Chapter 140: Respectfully Sending Off the Sovereign Deity

Master Changfeng reminded Shi Xianyu that among people in this world, those who follow the Tao worship the Three Pure Ones, while those who follow Buddhism worship the Three Buddhas. Beyond that, various local folk traditions have their own Earth Gods, Mountain Gods, Kitchen Gods, Child-Bringing Gods, and so on. People worship all these deities for nothing more than wealth, academic success, peace, and health. Among these, female devotees most frequently pray for marriages and offspring.

Since Shi Xianyu's celestial palace was capable of providing immortal medicine, casting a statue of her as the Medicine Goddess would make it easiest to accumulate divine willpower. The more responsive a deity proved to be, the more people it would attract to worship them. As for kindred spirits and friendship, those were things met by chance rather than sought, which even immortals found difficult to assist with.

However, Shi Xianyu was not greedy when it came to collecting divine willpower, feeling that everything should just take its course.

She said, "Although there are many medicinal herbs in my spirit herb garden, I haven't even learned to recognize all of them yet, nor do I know how to use them. Up to now, the Alchemy Pavilion hasn't produced even a single pill. It would be far too much of a stretch for me to act as the Medicine Goddess. Right now, the Hall of Eternal Joy only features prayers for marriage and none for kindred spirits, so I can just fill that gap. Life is long, and one might experience several marriages, but a true confidant is often difficult to find, even half of one."

Master Changfeng gently nodded. "Since the Exalted Sovereign has made up her mind, this poor Daoist shall select an auspicious day to sculpt the statue and raise a hall for the Exalted Sovereign."

Shi Xianyu smiled. "Thank you, Daoist Master."

Master Changfeng continued, "I just heard that the Exalted Sovereign's Alchemy Pavilion has yet to ignite its cauldrons. This poor Daoist happens to possess a few pill recipes; perhaps the Exalted Sovereign would like to take them and try her hand at them?"

Shi Xianyu was puzzled. "Ignite the cauldrons?"

"Refining the first batch of pills is known as igniting the cauldrons, also called awakening the cauldrons. Only after this can the true fire of the elixir cauldron refine all things."

Master Changfeng invited Shi Xianyu to sit for a moment, then rose and walked out. He returned shortly after carrying a brocade box.

"These pill recipes were handed down by our founder; they might be of some help to the Exalted Sovereign."

Shi Xianyu accepted the brocade box, immediately feeling quite embarrassed. "Oh... I didn't bring any gifts, and I have no idea how to repay the Daoist Master..."

Master Changfeng laughed heartily. "If the Exalted Sovereign is willing to show appreciation, I simply hope that in the future, the disciples and descendants of my Hall of Eternal Joy might receive a measure of the Exalted Sovereign's care and favor."

Shi Xianyu thought for a moment, smiled, and nodded. "Very well."

After chatting for a while longer with the headmaster of the Hall of Eternal Joy, Shi Xianyu rose to take her leave.

Because the other party had already revealed her identity, she did not intentionally conceal it as she departed.

Stewalking out of the rear hall, she opened the Gate of Time and Space in an open courtyard outside. Through the shimmering light and mist, towering pavilions, jade terraces, purple palaces, and golden watchtowers could be seen on the far side, as wondrous and indescribable as a fairyland. Two white cranes fluttered close as if coming to welcome her, and Shi Xianyu stepped inside, completely unaware that behind her, a vast crowd had already dropped to their knees—

"Respectfully sending off the Exalted Sovereign!"

Shi Xianyu returned to the celestial palace and found that it seemed even more beautiful than when she had left.

Several spirit fruit trees in the spirit herb garden were now in bloom. The flowers had five petals, pink and red like peach blossoms, bordered by some shorter shrubs bearing small white and purple flowers. A little further away were large patches of yellow daffodils, red peonies, and green mint. She had originally scattered a random assortment of seeds, but to her surprise, they now formed a bustling and quite pleasing sight.

The melons, fruits, and vegetables she had planted earlier had been harvested a few times intermittently and not replanted. The harvested produce was piled beside the flowerbeds, and the cleared spaces had been filled with slower-growing spirit herbs and immortal trees, making the layout relatively more rational than before—likely the credit of the attendant spirit.

A celestial palace required care everywhere, and without an attendant spirit, it would probably be in utter chaos.

