I began to understand the myriad things by chopping wood

Chapter 201 Pagoda

As the sun rises, the desert is vast and the wind blows.

In the basin, the shadow of a pagoda stands tall, emitting thousands of rays of light.

But in less than half a day, nearly ten figures were already standing above the basin.

Those who can communicate between heaven and earth and control the wind are naturally masters.

The earthquake caused by this ancient relic seemed to shake the entire Western Desert and a small part of Yunzhou. The powerful people nearby all noticed the emergence of the relic.

The masters and powerful men from the Western Desert and the Western Regions were naturally the first to arrive. When they saw King Ming and Old Man Black Wind, they were all surprised, saluted, and stood behind them.

The strong men from the border areas of Dali Yanzhou and Yunzhou also arrived quickly. The general guarding the West Gate arrived first, and then the masters from several sects close to the border came one after another to investigate.

The strong men from Dali naturally became alert when they saw the many strong men from the Western Regions, and followed Li Xingtuo's lead.

The strong men from the East and the West drew a line in the air and confronted each other vaguely.

Li Xingtuo looked at the masters who had arrived and greeted them politely.

And those masters were all very respectful and showed great respect to Li Xingtuo.

There is a gap like a chasm between the Grandmasters on the Flying Dragon Ranking and the ordinary Grandmasters, or even several chasms;
The same is true for those at the top and bottom of the Flying Dragon List.

Li Xingtuo had proved his level of skill in a sword fight a few days ago, and he was already at the top level. When ordinary masters saw him, they naturally treated him with great respect.

However, Li Xingtuo has never been arrogant, and he responded to the greetings of several masters seriously one by one.

Then he looked at a white-browed monk, and then glanced at the disciples behind him, and asked with some doubt:

“Master Kongming, Yanbei is not far from here, but you came so quickly! And you were so decisive that you even brought your disciples with you… This person doesn’t seem to be a disciple of your Jinhe Temple?”

He looked at a young monk standing behind Master Kongming. The monk had extremely fair skin, calm and clear eyes, and his whole body exuded a sense of ethereal purity. The monk's robe was also different from that of the monks next to him.

Master Kongming chanted the Buddha's name and put his palms together:
"Amitabha! Let Sect Master Li know that this is the eminent monk of the Bodhi Court of Prajna Temple, Master Huijue. Master Huijue happened to be giving a sermon in my Jinhe Temple. It was only after Master Huijue reminded me that there was something unusual going on here that I came here in advance."

That Huijue bowed his head and twirled his prayer beads:
"Amitabha! Abbot Kongming, you are praising me too much. I am just a junior and cannot be called a master. It is just a coincidence that I came here to ask for advice from Abbot Kongming and happened to meet here at this grand event."

"Since you have entered the Bodhi Temple, you are naturally a master. Huijue, your Buddhist teachings are profound, and I have also benefited from them."

Huijue repeatedly expressed his shame and was extremely humble.

"Huijue... Bodhi Temple?"

Everyone in the Bodhi Court of the Prajna Temple naturally knew that only the great monks with profound knowledge of Buddhism in the Prajna Temple could enter. All of them were eminent monks and giants in the Zen world.

This Huijue is so young, could he be the senior monk in Bodhi Temple?

Lupe listened for a while, looked at Huijue's age, and was a little surprised. He subconsciously asked:
"Master Huijue, which monk in Prajna Temple did you learn from?"

"To reply to Mr. Lu, my master is Master Zhiling. This time, the unusual movement in the Western Desert was also warned by my master, and I passed the message to Master Kongming, so I came here in advance."

Lupe's eyes widened slightly, and the other Grandmasters around him fell silent.

"No wonder the master's name sounds familiar to me. It turns out that he is the disciple of Master Zhiling!"

Master Zhiling, abbot of Prajna Temple, great master of martial arts, ranked second on the Tianlong List.

Li Xingtuo suddenly realized:
"It seems that Master Zhiling's divine eyes and divine ears have noticed something, so he asked Master Huijue to come here in advance?"

"Replying to Sect Master Li, I don't know when Master knew about it, but I suddenly received a message from him, asking me to tell Master Kongming to come together. On the way, I really felt the movement of the earth dragon turning over."

Huijue said respectfully.

The masters looked at each other in bewilderment. Prajna Temple was a thousand miles away from Yanbei, and thousands of miles away from here. How could Master Zhiling's magical powers reach this level?

