Chapter 574: Coming Here to Comprehend the Dao

At the foot of Flying Mountain, the spring water remained emerald green, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds.

More than a hundred years had passed since this mountain had appeared out of thin air. During these hundred years, apart from the occasional strange occurrence, there was no sign of it moving away. As time went on, some bold people built houses and opened up farmland at the foot of the mountain by the river. However, they only stayed at the foot of the mountain by the river, not daring to get too close to the mountain, let alone build on it.

Thus, a few more households appeared on the bank, with white walls and blue tiles, and spots of peach blossoms reflected in the spring water.

Lin Jue no longer needed to transform a long beard to hide his face, because so many years had passed, and the second campaign to purge demons was about to begin, and almost no one in the world remembered his appearance—

Even the Southern Heavenly Master, who had eaten the Yuanqiu fruit, had passed away.

Those who had seen him in the capital back then had long since entered reincarnation, perhaps even multiple times.

So Lin Jue came to the opposite bank with composure, found a piece of wasteland at the foot of Flying Mountain, built a wooden house, and sat down in meditation to calm his heart.

Ever since Lord Luo came to Fengshan to live in quiet cultivation with him, he had always appeared as an old man, and his appearance had grown increasingly aged. By comparison, Lin Jue, the junior sister, the two disciples, and several protectors who were also old acquaintances of Lord Luo had all drunk from the Red Spring and remained forever young, making him seem somewhat out of place.

Lin Jue had always intended to seek a little more Red Spring water for him.

Plus, he had taken in two new disciples, and now that they were growing older and had never drunk Red Spring water, the third disciple, Xian Zhu, was fine, as she was a demon and her appearance did not change, but the youngest disciple looked the oldest.

How could this be allowed?

However, this was only his secondary goal.

His primary goal was still to seek the Dao—

Ever since achieving the Dao, comprehending magical powers and supernatural abilities, and sensing the mysteries of the Great Dao, especially after comprehending "Life and Death Creation," he could become a so-called Great Power at any time. Having personally touched a Great Dao, he was closer to the mysteries of the Great Dao and could see other Great Daos more clearly.

The magical powers and supernatural abilities of the world, and all their profound mysteries, stemmed from this.

And these were the ends of magical powers and supernatural abilities.

It could be said that at the end of every magical power and supernatural ability lay a Great Dao, and it could also be said that every Great Dao could at least derive one supreme supernatural ability and many magical powers.

Lin Jue knew many magical powers and supernatural abilities, and at this time, their benefits began to manifest: understanding the Dao through the law, seeking simplicity through complexity, to the point where he could see many Great Daos. As long as he was willing to spend time and energy, it was possible to comprehend the supreme supernatural ability of this Great Dao.

It was just that he had looked at several in a row, and felt he did not have absolute certainty that he could use them to kill, defeat, or block True Lord Fuchi.

So he chose another one—

It was a trace of mystery he had felt in his heart when he had mistakenly entered the Yuanqiu Immortal Realm.

That was the origin of the Yuanqiu Immortal Realm.

It was the creation of a world beyond the world.

This Flying Mountain was the passage between the outside world and the Yuanqiu Immortal Realm, and also the passage between heaven and earth and the world beyond. There must be mysteries here.

Lin Jue came here to practice, to see if he could grasp this mystery and comprehend this supernatural ability.

There were more tourists here than back then.

However, the fox would breathe out a breath of air, covering the wooden house. Most of the time, Lin Jue would sit in the wooden house in meditation, practicing diligently, while the fox would transform into different appearances and play wantonly outside. At other times, Lin Jue would walk along the river to relax, while it curled up in the wooden house, practicing or sleeping soundly.

Not knowing how much time had passed, a tinkling sound came from the opposite bank of the river.

Both the Daoist and the fox were awakened. Looking up, it turned out that a temple was being built on the opposite bank.

Suddenly feeling something in his heart, he went to investigate.

The temple had just begun construction, with only a frame, no plaque, and no divine statue. Before he could ask whose temple it was, a curious tourist nearby asked:

"What temple is this?"

An official in robes replied: "The Emperor's Temple!"

The tourist asked again: "Which Emperor?"

"The Emperor of Monitoring Heaven and Subduing Demons!"

"Isn't that the Southern Heavenly Master?"

"He can no longer be called the Southern Heavenly Master; he must be called the Emperor of Monitoring Heaven. The Emperor himself was an Emperor in heaven, who descended to the mortal realm to purge demons and support the world for over a hundred years. Now that his work is done, he has returned to heaven to be an Emperor again. The imperial court has ordered temples to be built for him all over the world."

"Then why build it here?" someone said. "It's in the middle of nowhere."

"This was personally designated by Master Fan Tian."

"Why?"

"Master Fan Tian said this place has spiritual energy."

"What spiritual energy? Flying Mountain?"

"I see you don't know," the official said with a smile. "Back then, before Master Fan Tian joined the Gathering Immortals Mansion, he was traveling through Huizhou and purged demons here. Later, after returning from the south of the Yangtze River, he passed by here, reminisced about the past, and met Lin Zhenren, who gifted him Red Spring water to drink. From then on, he remained forever young, which is why he is nearly a hundred years old now and still has a young appearance."

"Really? So Master Fan Tian is now the Mansion Master of the Gathering Immortals Mansion?"

"Who else could it be? Master Fan Tian was originally the Junior Mansion Master of the Gathering Immortals Mansion, and was personally designated by the Emperor of Monitoring Heaven before he returned to heaven."

"..."

No one could notice that in the crowd, a Daoist with a fox turned and walked backward.

"Wonderful..."

