Withered vines and old trees, flowing water and houses, ruined ancient pagodas, and the setting sun. There was a horseman coming from the east. The mountain road was rugged, the thin horse was traveling alone, and the rider was drowsy.
Moving forward, we entered the valley and entered the black misty swamp, as if we were entering the netherworld. The occasional crows made our hair stand on end.
Immediately the young man was dressed in commoner clothes, with a thin figure and not handsome appearance. There was a sense of laziness and aloofness between his eyebrows, as if he didn't care about people and things in the world.
Deep into the mist, the mountains are steep, with towering cliffs on both sides, and a thin line of sky above our heads. Further forward, there is a wooden suspension bridge, with three big blood-red characters "Naihe Bridge" written on the bridge head. If an ordinary person comes here, he will probably have a broken liver and gallbladder and run away in embarrassment.
The young man urged the horse to move forward. There was a thick fog under the bridge and the bottom was bottomless. The thin horse was frightened and did not dare to go up. The young man had no choice but to jump down and lead the horse forward.
After crossing the bridge, it suddenly became clear that a large house lay quietly in the mist, dormant, with the word "Netherworld" written in the middle. The blood-red door was like the mouth of a monster, swallowing everything at any time.
The young man stepped forward and handed over a letter, and the servant ran to report it. In the main hall, there was a middle-aged man in rich clothes sitting in the middle. After reading the letter, he handed it to the young man standing next to him.
"It seems that our reputation in the world of Netherworld is growing day by day. Even the Imperial City recommends people to join us."
After looking at it, the young man said, "Father, although the Imperial City has some dealings with us, there is no precedent for making such a rash recommendation. You should be careful!"
Jing Chutian, the leader of Netherworld Square, smiled and said: "It is indeed against common sense, but the royal family still has to give him face. Come down and find an opportunity to let him retreat before the difficulties, and it will also be an explanation for the imperial city."
The eldest son Jing Yu nodded and said, "Father is thoughtful. I will monitor you secretly to avoid any trouble."
The master waved his hand, and after a moment, the young man entered the hall to see the ceremony. The owner of the shop was kind-hearted and asked people to sit down. "Young Master is young and shows great talent, and he deserves to be appreciated by the royal family. If you come to settle down in this barbaric land like mine, wouldn't you be subverting your talent?"
The young man stood up and saluted, "The little man Li Yuan has an ordinary family. He only asked for letters of recommendation because he had relatives working in the palace. I am willing to look after the house and the courtyard for the master, and do the work of a dog and horse."
Jing Yu held up his hand, "Brother, you have a handsome appearance, and your martial arts power must be unique. Yu can learn from it!"
He flew forward and hit Li Yuan directly in the chest with a palm. The latter was caught off guard and hurriedly took out his palm. The two forces collided and Li Yuan fell three feet away. He had to lean against the wall to avoid falling.
Jing Yu followed him like a shadow, and a strange blue light enveloped Li Yuan's body in his palm. He was trembling all over, as if he had been shocked by electricity.
The owner of the shop scolded and stopped Jing Yu, "Young Master is an honored guest. Isn't this the way I should wait for my guests to be so reckless?"
He stood up to apologize, and Li Yuan hurriedly returned the gift, "I have learned from you the master's magical skills. Please give me more guidance in the future."
The owner of the shop arranged for him to stay in the guest room. Li Yuan left and Jing Yu said, "I tested him just now. His martial arts was acceptable. No magic or demonic power was detected. Maybe we were worrying too much!"
The shop owner said: "Don't be careless. Be polite to him first and then observe!"
For a month, Li Yuan lived in the guest room, had three meals a day, and was well entertained. In his spare time, he practiced martial arts at the school with his servant Hu Yuan, and had no other errands.
It was late that night, and Li Yuan was reading at night with a candle, and his interest was high. At the third watch, there were sudden shouts of killing, the flash of swords, and Li Yuan flew out of the house. Netherworld Villa was already in chaos, with fires everywhere. The maids and servants were running around like headless flies. A group of people in black were covered with black gauze. Just kill them, and they will be killed together with the guardian, and the blood will flow like a river.
