After guarding for another hour, the fruit finally ripened. Ye Tian carefully picked the fruit and gave one to the red fox.
The red fox swallowed it in one gulp, then lay on the ground as if drunk, with an expression resembling a human smile.
Just as Ye Tian was preparing to take the red fox down the mountain, the white crane reappeared. This time, it did not attack Ye Tian but stood quietly not far away.
Ye Tian noticed a cloth bag tied around the white crane's neck. His heart stirred, and he walked towards the crane. The crane remained still, only looking at him with its eyes.
He untied the bag and found two red-gold spirit stones inside, along with a note that read: "One spirit fruit requested. Two spirit stones offered." The handwriting was delicate, as if written by a woman.
Ye Tian weighed the spirit stones in his hand, smiled, and placed one fruit into the cloth bag, hanging it back on the white crane's neck.
The white crane let out a long cry, flapped its wings, and soared away.
Ye Tian then carried the red fox down the mountain and returned to the Taoist temple.
He now had two more spirit stones, and they were of excellent quality. Having just opened his second divine aperture, he was ready to proceed to opening the eighth spiritual aperture.
Just as he was preparing to break through, Ming Chen hurried over and said, "Abbot, Abbot Zhou Xuan of Ziyang Temple has come to visit and has been waiting for you in the temple for over an hour."
Ye Tian asked, "Where is Ziyang Temple?"
Ming Chen replied, "Abbot, Ziyang Temple is over a hundred li from here. Its incense offerings are more prosperous than ours at Yuhuang Temple. The two temples have had little interaction. His visit this time is likely related to our plan to expand the Taoist academy."
Ye Tian asked, "What does Ziyang Temple have to do with our expansion of the Taoist academy?"
Ming Chen explained, "Once Yuhuang Temple expands, it will inevitably affect Ziyang Temple's incense offerings."
Ye Tian sneered, "The amount of incense offerings depends on one's own capabilities. Does Ziyang Temple not allow us to expand?"
Ming Chen sighed softly, "Ziyang Temple has several major patrons, including a high-ranking official in the imperial court. If Ziyang Temple truly forbids our expansion, the approval process might not go through."
Ye Tian scoffed, "Someone in the court? Hmph, then I must meet the people from Ziyang Temple!"
Ming Chen said, "Very well! Let's hear what Ziyang Temple wants."
The two arrived at the reception hall of Yuhuang Temple. A Taoist sat imposingly in the hall, with two young Taoist disciples behind him.
Ming Chen smiled and said, "Abbot Zhou, you've waited a long time. This is Abbot Ye of our Yuhuang Temple."
The Abbot of Ziyang Temple, named Zhou Xuan, glanced at Ye Tian and said indifferently, "Abbot Ye, I hear your Yuhuang Temple wants to expand?"
Ye Tian replied calmly, "Are you Abbot Zhou?"
Zhou Xuan answered, "Indeed, I am Zhou."
Ye Tian asked, "Is Abbot Zhou's visit solely due to the matter of Yuhuang Temple's expansion?"
Zhou Xuan stated flatly, "That's right."
Ye Tian inquired, "What does Abbot Zhou mean?"
Zhou Xuan said, "I think this Taoist temple should postpone its expansion."
Ye Tian asked, "Oh, why?"
Zhou Xuan replied, "Coincidentally, our Ziyang Temple is also expanding. It's not good for us to be doing it at the same time, is it?"
Ye Tian sneered, "The expansion of my Yuhuang Temple has nothing to do with your Ziyang Temple. Abbot Zhou's words are rather overbearing."
Zhou Xuan's face darkened. "Overbearing? Your expansion of the Taoist temple requires procedures and approvals, doesn't it? If Ziyang Temple doesn't agree, you won't be able to build a single brick or tile!"
"Bang!"
Ye Tian slammed the table heavily. "Abbot Zhou means that for my Yuhuang Temple to expand, I must have your consent?"
Zhou Xuan said calmly, "You can understand it that way..."
Ye Tian chuckled. "I've heard that your Ziyang Temple has several patrons, and you also have connections in the court."
Zhou Xuan replied proudly, "That's correct!"
Ye Tian said, "Why don't you tell me, perhaps I know them too."
Zhou Xuan looked at him. "You must have heard of Master Yun San, right?"
Ye Tian replied, "Master Yun San? I don't know him."
Zhou Xuan frowned. "Abbot Ye, if I understand you correctly, you are not prepared to heed my advice?"
Ye Tian stated firmly, "Yuhuang Temple's expansion is none of your business, and you cannot stop it!"
Zhou Xuan sneered, "Since Abbot Ye says so, then I shall take my leave!"
"Wait!" Ye Tian's expression turned grim. "Is Yuhuang Temple a place you can come and go as you please?"