Chapter 673

Chapter 673: Pine Grove Courtyard

The mountains beneath them rose and fell, stretching endlessly across the vast Earth. Lolan Hill was carried by Jin Hua, her figure flowing like light as they flew for a long while before gently landing at the foot of a towering mountain.

A gentle breeze slightly lifted her dress as she slowly descended to the ground. She looked up at the winding path ahead, its steps twisting and turning, sometimes hidden in mist, other times visible among the trees. The path was rugged and long.

“This is where the mountain gate is located,” Jin Hua pointed to a cliff-like wall beside them. On the rock, which glowed like topaz and malachite, were large characters carved with powerful strokes, towering dozens of stories high, making one feel small in comparison.

‘Fiery Sun, Crimson Feather’

Jin Hua led Lolan Hill towards the mountain gate, continuing to speak as they walked.

“The front part of our sect here spans hundreds of miles, and the surrounding area is protected by barriers. Normally, one can enter or exit through this main gate or other side gates.”

“But the true core of our sect is not actually here,” she said, looking back at Lolan Hill.

“Where is it then?”

“It is within a hidden realm, a miniature world that can be considered another small universe. This is where the true heart of our sect lies.”

“These hidden realms are formed according to dragon veins, something unique to our continent,” she explained, recalling that the young lady had mentioned coming from the Western Continent.

“As for the Heavenly Cut Path, it means cutting off heavenly destiny to seek the principles of all things in the world. In the West, they call it magic, though our terminology differs slightly. However, the underlying concepts remain largely the same.”

“We believe in seeking true laws through knowledge and experience passed down, even though some civilians misunderstand it, thinking it is supernatural and attributing it to divine phenomena.” Jin Hua continued explaining their sect’s philosophy as they climbed the steps.

“Understanding and embracing these truths leads to harmony and unity of body and mind, which is our ultimate goal.”

The voluptuous and graceful senior sister walked ahead, pausing momentarily. The sparse sunlight filtered through the trees, casting light on her smooth hair. She turned to smile at Lolan Hill.

“Sorry, I might have sounded preachy. These concepts are quite abstract, but I wanted to share them with you. After all, after Sequence 5, there are many benefits in defending against phantoms. If you aim for Sequence 8.”

“Yes, I understand, Senior Sister Jin Hua,” Lolan Hill nodded, then asked.

“Have you been to the Western Continent before? Your choice of words and way of speaking seem quite different,” Xia said.

“Did you notice that so quickly? I lived in Cangcui for several years when I was young because my aunt married there,” Zhanhua tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and continued.

“In fact, many members of our sect frequently travel between the Eastern and Western continents. It’s a tradition left by the founders to maintain frequent contact with the outside world and avoid becoming insular. If you join us, you’ll also see students from the Jugetsu Islands; their attire is quite distinctive.”

“However, in recent years, due to the whirlpools and storms in the Endless Sea, the sea has been closed off. It might take a few more years before it reopens.”

Zhanhua then led Lolan Hill through the stone path and archways in the forest, introducing each building they passed.

“This is the Changwu Shop. You can buy many everyday items here. If you need something rare like Dye Cloud Brocade or famous snacks from Luo Capital, you need to pay in advance. The disciples will bring them when they go out to purchase.”

Zhanhua pointed at a stone archway hidden under tall pine trees, which provided a cool shade. Young people in yellow clothes were coming in and out of the shops, buying things. It wasn’t as noisy as the outside world, and one could hear cicadas singing high up in the pines.

The two continued forward, and Zhanhua introduced several other buildings: courtyards for sparring, an octagonal tower for stargazing, alchemy rooms for making elixirs, and high cliffs with tree seas for practicing transformations. Finally, they stopped in front of a courtyard.

The white and bluish-gray bricks were arranged in an elegant pattern. There were two copper rings on the door, with a peculiar groove on one side. Zhanhua took out a small copper fish from her pocket, inserted it into the groove, infused it with magic, and the door glowed faintly before a soft click opened it.

“This is your residence. I specifically found this place because you mentioned you prefer quietness,” Zhanhua led Lolan Hill into the courtyard.

Due to the tall pines surrounding the area, only part of the sunlight reached the courtyard. On either side were rows of rooms with green tiles and white walls. One corner had a small pond paved with smooth stones, while another corner had a two-story tower-like pavilion.

“The water in the pond is fresh spring water from the mountains, very clear, suitable for daily use. The bedroom is located in the pavilion, and the adjacent rooms can be used for storing miscellaneous items or keeping certain exotic beasts,” Zhanhua explained one by one.

“Since it isn’t time yet, we’ll leave the rest for later.”

With your current status as an outer sect disciple, I will take you to register with Uncle Lianyin later. He will give you many things, including an identity amulet. You can use this to enter and exit various places within the sect.

“Thank you, Senior Sister,” Lolan Hill nodded.

“You’re welcome. You can visit the Xiangshu Pavilion more often. There are many books there, and senior brothers and sisters often give lectures. If you have enough points, you can also ask them specific questions.” Jin Hua told Lolan some small tips.

“What are points? Are they similar to the classifications in the Western Continent?”

“They are quite similar. After all, some of the elders in the sect have drawn on the management methods of Western academies.” Jin Hua smiled.

“However, there are several types of points. You can earn points by reaching the standards of certain skills within the sect, and by completing tasks assigned by the sect. This encourages everyone to learn more and practice more.”

“Every year, there is an external mission organized to solve problems both inside and outside the continent or to explore some wonders and find treasures. The rewards are quite generous.”

“So that’s how it works. It seems to combine the cultivation methods of both the East and West, but it’s more free. You can decide what to study, and there are no specific barriers.”

“Alright, let’s stop here today. Other matters will become clearer over time. If you have any questions in the future, you can also consult Uncle Lianyin. As for me, I occasionally come out from the Fenshang Cavern to check on you.”

“Then see you later, Jialan. Get used to life and rest well. There’s no need to rush about returning to the Western Continent; life is long.”

After saying this, the senior sister left the courtyard, transforming into a streak of light that vanished at the horizon.

Back in the courtyard, Lolan Hill put down her luggage and lay down on the spacious and comfortable bed on the second floor of the pavilion, stretching lazily and taking a deep breath.

Now she could finally rest for a while. She wondered how many memories would resurface after advancing to Sequence 4. She remembered entering Emanas back then, but she wasn’t sure which academy she went to afterward. If it was the High Tower Academy, it would fit well with her current sect. They say the time witch Dorothy, known as Yuan in the East, is one of the five virtues, the yellow bird.

As she thought this, Lolan Hill spread her arms and lay quietly in bed, listening to the rustling sound of pine leaves swaying in the wind outside the window.

PS: I’ll write some daily life scenes of Lolan. I wonder if everyone likes it? 0 0/

(The chapter ends)