Treasures Of Heaven And Earth

Chún spent the next - two - days traveling a circuitous route back to his Immortal's cave, stopping every hundred li or so - to feed different Essence Springs or locations on the verge of advancing - laying down an Essence Crystal relay trail back over terrain that was easily navigable by small livestock.

He and Tai had discussed the villagers recent actions extensively during this trek. They had come to the conclusion there was not much they could do about it; technically the villagers were not wrong, Tai - was - a Mountain Spirit. Chún was basically as much an extension of the Mountain as Tai was part of him and they - were - acting to protect the village, even if it was for self-serving reasons.

The only question was whether they should try to fulfill any of the villagers requests; Tai was of the opinion it might save Chún trips down the mountain if they could barter services for food or visa versa, Chún thought it would cause more trouble than it was worth in the long run.

"Still faster than walking for another seven days with those animals trying to nibble on every interesting bit of vegetation along the way," mumbled the young teen as he watched the last crystal required to link up with the existing network of Essence Crystals forming.

"Since I do not care how long it takes, I am allowing the flock to meander as they like within each Crystal Warrior's range while making sure they are safe," Tai sent down the link, "I apologise for underestimating the amount of time creating the Crystals would take, but this one is in the range of already existing crystals, which are in turn in the range of several more - all the way back to the clearing."

"Finally, I can travel at a sensible speed," enthused Chún.

"For a person who was a regular human a few weeks ago, you certainly act like regular walking is beneath your notice all of a sudden," remarked his locus.

"Not beneath my notice, rather - I appreciate the freedom I have and resent it being taken away for… irritating reasons," the teen corrected with dignity, then shot into the sky, arriving back at the Heaven and Earth Vine clearing within a few moments.

Touching down just inside the tree-line, he walked briskly into the clearing, only pausing briefly at the large swarm of colorful glowing lights that flitted about; Essence sprites that darted busilly around the various growing plants in the clearing, carrying fruits (several sprites per fruit), tiny buckets of water and soil and buzzing about completing other less identifiable tasks.

The Heaven and Earth vine was looking much tidier, with its semi-transparent and shifting vines and large green leaves being subtly arranged tor the most harmonious appearance and every other tree, plant and herb in his garden was looking vibrantly healthy, pruned of deadwood and leaves.

"Everyone has been busy, I see," remarked Chún happily, "Looking very beautiful your Highness," he bowed in the direction of the Heaven and Earth Vine.

A pair of bright Essence lights came zipping up to halt in front of him at eye level with cheerful chirps and Chún recognised the first two Essence sprites that had originally hitch a ride in his cloak to the clearing.

"Hello, there," Chún bowed slightly in a cheerful greeting and watched in amus.e.m.e.nt as the lights bobbed up and down in mid air in response, "thank everyone for cleaning things up and fixing the garden - I am afraid I am going to make things a little messy again though."

A puzzled chirp made him grin and he walked over to the cavern entrance, which now had the concealing vines drawn up and out of the way like a pair of curtains to either side of the opening in the cliff.

"En. Good - although I hope they can be closed over the Entrance when needed." A quiet buzz and both of the sprites flew over to either side of the entrance where the vines bunched together - whereupon they dropped directly down over the opening, completely indistinguishable from the other vines that fell from the cliff.

Chún nodded in understanding then focused on the Cloak, releasing the Gliding Horse and other items - still piled on top of the cart - from the spatial pocket.

"There are a fair few seeds, fruit seedlings and bushes, fruits, vegetables and so on that need to be planted," he pointed out to interested chirps, "some rice too - although I would like to keep most of it to eat - can you guys pick out the rice most likely to sprout?"

Confident chirps answered him and he laughed, "I am so glad you guys decided to live here. I would just be planting some of it and hope for the best."

"You could pick out the most live rice with Essence Sense," interjected his locus.

Chún shrugged, "Not as well as our new friends can. Speaking of rice…" he nudged the Cloak and a small leather bag that he had carefully stowed away separately from the rest of his purchases appeared, "do you guys know what to do with this?" He opened the bag revealing the Essence Rice the old man had traded him. It glittered with a light blue-green shade of Essence, almost like precious jewels.

