The sun bled across Green Mist Village, painting the fields in hues of amber and gold. The air was calm, but beneath that calmness, the soil pulsed with life—a life that Tian Yuan himself had nurtured. The Seedbuds swayed ever so slightly, reacting to his presence even though they were bound to the village.
Tian Yuan stood at the edge of the farthest rice field, arms folded behind him, eyes tracing the horizon. His hair, now streaked with faint silver glimmers from his cultivation breakthroughs, caught the sunlight like threads of dew. His expression was calm, almost too calm for a man whose every breath carried the weight of two souls.
He had returned to the village not as a simple farmer, nor as the feared Xiao Tianmie, but as something in-between. Yet, even in his balanced state, a silent tension gnawed at him.
---
The Disciples Assemble
Before him knelt his seven disciples in perfect alignment. Each radiated their unique aura, their presence shaking the soil beneath their knees:
Mei Lin, the Farmer, stood closest to him, her green robe fluttering like soft vines in the breeze.
Tian Long, calm and sharp-eyed, his sword at his side, exuded an unshakable will.
Shen Huo, ever restless, tapped his spear against the soil impatiently, earning a disapproving glance from Tian Long.
Wu Fang, towering and regal, seemed more like a young emperor than a disciple now, his presence commanding silent respect.
Lan Xue, elegant as a snow petal, watched quietly, her eyes calculating even in this peaceful meeting.
Ruo Ying, serene and kind, his healing aura spreading unconsciously around him.
Han Luo, scholarly and wise, observed every gesture of Tian Yuan like he was memorizing scripture.
They were no longer just students. They had become pillars of strength in their own right. And soon, they would leave this soil, just as he would.
---
The Farmer's Words
Tian Yuan finally spoke, his voice steady but carrying a weight that silenced even the restless Shen Huo.
> "You've grown."
It wasn't praise. It was a simple truth. But the words made Mei Lin's eyes glimmer with pride. Shen Huo grinned, and Wu Fang merely nodded with imperial dignity.
Tian Yuan's golden gaze swept across them.
> "The time has come for you to leave the soil that birthed you. What I have taught you—what you have grown into—belongs to the world beyond this village."
Shen Huo raised an eyebrow. "Master, you sound like you're sending us to war."
Tian Yuan's expression didn't change.
> "It is war. Not against men or beasts, but against stagnation. A farmer tills the soil to keep it alive. You will till the world with your actions, keep it alive in your own way."
His words hung heavy, and even Wu Fang lowered his head in respect.
---
Seeds of Farewell
He turned toward the fields, and with a simple wave of his hand, the earth itself responded. Roots sprouted instantly, weaving patterns across the soil, forming intricate circles beneath each disciple.
The air shimmered with faint golden light.
> "These are my final blessings for you before you depart," he said. "Each seed I plant now will grow within you. Nurture it, and you will walk paths beyond what you can see today."
As the seeds sank into the soil beneath them, their auras pulsed, resonating with his. Mei Lin felt warmth surge into her hands, like holding the breath of spring. Tian Long's sword hummed with life. Shen Huo's spear quivered with an unseen storm. Wu Fang felt the ground beneath him solidify like an unshakable mountain. Lan Xue smelled a hundred rare herbs blossom in her mind. Ruo Ying felt the warmth of endless life coursing through his veins. Han Luo saw texts—ancient, divine—flashing in his thoughts.
This was not merely cultivation. It was his very essence, his roots, shared with them.
---
A Master's Promise
As the ceremony ended, Tian Yuan faced them one last time.
> "You will all go your separate ways, create your own fields, your own harvests. But remember this—"
His gaze hardened slightly, and for a brief moment, the god within him leaked through. His golden eyes shifted to a glowing crimson-gold.
> "If any of you stray from the roots I have given you… I will personally uproot you."
The statement was not a threat. It was a promise.
The disciples, even the proud Wu Fang, bowed low, their voices united:
> "We understand, Master."
Tian Yuan looked at them for a long time, then finally gave a small nod.
> "Good. Then go. Make this world alive again."
The wind carried his words like drifting seeds.
---
The Farmer Alone
As the disciples left one by one, the fields grew quiet again. Tian Yuan stood alone, staring at the empty paths they left behind.
For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to sigh.
> "So… the next field I till will not be this peaceful, will it?"
The soil pulsed beneath his feet, almost as if agreeing with him. His hand brushed over the old Hoe, and for a fleeting moment, Xiao Tianmie's shadow flickered behind him—dark, cold, and waiting.
The path ahead would demand more than just roots. It would demand everything.
End of Chapter 36