Fangxian Heretical Path

Chapter 231 The Great Thief's Legacy in Xiaoxishan

Fang Shu's expression calmed down slightly, and his mind immediately began to wander.

Seeing his appearance, the old mountain lord chuckled and said, "What's wrong? Do these three words seem rather unfamiliar? Have you never heard of them before?"

Clearly, Old Mountain Lord assumed Fang Shu was hearing this for the first time. Fang Shu immediately sensed that the other party was about to give him a good lecture!

Since the other party was an elder, Fang Shu naturally wouldn't disturb his mood for no reason, so he immediately got up.

"Such terms are indeed unfamiliar to me."

Although I am a junior who has studied classic texts extensively and has even visited the Er family's library, I have never seen the words "inner world".

Please, Elder Mountain Lord, teach me!

He bent down and bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.

Old Mountain Lord raised his chin and shouted, "Alright, enough with the formalities."

"Right now, it's just the two of us on this hill, no one else around. What's the point of causing trouble?"

However, it was clear that the other party was in high spirits, revealing an old man's playful emotions, as if he could finally show off his knowledge in front of Fang Shu.

Immediately, the old mountain lord succinctly explained the relationship between the inner world and the secret realm.

So, the inner world is the secret realm, and the secret realm is the inner world!

Old Mountain Lord spoke eloquently:
"In ancient times, when Taoists established their foundations, they would inevitably sever the heavens and the earth, damaging the way of heaven and replenishing the way of humanity. They would open up a space in their bodies that was like a home, where they could store things, raise beasts, and even establish sects within their bodies, just like a small world."

Because it is distinct from the outside world, it is called the Inner World by Taoist priests. Furthermore, depending on the Taoist priest's level of attainment, the size and perfection of the Inner World vary, with the highest levels being respectively known as Immortal Garden, Blessed Land, and Grotto Heaven.

The old mountain lord revealed a hint of longing in his voice, muttering to himself, "It is said that once this inner world is fully established, it is like a seed of a world, capable of creating a new world, recreating earth, wind, water, and fire, and completely transcending the world."

As Fang Shu listened, he learned more about the inner workings of the Taoist's inner world, and couldn't help but feel a longing for it.

Based solely on this comparison, the Taoist's method of building a foundation in the inner world is far superior to the current immortals' methods of building a foundation by sitting on the ground or walking on the ground. Moreover, its upper limit directly reaches the level of creating heaven and earth, and its prospects are undoubtedly much more promising!
But the next moment.

The tone of Lao Shan Jun's words suddenly changed:
"As the ancients said, 'As long as sages live, great thieves will never cease.'"

The inner world of such Taoists requires constant extraction from the external world for everything it grows, like a greedy mythical creature that only consumes and never relinquishes. When one Taoist dies, another inherits his legacy; it doesn't return to nature. Therefore, to the world, they are nothing more than parasites.

These words stirred Fang Shu's thoughts.

He immediately thought of what he had learned from Bai Yangyang: that there was no longer any place for an "inner world" in the outer world.

When he first heard about it, he felt that Bai Yangyang's explanation was not very clear. But after listening to Lao Shanjun's words, he suddenly understood the reason completely.

"So that's how it is." He thought to himself.
"In that sense, the Taoists of ancient times were like spendthrift sons who only wanted to divide up the family fortune. If they continued to squander it, no matter how vast or how rich the world outside was, it probably wouldn't be able to withstand their division."

The old mountain spirit was still talking, and what it said once again caught Fang Shu's attention:
"Since the Daoists disappeared, the method of the Inner World has vanished. However, the Inner World itself has not disappeared. It may have been occupied by various immortal sects as their own blessed lands, or it may have been scattered in various corners of the world, little known to people, and only occasionally reappears in the human world."

The secret realm that has recently appeared in Mount Lu is an ancient inner world.

After a pause, the man added, "As far as I know, this inner world seems to be connected to some ancient Daoist lineage, and it was not left by an ordinary Daoist."

Its vastness far exceeds what ordinary people can imagine. While not quite a fairyland, it's very close.

The words "Fairy Garden" made Fang Shu's eyes light up again.

According to what Lao Shanjun just said, the beings who can open up the Immortal Garden are equivalent to the immortals who refine their spirits among Taoist priests.

This made his breathing become erratic, and he subconsciously said, "So, this secret realm must contain the secret to immortality!"

But a sneer suddenly came from the old mountain king's mouth: "Thinking too much, thinking too much!"