Moreover, if Huijue really happened to be giving a sermon at Jinhe Temple, it would be fine if Zhiling reminded him in advance;

If Huijue went to Jinhe Temple, it was already arranged by Zhiling. Then... he knew that there were ancient ruins unearthed here many days or even months in advance?
Even though everyone was a master at the time, they all felt that the realm of a grand master was unfathomable and his power was as deep as the ocean.

The last realm of martial arts mastery, the state of inner and outer unity, is not the combination of inner and outer skills, which is too superficial. This step is the three changes of qi and blood before the grandmaster realm, and it is considered complete.

The unity of inside and outside refers to the unity of the inner and outer world, or the unity of man and nature.

The external training of martial arts and the two stages of transformation polish oneself for the inner pursuit;

When the Qi and blood undergo three changes, the body reaches its limit and then explores outward.

Warriors begin to comprehend the outside world and nature, understand the principles of all things, connect the two natural bridges, and communicate between heaven and earth with just one movement.

Until one becomes enlightened and touches the true path, the inside and outside are integrated into one, and one embarks on the ultimate journey of seeking truth, which is the great realm of unity of inside and outside.

Therefore, all the great masters in the state of unity have touched upon the true principles of Heaven. Even if they have only glanced at it from afar, it is completely different from their previous state.

When one reaches this level, one has some insights into the world and often has a premonition of major events, which is understandable.

But the fact that it could be delivered so much earlier was still beyond everyone's imagination.

In fact, when Li Xingtuo reached the point where he was already at the doorstep of the Grandmaster realm, he also had a somewhat mysterious feeling. On a whim, he and Lupe went to the edge of the Western Desert to wait and see what would happen. Sure enough, such a big thing happened.

I think it was the same for the Ming King who was in the central Western Regions and came here so quickly.

Several powerful masters came from both sides of the Western Region Dali, and each side respected Ming Wang and Li Xingtuo as their own. During the confrontation, they found that their strength was evenly matched. They could not tell who was better just by looking at each other, so peace was maintained for a while.

But the ancient ruins were placed below, and the entrance was neither too big nor too small, so it was obviously not enough for so many powerful people on both sides to enter.

Even if we can get in, in a place like this, one more person would be too many.

The tall and fat Ming Wang looked at the phantom of the pagoda for a few times, his eyes flashed, and he laughed:

"Amitabha Buddha, the entrance seems a little unstable, but this relic is quite extraordinary. It will be opened in three days at most."

Li Xingtuo stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the Ming King who took the initiative to speak, and said calmly:

"What does the Ming King want to say?"

"Master Li, you have also seen that this relic looks like a pagoda, which is obviously a Buddhist relic. It is also located in the Western Desert, not in your Dali territory. In my opinion, you should retreat and do not start a dispute."

The Ming King smiled peacefully and put his palms together.

Seeing him like this, Li Xingtuo raised his eyebrows and said:
"Ming Wang, what does this have to do with Buddhism? Does it mean that only Buddhist disciples can enter Buddhist ruins?"

"Of course, the pagoda is full of light. If someone without Buddha nature enters, he will be lost and fall into hell. I advise Master Li not to make a mistake."

Ming Wang said seriously.

Li Xingtuo laughed and said:
"Then today, Li will believe in Buddhism, be a temporary disciple, and chant Amitabha. That's fine."

"Cough cough..."

Master Kongming behind him coughed twice, and Li Xingtuo finally realized that there were also Buddhists among his allies.

"Master Kongming, I spoke out of turn. It was just a joke. Please don't take it seriously."

He turned around and clasped his fists to show his apology, then said:
"Ming Wang, your disciples of the Great Vajra Temple are rampant in the Western Regions. It is not the time for Buddhist relics, and your disciples have never been polite. Besides, we have the eminent monks of the Jinhe Temple and the Prajna Temple, who are also Buddhist disciples. The Prajna Temple is the Zen sect in the world, and the Jinhe Temple is a famous Buddhist temple. Aren't they much higher than your Great Vajra Temple? It's fine as long as they agree, why do you have to interfere?"

The Ming King sighed and said:
"Master Li, why are you so stubborn? If a war breaks out, casualties are inevitable. Master Li, can you bear to see your disciples and friends wailing under the image of this Ming Wang Dharma?"

There was a hint of threat in his words.

"You can try as much as you want. No need to say more, my sect's disciples are here, and I must enter this ruins."

