From the Qin Dynasty onwards, he eked out a living among the heavens.

Chapter Nine: Heaven and Earth in the Picture

The sound of the zither was melodious, like a stream gurgling over rocks, long and gentle.

Inside the Qin Pavilion, thin curtains hung lightly, isolating the bustling city outside the Zilan Pavilion and concealing the subtle power struggles brewing in Xinzheng City. Warm sunlight filtered through the window, casting dappled golden rays that fell on the dark surface of the qin, swaying gently with the vibrations of the strings.

Nongyu lowered her eyes and touched the zither, her ten fingers slender and supple. With each stroke, the melody was devoid of any fierce or aggressive tone, only peaceful and serene. Her music was always clear and resonant; when the heart is at peace, the music possesses its own rhythm. The young man beside her sat silently, his breath calm and still, free from greed, restlessness, haste, and desire. This clear state of mind allowed her to play with an unprecedented ease and grace.

Xu Huang leaned against the table, closed his eyes, and his whole body returned to complete calm.

His discussions with Wei Zhuang and his transactions with Zi Nu appeared calm and collected, but in reality, he carefully considered every step. He did not reveal his full strength, nor did he covet worldly power. He used his profound medical and martial arts knowledge to obtain the most suitable resources and secluded place for his current cultivation.

In this chaotic world, everyone is a pawn, either passively caught up in the game or actively participating. Only by calming down and strengthening oneself can one avoid being swept away by the torrent.

The music soothed my mind and spirit, and the flow of qi and blood within my body became increasingly gentle and harmonious. The inner strength cultivated through years of arduous training slowly unfolded in this tranquil atmosphere, and the residual martial arts energy in my meridians was completely smoothed out and dissolved.

The music ended, but its lingering melody remained for a long time.

Nongyu lowered her fingers, raised her eyes, and asked softly, "Is the young master satisfied?"

Xu Huang slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and calm, and nodded slightly: "Miss's musical skills are extraordinary. A single piece of music that soothes the mind and calms the spirit surpasses all the noise and clamor of the world. Thank you."

A simple compliment, sincere and peaceful, without any frivolous or mocking remarks, and without any deliberate flattery.

Nongyu smiled faintly, rose and curtsied, saying, "It is my honor to play the zither for you, young master."

As time went by, she had long realized that this young man from another land was completely different from all the nobles and wandering knights in Xinzheng. Others, upon seeing her, either coveted her beauty and charm or sought to gain favor through the connections of Zilan Pavilion. Only Xu Huang treated her with courtesy and sincerity, remaining clean and open, without the slightest thought of overstepping boundaries.

A moment later, a maidservant approached quietly, bowed, and reported, "Young master, my master has ordered me to deliver the keys to the suburban mansion, as well as a map of the mansion's layout. All supplies have been inventoried and will be delivered to the mansion on schedule."

Xu Huang accepted the antique bronze key and a thin scroll of drawings.

The key felt cool to the touch, its simple design devoid of elaborate ornamentation, yet it symbolized a secluded and undisturbed place for quiet contemplation. Unfolding the blueprints, the layout of the residence, the distribution of courtyards, the forging kiln, and the ventilation waterways were all clearly marked, meticulous and comprehensive, demonstrating Zi Nu's steady and meticulous approach to matters.

"Please thank your master for me," Xu Huang said calmly.

The maidservant acknowledged and withdrew.

Zi Nu's efficiency far exceeded that of ordinary people. In less than half a day, a heavy box of gold and silver, and a box of rare medicinal seeds and seedlings sorted into different categories, were quietly delivered to a side room in the backyard of Zi Lan Xuan by reliable people. The whole process was kept secret and silent, without disturbing anyone.

Looking at the box full of rare herbs, Nongyu sighed softly, "Zilanxuan has been deeply rooted in Xinzheng for many years, and its foundation is indeed extraordinary. Even princes and nobles may not be able to easily collect these rare herbs."

