Six, Home

  Xun Daozi stood at the entrance of the cave, taking in the scene before him. Before his eyes was a platform about 100 square meters in size, made entirely of bluestone and quite flat.

  As I walked to the edge of the platform, I looked up and saw a rock more than 100 meters away in front of me. The height of the rock was unknown, its top hidden in the clouds and fog. Several dozen meters from the bottom of the rock, there was a spring gushing out, falling into a small pool at the foot of the rock. The pool was about one meter wide, with water splashing everywhere, sounding like pearls and jade. There were auspicious clouds and mist surrounding it. On top of the rock, green vines and grass grew thickly, shining brightly. The small pool at the foot of the rock was full to overflowing, forming a stream that flowed into the valley below, gathering in the center of the valley into a large pool several hundred meters wide.

  Xun Daozi couldn't help but be drawn to the water pool, got down from the platform and walked towards it.

  Arriving at the water pool, I see that it is deep and mysterious like a dream. The surface of the pool is covered with thin mist, like silk or a curtain. In the pool, there are several clusters of white lotus flowers swaying in the waves, each one emitting a holy light, which is dazzling to the eyes. The stone bank is high and low, pure white like jade. On the side of the water pool, there are several clumps of bamboo, green and luxuriant, occasionally flashing out rays of green light. Opposite the bamboo, on the other side of the water pool, two willow trees slant out of the water surface, bright green like jade, mingling with the thin mist on the surface of the pool, like a fantasy. The water pool in front of me is like a poem, like a painting, like a dream, like a song, making people forget their own existence. Even taking a breath makes one feel carefree and joyful.

  He walked past the pool of water, but didn't see any water flowing out. The spring water flowed into the pool, yet he didn't see it flow out. Daizi felt quite surprised and curious, but also didn't investigate further, turning his body to continue observing the scenery in the valley.

  Looking down along the rock, not far away there is a small hill, on which several old pines stand, some upright, some lying down, some looking up and some looking down. The branches and trunks are like dragons and pythons, the golden bark bursting layer by layer. Each tree trunk needs several people to encircle it, and the pine needles on the top of each tree are like jade carvings. Large pine cones hang from the treetops, shining with a golden light that can be seen from afar.

  Upon seeing the enormous pinecone, Xun Daozi was overjoyed. In his past life, Sheng Tian had few hobbies, disliked smoking and drinking, but enjoyed drinking tea, especially with pine nuts. A few pine nuts in a cup of hot tea were considered the ultimate pleasure. Now, seeing this extraordinary large pinecone, he couldn't help but feel delighted.

  Xun Daozi suppressed the joy in his heart and shifted his gaze to the rock wall. As he turned, the suppressed joy transformed into an even greater surprise that jumped out. The rock wall was shrouded in mist, with a faint glow flickering about, where several sturdy old tea trees were suspended in mid-air, their branches crystal clear, tender leaves emerald green and dripping with dew, surrounded by an ethereal aura, radiant with treasure light. Xun Daozi's eyes widened at the sight of the tea trees, and he couldn't help but want to pick some immediately, roast them, brew a pot, and savor a mouthful.

  Xun Daozi stared at the tea tree, apparently unaware of the several large lingzhi mushrooms on a giant old stump not far from the tea tree, which were emitting auspicious air, shining with a soft light, and one of them was entirely milky white, making it even more extraordinary.

  Xun Daozi finally managed to shift his gaze away from the tea tree, and as he looked around, he saw that the valley was filled with auspicious clouds and radiant lights everywhere. He didn't know how many rare flowers and strange grasses grew here. But these rare flowers and strange grasses encountered a person who didn't recognize their value, so they could only be hidden treasures. Xun Daozi recognized probably less than one ten-thousandth of the plants in this valley.

  The whole valley was filled with treasures and precious things, but after a while, Zidaozi became numb to them. His mood wasn't as excited as before, so he started thinking about how to arrange his own home.

  Relying on his strong physique, Xun Daozi quickly ran a lap around the valley, roughly understanding the situation in the valley. This mountain valley occupies an area of about 100 miles, completely shrouded by the innate maze, unknown to the outside world. The valley is full of rare and exotic flowers and grasses, with various rare and precious fruits scattered throughout, all of which have now become his own. Xun Daozi was so delighted that his nose was bursting with bubbles.

  When Xun Daozi returned to the valley by the pool, the sky was already late, and the stars on the sky curtain began to appear. However, it was not dark by the pool, and the emerald bamboo, green willows, and white lotus flowers were all radiant with light. The pool water also sparkled with a soft glow, and the entire pool and its surroundings were bathed in an otherworldly aura, as if this were a real dream world.