Li Xingtuo was not afraid at all and said firmly.

Seeing that he could not persuade him, King Ming frowned slightly.

In terms of strength and status, he was one of the top few in the Western Region, and at least not long ago, he was firmly superior to Li Xingtuo.

But this year, Li Xingtuo was rumored to have made a breakthrough, and he proved his strength in a sword fight. Now when they met again, he was indeed not inferior to himself. The test of palm and sword when he first came had made him realize that his opponent was at the same level, which made him dare not act rashly.

Li Xingtuo's attitude is now extremely tough, and he actually means that he must enter or else he will fight. However, King Ming is unsure of what to do for a while.

He pondered for a moment and sighed:

"Buddha has mercy on me. Since Sect Master Li cares about his disciples and is so persistent, it is okay to let you in."

Li Xingtuo smiled slightly and said:
"What a compassionate Ming Wang."

The King of Light seemed unaware, and simply clasped his hands and lowered his brows:
"But since no one is willing to give in, let's first set some rules for how to explore."

If the ruins cannot be monopolized by one party and several parties are evenly matched, it will often happen that everyone reaches an agreement.

In the early stages of exploration, everyone followed the rules to avoid suffering too much loss before seeing any benefits.
But in the end, the real treasure hunt is revealed, whether the rules are followed or not depends on each person's ability.

Li Xingtuo knew the convention and had expected this result. He just asked calmly:

"What rules does the Ming King intend to set?"

"Let Master Lu tell us what this relic is like."

Ming Wang waved his palm, and Lu Lao San came forward, bowed to him, and said in a muffled voice:
"Ming Wang, I came here by chance many years ago, and it happened to be a sandstorm. I have never seen such a violent sandstorm, which almost blew people away. The sand was like a mud wall. My companions all died... Only I survived by chance, and then I saw that there was a city ruins here, and the entrance to the temple in the middle was the ruins.

"I entered the ruins, and inside was a pagoda, just like this phantom, divided into seven floors. When I came here before, only the first three floors were accessible. I couldn't go up any further, and I didn't dare to go up, because there were many traps on the first three floors, which were very dangerous. I almost died on the third floor. But there were indeed some treasures in it, and I gained something, so I left, and my strength has improved a little."

Lu Laosan was evasive and vague in his speech.

But those who know him know that his strength has improved a lot. He has jumped directly from an ordinary small leader in the Qi and Blood Transformation Realm to a Grandmaster.

King Ming waved his hand to let him leave, and said to Li Xingtuo:

"Master Li, do you think I am fair?"

In fact, apart from explaining how he got in and saying that this was a pagoda that everyone could see, there was basically no other information provided by Lu Laosan, so it was useless to say anything.

But Li Xingtuo naturally knew that it was impossible for Lu Laosan to tell them all the information, and he might not even tell them all to King Ming; and they were whispering to each other at the beginning, so even if they told him, he would not dare to believe it all.

He said calmly:

"Please continue, Lord Ming."

King Ming smiled warmly and said:
"This relic is opened in layers. This time, only the first three layers will be opened, which involve Grandmasters and below. After the fourth layer, it is the Grandmaster level. I estimate that it will take several days.

"Why don't we each let our disciples go explore and gain experience first, and when they come out, we can go in and take a good look at what's up there. Outside, everyone should be harmonious. As for inside, of course, harmony is the best."

If there really is a treasure inside, harmony is naturally impossible. At that time, it will all depend on luck and ability.

Li Xingtuo discussed with the masters around him for a while and seemed a little hesitant.

This rule seems very normal, and is basically the standard procedure for ruins exploration, so there is nothing wrong with it.

But the key point is that they have Lu Laosan who had been in there earlier and has the strategy in his hands, while they are completely in the dark and don't know much.

It is said that each disciple will enter based on his own ability, but the other side has the upper hand, and if a fight breaks out inside, the advantage will be too great.

But if we do not allow the disciples to enter, and allow the young strong men from the Western Regions to explore the ruins without hindrance and reap the benefits, I am afraid that after they come out, there will be a few more evil masters like Lu Lao San and even Old Man Black Wind, and it is possible that a few more Ming Kings will appear many years later.

The dispute between the Central Plains and the Western Regions, whether it was family and country or the martial arts world, lasted for thousands of years, and everyone was unwilling to accept it.

The Ming King did not press them for an answer, but just had a compassionate smile on his face.

