Next came the spirit trees and spirit bamboo. The spirit trees could wait for now. After a careful inspection, Kong Jian discovered that the verdant little mountain was perfectly suited for the growth of Golden Thunder Spirit Bamboo.
Mo Xuan immediately ordered the clan to plant the gleaming golden bamboo across the mountain slopes, spacing them carefully. The mountain was promptly renamed Golden Bamboo Peak.
After that came the spirit well. Mo Xuan installed it directly over the most concentrated spirit eye. It was not a traditional well, but rather a spiritual artifact. Buried at the spirit eye, it condensed the pure essence of heaven-and-earth spiritual energy into liquid form, which then dripped into a preset water jar.
The richer the spirit eye, the faster the condensation.
This liquid was commonly known as Longevity Water—one of the primary ingredients for refining Rejuvenation Pills. If mortals drank it regularly, living a thousand years would not be difficult.
Kong Jian nodded approvingly. This spirit well was truly a fine purchase—worth every point.
Then Mo Xuan dealt with the ten Magnetic Warm Stones. These were pure luxury, extravagant even for immortals. At the time of purchase, Mo Xuan had acted on impulse. Looking back, he finally understood why people lost reason while shopping—even he, an immortal, had not remained calm.
At the second spirit eye, Mo Xuan dug a square pool, lining its walls and base with stone. He embedded the ten Magnetic Warm Stones at the bottom in a spirit-gathering formation, then diverted clear lake water into it.
Soon, faint steam began rising from the surface.
The stones had taken effect. It would take some time before it fully evolved into a true spirit hot spring, but the foundation was laid.
As for the third spirit eye, Mo Xuan put it to use as well. He dug another square reservoir and set up a small spirit-gathering array. The water here could not compare to Longevity Water, but it was abundant. It would suffice for daily drinking and occasional irrigation of the Earth-grade spirit fields.
By the time all this was done, night had fallen.
The few women who had accompanied the Mo and Kong families had already set up large iron pots and were busy preparing dinner. The men, exhausted after a full day's labor, lay resting in the grass shelters.
The Kong men kept praising the Mo family's tools. These were true blades! After chopping for so long, not even a nick had appeared. Meanwhile, their own tools had long since curled and dulled, forcing them to constantly replace them.
The Mo men laughed proudly, exaggerating shamelessly while advertising their craftsmanship.
"Soon we'll be selling in bulk—remember to look for the Mo seal trademark!"
The Kong men blinked in confusion. Trademark? What was that?
After dinner, both families seized the chance to rest.
The Mo side had only completed three wooden houses so far—efficiency was still lacking. The Kong side, a short distance away, had already finished five, and theirs were more refined in style.
Mo Xuan and Kong Jian did not need sleep. They decided to try the hot spring together. The master and disciple soaked in the warm water, drank a little wine, played a game of chess, and chatted leisurely.
It truly felt like immortal life.
At dawn the next day, Mo Xuan checked the spirit well. The large jar had already filled with Longevity Water.
"That fast?" he murmured.
He carefully bottled the liquid in porcelain flasks, planning to bring it home for his family.
With both Mo Xuan and Kong Jian free that day, they joined the lumber work, using storage artifacts to transport timber. Construction speed multiplied several times. Before long, rows of wooden houses stretched across the clearing—two small villages were beginning to take shape.
Spirit field reclamation also progressed smoothly. Once again, the Mo family's tools displayed overwhelming superiority, drawing envy from the Kong family.
All the spirit seedlings Mo Xuan had purchased were planted. They were watered with spirit water from the reservoir; when that ran low, cooled hot spring water was used instead—with even better effect.
The seedlings glistened green and tender. When the sea breeze passed, they seemed to sway together in joyful dance.
The Kong family, by contrast, had planted only seeds, which would require time to sprout.
Mo Xuan gazed at the flourishing island with deep satisfaction.
This was the Mo family's future.
Even if he had spent every last point, it was worth it.
Seeing that matters were stable, Kong Jian bid farewell and departed.
Mo Xuan escorted his master a long distance before returning, pondering quietly.
The island was wonderful—but transportation was inconvenient.
While he was at home, it was fine; the Hongwu Warship could make a round trip in an hour. But once he returned to mining work in the void, relying on ships and carriages would take nearly a month—longer with cargo.
He checked his remaining three points.
There was nothing he could do.
At present, he could be described as penniless. Fortunately, the Hongwu Warship and spirit island were fixed assets—valuable properties. No one could call him poor.
Still, having empty pockets felt unpleasant.
The fish fry were growing quickly—almost visibly larger each day. Which meant their appetite for spirit grain also increased.
Reluctantly, Mo Xuan returned home once, choosing not to use the warship. Its energy also required points to replenish.
Thus, Xiao Ba—who had been enjoying leisure time on the island—was once again pressed into service as a mount. Xiao Ba did not mind. Carrying its master was only natural.
Back home, Mo Xuan stayed half a day with his family.
