Chapter 115

Bai Ling walked among the gathering of living beings outside Yunmeng Marsh, still drinking and making merry with many friends, when he suddenly saw the change in Yunmeng Marsh and jumped up from the stool.

"Oh no, the Lord has returned!"

Bai Ling's expression changed drastically, while his companions around him were still lost in drunken dreams, unaware of the change in Yunmeng Marsh; seeing him like that, they teased:

"Brother Bai, why aren't you drinking? If the dance girl isn't to your liking, just change her."

Bai Ling kicked him over in anger and said:

"What nonsense! My Lord has returned, you damned thing, I'm leaving first."

Having said that, he paid no heed to those present, turning into a streak of spiritual light and rushing toward the Dao Chang.

Only a few people remained in the field, looking at each other, when one leopard-headed six-tailed being suddenly asked uncertainly:

"Didn't Brother Bai settle the bill before leaving, right?"

As soon as those words were spoken, the surrounding people instantly fell silent, leaving only the sound of strings and bamboo rising and falling, unlike before.

Immediately, the previously heavy drinkers collapsed all at once, as if unable to hold their liquor, leaving only the leopard head standing helplessly in place.

He too had wanted to fall drunk to the ground, but the dance girl held up his upper body.

"Fellow Daoist, you should still be careful; although fine wine is good, don't overindulge."

The leopard head wanted to cry but had no tears.

East Sea.

Fuxi descended from the lecture platform and walked toward Taiyi and the others.

Qinglong entered the Primordial Dao thirty thousand years ago; the Ancestral Dragon invited Fuxi to come and lecture together, and Taiyi and the others, having nothing else to do, went together to listen to the lecture.

During the period when Qi was in seclusion, nobody left Yunmeng Marsh; they only made brief trips out, occasionally returning to the Dao Chang to check for any changes, then went back to Yunmeng Marsh.

After all, the Dao Chang of the few was too desolate; although bearable, there was no need to seek suffering, and whether Qi was present or not made little difference.

It's just that those few were more familiar with Yunmeng Marsh; if there were no pressing matters, Yunmeng Marsh was clearly more suitable for living.

Now, among the four, with Qi absent, Di Jun undoubtedly became the team's core; he always found ways for everyone to pass the time aside from cultivation.

Without leaving a trace, he attracted countless tribes to settle around Yunmeng Marsh, yet did not let them disturb its tranquility.

Therefore, Taiyi and Nüwa had no objections, even delighting in the sight; after all, in the Dao Chang they were tranquil and at ease, but stepping out meant bustling carriages and horses.

Today, Yunmeng Marsh in the Primordial Wasteland is also a famed gathering place of living beings, with a beautiful environment, abundant spiritual energy, and most importantly, it is free from worldly conflict.

This makes Yunmeng Marsh and the outside Primordial Wasteland like two different worlds; in legend, Yunmeng Marsh has no strife, ample supplies, and is a rare pure land in the Primordial Wasteland.

These legends attracted countless tribes to come trade and settle, also spreading Yunmeng Marsh's culture, music, and dance throughout the Primordial Wasteland.

At this point, to the Primordial Wasteland, Yunmeng Marsh is no longer merely a single place for gathering water and flood discharge; it has become a cultural center of the Primordial Wasteland.

This is also one of the reasons for the rise of Yunmeng Marsh's heavenly and earthly fortune, even occupying a primary position.

"Qi seems to have left seclusion."

Fuxi said hesitantly, he had a vague feeling but it was not certain.

"I have this feeling too, just not quite sure."

Taiyi affirmed his perception; having been together for a long time, their fortunes are linked, so they naturally sense something.

"After Fellow Daoist Qinglong finishes his lecture, we will return to Yunmeng Marsh, and then we will naturally know the result."

Di Jun suggested from the side that we should finish listening to the lecture before leaving, otherwise it would be overly rude.

"I haven't seen Qi in a long time; hearing you mention him, I really do miss him a bit."

Nüwa also had some anticipation; after all, being in seclusion for so long, it's almost as long as the time after the initial savage beast calamity when everyone was stimulated to go into seclusion.

Nüwa also wanted to know what opportunity allowed Qi to stay in seclusion alone for so long.

She wasn't greedy for the opportunity, just a little curious, just as Yangmei once evaluated her: she lacks nothing and walks the correct path, so she naturally won't envy others.

"Bai Ling greets the Lord; Bai Ling went out without permission, missed the appointed time, and hopes the Lord will punish him."

Bai Ling felt a little uneasy inside; he wasn't afraid of punishment, but feared being directly expelled, although he knew the likelihood was small.

"Punishment isn't necessary, nor did I expect you to guard the mountain gate; given that your cultivation has dropped a bit, go find a small island to seclude yourself."

Qi didn't pay much attention to Bai Ling's outing; in his view, Bai Ling is more like a steward than a mount.

Usually, just tidying up Yunmeng Marsh is enough; as long as no trouble arises, there's nothing unforgivable.

It's merely going out to play; Qi himself can't stay in Yunmeng Marsh all the time, so he naturally wouldn't demand that a mount behave and stay put.

Yearning for a free, indulgent life is the nature of living beings; as long as one doesn't lose sight of the essentials, it is tolerable and normal.

Earlier, Qi's divine sense swept over Yunmeng Marsh and found that each island was kept in good order, with various immortal herbs and spiritual fruits well stored.

The growing spiritual things also developed well, all showing that Bai Ling hadn't forgotten his duties, so he naturally wouldn't impose punishment.

It's just that his cultivation has dropped a bit, his practice too lax; that is truly forgetting the root, and in the Primordial Wasteland, only oneself is ever worth relying on.

This is also why Qi had him go into seclusion to cultivate: it counts as a mild confinement punishment, and urges him to practice seriously, not forgetting the root.

Bai Ling has listened to Qi's lectures countless times; in discussions among the group, he was never avoided, and the immortal herbs and spiritual fruits were never lacking.

Fifty great cycles have passed; with his innate exotic beast's foundation and such resource supply, he is still at the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, which makes Qi, whose resolve in seeking the Dao is strong, feel somewhat uneasy.

"As an innate divine being and an earth deity, I dare not neglect my cultivation; you are already far behind, yet so lax—how can you seize the chance to transcend?"

But the cultivator is ultimately Bai Ling himself; if Qi takes the initiative to give a couple of pointers, that already counts as doing his best; the rest can only depend on how sincere Bai Ling's aspiration for the Dao is.

So Qi did not set a fixed period for Bai Ling's closed-door cultivation, nor tell him what realm he needed to attain before emerging; it was entirely up to his own will.

Even if he emerged from seclusion the very next moment, Qi would not hold it against him; it's just that thereafter Bai Ling could only obediently serve as a mount.

There is no other alternative; if his own aspiration for the Dao is not steadfast, he will never have a chance to change in the future, and even if such an opportunity presented itself, he would not be able to grasp it.

"Bai Ling accepts the order; thank you, my lord, for your forgiveness."

Bai Ling bowed his head in farewell, very solemnly; he could understand the lord's pointers and good intentions, and now the opportunity has been given—whether he can seize it depends entirely on himself.

PS: Made it in time!

(End of chapter)