"In chaotic times, the most valuable things are never gold or silver." Xu Huang carefully put away the medicine box, his tone calm. "They are resources, connections, and opportunities that others cannot obtain. Miss Zi Nu understands this well, which is why she can stand firmly in the center of the storm."

As he spoke, his mind stirred slightly, and he secretly activated the landscape map deep within his soul. An invisible suction force silently spread out, and the entire chest of gold and silver, the entire box of medicinal seeds and seedlings, along with the house plan and the bronze key, vanished into thin air and were all stored inside the scroll's space, without any noticeable difference to outsiders.

Nongyu was slightly taken aback when she suddenly felt the objects in front of her disappear. However, she saw that Xu Huang's expression was normal and he did not offer any explanation. Being intelligent, she knew that he had his own secret methods, so she wisely did not ask any further questions.

After everything was tidied up, the sun was already setting in the west, and the warm light turned into a soft twilight.

Xu Huang bid farewell to Nongyu, dressed in plain clothes and empty-handed, and left Zilan Pavilion alone.

He avoided the hustle and bustle of the city, following the directions on the map, gradually moving further and further away until he stepped out of the main city of Xinzheng.

Outside the city, the trees are lush and green, the evening breeze is cool, and the Qinghe River meanders with the sound of flowing water.

Deep within a dense forest and river bend, a secluded house sits quietly, isolated from the world, undisturbed by any disturbance.

Xu Huang raised his hand and pushed open the courtyard gate.

The wooden door creaked softly, revealing a spacious and tidy courtyard paved with bluestone, free of weeds and overgrown with weeds. On one side was a medicinal herb garden, its soil fertile and clean; on the other side stood a stone-built forging kiln, fully equipped; the three main rooms were simple and quiet, perfect for seclusion.

The two servants who accompanied the supplies stood in the courtyard, waiting for instructions.

Xu Huang's expression was calm as he spoke softly, "Thank you for your hard work. You can go back now that you've delivered the goods. In the future, unless I summon you, you don't need to come here or spy on us from outside."

The two servants, having received their orders, dared not linger. They bowed respectfully, turned and left the courtyard, gently closing the gate behind them before quietly departing.

The courtyard fell completely silent in an instant.

The sounds of people had faded away, leaving only the sound of the wind, the rustling of the trees, and the gentle flow of the river.

Xu Huanglu locked up the courtyard, cutting off all contact with the outside world, and stepped into the main house.

The interior was simply and cleanly furnished with wooden couches and tables, unpretentious and unadorned.

He walked slowly to the bed, sat down cross-legged quietly, and gently closed his eyes.

The body is at peace, and the mind is instantly calmed.

The next moment, his consciousness sank into the depths of his mind, communicating with the natal spiritual treasure within his soul—the Mountain and River Map—which was based on innate spiritual light and nurtured day and night by his own "Landscape as a Painting" martial arts will, transformed into the Daoist rhythm of mountains and rivers.

The scroll hangs in his sea of ​​consciousness, its mountain and river patterns shimmering with a faint, clear light, forming its own independent space. The undulating mountain and river veins are all derived from the martial arts essence he comprehended after traveling across countless mountains and rivers. Every blade of grass, every tree, every mountain, and every stream carries the Daoist charm he gained from observing the world.

A thought subtly stirred within me.

The light and shadows flickered before my eyes, and the scenery around me changed in an instant.

There was no wind, no moonlight, and no smoke from the courtyard.

His figure had already quietly shifted, stepping into his own private space within the landscape painting.

This is a real and habitable little world.

The boundaries of heaven and earth are limited, and the area within twenty li is the maximum territory that this still immature landscape map can steadily support and perfectly self-consistently encompass.

Even though the scroll's evolution has not yet reached its perfect state, this item is Xu Huang's soul-bound, unique natal magic treasure, and the power over the entire small world is entirely in his hands.

