The third morning of the Autumn Equinox broke over the Grand Desolate Forest in a radiant cascade of pure, golden dawn light.
Beneath the huge, sweeping emerald canopy of the Primordial Spirit Willow, five hundred and twelve safe hall citizens stood assembled in nested rings around the central stone plaza. There were burly earth-bears in leather smithing belts, sleek shadow wolves with silver runes gleaming along their flanks, nine-tailed fox maidens draped in vermilion silk, badger masons leaning proudly on their chisels, deer families in stitched tunics, and river otters drying their coats in the morning sun. Standing proudly near the front ranks, Old White and the snow-hare families clasped their paws in thanks, their long ears perked with joy alongside rows of reformed mountain scouts and wandering rogue fighters who had traded banditry for honest carpentry.
Every eye was fixed upon the raised granite dais at the foot of the Great Willow.
Flanking the dais were the founding pillars of the realm: Su Ling’er, her three snowy-white tails swaying with calm elegance. Tie Shan, his golden titan arm gleaming like solid sun-fire. Xiao Hei, standing eight feet tall with his midnight coat streaming quiet majesty. Da Peng, perched majestically upon a cedar crossbeam with his thirty-meter golden wings tucked neatly at his sides. And Xiao Long, floating gracefully in the stone fountain pool, his pearl-white dragon horns catching the dawn rays.
And at the very center of the dais, raised upon a carved jade stone stand, sat Lin Xiao.
The little blue slime was radiant. His semi-clear sapphire-blue body sparkled like clean ocean ice, his curved white eyes crinkling with boundless warmth as he looked out over the sea of faces.
Lin Xiao shook his core. He projected his voice across the mountain basin with the clear, ringing deep ring of an ancient temple bell.
“Two months ago,” Lin Xiao began, his words carrying effortlessly to the highest ridge, “this valley was just a forgotten wilderness hollow choked with briars, haunted by poachers, and ignored by the great sects. Outcasts, wounded spirits, and hunted beasts fled here with nothing to their names except fear and empty bellies.”
The crowd stood in total, breathless silence. Old badger elders clasped their paws together, their whiskers trembling with quiet emotion.
“We built this place together,” Lin Xiao continued. He gestured with a fluid slime arm toward the terraced fields, the bubbling hot springs, the sturdy timber cottages, and the towering star-iron gates. “We didn’t build it to conquer mortal kingdoms, nor to wage war against the heavens. We built it so our children can run through the grass without fearing snares. So our elders can soak in warm stone waters without pain, and so every honest creature can eat their fill and sleep without fear.”
Lin Xiao gave an elastic, sovereign bounce. His azure mantle rose into the air as a deep, ancient hum rang through his soul.
“From this day forth, this land is no longer an unnamed refuge,” Lin Xiao proclaimed, his voice echoing into the very leylines of heaven and earth. “I formally bestow upon our home its eternal name: The Myriad Spirit Mountain Safe hall!”
BOOOOOOOOOM!
The moment the True Name was spoken, the heavens answered!
A huge pillar of golden-white ancient chaos light erupted from the roots of the Primordial Spirit Willow, shooting ten thousand feet into the clear autumn sky! The five crescent peaks shook in ringing all at once as the local geomantic leylines awakened, binding themselves to Lin Xiao’s Ancient Soul Circuit. A semi-clear dome of golden-jade light unfurled over the entire valley basin, fusing with the Eight-Trigrams Cloud-Mist Array, sealing the safe hall under sovereign sky power that fully cut external scrying from the mortal world!
In the stone fountain pool, Xiao Long leaped ten feet into the air. His hundred-meter sky dragon was dark shape shimmering in misty azure clouds as he sprayed a shower of sparkling, rainbow-tinted spring droplets over the cheering crowd. High above the canopy, Da Peng spread his thirty-meter golden wings, unleashing a joyful screech that scattered the morning clouds. Meanwhile, Xiao Hei threw his head back and joined with a thunderous, earth-shaking roar of sovereign pride!
Down in the plaza, five hundred and twelve citizens fell to their knees in unanimous, tearful respect. The rabbit elder, Old White, pressed his forehead to the flat stone slabs. He wept openly as his grandchildren clutched his hemp sleeves. Beside him, burly earth-bears pounded their massive chests, their golden eyes shining with rock-steady fealty. Meanwhile, the fox maidens bowed their heads, their snowy tails brushing the stone in sacred homage.
“LONG LIVE THE Countless SPIRIT Safe hall!”
“GLORY TO LORD LIN XIAO, THE AZURE SOVEREIGN!”
The thunderous cheer shook the mountain crags. It rolled across forty ridges in a wave of unbroken devotion. For the first time in their lives, these five hundred outcasts had a homeland. Not a temporary hiding hole carved out of desperation. But a sovereign holy ground that stood proud beneath the heavens.