With this thought, Shi Xianyu glanced sideways at the small attendant spirit floating mid-air.

Ever since she had scolded him last time, he had maintained this tiny form—clear-browed, handsome, and stern-faced... She hadn't thought much of it before, but now that she considered it, he truly bore a striking resemblance to Linyuan and Lin Yuan. Why had he never told her? Following her side, accompanying her, protecting her, and helping her—this was nothing shameful after all...

Could there be some unspeakable difficulty?

Shi Xianyu very much wanted to ask, yet she didn't know how to broach the subject.

At that moment, the attendant spirit spoke. "The Exalted Sovereign's journey was smooth, and you have accumulated a good deal more divine willpower. In this humble spirit's view, we can now restore the grand protective mountain array."

Shi Xianyu pursed her lips and muttered softly, "Why don't I have a cultivation chamber..."

The attendant spirit paused slightly, raising his gaze to look at her. "The Exalted Sovereign wishes to restore the cultivation chamber?"

"Does the celestial palace even have a cultivation chamber?" Shi Xianyu looked at him. "I just came back from a Daoist sect whose headmaster has a dedicated place for secluded cultivation that occupies an entire mountain peak."

Her tone carried a trace of mild envy.

The attendant spirit fell silent, then said after a moment, "In this humble spirit's view, it is better to restore the grand protective mountain array first."

Shi Xianyu asked, "Why is that?"

"Because the Exalted Sovereign has yet to master any cultivation techniques," the attendant spirit replied. "Just as there are no pills in the Alchemy Pavilion, there are no cultivation manuals or secret texts within the cultivation cavern."

Shi Xianyu: "............"

Seeing disappointment surface on her face, the attendant spirit had to patiently coax her. "Matters of cultivation can be learned slowly in time when the opportunity arises. For now, it is better to restore the grand protective mountain array first. Should any outsiders arrive, we will at least have some defense."

Shi Xianyu curled her lips. "This place is so high that even birds can't fly up here. How could there possibly be outsiders?"

The attendant spirit frowned slightly. "Does the Exalted Sovereign imagine that you are the only immortal in the three thousand worlds?"

Shi Xianyu froze for a moment, staring blankly at him.

The attendant spirit said solemnly, "In the three thousand worlds, immortals are constantly perishing, and new ones are constantly being born. Among them are those who have strayed onto evil paths or fallen into demonic ways. They will plunder the celestial palaces of others and seize others' spiritual power. The Exalted Sovereign must not be careless."

Hearing this, Shi Xianyu grew frightened, her complexion changing. "Why is even being an immortal involved in such fierce competition..."

The attendant spirit looked somewhat abashed. Smoothing his expression, he continued, "However, the celestial palace has only just been restored, and there are no supreme heavenly treasures worthy of others coveting. This humble spirit makes this suggestion merely as a precaution. In short, restoring the grand protective mountain array first is the only truly secure course."

Things having reached this point, Shi Xianyu had no choice but to agree. She frowned and nodded. "Fine then."

The attendant spirit added, "The grand protective mountain array requires four divine beasts—the Azure Dragon, the White Tiger, the Vermilion Bird, and the Black Tortoise—to be set respectively in the east, west, south, and north directions as the array's core anchors. Only thus can the grand array unleash its maximum power."

Shi Xianyu silently stared at him.

Having spent a long time together, the attendant spirit probably understood what she meant—she simply found it troublesome and felt these were tasks no human would want to do.

"Divine beasts are exceedingly rare in the world. Even if you encountered them, given the Exalted Sovereign's current abilities, it would likely be difficult to summon them. However, the array does not strictly require these four divine beasts; as long as their attributes align, they can serve as the core anchors."

The attendant spirit patiently gave examples to explain: "For instance, the east corresponds to azure and wood, the west to white and gold, the south to vermilion and fire, and the north to black and water. Thus, as long as one finds birds and beasts whose attributes match, infuses them with spiritual energy, and makes them serve the Exalted Sovereign, they can function as the core anchors of the grand protective array."

Shi Xianyu suddenly enlightened. "You mean I can just go to the vegetable market, buy a fish, and place it at the northern position of the array?"

The corner of the attendant spirit's eye twitched slightly as he asked, "Does the Exalted Sovereign suppose that a fish from the vegetable market can provide the celestial palace with any defensive power at all?"