No way, forget about the Sword Sect, if any of the other sects had a disciple like this, a disciple in the Golden Core Period who could attract the Celestial Dao itself, they would probably wake up laughing during meditation.

But the Sect Leader was indeed chosen by them along with those few Divinity Transformation elders who persisted in guarding this world.

To the Sect Leader, Li Ye and Su Xing are juniors, but to them, isn’t the Sect Leader also a junior?

What else can be done with one’s juniors...

Let them go, they can only continue to keep watch here.

...

On the other side.

Li Ye watched as eighty-one thunderbolts surged into his pearl, the pearl which previously had only a rough shape instantly took form, becoming a luster of purple light vastly different from the glass-like sheen.

It carried an ethereal... almost layers upon layers of spatial texture, he looked at it a few more times, feeling as though he might get lost in it.

"Ancestor Weichuan, what is this?"

Faced with unknown matters, he decided to humbly seek guidance.

Weichuan didn’t keep him guessing: "This thing is actually the solidified Guiding Divine Light."

"Guiding Divine Light?"

Li Ye was rather surprised.

This is not the same as the transcending and guiding of the Buddhist Sect, this kind of "guiding" is actually the inner light manifesting, a process or proof where the power of heaven and earth is enveloped and condensed into one’s own strength.

Simply put, it’s that Li Ye’s "Tao" received some acknowledgment from heaven and earth, giving him this strange treasure as a reward.

Compared to purely attributing great power to oneself, the cultivation of the Four Seasons Sect leans more towards the Tao’s natural path.

"So I’ve really proven my Tao?" Li Ye scratched his head, honestly, he didn’t feel as carefree as he thought he would earlier, using the Five-Colored Stone and his own Tao Treasure to shape the Spirit Plant was quite painful.

In the end, he didn’t expect that the Celestial Dao truly acknowledged and rewarded him.

"Why wouldn’t it count as proof?" Weichuan Deity’s voice turned somewhat serious for the first time: "No matter what, you’ve done it, you sought it, but you indeed did it.

The Taoist technique is exactly what’s in your heart.

You know, you’ve done it—even if your heart regrets it, but you still did it knowing this, why shouldn’t it be considered unity of knowledge and action?

Once upon a time our ancestor had an exchange with a monk, where the monk told the ancestor clearly.

Accumulate virtue and do good deeds to attain bliss, lay down the butcher’s knife to become a Buddha instantly.

Back then, the ancestor asked him, are you doing good deeds to attain bliss or simply to do good deeds?

The monk replied, regardless, good deeds are real.

Do you understand my meaning?"

"But I truly just wanted to obtain these Divine Techniques." Li Ye felt a bit embarrassed, he actually wasn’t that noble, his motives weren’t pure.

"..."

"You fool! You’re so stubborn!"

A splash of water suddenly drenched Li Ye’s body, the water droplets sliding down his chest and abdomen, refracting a jade-like glow beneath the dissipating sunlight of Weichuan.

"What’s this for, sir?"

"What’s it for? You did a good deed, that’s reason, you wanted it, that’s desire, isn’t that perfectly aligned with your path, reason and desire ought to go hand in hand."

The deity said with some exasperation: "If you’re afraid you’ll only care for rewards in the future, then just face how your heart truly thinks head-on."

After saying this, she pushed Li Ye away. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

This child’s thoughts were unduly heavy.

People inherently possess seven emotions and six desires, apart from those truly noble enough to be called saints, or those who sever emotions and become Forgetful, who can truly speak about their heart?

But those are extremes!

Those paths are not easy to walk.

She didn’t want to see Li Ye tread the path of a "Saint."

The ancestor of the Four Seasons Sect was once a saint.

But being a saint is no easy feat, the extremes of the path already limit one’s future, the road ahead could be said to have its end clearly in sight.

Just hope Li Ye does not tread that path.

...

