Chapter 349: Rabbit's cave

The Immortal Cave where Mount Luofu is currently located.

Unlike Shaman God Mountain’s ‘natural’ aesthetic, Mount Luofu has transformed this place into a typical Daoist aesthetic.

What is a natural aesthetic?

It means things are as they should be; no Shaman would idly alter nature for fun.

Only Mortals like to transform everything external into their preferred appearance when they have nothing to do. Shaman Dao, under normal circumstances, would not move these landscapes an inch.

However, the Daoist aesthetic is relatively extreme.

Daoists, unlike Mortals, do not erase nature according to their preferences and then reshape it into a human-liked form, nor do they let it run wild like Shaman Dao.

They prefer… to foster, or rather… to transcend.

Just like the Daoist philosophy.

Born from all things, and then, transcending all things.

Using spirit to transcend the physical body.

Using principles to transcend the spirit.

Ultimately transcending everything, reaching the Realm of omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience, becoming a ‘True Immortal’.

Therefore, the places where Daoists reside, according to their aesthetic, will be even more ‘natural’ than natural.

As the cultivation of the Mount Luofu Disciples recovered over these days, this place became even more majestic and spectacular than when Li Qi first arrived.

Li Qi stood outside the Sect gate.

He could see many floating islands, like numerous ‘Spirit Peaks’.

These Spirit Peaks each hung in their own space, operating according to a fixed Formation under the gentle breeze.

Numerous suspended runes and chains, layer upon layer, subtly formed nine circular archways, guarding the Immortal Cave entrance on the ground.

Nine gates open, spirit fish roam.

Light bestows grace, blessings unending.

The spirit carriage's true nature, like dark clouds forming.

Riding flying beasts, scales and feathers in a flurry.

Looking deeper from the entrance, one could see many plants and animals.

Below the Spirit Peaks, wind horses gallop.

To the left, a Azure Dragon; to the right, a White Tiger.

Heavenly Longevity Pine and Elm, young orioles playfully chirp.

Yellow chrysanthemums gather essence, red dogwood brews fragrance.

Spirit arises from all directions, Divine Qi overflows.

Then, turn to look at the buildings surrounding those animals.

Immortal mountain pavilions, jade palaces, and jasper pools.

Golden walls for ground, vast expanse of glazed tile.

Dewy essence and rosy liquid, cloud nectar and pepper wine.

Mist shrouds fragrant paths, rosy clouds spread over flower beds.

Painted beams gleam brightly, golden threads slant downwards.

This is something more natural than natural.

An ‘Immortal Cave’ that originates from nature but transcends nature.

Everything here can find its prototype in reality, yet it transcends that prototype.

Every object here has more prominent features;

The mountains are more majestic and towering, the rivers are colder and more biting, the trees are more vibrant, the wild beasts appear wilder, and even the colors are more intense.

At first glance, it seems extremely similar to the outside world, but upon closer inspection, one will find that everything here has more distinct characteristics; they all seem to have been ‘enhanced’.

They are all sharper and more vivid than their real-world prototypes, as if a filter that doesn't exist in reality has been applied.

If Li Qi were to describe it…

A movie.

Yes, it's a movie.

The scenes in movies are similar to reality, but they always possess a unique kind of beauty.

Looking at the scene of the immortal mountain before him, Li Qi first sighed in admiration, then walked to the entrance.

This was an extremely grand gate, a thousand meters tall, carved entirely from white jade, adorned with depictions of Immortal Cave valleys, the Ten Continents and Three Islands, ethereal mist and clouds, and dense pine and bamboo, intricate and exquisite.

This gate stood solitarily in an open space, with nothing around it; one could even bypass it and walk behind it.

However, if you didn't push it open and passed through this gate, you could only gaze from afar, unable to approach those Spirit Peaks by a single step.

Without going through this gate, if you tried to fly towards those Spirit Peaks, you would never reach them, no matter how long you flew.

You would forever only be able to see the beautiful scenery on those Spirit Peaks, like a mirage—visible but intangible.

You had to enter through this gate and pass through a procedure called ‘Ascending Heavenly Staircase’ to truly approach those Spirit Peaks.

Because, in essence… these Spirit Peaks don't exist in this world; they are merely projections.

One must pass through the great gate to reach the location where the Spirit Peaks truly are.

Li Qi approached the great gate.

At the gate stood several stone lions, which suddenly came to life as Li Qi approached, glaring at him with vigilance.

However, these lions did not actively attack; they merely bared their fangs.

