Chapter 150: A Beautiful New World

The following day, Fang Han, who had been hanging by a thread, miraculously began to recover.

Although, just as Kong Zhao had predicted, his body had become extraordinarily frail.

At the very least, however, his life was no longer in immediate danger.

"Truly unbelievable!" Kong Zhao exclaimed repeatedly after giving him another thorough examination.

"To survive a calamity like this by sheer force of will alone. His fate is astonishingly resilient."

A trace of regret then crossed his face as he sighed.

"If his destined providence hadn't been stolen away, his future achievements would have been beyond measure. But now..."

Li Shun, on the other hand, paid little attention to such matters and simply said with relief,

"As long as he's alive, that's enough. As long as he lives, everything remains possible."

Kong Zhao was briefly taken aback before letting out a self-deprecating chuckle.

"You're right. That makes perfect sense."

With Fang Han's condition steadily improving, there was no longer any reason for Li Shun to remain.

Before departing, he quietly called Li Qing over.

"If nothing unexpected happens, this trip away from home may keep me from returning for several years. Fang Han has only just escaped death, so keep an eye on him for the time being. Once his condition has stabilized..."

Li Shun's gaze darkened, and his voice suddenly turned cold.

"Set out for Qingyuan County in Xiangping Commandery, Ying Province, and investigate something on my behalf."

He then calmly explained his suspicions.

"When you arrive in Qingyuan County, there are two things you must determine. First, whether the theft of Fang Han's providence was orchestrated by the Fan Family. Second, uncover the identity of the person who stole it."

"Once you've learned the truth, do not act rashly. Return home and wait for me."

The fury in Li Qing's eyes was already impossible to suppress. He immediately gritted his teeth and nodded.

"Don't worry, Brother. Leave it to me. But... if I leave, who's going to look after Fang Han?"

"Don't worry. I've already instructed him to stay put in Dongshan Town. Besides, don't you have plenty of drinking buddies? With them helping to keep an eye on him, what could possibly happen?" Li Shun replied calmly.

Li Qing immediately puffed out his chest.

"If anything happens to Fang Han while he's in Dongshan Town, Brother, you can hold me accountable!"

After making all the necessary arrangements, Li Shun departed with Kong Zhao for the Kong Family.

Only then did Li Shun finally see Kong Zhao's mount.

It was a snow-white qilin, magnificent and awe-inspiring.

Compared to Moonlit White beneath Li Shun, it was clearly superior in both bearing and majesty.

Yet Moonlit White was, after all, Great Qian's standard official mount. Even when faced with such a divine beast, it showed neither fear nor unease, remaining perfectly composed.

The Kong Family was likewise located in Qing Province, within Daizong Commandery.

It was not far from Guling Commandery. Riding through the night without pause, the two arrived the following day.

As soon as they entered Daizong Commandery, Li Shun spotted a solitary mountain rising straight into the heavens from afar.

"That is Mount Dai."

"Before His Majesty formally ascended the throne, he personally climbed that mountain, inscribed a stone monument, and attained enlightenment there. The ancestor of our Kong Family was His Majesty's guide during that journey."

"It was thanks to His Majesty's favor that the Kong Family has prospered uninterrupted for several centuries."

Kong Zhao introduced the place with unmistakable pride.

Li Shun also noticed that ever since entering Daizong Commandery, Kong Zhao's demeanor had subtly changed.

The faint pride he had long concealed beneath his humble exterior had finally begun to reveal itself.

"Our Kong Family has long since spread its branches throughout every county of Daizong Commandery."

"However, our Ancestor still resides in the old ancestral residence at the foot of Mount Dai."

"As for the Grotto Heaven blessed land, it lies within Mount Dai itself."

"Unfortunately, our Ancestor has remained in secluded cultivation for many years and refuses all visitors. I'm afraid Junior Brother Li won't have the opportunity to meet him this time. We'll head straight to the Grotto Heaven blessed land instead."

Kong Zhao lightly urged his qilin onward, increasing its speed.

The two rode directly toward Mount Dai.

In less than the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, they had reached the foot of the mountain.

From a distance, they could already see a gigantic stone stele standing beside the official road.

Three bold characters were carved upon it.

[The First Mountain].

"The First Mountain..."

Li Shun silently savored the words.