  Xun Daozi didn't return to the cave, instead he chose a flat stone by the water pool, sat down cross-legged and enjoyed this peacefulness and happiness. He truly felt happy, fortunate and blessed.

  Xun Daozi sat quietly by the pond, not cultivating, with his eyes slightly closed and a faint smile on his face.

  The night passed quickly, and the dawn reddened the sky. Xun Daozi sat by the pool for a whole night.

  As the sun rises, the clouds in the valley surge and various rays of light flash by.

  Xun Daozi took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, and opened his eyes. His eyes were extremely bright, without any impurities.

  Xun Daozi raised his head, gazing at the enchanting scenery before him with joy in his heart. He thought to himself that he would build a pavilion by the water pool, place a large tree trunk tea table, and lie down on a reclining chair. Then, he would brew a pot of tea, accompanied by pine nuts and dried fruits, looking up at the clouds drifting across the sky and down at the flowers blooming and falling. He would listen to the wind rustling through the bamboo forest and sniff the fragrance of white lotus flowers. This life, just thinking about it was beautiful.

  Thinking of doing it, Xun Daozi went to the edge of the pond to find a flat place and used the small magic he got from the golden light after crossing the tribulation to tidy up. He ran excitedly to the edge of the bamboo forest, wanting to cut down the bamboo to build a pavilion, but this time the magical powers didn't work, and these bamboos simply ignored him, leaving Xun Daozi stunned.

  It's possible to find other materials to build with, but the master carpenter only likes this bamboo. This thick and sturdy bamboo is perfect for making pillars or splitting open to make tiles, or even shaving into thin strips to weave together as a floorboard, or using as beams. A pavilion made entirely of bamboo, in these green mountains and blue waters, just thinking about it makes one feel at ease.

  But this bamboo actually made its divine magic lose effect, no tool to cut bamboo, staring blankly.

  In just a few minutes, Xun Daozi turned around and rushed out of the cave entrance.

  Only then did Xunzi enter the cave entrance, pass through the corridor, turn around the great hall, cross over the cloud bed, and enter into the mist behind the cloud bed.

  Xun Daozi walked through the fog and saw several quiet rooms.

  Xun Daozi hastily entered one of the quiet rooms.

  The quiet room is not large, only a few square meters in size. There is a jade bed inside, and the four walls emit a soft light. On one of the walls, two objects are hung: a duster with a grayish-black handle that has lost its luster, but the dusting silk is snow-white. The other object is a long sword with an ancient scabbard, made from some unknown material.

  Xun Daozi walked up to the long sword, reached out and took it down, pulled out the long sword and looked at it. The sword had some mysterious patterns on its surface and a somewhat grayish feeling, making it impossible to tell whether it was sharp or not. Xun Daozi put the sword back in its scabbard, didn't bother with the duster, turned around and quickly walked away.

  Behind these several quiet rooms, Xun Daozi had discovered them a few days ago when he was curious after finishing his cultivation on the cloud bed in the main hall. He had entered here and saw the dusting brush and long sword, and was excited for half a day. At that time, when he held the dusting brush in his hand, the dusting brush had transmitted a message to let him know that this dusting brush was named "Clean Heart".

  The long sword also has a name, called "Protect the Heart". The duster is worn on the body, with the effect of clearing the mind and revealing one's nature. Those who seek the Tao, in their pursuit of the Tao, often become perplexed about their future or are tempted by external things, causing their hearts to waver. This duster can clear the mind like dusting away dirt, making it possible to see one's true nature, solidify one's heart, and prevent those seeking the Tao from straying off course. It is indeed the greatest treasure for those who seek the Tao.

  Those who seek the Tao often travel through mountains, rivers, cities, and wilderness, encountering various dangers that threaten their lives. This long sword is a treasured protector for those seeking the Tao when they encounter danger, safeguarding their hearts from being extinguished. It is indeed the ultimate treasure for protecting one's life while seeking the Tao.

  These two objects are the greatest treasures of the Wudang Cave, born before the opening of heaven and earth as pre-heavenly treasures.

  Unfortunately, Xun Daozi now knows that these two objects are treasures, but he doesn't quite understand the use of these two treasures. Just then, he picks up a long sword and is about to take this treasure as a cleaver to cut bamboo.

  Xun Daozi ran to the edge of the bamboo forest, drew out his long sword, casually threw the scabbard aside, and raised the sword to chop at a thick and sturdy bamboo tree.

  Hiss!

  The bamboo fell at the sound of his voice.

  Xun Daozi used his long sword to cut off a bamboo branch and pulled the bamboo pole aside, then went to chop down the second one.

