Crafting Spiritual Liquid

However, Gu Changyuan wouldn't restrict Tushan Hanyan either—the cultivation world was different from the mortal realm, and there was absolutely no need to worry about trivial matters like cavities or internal heat.

Any normal cultivator could use their own spiritual energy to expel all impurities and excess heat from their food.

Tushan Hanyan held her head, giggling.

Gu Changyuan withdrew his hand, his expression becoming slightly more serious.

"Let's go. We'll head to the back mountain first and finish the preparations for Xiao Kong and Xiao Shi's awakening."

As he spoke, he waved his right hand, and a beam of light enveloped Ye Qingxue, Bai Ling'er, Tushan Hanyan, and Gu Xing'er.

In the next instant, the group appeared in a hidden location on the back mountain.

This was a tranquil valley shrouded by a formation.

Dense spiritual energy and swirling mist filled the valley, isolating it from the noise of the outside world. In the very center of the valley, two spiritual pools sat side by side.

The pools were not large, each about three square zhang, constructed from solid blocks of white jade. The pool walls were as smooth as mirrors, with faint runes engraved on them that emitted a soft glow.

The water in the pools was crystal clear.

But this water was not ordinary; it was pure liquid spiritual energy, shimmering with a faint halo.

This was a magical artifact the system had once given him—the Twin Dao Source Pools.

The miraculous aspect of these spiritual pools lay in their ability to contain spiritual liquid of any attribute, automatically fusing and purifying it so that cultivators could absorb the energy within more efficiently, perfectly meeting the needs of physique awakening.

Back then, Gu Changyuan's ten disciples had awakened their physiques and established their foundations right here.

Moreover, these Twin Spirit Gathering Pools had another peculiar function.

The water in the pools could be emptied at any time. Once emptied, it would take no more than half an incense stick's time for new, pure spiritual liquid to automatically refill them.

And this new spiritual liquid would not retain the slightest trace of previous attributes, completely unaffecting the next preparation and use of spiritual liquids.

Jun Mukong and Jun Anshi's space-time physiques were extremely special, far surpassing ordinary physiques.

Their awakening not only required the assistance of the Twin Spirit Gathering Pools but also the setup of an exclusive awakening formation, which would take some time to prepare.

However, this was not a difficult task for Gu Changyuan; he could easily leave it to his clone to complete.

Gu Changyuan raised his right hand again, and two dazzling spheres of light slowly emerged in his palm.

The sphere on the left was light blue, filled with various space-related awakening materials—Void Dao Stones, Ten-Thousand-Year Spatial Marrow, and Spatial Dao Flowers. Every single one was an extremely rare heavenly treasure, exuding a dense spatial aura.

The sphere on the right was silver-gray, containing time-attribute awakening materials—Chronos Dao Grass, Time Engraving Stones, and Dew of the Ages. These were equally unparalleled treasures rarely seen in billions of years, lingering with a faint aura of the Dao of Time.

Gu Changyuan's gaze focused as he raised his hand and tossed the two light spheres into the two spiritual pools respectively.

The moment the light spheres hit the water, they exploded, scattering all the heavenly treasures into the pools, enveloped by the crystal-clear water.

Immediately after, the runes on the pool walls lit up abruptly, golden light surging. The entire spiritual pool began to tremble slightly, and the water churned rapidly, slowly devouring and melting the heavenly treasures.

Standing by the spiritual pools, Gu Changyuan shifted his divine sense. Streams of spiritual power were injected into the pools, guiding the energy of the heavenly treasures to perfectly fuse and purify with the spiritual liquid.

The entire process lasted for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

When everything returned to calm, the two spiritual pools had completely changed their appearance.

The pool on the left now contained water of a deep silver color, with fine spatial ripples gently undulating across its surface.

The pool on the right contained transparent water, yet not entirely transparent; it was like a mirror, reflecting the past and the future.

Standing to the side, Ye Qingxue and Bai Ling'er watched their master complete the creation of the spiritual liquids from start to finish.

It had been a long time since they last saw their master use these two spiritual pools to awaken a disciple's physique.

Ever since their master took the ten of them in and helped them complete their awakenings back then.

The function of these spiritual pools had almost entirely turned into that of hot springs.

During those fifty years, their master would often bring them here to soak in the hot springs.

Between the two spiritual pools, a barrier could be raised to separate them.

That barrier was also considered part of the artifact; it could completely isolate perception, thoroughly blocking out auras and lines of sight.

So back then, they would often be here—male disciples on one side, female disciples on the other—each occupying a pool and soaking leisurely.

Although they didn't understand why their master liked soaking in this thing so much.

But the hot springs, after being modified by their master, provided immense benefits for cultivation, nourishing the divine soul, and repairing the Dao foundation.

Moreover, it was truly comfortable to soak in, helping them soothe the fatigue of cultivation.

Those fifty years were their most carefree times.

Those days were simple, yet warm.

Unfortunately, their master disappeared later on.

For the thousand years that followed, they never came here again.

Without their master, these spiritual pools were just spiritual pools.

Now, their master had returned.

Not only had he returned, but he was also personally preparing the awakening spiritual liquids for his new disciples, just like he did in the past.

Watching their master's familiar movements and his familiar profile, an indescribable emotion welled up in their hearts.

When Gu Changyuan finished the final step, clapped his hands, and revealed a satisfied expression.

Ye Qingxue and Bai Ling'er could clearly feel the aura of space and time emanating from the two pools.

With a wave of his right hand, a clone identical to him in appearance appeared before everyone's eyes.

The clone had no consciousness of its own; it was merely a puppet that would carry out commands.

The moment it was summoned, the clone received its orders, strode toward the two spiritual pools, and began setting up the formation required for the awakening.

Gu Changyuan turned around and approached the four women.

"Let's go. Back to the residence."

He stretched lazily, a look of utter contentment on his face.

"Ah—rushing about these past few days, I haven't had any time to rest properly. I need to go back right now, immediately, and lie down. I'm going to lie down for a whole day!"

That tone and that demeanor made him look exactly like a mortal who had successfully slacked off.

Seeing their master's undisguised lazy appearance, Ye Qingxue and Bai Ling'er exchanged a glance, both revealing extremely gentle smiles.

Their master was just like this.

In front of them, he never put on airs, and he never pretended to be unfathomable.

Their master had always loved to rest. They rarely saw him cultivate.

Aside from the times he guided them, what they saw most often was their master lying on a chair, basking in the sun with a content expression.

Unknowingly, that had become the norm.

They gradually grew accustomed to it, and even came to love that sight.

But even though their master liked to rest and was always slacking off, whenever something happened to his disciples, he would always be the first to take action.

No matter how far, no matter how dangerous.

Although after every intervention, he would complain a bit, saying things like "You troublesome bunch" or "Couldn't you let me lie down a bit longer?", he never truly punished them severely.

Later, their master disappeared.

That figure, that scene, had not appeared for a very long time.

The disciples began to cultivate twice as hard, searching for their master's traces while waiting for his return.

They knew that their master would definitely return.

They just didn't know how long they would have to wait.

One thousand years.

Finally, he had returned.

Now, it seemed they could return to the life they once knew.

However, things were different now.

Today, they were fully capable of helping their Master handle the vast majority of matters.

At the very least, they could shield their Master from any external disturbances.

They could spare their Master from endless toil and worry, allowing him to finally rest in perfect peace and comfort.