This was because Li Qi displayed a jade pendant, the one Yang Ning had given him.

Although the stone lions didn't recognize Li Qi and remained wary, they still chose to let him enter.

Li Qi paid no mind to the stone lions; he simply walked to the gate and grasped the knocker on it.

A knocker is a beast-head bronze ring found on ordinary gates, used for knocking.

However, the knocker here was not a bronze ring, but a jade ring.

As soon as Li Qi gripped the jade ring, the beast head on it suddenly came alive, roaring, “Who goes there! What is your purpose!”

Li Qi glanced at it, realizing the roar was feigned.

He recognized the appearance of the knocker; it was Jiaotu, a type of Dragon beast.

Jiaotu, shaped like a conch or clam, has a gentle disposition and prefers to keep its mouth shut, hence it is often placed on door knockers.

Of course, this was certainly not a real Jiaotu. Mount Luofu might have had a Jiaotu guarding its gate during its peak, but this one now should only be a forged artifact, merely possessing the form of a Jiaotu.

Moreover, had he… startled it?

Did this Jiaotu recognize him?

It was likely present when he arrived on the Roc last time.

So Li Qi softened his tone, cupped his hands, and said, “Entrusted by True Monarch Yang Ning, I have come to tidy up Moon Goddess’s Immortal Cave and take some things. This is the proof; please examine it, knocker.”

Li Qi took out the jade pendant.

The Jiaotu-shaped door knocker stared with wide eyes, then recoiled: “S-since that is the case, Young Master, please enter. Just, please, please don't be like last time…”

As it retreated into its shell, the great gate slowly opened.

The jade pendant was sufficient proof; that item could not be faked, nor could it even be stolen; it must have been given by True Monarch Chiqi.

It's just… this Young Master of Shaman God Mountain is so impolite, daring to call True Monarch Chiqi by her given name, simply saying Yang Ning.

Alas, never mind, he is an important figure.

“Naturally, last time I was merely in a hurry. This time I come alone, so I imagine I won’t cause any trouble, knocker, you need not worry,” Li Qi said with a smile, then pushed open the door, led the old horse, and stepped inside.

Upon entering, a row of illusory steps suddenly appeared before him, floating in the air.

Li Qi and the old horse ascended the steps.

After walking for a short while, the heavenly staircase suddenly ended.

However, both man and horse could fly, so they were not afraid. They hovered in the air, knowing they had entered the Immortal Cave.

Before they could move, they saw a flock of skylarks chirping and flying towards them.

These skylarks were small and cute, only palm-sized, agile and nimble, rushing towards Li Qi in a chaotic flock.

However, while they were cute, they were all Ninth-Rank, and all Spirit Beasts.

These skylarks fluttered and flew to Li Qi, then all transformed into little lolis, respectfully bowing to Li Qi: “Greetings, Master! Auspiciousness to you, Master!”

“Who are you?” Li Qi was astonished.

To be honest, it was a bit novel.

It was his first time being called ‘Master’, although Li Qi wasn’t particularly fond of the title.

“We are Welcoming Sparrows. You are Moon Goddess’s Dao Companion, so you should be called Master, which is why we address you this way. Does Master not like it?” The skylarks looked at Li Qi pitifully.

It must be said, arranging such a group of little cuties to greet guests indeed avoids most troubles. The person who arranged this truly had some insight.

“It doesn’t matter what you call me; you can just call me Li Qi. It’s just, where is Moon Goddess’s Immortal Cave? Could you please lead me there? I’m here to help her pack some things.” Li Qi said.

“Ah? Master wants to pack things from the Immortal Cave? Then… Moon Goddess won’t be coming back?” The skylarks immediately all looked up, their voices tense, and dozens of them had identical movements and tones.

To be honest, Li Qi was charmed.

He softened his tone and stroked the head of the little skylark in front of him, which reached his knee: “Of course not. If I didn’t let her come back, she would complain about me.”

The little skylarks collectively sighed in relief, so synchronized they seemed like one person.

“But we would never dare to call Master by his given name. Master is Niangniang’s Dao Companion, so wouldn’t that be disrespectful to Niangniang? However, since Master has stated his purpose, please follow us.”

Then, a plopping sound like dumplings dropping into a pot was heard.

It turned out that the little skylarks each burst into white smoke on the spot, and in the smoke, they transformed from little lolis back into their palm-sized, dumpling-like skylark true forms, huffing and puffing their wings as they flew into the distance.

Li Qi smiled, mounted the old horse, and patted its neck.

