Hermit in the Mountains

Mount Kurong, the Hall of Longevity.

Gu Changsheng and his eldest disciple sat down and discussed the Dao, jointly deducing a brand-new formation.

Nine times out of ten, things in life don't go as planned.

Three days passed, and Gu Changsheng still felt that the formation he and his apprentice had deduced was a little off, just a little off.

He couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong; it just felt a little off.

Di Yuanzi noticed his master's troubles and voiced his thoughts, "Master, the Mountain Spirit has abandoned its original form. You have accepted the Mountain Spirit as your personal disciple and condensed the Dao Seed of the Array."

"The mountain spirit merged with the innate array diagram, becoming a unified spirit of the artifact, the array, and the realm."

"Finally, the innate array diagram evolved into a grotto-heaven world, which served as the location of the Daoist practice, and it roamed freely in the void of Blue Star."

Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng suddenly burst into laughter.

"Hahaha........."

"So it turns out I was being too attached to appearances!"

Upon hearing his master's laughter, Di Yuanzi, who was sitting opposite him, smiled.

Firstly, it perfectly solved the problem of the dojo;

Secondly, it allows him to fulfill his deepest desires.

However, he knew in his heart that the status of the Mountain Spirit was only one level higher than that of a nominal disciple.

As a direct disciple, he naturally knew that the direct disciples under his master's name were different from the direct disciples of other sects.

Disciples personally taught by their master will receive a "Dao Guide" to solidify their top-tier foundation, promising a bright future on the path to the Great Dao.

He was originally just an ordinary 'wild ginseng', but after undergoing transformations and receiving 'Daoist guidance' from his master, he condensed a top-grade earth Dao seed.

The second junior brother was originally an ordinary domestic chicken, and the third junior sister was originally a ghost. After obtaining the "Dao Guide", they successively condensed the top-level Sun and Taiyin Yin Seeds.

Among them, the fourth junior brother had the best aptitude, condensing the Dao Seed of the Innate Blade with the origin of the Innate Blade Body.

As for those stronger than them, only those two senior uncles, their cultivation level, potential, and methods are all unknown.

The two senior uncles attained enlightenment before them, and were as mysterious as their master.

This time, the mountain spirit was accepted as a personal disciple by the master and became the spirit of the blessed land. Its future potential and status will be greatly enhanced.

After calming down, Gu Changsheng realized that he was too obsessed with Kuru Mountain and wondered why he couldn't rebuild it into a true paradise.

The laws of a grotto-heaven can transform into the laws of the world. Taking on a disciple who is a direct disciple of the laws of the world is also beneficial for the evolution of the grotto-heaven within the World Pearl of Withering and Flourishing.

He took Di Yuanzi and fled into the Mountain Spirit Secret Realm, appearing before the Mountain Spirit.

Di Yuanzi gently called out a few times, "Mountain Spirit, Mountain Spirit, wake up, Master is here."

The mountain spirit perched on the spirit stone pillar opened its large eyes and spoke in human language, "Disciple...disciple greets master."

Di Yuanzi briefly explained that he abandoned the original body of the Ku Rong Mountain, re-condensed the Dao Seed, entered the innate array diagram to become the array spirit, and evolved the blessed land into a Daoist temple.

After his eldest disciple finished explaining, Gu Changsheng added, "Mountain Spirit, you must undergo four tribulations: soul stripping, re-condensing the Dao seed, merging into the array diagram, and evolving the grotto-heaven."

"Failure means death and the annihilation of one's spirit."

"You may choose to give up, and in the future you may be appointed as the mountain god of Kuru Mountain, serving as the entrance and exit point to the cave heaven."

Before coming, he instructed his eldest disciple not to reveal the matter of taking on disciples, just to test the mountain spirit's courage.

Actually, making the mountain spirit into the array spirit has both advantages and disadvantages.

On the positive side, the spirit of the formation has already gained intelligence, so there is no need to train it again, and it also understands the way of formations;

On the downside, how the mountain spirit can separate the soul, re-condense the Dao seed, merge the array, and evolve the cave heaven are all major problems.

Death and the dissipation of one's Dao are merely tests of the other party's resolve. With the guidance of the primordial Dao, at least one will not die.

At most, it will fall into a deep sleep like Silvermoon, which may take several years.

The mountain spirit decisively chose to abandon the mountain body, re-condense the Dao seed, and transform into the array spirit, saying, "This disciple is willing to become the array spirit and transform into a blessed land."

"Very good!" Gu Changsheng exclaimed in praise, then gestured, "Di Yuanzi, go back and take charge of Kurong Mountain."

"Maintain order on the mountain when the mutation occurs again."

"Disciple takes his leave!" Di Yuanzi accepted the order and disappeared into the Mountain Spirit Secret Realm, his roots withdrawing from the secret realm space.

Gu Changsheng sat cross-legged opposite the mountain spirit, summoning the Withering and Flourishing World Pearl to release the power of the cave heaven to envelop the other party.

"Mountain Spirit, you must first comprehend the laws of the cave heaven, and then use the power of the cave heaven to condense the Dao Seed."