This was his open conspiracy. He could either let their disciples get the opportunity easily, which they would naturally be happy to do; or he could let those outstanding disciples from the Central Plains come in and die, which would also be a good idea.

No matter what choice is made, the Western Region will definitely win this time. This is a win-win situation.

On the Dali side, several leading masters discussed for a while and reached a consensus.

Li Xingtuo said firmly:

“I will send my disciples into the secret realm.

"First, there are disciples of my sect who are trapped there and must be found;

“Secondly, the ancient ruins are both dangerous and an opportunity. If you can get through them, it will be a great training for the disciples and should not be given up lightly.
"Thirdly, the Western Regions have not given up their ambition to get involved in the Central Plains. In recent years, there have been signs of a resurgence. Many young strong men have also emerged in the Western Regions. If we can easily obtain ancient relics to replenish them, wouldn't it be a waste of time for them to become more powerful? Therefore, our Yunshan Sword Sect will not sit idly by this time."

Master Kongming put his palms together:

"Amitabha, this relic has a connection with Buddhism, and with the instruction of Master Zhiling, I have brought my disciples here."

"Master Huijue will also go in?"

A master asked.

Huijue, who was fair and handsome, bowed his head and clasped his hands together:
"I will go with a few brothers."

Others must have thought that although Huijue's cultivation was only at the second level of Qi and Blood Transformation, as a disciple of Master Zhiling and a rare young eminent monk in Bodhi Temple, his attainments in Buddhism must be extraordinary, probably not worse than the third level of Transformation.

"Master Li, which senior disciple will you send in?"

Another master asked.

Li Xingtuo said calmly:

"I have already sent a message to my eldest disciple Qin Zhenyang, asking him to come and look for my junior brothers and sisters."

Ranked ninth on the Hidden Dragon List, Qin Zhenyang showed off his prowess in the sword fight between the two sects!
Several masters looked at each other and were completely relieved.

With Qin Zhenyang and Huijue leading the team, the young people in Dali should be safe.

So other masters expressed their opinions and said they would still send their disciples in.

"Master Li is right! Although this ruins is very dangerous, it is also full of opportunities. If we keep our disciples at home, they will never become successful in martial arts."

"Let the people of the Western Regions pick up treasures for free. I will be the first one to disagree. I will also call my apprentice here."

"Lu Laosan on the other side has experience..."

"What are you afraid of? With the ninth on the Hidden Dragon List and the young master of Bodhi Academy leading us, we have nothing to fear from any villain!"

When Huijue heard this, he immediately became humble and kept saying it was a compliment.

Seeing that the discussion was complete, King Ming smiled and said:

"Since our fellow Dali people have agreed, then we have a deal—

"Once the first three floors of the pagoda are opened, we will send young people in to gain experience. Each family will send one person. After entering, each of them will seek opportunities based on their own abilities. How do you think?"

Li Xingtuo expressed on behalf of everyone that it was meaningless:
"Just do as the King Ming says."

Ming Wang was laughing, and the fat on his body was trembling:

"Master Li is indeed generous. He is willing to send so many outstanding people from the Central Plains to seek death. I will gladly accept it."

Li Xingtuo just glanced at him indifferently, too lazy to argue with him, and rested on the side with Lupe and other masters.

From time to time, new masters would join the sky or merge with the two sides.

It is rare for so many masters from Dali and the Western Regions to gather in such a small area, but they maintain peace strangely, without interfering with each other, and all wait quietly for the ruins to be opened.

Two days later.

The masters who were resting their spirits opened their eyes at the same time and looked at the pagoda shadow that was glowing brighter and brighter.

The body of the pagoda swayed slightly, shaking like water waves, emitting circles of colorful light.

The huge pit in the center of the basin, like the mouth of an abyss, suddenly erupted with a huge suction force, stirring up a violent wind. All the surrounding wind and sand were sucked into it, and the entire basin seemed to be lowered by a layer.

The masters stood still in the air, feeling the strong wind blowing and their clothes rustling.

The Ming King laughed, his voice as loud as a bell:

"It looks like it's about to begin. Are you ready, everyone?"

A tall monk standing two meters tall behind him bowed slightly:

"Teacher, I am in good condition and can help you to eliminate demons at any time."

The monk had a ferocious face like a yaksha, his skin was shiny black, and he was unusually tall and strong. He was only wearing a pair of shorts, revealing his strong and toned muscles. He looked very powerful, and more like a strongman than a monk.

