He fell off a cliff but unexpectedly gained a cultivation inheritance.

The sweet stream water slid down his throat, bringing not only a refreshing sensation to his mouth but also a cool energy that flowed slowly through his limbs, completely relaxing Zhang Bufan's tense nerves. He squatted by the stream and scooped up several handfuls of water to drink until he felt a slight fullness in his stomach before stopping.

Confirming he was still alive, Zhang Bufan felt a slight sense of relief, but a deeper sense of unease followed. What kind of place was this? Why was there such a strange environment, and such sweet stream water? He wiped the water droplets from his face, his gaze returning to the depths of the cave, his resolve growing stronger—no matter what, he had to find a way out and figure it all out.

He found a relatively dry rock by the stream and sat down to rest. The continuous climbing, falling, and walking had already exhausted him, and he had only drunk some stream water to replenish his fluids, so he was still exhausted. He closed his eyes, leaned against the stalactite pillars behind him, and regulated his breathing.

The cave was unusually quiet, with only the gentle sound of the babbling brook echoing in his ears. The sound was soothing and calming that it gradually relaxed his tense nerves, and before he knew it, he felt sleepy.

"Don't sleep!"

Zhang Bufan suddenly opened his eyes and pinched himself hard. They were in an unknown and dangerous environment; if he fell asleep, no one knew what might happen.

He forced himself to stay alert and began to process his situation: he had fallen from the Plank Road in the Sky of Mount Hua, which should have shattered him to pieces, but instead he had unexpectedly stumbled into this mysterious underground space. Here, there were glowing stones, clear streams, strange plants, and unknown passages. Currently, there seemed to be no obvious danger, but the unknown itself meant risk, and he had to recover his strength as soon as possible to continue.

Zhang Bufan rested quietly by the stream for ten minutes. He didn't dare to completely let his guard down, resting while keeping an eye on his surroundings, his ears constantly listening for any unusual sounds besides the sound of the stream. Fortunately, during those ten minutes, the surroundings remained calm and undisturbed, without any abnormalities.

When he stood up again, Zhang Bufan clearly felt that most of his strength had been restored. His previously heavy legs felt much lighter, and the dizziness had disappeared. He moved his wrists and ankles, making a slight "crackling" sound, then took a deep breath, and started walking along the direction of the stream, continuing deeper into the cave.

The stream flowed gently, its water crystal clear, and the pebbles at the bottom shimmered softly in the milky light. Zhang Bufan walked along the stream; the ground beneath his feet was relatively flat, much easier to walk on than the previous sloping path. He deliberately slowed his pace, carefully observing his surroundings as he walked.

The stalactites on both sides were of various shapes; some resembled towering pillars, standing straight in the cave, connecting the ceiling and the ground; others looked like icicles hanging in mid-air, their tips dripping with glistening water droplets, the "drip-drip" sound intertwining with the sound of the stream, forming a unique natural symphony. The fragrance in the air grew stronger, a scent mixed with grass, stream water, and some unknown flower, invigorating the mind and spirit. Zhang Bufan could even sense, as he went deeper, an extremely faint, almost imperceptible energy permeating the air, which, when inhaled, further invigorated his spirit.

"This place is truly amazing."

Zhang Bufan inwardly marveled. He had lived for thirty-eight years, visited many famous mountains and rivers, and seen many unique natural landscapes, but he had never experienced such a breathtaking feeling. Everything here was beyond his comprehension, as if he had stumbled into a world that did not belong to the mortal realm.

He didn't know how long he had walked, only that the stalactites around him were becoming increasingly sparse, and the cave seemed to be becoming more spacious. After about half an hour, he estimated that he had walked about a kilometer when suddenly an enormous stalactite appeared in front of him. This stalactite was thicker than any he had seen before, with a diameter of over thirty meters. Its surface was covered with uneven patterns, like a lurking dragon, lying across the middle of the cave and blocking his view.

Zhang Bufan slowed his pace, carefully circling the massive stalactite pillar. The pillar's surface was damp, covered in moss, and emitted a faint scent of moisture. As he walked, he cautiously observed his surroundings, fearing some danger might lurk behind the pillar.