If there truly were a chance for immortality, how could it be known to you? To be honest, according to the research of the Five Schools of Mount Lu, this secret realm that has appeared in the world is not the first time it has appeared.

It appears in the world once every hundred years or so, and once every twelve hundred years. However, you ordinary disciples have short lifespans, and the matter of the secret realm is of great importance, so you don't know much about it.

Generally speaking, whenever the energy and spiritual energy of Mount Lu surge and converge, this secret realm will appear in an attempt to seize the spiritual energy of the mountain and deprive it of its power.

Over time, both to suppress this inner world and to compete for its resources, generations of excavation have transformed this secret realm from its original celestial garden.

As he spoke, the old mountain lord stared at Fang Shu and said, "However, for a little fellow like you who has not yet established your foundation, this is quite an opportunity. If you can gain something in the secret realm, perhaps you will have the chance to establish your foundation."

These words calmed Fang Shu down considerably, but he immediately asked, "What do you mean?"

Old Mountain Lord said, "Whenever a secret realm appears in the world, if it cannot absorb the earth's power from Mount Lu, the spiritual energy within it will naturally be reduced by Mount Lu. As a result, the spiritual energy in the mountain will increase, and the earth's veins will grow. The foundations of various immortal sects will increase, the mountain range will grow, and there will be many more Foundation Establishment positions."

These words made Fang Shu understand once again.

No wonder the Five Internal Organs Temple and the Dry Bone Temple immediately ceased hostilities as soon as the secret realm appeared. It turns out that it was not only because of the mediation and deterrence of the other three sects, but also because the appearance of the secret realm brought even greater benefits.

"In addition, many secret realms in the world often have corresponding restrictions. Some only allow female beings to enter, and if a man tries to force his way in, he will either be changed in sex on the spot or be cut off from having children. Others only allow male beings to enter, and still others only allow those with strong spiritual sense to enter... and so on."

Old Mountain Lord continued to speak eloquently:

"Among them, the most common requirement is that the cultivation level of the person entering must be met. This secret realm in Lushan is like that. Only those below the Foundation Establishment stage can enter. Those above the Foundation Establishment stage can only sever their cultivation level and suppress their cultivation to the Qi Refining stage, otherwise it is extremely difficult to take even half a step inside."

Upon hearing this, Fang Shu nodded as if he knew something. These restrictions were indeed quite strange.

However, he quickly realized something and asked, "So, this secret realm must be what people say, a place from ancient times, a place specifically used to train disciples by a certain Dao lineage?"

When this was mentioned, Fang Shu's eyes were filled with longing.

Although the Taoist priests of ancient times were ruthless, they were truly generous to use a small world as a means to hone their disciples.

Whenever he read such stories in folk tales, he would be moved to tears.

Unexpectedly, the old mountain lord heard this and immediately shook his head, scoffing, "No, no."

The other party said with certainty, "It's definitely not a trial realm; it's probably a trap."

Fang Shu looked up, his eyes filled with doubt. He then asked a few more questions and immediately realized that such a secret realm formed from the inner world was not only coveted by immortals now, but also by various lineages in ancient times, especially during the rumored period of the immortal path reform.

Just like conquering cities and seizing strongholds in the mortal world, when different Daoist sects clashed in ancient times, they often determined their superiority and strength by how much of each other's inner world secret realm they had invaded.

"Anyone at the Foundation Establishment stage or above who sets foot in that secret realm, regardless of whether they are human, demon, bird, or beast, will be subject to the suppression of the heavenly might within the secret realm, and a heavenly tribulation will descend, directly pulverizing the offender into dust. Regarding this matter, in the records of the five sects of Mount Lu, there are more or less stories of predecessors who died because of this."

Old Mountain Lord said with certainty: "Even if you cut yourself and successfully enter, once you expose your Foundation Establishment or higher aura inside, you will be subject to heavenly tribulation. Even Qi Refining disciples will be rejected and suppressed by the secret realm when using some Foundation Establishment or higher magic treasures and talismans."

Even according to the speculations of predecessors, if a deity capable of refining their spirit were to dare enter, this secret realm would drain all its spiritual energy, burning everything within it.

After hearing these words, Fang Shu felt that he had gained a lot of knowledge.

Although he had already made several "exaggerations" today, seeing that the old mountain man was still quite interested in talking, and being genuinely curious himself, he immediately cupped his hands and spoke up again:
"This arrangement sounds quite ingenious. Is it really common in secret realms? How come it has been able to operate until now without being cracked by us immortals?"