Having been chased away, Li Ye wasn’t exactly ignorant of Ancestor Weichuan’s meaning, he just hadn’t turned his mind around for a moment.

While carrying the beaver and several Five-Colored Water Lotuses back, he had already thought it through—no matter what his real reason was, the deed was done.

He glanced at the Guiding Divine Pearl glowing brightly on his wrist, gently touched it with his other hand, and quietly said, "By doing good deeds, one is rewarded with a future—how did our ancestors and sect elders nurture this world?"

The Guiding Divine Pearl seemed to breathe as it gently blinked.

The warmth rising from within spread through his meridians along his skin.

No explicit answer, but this indeed was the simplest answer.

Because...

"Good deeds are rewarded, huh."

"I think that by doing good deeds, not asking for a future, combined with good deeds are rewarded, is best."

"Wholeheartedly proceeding with equanimity, so it’s like that."

When he gets used to doing these things, no longer entangled by ’gain’ or ’loss,’ perhaps he will truly embody the Taoistic technique.

Understanding this, the smile on his face naturally softened.

The luscious purple radiance grew increasingly resplendent, and in places where no one could see, Li Ye’s Golden Core shone even brighter, its emitted light nourishing the Jianmu and the beings within Jianmu.

As naturally and smoothly as breathing.

"Chirp?"

The beaver keenly sensed Li Ye’s change, clambered onto his shoulder with its feet and hands, extending a paw to softly touch his cheek.

Then Li Ye grabbed its paw and lifted it by the scruff of its neck before his eyes.

"Hmm?"

"You’ve got quite the nerve."

"Dare to tease me now?"

The beaver blinked its pitch-black eyes, then curry favorably cupped its paws, pitifully pleading.

Li Ye wasn’t angry in the first place, and now he was further amused.

"You little rascal."

He placed the beaver back on his shoulder, pretending to ignore the gazes of other beavers around, and returned to the cave mansion with the beaver.

As soon as he reached home, Zhao He and Jiang Tingchao arrived hastily, faces filled with joy: "Master, the Golden Sand Crow has laid eggs!"

"What, the Golden Sand Crow laid eggs?"

And it actually laid eggs? Could it be coconut eggs?

And how does a crow lay eggs?

Li Ye indeed was curious, so he immediately headed to where he planted the Delicious Coconut Tree, near the source of Ruoquan.

The Ruoquan today, nurtured daily by Jiang Tingchao using Ruo Wood, had become very peaceful, its gentle flow akin to a tranquil night sky.

Standing by the river, one could feel a sense of calm welling from within.

He thought it was time to discuss selling water with Yang Ke.

He previously planned with Uncle Master Baishi to help him create the Fallen Star Lamp, requiring a great sum of Spirit Stones, since apart from materials, he would definitely have to pay him in Spirit Stones.

Although Uncle Master Baishi clearly stated it wouldn’t require much, he’s the Vice Hall Master of the Artifact Refining Hall, so it can’t be too little.

He still wished during this time to totally revamp the Cave Mansion, when the seed of the Small Thousand World is extracted, he’ll need ways to sustain it, which will surely require a great amount of Spirit Stones.

Thinking this, he arrived before the nest of the Golden Sand Crow.

The nest was woven from smooth golden threads, looking golden and shining, clearly just a bird’s nest, yet it gave a feeling of sanctity and purity.

The Golden Sand Crow was nestled inside, under its ebon feathers, one could see there were several rough, coconut-like golden eggs lying there.

[Name]: Delicious Golden Crow Egg

[Mood]: None

[State]: Waiting to hatch, capable of absorbing different Spiritual Powers during the hatching process, will undergo changes based on the amount absorbed upon hatching.

[Bindable]: Spirit Plant capable of flying with them.

"..."

What the heck?

Delicious Golden Crow Egg? Can’t fly? Needs to bind with a Spirit Plant capable of flying?

What kind of novel oddity is this?