Listening to the Honored Guest Elders’ analysis,
Mei Yong specifically looked at Xiao Chen and Ye Fei. "Junior Brother Xiao, Junior Brother Ye, you two are in the Demon Extermination Hall and are often active outside."
"You must be extra careful."
Ye Fei agreed readily, but from his expression, he didn’t seem too worried.
Xiao Chen thought for a moment and also nodded. "Rest assured, Senior Brother. I will definitely be careful."
After leaving the Sect’s main hall, he first took a trip to the Demon Extermination Hall.
As the hall’s operations got on track, a great many clues had already been gathered.
All sorts of investigation missions filled an entire wall in the newly constructed main hall.
’It’s funny, you don’t think there’s much going on, but the moment you start digging, suspicions pop up everywhere.’
However, unlike a mission fanatic like Ye Fei, Xiao Chen had never been interested in Sect missions, not even the relatively easy investigation ones.
This was mainly because he didn’t need to rely on this method to earn cultivation resources for the time being.
Thanks to the "warm gifts" from the Hundred Poison Demon and the Black Wind Wanderer, plus Elder Su’s investment, he now had over 12,300 Spirit Stones in his pocket.
’Basically a man of means now.’
So, after checking and finding no news of any Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators appearing, he returned to Cuiwei Valley.
’Hmm, let’s see... Maybe I’ll plant them in the middle of the courtyard?’
Taking out the twelve newly acquired flower pots, he walked a circle around the area.
In the end, Xiao Chen decided to place the flowers in the courtyard, right by the entrance.
First, this would make them more conspicuous, helping remind him to take care of the flowers.
Second, if he had to go on a long trip or something, they could survive on rainwater.
He embedded Spirit Stones into the bottom of the pots, took out the seeds and buried them, and even added a few drops of the Fragrant Secret Dew he had left.
After fiddling with the Spirit Flowers, he realized this was probably the first time he’d ever tended to his own courtyard.
Along the courtyard wall, a row of morning glories had sprouted at some point.
Of course, there were also plenty of weeds, some of which had even taken root on the roof tiles.
’I’m always busy with cultivation. I’ll take a day off today.’
Xiao Chen was suddenly in the mood and tidied up the entire compound.
His courtyard was actually quite large. Past a small rockery in the center was a small garden.
Further back, there was a pavilion and a small pond.
There was a clear spring in Cuiwei Valley, and the Servant Disciples responsible for building the compound had painstakingly constructed a channel over seven hundred zhang long to divert the spring water here.
Sitting in the pavilion, one could see the reflection of green mountains and fluffy white clouds.
’These clouds... they somehow have a hint of Flame Radiance to them.’
Xiao Chen suddenly felt a flash of Spiritual Light, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.
He immediately focused his mind but couldn’t recapture the feeling.
Fortunately, where comprehension failed, Spiritual Objects could compensate.
With a thought, a Cyan Lotus Seed appeared in his hand, and he swallowed it in one gulp.
While gazing at the white clouds, he carefully recalled the Heart Method of the "Sky-Filling Flame Radiance."
As the Cyan Lotus Seed settled in his stomach, even the ripples on the water’s surface stirred by the wind seemed to slow down considerably.
That sudden burst of Spiritual Light from before seemed to return to him.
Xiao Chen gradually closed his eyes, but it was as if he could still see the fluffy white clouds before him.
He meticulously recited the Heart Method in his mind, word by word, and felt that many parts he previously found difficult to understand had become clear.
’So that’s how it is.’
He let out a long breath of turbid air.
Xiao Chen opened his eyes in delight, only to find that although he had only gone through the Heart Method once, the world outside was pitch black. It was already Midnight.
’It felt like only a Quarter Hour had passed, but twelve hours have already gone by.’
’Is this what true enlightenment feels like?’
The next day, he mimicked his actions from yesterday, trying again.
But this time, no matter how much he stared at the white clouds in the pond, that spark of inspiration never came.
Xiao Chen tried eating another Cyan Lotus Seed. Although he felt his mind immediately become much clearer and more transparent, the effect was far less potent than before.
’It’s so annoying. I did everything exactly the same, but I can’t replicate it.’
But despite saying that, he persisted in meditating on the clouds for another three days.
Finally, he felt he had taken another step forward.