"Gu Yuan, you’re here!"

"Today is the last day for silk gathering. After today, the Cloud Spiders will enter complete hibernation and will no longer produce silk."

On Spiritual Crane Island, snowflakes fell, draping everything in white. A girl dressed in colorful clothes stood at the entrance of a cave, speaking to a tall young man.

Because the Spirit Beast Hall needed to nurture spirit beasts, the seasons on the island mirrored those outside, and snow covered the ground.

"Thank you for letting me know, Junior Sister."

Gu Yuan softly chuckled.

"I really envy Senior Brother. Your cultivation level is so high that you can complete the task of gathering spider silk and earn twenty Spirit Stones every half a month. These two months, you should have earned sixty Spirit Stones!"

"Unlike me, I can only cut grass for the Cangyun Spiritual Cranes and feed Spirit Water to the Fire Crows—only earning two or three Spirit Stones. Over these two months, I’ve only earned a little over a dozen Spirit Stones."

"Comparing myself to you is infuriating!"

The colorful-clad girl counted on her fingers before sighing helplessly.

Hearing this, Gu Yuan could only shake his head and chuckle softly.

If the girl knew that his silk-gathering wasn’t for the Spirit Stones but for the Spirit Stone Vein behind the Water Curtain Cave-Heaven, it might make her even more envious.

However, Gu Yuan naturally wouldn’t tell her about this; it was just a profound realization that arose in his heart.

"Working... this life will never allow one to ascend the Immortal Path."

"What the Tribulation Cultivation Treasure Manual said is true. Cultivation can be stable but should not be rushed, yet earning Spirit Stones requires multiple streams, not just hard work..."

"Hey, Senior Brother Gu, do you want a Dao Companion?!"

Just then, the colorful-clad girl turned her head toward Gu Yuan, winking at him.

"You?"

Already familiar with each other, Gu Yuan glanced at the girl before bursting into laughter.

Though the girl was charming and fair-skinned, her looks were average in the Cultivation Realm, not to mention her plain figure.

She didn’t pique Gu Yuan’s interest in the slightest.

"Not me!"

The girl scrunched her nose in dissatisfaction but still tugged on Gu Yuan’s sleeve and whispered, "It’s Yun Hanyou, Senior Sister Yun!"

"Senior Sister Yun may also come from a humble background, but her talent is remarkable. She’s barely over twenty and already at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, just like you, Senior Brother!"

"Moreover, she knows alchemy, and a Foundation Establishment steward at the Pill Furnace Institute seems to have taken a liking to her and plans to take her as a disciple after their next seclusion!"

"So, what do you think, Senior Brother Gu? Want to give it a try? I’m on good terms with Senior Sister Yun, I could help matchmake for you!"

The girl softly enticed.

"If the Great Dao is not achieved, how dare I take a wife?!"

Gu Yuan merely shook his head.

"Senior Brother, you have high aspirations, but throughout history, how many have truly achieved the Great Dao? In the end, isn’t it all about propagation? Many noble families in the Daoist School have evolved this way."

"Senior Sister Yun may not be in high demand now, but once she has a mentor, you may not stand a chance, Senior Brother Gu!"

"Don’t miss the opportunity!"

The girl acted as if urging him to seize his chance quickly.

However, Gu Yuan only patted her head: "Alright, go cut some grass for the Spiritual Cranes. You still have to feed the Fire Crows later!"

Upon mention of cutting grass and feeding birds, the girl’s expression fell instantly. She snorted, shook off Gu Yuan’s sleeve, and left unwillingly.

Watching the girl’s departing figure, Gu Yuan let out a long sigh.

Marrying, having children, and procreating... hopefully, such a day will never come for me!

Feeling introspective, Gu Yuan then turned and entered the cave, gathering spider silk twice before ensuring no one was around and finally heading to the Water Curtain Cave-Heaven.

...

...

"Zhi zhi zhi!"

"Good, good, drink!"

Behind the waterfall in the Water Curtain Cave-Heaven, Gu Yuan and the Double-Pupil Golden-Backed Ape indulged in Spirit Fruit and wine, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Gu Yuan was indeed pleased.

The reason he frequented Spiritual Crane Island so diligently was to complete the task of gathering spider silk. Tasks from the Fate Hall, once accepted, had to be completed unless there were pressing matters.

The second reason, of course, was this delicious "Monkey Wine" and "Hundred Flavors Fruit," which could enhance one’s cultivation.

In the outside world, these spirit wines and fruits were incredibly valuable, but after striking a deal with the Old Ape, the Golden-backed Ape tribe treated him sincerely, hosting a feast for him every visit.

With good food and drink that also enhances cultivation, why not partake?

It’s certainly better than toiling away in Qianyuan Cave through bitter cultivation.

"Zhi zhi zhi!"

As man and ape relished their feast, a yellow-brown Spiritual Ape scampered from the depths of the cave, pointing inside while chirping away.

"Hmm? Has the Spirit Ore been all mined?"

Over these days, Gu Yuan had also learned a bit of ape language, and combined with the Spiritual Ape’s gestures, he quickly inferred its meaning.

"If that’s so, let’s go check it out!"

Sitting aside, the White Old Ape opened its eyes and addressed Gu Yuan.

The Double-Pupil Golden-Backed Ape then carried the White Old Ape on its back, accompanying Gu Yuan to the cave’s depths.

A massive cavity gaped in the cliffside, full of pits and scars.

On the ground, numerous Spirit Stones were piled together, emitting a thick sheen.

"Hmm... all the spirit stones are here, and it’s even less than anticipated—only enough to cut into fourteen hundred pieces."

Seeing the Spirit Stones, the Old Ape couldn’t help but sigh.

Initially, it was expected that the Spirit Mining would yield a total of three thousand Spirit Stones, but accounting for the fourteen hundred here and previous spoils, it only amounted to two thousand eight hundred.

This was even less than anticipated.

"It is what it is now, and that’s that!"

Gu Yuan seemed unconcerned, finding satisfaction in obtaining fifteen hundred pieces.

"Alright then, please take these one thousand Spirit Stones, Young Immortal—seven hundred as a split, one hundred as the previously agreed compensation, and two hundred as a deposit from our tribe, hoping you will soon find some Earth Demon Spiritual Object."

With a wave of its hand, the Old Ape divided the Spirit Stones on the ground into two uneven halves.

"Aren’t you afraid that I’ll take the Spirit Stones and do nothing?"

Looking at the Spirit Stones on the ground, Gu Yuan asked with a chuckle.

"The short-sighted might, but a seeker of the Great Dao would never!"

The Old Ape responded with a serene smile.

Even stuck on Spiritual Crane Island, the goodwill of an Earth Demon was undeniably valuable.

"Haha, since you trust me so much, Old Ape, I won’t stand on ceremony!"

Gu Yuan laughed heartily and with a flourish of his sleeve, swept the Spirit Stones into his Storage Bag.

Man and ape exchanged a glance and then burst out laughing.

"Dong!"

"Dong!"

"Dong!"

At that moment, a heavy bell tolled continuously, echoing throughout the entire Cyan Peak Daoist School.

Hearing it, the Old Ape’s expression suddenly shifted.

"Golden Bell Jade Plate? Is the Daoist School going to wage war again?"

"You didn’t leave your name on the Red Gold Jade Register, did you, Young Immortal?"

The White Old Ape looked at Gu Yuan with concern.

"No worries, I have my ways."

Gu Yuan quietly reassured him, with hands behind back.