Beast Taming Clan: I Have a Jade Book

Chapter 234: Chapter 233: Mortal Heart Amid White Clouds

After the rainy season, it’s clear skies and bright sun.

The seedlings in the mountains grow gently, rolling into a continuous wave of grain with the breeze.

A spiritual ship descends from the sky, and two figures in Daoist robes step out from it.

Ye Jingcheng gazes at the vast wheat field, seemingly swaying with the breeze and the wave of grain.

At the end of the wave of grain lies a small town nestled in the mountain pass.

The town is not large, but the two mountains are quite tall, casting ample shadow.

At the village gate, the temple still appears splendidly luxurious, and the roads have widened considerably. That’s the Immortal Hall, though alas, it never lodges an immortal.

Ye Jingcheng’s eyes suddenly appear somewhat dazed.

For a moment, many images flash through his mind.

Eventually landing on the three characters of White Cloud Town at the archway.

He shakes his head, then smiles softly.

He is here today for ascension, so how can he be lost in a daze?

“Jingcheng, is this the little town you left?” asked Ye Jingyu beside him.

“Indeed, Seventh Sister, those are the Two Peaks of White Cloud Town, touching the clouds. When I was young, everyone in town believed that the immortals lived on Two Peaks. Only the old town chief would happily point at the Immortal Hall, telling us the immortals reside within!” Ye Jingcheng nodded and added.

“Many years ago, I didn’t understand the old town chief’s meaning because the Immortal Hall was colder than any house in town. I even guarded it for a time until the day of the Immortal Ascension Conference, when I realized that we… are the immortals!” Ye Jingcheng finished speaking and immediately headed towards the small town along a broad path.

He crossed the archway and passed by the temple.

In his daze, he seemed to see himself guarding in front of the Immortal Hall, his eyes anticipating the immortal riding a crane under the moon.

Then he shook his head again.

Ye Jingcheng thought he already had a heart like still water.

But now, standing truly before White Cloud Town once more, those mortal memories seem as if just yesterday.

Ye Jingcheng entered the temple, standing before the Cyan Bell at the center.

This bell is named the Immortal Bell.

However, it is not a magical artifact; mortals could not hang a magical artifact.

But this bell is extremely resonant; striking it with a spell can be heard within Baili’s range.

It’s also White Cloud Town’s guardian ’beast,’ ringing whenever a demon beast appears.

It serves both as a warning to the clan and to request assistance from Ye Family cultivators.

“Jingyu, wait for me a moment!” Ye Jingcheng hesitated for a moment but did not immediately strike it.

He walked out of the Immortal Hall onto the bustling streets, passing through the wafting smoke of the bun shop and a group of children fussing for candied hawthorn.

The streets were as familiar as ever, only the changes in people remained overwhelming.

On both sides of the street, inns with large red characters were hung, exuding the fragrance of wine and laughter.

He arrived at a large courtyard.

At the entrance of the courtyard, there was a large Ye character, indicating it was the old town chief’s manor.

His figure began to turn translucent, accompanied by spiritual light, making him invisible to others.

Twenty years had passed; he’s unsure if the old town chief was still there.

During these years of ascension because of family rules, he’s permitted to visit only once every decade, and although he’s nearing forty-four now, he’s returned only once.

He was in his early twenties back then and just a Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer cultivator; now, two decades have swiftly passed.

The courtyard was flourishing with people, much more expanded compared to his memory.

Inside the courtyard, the old locust tree had grown even sturdier, and an elder lay on a wicker chair beneath it.

The old town chief was more frail; his eyes barely open, with wrinkles akin to the old locust tree beside him.

One of his shoes had fallen off, revealing a bony foot; the frail man seemed to struggle with even a slight movement.

Ye Jingcheng’s figure gradually materialized; he picked up the fallen shoe.

He gently put it back on for the elder.

“Grandpa Town Chief, it’s cooler inside the house than under the locust tree!” Ye Jingcheng whispered.

The elder gazed upward in surprised wonder:

“Is it Liu’Er?”

His voice was low, seeming weak, with cloudy eyes as if reminiscing.

Yet he immediately called Ye Jingcheng by his childhood nickname.

He used to be called Ye Liu, and within the Ye Family’s territory, those without spirit roots were only given two-character names.

Only when spirit roots first appeared could they be bestowed with a generational name.

“Immortal… arrival, failing to… welcome properly!” The old town chief pondered briefly, then as if recalling, attempted to rise from the wicker chair.

In his view, there’s no Liu’Er now, only the lofty immortal.

“Grandpa Town Chief, there’s no immortal, just a mere mortal!” Ye Jingcheng shook his head, uprighting the old town chief.

“Grandpa Town Chief, forgive Liu’Er for coming to see you only today.” Ye Jingcheng took out some Spring Tea, pouring a cup for the old town chief.

“Not allowed!” The old town chief, thinking it was a waste of spirit tea, said.

“It’s not spirit tea, just mortal tea I personally grew, picked at dawn with the morning dew as you taught back then, not an immortal, but better than an immortal!” Ye Jingcheng replied with a smile.

The elder was finally willing to drink it.

This tea naturally was Spring Tea, which does no harm, contained little spiritual energy, but somewhat benefited the old town chief’s health.

Not to mention prolonging life, but certainly adding some wakefulness.

“This tea is excellent, this tea is excellent!” The old town chief continuously praised.

Joy filled Ye Jingcheng’s heart, a type of joy distinct from usual.

The family always stressed the separation between immortal and mortal.

Not to derail the Dao heart, and Ye Jingcheng previously concurred.

After all, a mortal life is less than a century, and he now, even with no progress in cultivation, has two hundred springs and autumns.

Lingyun Peak was at least a thousand miles away from the family’s mortal county town.

Thus, in these twenty years, he consciously and unconsciously dismissed the idea of returning.

Yet now, he believes such avoidance might have been a mistake.

Cultivation is also the cultivation of the heart.

Everyone’s Dao heart is different.

Just like this, even sitting at the side, he felt content.

Instead, continuous avoidance might cause significant issues when he breaks through.

As Ye Jingcheng and the old town chief drank tea, he felt his mind was somewhat different.

“Grandpa Town Chief, today I am here to receive the Immortal Seedlings. How about having your household inspect first? If there are potential Immortal Seedlings, I can take a look in advance!” Ye Jingcheng said.

He had already noticed a few middle-aged people waiting outside the inner courtyard.

They were holding tea and rice, clearly also aware of Ye Jingcheng in the courtyard.

However, they did not disturb.

“Several uncles and aunts can also bring their children here; today, let it be in this courtyard!” Ye Jingcheng stated.

The middle-aged individuals immediately felt boundless joy, completely forgetting to bring the tea and rice inside, rushing to call their children.

Ye Jingcheng’s offer for inspection here implied he was giving them a shortcut.

To ensure fairness, Ye Family mandates that the Immortal Hall be closed, permitting children to enter individually without adult accompaniment, even when confirmed to have spirit roots, directly leading them into the Clan Mountain with no farewells.

Though seemingly harsh, they consider it the first lesson for the Immortal Seedlings.

Immortal and mortal are different!