitted a faint yellow Daoist aura, giving people a sense of weight and solidity, as if there were a great mountain in front of him.

The second disciple's solar furnace contained a wisp of true solar fire within, and its outer surface radiated wisps of heat, resembling a volcano that could erupt at any moment.

The third disciple's jade dew bottle has a full moon carved on its surface, with a laurel tree and a jade rabbit hidden in the moon. It exudes a clear and elegant Daoist charm and has a sense of coolness.

The bottle contains more than half a bottle of Moon Essence.

The fourth disciple's Xuan Tian Blade, within its ancient scabbard, contains a blade aura capable of cutting through anything, as if it could split mountains and sever rivers the moment it is drawn.

Looking at the spiritual treasure embryo radiating different Daoist charms in front of him, Gu Changsheng nodded in satisfaction.

With a wave of his right hand, the four magical treasures soared into the sky, each searching for its master.

Gu Changsheng didn't touch any of the twenty-seven innate, undying spiritual energies without any attributes that were reserved within the Withering and Flourishing Pearl.

The nine excess strands of attribute-less, innate, indestructible spiritual energy were each absorbed by one of the nine withered and flourishing pearls.

The following day, the nine withered and flourishing pearls completed their transformation, and their quality reached a new level.

The abilities to suppress fortune, gather spiritual energy, and defend have been enhanced;

The space has expanded tenfold again.

The Daoist principles of decay and prosperity contained within the pearl are now more pronounced, which is beneficial for Gu Changsheng to comprehend them.

Gu Changsheng put the nine withering and flourishing pearls into his origin space, and the cultivation of the sword, the robe, and the token could only be postponed.

The Withered and Flourishing Pearl is intended to be nurtured as a tool for proving one's Dao, and its grade will be prioritized for improvement.

He had a guess in his mind: perhaps every one or three more strands of innate, indestructible spiritual light could raise the grade of the spiritual treasure by one level.

According to the principle of three steps per grade, it takes three steps to advance to a mid-grade innate spiritual treasure, six steps to a high-grade one, nine steps to a top-grade one, and twelve steps to a supreme treasure.

Beyond the level of innate supreme treasures, the innate undying spiritual light source is probably useless; a higher level of undying spiritual light source is likely required.

The undying, primordial light of chaos?

Gu Changsheng made a quick calculation, and his mind went blank for a moment.

He guessed that if he was right, it would require 432 strands of innate, indestructible spiritual light to upgrade all 36 withered and flourishing pearls to the level of innate supreme treasures.

If you calculate it that way, he doesn't seem to be very rich; he's still a poor guy.

The more he thought about it, the more upset he became. He tried to distract himself and stop thinking about the pearl's advancement to a supreme innate treasure.

Gu Changsheng's mind entered the Withering and Flourishing Treasure Token and appeared in the Longevity Palace of the Dao Realm.

He used his access privileges to view the changes in the Dao Realm and the Spirit Network, and grasped the new developments in a short time.

He completed the development task assigned to Zhang Yuanfu very well. The necessary functions were included, the shortcomings were improved, and the loopholes were plugged.

With a thought, he sent a gathering order to all his disciples through the Dao Realm's loudspeaker.

In less than ten seconds, the two guardian spirit pets, four personal disciples, and six registered disciples had all arrived.

Yang Mancang and Yin Kui also attended the meeting.

Each illusory figure, upon entering the Hall of Longevity, bowed respectfully to Gu Changsheng on the lotus platform, offering their greetings.

"Disciple pays respects to Master..."

"Disciple greets Master..."

"Greetings, sir..."

"Your subordinates Yang Mancang and Yin Kui pay their respects to the Divine Lord... the Ghost Lord."

Even though Yang Mancang and Yin Kui were just phantoms, they still exuded a faint divine and ghostly aura.

Upon hearing the titles "God Lord" and "Ghost Lord," the others in the hall turned to look at Yang Mancang and Yin Kui.

Di Yuanzi wasn't too surprised to have met Yin Kui before, but this was the first time he had met Yang Mancang, and he sensed a very special power in him.

A power comparable to the ghostly aura emanating from Yin Kui.

On the lotus platform, Gu Changsheng spoke, gesturing, "Mancang and Yin Kui, you two will sit in the first row when you attend meetings in the future."

As soon as he finished speaking, two more illusory prayer cushions appeared on the left side of the first batch.

"Yes, yes!" Yang Mancang and Yin Kui replied and sat on the newly appeared prayer mats.

Judging from their seating arrangement, everyone knew that Yang Mancang and Yin Kui were equivalent to his personal disciples.

Gu Changsheng did not introduce Yang Mancang and Yin Kui's identities, but instead focused his gaze on his third disciple.