His blood was surging like muscles, and he couldn't suppress it. It was obvious that he had reached the limit. With his ferocious appearance and body shape, he was just like the Vajra Yaksha in Buddhism.

Ming Wang was very satisfied with his disciple's condition and nodded.

Elder Black Wind also called his disciples and said in a sharp voice:
"After you go in, just explore the road and observe the situation as much as possible, just save your life, come out and report to me, and I will reward you when you return. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, Master."

The disciple answered respectfully.

Although he is only at the second level of transformation, he is no ordinary person as he has been able to survive for so long under the hands of the moody old man Black Wind.

Lu Laosan pulled his son over and whispered:

"Tianyong, remember what I told you, get to the third floor as quickly as possible...

“If the fourth floor is open, you must not go there, it’s too dangerous!

"Also, I always feel that Xie Yuan, that bastard who disappeared inexplicably, might have sneaked in as well. If you run into him, you must catch him!"

"Don't worry, father. I know."

Lu Tianyong, with a rough face, said fiercely that he couldn't swallow the humiliation of being played by a person in the Qi and Blood Transformation Realm.

As for other masters in the Western Regions, each of them sent disciples here. All of them had a strong aura, and most of them were at the Second Transformation Realm.

On the Dali side, Qin Zhenyang was calm and steady, leading the way; Huijue had a peaceful expression, following closely beside him.

On the left of Qin Zhenyang, there was another beautiful woman with a ponytail, tall figure, holding a spear upside down, and a heroic look. Her eyebrows were thicker than those of other women, but they were just right for her heroic face. She was so beautiful that the young disciples on both sides couldn't help but look at her a few more times, but they felt ashamed under her bright and sharp eyes.

The woman was very tall, slightly taller than Qin Zhenyang next to her.

However, she looked at Qin Zhenyang with admiration and shouted:

"Brother Qin, long time no see!"

"Miss Yuan, long time no see. Gubei is not far from here, have you had a good rest?"

Qin Zhenyang said politely.

"Hehe, I heard there are ruins to adventure in, how can I sleep well?"

This woman is Yuan Zhenying, a descendant of the Gubei Yuan family, one of the eight great families.

The Gubei Yuan family has a good relationship with the Yunshan Sword Sect. The two families have always had contacts and disciples often communicate with each other. Qin Zhenyang is quite familiar with Yuan Zhenying.

Although Yuan Zhenying was only at the second level of transformation, she was the most gifted among the descendants of the Gubei Yuan family. With her body as a girl, she made her peers complain bitterly and become terrified when they heard about her. She had been a female general of the Yuan family since she was young.

Coupled with the background of Gubei Yuan, Yuan Zhenying's strength should not be underestimated. Among the several Dali masters and their disciples who have arrived in the past two days, she is the strongest.

The young heroes from Dali lined up one after another and confronted the heroes from the Western Regions from a distance.

In just two short days, quite a few geniuses were gathered together.

“My fellow comrades, the people of the Western Regions are treacherous, and with Lu Lao San’s advance investigation and intelligence, they are not easy to deal with.

"So after we go in, I hope that all of you will unite against the enemy, help each other, and first eliminate the enemy before discussing the exploration, treasure hunting, and distribution. Don't lose the big picture for the small."

Qin Zhenyang looked at the outstanding people behind him and said in a deep voice.

"Amitabha, I will follow Brother Qin's lead."

Huijue said politely.

Everyone saw that Huijue, who had the highest status, was so humble and polite, and the children of the Gubei Yuan family were standing firmly beside Qin Zhenyang. Qin Zhenyang himself had become famous and ranked high recently, so they naturally responded with a loud voice and all followed his lead.

Over in the Western Regions, the tall black monk's voice was like thunder:

"You all know Master Lu's experience. After you go in, kill the people from the Central Plains first, and then you can fight on your own. If anyone starts a fight first, I will kill you first."

The heroes of the Western Regions looked at each other in bewilderment. Due to the vicious reputation of Black King Kong Loto, no one objected. Except for a few people who responded, no one else said a word.

Different from Dali, no matter where they come from, they are all Dali people;
Although the Western Regions is often referred to as such, it actually includes many countries, large and small, and they are not necessarily of the same kind.

Otherwise, with the land and population in the Western Regions being even more vast and fertile than those in the Central Plains, it would not have been possible for the horses to drink from the Long River for thousands of years.