"Yes, teacher." The mountain spirit calmed its mind and focused on comprehending the laws of the cave.

Gu Changsheng would occasionally explain the principles of Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, the operating rules of the grotto-heaven, and the methods of formations.

A month later, Shanling finally comprehended one-tenth of the Daoist principles of the cave heaven and grasped one-tenth of its power.

Seeing this, Gu Changsheng asked, "Is the mountain spirit ready?"

"Disciple is ready." Mountain Spirit nodded. "Master, please begin."

With a thought, Gu Changsheng conjured up a blank array diagram and a jade bottle containing soul liquid.

He also sent a telepathic message to his four disciples, instructing them to maintain order on the mountain.

With his right hand, he manipulated the World of Withering and Flourishing Pearl, activating the power of the cave to envelop the mountain spirit and assist it in separating its soul.

With his left hand behind his back, he formed the withering and flourishing mudra, condensing the 'Dao Guide'.

He never told the mountain spirit about the existence of the "Daoist Guide" or about taking on disciples.

He hoped that the mountain spirit would have the courage to face death and survive this tribulation, and that its Dao heart would become more steadfast.

The ten-meter-long dragon vein trembled violently, its tail slapping against the barrier forged by the power of the cave.

The mountain spirit crashed around inside the protective barrier, its body oozing primordial yellow blood that instantly transformed into pure earth energy.

A transparent, illusory, and twisted dragon head slowly floated out from the dragon head;

The illusory dragon head is trying to break away from the true dragon vein.

At the same time, Mount Kurong continued to shake slightly, as if an earthquake was imminent.

At the foot of the mountain, in the celestial city, countless people ran out of their courtyards and stood on the street, gazing up at the withered and flourishing sacred mountain.

The villagers of Wanshou Village knelt on the ground, shouting, "The Mountain God has appeared!"

The villagers of Wanshou Village have all experienced dreams from the Earth God and the Dragon Girl, and they are the most superstitious about ghosts and gods.

Other individuals and forces wishing to settle in the Immortal City must undergo rigorous review at each level.

However, the original villagers of Wanshou Village can move directly into Xiancheng and settle down, a privilege that no one else has.

The villagers of Wanshou Village are also divided into two groups.

Some of them were members of the Wanshou Pavilion who were able to join Wanshou Village after Zhang Yuanfu reported to Gu Changsheng;

This section also includes the original villagers of Xiahe Village.

Gu Changsheng reviewed the household registration records of all these people.

The other part consists of villagers who joined after initial review by Wanshou Pavilion and approval by the Wanshou Village meeting, as needed for the development of Wanshou Village.

The villagers from both groups of Wanshou Village have basically moved into Xiancheng, but they live in different neighborhoods.

They were respectively located in the two major market areas of Xiaohefang and Wanshoufang.

The villagers of Xiahe Village increasingly felt that their status brought them the best benefits. They were very fortunate that no one looked down on Gu Changsheng's status as an orphan, and they genuinely helped him in his daily life.

This bond of kinship has sustained them.

Gu Changsheng may not remember them, but as long as they do not do anything to harm the interests of Kurong Mountain, they can live peacefully in the Immortal City.

They also don't actively seek out trouble.

Because of this unseen bond of kinship, no one, no cultivator, and no force dares to touch them in the slightest.

Every household in Xiaohefang has a "longevity tablet" and offers incense to it every morning and evening.

On major holidays, and on the dates when Gu Changsheng comes to Xiahe Village, they will hold large-scale sacrificial ceremonies.

Remember Gu Changsheng's kindness and carry on the path that Xiahe Village has taken.

Although Mount Kurong was trembling, no landslides occurred.

In the Mountain Spirit Realm, after the Mountain Spirit's physical form separates from its true form, it becomes so weak that it will dissipate with a mere gust of wind.

The ten-meter-long dragon vein lay bent on the ground, lifeless, its surface covered with a layer of dark yellow bloodstains.

"Mountain Spirit, use the power of the cave to condense the Dao Seed."

Gu Changsheng saw the mountain spirit slowly dissipating, and he shouted loudly.

He injected the soul liquid from the jade bottle into the mountain's soul body.

The dragon-shaped soul slowly curled up into a ball, the dragon shape dissipated, and it transformed into a pure soul.

Seeing this, Gu Changsheng waved his left hand from behind his back, and the 'Dao Guide' flew into the mountain's soul body.

With a wave of his right hand, a blank array unfolded, enveloping the mountain's soul.

He activated the World of Withering and Flourishing Pearl with his mind, sending strands of the power of the cave heaven into the mountain's soul to help it quickly condense into a seed.

This also prevents the earth's power from becoming too excessive, which would eventually condense into the Earth Dao Seed.

After an unknown amount of time, an array diagram floated in front of Gu Changsheng.

The World of Withering and Flourishing hangs above the array diagram, and every now and then a wisp of innate, undying primordial energy falls into the array diagram.

After much deliberation, Gu Changsheng decided to try training five disciples to see if they could break through his cultivation limit.

As the innate, undying primordial energy is injected, the array's grade is improving, and the internal grotto-heaven world is rapidly evolving.