From the Carp that Brings Children to the Celestial Officials

Chapter 166 Time flies
A barely perceptible tremor spread from the bottom of the pool, passing through rock crevices and mountain bones, and finally merging into the depths of the entire Yuanling Mountain.

The grass remained still, the trees remained undisturbed, but the mountain air, which had been slowly rising, began to settle, flowing back into the mountain's belly like water returning to its source.

The call of an unknown bird came from the distant mountains, but it suddenly stopped at the mountainside, as if it had sensed something for a moment.

You Ming's divine sense covered the entire Yuanling Mountain.

In his perception, the mountain embryo seemed to be a living thing, merging with the Yuanling Mountain and extending outwards with faint roots, as if it were a living thing, drawing nourishment from the earth.

This process won't happen quickly, but as the days and months pass, one day it will become a great mountain.

Moreover, during its growth, it will develop mountain patterns like tree rings, cultivate spiritual eyes, and even carry the light of the sky.

Ultimately, it will become a sacred place for immortals and gods, a place where the Tao can be carried, the gods can be hidden, and spirits can be nurtured.

You Ming stretched, feeling calm and unhurried.

If I had to describe it in one word, it would be: steady and improving.

……

Time flies, spring goes and autumn comes.

Eight years have passed in the blink of an eye.

For ordinary people, eight years is an incredibly long time. A baby can grow into a mischievous child, an old man in his twilight years may have long since passed away, and a strong young man or woman may have unknowingly entered middle age.

However, for a divine cultivator, eight years is but a blink of an eye.

At the foot of Yuanling Mountain, the few scattered schools have expanded several times over, and a new school has been built at the intersection of nearby villages, allowing children from the surrounding area to attend school for free.

Although many cultivators hated You Ming, this did not include the cultivators from Bingzhou.

Because everyone discovered that, regardless of the carp god's character and personality, he was truly dedicated to his work.

All beings born within its jurisdiction possess remarkable aptitude, with some even exhibiting genius-level talent. This proportion is not low, generally reaching around three to four percent.

Occasionally, some exceptional geniuses will emerge.

Take, for example, the young master of Da Chen Village. He is not even ten years old yet. Last year, he entered Mingyue Temple and was immediately groomed as its direct descendant. Not only does he have a group of Xuan Guang cultivators protecting him whenever he goes out, but even the old abbot, who has been in seclusion for a long time, personally went to a major sect to seek marrow-cleansing elixirs to lay a solid foundation for him.

Three years ago, a baby girl was born into a family surnamed Yang in Dadun Village. Her abilities were said to be even better than those of the young master from Dachen Village.

Originally, Mingyue Temple wanted to continue recruiting disciples, but unexpectedly, this matter reached the ears of Tianxin Haige, the number one sect in Bingzhou.

There was no room for negotiation then, and the woman was naturally chosen by Tianxin Haige.

However, the fact that Yuanling Mountain was a breeding ground for geniuses spread, and more sects began to pay attention to the area. The school at the foot of the mountain was expanded again and again, and the teaching conditions improved significantly.

This is mainly because the divine way is strong enough that even if a major sect from Bingzhou came, they would not allow children to be taken to the mountains to cultivate before the age of eight.

You can give your child a foundation, but you must stay within Changning County.

Although Changning County alone has little influence, it represents the entire Divine Path, and the cultivators have no choice but to obey.

This, ironically, boosted the prosperity of Changning County by several levels. With more cultivators arriving, there were bound to be various demands, and thus, a market for cultivators gradually emerged on the south side of the Feng River, attracting cultivators and spirits from all over to trade.

In fact, the transactions in the City God's realm are more formal and have a wider variety of goods, but all transactions are subject to taxation, so many cultivators choose to trade in the market.

The Night Watchman, who was in charge of enforcing the law, had already reported the matter, but the City God pretended not to know.

Changning County is just a county town now, and it doesn't have much power to restrain these cultivators. As long as they don't cause trouble, they can be left to their own devices.

These things had no impact on You Ming.

Although he has always lived in seclusion on Yuanling Mountain, his reputation in the outside world is now quite prominent. Although everyone deliberately avoids mentioning phrases like "Five Clouds, Four Heroes, and Three Heroes are not as good as Bingzhou Yiming," they have gradually come to know that several of the Twelve Immortals have suffered setbacks in front of him.

Nobody wants to provoke this fierce god.

The incense at Yuanling Mountain remains thriving and prosperous.

Compared to before, the mountain seemed much higher, and outside the mountain gate, stone steps spiraled upwards from the foot of the mountain. On both sides of the steps, clusters of cloud fungus and spiritual herbs shimmered, and occasionally small animals could be seen darting out.

The Azure Divine Tree on the back mountain continuously synthesizes spiritual energy from the void. This spiritual energy permeates the entire Yuanling Mountain in wisps and strands, but is bound by an invisible force, preventing it from dissipating.

Along the mountain path, pilgrims come in an endless stream. Yuanling Mountain is not only believed to bestow children and marriages, but it is also rich in spiritual energy. Many people with minor illnesses can become as healthy as flying after spending half a day here.

A narrow stream flows down from between the rocks. Many people coming down the mountain would fill bamboo tubes with the water to take back for their children to drink, as it was believed to ward off evil spirits and disasters.

Because these springs all flow down from the [Jiyuan Pool], and because the spiritual energy of Yuanling Mountain is now abundant, You Ming simply opened the [Jiyuan Pool] completely, allowing its water to flow continuously into the human world, constantly nourishing the surrounding area.

At the bottom of the icy pool, a carp floated quietly in the Five Sources Town Water Platform, with water vapor of five elements and five colors flowing around him, constantly adjusting his aptitude.

Eight years have passed, and You Ming has not shown his spirit every day, nor has he shown his face. He sits quietly on the Wuyuan Town Water Platform deep in Yuanling Mountain, listening to the dripping of the spiritual spring and watching the mist rise from the mountain range, cultivating his mind and body.

The Five Sources Town Water Platform consists of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, corresponding to cold, heat, gentleness, excitement, and stillness.

Using the power of the Five Elements and Five Natures, comprehend the Way of the Unity of All Waters.

Although You Ming's aptitude has not yet completely transformed and his realm has not yet broken through, the vastness of water often appears in his consciousness. It seems that all the true meanings related to water in the world have become his instinct.

You Ming's consciousness slowly awoke from his cultivation. Eight years ago, he had vaguely grasped a trace of the true meaning of the Dharma Image, but now, eight years later, he was still just a little short.

Of course, if this hurdle were so easy to overcome, Tai'an Prefecture wouldn't be so lacking in Dharma Aspect experts these days.

"Ok?"

"Has the number of geniuses finally surpassed three hundred?"

Suddenly, You Ming had a thought, and the [Fetal Light Divine Contract] that had been hanging on Yuanling Mountain emitted rays of light, radiating in all directions.

For eight years, the number of villages under his jurisdiction has remained at twenty-three. Although there have been rumors that the City God would also entrust him with the responsibility of granting children and marriages in other villages, this has not yet come to pass.

Even so, the population growth in his jurisdiction was close to seven thousand.

(End of this chapter)