Excited squeaks rang out and within a Miǎo, the Essence Sprites were swarming around him, diving for the rice grains - each sprite grabbing one and darting off in the same direction - emptying the bag within a Fēn.

"Wh…" Chún blinked in shock.

"They want you to come to the creekside where it flows through the clearing, they want to plant the rice there, before it loses its Essence," reassured Tai via their link.

"OK." Chún walked quickly across to where he could see the sprites moving very quickly around a segment of of boggier ground where the creek soaked into the clearing creating a miniature swamp a little way before the reduced flow of water entered the cliff face.

"Apparently this is the best place for it, as long as they make some changes," explained Tai as the sprites darted around, the muddy ground and water shifting subtly as they swirled over it, "they are fixing the drainage a little, to make sure the rice does not rot before it sprouts, but as this area is muddy rather than permanently flooded it should be OK - they will flood it later, when the sprouts grow big enough… at least I think that is what they are saying."

"Yes, that is right," the young teen agreed, remembering rice planting chores from his previous life "sprout then flood, not the other way around. How can I help?"

"They are growing a Dao Pattern - quite a complex one - it is going to supply all the Essence types at the exact rate needed by the… they are insisting it is 'sprite rice', actually. They want you to supply the raw Essence to activate it."

"Fair enough - I wonder how a Dao Pattern will be able to supply Fire Essence in such a wet and earthy area - looks like I will learn some new things. How can they create a Dao pattern where one did not exist before… I thought that was bad?" asked Chún with a little annoyance.

"They are encouraging the Dao Pattern to grow naturally - lifting up parts of the Dao here that match what they need, without forcing it. If one pattern does not wish to grow, they let it remain and ask another. Growth like this happens naturally over a long period of time," his locus responded.

"Of course, the Essence Sprites picked the location in the clearing that was the closest to matching what they needed already," Tai continued to explain patiently, "as for the presence of the Fire Essence, remember the Heaven and Earth Vine is growing here, precisely because of the Earth-Fire vein underneath the cliff, which is what creates your hot spring - less than twenty arms spans behind that cliff face."

The teen rubbed his head, "Again - I am forced to think that if Consumers built their formations so that they complemented and worked as part of existing Dao Patterns, there would not be anything wrong with them."

"True," admitted the Mountain, "but, as I have told you before - in general, most Consumers would rather impose the pattern they want to achieve on the landscape for rapid results, rather than taking the time to guide the naturally existing patterns. This is especially true - and perhaps even understandable - if a Consumer is using Formations in battle, but in general it is more a reflection of most Consumer's ever consuming drive to achieve their goals at the expense of everything else."

There was a pause as the locus attempted to communicate and simplify its thought process to a level Chún could understand and then a sigh. "To be completely even handed, the vast majority of Consumers do not have the sort of abilities required to see and guide the world's existing Dao patterns until they are at least World Level anyway, so the vast multitude of cultivators below that level - which is almost all of them - can only scribble the equivalent of a child's finger painting over the top of the canvas of a grand master artist."

"That makes sense," admitted Chún, "I guess even the True Cultivators do not really understand what you just explained or Yijing would not have been so vehemently dismissive of formations. I am surprised that you say it is acceptable in battle, though."

"You have already created Dao Patterns in battle yourself," reminded Tai, "although you formed your offensive Dao patterns organically, they still pushed aside naturally occuring Dao Patterns. But you restored, corrected or improved the area in the aftermath of your battles, which I assure you, is never even considered by Consumers."

Excited chirps distracted Chún from the conversation and he saw the swarm zooming around him and the new rice field. "They say the Dao Pattern needs your help now," translated his locus and the young True Cultivator exhaled deeply. With a thought, his Cloak wrapped around him in a billow of mist, removing his clothing apart from his underthings and storing them.

He smiled as his b.a.r.e feet sank slightly into the ground, "That is better…"

Following the Essence Pulse he sent out through his feet, his Essence sense saw the rough outline of the new, quiescent Dao Pattern and the star-like sparkles of the planted grains of 'sprite rice' that wove through it.

