Bamboo Mound

They traveled along the general valley for several more days, encountering quite a few spiritual creatures along the way, but most of them had not yet reached the true spiritual plant realm; they merely contained slightly more spiritual energy than the surrounding plants.

We also encountered many wild fruits and berries, each with a different flavor, so we got to taste a variety of flavors.

Another day passed, and the mountain range ahead gradually softened, losing its rugged and steep rocky surface and transforming into hills completely covered by vegetation.

From this point onward, the spiritual energy in the air decreases by about 20-30%, as the environment loses its blessing.

After crossing another low hill, we were surprised to see wisps of smoke rising from behind another hill not far away.

The gray smoke tilted slightly, dispersing but not escaping, until it drifted into the air above the hill before being diluted to nothing.

"So, things are finally changing."

Seeing traces beyond nature, Ning Chang, who had been trapped in the mountains for several days, naturally felt a slight sense of joy.

He suddenly quickened his pace and arrived at the top of the hill in a few flashes.

Looking down, I saw a village with wisps of smoke rising from its chimneys!

The village is surrounded by a vast mulberry grove on both sides, interspersed with other trees, perhaps planted for timber.

On the other side are neat farmlands, with a small lake in the center. No water flows into it; it probably springs up from underground.

Further out, there are mountains on three sides, and the gap in the front leads out to another isolated mountain of similar height, several miles away.

In any era, it would inevitably be a place that is easy to defend and difficult to attack, a strategic location that military strategists would fight over!

However, at this moment, the houses are neatly arranged, the sounds of chickens and dogs can be heard, and the elderly and children are enjoying themselves in peace and contentment, just like a scene from a paradise!

However, Peach Blossom Spring was sued by the imperial court, but Ning Chang would not have any intention of suing Mulberry Tree Spring.

Although it is not a chaotic world, the cultivation world is like a chaotic world to mortals. It is best for this peaceful place to remain forever.

Upon finally seeing the village, Ning Chang was overjoyed and immediately decided to explore it, inquire about the roads, and perhaps find a city and inquire about the possible location of a sect.

As he spun around, his clothes changed, and he returned to wearing that brown tunic.

After all, the clothes in the city could never compare to the comfortable disciple robes issued by his sect. After leaving Stone City, he changed back into the disciple robes and put away the brown tunic.

In order not to disturb the peace of the village, they naturally had to change into ordinary clothes.

They even took a detour, entering the village from a distance through a gap in the mountain.

It was early morning, and the air in the valley was slightly cool, mixed with the unique fragrance of mulberries.

We sped up slightly and arrived at this wondrous mulberry grove.

What makes them so wondrous is that a single tree can simultaneously bear flower buds, blossoms, tender leaves, mature leaves, and nascent young fruits and mature fruit...

Every growth cycle of the mulberry tree is simultaneously displayed and coexist on this tree!

"Although it is not a spiritual plant, it contains its own wonders. It spontaneously ignores the growth cycle of plants and can bear fruit in all seasons, which makes it convenient to pick."

He decided that when he had time in the future, he would definitely open up an orchard and transform the fruit trees therein to bear fruit all year round, just like these mulberry trees.

In the comments section, someone picked a mulberry that looked ripe. The mulberry was completely black and about the size of a little finger!

After removing the stem, put it in your mouth, and with the tip of your tongue touching the roof of your mouth, before you even exert any force, a trickle of juice flows out of the mulberry.

However, after the juice covered his tongue and he tasted it, Ning Chang suddenly frowned and spat out the juice along with the mulberry after a few breaths.

"It's too sweet, sickeningly sweet."

After spitting out a few more mouthfuls of saliva to slightly eliminate the lingering sweetness in his mouth, Ning Changcai murmured his name.

If he hadn't reacted quickly and decisively spat out the nearly intact mulberry, or hadn't chewed it directly instead of squeezing it with his tongue...

So now he's probably feeling nauseous and has started vomiting.

My mouth was originally tasteless, but suddenly tasting this sweetness, which is comparable to industrial saccharin, was quite a shock to my spirit.

"It seems this one is overripe. I didn't expect this tree to be so strong."

Somewhat stubborn, he picked out another mulberry, its flesh a mix of purple and red, with distinct berries, broke off a small piece, and put it in his mouth.

After a slight squeeze, he withdrew the force he had prepared in his mouth.

"Thankfully, this one isn't a problem."

Lowering his guard, Ning Chang then put the whole thing in his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it.

The mulberry has a slightly sour taste at first, followed by a sweetness that perfectly balances the sourness, resulting in a just-right flavor.

He picked out a few more similar mulberries and ate them before stopping and continuing his walk into the village.

As you leave the mulberry grove, you can see the young men and women of the village, having finished their breakfast, leisurely heading towards the farmland with various wooden frames.

After walking for a while, we saw that the farmland was also clearly colored.

Upon closer inspection, one realizes that the farmland is also quite unusual!

Golden yellow meets green, green meets open ground, and open ground is then harvested, leaving behind roots and branches.

One piece after another, each piece different; these pieces then combine to form a whole, replicating themselves in other places.

"Planting and harvesting continuously throughout the four seasons, and the environment seems to support this pattern, although it's only a few dozen acres, it should be enough to supply the village with food."

After nodding to confirm it in my mind, I had unknowingly arrived at the village entrance.

Several elderly men had gathered under a lush catalpa tree, watching over the children playing around a small pile of pebbles, chatting slowly among themselves, each sentence ending with a long pause.

That catalpa tree was thicker than any other tree in the village; it would take four or five adults to encircle it!

Although the tree is covered with flowers, yellow and white, and pods hang from the leaves, there are no broken leaves or branches at the foot of the tree.

Therefore, it goes without saying how well the villagers take care of this tree.

While observing, the group of elderly people under the tree also noticed Ning Chang.

These elderly people had lived in the village their whole lives, and they knew every face in the village intimately, not to mention that Ning Chang was wearing clothes that were clearly not from the village.

When he arrived at the tree, one of the old men had already stood up from his chair, leaning on his cane. The other old men also stopped talking and stared at Ning Chang's movements.

"Where do you come from, guest?"

After Ning Chang stood still and bowed once, the old man returned the bow and asked.

"Old sir, I am a wanderer who has drifted from place to place. I stumbled upon this mountain village by chance and unexpectedly found it. I have come to ask for some water and also to inquire about the nearby roads."

Upon hearing this, the old man hesitated for a moment, then looked Ning Chang up and down again before speaking bluntly:

"In my opinion, young friend, your clothes are brand new, you don't look like a traveler who has been wandering around in the world."

Seeing that he had been seen through at a glance, Ning Chang remained calm and composed, as he hadn't come here to do anything wrong.

So he smiled shyly and said, "Sir, you have a discerning eye!"

"I am indeed not a traveler in the mortal world."