Chapter 1495: Yunyi Villa
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Chapter 1493: Yunyi Villa
Outside Houtu City, on the winding, serpentine expressway, a carriage sped like the wind toward the Great Spirit Field Realm.
Inside, Mo Hua, as the Little Senior Brother, patiently explained formations to his Little Junior Brother, Zhū Mùchén.
When it came to cultivation matters, Mo Hua couldn’t offer much guidance.
In terms of foundational cultivation in Spiritual Qi and Blood Qi, he, as the Little Senior Brother, actually fell quite short compared to Zhū Mùchén.
In their entire cohort at the Great Void Sect, he was considered the least talented.
The Celestial Evolution Art that Mo Hua practiced was even more peculiar and unconventional than the traditional path of Proving the Dao through Divine-Sense, making it impossible to teach to others.
Formations, however, were different. With Mo Hua’s current level of formation mastery, unless someone had achieved Feathered Ascension, he could offer guidance to anyone.
Let alone his Little Junior Brother, Zhū Mùchén.
In Mo Hua’s eyes, Zhū Mùchén’s formation skills were relatively poor and clearly quite rusty.
Formations were inherently difficult to learn and consumed Divine-Sense, which was often painful. Mo Hua guessed that since leaving the Great Void Sect, with less supervision, Zhū Mùchén had likely neglected his studies, resulting in minimal progress.
But Mo Hua didn’t criticize him. Instead, he remained dedicated, fulfilling his duties as Little Senior Brother by teaching Zhū Mùchén formations.
He also pointed out the flaws in Zhū Mùchén’s foundation and outlined a step-by-step path for his future development in formations.
Zhū Mùchén listened with utmost seriousness, committing every word of his Little Senior Brother’s teachings firmly to memory.
For some reason, any formation taught by his Little Senior Brother became so clear, accessible, and profoundly understandable.
After graduating from the Great Void Sect and returning to his family, Zhū Mùchén hadn’t entirely neglected formations.
The Zhū Clan was a prominent family, and there were several experienced formation elders within the clan. Following the clan head’s orders, they had instructed Zhū Mùchén.
But when these clan elders explained formations, they either pretended to be profound, speaking in convoluted and obscure terms, or they were vague and confusing. Some even held back knowledge, revealing only part of the truth…
Gradually, Zhū Mùchén lost interest in learning.
Now, compared to his Little Senior Brother, the difference was like clouds and mud.
Zhū Mùchén sighed inwardly: “As expected, my Little Senior Brother is the best.”
“In the Dao of formations, no one is likely stronger than Little Senior Brother.”
Zhū Mùchén had developed a somewhat blind admiration for Mo Hua’s formation skills.
Seeing Zhū Mùchén nodding to himself, lost in thought, Mo Hua gently reminded him, “Don’t lose focus.”
“Mm, mm.” Zhū Mùchén nodded repeatedly, concentrating and not daring to let his mind wander again.
Mo Hua taught for most of the day. Seeing that Zhū Mùchén was learning earnestly and grasping concepts quickly, he nodded with satisfaction. After a moment’s thought, he added: “Formations are the foremost among all arts. If you truly lacked talent, it would be one thing—no need to waste time forcing yourself to learn. But you do have talent; you just haven’t found the right approach and have grown somewhat lax. In the future, if you can pick formations back up, you should. Learning more formations will greatly benefit you, whether in expanding your cultivation knowledge or in seeking the Dao and comprehending Laws in the future.”
Hearing this, Zhū Mùchén was deeply moved and nodded again, thinking to himself, Little Senior Brother truly lives up to being Little Senior Brother.
Everything Little Senior Brother said made perfect sense, and he understood it immediately upon hearing it.
Unlike his parents and elders, who would nag and criticize him for not working hard, unable to explain things clearly.
Zhū Mùchén said, “Little Senior Brother, I’ve remembered everything.”
Mo Hua smiled gently. “Good.”
For most of the journey thereafter, Mo Hua spent his time teaching Zhū Mùchén formations. When they grew tired from studying and took breaks, Zhū Mùchén would eagerly present dozens of carefully prepared wines and delicacies for his Little Senior Brother to sample.
Thus, although the journey was not short, it was far from dull.
In this manner, two and a half days passed in the blink of an eye.