Luo Tuo didn't care. He just needed to explain clearly. Anyway, he would take on the most important task.

Everyone has Lu Laosan's strategy in hand, so it's like they are fighting at home, which naturally gives them an advantage over the Dali people.

The ruins are very strange. The people of Dali underestimated the danger of the ruins, and they will surely pay the price.

This time, according to King Ming's order, treasure or not is secondary, all these Dali warriors must be killed!
As the light of the pagoda flickered more and more intensely, the entire phantom began to ripple like the reflection of a stone thrown into a river, and the ripples continued to ripple faster and faster.

Until it was almost impossible to see clearly, everyone suddenly had an idea and saw the pagoda's shadow suddenly solidify. Although it was still a projection, it looked like a real tower.

The big pit at the base was also slowly rotating like a wonderful halo vortex, sparkling inside, as if there were countless galaxies.

The ruins were truly opened at this time.

The young disciples on both sides were clearly divided, each taking half of the entrance. Under the organization of the Grandmaster, they made up their minds and jumped into the pit one after another!

The masters watched as young geniuses poured into the ruins like dumplings, wondering how many of them would be able to come back.

Especially this time, the people from the Western Regions came well prepared and had a huge advantage.

They are targeting the talents of Dali, and there is bound to be a bloody storm, just like every treasure hunt in the ruins.

But the masters also went through this journey, and after going through many moments of life and death, they were finally able to stand in the sky and look down.

How can one grow into a true martial arts master without experiencing countless fights and dangers?

……

Xie Yuan suddenly sat up from the ground.

"Bah bah bah."

He subconsciously spat out the sand in his mouth, but suddenly he was stunned.

No sand? No sand on your body?

A little strange...

He looked up quickly and found that he was not in a deep pit or a sand pile, nor was he buried by the sand. There was not even a grain of sand around him. Instead, he had arrived in a large indoor space.

This place looks like a large circular plaza, and the dome is several stories high, so it is difficult to see clearly;

There were several rows of huge stone pillars around, supporting the sky and the earth, extending all the way to the wall; there was a row of rooms faintly visible against the wall, surrounding the entire square. Because it was too far away, Xie Yuan's eyesight did not seem as good as outside, and he could not see clearly.

here……

Xie Yuan stood up, looked around carefully, and frowned.

It looks like the interior space of the pagoda?

For example, the first floor at the bottom of the tower has a circular plaza that can accommodate tens of thousands of people, and there are countless rooms along the walls...

But, this space and area don’t match what I see at all, right?

When outside, the pagoda's shadow was tall, but each floor was not too large, and the height was not too high;

However, looking at the area here, it is not only much larger than the phantom, but the height of the first floor alone is as high as the waist of the pagoda!

Is this what the Buddhists call "Sumeru from mustard seed, mustard seed from Sumeru"?
Xie Yuan seemed to understand something. Is this the wonder of the ruins?
He looked around cautiously again, but it was quiet here, without any movement, as if he was the only one there.

"Where are Lin Zhen and the others? We fell in together, so why can't we see them now?"

Xie Yuan was very close to the center of the square. He could see most of the first floor by looking around, but he didn't see anyone.

Lost?
He was extremely wary of the mysterious ruins and did not dare to shout in the silent space.

Slowly moving away from the center, Xie Yuan prepared to explore the surroundings first to see if he could find his companions.

He took two steps and as he passed the first pillar, he observed the ancient patterns on it.

There were paintings of Buddha and Arhats on it, which seemed to be telling stories from ancient Buddhist scriptures. Xie Yuan didn't think much of it at first. He walked around it and then retracted his head, but suddenly he froze.

He turned his head back again, his eyes wide.

There was actually a person embedded behind the stone pillar, with half of his body sticking out and the other half inside, like a sculpture welded to the pillar!
Xie Yuan took a closer look and discovered that the man was actually a horse bandit under Lu Laosan. His eyes were wide open and a look of fear was frozen on his face.

This……

Xie Yuan frowned when he saw that the man was motionless and had no breath, but his body was still still and his hand was still stretched forward without falling.

There is no breath, but I feel alive...

Xie Yuan looked at this strange scene for a while, frowned, and slowly walked away.

After passing a few pillars, Xie Yuan saw the same scene again. A horse bandit seemed like a mushroom growing out of the gap between the stone pillar and the ground. He stretched out one head and one hand, looked up with his mouth wide open.

