Myriad Rivers to the Sea

The royal banquet prepared was an intimate affair. There were no grand proclamations, no endless lines of fawning nobles and no extravagant displays of power. The Eclipse Court was in a state of fragile recovery. The empire was actively rebuilding and reorganizing. This left very little time for excess.

Li Yu sat at a long table carved from petrified wood. Soft light emanated from glowing pearls resting in silver fixtures along the walls. The attendees were few. Queen Calyptra sat at the head of the table. Emperor Xerxis sat to her immediate right.

Only three elite generals joined them with their armor still bearing the scuffs and dents of the recent siege. It was clear they were doing other things but came to attend and were planning on getting back to work right after.

The food presented was practical but prepared with supreme skill. There were platters of roasted nectar roots, tender cuts of spiced meat and clear broths that were rich with revitalizing Qi.

Li Yu ate quietly while observing the room. Queen Calyptra was nearly back to her full strength. The suffocating aura of a Domain King had returned to her form. The month of rest and the consumption of royal treasures had mended her perfectly.

The Nine Paths Moth, however, was a different story.

The ancient guardian beast rested on a wide jade slab positioned near the Queen. Its condition was much worse. While the lethal soul attack was gone, the damage inflicted upon its spiritual foundation remained severe. Its iridescent fur lacked its former luster and its breathing was shallow. Soul damage was notoriously difficult to heal. Without a steady supply of rare natural treasures, the beast would take a very long time to fully recover, if it ever did.

Yet, as Li Yu watched the creature, he felt a sense of respect.

Even at death's door, the beast had kept its large head resting near the Queen’s hand. It maintained a constant and vigilant watch over her. Li Yu did not know if they were masters, friends or partners but the absolute loyalty the moth displayed was undeniable. It had willingly traded its own life to buy her time. Such devotion and care was rarer than any artifact.

As the banquet drew to a close, the Nine Paths Moth slowly shifted its weight. It turned its large head toward Li Yu.

The beast opened its mandibles and let out a soft and echoing hum. A brilliant object floated out from its mouth. It was suspended in a sphere of gentle silver light. The object drifted across the room and hovered directly in front of Li Yu.

It was a crystal, roughly the size of a fist. It possessed a mesmerizing internal structure. Swirls of dark violet, bright silver and deep gold constantly shifted within the translucent stone. The colors created a hypnotic display of light.

Li Yu reached out and took the crystal. The moment his fingers brushed the smooth surface, a wave of energy washed over his senses.

"That is a grand gift," Queen Calyptra noted. "It is an incredibly rare condensation. The Nine Paths Moth creates them naturally but the process takes thousands of years. I only possess one such crystal myself."

Li Yu examined the shifting colors. "What does it contain?"

"It contains the very essence of the beast's domain," the Queen explained. "Within that crystal lies illusion laws and poison laws. But more importantly, it contains a very small amount of soul laws."

Li Yu narrowed his eyes and realized the true value of the object in his hand.

Some laws were common enough for cultivators to grasp with enough time and talent. But soul laws were entirely different. They were intangible, abstract and heavily guarded by the heavens. Gaining even a rudimentary understanding of how the soul operated, how to defend it or how to attack it was a monumental task.

"You can study the crystal to gain insights," the Queen continued. "Or you can choose to slowly absorb it directly into your own soul. Doing so will permanently increase your natural understanding of poisons and illusions. It will also give you increased resistance to poisons and illusions."

Li Yu looked at the ancient beast resting on the jade slab. The creature blinked its dull silver eyes once.

"Thank you," Li Yu said softly while bowing his head toward the Nine Paths Moth. "I will put this to good use. It is a priceless gift."

He stored the crystal safely within his Koi Sanctuary. With the gift accepted and the meal concluded, Li Yu decided it was the right time to bring up his future plans. He had spent the last several days contemplating his next move.

"Queen Calyptra," Li Yu began, shifting his attention back to the head of the table. "I have a request. I would like to ask for a plot of farmland within your territory."

The room fell silent. The three elite generals paused. Emperor Xerxis raised an eyebrow, his cup of nectar wine stopping halfway to his mouth.

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Queen Calyptra tilted her masked head. "Farmland? Do you require agricultural resources? I can grant you vast estates producing the finest spiritual herbs and plants in the realm. I can assign thousands of workers to harvest them for you."

"No," Li Yu shook his head. "I do not want an estate and I do not want workers. I want to work the land myself."

He saw the confusion in their eyes and decided to elaborate.

"During the month I spent fighting off the liquid ash poison, my body underwent a continuous cycle," Li Yu explained. "The poison destroyed my body. My body then rebuilt from the destruction. I experienced death, destruction, life, and rebirth playing out across my own flesh in an endless loop. I gained insights into these things and more."

Li Yu looked down at his hands.

