Chapter 181 ·A Lan, Why Is There a Monkey Inside This Stone?

Supreme ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Creation Lesser Luo Grotto Heaven.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Sect Master of the Taiyi Dao Sect, Daoist Xuanchen, and the Supreme Elder Yunchenzi were currently sitting in a cool pavilion at the sect’s rear mountain, drinking tea.

A ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍chessboard was placed before them, yet neither had made more than a few moves. Instead, they casually chatted about random matters.

These ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍two were famously known within the Taiyi Dao Sect for balancing cultivation and leisure perfectly.

After ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍cultivating seriously for a period of time, they would inevitably come out to relax, drink tea, play chess, and chat nonsense.

According ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍to their own explanation, this was called balancing tension and relaxation. The path of cultivation required a proper combination of work and rest.

Of course, hearing such words from these two old fellows sounded somewhat like an excuse for laziness.

“These past few days, the sunlight seems somewhat different.”

Daoist Xuanchen lifted his teacup, narrowed his eyes at the sun in the sky, then glanced at the flowers and trees outside the pavilion.

“This old man keeps feeling that something is not quite right.”

Yunchenzi also raised his head and looked upward. After pondering for a moment, he said, “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have noticed.”

“The sunlight has become somewhat richer than before. And the moon as well. Last night while observing the stars, I noticed the moonlight was far brighter and clearer than in the past.”

“Not just that.” Daoist Xuanchen put down his teacup and pointed toward a spiritual herb outside the pavilion.

“Martial Uncle, look at that Seven-Star Grass. A few days ago it was still only a seedling, but today spiritual light is already circulating through its leaves. I’m afraid it’s about to develop intelligence.”

Yunchenzi followed the direction of his finger and indeed saw the spiritual herb faintly glowing throughout its body. Its leaves trembled slightly, almost as though it were breathing.

He then looked around and discovered that it was not the only one.

Many spiritual herbs and spiritual flowers had undergone similar changes.

Some had even begun releasing faint soul fluctuations.

The two exchanged glances and saw the same thought in each other’s eyes.

This was probably another good deed secretly carried out by Longevity Dao Lord without their knowledge.

“The Dao Lord’s methods truly are unfathomable, like ghosts and gods,” Daoist Xuanchen sighed emotionally.

Yunchenzi nodded deeply in agreement. “That’s why this old man stopped trying to figure things out long ago.”

“If one cannot understand the Dao Lord’s affairs, then there is no need to think about them. In any case, they only bring benefits to us, never harm.”

After discussing it briefly, the two immediately summoned the disciples of the Taiyi Dao Sect along with the members of the Heaven and Earth Great Love Unity Alliance to inform them of the matter.

The instructions were simple: recently, changes had appeared in the heavenly phenomena and abnormalities among spiritual plants. If anyone discovered spiritual herbs, spiritual flowers, stones, trees, or other objects developing intelligence, they were not to pick them or disturb them. They were to simply allow them to grow naturally.

The disciples accepted the order and dispersed.

It had to be said that whether they were members of the Taiyi Dao Sect or the Great Love Alliance, they were all very obedient.

This was not because they were naturally well-behaved, but because after remaining within the Supreme Creation Lesser Luo Grotto Heaven for so long, everyone had reached a common understanding.

Everything here belonged to Longevity Dao Lord.

If the Dao Lord gave you something, then you could use it. If he had not given it to you, then it was best not to touch it recklessly.

The principle was very simple, much like how one should not rummage through their father’s study when they were young.

You might not necessarily get into trouble if you did, but if something really happened, then it would be major trouble.

......

Supreme Creation Lesser Luo Grotto Heaven, southeastern sea region, an unnamed island.

The island was not large, spanning only several dozen li. Lush forests covered it, the beaches were white, and the seawater was crystal clear.

Far from the Taiyi Dao Sect’s mountain gate, very few people came here in ordinary times, making it the perfect place for certain spiritual beasts to frolic freely.