The grains were divided up in a strange distribution rather than planted evenly across the area - then he realised that various grains were positioned within parts of the Dao Pattern that would correspond to various levels and combinations of Essence being present once it was activated. Most of the grains were, as one might expect, cl.u.s.tered between the Water and Earth points of the pattern - some slightly closer to Wood, Metal or Fire, but still almost entirely Water and Earth.

The next largest group of grains were planted almost equidistant between Wood, Water and Earth - which again made a lot of sense. But the two or three quite close to Metal and the one almost directly on top of the Fire point were quite surprising.

Shrugging, he found the place where the new pattern connected to everywhere else and sent a gentle pulse of Essence through it. It was fascinating to watch the Essence race along the pattern and split off into the different segments of the pattern, taking on the elemental characteristics of each type of Essence as it moved through each corresponding part of the Dao Pattern.

The pulse of Essence waned and flickered out before completing a full circuit, but the pattern seemed a little more solid and slightly brighter to his Essence sense. He nodded to himself and pulsed more Essence with next beat of the Mountain's heart - and his.

This Essence lasted longer before fading away, again leaving the pattern stronger and more anchored. Chún continued sending heartbeats of Essence out - each time the pulse lasted longer and travelled further around.

Almost eighty heartbeats later a pulse finally completed the full circuit of the pattern; the Dao Pattern flashed in his Essence sense and sent out five smaller pulses of the separate Essence types - one from each Essence type point. The five Essence types raced into the pattern and combined together at the center, resulting in a much larger pulse of Essence which raced back out to complete another circuit - with a few wisps of excess Essence - especially from the Earth, Water and Wood types - surging out of the parts of the pattern that connected to the rest of everything else.

Chún watched for a few more moments as the cycle repeated itself, each time with stronger Essence generation occuring and a little more excess draining off.

He nodded in satisfaction and dropped out of Essence sense, "The Dao Pattern is running and generating Essence of all five types," he said to Tai, although he knew his friend would be perfectly aware, "it was interesting to watch."

"It is a simple pattern that mimics what happens naturally in growing things," responded the Mountain, matter-of-factly, "once the various types of rice sprout, the pattern will become much stronger as they will reinforce each other and create the Dao Pattern naturally."

"That is nice," replied the teen absently, noting that the Essence Sprites were gone, "time to unpack I suppose," he sighed tiredly, turned and started walking back towards the entrance to his Immortal's cave.

"The sprites have already taken anything that could be planted and grown away," Tai informed him, "They have also taken some of the cloth and thread you purchased - although considering their size, you will hardly notice the difference."

"Whatever for?" asked Chún in surprise.

"Essence Sprites at skilled in imbuing cloth, fabric and other woven material with Essense making them light, strong and tough - and with a little more work some can give it special properties. Some of them are also very accomplished at designing clothing - they are natural artists," answered the Mountain with poorly hidden amus.e.m.e.nt.

"That explains where they get all those tiny ropes, buckets and baskets from," laughed Chún, "Do you think they could make me clothing? I cannot keep exposing my outfits to extreme levels of Essence and hoping for the best."

"They would require things in trade," warned Tai, "five-element honey, for example, or a portion of any produce you find, perhaps more cloth or fabric and thread."

"Fair. I suppose they have come to an agreement with the Heaven and Earth Vine?" inquired the teen.

"Fruit and Shelter for the tending," confirmed his locus, "they will expect a portion from your garden too - although given that you have helped them find a new place to establish a colony, they are also working as a form of repayment."

Chún shrugged, "There is more than I can eat there and soon to be more again thanks to their efforts. Let them know they are welcome to the beans and the Essence rice when it grows as well - but point out that if they let me make dòufu with the beans or dishes with the rice, it will be a more enjoyable meal to share. The same with everything else."

There was a momentary pause, "they say they are happy to make clothes - well, actually they said 'pretty leaves to make big sprite look pretty' - tend the plants and make everything pretty, if you give them tasty food."

The teen laughed, "Deal. I shall have to keep an eye out for pretty things to keep them happy." He stopped short at a sudden thought, "will there be a problem with the chickens and goats?"

Tai rumbled with laughter like a landslide in the link, "They love taking care of animals too - they will definitely want eggs and milk though - and you might have to be careful they do not tire the chickens out riding them."

