Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 15: Cultivating in Seclusion at the Inn, Pilgrimage to the Grotto Heaven

After entrusting the renovation to his cousin and his wife, and specifically instructing them to keep a close eye on the materials and guard against any dishonest neighbors, Lin Yan took the letter of introduction from the neighborhood office and went to a nearby state-run hotel that looked fairly clean.

To avoid suspicion, he booked a double room. This way, his "cousin" would bring him food every day, and someone would answer the door when the hotel checked rooms at night, perfectly creating the illusion that he had been recuperating there.

After paying the fee and receiving a letter of introduction, he got the key and entered the room. The room was simply furnished with two single beds, a table, and a thermos. Lin Yan drew the thick curtains, blocking out the outside world. With a thought, his figure vanished from the room and entered the Qiankun Realm.

Just as he stood firm by the spirit spring, a golden light flashed into his arms like lightning, accompanied by a childish complaint: "Brother! You haven't come in to keep Xiao Qi company in so long! Xiao Qi missed you so much!"

Lin Yan felt a warmth in his heart, reached out and caught the fluffy little Qilin, gently stroking its smooth back. The path of life is solitary, destined to be lonely, but having this little creature wholeheartedly rely on him and accompany him felt truly wonderful.

To comfort the somewhat aggrieved Xiao Qi, Lin Yan smiled and changed the subject: "Alright, alright, it was your fault, brother. Come on, take brother to see your puppet army, and how's this 'empire' you built for brother doing?"

Sure enough, upon hearing that they were going to show off their work, Xiao Qi immediately forgot all her earlier frustration, excitedly jumped out of his arms, and proudly led the way: "Brother, come with me! It's so beautiful here now!"

The first thing that catches the eye is the shimmering fishpond. The Lingquan fishpond is crystal clear, and some beautifully shaped and brightly colored fish swim leisurely. What amazes Lin Yan is that marine and freshwater fish can coexist harmoniously here, which is clearly the magical effect of the Lingquan spring. However, the numbers are well controlled. After all, with a time flow rate of 120 times, the reproduction is too fast, and careful management is necessary. On the other side, the mountain spring fishpond is much more "lively". Various common crucian carp, grass carp, and common carp are abundant, and each one is fresh, plump, and of top quality even by today's standards.

Next came the vast pastures. Herds of cattle and sheep roamed leisurely on the spring-nourished grasslands, while wild boars, sika deer, and roe deer each occupied their own areas, and even a few roe deer could be seen curiously peering out. Lin Yan had instructed that there should be no excessive intervention, allowing them to form their own ecological chain. Rabbits, in particular, had an astonishing reproductive rate and needed to be captured in moderation by puppets periodically to prevent them from becoming an invasive species.

The orchard is dazzling. It boasts a wide variety of fruit trees from both the north and south, their branches laden with abundant fruit, filling the air with their fragrance. Next to the orchard is a specially designated area planted with precious trees such as rosewood, padauk, and golden nanmu. Although not yet towering giants, it already possesses considerable scale and, given time, will undoubtedly become a priceless economic forest. Adjacent to the orchard is a vast, lush tea garden, where green tea, black tea, dark tea, and even Pu'er tea trees are thriving, their leaves thick and tender.

"This is all my start-up capital for the future," Lin Yan nodded with satisfaction.

Looking out over the boundless farmland, golden waves of wheat and emerald rice paddies rippled in the wind, like an ocean of hope. Lin Yan felt a surge of emotion; over the next three years, this grain would save countless lives. But he specifically instructed Xiao Qi: "Xiao Qi, the most important thing is to plant more potatoes and sweet potatoes. They have high yields and are very filling; these are the real life-saving foods. Rice and wheat flour were luxuries for the poor in those times."

Finally, they arrived at the Spirit Herb Garden. Here, the spiritual energy was abundant, and various rare spiritual herbs and medicines thrived under the nourishment of the spiritual spring, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance. These were seeds left by the ancestor based on Qi Refining stage pill formulas. Once he reached the fifth level of Qi Refining, these herbs would likely be mature enough for him to attempt alchemy, truly embarking on the path of alchemy.

After touring the regular areas, Xiao Qi took him to the special supply area. It was like a miniature, perfect ecological park, everything orderly and of far superior quality to the outside world. But Xiao Qi earnestly told Lin Yan, "Brother, although we use spiritual spring water here, these crops and livestock aren't yet true spiritual plants and beasts. We need to use their seeds and young to breed them for several generations, selecting the best of the best, allowing them to slowly evolve. Only then will eating them be completely free of impurities and truly beneficial to our bodies."

Lin Yan nodded understandingly and patted Xiao Qi's head: "Brother understands. No rush. We should focus on cultivation and improvement for now, and put our appetites aside for the time being."

After completing his pilgrimage, Lin Yan arrived at the spirit spring, took out the array plate, and was about to begin his secluded cultivation when he suddenly remembered something.

"Little Seven," he called to the little Qilin who was about to run off to play, "Do your brother a favor. Next to the Enlightenment Tea Tree, use the best wood to build another quiet meditation room. It needs to be well soundproofed and secluded." Although there was a meditation room in the courtyard, it lacked the natural Daoist aura emanating from the Enlightenment Tea Tree, so the effect was ultimately inferior.

"Leave it to Xiaoqi!" Xiaoqi patted her chest and promised, then excitedly ran off to direct the puppets.

Lin Yan noted this down and then stopped thinking about it. He sat cross-legged by the spirit spring, took out a top-grade spirit stone, set up a simple spirit-gathering array, swallowed a fasting pill, and quickly immersed himself in deep cultivation. One week outside is equivalent to nearly two years inside this space. He had to seize every minute and second to strive for a higher realm.