Within this world, he is the sole Heavenly Dao, able to freely mobilize the world's primordial power that permeates all directions, altering the contours of mountains and rivers, reversing the direction of earth veins, and dredging rivers and streams. Whether moving mountains and filling valleys or changing waterways, he can move the world at will with a single thought.

Furthermore, it possesses the ability to teleport instantly, requiring no travel. Wherever the thought lands, the body will simultaneously manifest there. Within a twenty-mile territory, one can instantly reach any location, from the lakeside pavilion to the replica of Snake Valley, the surrounding mountains, or the medicinal fields at the foot of the mountains, without any distance barrier.

The surrounding area is flat and surrounded by mountains on all sides.

The mountains are not particularly high, lacking precipitous peaks or towering cliffs, yet they represent the maximum mountain range that this twenty-mile stretch of land can support, firmly defining an independent universe and completely isolating the internal and external energies. Every ridge rises and falls in harmony with the martial arts patterns of "Landscape as Beautiful as a Painting," with the Daoist principles flowing silently.

These mountains are not barren and lifeless, but rather a complete closed-loop ecosystem built bit by bit by Xu Huang through his travels over several lifetimes, personally transporting, introducing, and taming countless creatures.

Plants, birds, beasts, and insects each find their place, mutually generating and restraining each other, forming a natural cycle.

In the past, he traveled throughout the heavens, and whenever he encountered unique, rare plants or creatures with medicinal or body-refining value, he would select the best to cultivate and transplant them into the world depicted in the painting. Over the years, the twenty-mile stretch of mountains and rivers became vibrant with life, its spiritual energy self-generating and endlessly circulating, far more fertile and pure than the forests outside.

A secluded valley has been carved out deep in the mountains, and the water, soil, vegetation, and damp mist in the valley perfectly replicate the original appearance of Snake Valley outside Xiangyang City in the world of The Condor Heroes.

The valley is crisscrossed by streams, with cold, damp pools at the bottom year-round. The cliffs are covered with slippery moss, and the valley is filled with medicinal herbs that thrive in damp, shady conditions. Ancient trees stand in layers, blocking out the scorching sun, and a thin layer of damp, cold white mist hangs in the air all year round, perfectly recreating the original environment where the Pusi snake once lived.

The snakes kept here are the exotic Pusiqu snakes that he found in Snake Valley in Xiangyang years ago.

The Pusiqu snake is naturally potent in medicine; its gallbladder, essence, blood, and shed skin are all treasures for tempering the body and healing injuries. It is wild and fierce, and ordinary people simply cannot tame and breed it.

Xu Huang fully mastered the ancient method of snake medicine that Liang Ziweng had devoted his life to studying, and then improved upon it with his own knowledge.

He completely replicated the terrain and water features of Xiangyang Snake Valley, dividing the area into deep and shallow cold pools, shady stone caves, and medicinal herb beaches, strictly replicating the original habitat. He then used ancient methods to calm the snakes' ferocity, feeding them daily with various medicinal powders stored in the second-floor warehouse at designated locations to nourish their bodies and harmonize their blood.

Over the years, the Pusiqu snakes in the valley have shed their bloodthirsty ferocity and only move within the designated snake valley, without disturbing other creatures. The medicinal properties of the snakes have become increasingly mellow and pure, with effects far surpassing those of wild snakes in the past, making it an inexhaustible living medicine storehouse.

The mountains are teeming with life, with spirit snakes dwelling in secluded valleys that replicate the landscape of Xiangyang, plants growing in the mountains and fields, and birds soaring in the sky. A complete ecological closed loop operates steadily, relying on the natural rhythm of the mountains and rivers depicted in the "Map of Mountains and Rivers," growing year after year, endlessly.

In the center of the world, a clear lake lies serenely, its waters as transparent as jade, never rippled, its gentle and serene energy permeating the world.

