Eternal Tale

Chapter 349: You Must Be the Most Learned in Our Family

“Big Brother”

“Hmm?”

“Let me make you some clothes. I’ll use the black-and-white branches from my body to craft them.”Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Sister Crane blinked her lively eyes, hopping to stand in front of them. Standing, she was as tall as they were sitting. “Just like my black dress.”

Chen Xun chuckled. For now, he was still shirtless, though his skin was so radiant it didn’t look odd.

“Third Sister.”

“Big Brother.”

“Alright, from now on, I will only wear clothes you make.”

Chen Xun’s face softened into a warm smile as he gazed into the distance. “In such a grand world, let’s just live peacefully. There’s no need for fights and battles—too dangerous.”

“Moo~” Brother Ox affectionately nudged Chen Xun, then turned to nuzzle Sister Crane. She beamed, hopping around cheerfully.

Not long after, Sister Crane began her work, muttering softly to herself as she made clothes.

Chen Xun lay back, hands behind his head, his gaze turning contemplative as he looked up at the boundless sky. The five-element energy continuously entered his body, aiding his cultivation. It was a comforting sensation.

Yet, the cultivation manual he had bought in Yuxu City, The Jade Spirit Chapter, was ineffective. Even with the amplification of his boundless energy, it couldn’t refine the five-element force within him.

During his early Deity Transformation Stage, he had tested it without success, thinking his energy might not be robust enough. But now, even at the late Deity Transformation Stage, the result was unchanged. Only one conclusion remained:

The advent of the Rootless Essence Flower had fortified his foundation and five-element energy so profoundly that further refinement was unnecessary.

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Especially after enduring the tribulation of Void Refinement, his physical cultivation had caught up to his spiritual level. If he were to engage in combat with peers, he would be virtually invincible—even standing still, they wouldn’t be able to harm him. The days of being overwhelmed and injured by hordes of corrupted beings were long gone.

Except, of course, for Brother Ox. Their differences were minimal, merely three points apart.

Lying atop the treetops, Brother Ox watched Sister Crane intently as she crafted clothes. Occasionally, he nudged her affectionately, and she responded by patting his head and sweetly calling him Second Brother.

On her shoulder perched the tiny, newly-hatched corrupted turtle. Sleepy-eyed and sluggish, it seemed destined to stick by her side forever.

Chen Xun glanced at the turtle with a raised brow. It had no energy or cultivation—not even the faintest sign of strength. How it would survive or grow was a mystery. For now, it seemed fit only as Sister Crane’s pet, shielded from the great world’s essence by her.

Time passed quietly. Chen Xun began sketching and writing in his notebook, having already mapped out the area within a thousand-mile radius in detail.

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Night descended, and a massive, serene moon hung in the sky. Its light wove a veil of mist-like brilliance, illuminating the vast land.

Chen Xun and his companions gazed in awe. The night sky wasn’t dotted with stars; instead, it displayed a sprawling river of starlight. It felt as though celestial beings bathed in divine light were watching over the world from the heavens.

The ethereal beauty of the colorful starry river, stretching across the vast expanse, left the three figures standing on the edge of the Taiyi Great World humbled and contemplative. Their gazes, deep and serene, drank in the boundless wonder.

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Seasons changed. Time flowed like a quiet stream. Flowers bloomed at midnight; ancient trees shed their leaves with a whisper. Everything followed its natural rhythm.

Two years had passed since Chen Xun and his companions arrived in the Taiyi Great World. They hadn’t ventured far, yet their map grew ever more detailed. Small teleportation arrays now crisscrossed the area, and every unfamiliar herb had been cataloged and stored.

Despite their long stay, the absence of human activity felt unsettling. No sect seemed to claim the abundant spiritual veins or the land’s untouched resources. Their caution held them back from exploring too far, especially since Xiao Chi’s breakthrough remained unfinished.

Today, under an ancient tree, a stone platform had been built. Scattered across it were countless notebooks. Chen Xun reclined against the tree, dressed in flowing white robes, an air of ease radiating from him.

From a distance, Brother Ox galloped forward, smoke and dust trailing in his wake. On his back sat Sister Crane, her hands raised high, holding two freshly-picked spirit flowers.

“Big Brother~” she called softly.

“Moo~ Moo~”

Chen Xun opened his eyes slowly, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Back already? Don’t wander beyond my spiritual range.”

Sister Crane leapt off Brother Ox, skipping over to show off the flowers.

“Hmm,” Chen Xun’s gaze shifted to Brother Ox. “Brother Ox, Sister Crane should be reading at her age. Stop taking her on adventures all the time.”

“Moo~” Brother Ox snorted, circling Chen Xun playfully.

Chen Xun frowned slightly, his tone turning stern. “Sister Crane.”

“Ah! Big Brother?” She clasped her hands behind her back, head bowed.

“When your Second Brother and I started, our lack of knowledge caused us endless setbacks.” He snapped his fingers, summoning a book. “Read this, then write your reflections. I’ll review them personally. You must become the most learned in our family.”

His tone softened. “Fighting won’t be your burden; that’s what I’m here for. Your focus should be on gaining wisdom. In this vast cultivation world, great knowledge leads to greater paths.”

“I understand, Big Brother.” She nodded earnestly, clutching the book tightly. “I won’t play around anymore.”

“Brother Ox!”

“Moo?”

Brother Ox recoiled, his tail stiffening as he pretended to search for grass.

Chen Xun’s eyes narrowed as he smacked Brother Ox’s side. “When we started, we endured hardships because we didn’t know better. Do you want Sister Crane to follow that same path?”

“Moo?! Moo?!”

“One day spent playing, seven hours of it wasted… Black Ox, are you deceiving me?!”

“Moo!”

“Hah. Take this!” Chen Xun roared playfully, pinning Brother Ox as the latter mooed in mock protest.

Sister Crane’s eyes widened, rushing forward to mediate. Tears welled in her eyes as she begged for peace. Only then did Chen Xun let Brother Ox go.

“Fine. But don’t forget—she must be the most learned in our family.”

“Moo~~” Brother Ox groaned, still recovering from the playful scuffle.