Chapter 430: Nanshan Spiritual Aura (Thanks to the alliance leader

"Brother! Where are you going?"

It was a young man wearing a tattered long gown, sallow and thin, with many patches on his body. It was clear he was poor, but also clear he was trying hard to keep himself looking decent.

"Walking forward." Lin Jue sized him up and replied, "And you are..."

"Sigh, I am also a fellow traveler, but I heard there are mountain bandits ahead, and I fear being robbed, so I dare not go forward and am waiting here for others to travel with," the man in the green gown said, even kindly reminding him, "Where are you going ahead? What are you going to do? Do you know there are mountain bandits and outlaws ahead?"

When the words were halfway through, Lin Jue felt his bean-fox scratch his hair on his head, as if reminding him of something.

Lin Jue ignored it and just replied:

"Going to Nanshan."

"Going to Nanshan for what? To live in seclusion?" The man in the green gown seemed to become more vigilant. "Do you know that place is currently the bandits' lair?"

"I am a person from outside the world; even if there are mountain bandits and outlaws, I imagine they wouldn't rob a Daoist practitioner like me, would they?"

"That is hard to say. In this day and age, no one can survive, and there are many mountain bandits and outlaws. People in the world worry about being robbed on the road and often disguise themselves as Daoists or monks, thinking they won't be robbed. Those mountain bandits and outlaws are no stupider than ordinary people; after it happens a few times, they know."

"Then what do you mean..."

"I am waiting here for people to travel with."

The man in the green gown replied, pausing slightly:

"I heard the mountain bandits and outlaws in this area were originally poor people too. Although they were forced to become bandits, they don't harm people's lives, they take money with restraint, and they don't rob those who have left the secular world. If you are truly a Daoist, then I will travel with you. If you are not, you don't need to hide it from me; we will just wait here for a few more fellow travelers and then set off together. Do not deceive me, lest you harm both of us and cause us to lose our money."

"But I am indeed a Daoist."

"How can you prove it?"

"I have a *dudie* (ordination certificate) as proof."

"That won't do!"

"Why?"

"Those people who disguise themselves as Daoists and monks to walk outside are not stupid either. A *dudie* is just a mere piece of paper; it is too easy to forge." The man in the green gown shook his head and waved his hands repeatedly.

Lin Jue did not know if he knew that there were two types of *dudie*—besides a piece of paper, there were also booklets.

However, he did not say much, but asked with a smile:

"Then how should I prove it?"

"If you are truly a Daoist, you must have magical abilities. Mountain bandits and outlaws fear this. Can you do it, Daoist?"

"How can magical abilities be easily shown to others?"

"Then you must be a fake!"

The man in the green gown insisted.

Lin Jue had long since seen that he was a mountain bandit and outlaw of this place. Because he wore a Daoist robe and looked like a Daoist, he was worried he might have some abilities, but perhaps because there wasn't much profit in this area, and there were too many people pretending to be monks and Daoists on the road, they were unwilling to let every person wearing Daoist robes or monk's clothing go, so they had to come out to test them.

Especially after hearing he was going to Nanshan, this person was terrified he was specifically looking for them.

Lin Jue knew it clearly, but asked:

"What do you mean by that?"

"Firstly, the world is in great chaos at this time; if you claim to be a cultivator, why come here instead of subduing demons, helping the world, and saving the people?" the man in the green shirt said. "Secondly, you claim to have magical arts, Daoist, yet you cannot easily show them to others—how is that any different from those charlatans in the world of men?"

"I actually think that is incorrect."

"What is incorrect?"

"Everyone in the world has their strengths and weaknesses. Different people have different abilities. A Daoist is a cultivator, not an official, not a general. Helping the world and saving the people—I am not necessarily capable of that."

"Then what are you capable of, Daoist?"

"What am I capable of..."

Lin Jue revealed a smile.

This question should be asked of that man-eating *Tuolong Wang* (Alligator Dragon King), asked of the Leopard King who invaded the human world, asked of the Eastern Wang Mu who trapped cities and swallowed lands.

It was just that at this moment, he did not say it, but thought for a moment:

"I can perform *fuji* (planchette writing)."

"You can perform *fuji*? Divination and fortune-telling?"

"Exactly!"

"Then calculate my name and surname, how about that?"

"I can." Lin Jue nodded and said, "I only fear that your name and surname are not fit to be seen."

"Hmm?"

"Let me calculate..."

Lin Jue smiled slightly, appearing as if he were performing magic.

Yet he neither took out a winnowing basket nor a rice tray, sand tray, or iron pen. He just stood there, paused for a moment, and began to chant a planchette poem:

"No need to hide your name and surname in the future, half of the world today is of your kind."

As soon as the man in the green gown heard this, his face changed color.

It was clear he was a reader of books, which was why he was sent to do such things, and as a member of the greenwood, how could he not hear that this poem was exactly about greenwood heroes, mountain bandits, and outlaws.

"You..."

Before a single word could be spoken, he saw a white light suddenly leap from the top of the Daoist's head.

At first, it was just a tiny white dot, about the size of a bean. Once it jumped out, it grew in the wind, instantly becoming larger, turning into a huge white fox that landed on the ground, the size of a house.

The white fox stood in the forest, supporting itself with its two front legs, slightly lowering its body, opening its mouth to stick out its tongue, stretching, its six fluffy tails opening slowly behind it like fans.

"Five... five-tailed white fox...

"Lin... Lin... Lin..."

The man in the green gown pointed at Lin Jue, already unable to speak.