The main hall next to it had become a sea of fire. The fire spread and several guest rooms were ignited. The flames shot up to the roof and a heat wave hit the face.
At this time, Jing Yu flew forward, his body covered in blood, his hair disheveled, and blood dripping from the sword blade. He saw Li Yuan saying loudly: "Brother Li, I sent an old enemy to make a surprise attack late at night. I was caught off guard. My disciples suffered heavy losses. They can no longer withstand it. Brother, you are a guest and cannot be involved in an unreasonable disaster. My father asked me to protect you and leave quickly. Don't do it." Another half step into the netherworld.”
When Li Yuan didn't move, Jing Yu grabbed his clothes and said, "Here we go south, directly to the Naihe Bridge. Brother, we can escape."
Li Yuan said seriously: "The master of the workshop is in trouble, Netherworld is in trouble, I should fight to the death and try my best, how can I just walk away?"
Jing Yu was furious and said, "Brother, I am recommended by the Imperial City. If you die here, can I, You Ming, be freed from the problem? If you don't leave, please forgive me for forcing you to see the guest off!"
Before he finished speaking, two capable martial artists flew forward, grabbed Li Yuan's arms, and tried to drag him away. Li Yuan didn't move at all, but raised his hand to knock the two of them away. He let out a long sigh, strolled to the burning guest room, brushed his palm against the flames, and was immediately ignited.
"It's hot to the bone, painful to the heart, and it feels so real!" When he turned around, a man in black volleyed up from the air, slashing his head with a sharp blade.
Li Yuan flicked his finger, and the man immediately disappeared into thin air. Jing Yu was shocked, "You, who are you?"
Li Yuan sighed: "I am an uninvited guest. Even if I have a letter of recommendation from the Imperial City, I still cannot gain the trust of the shop owner. You have really taken great pains to banish guests!"
He turned towards the main hall and shouted: "Master, I have seen your exquisite illusion skills, please show up and show it!"
Without warning, the sound of killing, the fire, the blood and the traces of blood disappeared instantly. The night was silent, the shadows of the trees were swaying, and the moonlight was dim. Jing Chutian was dressed in black, his face was as sinking as water, and he came slowly.
"I was mistaken. The young master is still an expert. Now that I have made it clear, I, Netherworld, do not tolerate uninvited guests. I am willing to offer you a thousand taels of silver and ask the young master to find another job."
Li Yuan handed over to the shop owner, "I would like to thank you for your generosity, but I don't want to leave." Jing Yu and the martial artist next to him changed their expressions and wanted to be violent, but the shop owner waved his hand to stop them.
Li Yuan clasped his hands and looked at the sky, strolling in the courtyard, "Many years ago, a master of martial arts came here and saw that the fog was deep, and he suspected it was a poisonous miasma. However, after careful study, he found that the black fog would not cause harm to people. , and it is conducive to practice, so I established a sect here and called myself the ancestor of Netherworld."
Jing Yu sneered and said, "Everyone knows the origins of Netherworld Valley, so what is there to show off?"
Li Yuan changed the topic, "It is said that Pangu created the world, his body turned into mountains and rivers, and his emotions turned into seven secret realms, scattered between heaven and earth. Among them is a 'Thought Realm', which condenses the essence of the spirit of the ancient gods. The perfect place to awaken to illusions.”
The shop owner was shocked when he heard this, "You actually know about 'Thoughts'. Who are you? What's your plan for coming here?"
Li Yuan did not answer the question and continued: "This 'Thought Realm' is in the Netherworld Valley. Only by chance and connection with the divine will can the Netherworld disciples of the past generations enter the 'Thought Realm'. Illusion skills will be fully realized and they will reach the top. But those who get their wish are rare. ."
"Is there a way for you to enter the 'Thought Realm'?" the workshop leader asked hurriedly.
"Yes, this is exactly the purpose of my coming to Netherworld."
Jing Yu sneered from the side and said, "A country man is talking nonsense. My father should drive him away as soon as possible!"
