"Open!"
Chen Yang channeled a hundred strands of true essence into the cave. Instantly, strange phenomena flickered across the miniature realm.
The spectacle persisted for an entire hour before merging with the true essence and dissolving into the air.
As the last glow faded, Chen Yang watched with satisfaction as dawn broke over the eastern horizon. The gloomy landscape now pulsed with soft light and vitality.
Azure skies unfurled above. A crisp breeze stirred, carrying the murmur of streams and rustling plants…
"Finally… it breathes."
Though pleased by the thriving cave, Chen Yang remained grounded. His spiritual senses detected the realm’s lingering fragility – far from ready to sustain cultivators.
To test its limits, he released birds, beasts, and fish captured from Song Mountain into the newborn world.
As predicted, the sudden influx strained the cave’s day-night cycle and stability. Only one creature survived the initial trial – a palm-sized pig-nosed turtle found gasping weakly by a riverbank. When other perished creatures became nourishment for the realm, the tiny reptile gradually revived, claiming its place as the cave’s first inhabitant.
Plucking a sesame-seed-sized fragment of mysterious power, Chen Yang flicked it at the creature. The turtle shuddered, dull eyes briefly gleaming with awareness before it ducked back into its shell and slid beneath the water.
After days of monitoring, Chen Yang adjusted his approach. The second batch contained only small, hardy specimens. This time, a third survived the adjustment period.
Through repeated trials over a month – gradually increasing numbers and varieties – the cave’s spiritual energy circulation stabilized. After a dozen iterations, the miniature ecosystem finally sustained itself. Birds wheeled above fish-dotted streams while furry creatures scampered through undergrowth.
"Foundations laid at last."
Chen Yang allowed himself a moment of quiet pride. The hardest step – establishing self-sustaining cycles – was complete. Future enhancements would flow more smoothly.
Withdrawing his consciousness from the cave, he refocused on his avatar. The Talisman Mountain’s Gathering of Talents in Qiulu City approached. Old Yu would need to depart soon with the avatar for the distant location.
Coincidentally, Gao Hui planned to visit his mentor Gu Zhengyuan in the same city. The two individuals traveling together would minimize risks.
After seeing off Old Yu, Chen Yang turned his attention to the cave’s next development phase.
Having used forging methods to complete the cave heaven and make it self-sustaining, the next step was refining its other functions through the formation path.
From that day onward, Liu Zihao in Sanglu Valley began a wondrous encounter.
Whenever he entered deep meditation during cultivation, his divine awareness would drift into a vast white world.
There sat a gaunt white-haired elder.
The old man never greeted him or made small talk. Instead, he immediately began Transmitting Teachings about cultivation insights from the Gathering Qi stage.
Though Liu Zihao could now arrange and control Perfected Gathering Qi formations, his limited talent meant mastering Condensing Essence formations remained distant.
What shocked him was how the elder, after each lesson, would flood him with true essence to temporarily elevate him to a Condensing Essence cultivator’s level!
This miraculous method allowed him to prematurely practice the Condensing Essence portion of his Inheritance.
Recognizing this rare opportunity, Liu Zihao devoted himself to daily meditation, studying advanced formation techniques within this realm.
Through their mind and soul connection, Chen Yang absorbed every shred of Liu Zihao’s insights.
Previously ignorant of formations, Chen Yang now voraciously consumed knowledge through this extraordinary trick.
The method was simple – projecting higher consciousness to create illusions for Liu Zihao.
Yet the true essence of heaven and earth woven into these illusions made the experiences utterly real.
Formation patterns, foundations, eyes, spirits… all flooded into Chen Yang’s mind.
But as the saying goes, different fields are mountains apart.
Chen Yang had hoped this shortcut would swiftly grant mastery of the formation path.
In truth, illusion-derived insights couldn’t support actual formation arranging.
At best, he became superficially competent – mimicking techniques without understanding their principles.
True mastery required time and persistent practice, as with his earlier Talisman Technique and future forging studies.
"Shortcuts won’t reach the destination," Chen Yang concluded, settling his resolve. "I’ll start properly from the Gathering Qi stage."
He withdrew his consciousness from Liu Zihao’s sea of consciousness, ready to begin genuine study.
Suddenly, emptiness yawned within him.
A faint strand of Dao of cultivation insight traveled through their connection.
"This…!"
Chen Yang inspected his inner self.
After a stunned pause, he sighed.
The soul fire representing Liang Yi had vanished with this final insight.
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