"What the hell."

Xie Yuan frowned even more tightly and continued to explore to the side.

Along the way, he saw more horse bandits, all of which were "growing" on the ground or walls. He gradually got used to it and thought:
"They all slid in with me. Why didn't I become like this? Is it because of good luck? Or something else?"

He didn't come up with an answer, but he felt a little worried and couldn't help but quicken his pace.

When he was almost at the house by the wall, Xie Yuan was about to choose one to go in and check, but suddenly his expression froze and he felt tense.

He saw an acquaintance, also growing on the wall of the house.

That's right, my worries have come true...

Xie Yuan walked over quickly and called out in a low voice:

"Miss Lin... Senior Sister Lin, Lin Zhen!"

However, Lin Zhen had no reaction at all, like a lifeless stone sculpture, with the front half of his body exposed outside the wall and the back half stuck inside.

Xie Yuan was a little anxious. He reached out and held Lin Zhen's hand, and tried to pull her with the least amount of force. However, no matter how he pulled, Lin Zhen did not move at all, as if she was a natural part of the stone house, or as if she was swallowed by the stone house or the pagoda. It was extremely weird.

"Not dead, but not alive either...seems to be fixed in a certain state."

Xie Yuan frowned, and suddenly an idea flashed in his mind.

Whether it was Lin Zhen or the bandits on the road, their expressions and postures, breath and life seemed to have stopped at the moment they fell into the pit.

It was like... their time stopped at that moment?
Xie Yuan raised his head suddenly, then turned around and looked around the pagoda.

The air here doesn't seem to flow at all, it's completely still.

Is the time in this pagoda paused at this moment?

Only I can move?
Xie Yuan suddenly entered a scene that he had imagined at certain moments in his previous life. Looking at the beautiful Lin Zhen who was stuck on the wall in front of him... he had no thoughts at all, just felt it was weird.

How could this be?

What's special about you?

Xie Yuan suddenly had an idea. Apart from the most secret panel, there was only...

He wiped his left sleeve and saw a faint light flowing on the two black lotus lines that looked like tattoos.

"It's the Eight Trigrams Lotus... Is there a Black Book here? No, it doesn't seem to have that feverish feeling..."

Xie Yuan fell into deep thought, looked at the black lotus petals, then looked around, and found that this space was inexplicably unreal.

He felt a bit like he was in the illusory space when he was comprehending the Black Book. The space in this tower was somewhat similar, as if it was half illusory and half real.

Xie Yuan had some enlightenment:

"Do these ruins and strange spaces have something in common? We are not in the real world. I am immune to this because I have the Eight Diagrams Lotus that protects me, which has the property of being between reality and illusion. However, others are not so lucky."

He guessed the truth, but his frown deepened.

This is obviously a relic, so luck shouldn't be so important when coming in... Is it because it hasn't been opened yet?
Xie Yuan suddenly realized that the ruins had not been fully opened yet, because they were in a state of being half-opened after being blasted by a thunderbolt. After outsiders accidentally entered it, they also became half-dead and half-alive, except for himself.

After finally sorting things out, he quickly thought about how to rescue Lin Zhen and the others?

If they are still like this when the ruins are opened... it’s a bit scary to think about.

I don’t know when this relic will be opened, it could be opened at any time.

Xie Yuan felt a sense of urgency and quickly thought of a solution:

"Would you like to give Bagua Lian a try?"

He offered up two lotus petals. After mastering the complete Bagua Lotus, he had this ability.

He brought the two lotus petals close to Lin Zhen, or even placed them directly on her, and waited for a moment, but it had no effect.

Xie Yuan frowned slightly again. Useless?

Isn't it because of Bagua Lotus?
No, definitely.

Perhaps it was because of her current state that she was unable to integrate the lotus petals into her body, so it only remained on the surface without any real effect.

What to do? This is where things get a little tricky.

Xie Yuan's expression was solemn, and he began to think quickly.

perhaps……

An idea suddenly came to him.

Use the Heavenly Hidden Technique!

The Tianyin Technique has the function of "covering the secrets of the sky and changing the fortune". His small success in the Tianyin Technique has already been able to initially intercept part of the fortune of others and perfectly disguise himself as someone else, such as Zhang Shan.

If I could use the power of the Eight Trigrams Lotus to assimilate the fact that I am protected by Lin Zhen, would that be enough?
Xie Yuan nodded and decided to give it a try!