The Daoist shook his head and smiled, looking down at the fox.

"Meow-wah..."

The fox also shook its head and replied to him.

Silently and soundlessly, the man and the fox turned into a breeze and returned to the opposite bank.

Yet unexpectedly, as soon as they reached the opposite bank and his feet touched the ground, Lin Jue frowned, sensing a trace of Great Dao mystery in the dark.

This mystery was exactly what he had been pursuing in recent years.

Looking up—

Sure enough, the world before him had undergone earth-shaking changes.

The Flying Mountain, which had originally been only slightly peculiar, had been raised ten thousand zhang,

towering into the clouds, with ancient pines on the mountain, and Red Spring water hanging like a white silk.

Looking back, the spring water was still the same water, emerald green, but the ferry, bamboo rafts, tourists, and houses on the riverbank were all gone, as if it had returned to the appearance of tens of thousands of years ago. The farmland and cultivated land at the foot of the mountain had also turned into ancient Yuanqiu trees, shining brightly in the sun.

There were no giant snakes among the ancient trees; they should be nocturnal.

The fox turned its head to look around, then looked up at Lin Jue.

However, Lin Jue stood still, firmly grasping that moment of mystery, carefully comprehending it.

Until an old voice came from the mountain in the distance:

"Why have you come here again?"

Lin Jue then came back to his senses, still feeling unfulfilled:

"Returning to the Immortal, this junior was only practicing and comprehending at the foot of Flying Mountain, and had no intention of coming in to disturb the Immortal's tranquility."

"No intention of coming in?"

"If the Immortal invites this junior in as you have today, this junior will come to visit the Immortal and seek some Red Spring water by the way."

"You young man..."

The old voice laughed and asked him again: "You say it's a visit, and you've already come, so why are you standing at the door?"

Thunder clouds immediately gathered beneath Lin Jue's feet.

The fox jumped lightly and stood on the edge of the thunder cloud.

With a rumble of thunder, the thunder cloud dragged a long tail and flew diagonally upward, crossing the high mountain in front and entering the countless peaks and forests.

In the bamboo house courtyard, the Yuanqiu fruit was just blooming.

The old Heavenly Lord was wearing cloth clothes, his hair somewhat messy, looking exactly like an

old man who had just woken up from a nap, and was tidying his clothes. As soon as he saw him, he said:

"I first thought your phoenix feathers were not enough, and you came to me to seek more. Then I thought it was because of the changes in the world, and you wanted to come here to take another look. Then I thought you wanted to seek Red Spring water again, and I even thought, did you young man simply want to come and see this old man? Haha, I didn't expect you to be here to steal my supernatural ability??"

"This junior came here to comprehend the Dao."

"You comprehended the Dao right to my doorstep."

"There is mystery here."

Lin Jue maintained a degree of respect.

Whether this counts as stealing or comprehending is hard to say.

Just like a pugilistic swordsman with marvelous sword skills; if another person goes to steal his sword manual, that counts as stealing, or if they go to watch him practice, that can also count as stealing. However, if this swordsman dances a sword move casually, and another person sees it and finds it marvelous, and after returning home, tosses and turns unable to forget it, and then thinks about it seriously, pondering and comprehending, and gains something, does that count as stealing?

On that day, when the swordsman danced the sword, he left sword marks and sword intent on the stone on the ground at his doorstep. If this person goes there and comprehends the sword marks and sword intent, how should that be judged?

It is truly hard to say.

"Hehehe." The old Heavenly Lord tidied his clothes. "This supernatural ability of mine is called Heaven and Earth Creation, and it can recreate the heaven and earth. Do you want to use this to trap True Lord Fuchi?"

"Exactly."

"I have resigned for many years and cannot help you anymore. Otherwise, if the Zi Emperor comes knocking, this old body of mine might not be able to block him." The old Heavenly

Lord waved his hand and paused slightly. "However, when a person gets old, it is inevitable to feel lonely when living in seclusion. If you are interested and know how to play chess, you can come here on the twenty-first day of the first lunar month every year to play a game with me to relieve your boredom. I also have fruit and tea to treat you."

"Definitely."

The chess mentioned here is, of course, just chess.

However, Lin Jue is in his prime, which is a good time to comprehend the mysteries of the Great Dao. With his talent, and the old Heavenly Lord not hiding anything, every time he enters and exits the Yuanqiu Immortal Realm, it is a comprehension of this Great Dao mystery.

This is actually a help to him.

"Then let's play a game first?"

"Good."

The old Heavenly Lord waved his hand, and the boy brought the chessboard and tea.

The two began to place their pieces.

The fox split into two, one sitting honestly at Lin Jue's feet, guarding against this old immortal, the boy beside him, and the mountain behind him that could stand up at any time. The other ran out to smell here and look there, sizing up this strange environment, and went to tease the rare birds and animals in the mountain.

A quarter of an hour later—

"There are chess masters in every generation in the human realm, who can even play against heaven. Go and learn." The old Heavenly Lord said helplessly to him. "Send the guest away."

"This junior has noted it, farewell."

Lin Jue was also very helpless.

Those chess masters in the world who play against heaven are probably playing against this "heaven" in front of him, right?

He can see ten thousand years in a glance, and in an instant, transform the whole world to hundreds of years later, with little difference. How could he compete with such deduction?

However, Lin Jue has two advantages————

One is a thick skin; he is just helpless, not ashamed.

The second is that he sees clearly; he is just here to relieve boredom. Playing well is good, but if he doesn't play well, he will just use chatting to make up for it.

Two foxes, one on the left and one on the right, followed him out the door.

As he left, the temple on the opposite bank had already taken shape.