It unexpectedly gave him an indescribable, serene feeling as if he were in another world.

Honestly, after advancing to the Foundation Establishment stage, his understanding of the seasons seemed to be limited to the different celestial phenomena. After reaching the Golden Core stage, he regarded them as something that could be recreated.

A method to cultivate more objects.

It was indeed not as immersive as during the Qi Refining stage.

After all, the seasons.

Were only significantly useful to mortals.

He had once thought there was nothing wrong with this approach. Wasn't the path of Cultivation about understanding the myriad phenomena of the world and then assimilating the power?

Now, he realized: with a Cultivator's power that transcends the ordinary, truly perceiving the myriad phenomena of heaven and earth was indeed a bit troublesome, just like the current wind and snow, something a Cultivator simply could not deeply experience.

No wonder some Cultivators would suppress their mana to temper their hearts amidst the mundane world.

This vast Great Divine Techniques is both a power and a constraint.

The silver giant deer didn't know that just watching the snowflakes melt in his palm would lead Li Ye to think of so many things.

Seeing Li Ye silent, it continued, "The master intends to teach you the winter chapter of the seasonal hymn, so you must spend this winter as a mortal.

There's no need to rush Dusuo Mountain either.

That place... is already sealed."

"What?" Li Ye snapped back to reality, surprised, "Dusuo Mountain is sealed?"

"This matter was caused by you." The voice of the silver giant deer was gentle and refined, like a teacher from an academy, slowly narrating: The spatial position of the Hell Path is not in the Yang World, to prevent their escape.

The Divinity Transformation inside decided to use Dusuo Mountain to nail down the space of the Hell Path and then, using the Power of Jianmu, completely shatter it.

As for the creatures within the Hell Path, they will be buried within the Xi Soil and then handled by you, made into a Grotto Heaven as a trial ground."

Li Ye fell silent.

He had not expected such an outcome.

Initially, he thought a Nascent Soul would lead an intrusion into the Hell Path, but didn't expect they would simply shatter it.

On second thought.

This seemed normal.

Just like mice in a hole, once discovered, would certainly not be able to disgust people any longer.

"Just a pity I won't personally witness this scene."

Li Ye sighed a little.

The silver giant deer slowly got up, taking away the warmth that shielded him from the wind and snow, its voice becoming indistinct amidst the snowstorm:

"That's not certain."

"You just need to settle matters here first."

"In this snowy forest live many Spirit Race members, they sell interesting treasures that can help you through the winter."

"Remember, from now on, you cannot use the Spirit Stones you previously relied on; you'll have to earn them bit by bit."

"The spiritual power you cultivate each day will restore your cultivation, so... strive hard to get through this winter."

With that, it left.

Completely disappearing into the wind and snow.

Taking the warmth with it.

Leaving Li Ye to tighten his Taoist Robe silently, luckily this robe had basic cold resistance and dust-repelling runes, or else he might have had trouble with the cold.

Guided by his Divine Sense all the way forward.

Soon, he came across a courtyard half-buried in snow; as he pushed open the already slightly decayed door, letting out a soft "creak", the scene within the courtyard unfolded before him.

It was about four or five acres.

Snow piled on the ground, faint outlines of frames for vines could be seen, and an Eight Trigrams-shaped ancient well; further still, an old, dilapidated mansion.

Originally, it must have been quite decent, at least the materials used were top-quality red sandalwood, still faintly emitting a bit of fragrance.

Compared to Li Ye's Xiang River mansion and his previous small yard, it was like comparing heaven and earth.

However, Li Ye didn't mind.

He had visited many good places, and some not so good ones too.

In his heart, there existed a magnificent, radiant Purple Mansion, so external matters wouldn't trouble him anymore.

Moreover, he had a rare, exciting feeling now—this desolate courtyard would certainly be fulfilling to restore.

Yet, can mana and physical endurance handle it?

As he pondered over how to restore the house, he heard some familiar yet unfamiliar, rather sharp "chirpings" from outside.

He swept with his Divine Sense.

"Oh?"

He immediately left the house with interest.

