Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 506 Two years have passed since I went down the mountain to exorcise demons. Give me a shoulder massage!

[After hearing this, you couldn't help but be speechless. Did Xiao Qingfeng's ancestors not have a proper burial?]

Why do they always have to slaughter their own entire family, and why do they do it right inside their own mountain gates?!

Upon reflection, it's not surprising. A mad Emperor's Ancestor paired with a former peak master who murdered the sect—the seventeen peaks of Fangcun Mountain were even more cautious in guarding Little Green Peak than they were in guarding against the demonic cult.

[There is no real danger; Xiao Qingfeng is the biggest danger.]

According to the "Taiyuan Yiyang Sword," the ancestor of the Imperial Capital was indeed a genius, having mastered the two supreme martial arts techniques, "Sword Repulsion" and "Sword Swallowing," to a state of perfection, and also achieved the cultivation of a fully realized Golden Core.

[With both swords drawn simultaneously, you can't help but mourn for the ancestors of Fangcun Mountain. In your next life, please remember to avoid this mountain.]

However, precisely because of this, Fangcun Mountain still exists today. One can only imagine how many enemies these two have made for Xiao Qingfeng.

If it weren't for the current peak master's commendable abilities, the name of Little Green Peak would probably have long since disappeared from the cultivation world.

[You understand what old age means, so it seems best not to reveal this sword.]

Today's events have shaken Fangcun Mountain, and the eyes of the disciples of Xiaoqing Peak are all shining with joy.

Who would have thought that such an extraordinary and illustrious senior master was hidden within our own sect?

Your life, however, continued as before, consisting of your continued spiritual practice and frequent trips between the library and the study.

[As winter turns to summer and spring arrives, two years have passed in the blink of an eye.]

[A year ago, you asked the old man to retrieve a precious technique from the secret teachings of Xiaoqing Peak that could seal spiritual apertures.]

You never felt it was wrong to trouble your elders—your grandfather taught you that friendships are built through mutual interaction.

[You weren't worried about the hidden ailments that came with old age. These were chronic illnesses, originating from the heart, and needed to be treated at their root.]

[The old man brings you the "Hun Yuan Fire House Suppression Diagram," a follow-up cultivation method compiled by predecessors based on the "Hun Yuan Yi Qi Zhen Jie," leading all the way to the Great Dao Golden Core.]

As you turn the first page, a familiar name immediately catches your eye—Imperial Hometown.

Good heavens, it was created by this very same founder again.

Seeing this, the old man couldn't help but smile bitterly. If this patriarch hadn't gone mad back then, how could Little Green Peak have fallen to such a state?

A close examination of this "Primordial Chaos Fire Chamber Suppressing the World Diagram" reveals its astonishing mystery—it transforms the sealing of cultivation into a calamity. Each time cultivation is sealed, it's like undergoing a tribulation, using oneself as the fire chamber, and borrowing the power of the seal to temper the physical body's acupoints.

If one can truly survive countless eons without perishing, their physical body will become inconceivably powerful, capable of suppressing the world.

[Even a cursory glance at it made you break out in a cold sweat for the predecessors of Fangcun Mountain back then.]

[The ancestral master of the Imperial Capital has reached the pinnacle of the Golden Core realm, and has repeatedly sealed his cultivation using this method. His physical body has likely already reached the pinnacle of cultivation. How can we possibly defeat him?]

[Within two years, although your cultivation has not broken through, you are still at the early stage of the Dragon Court realm. You have sealed your cultivation three times, which means you have completed the third tribulation of the "Primordial Fire House Suppressing World Diagram".]

To outsiders, your cultivation level is still at the mid-stage of the Body Shaping realm.

For newly initiated ordinary disciples of Xiaoqing Peak, their cultivation will surge upon first arriving at a blessed place like Fangcun Mountain, before gradually slowing down.

Above "Body Shaping" lies the realm of "Solidifying the Spirit," and above that is the realm of the Dao Embryo.

[After five years, having reached the Dao Embryo realm, he could only retain a portion of his disciples.]

