The Urban Dao Child.

Yang Dao agreed to Ryu Jinshi's suggestion and before the time of the day ended, they left the Undine region and, using a similar teleportation channel, came to Gnome land. 

The first thing Yang Dao saw around him was a wall covered in pebbles. Yes, he found that he was standing inside a room and the walls were covered with white and black pebbles. The ceiling was a dome-styled one, covered with pebbles as well. 

This room seemed to have been a secluded place as well, as some green moss was visible between the pebbles on the walls. There were some places on the wall where a candle stand was placed. Ryu Jinshi said, "This is the standard architecture of the gnomes, master. They live in stone huts and pebbles. Well, you must know this from the book of life." 

Yang Dao nodded with a faint smile on his face. The book of life had the mention of the pebbles in it. One time a little girl visited the land of gnomes, she found these spirits very cute, it could be that her first element was earth as well, si she had a greater affinity with these spirits.. The girl was very happy, but when she saw the houses Gnomes used, she frowned. 

This little girl was also a Dao Child in the past and epochs ago. The girl said, why do you not use any decoration, the Gnome elder told her that, for Gnome decorations are just superficial and they prefer to be close to nature. The girl was only ten years old. At first, she held it back, but after spending two days in this territory, she found some pebbles. Then she used her earth skills and used the pebbles to decorate the huts. 

The decoration of stones made the huts look attractive and also not too crude. The gnomes also did not find it odd or uncomfortable. They thanked the girl for her teachings and since then they decorated the houses and every building in such a manner. She taught them that if they wished for it, the rawness of nature will become beautiful. 

Yang Dao had smiled when he recalled this. The three people walked out of the hut calmly. They were greeted by the elders of the Gnomes. The Sylphs were people who lived in an aloof manner. The undine was a society of rules and regulations. Gnomes were crafters. 

Yes, they used the earth element to create objects and give them to the other races. Sylphs exchanged the spirit fruits they had, Undines exchanged their form of currency, and Gnomes exchanged their utensils and other crafts for the things they needed from the other races. 

The spirits had a barter system formed between them, and Yang Dao had found that, unlike humans, their barter system does not cause any conflict of interest. Thus, they all are happy. It was not even a barter system. The spirits exchanged things among each other out of necessity and nothing more. This barter system was also established by the previous Dao Child. 

The elders of the Gnomes bowed down to Yang Dao and said, "We greet the lord."

Yang Dao smiled and said, "Please raise your head."

The people raised their heads, and they led him to the earth hall for discussion. Since Yang Dao was short on time, he did not bother to tour the region, but on the way, he was taken to visit the marketplace of the place. The territories of the spirit races were vast, yet they all had a common marketplace. This was done to keep the serenity of the other places intact.

Back in the Undine region, Yang Dao like some things and Ryu Jinshi paid for them with his currency. This currency was a sort of crystal that carried his aura. This crystal would slowly make the holder stronger. In the market of Gnomes, Yang Dao liked some toys they had made for the children in the region. He bought a few that were unique. 

Ryu Jinshi paid without any hesitation in his mind. His crystal may make the holder strong, but it will not help them break past the limited potential. That would require a little more effort. Soon they arrived in front of a building that was used by the Gnomes to discuss the matters of society and seclusion. A place where they learned about life and death in a deeper sense. 

Yang Dao asked them to discuss among themselves as he input some points of his own in between when the discussion was about to reach a stagnation point. The gnomes were patient people and thus the stagnation did not bother them, but when Yang Dao pointed out the way for them, they were happy. 

Yes, it may seem that the Gnomes had a grumpy temper, but on the contrary, they were all very calm and patient. No wonder the previous Dao children found them cute. The gnomes were described by that term. 

The Gnomes were simple and their problems were easily solvable. Yang Dao was thinking that he might have to spend a lot of time. But it was all done in the matter of an evening. He retired for the day. Sushi wanted to take him out to wander, but the boy refused to say that he needed to consolidate what he gained in these days. 

He came to a house he was arranged by the Gnomes. This house had two floors. It only had one room. The room was not square but round, attached with a bathroom and toilet. A flight of stairs led to the floor above. The floor above was similar to the room he had below except it had a dome ceiling and the sound of the wind was louder. 

A small door that needed one to bend down if they wished to go outside was spotted on the side. Yang Dao was a curious teenager than well, so he came outside to see what was this place all about. He found himself standing on a seamless balcony. There was no boundary wall as well. It was more like a broader ledge than a balcony. 

As Yang Dao moved around, his eyes found a very special thing. Every house of the gnomes had their white and black pebbles arranged in such a way that they formed a face. His house was on the highest vantage point in the surroundings and thus he could see this face. 

As he watched this face, he fell into thoughts. He felt as if the other person was someone he had known for a long time. 

...

Somewhere unknown, surrounded by a group of people drinking liquor and gorging meat, sat a lady. The lady had sharp features. She had snow-white hair reaching her feet. She wore a black shirt and white loose pants. A long sword tied to her waist. Unlike the surrounding people, she was not drinking or eating in an unhygienic manner. However, the people were unbothered by the strength she was radiating. It was as if she was not present there. 

Suddenly, a spark flashed in her eyes, a rare smile surfaced on her lips as she mumbled under her breath, "Seems like the heavens have found a suitable candidate. I wonder when can I meet him, the one who is destined to be with me." 

her soft words were heard by herself only. A man walked over and came to stand behind her. He said, "Saintess, the Ashura Clan refuses to heed the commands. What shall we do?" 

The lady sighed and said, "Why do I have to tell you this every time? Go and talk to them again. My words are not a command but a suggestion if they do not intend to accept them. Then leave them be, let them die by infighting." 

The man nodded and left. He was thinking, "The Emissary of Hell, since when did you allow people to ignore your 'suggestions'?" 

The lady back at the table mumbled again, "For the sake of your existence, I gave them a chance." 

...

Yang Dao had no idea that the face he saw on the houses of the Gnome spirits belonged to none other than his counterpart, the emissary of hell. She was also a Dao Child, but she represented hell while Yang Dao represented Heaven. 

The boy was unaware of all this and he was sitting with his legs crossed on the terrace, immersed in meditation. His thoughts were focused on what he has learned in this realm of the spirits. His aura was getting finer with every second. 

Ryu Jinshi, who was standing a meter away from him, thought to himself, "The master has gotten the hint of the emissary of hell. His aura has started to become finer. It is time that he also selected a weapon to keep beside him." as he sighed. 

... 

The night passed away soon and Yang Dao was prepared to say farewell to the people here. The three of them headed to the region of the Salamanders.