Sitting inside the carriage, Mo Hua’s gaze shifted as he sensed a change in the Qi Mechanism of heaven and earth. The restrictive power of the Heavenly Dao had grown stronger, leading him to surmise that he had already left the territory of the fifth-grade Houtu City and entered the Great Spirit Field Realm.
Mo Hua turned his head to look out the carriage window.
The scenery outside instantly transformed.
Gone were the city walls, the pavilions and towers, the densely packed markets and streets.
In their place stretched endless, seemingly boundless miles of spirit fields, resembling pieces of emerald.
The sky was ocean blue, the earth a vibrant green, like two immense blankets spreading across the horizon, converging in the distance.
The crispness of the air, the gentle warmth of the soil, and the fresh, sweet fragrance of various spiritual plants mingled together, washing over him.
Mo Hua felt as though he had entered a world enveloped in dense vitality.
The earth’s nature is Kun, bearing all things with profound virtue, nurturing all life with exuberant vitality.
This, perhaps, was the true face of the land of Kun Province.
It was the Dao essence of the earth, bestowing blessings upon all things.
Mo Hua gazed at the scene before him, immersed in the sea-like intensity of vitality, momentarily lost in thought.
Zhū Mùchén didn’t fully understand, but seeing his Little Senior Brother’s expression, he too seemed influenced and fell into a daze.
Thus, the two brothers stared out the carriage window.
Meanwhile, the carriage continued to forge ahead, cutting through the wind, traversing the emerald ocean of spirit fields as it journeyed toward the broader world ahead.
After roughly another half day, the carriage began to slow and gradually came to a stop.
Mo Hua looked out the window and saw the Zhū Clan’s carriage halted before a tall relay station. Inside the station, a group of cultivators waited respectfully.
Seeing they had finally arrived, Zhū Mùchén relaxed slightly and said, “Little Senior Brother, we’re here. Let’s get off together.”
“Mm,” Mo Hua nodded.
As Zhū Mùchén gathered a few belongings, a servant stepped forward to open the door and bowed to guide them.
After disembarking, the group waiting below quickly approached, clasping their hands in enthusiastic flattery:
“Young Master Chén, we’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival.”
“Your presence brings honor to our humble abode.”
“Young Master Chén is truly talented and distinguished. Seeing you today confirms you are a dragon among men, destined for boundless achievements on the immortal path.”
With Mo Hua present, Zhū Mùchén felt somewhat uncomfortable under such praise and coughed lightly before asking: “Where is Elder Lù?”
Elder Lù was the Dark-Robed Elder who had previously accompanied Zhū Mùchén. His full name was Zhu ShouLù, a senior elder within the Zhū Clan with extensive connections.
Whenever Zhū Mùchén needed to engage with the clan’s industries or visit elders from various clans and professions, it was Elder Lù who facilitated introductions and arrangements.
At this moment, a steward-like figure stepped forward, smiling broadly as he replied: “Reporting to Young Master Chén, Elder Lù was temporarily delayed by urgent matters and couldn’t free himself. He will visit you later at Yunyi Villa.”
Zhū Mùchén nodded.
The steward then asked, “Young Master, is there… anywhere you’d like to go now?”
Zhū Mùchén thought for a moment, glanced at Mo Hua, and concerned that his Little Senior Brother might be fatigued from the journey, said to the steward: “Let’s not go there first. Let’s head to the villa and rest for a bit. Find a more comfortable carriage.”
The steward hurriedly replied, “Yes, yes, as you command, Young Master Chen.”
Before long, the steward summoned a carriage.
Since this was a Third-Grade Territory, not as prosperous as Houtu City, the carriage’s exterior was not particularly exquisite. However, the interior was fully equipped with a screen, incense burner, carpet, and a soft couch, making it quite comfortable to sit in.
Zhū Mùchén and Mo Hua switched to this more comfortable carriage and set off toward the villa mentioned by the steward, Yunyi Villa.
Inside the carriage, the windows were wide open, and the ride was leisurely.
The view along the way was excellent, with endless stretches of spiritual fields in sight. The breeze from the fields brushed against their cheeks, refreshing and pleasant.
Mo Hua couldn’t help but ask Zhū Mùchén, “Does your Zhū Clan own a lot of farmland?”
Zhū Mùchén nodded. “I suppose you could say we do. Our Zhū Clan has some farmland in more than half of the Great Spirit Field Realm. Since I was a child, during festivals, I would visit various estates and villas to enjoy melons, pick fruits, and spend the summer days.”