Two years have passed, and most of my fellow students are stuck in the middle stage of body shaping, leaving you neither standing out nor falling behind.

Spiritual practice is a gradual process, requiring slow and steady progress.

Only a small number of talented individuals, who were also willing to put in the effort, began to gradually reveal themselves, reaching the late stage of Body Shaping.

The reputation you gained from your previous pilgrimages to Dragon Head Peak and Yaohua Peak is gradually being forgotten.

[In contrast to you is the girl in purple, Qi Ling, who is gradually revealing her extraordinary talent.]

[He broke through to the Dao Embryo Realm in just two years, shaking the entire Little Green Peak, and even Fangcun Mountain became known for his name.]

[And you, day after day, immersed yourself in the library, perusing over 107,000 volumes of texts, mastering all the recorded spells.]

[Every day is fulfilling and enriching—your cultivation is steadily improving, your spells are constantly increasing, and you have already studied all three walls of the first floor of the library.]

You have dabbled in the Five Elements theory and various other schools of thought.

As your spiritual practice deepens, a grand aspiration gradually takes root in your heart: to embody all laws and attain the title of "True Lord of All Laws."

People often say that the key to spiritual practice lies in specialization; one should choose one path and dedicate oneself to it to the end.

To seek the boundless Dao with a finite lifespan is as foolish as a mayfly trying to shake a tree.

But you are different from everyone else—whether it's spiritual cultivation and enlightenment, or learning the Dharma, you display a talent that is unimaginable to ordinary people.

So-called geniuses are merely the threshold to your door.

You are ten years old this year. It's winter, and a rare light snow is falling on Fangcun Mountain.

A light blanket of snow covered Fangcun Mountain, adding a touch of chill to this perpetually spring-like paradise.

[Little Green Peak is bustling again, with another batch of disciples, both men and women.]

The courtyard where you used to live has begun to come alive.

[Considering your cultivation progress is too slow, Lü Qingyu has exempted you from cutting down spirit bamboo in the back mountain, leaving you only to guard the spirit garden.]

[Because I'm old, and quite old, I don't need to cultivate myself every day, and I can't sleep at night, so I get up early in the morning.]

[At the prime of their lives, they are excellent candidates to guard the cemetery.]

In this way, you will have free time to spend your days studying classic texts in the library.

[At the end of the year, due to the large number of new disciples joining Xiaoqing Peak and a shortage of manpower, you were given the less demanding job of supervising the spirit fields. Your responsibilities included instructing new disciples on planting, praying for rain, weeding, and other agricultural tasks.]

This job suits your personality perfectly; you haven't made a single mistake in the past two years, and even Lü Qingyu trusts you completely.

[During this period, Nie Qingzhu summoned you to the back mountain several times for questioning, mostly inquiring about your recent condition in old age.]

[You've gradually become familiar with Elder Nie. He's very dignified in front of his disciples, but his private attire is extremely daring.]

[Perhaps because he was cultivating in the mountains, he hadn't paid attention to the difference between men and women. You are the only disciple allowed to enter the back mountain; even You Sanfeng is not allowed.]

[Nie Qingzhu often walked around the back mountain wearing a high-slit cheongsam, her snow-white skin appearing and disappearing in the breeze. Luckily, you remembered the rule of "don't look at what's improper," otherwise, with your eyesight, you probably would have seen everything.]

On this day, a light snow fell, covering the stone steps on the back mountain with a thin layer of frost, and the verdant bamboo branches were also adorned with glistening snowflakes.

[Lü Qingyu, carrying Elder Nie's token, led you into the back mountain; her green robes stood out starkly against the snow.]

You, however, stood with your hands behind your back, leisurely gazing at the beautiful scenery around you, a cool breeze seeping into your body, making you feel completely refreshed.

Halfway through their journey, Lü Qingyu suddenly turned around. "Junior Brother Zhou, why do I feel like you're deliberately avoiding me?"

[You remained calm and said, "Senior Sister Lü, you're overthinking it. I travel between the library and the spirit garden all day long. You're too busy to manage."]