"Moon, from this day forward, the Dao Realm is entrusted to your management."

"Only beings from Mount Kurong are allowed to enter the Dao Realm. You can exchange cultivation experiences and hone your skills there."

"Living beings on the mountain are not allowed to enter the spirit network, so as to reduce worldly interference and prevent it from affecting one's state of mind."

"Yes, Master, I have remembered." Yin Yue stood up to reply, then bowed before sitting down again.

Gu Changsheng turned his gaze to Zhang Yuanfu and instructed, "Yuanfu, have someone compile a daily report of the latest and most useful intelligence and post it on the Dao Realm's bulletin board."

"To keep the people in the mountains informed about the latest developments in the outside world."

He didn't want the creatures on the mountain to enter the spiritual network, to avoid affecting their minds, but he also couldn't let them be like blank sheets of paper.

Publishing the selected useful information within the Daoist community can reduce its impact.

"After returning today, the Spirit Network can be officially announced to the public."

"I'm leaving the operation of the Spirit Network to you."

Zhang Yuanfu stood up, cupped his hands in a bow, and said, "Yes, teacher."

Gu Changsheng casually asked, "Is the mortal courtyard finished?"

Zhang Yuanfu blurted out, "Reporting to the teacher, it was completed two days ago, and all nine members of the Spirit Network development team are in place."

"The virtual currency system and the offline money exchange franchise system have been drafted."

Gu Changsheng nodded slightly, glancing at Yang Dashan, "Dashan..."

Yang Dashan stood up abruptly, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, "Master, your disciple is here."

Gu Changsheng said softly, "Dashan, Yuanfu, bring your relatives to the mortal courtyard to cultivate."

"You should arrange suitable jobs for them yourselves."

As the saying goes, "When one person attains enlightenment, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven."

Mount Kurong is not a place for cultivating the ruthless path, and besides, their relatives are mostly cultivators, belonging to the ranks of immortal cultivation families.

As for Yang Mancang's relatives, it's better for them to cultivate in Shou'an Ancient Town. They often appear in his dreams to explain the way of cultivation, which is much better than coming to the mountains.

Therefore, he did not mention Yang Mancang's relatives.

Zhang Yuanfu and Yang Dashan were overjoyed and repeatedly bowed in gratitude, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Teacher!!!"

Gu Changsheng glanced at everyone and said, "Except for Yang Mancang and Yin Kui, you are all free to go down the mountain to train and search for treasure."

"Before going down the mountain for training, report to Silver Moon Peak within the Dao Realm."

After saying that, he waved his hand, indicating, "If there's nothing else, go back and cultivate."

Below, a determined look flashed in Su Xinghe's eyes. He stood up and bowed, "Master, this disciple has something to discuss."

He saw Gu Changsheng raise his hand to signal, and then he said his thoughts, "Reporting to Master, this disciple wishes to move to the Golden Thunder Bamboo Forest for cultivation."

Gu Changsheng did not answer, but instead offered three choices: "As a direct disciple, you should rightfully possess a cultivation mountain."

"One is Ziwei Peak, where the power of the stars resides, which can temper your physique."

"The other is to have your senior brother build a mountain with the Geng metal element."

"The last one is the Golden Thunder Bamboo Forest that you just mentioned. The forest contains the power of golden thunder, which is indeed suitable for your cultivation."

You can choose one of the three options above.

Su Xinghe didn't think much of it and insisted on his own idea, "Master, this disciple still wants to choose the Golden Thunder Bamboo Forest as the place for cultivation."

Gu Changsheng nodded. "Starting today, you and your spirit pet will move to the Golden Thunder Bamboo Forest to cultivate. If you need any living supplies, ask your third senior sister."

In the past, he would never have allowed Su Xinghe to cultivate in the Golden Thunder Bamboo Forest, but now the Golden Thunder Bamboo Forest is very suitable for cultivating the Dao of the Sword.

It would be even better if Su Xinghe could comprehend the Demon-Slaying Blade Dao after mastering the power of Golden Lightning.

He did not want Su Xinghe to walk the path of killing, because this path would inevitably lead to bloodshed.

Even slaying monsters, spirits, and evil spirits will still generate karma.

It's just a matter of karma, more or less.

Heaven's justice is impartial; one will not be free from karma simply because one has slain evil spirits.

Cultivators, mortals, demons, spirits, and evil spirits are all living beings in the eyes of the Heavenly Dao.

The Way of Heaven only recognizes cause and effect, karma, merit, fortune, blessings, and origin.

Those who do things that benefit heaven and earth will be rewarded.

Conversely, punishment will be imposed.