"So that's how it is."

After returning to the small courtyard, Li Ye told the Sect Leader about everything, holding back nothing.

Whatever is his will be his no matter what.

What isn't can't be forced.

The Sect Leader's phantom nodded slightly within the array.

"Thank you for your efforts."

"This matter is entrusted to you, and whatever arises should be decided by you."

"You only need to remember that you are a Golden Core True Man of the Four Seasons Sect."

Though Li Ye was already prepared, hearing this allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief. Honestly, this is someone else's territory, and his confidence comes from the support of the sect.

Now that he got a definite answer, he had the confidence to do more things. After all... even if the sky falls, someone will help him fix it.

"Disciple understands."

"Uncle-Master, I will stay here for a while longer. I also want to experience the life at Bitter Journey Academy."

"When the time comes, please bother sending disciples to help with the propagation of the Ink and Water Demon Spirit and the Dangkang Flower Ginseng Pig."

Li Ye bowed to his uncle-master.

The Sect Leader nodded before actively severing the spiritual power connection of the array.

Su Ya, who was waiting outside, came in with a bit of surprise on his face:

"So, it's resolved?"

"Yes." Li Ye's expression turned relaxed. Now that the sect's rightful matters had been settled, he could deal with anything that followed with a regular heart.

"..."

Despite having expected it,

when he truly heard everything was resolved so easily, Su Ya still felt somewhat unreal.

He sincerely exclaimed:

"Befriending you is probably the best decision I made in over fifty years, possibly without exception."

Li Ye naturally walked forward.

The voice came through: "When you reach five hundred years old, you might feel that even more — we still have plenty of years to live freely, so why dwell on the past now?

Come on, let's move.

I heard that today, many Confucian scholars at Bitter Journey Academy will be reciting Holy Books to enlighten the spirituality of the natural objects within the academy. How can we not participate in such an interesting event?"

Su Ya originally didn't have much melancholic intent, but his interest immediately piqued upon hearing this, and he quickly followed Li Ye.

Just like when the two of them strolled through the Huiya Marketplace before, they talked and laughed.

After crossing several Qingyun Gates, they reached a Grotto Heaven world — this Grotto Heaven world retains the original form of heaven and earth, without interference from the Human Race or various Spirit Races.

Simply put,

it's very desolate.

Everywhere you look, towering trees grow, seemingly for a long time, as even the leaves have turned dark green, thick layers of fallen leaves and withered branches pile up beneath the shade.

The overly dense canopy prevents sunlight from reaching the ground, giving the entire land an extremely dreary feel, a sort of dark, damp chill that can affect even a cultivator.

Yet those Confucian cultivators, wearing robes, carrying folding fans or magical artifacts like brush and scrolls, walked with great excitement among the foliage-laden forest.

It just...

Gave the impression of being quite abnormal.

But given that anyone who can enter Bitter Journey Academy, the largest and only Confucian cultivation force in this world, can't possibly be foolish, Li Ye and Su Ya quietly walked among the crowd.

Intending to see exactly what kind of "natural objects" these were.

The young Confucian scholars were still discussing:

"This Primitive Cave Heaven is said to be a world written out by our gentleman lecturer who has reached the Walking Ruler Realm."

"Hey, what do you think the spirit seed here could be? Spirit Beast or Spirit Plant?"

"I've heard it's something... red umbrella white stalk?"

As soon as this was said,

a quick-witted Confucian scholar immediately realized what it was.

"Mushrooms!"

"Isn't this the most common fungi?"

"So we are supposed to enlighten the spirituality of mushrooms?"

Thinking this way, it indeed seemed quite fitting; this dark, damp environment is perfect for mushrooms to grow.

Among the crowd, Li Ye and Su Ya exchanged a glance.

Mushrooms.

If such things were to develop spirituality, they likely wouldn't be ordinary spiritual objects.

Moreover, although the two of them hadn't used the Earth Wishing Technique to explore the ground, they had already swept the surroundings with their divine sense, nothing should've been able to prevent their probing through withered leaves and fallen branches.

Yet neither of them had detected any mushrooms.

This was odd.

"Certainly odd."

Li Ye gazed into the distance, saying thoughtfully, "Brother, I always feel like there's some sort of mist here, or one might say, a drunkard's haze."

He opened his palm.

A shell appeared in his hand, resembling half a leaf in shape.

Drunken Light Spirit Clam!

This guy occasionally came out during this period, ever since Li Ye formed his Golden Core, it behaved as docile as a chicken.

It only came out occasionally to sip the leftover wine Li Ye had after debating with friends, almost like it was specifically cleaning up the leftover drinks...

In any case.

This creature had an extremely keen perception for alcohol.

And sure enough,

as soon as it came out, it sensed something amiss, and its divine sense clearly transmitted the thought: "There's good wine here!"

"Very, very good wine!"

Several rays of spiritual light burst forth from its body.

Like pillars of light, they swept across the surroundings.

The consciousness was quite excited, and if not for Li Ye holding it, this creature likely would have already flown upward in search of its beloved wine.

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