Chapter Fifty-Seven: Everyday Life

Early the next morning, upon the stone platform in the small courtyard, the giant egg pulsed with golden runes that flickered and faded like a living breath. As the egg inhaled and exhaled, the light in the courtyard seemed to expand and contract, growing alternately bright and dim—as if every ray of sunlight shining into the yard was being drawn into the egg.

Li Yang sat cross-legged before the egg, his entire body suffused with a crimson glow. The air around him shimmered, distorting slightly, and the temperature in the courtyard had risen by several degrees.

"Auntie, it's so hot today! Look, big brother's head is steaming!" Little Tuantuan’s cheeks were flushed as she stood below the platform, pointing at Li Yang with wide-eyed wonder and calling out toward the house.

"Good girl, Tuantuan! That's your brother cultivating. We shouldn’t disturb him. Let’s go have something delicious together!" Hearing the commotion in the yard, Jin Ling hurried out, glanced at Li Yang in meditation, and quickly led Tuantuan away.

It was not until the sun climbed high in the sky that Li Yang opened his eyes. A faint golden light flickered within them as he gazed at the giant egg before him, his face filled with awe.

"A true divine beast, born of the essence of the sun—its power far surpasses anything I could have imagined. To think it can gather the sun's energy to nurture itself!"

He sensed the solar energy converging in the courtyard and looked up at the sky. The intense sunlight was focused upon the yard, so much so that from afar, it appeared as if a colossal spotlight shone down upon the egg. This phenomenon was so conspicuous that even in broad daylight, it remained unmistakable.

"Such an obvious anomaly—even with my brief cultivation, I can clearly feel the sun's force gathering here. If I don’t conceal it, it will surely attract the attention of evil sects!"

At this moment, Madam He came over, gazing at the scene in the courtyard with amazement mingled with concern in her brows.

"Madam, you need not worry. The Ren Family Town and its surrounding thousand miles are under the domain of Mount Mao. With Uncle Nine overseeing the town, there should be no trouble for now."

"I’ve already set up a Yin-Yang Spirit Gathering Array in the courtyard. In a few more days, once enough spiritual energy is gathered, the anomaly will naturally be concealed."

Li Yang descended from the platform, offering gentle reassurance.

"Ah... I hope so. It's just that my cultivation is shallow; for now, I can’t help you much." Having stepped onto the path of cultivation, Madam He understood the importance of resources all too well. Though Li Yang’s reasoning was sound, she couldn’t shake the worry that some might be tempted into reckless action. If that happened, the hard-won peace of recent years might be shattered once more.

"Perhaps you should teach me some Daoist arts. That way, if anything unexpected occurs, you won’t need to worry about me."

Madam He furrowed her delicate brows, thinking for a long while before she looked up, her expression serious.

"Madam, it isn’t that I don’t wish to teach you. You must understand—cultivation is not achieved in a day or a night."

"Master Lü once said: 'To cultivate only the nature and not the life is the first sickness of cultivation. To cultivate only the ancestral fate and not the nature, a thousand calamities will not bring the soul to sainthood.' Any cultivator should know this principle."

"But why do all cultivators choose one path and only dabble in the rest? Human effort is finite. To pursue both nature and fate is a noble idea, yet how many can truly accomplish it? There are fifty avenues in the Dao, but heaven perfects only forty-nine. Even the heavenly way is imperfect, let alone us mortals striving upon its path."

"Only with sufficient cultivation can the practice of magical arts yield twice the result with half the effort, and grant a long life to pursue greater heights. If your cultivation is lacking, no matter how powerful your arts, you will end up buried beneath a mound of earth."

"Since I began cultivating, I have practiced diligently every day, never daring to slacken. I have inherited many mystical arts, but I have never strayed from my original intention. The reason I do not impart these Daoist arts to you, Madam, is that I fear you will be distracted, making it difficult to achieve true mastery."

"Now, with the world’s spiritual energy waning and cultivation harder than ever, if you scatter your focus, it will all come to nothing. The path is vast, the journey long. I do not wish to walk it alone; I wish for you to accompany me, to walk this road together. Please understand my heartfelt intentions."

Seeing Madam He’s resolve, Li Yang grew anxious, and his words were earnest, free of any selfish motive.

If there was anyone in the world Li Yang could not bear to part with, it was Madam He.

"I know you mean well, but these past years you have often been away, and I can only stay in the manor, worried and fearful. That’s why I had this thought."

Seeing the concern on Li Yang’s face, Madam He's own expression softened, her heart warmed.

"Madam, you need not worry for me. My cultivation has reached a bottleneck. In just a little while, I will enter a new stage—then, the world will be mine to roam!"

Looking at Madam He's radiant face, Li Yang felt a surge of pride, his eyes shining with confidence.

"So I should congratulate you in advance, shouldn’t I?"

Madam He smiled gently, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Every gesture radiated elegance and grace, leaving Li Yang momentarily stunned.

"Enough! Don’t just stand there. Yesterday, Master Ren and Miss Ren came to the manor and brought many gifts, thanking you for saving their lives. They also asked, casually or not, about your family and age, and invited you to visit their home when you have time. From the look of it, they’re likely thinking of entrusting Miss Ren to you."

At this, Madam He cast a slightly resentful glance at Li Yang.

"Heh... Having you is enough for me. Why would I need Miss Ren?" Li Yang grinned sheepishly, his face tinged with embarrassment.

"I’m just a widow, I dare not hope for such things. Miss Ren is a lovely and charming girl; perhaps you should spend time with her instead, Young Master Li."

Madam He pouted, her face full of jealousy, looking for all the world like a sulking girl—her earlier elegance nowhere to be seen.

"Madam, you worry too much. Surely you know what kind of man I am. We’ve endured so much together—how could mere beauty compare? Besides, in terms of charm and figure, Miss Ren could not match even a single strand of your hair."

Though he had never faced such a situation, Li Yang, having lived two lifetimes, knew enough not to explain further; explanations only made things worse.

"Smooth-talking! Do you really think I’m some naive girl? I know how men think—always wanting more, never content. If you expect a cat not to steal fish, you might as well wait for the sun to rise in the west!"

Madam He rolled her eyes at Li Yang, her tone teasing and annoyed.