The old horse moved its hooves, leisurely following behind the little skylarks.

This time, there was no Qinglei; only auspicious clouds were beneath its hooves, showing that for it, it was no different from an after-meal stroll.

A group of chirping little creatures led the way, with the old horse following behind. Before long, they passed through numerous Spirit Peaks.

From here, the full view of the Spirit Peaks could be seen.

These mountains floating in the sky were truly magnificent.

One could see some Mount Luofu Disciples practicing cultivation method on them, as well as various Spirit Beasts, medicine fields, Pill Furnaces, occasionally flashing with various lights and phenomena—those were the lights of magical techniques.

Everything a Sect should have was there, and the artistic style was perfectly consistent.

Indeed, he had just joined the wrong Sect.

Passing through these, they arrived at another mountain. The skylarks uniformly stopped on the branches, bending the small tree branches under their weight.

Then, one skylark said, “Master, we’re here. This is the place. You can go in now.”

“Good, thank you all.” Li Qi raised his hand, and a sphere left his body.

These were various Five Elements Qi, scattered to these little skylarks.

The skylarks were overjoyed, but very orderly, taking turns to eat the sphere according to their respective cultivation methods, then uniformly landed on the branches, shouting, “Thank you, Great Master!”

“No need, you all go about your business. I’ll handle the rest myself.” Li Qi nodded and said.

The skylarks were also straightforward; hearing this, they bid farewell and scattered with a rustling sound.

Many skylarks were full and eager to go back and refine the Five Elements Qi in their bellies.

Li Qi watched them leave.

Then, he took out the jade pendant, dismounted from the old horse, and said to him, “Go find a place to rest. See if there are any mares around; see if you can make it work. The girls of Mount Luofu are good for raising people.”

“I’ll go in first.” Li Qi tapped the horse’s head, then placed the jade pendant into the Formation’s eye. With a rumble, the stone door moved open.

Li Qi entered the door.

The old horse snorted outside the door, looking at Li Qi with disdain.

Ultimately, you only have one in this life, and it’s highly unlikely you’ll have a second.

This horse, at a minimum, has had three digits, at least a hundred mares, and has left countless offspring.

How dare a little thing like you try to educate this horse?

It’s a pity Li Qi couldn’t see the old horse’s expression, otherwise, its inner monologue would surely be very entertaining.

Leaving aside these matters of private life, Li Qi walked alone into the Immortal Cave.

To be honest, he was a little excited.

Strictly speaking, this was Shen Shuibi’s boudoir. Although it wasn't where she grew up, most of her belongings from Mount Luofu were here.

Last time he came, he hadn’t even made it through the door before being dragged back by a bunch of chains, locked under the Demon Suppressing Pagoda, and nearly beaten to death by Yang Ning.

This time, he could finally enter openly.

The Immortal Cave was full of many things, very varied, but not messy, which perfectly matched Shen Shuibi’s temperament.

What kind of temperament?… Probably that she casually throws things around, yet can also casually pick them up, not specifically hiding them. Therefore, all items are displayed openly, within easy reach.

However, precisely because they needed to be picked up, they were arranged very systematically. One could tell Shen Shuibi’s living habits at a glance: when and where she would do what.

It had a unique charm.

“Bagua plate, Medicine Cauldron, Pill Furnace, jade flute… Hey, there’s even a rattle drum?” Li Qi counted the items, curiously picking up a child’s toy.

This must have been something the rabbit played with when she was very, very young, right?

How to put it… it felt strange.

Because this thing was a Spiritual Tool, and its grade was not low at all, a full Eighth-Rank. It just had no practical use, purely for durability.

This was a particularly high-grade, particularly durable… rattle drum.

Clearly, the person with such a handiwork must have had a high cultivation, perhaps even Empress Luofu herself.

If one had to describe its use, if Magical Power were infused into it and then shaken, a Mortal who heard the sound would likely have their brain explode. It could barely be used as a weapon, but anyone with even a little cultivation would only find the sound very refreshing.

Li Qi held it and shook it, producing a thumping sound.

A Third-Rank big shot handcrafting a children’s toy, and it was even something his own wife played with when she was little…

This feeling was truly quite strange.

He continued searching for things, to see what else he could bring back for the rabbit.

Then, he saw a cabinet, which looked like… a wardrobe?

Li Qi curiously opened it.

Sure enough, it was a wardrobe, filled with many clothes.

Then Li Qi closed the cabinet door without changing his expression.

There were undergarments inside.