The Grand Hot Spring Project and Unexpected Reunions

Three days had passed since Bai Qiuyuan and Su Changling’s sword fight.

During these three days, Bai Qiuyuan arranged for carpenters to go to White Egret Villa to make major changes to all the houses in the village.

Bai Qiuyuan also enlisted Wen Zhenping’s help, tasking him with finding skilled business operators.

The special operating permit for outside the city was also approved for Bai Qiuyuan, thanks to Su Changling’s influence within the imperial palace.

Simultaneously, Bai Qiuyuan used a cleaning-type spirit talisman from his ‘Modifier’ to transform the hot spring, allowing it to self-clean and eliminating the need for manual upkeep.

As the major renovations for the mountain villa were mostly arranged over the past three days, Bai Qiuyuan found himself with ample free time; thus, he ventured into the city to wander and clear his mind.

Since the mist had been too dense during his sword duel with Su Changling, no one had clearly seen Bai Qiuyuan’s appearance, allowing him to walk the streets unrecognized.

‘In my previous life, I was always stuck in the 996 grind (TL Note: A common work schedule in China, 9 AM to 9 PM, 6 days a week), never getting the chance to enjoy a hot spring. This time, I absolutely must build myself a hot spring resort!’

Pondering this, Bai Qiuyuan paused for a few seconds before opening his ‘Modifier’ and gazing at the cultivation column.

‘I’ll go to the Upper Realm after a while.’

‘First, I need a ‘foothold’ in the Mortal Realm. Once I’m in the Upper Realm, I can try using the ‘Modifier’ to open a portable teleportation gate, then modify my cultivation to Foundation Establishment, and then return to enjoy the hot springs!’

With this thought, Bai Qiuyuan closed his ‘Modifier’, took a bite of the steamed bun he had just bought, and continued his leisurely stroll.

As his ‘Grand Hot Spring Project’ remained unfinished, Bai Qiuyuan temporarily shelved the idea of traveling to the Upper Realm.

Moreover, Bai Qiuyuan had gained much from his duel with Su Changling.

While he could suppress opponents through cultivation, Bai Qiuyuan realized that after using the ‘Modifier’, he couldn’t fully control the suddenly appearing power in the first instant, which was one reason he had been at a disadvantage during his previous duel with Su Changling.

Following the duel, Bai Qiuyuan had spent his nights cultivating, striving to master his own cultivation as quickly as possible.

“Little Brother Bai?”

Just as Bai Qiuyuan was eating his bun and walking along, contemplating how to cultivate, a familiar voice abruptly interrupted him.

Bai Qiuyuan turned, immediately seeing Lin Ziya and her two companions, all looking disheveled and covered in dust.

Their clothes were somewhat tattered, making it appear as though they had just endured a fierce battle.

“Sister Ziya? What… what have you three been up to?”

Bai Qiuyuan asked, puzzled.

For Lin Ziya, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, to be in such a sorry state, her opponent clearly possessed at least Foundation Establishment cultivation as well.

In Bai Qiuyuan’s impression, Lin Ziya was not one to actively provoke Sword Immortals.

Lin Ziya explained with a helpless expression.

“Didn’t I tell you before that I came to the Imperial City to treat the princess’s strange illness?”

Bai Qiuyuan silently took another bite of his bun and nodded.

“We found some clues. The spiritual medicine to treat the princess’s strange illness is in a village nestled deep within the mountains.”

“Upon learning this three days ago, we set out to find the spiritual medicine.”

“It turned out that the place had long been occupied by an unknown plant demon cultivator, and everyone in a nearby small village had already become its nourishment…”

Bai Qiuyuan: “…” (eating his bun)

“After confirming the surroundings, we set up a barrier and then launched a siege against that plant demon.”

“Only after fighting did we realize that the demon had already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment Stage One cultivation!”

“It took the three of us nearly an entire day to finally slay that demon.”

“Later, we learned that the demon itself was the spiritual medicine we were searching for!”

“The spiritual medicine had developed sentience and began cultivating, thus becoming a plant demon cultivator…”

“When we turned back to collect the demon cultivator’s corpse, we found that its body had already turned to ash…”

“Its medicinal power had also completely transformed into spiritual energy, re-integrating into the place where the demon cultivator perished…”

“So now, not only did we fail to retrieve the spiritual medicine, but we also sustained considerable injuries.”