In the snow, he saw several fluffy, big-tailed creatures, with silver-gray stripes on their bodies, carrying pine cone-shaped packages on their backs—brown squirrels.

Their eyes shimmered with the unique Spiritual Light of the Spirit Race.

[Name]: Snow Spirit Silver Squirrel.

[Mood]: Hesitant, tentative

[Status]: One of the Spirit Race living within the Divine Snow Grotto Heaven, they possess intelligence not inferior to the Human Race and are accustomed to bartering their skills for rewards. The "Pinecone Bundle" on their back from birth is a companion space Spirit Treasure.

The brown squirrel leading them approached Li Ye, first bowed slightly, then took out a trumpet-shaped flower from its bundle.

Placed by its mouth, its original "chirping" sound instantly transformed into a spirited male voice:

"Immortal."

"I am Yinzong."

"We can help you repair this house, it would only cost three Spirit Stones, and we can fix it!"

As if to prove its capability, it waved its hand, and immediately several squirrels took out various tools from the bundle. It was unclear how they did it, but they crafted an exquisite carved ivory bed.

It seemed even more delicate than what a beaver might make.

Li Ye was instantly intrigued.

If these little fellows could help him manage it, it would indeed save a lot of trouble. Without any mana or physical strength, doing tasks could leave him weak.

Especially when needing to repair the roof amidst the swirling snow...

But the problem is.

Three Spirit Stones!

He's currently "penniless," and the elder deer had explicitly said not to use his "savings."

He didn't expect to be troubled by three Spirit Stones.

He truly experienced the embarrassment of a hero stumped by a petty sum.

"I don't have any Spirit Stones."

He straightforwardly spread his hands: "I don't have a single Spirit Stone. How about you tell me how I can earn some?"

Squirrel Yinzong: "..."

I'm here to earn Spirit Stones, not to teach you how to earn them!

It squinted its small eyes in deep thought for a while before speaking: "You are an Immortal of the Four Seasons Sect, you must know how to farm, right?"

"Of course." Li Ye nodded.

"Then that's it."

Yinzong rummaged through its bundle and pulled out a silver pinecone, handing it to Li Ye: "This is something I picked up from a thousand-year silver birch deep within the Spirit Land.

If you can restore its vitality and grow it to bear fruit, I can help you sell the fruits. Then, you'll have Spirit Stones aplenty!

It became more and more excited, its fluffy big tail all standing upright.

Sounds promising.

But Li Ye currently had only a sliver of mana left, and many intricate magics couldn't be performed, so he dared not make big promises.

Instead, he cautiously took the pinecone.

"I'll take a look first."

Holding the pinecone, there was a unique warmth of wood and streams of pure Spiritual Qi emanating from within. There were also silvery resin and seeds between the pinecone scales.

[Name]: Silver Birch Spirit Pinecone

[Mood]: Complicated, extremely poor.

[Status]: A pinecone grown from the lowest layer, the "Great Snow" layer, of the mother tree. Due to the special Spiritual Power of the Great Snow Solar Term, it will remain in a semi-dormant state, unable to respond to Spiritual Power, unable to sprout and grow.

[Bindable]: Any Spirit Beast related to "Severe Cold".

Oh?

Li Ye squinted his eyes.

After pretending to sense and study it seriously, he said, "This is probably born in the Great Snow, which is a dormancy period for farming among the winter solar terms.

No wonder it's hibernating too.

However, no worries, I have a Dharma Method which, even with my diminished mana, I can still employ.

But it requires a Spirit Beast born during the Severe Cold."

To this day, he no longer had to worry about his Golden Finger getting exposed—everyone in the sect and even the Cultivation Realm knew he had a wonderful method for nurturing Spirit Beasts and Spirit Plants.

It was a talent he had shown since his earliest, from the first Silver Moon Grass task, evident all the way through, having built a high tower.

With his current position and contributions, no one would press him, not even inquire about the origin of his method.

Li Ye glanced at the snowstorm outside.

Feeling a rare excitement in his heart—what changes would binding bring, and when would he finally earn those three Spirit Stones?

This determined whether he could sleep comfortably in a cozy, warm bed.

Being able to snooze peacefully inside during winter, now that is truly comfortable.

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