"Like horses, you mean?" chuckled Chún at the mental image.

"Yes. Although there will probably have several sprites riding on each chicken, instead of one rider like a human and a horse," Tai agreed, "It is the Heaven and Earth Vine you should be concerned about - you will have to convince her not to eat the livestock."

Chún stopped short in surprise at the sight of the empty Gliding Horse in front of the cavern entrance, "Industrious fellows."

Then he tugged his long platinum hair in frustration, "and I had forgotten about her Highness' tendency to eat beasts - any ideas how to convince her besides asking nicely - like we did for Shé Yin?"

"They have tidied and cleaned up your cave as well," Tai warned, "They like making things harmonious. Some of them were very impressed by your ceramic artwork, by the way. I suspect some will want to trade for pieces that take their fancy. And as for asking her Highness to leave your livestock alone, you could point out that goat and chicken feces are good fertilisers? Other than that, I have not got any ideas."

Chún shook his head, deciding to leave that discussion until later, since the livestock would not be arriving anytime soon. Stepping into the cave passage, he could see evidence of the Sprites efforts to decorate and improve the walls and ceilings. Veins of semi-precious stones and metals in the walls, floors and ceilings had been exposed, cut and polished smooth. Every stone surface had been polished until it gleamed in reflected light that came from small Essence lights floating near the ceiling.

Impressed, the teen decided what changes had been made to the main cavern and hurried his steps until the main area opened up in front of him.

Here the light from the Silver Oak on its high ledge glowed like a small star, reflecting off every surface and vein of metal that had been similarly polished mirror smooth, like the entrance passage had been.

Every naturally formed niche and nook around the cavern had been decorated with the shiny sand that came from the Silver tree's ledge. The stone around the Hot Spring glittered with the same sand, which had been placed around the hot spring as it if it was a naturally sanded pool.

Many of the various niches, nooks or ledges held his artistic ceramics - all of them glowed with Essence colors as if they had been painted over with glaze - while others held piles of semi-precious and precious stones, strange glowing Essence plants, flowers and other beautiful things.

A few curious chirps attracted his attention to a few sprites glowing red and orange, floating above the surface of the hot spring in the main updraft of steam - and, as he knew from previous experiences - Fire Essence.

"Ah, so this is where the Fire sprites hang out, then?" Another set of noises from the ledge exposed the location of a couple metallic glowing sprites, "Oh, and the Metal Sprites as well, my apologies." He bowed and got a buzz of what definitely sounded like laughter back.

Looking around at his sleeping nook, he saw that it had been similarly updated with what looked like an actual thick sleeping pad of some soft, fluffy material. Walking over, and placing his hand on it he realised that it felt like he imagined a cloud to feel like, or perhaps the bed of a wealthy nobleman.

"Ai… all of this is amazing. I feel like I am living in a palace now, not a cave. Please convey my thanks to everyone, Tai."

He paused then said, "Friend, I know as a Sky level Cultivator that I no longer need to eat, bathe or sleep - but it has been six days and five nights since I bathed or slept. I am going to take a bath and then sleep in this most excellent bed, regardless of the fact that I do not need to - I definitely want to."

"I do not see a problem with that," replied Tai, "are you sure you would not like to eat before sleeping?"

"When I feel more refreshed, I will enjoy it more," answered the teen, sighing as he let the cloak and staff summon themselves and placed them to rest by the wall next to his new bed. The Cloak reverted to Essence Mist, dropping his ordinary clothing on the floor, but before Chún could do more than sigh and start to bend down to pick them up, the Sprites rushed down from around the cave and picked them up - dragging the clothing along behind them in mid air down the passage to the exit.

"Maid service too? Wow…" He smiled and dropped his underthings, wondering if they would also be taken away, but they caught fire and burned to ash when the hit the stone.

Raising an eyebrow, he grumbled, "now I'm getting fashion critiques from the embodiment of Essence." Raising his voice, he threw a look up at the remaining floating Fire Essence Sprites bobbing above his head as he stepped into the Hot Spring, "You guys better replace those, my loincloth crafting skills are not pretty at all."