[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-book-of-strange-tales":3,"chapter-the-book-of-strange-tales-the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-44":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Book of Strange Tales",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2317324,4532,"Chapter 44: There Are Naturally Masters Between Heaven and Earth","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-44",44,"\u003Cp>Several days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spiritual cultivation had settled into a routine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two were once again on the road to Immortal Source Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mountain trail was treacherous; many stretches were barely paths, mere narrow ledges or cliffside footpaths, slick and perilous, yet the two and the fox walked through them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky above showed faint hints of blue, yet the mountain peak vanished into clouds, their eyebrows and hair dusted with dew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, the fox you picked up is turning into a dog.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been chasing after those cats in the pavilion every day—it’ll turn into a cat instead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But it’s grown a bit, and looks better than ever—so slender and refined!” the younger sister said as they walked, “Fourth Brother says it’s definitely not an ordinary fox—maybe it’s born of a fox spirit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Possibly.” Lin Jue thought of his own past experiences, “Fox spirits may be no less than humans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true! But in stories, mountain foxes always have shape-shifting and illusion powers—do you think this one will too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who knows?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them, the little fox trotted on tiny steps, as if aware they were speaking of it, lifting its head to look at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, look at the mountain!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The younger sister ahead suddenly stopped, pointing toward the distant peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an immensely majestic and precipitous peak, its entire body exposed granite, barely covered in patches of green—even the unique Yishan pines struggled to take root. It had been entirely hidden by mist until now; a gust of wind cleared the clouds, revealing its summit standing atop the sea of clouds, as if reaching straight to heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the younger sister’s gaze—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Figures appeared on the mountain, one behind the other, walking and conversing along the perilous granite cliffs, then seemingly sitting to play go and drink tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are people up there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I saw….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The younger sister gazed upward in awe: “Master was right! There truly are immortals in Yishan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Possibly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue also looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mist swirled, ethereal qi drifted, the figures were faint and indistinct—truly like the immortal tales from books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the past month traveling this path, they had occasionally glimpsed the true form of this peak on lucky days; most times it was veiled in mist. Lin Jue had asked his senior, who only said its name was Tiandoufeng, seemingly meaning “Heaven’s Capital Peak.” Opposite it stood another towering peak called Lianhuafeng, the abode of the mountain deity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet though the peak appeared close, it was merely because of its immense size; Lin Jue had no idea how to reach it or where to climb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, it didn’t look climbable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if one possessed powerful magic, that was another matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go, sister.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two arrived once more at Immortal Source Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue and the younger sister entered the mountain gate, climbed the stone steps, and reached the entrance of the great hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They paused to examine the hall, where couplets flanked the pillars:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the pillars, swept by mystic winds, the immortal annals have long affirmed seventy characters;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the mountains, ruling the purple qi, the Dao scripture once penned five thousand words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue peered inside: over a dozen young Daoists already sat within, Wang Jizi seated at the front, eyes closed, meditating amid curling blue smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the past month, they had come to understand that Wang Jizi was indeed sharp-tongued but not cruel; seeing two empty cushions still vacant, they walked over and sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you so late?” a young Daoist in the front turned, frowning at them, “We always wait for you. You know the road is far—why not leave earlier?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We apologize for keeping you waiting, Brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue said as he sat on the cushion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These young Daoists each had their own temperaments; Yun Yi, this one, was particularly competitive. Among the dozen or so disciples of Immortal Source Pavilion, he was among the more gifted—but during previous teachings, he often failed to grasp the lessons, while Lin Jue frequently responded fluently to Wang Jizi’s questions. In character study, he also lagged behind the younger sister, who studied late into every night. He had likely been simmering with frustration for half a month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only recently, when this batch of disciples began cultivating spiritual methods, drawing yin-yang qi into their bodies—surpassing Fuxiu Pavilion in progress—had they regained some confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Silence!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice came from above—Wang Jizi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Jizi, aware of the long and dangerous path, said nothing about their tardiness; instead, he glanced at the young Daoist: “If you lack even this much patience, what Dao are you cultivating?