Courtyard House: The Cultivation System Takes Me Flying

The morning light, like mist, gently enveloped every inch of the Eternal Homeland. The Chaos Spring continued to gush forth, and the Spirit Stream meandered along the Four Seasons Spirit Garden, its tinkling waters weaving with the spiritual sounds of time into the most tranquil melody. All the spirits still roosted freely in the courtyard: spirit rabbits rested among the flowers, spirit sparrows perched on the bamboo, spirit deer guarded the stream, spirit mice patrolled the steps, and the white jade rhinoceros lay beneath the central stone platform, its breathing even—a scene of perfect peace.

Qin Lindong opened his eyes from his meditation, his gaze clear and serene. The power of the peak ninth level of the Golden Core realm had long since merged with the cave heaven, all paths returning to his heart, leaving no ripples. He no longer needed to cultivate, comprehend the Dao, or even deliberately protect it, for the entire homeland had already become eternal, the Eternal Chang'an Realm transformed into the rules of heaven and earth, protecting every blade of grass, every tree, every person, and every spirit here.

After the ultimate perfection of the previous Wan Gu Chang An and Yong Heng Gui Zhen, the layout of the home was already extremely perfect. However, when Qin Lin Dong looked at the verdant land along the Lingxi River, his heart stirred slightly. Although the Four Seasons Ling Garden was beautiful and the Immortal Abode was warm, it lacked a quiet and comfortable abode by the water, where everyone could sit quietly by the stream, listen to the spring and watch the flowers, and enjoy a moment of peace and tranquility.

He walked slowly to the middle of the Spirit Stream, where the water was clearest, the ripples gentlest, and the flowers on both banks never faded, their shadows swaying gently. Qin Lindong lightly raised his fingertips, and a wisp of warm, primordial spiritual energy slowly descended, instantly conjuring a small, exquisite, and elegant waterside pavilion. The pavilion's beams were made of thousand-year-old spiritual bamboo, its base of warm jade, and its curtains of light gauze. Open on all sides, it stood overlooking the water. Inside, there was a small table made of spiritual jade, two cushions, a light gauze curtain, and a window offering a view of the stream. There were no superfluous decorations, yet every corner exuded tranquility and elegance. Half of the pavilion stood on the bank, and the other half extended into the stream. Sitting there, one could reach out and touch the clear spring, look up and see the blooming flowers, listen to the spiritual sounds, and feel the Daoist rhythm in stillness. There were no ornate carvings, no grand scale, only the simplest and most comforting beauty of a secluded dwelling.

[Ding! The host has successfully completed the construction of Lingxi Cottage, achieving a perfect and tranquil atmosphere!]

[Lingxi Xiaozhu's Effect: Sitting by the stream can cleanse the mind and soothe the soul; solitude is not lonely, and being in a group is not noisy; tranquility and freedom last forever.]

The cottage is eternally sturdy, dust-free, water-free, colorfast, and undamaged, and remains cool and comfortable all year round.

[When immersed in this state, one's mind remains free from distractions and agitation, and a sense of tranquility and bliss resides within.]

[The host is rewarded with the following: A pure and tranquil Dao heart is perfected, undisturbed by all laws, and the state of mind enters a new level of purity.]

As the system notification faded away, Lingxi Xiaozhu nestled quietly above the stream, its bamboo shadows swaying and its gauze curtains fluttering, blending seamlessly with the surrounding scenery—a beauty that was serene and peaceful.

The first to discover Lingxi Cottage were three children: Banggeng, Xiaodang, and Huaihua. They were playing with their spirit deer by the Lingxi River when they spotted the elegant cottage standing by the water, their eyes lighting up with joy. Xiaodang pointed at the cottage, his voice clear and crisp, Huaihua clapped and laughed, and Banggeng, pulling their spirit deer, led the way along the path by the stream, their steps light yet cautious, as if afraid of disturbing the tranquility. The three children stepped softly into Lingxi Cottage, and upon entering, they felt refreshed. The coolness of the stream mingled with the fragrance of flowers, and the only sounds were the tinkling of water and the gentle breeze. Even their usual playful spirits quieted down. They didn't make a sound, but simply leaned against the window, watching the spirit fish swimming in the stream and the spirit flowers blooming on the bank, their little faces filled with rapt attention.