The shop owner waved his hand and asked Li Yuan: "Can you really open the door to thoughts? What conditions do you have?"
"The first condition is that I will enter the 'Thought Realm' with the owner; the second condition is that I will stay in Netherworld Villa for the time being, and the owner will not issue any more eviction orders."
Jing Yu sneered again, "It's full of lies, it's nothing more than a delaying strategy to eat and drink!"
Li Yuan twirled his hand, and a colorful stone appeared on his fingertips. "This is the guide stone in the fairy world. It can open any secret realm. If the boss is willing to point out the precise location of the 'Thought Realm', opening the secret realm will be easy."
When the shop owner saw the asking stone, his eyes shone brightly, "Okay, we have an agreement!"
After the storm subsided, the owner returned to the living room, unable to calm down his excitement. Jing Yu was a little uneasy, "Father, you trust this stranger so much. What should you do if there is any fraud?"
"He has such extensive knowledge, and he can also obtain the Immortal Stone. He is by no means an ordinary person. If he wants to be detrimental to Netherworld, he will be a formidable enemy like us!"
"Then you still agree to enter the 'Thought' with him?"
"Back then, my ancestor entered the 'Thought Realm' by chance and suddenly realized the illusion, which laid the foundation for my eternal inheritance in the Netherworld. All the disciples in the past generations who were able to enter the 'Thought Realm' have broken through the profound entrance and reached the pinnacle. For my father, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I will definitely Can not give up."
"In this case, the child is willing to enter the secret realm with you, just in case something unexpected happens!"
The owner of the workshop waved his hands repeatedly, "You must not do it. The good or bad luck of entering the secret realm is unpredictable. Among the ancestors, there are also people who never returned and were buried there. Your cultivation is still shallow and you cannot take fearless risks."
"But what should you do if he attacks you in the secret realm?"
The shop owner smiled and said: "If he wants to be our enemy, there are thousands of ways. The secret realm is full of dangers and there are many unknown dangers. Why should he take risks and use this precious guide stone? Isn't it unnecessary?"
The next day, there was a rippling lake in the back mountain of Netherworld Valley, named "Mizong Lake". Black mist rose above it, covering the blue waves. There were countless rocks on the lake with sharp corners exposed, like small islands, dotted around. The owner took out a gold compass, carefully guessed the direction, and kept jumping on the stone, like a dragonfly touching the water. Suddenly, the scenery of the lake changed, and it suddenly became clear and smooth as a mirror. The owner pointed with his hand, "Go here a hundred steps, and there you are." Thoughts' entrance."
Li Yuan flicked his finger, and the brilliance shone, and a five-color rainbow bridge lay flat on the water. At the end of the bridge, black mist appeared like ripples in the water, reflecting a hidden entrance, like a strange eye.
After the shop owner was overjoyed, his face turned sad, "My son, going here for my father is full of hardships and dangers. If something unexpected happens, you must bear the heavy responsibility of revitalizing Netherworld."
Jing Yu nodded with tears in his eyes. After saying goodbye, the boss and Li Yuan entered the secret realm without a trace.
Inside is a pure white world, calm and covered with a layer of mist. Ahead is a small lake, the surface of which is frozen and as flat as a mirror.
The owner of the workshop said happily: "Sure enough, as recorded in the previous handwriting, this place is called the 'Source Lake'. It is the condensation of the thoughts of the ancient gods. Our ancestors meditated here, connected with the thoughts of the gods, achieved great enlightenment, and their skills advanced by leaps and bounds."
"Congratulations, Boss, all your wishes have come true. You have achieved enlightenment here, and I want to move on!"
The shop owner was startled, "Young master, think twice. The road ahead is unknown. If something is wrong, it will disturb the consciousness of God, and I fear that the world will be turned upside down and a disaster will come."
Li Yuan said calmly: "The road-finding stone is effective for an hour. During this period, if anything happens, please leave alone. Li's life and death will be determined by God's will."
He continued to move forward, then looked back and saw countless transparent tentacles sprouting from the lake, wrapping the owner's body heavily...