Bai Qiuyuan: “…”

After a moment of silence, Bai Qiuyuan asked.

“What is the name of the spiritual medicine you were looking for?”

Lin Ziya: “?”

Although Lin Ziya didn’t understand why Bai Qiuyuan asked this, she still explained.

“It’s called the Purple Illusion Vine Flower. Its effect is to dispel most illusion-type spells, forcefully restoring consciousness without any side effects.”

“This spiritual medicine is abundant in the Upper Realm, as common as roadside weeds, but it’s incredibly rare in the Mortal Realm…”

Sun Ning added.

“And the spirit stones we carry are only enough to activate the teleportation array to the Upper Realm one more time. If we were to return to the Upper Realm—”

But before Sun Ning could finish, the trio watched as Bai Qiuyuan rummaged through his sleeve, then pulled out a bundle of Purple Illusion Vine Flowers, complete with purple petals, yellow stamens, and perfectly preserved roots!

Their preservation was nearly flawless!

Instantly, the air fell silent.

‘[Purple Illusion Vine Flower!! Why does he have it!]’

‘[What was all our hard work for?]’

‘[His sleeve must actually be a magic treasure, right!?]’

The thought that Bai Qiuyuan had preserved and carried with him the Purple Illusion Vine Flower, which was as common as weeds in the Upper Realm…

For a moment, all three grew curious about what else Bai Qiuyuan might have hidden in his sleeve…

After a prolonged silence, Zhou Meng finally spoke.

“Fellow Daoist Bai, you have Purple Illusion Vine Flowers?”

Bai Qiuyuan quietly looked at Zhou Meng, then, after two seconds of silence, he spoke.

“Yes, but you didn’t ask me if I had any before.”

The trio: “…”

The trio instantly felt their spirits plummet.

‘[When Little Brother Bai offered to help, why did I refuse!!!]’

‘[If we had just taken him with us, the problem might have been solved directly!!]’

Just as the trio’s minds were reeling, Bai Qiuyuan tossed the bundle of spiritual medicine he had retrieved from his ‘Modifier’ to Sun Ning, then asked.

“Sister Ziya, I just happened to build a hot spring resort. Would you like to come and experience it?”

“You can also change your clothes and let me welcome you and wash away your travel dust.”

“Hot spring resort?”

Prompted by Bai Qiuyuan, the trio finally came back to their senses, looked at their own dirty and disheveled clothes, and said with embarrassment.

“Please, Fellow Daoist, lead the way.”

Having run out of cleaning-type spirit talismans and having been constantly on the move deep within the mountains, the three hadn’t bathed for nearly two days; even their faces were smeared with mud, making them appear utterly wretched.

—White Egret Villa—

The moment the trio arrived at the villa’s entrance, they saw the four large characters for ‘White Egret Villa’, and… in a nearby corner, the ‘Coiled Serpent Stronghold’ banner, taken down but not yet discarded.

Sun Ning: “…”

Zhou Meng: “…”

Lin Ziya: “…”

Although they had previously suspected that the Sword Immortal rumored to have annihilated the mountain stronghold three days ago was Bai Qiuyuan, the true revelation still couldn’t prevent their shock.

Sun Ning discreetly glanced at his senior brother Zhou Meng and asked.

“Senior Brother, what were you doing when you were eight years old?”

“When I was eight, I had just learned to wield a sword and was at Qi Condensation Stage Two…”

Sun Ning: “…”

Instantly, both deeply felt that without comparison, there was no disparity!

Subsequently, the four entered the mountain villa, and upon seeing its layout, Lin Ziya and her companions were immediately dumbfounded.

‘[How is this a mountain stronghold!? It’s almost comparable to the imperial palace!]’

‘[No! It’s even more beautiful than the imperial palace!]’

‘[These wooden houses actually look so exquisite and full of artistic charm!]’

‘[Is it just my imagination, or is the spiritual energy here even denser than outside the mountain?]’

Thanks to Bai Qiuyuan’s financial efforts, the former stronghold now rivaled a modern classical villa!

Aside from some furnishings that current craftsmanship couldn’t produce, Bai Qiuyuan had arranged for everything else that could be done, including rock gardens, landscaping, and koi ponds!

Simultaneously, Bai Qiuyuan had specially set up a formation within the villa; once activated in times of danger, even a Foundation Establishment Stage Two cultivator would be unable to break it!