Yet inwardly, he could not help muttering,

'What an outrageous claim.'

Directly before the stone stele stood an ancient stone archway.

Three characters were likewise engraved across its horizontal beam.

The Ascent Begins Here.

Kong Zhao explained at the appropriate moment,

"Back then, His Majesty began his climb from this very spot, measuring every step with his own feet. Ever since then, it has become the rule that anyone wishing to ascend Mount Dai must begin here."

"No tools may be used, nor may anyone fly or ride the wind."

Li Shun raised his head and gazed toward the majestic summit hidden among the clouds.

"What if someone unfamiliar with this history insisted on flying directly into Mount Dai from outside?"

Kong Zhao smiled.

"They wouldn't make it."

"Before even entering Mount Dai's domain, they'd fall from the sky and be dashed to death."

"Let's dismount."

"From the Ascent Begins Here to the Grotto Heaven blessed land takes roughly half a day's climb."

The two followed the winding bluestone staircase built along the mountainside, gradually making their way deeper into Mount Dai.

Upon reaching the mountainside, Kong Zhao left the main official road and led Li Shun down a secluded mountain path.

Eventually, they arrived at a hidden valley.

The valley was filled with peach blossoms in full bloom.

Everywhere the eye could see was a sea of brilliant crimson flowers, as though the valley itself had caught fire.

After passing through the peach grove, Li Shun instinctively turned around.

To his surprise, the path they had just walked had vanished without a trace.

A flicker of astonishment appeared in his eyes.

"It's merely a small illusion to prevent outsiders from wandering in."

"With the ancient restrictions of Mount Dai reinforcing it, together with the barrier formed by this Peach Blossom Valley, even a mighty Creation realm cultivator couldn't force their way through without someone from the Kong Family leading them."

Kong Zhao's tone was casual, but the confidence within his words was impossible to miss.

Hidden deep within the peach blossoms stood the narrow entrance to a secluded stone cave.

Li Shun followed Kong Zhao inside.

After walking through the dim tunnel for quite some time, the darkness abruptly gave way to light.

It was as though they had stepped into another world.

The sky here was somewhat lower.

Yet the oppressive atmosphere was gone.

Yes.

Oppression.

Only after leaving Great Qian's world and entering this Grotto Heaven blessed land did Li Shun realize how strange that feeling had always been.

'Whether it was the Xuanhuang Heaven or the Imperial Mausoleum Heaven, both carried that faint, indescribable sense of oppression.'

'But here...'

'The sky is high, the clouds are light, and the entire body feels liberated.'

Merely standing still and gazing at the clear azure sky above was enough to sweep away the gloom in Li Shun's heart.

His mood immediately became much lighter.

"Well? Do you feel anything different?"

Seeing Li Shun's expression, Kong Zhao smiled knowingly.

Li Shun took a deep breath and slowly looked around.

Beside an emerald lake stood a towering snow-capped mountain.

Across the vast plains where mountain and water met were scattered countless simple thatched cottages.

"This truly is an ideal sanctuary for secluded cultivation."

"As expected of one of the greatest noble clans under heaven. The Kong Family actually possesses such a Grotto Heaven blessed land."

Li Shun sighed with admiration.

The smile on Kong Zhao's face grew even wider.

"Junior Brother Li, feel free to choose whichever cottage you like."

"You may cultivate here in complete peace. No worldly matters will disturb you. If you require anything, simply use the voice-transmission wooden plaque inside your cottage. Someone will naturally deliver it."

Li Shun pointed toward the distant snow mountain.

"May I go there?"

"Of course. Within this Grotto Heaven blessed land, anywhere you can see, you may go."

"Though to be honest, after looking at these beautiful sights long enough, you'll eventually grow tired of them. In the end, you'll still come back to cultivate."

Kong Zhao chuckled.

Just as Li Shun officially entered secluded cultivation.

Back in Dongshan Town.

Li Qing had already departed for Qingyuan County.

Using the excuse of recovering from his injuries, Fang Han shut his doors to all visitors.

His body gradually became translucent.

Then vanished from the world of Great Qian.

Within the Fangcun space.

Fang Han slowly floated toward the Gate of Myriad Mysteries suspended high above.

---

Read ahead on >>> /SpiritStonetranslation