"The insights are useful but they are raw," he continued. "I need time to digest them. I realized that the cycle I experienced is the exact same cycle found in the soil. A seed is planted, representing life. It grows and is harvested, representing death. The remnants compost and decay, returning to the ground to fuel the next generation, representing rebirth. I believe that tending to a farm with my own two hands will further increase my understanding of these laws."

The explanation settled over the room.

Queen Calyptra and Emperor Xerxis were Domain Kings. They had lived for millennia and they understood perfectly. Cultivation was not always about meditating in a dark cave or fighting brutal battles. Sometimes, the deepest truths of the cosmos were found in the simplest acts. When a cultivator received a sudden inspiration, it was the Dao telling them the correct path forward. Ignoring that instinct was foolish.

Xerxis nodded sagely while maintaining a serious expression. Internally, the Hive Emperor was having an entirely different thought process.

‘He wants to play in the dirt?’ Xerxis thought to himself, fighting the urge to twitch. ‘Children from supreme clans are truly eccentric. He possesses countless treasures, who knows how many amazing teachers and texts. Yet he abandons all of that and his next grand ambition is to grow vegetables? I suppose when you have hidden ancient experts guarding your every breath, you can afford to indulge in such bizarre hobbies.’

"I understand," Queen Calyptra agreed. "If the Dao guides you to the soil, you must follow. I will grant you a sprawling territory bordering the eastern rivers. It is highly fertile."

"I appreciate the offer but I do not want a large territory," Li Yu negotiated politely. "A vast tract of land requires management. I only want a small plot where I can grow things and cultivate in peace. Ten acres will be more than enough."

The Queen did not argue with his request. "Ten acres. It is done."

She turned to one of the generals sitting at the table. "General Vane. Escort our guest to the town of Silkwood. It is located not far from the capital. Secure a ten acre plot of prime land on the outskirts of the town and transfer the deed to him immediately."

The general stood up and offered a crisp salute. "By your command, Queen."

Li Yu stood up and bowed respectfully to both rulers and the Guardian Beast. "Thank you for your hospitality. I will take my leave now."

He followed General Vane out of the banquet hall. The journey to Silkwood was quick. They left the dark shadow wood spires of the capital behind and traveled over a dense forest characterized by towering trees with pale silver bark.

They arrived at Silkwood soon after. The town seemed peaceful and quiet, a stark contrast to the martial intensity of the royal palace. The buildings were crafted from smooth stone and woven silk, blending seamlessly into the natural environment. The locals were primarily moth kin and other peaceful insectoid species focused on artisan crafting and agriculture.

General Vane led Li Yu through the town and out into the rolling hills on the edge of the forest.

They stopped at a beautiful expanse of untouched land. A clear river flowed gently along one border and the pale silver trees provided a natural shade along the other. The soil was dark, rich and hummed with ambient spiritual energy.

"This is the plot," General Vane stated while handing Li Yu a dark wooden token that served as the official deed. "Ten acres. The local magistrate will be informed. No one will disturb you here. If you require materials or laborers to construct your estate, I can summon them from the town."

"That will not be necessary," Li Yu said while accepting the token. "I will handle the construction myself. Thank you, General."

The general bowed deeply, his respect for Li Yu evident since he was the one that saved the Queen. Vane then summoned his flying mount to return to the capital.

Li Yu stood alone in the center of his new land. The evening breeze rustled the leaves of the silk trees and created a soft whispering sound. The air was fresh and completely devoid of the scent of blood or toxic dust.

Li Yu looked at the raw, untouched earth beneath his boots. He decided against using the pavilion he had taken from the vault.

Using an artifact for instant gratification defeated the entire purpose of his new endeavor. He came here to gain inspiration. To understand the slow, deliberate process of creation and growth. Building a home by hand, placing every stone and cutting every beam was the perfect way to begin his digestion of it all.

He visualized his architectural plan.

He did not want a sprawling manor. He would build a small and sturdy house for his daily living. Connected to the house, he would construct a modest open courtyard. It would serve as a quiet place to drink tea, observe the changing weather and entertain the occasional guest.

The most important structure would be his cultivation area. He pictured a square tower positioned right next to the main house. It would have two floors. The ground floor would serve as a storage area for his farming tools and harvested crops. The second floor would be his dedicated cultivation chamber, elevated above the ground to catch the purest ambient Qi drifting over the river.

It was a simple and elegant design, he thought.

Li Yu took a deep breath of the cool evening air. He felt a sense of peace settle over his mind. The chaotic wars of the Domain Kings, the lethal traps, the usurpers and the blood feuds felt like a distant dream.

He walked toward the edge of the forest with his eyes scanning the pale silver trees. He needed timber for the frame and stone from the riverbed for the foundation. The era of Silkwood was beginning. Li Yu rolled up his sleeves, stepped up to the nearest tree and prepared to start his work.