“However, I’ve never paid much attention to the clan’s industries, so I don’t know exactly how much farmland we own. I’ve always focused solely on cultivation and rarely inquired about these matters.”
Mo Hua nodded slowly and asked, “What about the other noble families?”
Zhū Mùchén replied, “All noble families in Kun Province own land. Although they now have their own industries, land remains the foundation.”
“Does the Earth Sect also own a lot of land?” Mo Hua asked.
Zhū Mùchén said, “Naturally. The Earth Sect controls the most land by far.”
“How much could that be?” Mo Hua wondered. “Half of the Great Spirit Field Realm?”
Zhū Mùchén quickly shook his head. “Not that much.”
“Less than half?” Mo Hua pondered.
It seemed even his seemingly all-knowing Little Senior Brother had some things he didn’t know.
Zhū Mùchén thought to himself, then perked up and explained to Mo Hua: “Little Senior Brother, you might not know this. The Great Spirit Field Realm is made up of dozens of provinces and territories, vast beyond measure. It’s far too large for the Earth Sect to monopolize.”
“According to rough statistics from the Dao Court Division, hundreds of millions of spirit farmers depend on this vast expanse of land for their livelihoods.”
“No matter how large the Earth Sect is, it’s still just one sect. Even if it occupies a significant portion, it’s ultimately limited. Its share of the Great Spirit Field Realm is probably… less than one-tenth.”
“Beyond that, there are the major noble families of Kun Province, medium-sized noble families, small clans, wealthy landowners, small landlords, well-off farmers, and even poor households with only one or two acres.”
“Then there’s the official land occupied by the Dao Court Division, lands purchased by various cultivation factions, lands secretly traded by large and small merchant guilds, lands allocated to different types of sects, and lands used by a few high-level cultivators to build their own caves and villas for cultivating spiritual plants… and so on.”
“There are also some reclusive, hidden forces that occupy quite a bit of land.”
“These ownerships are all quite complex. Together, they make up the majority of the land ownership in the Great Spirit Field Realm.”
“For the Earth Sect to occupy even one-tenth is already quite remarkable.”
Zhū Mùchén explained everything to Mo Hua in detail.
Upon hearing this, Mo Hua suddenly understood. He looked at Zhū Mùchén and nodded in praise. “Mùchén, you really know a lot.”
Zhū Mùchén was overjoyed inside, but on the surface, he remained composed and modest. “You flatter me, Little Senior Brother. I only know a little about this.”
In truth, he wasn’t very familiar with the specifics either.
However, as the young master of the Zhū Clan, he had grown accustomed to hearing his father discuss such broad strategic divisions during conversations with others. Through this constant exposure, he had naturally developed a clear understanding of these matters.
Mo Hua, on the other hand, gradually fell into deep thought.
He hadn’t expected that the Earth Sect’s holdings in the Great Spirit Field Realm would amount to less than one-tenth of the total land.
Was it truly less than one-tenth, or… was it only on the surface that it appeared to be less than one-tenth?
Moreover, the ownership of land in the Great Spirit Field Realm was so intricately complex…
This was truly somewhat unexpected.
As Mo Hua pondered, the carriage traveled several more li, and the road ahead suddenly opened up, leading directly to a distant manor.
The manor covered a vast area, with the words “Yunyi Villa” inscribed in large characters above its entrance gate.
It was surrounded by walls, within which formations were carved. The buildings inside, though lacking towering structures, were orderly, exquisite, and adorned with carved beams and painted rafters. The roof ridges resembled auspicious beasts, clearly indicating the residence of a prominent clan.
Upon entering Yunyi Villa, Mo Hua found small bridges and flowing streams within, courtyards that were both delicate and elegant, as well as orchards, medicinal gardens, and fish ponds.
The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, fruits, and medicinal herbs, while fish swam leisurely in the water, creating a serene and leisurely atmosphere.
For a moment, Mo Hua was somewhat taken aback.
Zhū Mùchén asked Mo Hua, “Little Senior Brother, what do you think?”
Mo Hua sighed inwardly and nodded, saying, “Indeed… it is a wonderful place.”
Zhū Mùchén’s joy grew even more evident.
He had long wanted to invite his Little Senior Brother to visit his family’s villa, to experience the unique leisurely charm of such a manor.