The moment he finally rounded the stone pillar, the sight before him made him stop in his tracks. His eyes widened in astonishment, his mouth gaped open, and he even held his breath for a moment. Before him lay a circular area about seven or eight hundred meters in diameter.

This area was completely different from the previous cave. There were no stalactites or stalagmites, and even the ground was unusually flat, without any protruding stalagmites. The ceiling was also relatively smooth, and the milky white luminous stones embedded in it were several times denser than before, like a sky full of stars, emitting a soft and bright light, illuminating the entire circular area as if it were a sunny day, and even the small pebbles on the ground could be seen clearly.

What shocked Zhang Bufan the most was the scene in this area—a stream meandered past his feet, passing through the middle of this circular area, with peach trees and flowers growing on its banks.

The peach orchard covered a considerable area, stretching along both banks of the stream as far as the eye could see. The scene on the trees was even more extraordinary, presenting the spectacle of "flowering and fruiting simultaneously": some branches were laden with bright red peaches, plump and exuding an enticing aroma; other branches bore unripe young fruits, only the size of a thumb, still covered in fine fuzz; and even more astonishingly, many branches were covered with pink peach blossoms, their petals delicate and dewy, swaying gently in the breeze, with petals occasionally drifting down like pink snowflakes, landing on the ground and in the stream.

The ground was covered with a thick layer of peach petals and fallen peaches. Some peaches looked as if they had just fallen, their skins still fresh and with a faint sheen; others were shriveled, but strangely, these shriveled peaches did not rot or emit any unpleasant odor, as if preserved by some force. The entire peach grove was filled with a rich fragrance of peach blossoms and the sweet aroma of peaches, intertwining with the original scent of grass and trees in the air, creating an intoxicating atmosphere.

"This...this is simply a miracle!"

Zhang Bufan muttered to himself, his voice filled with disbelief. He had never seen such a strange peach orchard, where flowers and fruit could appear on the same tree at the same time, completely defying his understanding of the laws of nature. Moreover, this peach orchard clearly hadn't been tended to for a long time, yet it still grew so lushly, and even the fallen fruit didn't rot—it was truly unbelievable.

Just as Zhang Bufan was completely stunned by the incredible sight before him, a rumbling sound from his stomach pulled him back to reality. He then realized that he hadn't eaten anything for seven or eight hours.

Before climbing the mountain that morning, he only ate a simple bowl of noodles at the guesthouse. After climbing, falling, and exploring the caves, he had already exhausted a lot of energy. Although drinking some stream water earlier had relieved his thirst, it was not enough to satisfy his hunger. Zhang Bufan subconsciously touched the backpack behind him, but only found an empty piece of clothing.

He then realized that when he fell off the cliff, his backpack must have been snagged by tree branches on the cliff face and had most likely fallen to the bottom. The food and water inside were long gone. The hunger grew stronger and stronger, causing his stomach to cramp.

His gaze involuntarily fell upon the bright red peaches in the orchard, and his throat bobbed slightly. These peaches looked so tempting, and they were clearly unattended. He was in dire straits, so picking a few to fill his stomach shouldn't be too much to ask, right? After hesitating for a moment, Zhang Bufan finally succumbed to the urge to eat.

He swallowed hard and hurried to a peach tree by the stream. The tree was lush and verdant, its branches laden with ripe peaches, each one a glistening red, emitting a rich, sweet fragrance, as if beckoning to him. Zhang Bufan tiptoed and carefully picked a large, red peach. The peach was heavy, feeling substantial in his hand, its skin smooth and delicate, covered with a thin layer of fuzz. He walked to the stream and carefully washed the peach in the water, removing the fuzz and dirt.

The cleaned peaches were even more tempting, their pink skin gleaming faintly, water droplets sliding down the peel and sparkling in the light. Zhang Bufan could no longer resist; he opened his mouth and took a big bite. "Crunch!" After the crisp sound, the juicy flesh burst open in his mouth, a rich sweetness mixed with a faint peach blossom fragrance instantly overwhelming his taste buds.

The taste was absolutely wonderful, sweeter than any fruit he had ever eaten in his life. There was no tartness whatsoever, only pure sweetness and fragrance, sliding down his throat and into his stomach, bringing a warm and comforting sensation. Zhang Bufan devoured it, unable to stop. He had never imagined that a peach could be so delicious.