Old Mountain Lord glanced at him, understood what he was talking about, and laughed, "Would I lie to you? It's very common."

After a pause, the other party gave an example:
"Such an arrangement is neither particularly ingenious nor not clever. For example, traps used to catch animals in the mountains and fields can be easily passed by small animals and birds without any problem, but once large animals and birds get close, their death is imminent."

Given the perilous nature of the situation, why would any powerful deity risk their life to avert it? They would all avoid it like the plague.

Now, Fang Shu understood completely.

It turns out that beings below the Foundation Establishment stage are nothing more than small beasts and birds, and are not even worth the attention of that secret realm.

Perhaps the lineage that created this secret realm back then thought that even if they could plunder as much of this kind of stuff as possible within the secret realm, it wouldn't damage the foundation of the secret realm.

In fact, that is indeed the case.

As Lao Shan Jun said, this secret place in Lushan has existed for no less than 30,000 years, and may even date back to the ancient times of 90,000 years ago.

Although the heritage within the secret realm had long been exhausted, the essence of the secret realm remained intact.

Having cleared his mind, Fang Shu immediately stood up and bowed to the old mountain lord before him:
"Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Mountain Lord."

"This is indeed an opportunity; don't miss it."

Old Shan nodded, then slowly said, "I hope that in the future, you and I, father and son, can see each other for a long time."

In the latter half of his speech, Old Mountain Lord's voice clearly carried a hint of melancholy.

As Fang Shu listened, his gaze involuntarily fell on the empty seats on the Lingzhi platform.

If he remembered correctly, the demons and deities who were guests here on his previous visits, although all of them had higher cultivation levels than him, the highest among them was only at the Qi Refining Perfection stage, and none of them were at the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Thank you for your kind words, Lord Shan!" Fang Shu replied in a deep voice.

Now that an opportunity to establish one's foundation has presented itself, he naturally cannot miss it.

However, as he spoke, Fang Shu's thoughts drifted, and he suddenly thought of the "Dragon Whale Health Preservation Method" in his hand.

If an opportunity to establish a foundation were presented to him, he would still prefer the latter over the former, which was based on sitting on the ground.

After all, choosing the latter option, even if it has some disadvantages and might offend the immortal sects, means that if difficulties arise in the future, one won't be like the Old Mountain Lord, trapped on this mountain peak, unable even to escape.

On the Lingzhi platform.

The old man and the young man talked for a long time, and the atmosphere gradually became quiet.

Fang Shu stopped chattering and just quietly continued drinking with Lao Shanjun.

They ate like this until dawn.

As the morning light peeked through the mountain crevices, the blurry figure that the Old Mountain Lord had transformed into couldn't help but look up and murmur, "The light of the rising sun, so beautiful, so beautiful."

*Smack*

With a flick of his wrist, the wine glasses and other items on the table were cleared away, indicating that he was seeing the guest out.

"Now that you're back, go and check on Little West Mountain for me. That scoundrel Jinmao hasn't returned home or visited this old man since he came down the mountain."

I heard it died at the hands of a friend. Please remember to visit its grave and pay your respects to my departed friend as well.

Upon hearing this, Fang Shu's expression remained unchanged.

But he was startled, and the hairs on the back of his head stood on end.

Suppressing his emotions, he looked up and saw the old mountain lord's blurry face. Although he couldn't discern any expression, he could sense the complexity in the other's eyes, which held a hint of a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

Fang Shu's mind raced, generating a multitude of ideas.

But in the end, he didn't say much, just obediently nodded, agreeing to the matter:

"Junior, remember this."

To his slight relief, the old mountain man seemed to have only mentioned the matter casually and did not continue to reprimand him.

Even when Fang Shu exchanged pleasantries with him without showing any emotion and mentioned again his desire to trade some collectibles with him, such as the Taoist's ancient treasure, the old mountain lord remained unchanged, merely smiling and scolding:

"We just finished fighting a war. Do you think I have any surplus food here? Forget about Taoist treasures, I don't even have a single Taoist hair left."

Go take a break!

Seeing this, Fang Shu could only obsequiously cup his hands and prepare to take his leave.

However, as he turned around, the Lingzhi platform beneath his feet shook, and a crack appeared in the very center of the platform.

Suddenly, something flew out of the crack and landed in his hand.

(End of this chapter)