[This is not your fault—Lü Qingyu is exceptionally beautiful and, as the senior disciple of Xiao Qingfeng, has many admirers.]

You hate trouble. Your grandfather once said that women are the most troublesome thing in the world, without exception, and you wholeheartedly agree, so you intentionally distance yourself from her.

[Lu Qingyu's eyes were suspicious, but then she remembered what her junior brothers and sisters had said: Zhou Jing seemed like a wooden puppet, spending all his time either in the spirit garden or the library, which made sense.]

She stood on the stone steps, her blue dress accentuated by the pure white snow, making her skin appear even more flawless and her features exquisitely beautiful.

"Junior Brother Zhou, you can't go to the library every day. Cultivation is the most important thing. It's been two years, and you're still stuck in the mid-stage of Body Shaping..."

The girl in green was understandably worried for you. "The five-year period is almost up. If you can't break through to the Dao Embryo Realm, you'll have no choice but to descend the mountain and become a lay disciple." You smiled gently. "The world is vast; everywhere is a place for cultivation. It's not necessarily just Fangcun Mountain."

The woman in green scoffed, "How can they be the same? Isn't our Little Green Peak good enough?"

"Hmph, you won't find a senior sister down the mountain who cares about you as much as I do!"

You smiled but did not answer. Two figures, one after the other, walked through the snow into the depths of the bamboo forest, leaving only a trail of shallow footprints.

[Lü Qingyu sensed the young man's figure behind her, seemingly pausing to gaze at the bamboo forest. For some reason, being with him always gave her an indescribable sense of tranquility.]

This feeling is amazing; I've never felt this way even when I'm with my master.

[Lu Qingyu turned around and looked at the young man with feigned reproach, "Junior Brother Zhou, why do you keep staring at the bamboo on the back mountain? Am I not pretty enough?"]

Seeing the boy's slightly helpless frown, she found it particularly pleasing to the eye.

Amidst the swaying bamboo shadows, the girl suddenly lowered her voice: "Junior Brother Zhou, hasn't anyone ever told you that you're good-looking?"

Before the words were even finished, deep within the bamboo forest, amidst the verdant green and white snow, the girl's ears turned red. She hurriedly turned and walked ahead, the snow-covered bamboo leaves falling and rustling softly.

[Go inside!]

[You've run into an acquaintance, that senior disciple of the Little Green Peak Sect—You Sanfeng.]

The short, stout Taoist priest stood quietly beside the bamboo path, a few snowflakes clinging to his shoulders; he had clearly been waiting for some time.

Lu Qingyu stepped forward and greeted him, "Senior Brother Sanfeng, what are you doing here?"

[You Sanfeng smiled broadly, "Elder Nie summoned me here, bringing the disciples' cultivation assignments for this year."]

"Senior brother, you've really worked hard."

"It's my duty. But Qingyu, you've been working incredibly hard lately, always on the go."

The two chatted for a few minutes.

"Senior Brother You."

As you stepped out from behind, the almost imperceptible smile on You Sanfeng's face faltered for a moment.

At this moment, Lü Qingyu stepped past You Sanfeng and said, "Senior Brother You, let's go in first."

[You paused slightly, and Lü Qingyu waved from ahead, "Junior Brother Zhou, hurry up and catch up."]

"Elder Nie said you are free to enter the back mountain."

You then gave a slight bow to You Sanfang and went inside.

As You Sanfeng watched your departing figures, the smile vanished from his face.

His eyes narrowed, and his hands, hidden in his sleeves, unconsciously clenched into fists.

After walking for a while, you couldn't help but sigh softly.

Indeed, women are a hassle, especially beautiful women.

[After passing several clumps of green bamboo, a familiar thatched cottage came into view.]

Elder Nie reclined languidly on the bamboo couch, her long, dark hair half-tied into a loose, disheveled bun, which accentuated her beautiful face and charming willow-leaf eyebrows.

What's most striking is her pair of jade-like legs, which she unabashedly rests on the table—her long, slender arches are more beautiful than most people's, and her translucent toes gleam like pearls.