Originally, he had thought that perhaps this person was indeed a Daoist and knew some magic, so regardless of the magic, he would let him go.

Even if this person didn't know magic, as long as he could calmly state his Daoist temple and lineage, confirming he was truly a Daoist, he could also let him leave.

He had thought of the worst result: that this person was a master with Daoist practice and magical abilities who had heard there were people here becoming bandits and had specifically come to eliminate them. Then there would be no way; since he couldn't survive anyway, he would just have to fight.

Yet he had never thought that the person he would encounter would be the currently famous Lin *Zhenren* (True Person) of Qinzhou.

The stories of this *Zhenren* had been circulating at the foot of the mountain all along. They even had his divine statue enshrined on the mountain.

"My surname is Lin, given name Jue. I come from the capital and am going to Nanshan to seek a karmic connection," Lin Jue said to them. "The world is not easy today. Considering that you do not harm the lives of travelers, I will not harm your lives either. In this day and age, I am too lazy to send you to the imperial court, but this world is not easy, and it is not just you who are not easy. Being a bandit on the mountain is ultimately not the righteous path. I limit you to go down the mountain within three days. No matter what method you use to make a living in the future, you must not commit robbery again. Otherwise, if I encounter you, I will certainly not spare you."

"Yes, yes, yes..."

"There is one more thing."

The man in the green gown was just about to leave, but hearing this, he hurriedly froze.

"I want to sit in meditation and practice on the mountain. I would like to ask you to send me food and water. Ordinary food and clean drinking water will suffice. Once a day is enough. I will exchange silver for it."

"Obey... obey the *Zhenren*'s decree!"

"You go first; I will wait for you at the top of the mountain."

"Yes..."

The man in the green gown ran away as if in a panic.

!

Lin Jue watched him leave and shook his head repeatedly.

"Half of the world today is of your kind..."

Although this poem is somewhat exaggerated, I fear it is truly slowly coming to pass.

And this is clearly different from the years of peace.

If the whole world is full of bandits, and even honest farmers have become bandits, it is clearly no longer the fault of the bandits.

"Lin, Lin, Lin..."

The fox tilted its head to look at him, its eyes clear, also seeming like a kind of healing.

"Let's go."

Lin Jue rode the donkey and continued forward.

As they gradually went deeper into the forest and up the mountain, the spiritual aura of this mountain slowly revealed itself.

A towering stone mountain appeared before him.

Lin Jue knew the principle that mountains and waters have spirits. He came to take Nanshan stone and also to harvest the spiritual aura of Nanshan, so naturally, there was no reason to fly up. He took the fox and walked slowly up along the mountain path.

There were no steps, only a small path.

First, it was dense forest and green hills, with lush vegetation. When they walked to the peak of the green hills, thinking the view would be very open and that they should be very close to the peak of Nanshan, the result was that their eyes were completely blocked by this stone mountain. It turned out that the peak of the ordinary green hills was merely the beginning of this Nanshan.

Gradually walking upward, it was the stone mountain.

Fortunately, there was a path from beginning to end.

Lin Jue felt a thick yin and yang spiritual aura; it should be because it had absorbed the essence of the sun and moon.

He was most sensitive to this.

Besides this, there was also the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and the spiritual aura of the mountain rocks.

Among these spiritual auras, there was one that was special.

As for the specifics, he still had to perceive it carefully.

Lin Jue endured his patience and walked up step by step.

Picking a piece of Nanshan stone is easy; at this moment, he was already on Nanshan, and bending down to pick one up, he had one.

But to harvest the piece with the thickest spiritual aura and the most profound mystery, he had to spend some effort searching.

And since Lin Jue had already arrived here, naturally it would not be as simple as just picking a piece of Nanshan stone; he also had to perceive the spiritual aura in the mountain.

It was just like before at the Northern Leopard Spring—

The Leopard Spring had spiritual aura and the effect of nourishing the soul. Lin Jue had squatted at the Leopard Spring for several months to guard the Leopard King and had also practiced at the Leopard Spring for several months. Now, the strength of his soul had far exceeded the past.

Nanshan naturally could not be wasted.

Lin Jue soon climbed to the top of the mountain.

Looking around, it was wide open, with only blue sky, white clouds, and a clear breeze. The blue sky was all around, the white clouds were under his feet, and the clear breeze was everywhere, yet he could not see a single bird.

It was open to the point of being somewhat boring.

He actually somewhat understood the feeling Daoist Jiang mentioned about being above the Nine Heavens.

"I want to practice here; do not come to disturb me, and do not let the *yaoguai* and ghosts in the mountain come to disturb me casually."

Lin Jue sat cross-legged on the top of the mountain and rubbed the fox's head. The fox stood up seriously and also used its paws to rub his head, as if it would lose out if it didn't rub back.

"Rest assured!"

"If the time is long, do not feel bored."

"The fox will play with itself, the fox will go into the mountain to find other animals and *yaoguai* to play with, it won't be bored!" The fox said seriously to him, "The fox also has six tails to play with!"

"That is good."

"The fox will protect you!"

"Many thanks." Lin Jue smiled slightly. "If you are truly bored, you can also practice writing and recognizing characters."

"The fox will protect you!"

"..."

Lin Jue shook his head and closed his eyes.

The spiritual aura in the mountain seemed visible for a time, following the rolling clouds and the rising and setting sun, presenting itself in his heart.

It turned out that the spiritual aura here was for nourishing the body.

Lin Jue had not yet refined it into a Golden Core, nor had he swallowed a Golden Core, but he had taken and perceived it in this way first.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 431 =====