And in the Mortal Realm, cultivators above Foundation Establishment Stage One simply could not exist!

Therefore, Bai Qiuyuan’s barrier, as long as it was regularly maintained, was practically invincible in the Mortal Realm!

Its drawback, however, was that once activated, the formation would not dissipate unless broken by someone of higher cultivation, or until all its spirit stones were exhausted!

Not only could outsiders not enter, but those inside could not leave, making no distinction between friend and foe!

To this end, Bai Qiuyuan had also constructed a massive underground granary, stocking it with a vast quantity of provisions as a precaution.

—Half an hour later—

After finishing their hot spring bath, Lin Ziya and her companions followed Bai Qiuyuan to the villa’s main hall for lunch.

Perhaps due to having consumed nothing but abstinence pills (TL Note: Bìgǔdān, or ‘abstinence pills,’ a type of spiritual pill that sustains cultivators without the need for food) for several consecutive days, the trio had an exceptionally good appetite.

They devoured their food ravenously, completely disregarding their image as cultivators.

Bai Qiuyuan watched the three, musing inwardly.

‘[Does the Upper Realm only have abstinence pills and no chefs to provide meals?]’

‘[Look how starved these children are…]’

‘[Before going to the Upper Realm, I should buy more food…]’

‘[Anyway, if stored in the item box, food won’t spoil no matter how long it’s kept…]’

“Did the princess fall victim to some illusion spell?”

After everyone had mostly finished eating, Bai Qiuyuan asked.

“Yes, after the princess was afflicted by an illusion spell from an illusionary demon residing in a pearl, she became unable to care for herself, confined to her bed, living perpetually within an illusion.”

“If she were a cultivator, we could directly use True Qi to forcibly break it.”

“But the princess is an ordinary person; she cannot withstand True Qi.”

Sun Ning explained.

Bai Qiuyuan asked.

“Do you want me to accompany you to the imperial palace next?”

Upon hearing this, Lin Ziya smiled.

“No need, Little Brother Bai. We can handle what comes next; just leave it to us!”

Bai Qiuyuan nodded upon hearing this, picked up his teacup, and drank his tea, asking no further questions.

Mortal Era 3043, Winter.

The State of Wu presented a pearl, causing the princess of the State of Xia to fall into a coma, beyond the help of medicine.

The Emperor of Xia, in desperation, invited three Upper Realm cultivators to treat the princess.

The three Upper Realm cultivators, after slaying a great demon that had transformed from a spiritual medicine, brought back the medicine and cured the princess of Xia.

The very next day, the State of Xia publicly declared that the State of Wu was no longer its vassal state.

Several months later, the State of Wu was annihilated and annexed by a neighboring country…

Mortal Era 3044, Spring.

The ‘White Egret Villa’ appeared, rumored to have been founded by an unknown Sword Immortal who commanded bandits.

Within the mountain, there was a unique hot spring that could greatly alleviate human fatigue, and even heal hidden injuries for martial artists!

News of the hot spring swept across the entire State of Xia in just one month; even the Xia imperial family was rumored to have specifically left the palace to experience it.

And after their experience, they bestowed a thousand taels of gold upon the hot spring resort!

Its unique spiritual spring, moreover, made the villa the foremost estate under heaven within just one month!

Later, other unknown Sword Immortals came to challenge the villa master, only to return in utter defeat…

All the defeated Sword Immortals publicly declared they were entering secluded cultivation and refused to divulge any information about the villa master.

Mortal Era 3044, Late Spring.

On White Egret Mountain, the White Egret Villa witnessed a celestial phenomenon.

The sky and earth suddenly darkened, and a starry firmament abruptly appeared!

The master of White Egret Villa broke through to Foundation Establishment Stage Two, ascended to the Upper Realm in accordance with its guidance…

On the third day, during daylight, the phenomenon reappeared, and the master of White Egret Villa returned.

On the fourth day, the phenomenon reappeared! The master of White Egret Villa ascended again.

Thereafter, celestial phenomena could be observed every few days.

Mortal Era 3044, Late Spring.

Several Sword Immortals continuously broke through, triggering phenomena.

But after this, not a single Sword Immortal returned.

The number of Sword Immortals in the Mortal Realm drastically reduced to five.

The State of Xia alone accounted for two of them!