***
The sun set and twilight draped the forest in deep indigo velvet. Then, the safe hall transitioned into its grandest night of celebration.
Along the stone canals and bubbling river water chutes, hundreds of small lotus-shaped paper lanterns, crafted by fox maidens and lit up by soft spirit crystals, floated peacefully upon the clear waters. That turned the valley into a winding river of liquid starlight. High above the courtyards, strings of glowing amber lanterns cast a cozy, festive soft glow across the cedar banquet tables.
Music filled the crisp night air. A fox elder plucked a rustic lute, with badger drummers and young bear flute players, weaving a lively melody that drifted up into the starry heavens. Down along the terrace pathways, badger masons and bear smiths were clinking stone tankards filled with aged plum wine, toasting to the harvest and singing ancient mountain ballads. Near the stream, Old Ba, the ancient river tortoise Lin Xiao had rescued on his very first day, rested his mossy shell on a sandy gravel bar. He was surrounded by a dozen young otter and turtle pups who listened wide-eyed as the elder recounted the legendary day Lord Xiao cleared the rockslide dam with a single high-pressure blast.
Around the stone fire pits, children roasted the last batches of sweet yams and toasted sweet chestnuts, laughing as they pulled gooey, caramelized treats from the glowing coals with wooden tongs. The delicious aroma of scorched sugar, rendered pork fat, and floral wine hung over the courtyards like a protective blanket, sealing the valley in pure, untroubled joy.
High atop the wooden watching terrace overlooking the valley, peace reigned supreme.
Resting on a wide cedar daybed draped in soft sheepskin blankets, Su Ling’er sat with her legs folded beneath her vermilion robes. Resting comfortably on her lap was Lin Xiao, his squishy azure slime form curled into a neat, contented dome. Su Ling’er’s slender, gentle fingers stroked his smooth, jelly-like mantle with rhythmic care, while her three snowy-white tails curled around him like a plush, warm blanket.
Sprawled across the cedar floorboards at their feet, Xiao Hei slept soundly, his massive black chin resting upon his front paws. That let out deep, rhythmic snores that softly shook the wood. In the corner of the pavilion, Tie Shan sat fast asleep against an empty cedar wine keg, his golden titan arm affectionately hugging a carved flagon like a prized treasure.
Over the stone railing, Xiao Long drifted in the quiet updraft, his pearl-white horns catching the moonlight as he rested his chin upon the polished cedar rail, breathing tiny rings of sparkling river mist that dissolved into the starry sky. Down along the terrace canal, Old Ba floated peacefully upon the warm quartz shallows, paddling his webbed feet with a slow, contented murmur.
“Look at them, Master,” Su Ling’er murmured softly, her violet eyes shining with quiet, tender emotion as she gazed out over the glowing sea of paper lanterns. “Two months ago, we were hunted across the ridges, hiding in fear of every hunter’s hound. Tonight, every soul in this valley sleeps without terror.”
Lin Xiao gave a gentle, drowsy wobble on Su Ling’er’s lap.
“That’s how life ought to be, Ling’er,” Lin Xiao replied in a sleepy telepathic murmur. “No sects, no blood debts, no arrogant masters... Just honest work, sweet wine, warm stew, and peaceful sleep.”
Through his half-closed white eyes, he watched the twin sky moons—one silver, one pearl-white—climb into the center of the night sky, bathing the entire safe hall in a calm, soft glow.
Inside his mind, the Omniscient Dao Spirit’s voice rang out with final, majestic elegance:
“Founding phase objectives successfully finished,” the Dao Spirit reported softly. “The safe hall is fully fortified. Agricultural surplus is enough for twenty-four months. Friend loyalties are total. However, long-range leylines detect a dark crimson mist gathering in the southern marshlands—the Demonic Blood Sea Sect is mobilizing a hundred thousand beasts for their winter hunting rituals.”
Lin Xiao let out a tiny, sleepy sigh, a fragrant bubble of plum wine popping harmlessly against Su Ling’er’s sleeve.
Demonic sects and blood tides can wait until tomorrow, Lin Xiao thought peacefully. Tonight, our granaries are full, the water is warm, the lanterns are lit, and everyone is safe in bed.
Su Ling’er looked down at the relaxed blue ball resting on her lap. Her violet eyes softened with boundless warmth. She pulled her fluffy white tails a fraction of an inch tighter to shield him from the midnight mountain draft.
“Sleep well, Lord Xiao,” Su Ling’er whispered into the starlit night. “You gave us a home. We’ll protect your peace forever.”
Beneath the radiant glow of the twin sky moons and the silent watch of five crescent peaks, the Myriad Spirit Safe hall rested in unbroken, eternal peace. That brought the opening saga of the Ancient Slime to a glorious, triumphant close.