A few days later, a streak of cyan light descended from the heavens, landing steadily upon the summit of Green Mountain.

The light dispersed, revealing Chen Ping, his parents, and Yuan Jingtian.

Chen Dashan and his wife stepped onto the solid earth, looking around with a mix of curiosity and timidity. This was to be their new home, a place where they would live out their long, peaceful years.

The summit was not precipitous or jagged like the martial peaks of the main range. Instead, it was gentle, open, and expansive.

Embedded in the mountain rock was a cave dwelling. The stone gates stood wide open, and the air around the entrance still carried the faint, crisp scent of a Dust Removal Spell. Clearly, the Sect had sent someone to clean it recently.

A spacious stone platform extended from the cave entrance. Standing at its edge, one could take in the entire panorama of Green Mountain.

The mountain range rolled away in continuous, undulating waves of lush green vegetation.

Large stretches of flat land dominated the mountainside and foothills. These areas had already been terraced into neat, square fields. Although they currently lay fallow and overgrown with wild weeds, the potential for agriculture was obvious at a glance.

A crystal-clear stream wound its way down from a spring near the summit, cutting through sparse groves of trees before flowing out toward the mortal world below.

Far at the foot of the mountain, the faint outlines of mortal villages were visible. Wisps of cooking smoke spiraled into the sky, painting a picture of tranquility and life.

The Qi here was indeed thinner than on the Main Peak, but it possessed a unique quality—natural, fresh, and carrying the earthy fragrance of grass and wood.

What surprised Chen Ping even more was a discovery right next to the cave dwelling: a bubbling spring radiating spiritual energy.

A Second-Grade Spirit Spring.

Chen Ping’s eyes lit up. This was a significant asset. With this, he could save the time and cost of purchasing spirit water for daily irrigation.

Of course, for his high-value crops, he would still need to trade for Third-Grade Spirit Spring water once a month. The growth multiplier of Third-Grade water was far superior, and he couldn’t cut corners on his core products.

Furthermore, his parents had not yet succeeded in Foundation Establishment. Every resource mattered. In this critical period, he could not afford to slack off.

“Good place… truly a good place!”

Chen Dashan rubbed his rough hands together, his face crinkling into a broad, genuine smile.

“Look how flat this land is! It’s a hundred times better than those rugged gullies back in our hometown! Who cares if it’s a bit wild? A little hoeing, a little sweat, and this will all be prime farmland!”

Lin-shi nodded repeatedly beside him, her eyes filled with the settled joy of a woman who finally had a permanent roof over her head.

Compared to the cramped cave dwelling in the Outer Sect, they vastly preferred this endless, majestic mountain. Staying here felt grounding. It felt like returning to their roots.

Yuan Jingtian walked silently to the edge of the platform, gazing down at the distant mortal villages.

He said nothing, but the perpetual tension in his shoulders seemed to evaporate.

Following Chen Ping had indeed shielded him from a world of trouble. To be honest, he liked this life.

No fighting. No scheming. No looking over his shoulder for a dagger in the back.

If possible, he would happily guard Chen Ping’s parents here for the rest of his life. He only hoped this peace would last.

Chen Ping observed the enthusiasm in his parents’ eyes as they looked at the soil. He looked down at the vast territory beneath his feet—independent, private, and completely under his control.

An unprecedented sense of stability and ownership welled up in his heart.

He took a deep breath, letting the rich wood-element Qi and the scent of freedom fill his lungs.

This was his future. His real home.

This was the bedrock upon which his dreams would transition into reality.

Unlike other cultivators who thrived on conflict and scavenging for resources in ancient ruins, Chen Ping preferred this. He liked the solid, tangible feeling of development.

If he could, he would stay on Green Mountain forever, silently building his power, growing his herbs, and expanding his influence until he was untouchable.

That was the life Chen Ping pursued.

But he was a realist. The world rarely gave you everything you wanted on a silver platter. He knew he would still have to venture out to secure the rarest resources. But now, he had a sanctuary to return to.

“Let’s go inside,” Chen Ping said, leading the three into the cave dwelling.