The slit in your cheongsam today is higher than usual, and the cut of the front is particularly daring; you didn't look up.

Its scale is already astonishing.

You were already used to Nie Qingzhu's casual manner, and bowed respectfully without changing your expression.

[Lü Qingyu stood to one side.]

Nie Qingzhu asked leisurely, "Elder Nian, how have you been lately?"

"Reporting to the Elder, the Elder is currently in seclusion for quiet meditation."

[Guarding the cemetery can be considered a form of spiritual practice.]

Nie Qingzhu nodded slightly. "Senior Brother Nian is stubborn and never likes to trouble others. As his successor, you should interact more with people from the peak."

"This disciple will remember."

[Nie Qingzhu suddenly changed her posture, the slit in her cheongsam revealing a hint of allure. "Do you know why I summoned you here?"]

You could only bow your head slightly and say, "Please enlighten me, Elder."

[Nie Qingzhu gestured to Lü Qingyu, and the girl stepped forward, saying, "According to the rules of Fangcun Mountain, new disciples must go down the mountain for trials after one year of service."]

"Junior Brother Zhou, you were the first batch of disciples of Little Green Peak and were exempted from the trial. Now that two years have passed since Little Green Peak opened, the new disciples will inevitably have to go down the mountain to undergo the trial of eliminating demons and protecting the righteous path."

Nie Qingzhu nodded in agreement: "This is also a rule established by the founder of Fangcun Mountain, and it cannot be disregarded."

"However, none of you new disciples have experience in this area, so mistakes are inevitable. Therefore, this year, you, Qi Ling, and three others from the peak will be accompanied by the senior brothers from Qi Yun Peak to conduct this trial."

"This time next year, it will be the five of you who will carry the flag and lead the new disciples of Xiaoqing Peak down the mountain to eliminate demons."

"Did you understand?"

"So you understand now. Trials within the sect are commonplace. After all, Fangcun Mountain needs to gain fame in the surrounding area, especially with the recent rampant demons."

[When a drought demon appeared in Qinghe County, causing widespread drought and the breeding of many demons, righteous disciples were required to descend the mountain to subdue and eliminate these demons, thus accumulating merit.]

[Little Green Peak, you are the first batch of disciples. Since you have no experience in going down the mountain to exorcise demons, other peaks will lead the five of you down the mountain to accumulate experience. After that, the five of you will lead the Little Green Peak.]

"Disciple obeys."

[You didn't hesitate at all; wasn't your purpose in climbing the mountain to cultivate Taoism back then precisely to descend now, sword in hand, and vanquish the demons?]

Nie Qingzhu nodded in satisfaction, "You don't need to worry too much. With the disciples of Qiyun Peak here, there's nothing to fear. If it's a powerful demon, you outer mountain disciples won't need to intervene. Just go down the mountain and observe and learn more. Sometimes, the wickedness of the human heart is more terrifying than demons; that's just the way things are in the mortal world."

"Zhou Jing, you were the last to find out. Qi Ling and the other three had already been preparing."

"Thank you for your guidance, Elder."

[Nie Qingzhu changed the subject, "This time, it was Qingyu who recommended you, saying that you have a steady personality and are capable of taking on this responsibility."]

You suddenly looked up and met Lü Qingyu's smiling eyes.

Everyone knows that going down the mountain to undergo trials with Qi Yunfeng, the leader of the Eighteen Sects, is a rare opportunity that offers both safety and the chance to accumulate merit.

It seems this Senior Sister Lü really thinks of you in everything she does.

"This disciple thanks the elder for his guidance, and expresses great gratitude to Senior Sister Lü."

[Nie Qingzhu waved her hand lightly: "Qingyu, please step back for now."]

A hint of doubt flickered in the girl's eyes, but she obeyed and left.

[At this moment, in front of the thatched hut!]

Only you and Nie Qingzhu remain, with only the wind rustling through the bamboo forest, creating waves of green, and the sound of rain falling on rice paper.

[Nie Qingzhu looked at you with her beautiful eyes and said, "Zhou Jing, come up here and give me a shoulder massage."]

(End of this chapter)