In just a few minutes, he devoured a peach the size of a fist, not even bothering to throw away the pit. After finishing the peach, the hunger in his stomach miraculously disappeared, replaced by a feeling of fullness. He also felt full of energy, and his previous fatigue was greatly reduced.

"This is amazing! These peaches actually have this effect?" Zhang Bufan's heart was once again filled with astonishment. This was no ordinary peach; it was practically a legendary "divine fruit." He looked down at the peach pit in his hand, then at the bright red peaches on the branches, his eyes filled with wonder. The comfort of being full allowed Zhang Bufan to completely relax. He stood by the stream for a while, feeling the power surging within him, then stepped into the peach grove.

The peach trees in the orchard grew very densely, their branches intertwining to form a natural shady canopy. Pink peach blossoms drifted down in the wind, landing on his head and shoulders. Under his feet lay a thick carpet of petals and fallen peaches, soft and comfortable to walk on. Zhang Bufan slowed his pace, admiring the surrounding scenery as he walked.

Sunlight (the milky white glow of the stones) filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground, intertwining with the falling peach blossoms to create a breathtaking scene. He took a deep breath; the rich, sweet fragrance in the air was invigorating, seemingly dispelling all his previous worries and anxieties. Occasionally, he would stop to observe the peaches and blossoms on the tree. The peaches varied in size; some were ripe and red, some were still unripe, and some were just beginning to bloom—all three forms coexisting on the same tree, a strange yet harmonious sight.

Zhang Bufan was filled with doubt. He increasingly felt that this underground space was definitely not simple; everything here was shrouded in mystery.

And so, Zhang Bufan slowly made his way through the peach orchard, admiring the strange scenery while keeping an eye on his surroundings. The peach orchard was larger than he had imagined, and it took him about half an hour to finally see its end.

The moment he stepped out of the peach grove, the sight before him once again astonished him, his mouth agape, his pupils contracting sharply, and he froze on the spot. At the end of the peach grove, there were no cave walls as he had expected, nor any other passageways, but rather a calm lake.

This is a small lake about 300 meters in diameter. The water is crystal clear, even purer than the previous stream. The pebbles and aquatic plants on the lakebed are clearly visible. The stream flows into the lake and then flows out from the other side. Under the milky white light, the lake water has a faint blue luster, like a huge sapphire set in the cave. Schools of silvery-white fish swim in the lake.

But what truly shocked Zhang Bufan wasn't the beautiful lake itself, but the scene on the opposite side. On the open ground across the lake stood a wooden house! The house wasn't large, only about the size of one room, and it looked somewhat old, but its structure was remarkably intact. The walls were built of sturdy timber, the roof was covered with an unknown type of thatch, and two stones were placed at the entrance, seemingly intended as stools.

Though rudimentary, it was undeniably a man-made structure! Zhang Bufan's heart pounded wildly, his blood rushing to his head. This was the first time he had seen anything man-made since entering this mysterious underground space! This meant that someone had been here before him, and perhaps even lived here!

"Someone's here! Someone actually lived here!"

Zhang Bufan's voice trembled slightly with excitement. He stared intently at the wooden house across the lake, his eyes unblinking. This discovery filled him with both excitement and tension. He was excited because if someone had lived here, there was a possibility of an exit, or even clues about this space; he was tense because he wondered who this person was, whether they were still there, and whether they were friend or foe. He stood there, stunned, for several minutes before slowly regaining his composure. A strong sense of curiosity drove him to immediately cross the lake and investigate the wooden house. But reason told him not to act impulsively. The situation was unclear, and rash action could lead to danger. Zhang Bufan took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He carefully observed the lake and the wooden house on the opposite side, trying to find any useful clues. The surface of the lake was calm and still. The wooden house on the opposite side was quiet, without any movement or visible figures; he didn't know if anyone was inside.

"Never mind, I have to go and see for myself!"

Zhang Bufan made a decision. This was the only clue he could find at the moment, and he had to explore it regardless of whether there was danger ahead. He checked his physical condition again to make sure he had enough energy, then started walking along the lake towards the wooden house.