The interior was surprisingly spacious. It featured a main hall, a meditation chamber, and several side rooms. The furniture was sparse—simple stone beds and tables—but everything was spotless.

“Father, Mother, choose whichever room you like,” Chen Ping offered. “Old Yuan, you pick one too. I’ll procure some proper furniture and furnishings later to make it comfortable.”

Just as they were settling in, the sound of light footsteps echoed from the platform outside, followed by youthful voices filled with respectful caution.

“Disciples Shan Yu and Yao Min, by order of the Deacon Hall, have come to serve the Elder.”

Chen Ping paused, then walked back out to the platform.

Two young people stood there, one male and one female, both dressed in the cyan robes of Qingyun Sect Inner Disciples.

The young man was tall and thin, with a shy, reserved face. He looked to be in his early twenties and possessed a cultivation of Qi Condensation Level 6.

The young woman was shorter, petite and lovely. She had an oval face and bright, curious eyes that darted around intelligently. Her cultivation was slightly higher at Qi Condensation Level 7.

Both looked a bit travel-worn, likely having hurried here. Upon seeing Chen Ping, they immediately bowed deeply, their posture screaming deference.

“Disciple Shan Yu… Disciple Yao Min… pays respects to Elder Chen!”

Chen Ping blinked slightly, looking at the two strangers.

Sent by the Deacon Hall? To serve?

The Sect had mentioned they would arrange personnel to assist with the Spirit Plant Hall’s duties, but they hadn’t gone into specifics.

Shan Yu, seemingly the steadier of the two, noticed Chen Ping’s confusion and quickly explained.

“Reporting to the Elder: We were originally duty disciples of the Spirit Plant Hall. Elder Zhao specifically instructed us to come. He said that since you have just taken charge and are stationed here at Green Mountain, your affairs would be numerous and complex. He transferred us to await your orders, specifically to assist in managing the spirit plants and tending the medicine gardens.”

Shan Yu bowed again, his voice trembling slightly with earnestness.

“From now on, whatever orders the Elder has, we two disciples will go through fire and water without hesitation.”

Yao Min chimed in, her voice crisp and eager.

“Elder, please rest assured! We have worked in the Spirit Plant Hall for over three years. Sowing, seedling cultivation, irrigation, pest control, and identifying common spirit herbs—we know it all! We can definitely be of help!”

Chen Ping looked at their young, energetic faces. He listened to their desperate sales pitch, and slowly, the deeper meaning behind the Sect’s “arrangement” clicked into place.

The Sect wasn’t just sending servants. They were sending him potential protégés.

As a newly minted Elder and a Pillar of the Sect, he was expected to contribute to the next generation. He couldn’t just take the Sect’s resources without giving back.

These two… if his estimation was correct, they likely had decent aptitude and perhaps some minor background or connections that allowed them to snag this assignment.

They were sent here to be groomed.

It’s a clever calculation by the Sect, Chen Ping mused. But not an unwelcome one.

Refusing them was unnecessary. In fact, it would be foolish.

He had just arrived at Green Mountain. He had sixty acres of fields to manage and a mountain to develop. He needed labor. He needed people to handle the mundane tasks of planting Spirit Rice and tending to the common herbs so he could focus on cultivation and high-level alchemy.

Chen Ping nodded, his expression shifting from confused to authoritative.

“In that case, let’s not mince words. The fact that you two are here means you have already resolved to live in this desolate place with me for the long haul. That is good.”

He looked them in the eye, his voice calm but weighty.

“Shan Yu, Yao Min. Are you two willing to bow to me as your Master?”

Shan Yu and Yao Min froze for a split second, then their eyes erupted with light.

They had assumed they would have to serve as glorified servants for months, maybe years, testing their loyalty before the Foundation Establishment Elder would even consider taking them in.

They never expected this Elder to be so pragmatic! So direct!

Thump!

The two dropped to their knees in perfect synchronization. No hesitation.

“Disciple Shan Yu… Disciple Yao Min… is willing!”

In that moment, the bond was sealed.

Chen Ping had his labor force, and Green Mountain had secured its future foundation.