He immediately held Lin Zhen's hand and used the Tianyin Technique to connect the two.

The minor accomplishment of the Tianyin Technique was not yet very precise, and Xie Yuan did not dare to transfer all of his luck directly, fearing that he would be petrified in an instant. He could only transform Lin Zhen's slight luck into his own, like performing a delicate surgery.

When it comes to something so mysterious, we can only use simple analogies. It is difficult to understand in words and even more troublesome to do.

Xie Yuan spent a lot of effort, and sweat almost appeared on his forehead. Finally, he had an idea and declared success.

The next moment, Lin Zhen seemed to be pulled out of a quagmire, his whole body slowly emerged from the wall of the stone house, and was put on the ground by Xie Yuan.

The stone wall swayed like water waves and returned to its original state. Xie Yuan subconsciously touched it and found that it had returned to its original hardness.

The world in the cracks is really strange.

Xie Yuan squatted down and looked at Lin Zhen, and found that she was like a statue that had been brought to life, and had become somewhat alive.

However, no matter how much she was shaken, she still didn't wake up, as if something was missing.

"It seems that the time has not come yet. We have to wait for the ruins to be opened."

Xie Yuan stood up, thoughtfully.

He took a look, pushed open the door of the stone house next to him, and carefully explored it. However, even if there was a mechanism here, it was probably in a frozen state and nothing happened.

This stone house looks like an alchemy room, with many medicinal herbs and pills placed on the shelves.

Xie Yuan walked in and took a look, and saw many rare medicinal herbs, many of which he could not even recognize.

But it can’t be called a miracle drug.

Seeing that the room was relatively stable, Xie Yuan carried Lin Zhen in and put him aside, then quickly went to look for other fellow disciples.

After walking around the first floor for a long time, Xie Yuan saw various horse bandits one after another, and successfully found Lin Cheng and others. He used the same trick to pull them out of the stone, and then threw them into Lin Zhen's room one by one.

Seeing the four people lying side by side, Xie Yuan clapped his hands:
"You are safe now."

He looked outside and found that it was still quiet, so his eyes flashed slightly.

It's time to explore here.

I am like a beta tester of the game before it is launched. I have this opportunity, so I should take advantage of it, right?
Xie Yuan had just taken a quick tour around the first floor and had figured out the structure.

The central square, the surrounding stone pillars, and a circle of houses on the side.

Some of the rooms are study rooms, living rooms, practice rooms, alchemy rooms, etc. They are fully equipped and huge in scale, like a large sect.

But on this level, Xie Yuan did not see anything particularly precious.

After thinking for a moment, Xie Yuan walked to a room in the corner, opened the door, and saw a staircase leading upwards.

If he hadn't walked around in a circle when looking for someone, he probably wouldn't have found the passage to go up.

Looking up at the darkness above, he walked up the stairs and soon arrived at a room on the second floor.

After opening the door, Xie Yuan looked at the scene outside and pondered slightly.

It feels similar to the first floor, but a little smaller. In addition to the stone pillars in the middle, there are also some training dummies.

He walked around the surrounding rooms again and saw that there were many more things related to martial arts on this floor.

The medicinal materials in the armory, scripture library, and alchemy room are also better, and many of them are top-grade medicinal materials for external training.

For example, Blood Dragon Pills are packaged in bottles here, and there are many bottles in one alchemy room.

"Outer training layer..."

Xie Yuan already had some guesses about this place. After finding the way up, he came to the third floor.

The third floor was just as he expected, smaller and furnished in the same way as the first two floors.

However, the dummy in the middle looks a lot stronger.

On this floor, Xie Yuan found many elixirs that made him jealous in the next room, and there were more weapons in the armory, which were not inferior to the sword given by Lin Yuanwai.

However, Xie Yuan couldn't take it away.

He could look at these elixirs and weapons, or even play with them in his hands, but when he walked out of the room, the things disappeared like shadows and reappeared in the room.

The Sutra Library and study were even more bizarre; the books filling the shelves were all blank, like wordless heavenly books.

"I don't know if it's just like this, or if it will become true after it's opened."

Xie Yuan shook his head, looked at the stairs going up, and fell into deep thought.

This layer is the transformation layer of qi and blood, so it goes without saying what is above it.

Xie Yuan's eyes flashed and he stepped onto the stairs to the upper level.

(End of this chapter)