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he flicked his dust whisk, stirring the blue smoke in the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve begun cultivating spiritual methods?” Wang Jizi glanced toward the two seated at the back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We have.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How are you progressing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve already drawn yin-yang spiritual resonance into our bodies.” Lin Jue spoke of the younger sister; he himself had succeeded on the first day, and had thus been practicing for several days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Jizi said calmly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Drawing spiritual resonance into the body marks your entry into cultivation. With spiritual resonance established, how can you lack spells? Today, I will teach you one commonly used spell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, the young Daoists grew excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This spell is called: Summon Wind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Jizi spoke with a detached expression:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“People often say ‘summon wind and call rain,’ but these are two separate spells: calling rain is difficult, with an extremely high threshold; summoning wind is far simpler, though the strength of the wind depends on your spiritual cultivation. Even if you can summon only a gentle breeze within a few zhang, enough to cool your descent down the mountain and impress others, you’ll already carry the aura of a Daoist immortal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue sat still. The younger sister sat still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the past month, they had always done this: when listening to teachings or studying spiritual methods, they focused utterly, never even glancing at each other, discussing and studying only after the lesson ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wind is the flow of heaven and earth’s qi—formless yet traceable, colorless yet audible. Its nature is soft, its power is fierce. It can strip autumn leaves, open February blossoms, stir waves a thousand feet across rivers, bend ten thousand bamboo stalks into slanting lines…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Jizi recited slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mountain breeze entered the hall, stirring the blue smoke, bringing a touch of coolness to the midsummer heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lesson continued for most of the day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike before, everyone was now utterly absorbed in the mystery of the spell—even lunch was forgotten. Wang Jizi taught with equal intensity, pausing not once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the fox at the door listened intently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From morning to afternoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This spell is profound. All of you cultivate yin-yang spiritual methods, yet such natural heavenly arts are closer to the Five Elements. Return to your quarters and reflect deeply. If you have questions, ask your seniors in the pavilion. If within one month you can summon even a faint breeze, you have talent for this ‘Summon Wind’ spell. If after three months you still cannot stir a wind, it is not due to insufficient talent or poor comprehension—it is simply that you have no affinity with wind. Do not force it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Jizi Daoist told them:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today is the seventh. One month hence, on the seventh day of the seventh month, I shall test your progress.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sweep of his sleeve, he dismissed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the young Daoists were eager learners; they refused to leave, instead huddling together, whispering and discussing. After a while, one finally rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is food still left in the dining hall?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, the others suddenly realized they were hungry, scrambling up and rushing off to the dining hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, we—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The younger sister turned to look at Lin Jue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face was very pale and refined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m hungry too, and the light is fading. Let’s head back quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All right!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They rose and left, retracing their steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking up, the mist that had clung to Tiandoufeng in the morning had thinned somewhat, but not vanished—light veils still draped its slopes, clouds and rosy hues shifting, swelling, dissolving, changing in an instant, endlessly variable, beyond full perception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the figures above had long disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, did you understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clouds and mist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clouds and mist? What does that mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t quite grasp it. I just memorized it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’m also in clouds and mist!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It sounded so mysterious, so hard to pin down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think so too. I’m afraid I won’t learn it.” The younger sister spoke each sentence with solemn seriousness, her expression grave, “Starting tomorrow, I’ll also study ‘Crush Stone’ with Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then you must work hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, learn quickly—don’t fall behind them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watch your step.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, once we learn spells, can we climb that mountain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That depends on whether any senior in the pavilion knows such a spell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if we take the Divine Travel Pill?