Qin Huairu arrived shortly after, and seeing the children quietly nestled in the small dwelling, a gentle smile appeared on her face. She walked in slowly, sat on the futon beside the jade table, and felt a sense of relaxation wash over her. The gentle languor of the past few days transformed into ultimate comfort. The Water Spirit Path blended seamlessly with the stream, and her mid-stage Golden Core cultivation flowed naturally. Without deliberate practice, she felt her Dao foundation becoming increasingly smooth and complete. She softly marveled at the tranquility and peace of the place. Two or three spirit sparrows landed on the eaves of the small dwelling, and spirit mice squatted at the door, neither making a sound, simply keeping her company quietly.

Before long, He Yuzhu returned carrying several cups of spirit spring flower tea. He had just come from the spirit kitchen, still carrying the faint fragrance of spirit food. Seeing the elegant and pleasant Lingxi Cottage, he couldn't help but step inside. He placed the flower tea on the table, watching the stream flowing outside the window, feeling utterly at ease. He was now in the late Golden Core stage, his spirit food cultivation perfected, his aura calm and profound, yet within the Lingxi Cottage, he exuded a rare sense of leisure and languor. For him, spirit food was both a responsibility and a pleasure, and this tranquil bliss of sitting by the stream was the best gift bestowed upon him by time.

Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong strolled over leisurely. The two elderly men, both at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, were remarkably spry, having long since cast aside worldly concerns. Now, their greatest pleasure was finding a quiet place to sit, drink tea, chat, and admire the flowers. The appearance of Lingxi Cottage was exactly what they wanted. They didn't go inside to disturb the peace, but simply sat on the bluestone outside the cottage, basking in the sun, listening to the stream, and chatting idly, their words gentle and undisturbed.

The Jia family of four also arrived at the stream. Jia Dongxu, Jia Zhangshi, and Jia Geng stood at a distance, not approaching as they saw people sitting quietly inside the small house. They simply picked a few spirit flowers on the bank and admired them silently. Jia Zhangshi gazed at the elegant figure of the Spirit Stream House, a peaceful smile on her face, her heart filled with tranquility. In this home, even peace and quiet were so well taken care of; what more could she ask for?

All living beings were exceptionally intelligent. A rabbit lay down in front of the small building steps, a deer guarded the stream, and butterflies fluttered around the light gauze. All living beings consciously softened their movements, protecting this rare tranquility.

Qin Lindong stood with his hands behind his back under the bamboo shade not far from the small abode, quietly watching the scene before him. He built the Lingxi Small Abode not to display his supernatural powers, nor for the sake of a grand temple, but simply to provide his family with a quiet corner where they could daydream and relax freely. In this life, all one seeks is companionship in times of liveliness, a quiet corner in times of peace, people to share joy with, and also peace in solitude. The most precious thing about the Eternal Home is not immortality, nor power, but that every emotion is placed in a place, and every need is met.

As noon approached, He Yuzhu got up and returned to the kitchen to prepare the meal, carefully putting away the teacups before leaving. Qin Huairu led the children away from the small house, the children turning back every few steps, clearly fond of this tranquil place. Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong remained seated on the bluestone, basking in the sun, until the aroma of the spiritual food wafted over, before slowly rising to their feet.

Qin Lindong entered Lingxi Cottage and sat alone on a futon. The stream flowed beneath his feet, a gentle breeze whispered in his ears, and the fragrance of flowers lingered in his nostrils. He didn't cultivate his inner energy, didn't seek enlightenment, didn't contemplate the Great Dao; he simply sat, listening to the water, observing the flowers, calming his mind and spirit. In the outside world, cultivators fought fiercely, demonic beasts roamed, sects clashed, and mortals wandered aimlessly; even a moment of peace was a luxury. But here, with a stream, a cottage, a flower, and a spirit, he could enjoy eternal tranquility. This was the gentlest corner he had reserved for his family and for himself.

In the afternoon, everyone took turns sitting quietly at Lingxi Cottage. Some sat alone in a daze, some chatted in pairs, some sketched by the stream, and some closed their eyes to rest. No one urged anyone on, no one pushed; everyone consciously maintained tranquility, enjoying this rare moment of freedom. As the sun set, it dyed Lingxi Stream golden red, bathing Lingxi Cottage in a warm light. The light gauze fluttered, and the reflections in the stream swayed, creating a scene as beautiful as a dream. As all things gradually returned to their resting place, everyone in the courtyard settled down to rest. Lingxi Stream continued to flow, and the cottage remained quiet, awaiting the morning light of tomorrow, awaiting the next moment of serene joy.

Lingxi Xiaozhu, a tranquil and carefree dwelling, with a stream of flowing water and drifting clouds, half leisure and half peace. I do not seek worldly splendor, but only wish for peace of mind year after year.