Chapter Eight: The Vicissitudes of Time

“I have received the approval of the Primordial Celestial Exile!”

Atop the mountain peak, with the breeze stirring her long hair, Ye Qingyu’s expression turned a shade more animated. She gazed in awe at the towering mountain of spirit stones that appeared before her, marveling at the traces left by the Celestial Exile.

“As one favored by the Primordial Celestial Exile, I must strengthen my resolve, cherish kinship, uphold righteousness, seize fortune, seek my true heart, and cultivate with diligence.”

“One day, I shall lead my companions to conquer the endless wild mountains, so that even the fiercest beasts will flee in terror at the sight of the disciples of the Xuanqing Palace!”

A determined light shone in Ye Qingyu’s beautiful eyes, her aura rising with unyielding momentum.

Such a scene—

It fell into the valley below, stirring the spirits of all who witnessed it.

“Hurry! Quickly record this miracle of the Primordial Celestial Exile bestowing grace upon us!”

Uncle Tie, clutching his massive axe with excitement, wished to inscribe this moment for the generations to come.

He carved line upon line into the mountainside:

“In the Year of the Xuanqing Immortal, the Primordial Celestial Exile manifested, towering into the clouds. His words thundered with majesty, cloaked in the might of heaven, pitying mortals plagued by the mountain beasts of the wilds; with a single palm, he shattered a million mountains and slew tens of millions of monsters.”

“Thus he bestowed his grace, leaving behind four supreme treasures: the colossal bronze cauldron, the ancient Exile Sword, the Exile’s soft armor, and the mountain of spirit stones, laying down trials to test his chosen, Ye Qingyu.”

After inscribing these words with his axe, Uncle Tie gazed upon them with great satisfaction.

Though the account was somewhat exaggerated,

He believed only such words could truly convey the might of the Primordial Celestial Exile!

“Look! The wild beasts of the mountains seem to fear us—they dare not approach the valley!”

At that moment, the spirit energy wafting from the mountain of spirit stones had drawn countless creatures: some circled in the sky, others prowled nearby.

Yet not a single monster ventured closer.

A middle-aged man, noticing this, shouted in excitement.

“Fool! It’s not that they’re afraid of us,”

Uncle Tie cuffed him and scolded, “It’s the power of the treasures left by the Primordial Celestial Exile at work!”

“Look at the bronze cauldron!”

All eyes turned to the cauldron.

At that instant, towering ceremonial incense seemed to pierce the clouds from within the cauldron, its faint fragrance drifting gently. To cultivators, it was invigorating and refreshing.

But to the myriad beasts of the mountains, it was a deadly poison.

None dared step forward.

“Uncle Tie, shouldn’t we record this scene as well?”

A young cultivator ventured to ask.

“Haha, of course we should!” Uncle Tie’s laughter rang out heartily as he resumed carving line after line into the mountain with his axe.

“In the Year of the Xuanqing Immortal, blessed by the Primordial Celestial Exile, the bronze cauldron descended. Its immortal incense soared into the clouds, its fragrance drifting for ten thousand miles. For cultivators, it heightened perception; for the myriad monsters, it sowed terror, and none dared enter the scented mist!”

This sight, naturally, did not escape Qin Feng.

Standing beside the box, he watched the little people of the valley, a smile playing at his lips.

“These little ones are truly amusing.”

Qin Feng watched Uncle Tie carving words into the mountain and smiled, enjoying their reverence.

Perhaps it was the long day’s toil, but drowsiness washed over Qin Feng and he yawned.

“All the gifts for these little people have been delivered.”

“Now, it’s time for me to rest as well.”

Stretching lazily, Qin Feng turned and left, closing the secret chamber behind him and returning to the main house.

He sank into his soft bed, his body completely at ease, letting out a satisfied sigh.

“So comfortable…”

“After such a busy day, I’m exhausted. Finally, I can rest for a while…”

Gradually, Qin Feng drifted into sleep.

…

And once Qin Feng fell asleep,

Time within the world of the box began to accelerate rapidly.

Clearly, the flow of time inside was increasing.

Everything was changing quietly.

And at the heart of these changes was Ye Qingyu.

Having passed her trial, Ye Qingyu leapt down from the mountain peak, returning to the valley with two of the supreme treasures, slaying any beasts that dared block her way.

Soon after, she cleaved several large spirit stones from the mountain, placing them at the heart of the valley to serve as cultivation resources for everyone.

With the protection of the incense from the giant cauldron,

No beast dared to invade the valley, day or night.

“To cower here in the valley is no way to live!”

“I must lead my companions to carve a safe path to the outside, so our freedom cannot be shackled!”

Having passed the trial, Ye Qingyu’s once-youthful face seemed to mature. Her eyes shone with resolve as she stared down the encircling monsters, utterly unafraid.

During the next five years,

Ye Qingyu led her companions in diverting water sources through the valley, reclaiming fields of spirit crops, building rows of houses, and erecting sturdy fences around the perimeter.

At times,

She would take several companions on expeditions, relying on the Exile Sword to cut down any beast that stood in their way.

With the Exile’s soft armor to shield her, no beast could inflict serious harm upon her.

Should any companion fall gravely wounded, they returned to the valley and drank from the spring of spirit medicine, their wounds healing completely.

Such scenes compelled Uncle Tie to inscribe yet another account of the Primordial Celestial Exile’s wonders upon the mountain.

“In the Year of the Xuanqing Immortal, the Primordial Celestial Exile showed mercy to all beings, leaving behind the Spring of Spirit Medicine amidst the wild mountains. Its miraculous effects could restore the dead and regrow flesh on bone. No matter how dire the injury, a single sip brought rebirth and complete recovery.”

And so,

Ye Qingyu ventured forth, bringing back seeds of spirit herbs from the wild to cultivate in the valley.

On her explorations, she slew ferocious monsters and brought back their young to raise as livestock.

Life became full and vigorous.

In the blink of an eye, another twenty years passed.

The valley bloomed with vitality: the land lay broad and open, dwellings stood in neat rows like scattered stars, fields and herb gardens crisscrossed the earth, and domesticated beasts frolicked in their pens.

The buildings stretched in an unbroken line—bamboo towers and high pavilions wound like a jade belt, adorning the endless mountains.

Here, Ye Qingyu led her companions in frequent rituals to honor the Primordial Celestial Exile.

Patiently, she guided them in diligent, tireless cultivation.

By day, they hunted the monsters of the mountains, honing their battle skills and healing their wounds with the spring’s medicine.

By night, they gathered around the great spirit stones, slowly absorbing the pure energy that drifted forth.

With the Exile’s blessings,

Their strength grew swiftly. Before long, most of the beasts in the vast mountains had become prey for the Xuanqing Palace.

The colossal monsters that once posed a deadly threat were now tamed and used as beasts of burden.

Once-terrifying monsters were now mere bones piled high in the valley; in the hands of the Xuanqing disciples, they became sculptures adorning homes or ornaments worn on the body.

The flocks and herds that once encircled the valley had long since dispersed, no longer daring to provoke those fearsome people within.

On this night,

Ye Qingyu stood atop the peak, gazing up at the heavens. Her beauty had blossomed, graceful and poised, her demeanor ethereal like an immortal maiden.

“More than twenty years have passed…”

“Since the Primordial Celestial Exile bestowed his grace, there has been no sign of him…”

Ye Qingyu let the night wind play with her hair, her eyes deep and luminous as autumn waters, fixed upon the sky above.