They followed the giant pandas back to their nest.
There were over ten giant pandas in the nest,one of which was over eight meters tall.
The team instinctively formed a protective circle around her, but Gu Mian waved them back.
With a small concentration of space energy, she teleported into the midst of the pandas, unshielded.
The pandas froze, their enormous amber eyes fixed on the intruder.
"Easy… easy," Gu Mian murmured, letting her mental and spiritual energy radiate reassurance. Slowly, the pandas began to relax, sniffing at her cautiously. She extended a hand, and with a gentle gesture, drew them into her space.
"They're… calm," Gu Yunchen observed, genuinely impressed. "I expected more resistance."
"They trust me," Gu Mian replied simply, her eyes gleaming. "And now they're ours."
She had Once inside her space created a large colorful bamboo forest near a spring, now it was perfect for the pandas.
She and the team uprooted vast amounts of mutated bamboo and planted new varieties.
Each stalk shimmered faintly with spiritual Qi, cultivated to grow fast and strong.
It was her own little sanctuary within the forest, ready for the pandas to thrive.
As they journeyed deeper into the forest, they discovered other mutated wildlife—koalas, bears, and smaller pandas.
Gu Mian was careful not to take all the animals; she only selected a few to bring into her space, ensuring the forest remained vibrant outside of her influence.
The creatures were enormous due to mutation, but harmless under careful management.
The family reached the center of the bamboo forest, a massive expanse where the bamboo stretched higher than any tree in the world.
They cleared a large portion of land, marking boundaries for the mansion they intended to place.
The cleared area was enormous, enough to fit the mansion, several houses, animal pens, and farmland.
Over the next six months, they explored methodically, constantly refining their control over their abilities.
Every day involved clearing dangerous areas, uprooting zombified plants, and purifying corrupted zones with spring water or fire energy.
Gu Mian had perfected her "Space Break" technique, allowing her to cut through the densest mutated bamboo effortlessly.
Through these months, everyone's abilities grew.
Qi Chu reached level five, while the adults solidified themselves at level eight.
Gu Ruisheng now radiated level nine, and Gu Mian herself was unmatched at level ten.
Spiritual Qi flowed harmoniously between the family members, binding them in a symbiotic rhythm of power.
Once they secured a central clearing, the family began constructing the foundations for a permanent home.
They dug a massive deep space for the mansion, ensuring it would fit perfectly in Gu Mian's space for future relocations.
The walls were reinforced with Earth abilities, blending naturally into the surrounding bamboo.
Flowers and vines grew along the mansion walls, adding beauty without obstructing the structure.
Gu Mian brought in houses prepared from her space to accommodate everyone, giving priority to couples.
By this time, more than 15 couples had formed among the group, including Gu Shao and Li Qiao.
The village began to resemble a thriving settlement rather than just a family stronghold.
"We have enough land for crops, pastures, and animals," Gu Yunchen said, surveying the area. "We can make this self-sustaining."
Gu Mian nodded, walking beside him. "I've already planted the fields in my space. With spiritual Qi saturation, crops will grow faster and stronger than ever. Four hours for a full harvest."
"Efficient," Gu Ruisheng commented, leaning against a bamboo stalk. "And you'll share all of it?"
"Of course. Everyone contributes, everyone benefits," Gu Mian replied with a small smile.
The team used bamboo to create sheds and pens, planting grasses for pastures and releasing hundreds of farm animals from her space.
Water purification systems were set up by Gu Xing, modified with magic to filter the virus and ensure safe drinking water for humans and animals alike.
"We're essentially creating a village within the forest," Gu Yunchen said with pride. "With the mansion as the head's house."
Gu Mian had long dreamed of a place like this: a haven in the heart of the chaotic world, where the Gu family could thrive, train, and live in peace.
Now, standing at the edge of the bamboo forest, she could feel the dense spiritual Qi rolling off every tree and stalk.
The forest was alive in ways ordinary people could never comprehend.
Colors shimmered across the leaves as if the air itself was charged with magic, and a fine mist swirled, veiling the deeper parts in secrecy.
"Look at this, Gu Ruisheng," she said, her voice soft but filled with awe. "This place… it's more than just a forest. It's pure energy. We could spend decades here and still barely scratch the surface."
Gu Ruisheng, leaning casually on a massive bamboo stalk, smiled. "I don't think we'll ever get bored. There's so much to explore. And from what I can feel, there's no danger the Gu family can't handle."
Gu Yunchen, standing behind them with Leng Rui perched on his shoulder, nodded. "This is the perfect place to rebuild. We've fought, survived, and trained hard. Now, it's time to make it our home—and our sanctuary."
The family settled into a routine.
Gu Mian spent her mornings tending to crops, ensuring animals were fed, and monitoring the pandas and other wildlife in her space.
Gu Ruisheng stayed close, sometimes working alongside her, sometimes training in combat.
The children explored under careful supervision, learning from both their parents and older siblings.
Leng Rui, now awakened as a space ability user, practiced carefully in Gu Mian's space alongside Qi Chu and Ming Baixu.
"Careful!"
Gu Mian called, watching him manipulate small objects with his new power.
"Look, I can lift three rocks at once!" Leng Rui exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.
"Not rocks—try something heavier next," Gu Mian said, laughing.
Meanwhile, other family members trained their abilities, cultivated spiritual Qi, or tended to practical matters in the village.
Couples worked together, some quietly expressing affection, others competing in playful challenges with abilities.
Life was peaceful, productive, and structured, a stark contrast to the chaos of the outside world.
By November, winter arrived again.
Snow fell softly, blanketing the bamboo forest and the village in white.
The family continued their routines, adapted to the cold, with houses insulated using Earth abilities and spiritual Qi.
Gu Mian and Gu Ruisheng's relationship became subtly affectionate.
They shared long, quiet moments in the bamboo forest or near the spring, respecting boundaries yet acknowledging their feelings.
Other couples were forming and living happily together, celebrated by the rest of the family.
Gu Mian also opened her two libraries from her space to the group, providing a wealth of knowledge on cultivation, combat techniques, and survival methods.
Every member spent time learning, experimenting, and improving their skills.
The pandas and other animals thrived in their habitats, fed by the new bamboo shoots and the carefully planted grasses.
Even the silkworms and mutant bamboo crops had adapted perfectly to the vibrant ecosystem.
"The village is finally ours," Gu Mian said one evening, watching the golden sunset filter through the bamboo stalks.
Gu Ruisheng stood beside her, quiet and content. "And we'll protect it with everything we've got."
Gu Yunchen, observing from the mansion balcony, held Leng Rui on his lap while the other children played around him. "Ten years here… we've earned it," he murmured.
The Gu family had carved out a life of peace, power, and growth amidst the chaos of the world.
For the first time in years, they could breathe easy, knowing they had a home, a sanctuary, and each other.
And in the heart of the bamboo forest, life blossomed—not just for humans, but for the animals, plants, and mystical energies that surrounded them.
The apocalypse had shaped them, but it could never break them.