  Like this, Xun Daozi chopped down quite a few bamboo trees in one go.

  Looking at the cut bamboo, Xun Daozi waved his hand and used a moving divine method. The bamboo poles whizzed and flew onto the leveled ground.

  Xun Daozi rushed to the chosen location and began building a large bamboo pavilion.

  He could use his magical powers, and when he couldn't, he would use the Heart Sword as a cheap tool, either chopping or slicing, digging or carving, and became busy.

  Unexpectedly, he was quite talented and in no time, he had set up the bamboo pavilion's framework, which looked pretty good.

  Two days later, a delicate bamboo pavilion was built by the pond.

  Xun Daozi looked at his own labor achievements, wave after wave of joy.

  After a while, Xun Daozi turned around and walked quickly outside. Soon he came back carrying a large tree trunk, placed the trunk in the center of the pavilion, made some simple adjustments, and used it as a tea table.

  Xun Daozi made another reclining chair with bamboo and placed it beside the tea table.

  This time it looks more satisfying.

  Xun Daozi waved his hand and sent the remaining branches to who-knows-where. Lying on the chaise longue, he felt that this life was still not bad.

  It won't be long before I realize something is still missing, thinking about it, what's missing is a pot of tea.

  Xun Zi quickly got up, turned around and ran into the cave. After a while, he came out holding a large piece of crystal white jade, returned to the pavilion, placed the jade on the tree stump, took out his long sword, and drew lines on the jade. After a while, he used his long sword to cut off two pieces of jade that were one inch thick. Unexpectedly, this long sword was so sharp that cutting jade was like cutting tofu. Then, he cut the jade into blocks of different sizes. Afterwards, he busied himself with the jade stones, sometimes using his sword and sometimes using a magical technique.

  Before long, two jade plates appeared on the tree stump, one large and one small, two jade pots, several jade cups, all of which were crystal clear and pleasing to the eye. Xun Daozi took a jade cup in his hand, the jade cup was warm as fire, this is the best quality warm jade. Xun Daozi smiled with a pleased expression on his face.

  Then Xun Daozi made a few jade boxes, some warm jade and some cool jade. He remembered that in the legend of his past life, some heavenly treasures needed to be stored in jade containers, otherwise they would lose their effectiveness. Whether it was useful or not, he prepared a few, maybe one day when he went out, he would encounter great luck and obtain the legendary heavenly treasure, but without anything to hold it, that would be a tragedy. Although now even if there were heavenly treasures placed in front of him, he wouldn't recognize them. For example, this valley had many heavenly treasures in the eyes of connoisseurs, but he didn't know. But nothing could stop his desire to obtain heavenly treasures.

  After a busy period, Xunzi thought for a moment and found that something was still missing: a kettle for boiling water, a tea pan for frying tea, a stove, a tea tube for holding tea, a tea spoon, etc. After another busy period, all the utensils were ready.

  Xun Daozi didn't delay, and quickly ran to the rocky wall with the tall tea tree. With agility far surpassing that of ordinary people, he climbed up the overhanging rock, carefully plucked a large handful of tender leaves from the largest tea tree, put them in a bamboo tube, tucked it into his bosom, descended the rock, and then ran to the old pine tree. He climbed to the top of the pine, picked several of the largest pine cones, and ran all the way back to the bamboo pavilion.

  Start a fire and stir-fry tea. Zidou didn't quite understand the art of stir-frying tea, but he knew a bit about it. However, his enthusiasm was high, and in a flurry of activity, he managed to stir-fry the tea successfully.

  Xun Daozi first picked up a small handful and put it in a jade pot, then divided the rest of the tea into two portions. One portion was placed in a bamboo tube made of tea cylinder, and the other portion was placed in a jade box. He didn't know which one could hold the tea leaves better, so he packed one portion to compare them.

  With a wave of his hand, he fetched a jug of water and put it on the stove to boil. Turning around, he dealt with the pine nuts. With the help of his magical powers, the pine seeds fell into the jade plate, slightly larger than peanuts, crystal clear and shining brightly, not comparable to ordinary objects.

  The water is boiling, and the tea leaves are bursting with impatience. Pour a small cup, hold it in your hand, bring it close to your nose and take a sniff - fragrant, truly fragrant!

  One gulp, closed eyes, slowly swallowed, mouthful of freshness, teeth and tongue lingering fragrance, aftertaste endless, as if floating on cloud nine. Immediately mind clear and bright, the world in one's own mind seems to have no secrets, every detail is apparent, all things seem to be running before one's eyes. That feeling is indescribable.

  Half a moment later, Daozi came back to his senses, let out a long breath and said: "This is home!"