At this moment, a true dragon with an entirely azure body was coiled atop a large tree, its tail hanging down and lazily sweeping across the ground from time to time.

It was A Lan.

Beneath the tree, an entirely black qilin was lying beside a massive rock, absentmindedly batting a pebble around with its paw.

It was Mo Xuan.

As for the name Mo Xuan, it had actually personally gone to the Longevity Hall to request it from Gu Yan.

After meeting A Lan that day, the two had discussed their identities. A Lan had a name while it did not, which made it feel somewhat unbalanced.

Thus, it happily ran all the way to the Longevity Hall, lay down before Gu Yan, and stared at him pitifully with eager eyes. Its intentions could not have been more obvious.

At the time, Gu Yan had been sitting cross-legged cultivating. Being interrupted by this qilin left him rather speechless.

He looked at the entirely black qilin and thought for a moment before saying, “Your entire body is as black as ink, mysterious beyond mystery. Then I shall call you Mo Xuan.”

After receiving its name, Mo Xuan happily ran off.

Watching its departing figure, Gu Yan thought to himself that this qilin probably regarded him as its father.

But it did not really matter. One more was no burden, one less was no loss. Raising it was fine.

As for how A Lan and Mo Xuan came to know each other, that began after Gu Yan discovered the Eternal World Tree of the Heavens had sprouted a second leaf and ordered Dragon Lord to investigate the details of the new world.

After Dragon Lord departed upon receiving the order, A Lan became bored.

It had originally clung to Dragon Lord every day, not for any special reason, but because Dragon Lord carried the aura of the dragon race, something exceedingly rare within this grotto heaven.

Now that Dragon Lord had left, A Lan became unbearably idle and began wandering all over the grotto heaven world by itself.

Then it happened to encounter Mo Xuan.

The dragon and the qilin stared at each other with wide eyes, sizing one another up for quite a while.

A Lan spoke first. “What are you?”

Mo Xuan tilted its head. “I’m a qilin.”

“What’s a qilin?”

“...I don’t know either.” After thinking for a moment, Mo Xuan answered honestly.

A Lan found this black fellow rather interesting and asked again, “Are you also the master’s spiritual pet?”

“Spiritual pet?” Mo Xuan still did not quite understand the term, but it remembered that it had been summoned by the person sitting on the meditation cushion, so it nodded.

A Lan immediately became delighted. Since entering this grotto heaven, aside from Dragon Lord, it had never encountered a spiritual beast with a stronger aura than itself.

From then on, the dragon and the qilin became playmates, roaming all over the grotto heaven every day, climbing mountains and trees, diving into the sea to catch fish, carefree and unrestrained.

At this moment, as Mo Xuan lay there, its nose twitched twice and its head turned toward the center of the island.

“A Lan, do you smell that?”

A Lan poked its head down from the tree and sniffed. “Smell what?”

“There’s a strange aura.” Mo Xuan rose to its feet, faint auspicious clouds drifting beneath its four hooves as it walked toward the island’s center.

A Lan slid down from the tree and twisted its body as it followed behind.

The island’s center was a field of scattered rocks. Stones of all sizes littered the ground, polished smooth and round by the seawater.

At this moment, dozens of monkeys surrounded a massive stone, chattering noisily as though observing some rare curiosity.

As Mo Xuan and A Lan approached, the monkeys sensed the auras of the dragon race and qilin, becoming so frightened that they scattered in all directions, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Mo Xuan walked up to the stone and tilted its head while examining it for a long while.

It was a brilliantly multicolored stone, about the height of a person. Its entire surface was smooth, with flowing radiance circulating across it.

Inside the stone, a blurry silhouette could vaguely be seen curled into a ball, as though it were...

Mo Xuan blinked, then turned toward A Lan and said:

“A Lan, why is there a monkey inside this stone?”

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