Houtu City was too bustling, with grand gates and towering buildings everywhere, but at times it felt oppressive, weighing heavily on one’s heart. It was far less relaxing and pleasant than this countryside villa.
The steward nearby also smiled and chimed in: “Knowing that Young Master Chén was coming, everything was prepared in advance. Today’s welcoming feast will surely satisfy you, Young Master.”
Zhū Mùchén nodded.
If he had come to the villa alone, the quality of the reception wouldn’t have mattered much. But now that his Little Senior Brother was here, it was essential to ensure a proper welcome and make him happy.
This was an opportunity he had only dreamed of during his time at the Great Void Sect.
Afterward, Zhū Mùchén took Mo Hua around the villa, showing him the small bridges and flowing streams, picking some fruits, and fishing for a while.
As evening fell, lanterns were lit in the villa, their glow blending into the night, creating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
In the main hall of the villa, some young women were dancing.
However, these women were dressed modestly, and though their dance was graceful, it remained dignified.
Zhū Mùchén was the young master of the Zhū Clan, still in his youth and unmarried. At this point, no one dared to use overtly seductive displays to influence his temperament or taint Young Master Chén’s senses.
Otherwise, if discovered, they would face severe punishment from the clan.
After a while, the atmosphere of the evening banquet grew more harmonious.
The villa’s stewards, the managers of the orchards and medicinal gardens, and the nearby village heads all came one by one to pay their respects to Zhū Mùchén.
For them, this was a rare opportunity to gain recognition in front of the young master of a prominent clan, and they naturally sought to make the most of it.
These managers and village heads also presented many local specialties from the spirit fields, as well as rare wild game.
Zhū Mùchén was delighted and rewarded them generously with spirit stones.
Naturally, the managers and village heads were overjoyed, expressing endless gratitude and praising Young Master Chén for his kindness and boundless future prospects.
Mo Hua sampled the fruits and local specialties brought by the village heads, as well as the freshly roasted wild game. Indeed, he found them to possess a unique, fresh, and delicious flavor of the mountains and countryside, something that couldn’t be tasted in Houtu City.
This meal left him feeling truly content.
After the evening banquet, Mo Hua stayed in the highest-grade guest room, right next to Zhū Mùchén.
As it was getting late, Zhū Mùchén said, “Little Senior Brother, rest well. We can go out and explore tomorrow.”
Mo Hua nodded gently and replied, “You should rest well too.”
Zhū Mùchén smiled and said, “Mm, good night, Little Senior Brother.”
Afterward, the two returned to their respective rooms.
Mo Hua lay on the bed, the moonlight crystal clear and the night deep, immersing himself in the tranquil and serene atmosphere of the countryside.
This was Mo Hua’s first day in the Great Spirit Field Realm.
For a moment, he felt that life in the fields was incredibly comfortable and pleasant. The lingering sweetness of freshly picked fruits and the rich aroma of wild game still seemed to linger on his palate, almost making him forget why he had come to the Great Spirit Field Realm in the first place.
Mo Hua’s brows furrowed slightly:
“Is life in the Great Spirit Field Realm like this?”
“Did I really come to the Great Spirit Field Realm?”
Lost in these doubts, Mo Hua gradually grew drowsy.
The exhaustion from days of travel, the belly full of fruits and wild game, the slightly intoxicating fruit wine, and the soft, comfortable bed beneath him all conspired to make him sleepy. His eyelids grew heavy.
Mo Hua closed his eyes, intending to rest for a while, but before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.
After some time, a chill seemed to sweep over him, making him feel cold. He opened his eyes.
Vaguely, he could hear something speaking in his ears:
“Found it?”
“No.”
“The soul is gone… What do we do?”
“Find a Scapegoat Ghost? Take it down to settle the matter?”
“Where would we find a Scapegoat Ghost in a place like this?”
As they spoke, Mo Hua had already opened his eyes. Squinting slightly, he noticed a Death Path formed of condensed Yin Qi passing through the center of the room.
On this path, four “people” were walking and chatting.
These “people” were dressed like officials, tall and imposing, looking human at first glance, but their heads were grotesquely misshapen, as if pieced together from the heads of livestock.
As Mo Hua looked at these “people,” they suddenly paused and turned to stare back at him. One of the deformed heads narrowed its eyes and said:
“Big brother, does this kid… see us?”