Mo Que'er's cultivation speed was astonishing. Mo Xuan could only marvel at the strength of the Phoenix bloodline. Without the daily half-hour limit and resource restrictions, she might ascend to immortality within five years.
Mo Shi and Mo Tian, after eating spirit fruits and drinking Longevity Water and spirit wine daily, looked noticeably younger.
Now Mo Shi and Mo Tian appeared more like brothers than father and son. With Mo Xuan standing beside them, they were jokingly dubbed the "Three Heroes of the Mo Family."
Yet Mo Xuan understood clearly: Longevity Water and rejuvenation pills were external aids. Repeated use would yield diminishing returns. Living a thousand years posed no concern—but beyond that, it would be extremely difficult.
Unless one possessed true immortal elixirs.
Mo Shi took it all lightly. He had once been prepared for burial; now he had regained youth and gained centuries more life. That alone was enough.
After consuming so many spiritual medicines, even after death his consciousness would likely remain intact in the underworld, accompanied by his wife. With ancestral offerings sustaining him, as long as the Mo family endured, so too would his spirit.
What was there to regret?
Mo Shi spoke earnestly to Mo Xuan:
"Xuan'er, I know you love this family. I know you're filial. But the Mo family is no longer weak and destitute. We can withstand storms now. Children have their own destinies. Don't worry too much about us. Think more about yourself—the immortal path is long."
Mo Xuan nodded solemnly, accepting the lesson.
Without foresight, there would be immediate trouble. An immortal must look far ahead.
He decided that once the upcoming examinations were supervised, he would immediately return to void mining and accumulate materials to build his Immortal Garden. Only then would he have a true foundation.
Meanwhile, in the endless dark void, aboard Kong Jian's transport vessel—
Kong Ling sat cross-legged on her cushion, letting out another faint sigh.
She knew immortals should maintain calm hearts. Yet every time she saw Mo Xuan, irritation flared.
"Hmph. That guy really has absurd luck," she muttered inwardly. "Catching such an incredible meteorite—I've never even seen one like it."
She wasn't truly greedy for the Little Sun. She simply couldn't resist clashing with him.
At the root of it all…
Kong Ling bit her lip, growing angrier the more she thought.
She had known Mo Xuan for many years. After entering the Grand Academy, she constantly heard stories of his brilliance. Yet when she met him, he seemed so ordinary.
She would deliberately challenge him, hoping to force out his talent.
But his so-called "peerless poetry" always fell flat in her eyes.
Raised under Kong Jian's guidance, she had refined taste in literature and could not be fooled. She concluded that Mo Xuan was teasing her.
Little did she know—that truly was his level.
Gradually, their relationship deteriorated.
In truth, she liked him. She knew countless girls at the Academy secretly admired him.
But Mo Xuan buried himself in study, never entertaining romance. Others believed his standards were high. Only Kong Ling understood that he simply could not spare the energy. The Mo family had been on the brink of collapse; every day he delayed immortality meant another day of hardship for them.
She had wanted to help him.
When her grandfather secretly diverted resources to Mo Xuan, she had actually been pleased.
She wanted his attention—but lacked the courage to express herself properly. Each attempt ended poorly.
She once thought: they were childhood companions. Mo Xuan was her grandfather's most cherished disciple. If the Kong and Mo families united in marriage, would that not be perfect?
Eventually, she set aside her pride and showed goodwill repeatedly.
But Mo Xuan always deflected awkwardly, pretending not to understand.
Do you truly look down on me?
She had been furious.
In reality, Mo Xuan genuinely had no idea.
For years, Kong Ling had treated him coldly. When she suddenly softened, he only grew uneasy.
In matters of the heart, Mo Xuan was utterly inexperienced.
"Idiot Mo Xuan. Just you wait!" she fumed silently.
"Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!"
Mo Xuan sneezed three times in a row.
"Who's thinking about me now?" he muttered.
Mo Que'er giggled. "Grandpa, is it your sweetheart?"
Mo Xuan flicked her forehead. "I have no sweetheart."
"With how outstanding you are? Impossible."
Mo Xuan stroked his chin thoughtfully.
By this count… he was over two hundred years old—and still single.
All the other Mo family bachelors had married. His elder brother already had great-grandchildren.
Perhaps… it was time to consider it.
Mo Que'er pouted slightly. "Grandpa, what are you thinking about?"
"Nothing. Focus on your studies. My exam questions won't be easy."
The grand examination lasted three days—three papers. One drafted by a Dao Lord, one by the chief examiner, and one by the supervising immortal.
Mo Que'er tugged his sleeve playfully. "Then open a back door for me, Grandpa."
"Absolutely not," he replied firmly. "But you'll do fine."
She burst into laughter.
That barely counted as not opening a back door.
Mo Xuan collected more farming tools from the workshop, patted her head, and mounted Xiao Ba to depart once more.
Mo Que'er watched thoughtfully.
An Abyss Devouring Beast—used as a mount.
Her grandpa truly was extraordinary.