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’d survive the fall—then you’d make it up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let’s wait until we learn spells, and climb that mountain to find the immortals. I’m afraid of falling to my death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue unconsciously quickened his pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The little fox ran behind, chasing after him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no wind, no rain—perfect weather for travel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He soon returned to the Daoist monastery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating something, Lin Jue went back to his room and opened the ancient book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A new page of writing had appeared in the book:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Call Wind: the method to summon wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Summoning wind and rain are natural celestial arts; unless one draws upon divine power, one must attune to the Five Elements of heaven and earth—profound and unfathomable. Some learn it in a single night; others never attain it in a lifetime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This matched what Wang Jizi had said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue gripped the page, and another voice sounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the book, such natural celestial arts belong to the category of Five Elements arts, yet they are not confined to any single one of them. To cultivate them, there is no fixed method—only attunement to heaven and earth. It then went on to describe the insights, techniques, and warnings of past cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue listened, half-dazed, understanding only vaguely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He listened twice through, and by then dusk was near; he closed the ancient book and stepped outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had intended to ask his Master and Senior Brothers, but the monastery was empty—only the clear wind remained. Lin Jue walked and searched the front and back courtyards and both main halls, yet saw no trace of his Master or Senior Brothers. Only a faint flute melody drifted from the mountain—likely his Fourth Senior Brother, practicing spiritual arts in the mountains, idly playing for amusement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue stood in the courtyard, thought for a moment, then picked up his axe and basket, preparing to wander up the mountain—to chop wood, gather mushrooms, and perhaps find his Fourth Senior Brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He followed the flute’s sound up the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the monastery, two narrow paths branched left and right: the left passed by the Second Senior Brother’s Alchemy Pavilion; the right passed a small pavilion in the hills, then merged higher up, leading ultimately to the summit of Fuqiu Peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue heard the flute coming from the right, so he took the right path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This stretch had stone steps—easy to walk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he walked, the flute sound stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue halted amid the hills, looked up, scanning the mountain—endless trees, and for a moment he could not tell direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he thought better of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finding his Fourth Senior Brother to ask about “Call Wind” was one goal; chopping wood and gathering mushrooms was another. If he couldn’t find his Fourth Senior Brother, he’d just chop wood. Besides, his Fourth Senior Brother might not even know the Call Wind technique—asking his Master at dinner would do just as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Lin Jue shook his head, pulled out his axe, and prepared to descend the steps into the dense forest to find dead branches and rotting wood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet as he took his first step—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoo…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden wind rose in the mountain evening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind was strong, free, whipping up Lin Jue’s hair and robes to reveal its form; it was refreshingly cool, instantly washing away the heat of climbing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue felt as if he stood within an ocean of wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was midsummer; the mountain was full of bellflower trees, each bearing clusters of green, thumb-sized blossoms shaped like the ancient bells rung daily in the monastery. Beside the pavilion, tall trees bore strings of tiny green seeds—or perhaps fruits—smaller than mung beans, blanketing the stone path in a thick layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind came, and the bellflowers and leaves rustled; the green seeds on the ground spiraled upward, swirling around Lin Jue like green dust, tracing the wind’s path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue froze in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every word Wang Jizi had spoken that day echoed in his mind; the voice from the ancient book resounded within him. In that instant, Lin Jue truly felt attuned to heaven and earth—he instantly understood what wind was, an ineffable profundity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never in his life had Lin Jue understood the shape and sound of wind more clearly than this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, he felt as if he might rise upon the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, the wind ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heavens and earth, just now swept by wild gales, now fell utterly silent—a profound stillness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the silence, another sound arose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wind…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bellflowers beside the pavilion trembled, shaking like a string of emerald bells—adorably so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, wind stirred again, lifting the bellflowers toward its direction; the green dust on the ground rose once more, swirling around Lin Jue. The fox tilted her head, eyes following the seeds and dust, her soft fur rippling with the breeze, outlining the wind’s form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, the wind existed only beside the pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue remained standing where he was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His heart brimmed with profundity, and within that profundity lay an indescribable sense of accomplishment—a rare, exquisite joy, as if he had become the wind, wandering freely through the mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>",2362,"2026-06-20T14:45:35.226Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6815cd1b028a7be9846b341f9561fcef3ae7d8e6c85abab35f6379f4fce6f254","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-45","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-43",608,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-book-of-strange-tales-cover.jpg"]