In the very center of the lake, a secluded little island sits alone.

The island has flat land, with vegetation growing naturally and rich in spiritual energy. In the center stands a three-story ancient wooden building, clean and tidy, which is Xu Huang's treasure pavilion where he has collected all his wealth from his years of wandering and cultivation.

The three-story attic is divided into distinct sections, each with its own function, and is clearly organized.

The third floor is the most secluded, where the fundamentals of martial arts are kept.

The building is neatly arranged with a vast collection of martial arts manuals that he has collected, comprehended, and integrated over many lifetimes. They include everything from internal and external body training, meridian cultivation, killing techniques, defensive mental methods, to healing and breathing techniques. All of them are orthodox foundations that have been accumulated across many worlds.

On the stone platform in the center of the pavilion, a piece of dark iron the size of a human head was quietly placed.

This item has an extraordinary origin. It was the legendary Xuan Tie Heavy Sword that he found deep in the Dugu Qiubai Sword Valley outside Xiangyang City when he once set foot in the world of Archery.

This iron is a unique and extraordinary material created by heaven and earth, unlike ordinary iron and metal. It is naturally heavy and indestructible. He found the Heavenly Fire Furnace and completely melted down the entire Xuan Iron Heavy Sword, removing the grime that had accumulated on the sword body for a hundred years. Through countless hammerings and repeated forging, it was finally condensed into this pure and extremely fine Xuan Iron blank.

Its iron body is silent and restrained, without luster or brilliance, yet it is deeply imbued with the decades of wind and rain, loneliness and solitude of Sword Valley, and the invincible sword intent of Dugu Qiubai throughout his life. It is profound and weighty, containing power and concealing sharpness, making it the world's top-grade natural weapon-forging material.

The second floor is dedicated to storing rare and precious natural materials.

The room was filled with layers of wooden shelves, neatly organized, storing countless rare herbs, dried medicinal plants, mature medicinal plants, and rare seeds that he had collected over his lifetimes of searching. The brand-new seedlings and various uncommon medicinal varieties that he had just acquired from Zilan Pavilion were now neatly arranged in the empty wooden shelves, ready to be transplanted into the medicinal fields at the foot of the mountain to complete the natural medicinal ecosystem.

The first floor is the simplest, filled with various daily necessities, meditation tools, and miscellaneous supplies.

The box of gold and silver he had just received was neatly stacked in the corner. The house plan and copper key were also stored there. All the necessities for clothing, food, housing, and transportation, as well as small items for refining weapons, medicine storage containers, and various common consumables were stored there. It was sufficient and complete for him to cultivate in seclusion for a long time without relying on worldly things.

This small world, spanning twenty miles, is surrounded by mountains and water, replicating the secluded valley of Xiangyang Snake Valley where spirit snakes dwell, with plants growing naturally and a small building perched alone in the heart of the lake.

The entire world's foundation relies on the mountain and river Daoist rhythm evolved from the martial arts will of "Landscape Like a Painting". Even though the painting has not been fully evolved, as his natal magic weapon, Xu Huang holds the power of heaven and earth, changing mountains and rivers, moving rivers, and traveling thousands of miles in an instant, with nothing he cannot do at will.

The outside world was turbulent, with undercurrents in Hanting, power struggles among various factions, and intrigues all kept out of the grand picture of the nation's destiny.

People are caught in the ups and downs of a chaotic world, vying for every inch of power, every bit of profit, and every sliver of opportunity.

Xu Huang alone, though living in a chaotic world, harbored a deep concern for the fate of the nation.

His suburban residence was merely a shell for him to hide from the world and conceal his true intentions; the twenty-mile-long landscape within the inner map of mountains and rivers was his true place of refuge, where he could cultivate his inner strength and silently make progress.

With his mind at peace in this tranquil world, Xu Huang sat upright on the small island in the middle of the lake, his eyes filled with a serene and clear tranquility.