After the bell of Youming Valley rang again, all the disciples in the valley had already gathered. This time, these disciples who had experienced spiritual enlightenment were all in high spirits, with excitement on their faces.
However, this time there was no bronze carriage to pick them up. After everyone arrived, Senior Brother Li and several other Qi-refining senior brothers in the valley led everyone towards the depths of Youming Valley.
This made the disciples following him a little confused. Didn't they say they were going to the inner sect? Why did he go into Youming Valley instead? He couldn't help but talk about it, and a few of the bolder ones even asked Senior Brother Li.
"Of course I'm going to the sect, otherwise where could I go?" Senior Brother Li replied.
Since they were going to the sect, the disciples stopped asking questions and just followed along.
Qian Chao and others followed the team. Qian Chao kept looking around as he walked. The team was heading in the opposite direction to the Little Lotus Lake. Although the surrounding scenery had not changed much, he had not actually come here during this year. After passing here, it seems that Youming Valley is also a very mysterious place.
"Hey, is Youming Valley close to the sect? Can we walk there?" Qian Chao asked Tang Ping next to him.
"How did I know? It's my first time walking this road." Tang Ping replied.
"Haven't you been to the sect?"
"I have been there before, but only once. My sixth grandfather took me there. As soon as I closed my eyes and opened them again, I was there. How do I know the road?"
Qian Chao nodded and stopped asking questions.
Under the leadership of Senior Brother Li, the team turned into a narrower valley at the end of Youming Valley. It was said to be narrow, but in fact it was very spacious for people to walk in. After walking in this small valley for less than a cup of tea, Qian Chao and others seemed to hear the faint sound of water. After walking for a short time, they heard someone from the disciples in front of the team couldn't help but say: "Wow! Okay! A big body of water!”
It is indeed a large body of water!
Qian Chao and others were also surprised when they came out of the valley. What lay in front of them was a vast and boundless river.
Standing by the river, you can't see the source of the river to the left, and you can't see the direction of the river to the right, nor do you know how wide the river is. Standing on the river bank and looking across to the other side, it feels like your eyesight is stretched to the limit. There was a thick cloud and mist, and there seemed to be a faint black line, but it was not certain whether it was a river bank or not.
The river is sparkling green, moving slowly, but the waves are not big. Only when it hits the pebbles by the river does it make a clear sound. When people look at the water by the river for a little longer, they feel as if the river is frozen and motionless, but the land under their feet is carrying them forward very quickly, giving people a dizzying feeling.
"This is the Tianshui River," said Senior Brother Li, who led everyone here. "The source of this river is in the sect. Junior brothers and sisters, you have to take a boat directly to the sect from here."
Following the guidance of Senior Brother Li, everyone discovered a small pier by the river. A boat had been docked there. At first glance, people did not think that the boat could be very big. When they got closer, they discovered that it was actually a boat. The huge boat was made entirely of wood. There were no paint marks on the sides, but the entire boat glowed with a faint purple light. The hull is more than a hundred feet long, and the side of the ship is six or seven feet above the water. What is even more rare is that when you look at the ship from below, there are buildings and pavilions above the deck. The buildings on the ship have brackets, cornices, carved beams and painted beams, which are extraordinary. What's even more amazing is that there are buildings on the ship. There is a wonderful sound of silk and bamboo coming from the building, and the sound of water is sent to people's ears, which is intoxicating.
A wooden door opened on one side of the ship, and a long wooden gangway came out and was set up on the pier. Senior Brother Li arranged for everyone to board the ship one by one.
After boarding the ship, the disciples discovered that the huge ship had a high bow and wide deck. There was an old man standing on the high prow with his back to everyone and his hands behind his back. The figure behind him was the person who was presiding over the spiritual blessings in the Tingtao Pavilion. That sect elder.
The doors and windows of the exquisite buildings on the ship were all closed. Obviously, the old man had no intention of letting these children in, but the sound of strings and bamboos that kept coming from inside aroused the disciples' curiosity, guessing whether there was an opera troupe playing inside. .
Everyone has boarded the boat. Although there are many disciples in the valley, the deck is still very spacious. These children gathered in small groups with their close friends, relying on the railings on the ship's side to admire the water view or talk endlessly.
Brother Li respectfully walked behind the old man and saluted, said a few words, and the old man nodded. Qian Chao relied on the railing on the deck to see that after the gangway was retracted, the entire ship sailed away smoothly and slowly. From this pier, go to the center of the river.
Without oars or sails, and traveling against the current, Qian Chao was secretly amazed that such a huge boat could travel smoothly and quickly.
There is a lifelike little beast carved on the top of the wooden pillars of the railing facing the river. However, this little beast has never been seen by Qian Chao in any book. Looking at the slightly ferocious lin horns of the little beast, it seems that it should be a They are a kind of water tribe, but even Tang Ping can't tell what they are.
Yanxuan asked Tang Ping: "Senior Brother Li just said that the source of this river is in the sect. Such a big river actually originates in the sect. How big is the sect?"
"Sister Yan, we are all on the boat. We will arrive soon. It would be boring if I told you to wait for you to get there. You can see for yourself later." Tang Ping said to Yanxuan with a smile.
The cool river water came towards us, hitting the side of the boat and stirring up fine white waves, making a clear sound. The giant boat had already reached the middle of the river and was going upstream. The width of the river was far beyond everyone's imagination, and the mountains on both sides of the river were hidden. In the thin mist, only thick or light, scattered outlines are left. Different from the beautiful scenery like long scrolls of ink on both sides of the bank, the water surface is sparkling. It is not yet noon, and the golden light shining on the water surface illuminated by the sun is like gold stars scattered all over the blue carpet, which is eye-catching. Dazzled. Looking behind the ship, I saw a water mark on the water being dragged by the giant boat. Countless white-winged waterbirds were chirping and flying along the water mark. Many birds even plunged straight into it. It seemed that they were catching fish, and there were a few birds flying over the giant boat, curiously looking at the people in the boat below.
Seeing Qian Chao staring into the water, Lu Pingchuan also leaned on the railing and looked down for a while, then stood up and said, "No, no, my head feels dizzy after looking at it for a long time." Then he added, "The river is so big. , there must be big fish in it. I heard my grandfather say at home that the fish in the sea are so huge that even a small boat can swallow them in one bite. I will definitely see them if I have the opportunity in the future."
After listening to Lu Pingchuan's words, Yanxuan continued: "I have also heard the story of the giant boat-swallowing fish. It is very magical. There are many strange fish in the sea. There is an oil lamp in my ancestral hall. It is said that the lamp oil is the fish oil of a certain kind of sea fish. The oil lamp has been burning since the day Yan's family came into existence. I don't know how many generations have passed, but the oil lamp is still so oily and the bowl of lamp oil is not missing. Even the wick has not been changed, but I can Women who have not seen the oil lamp are not allowed to enter the ancestral hall, and they can only kneel and worship outside the ancestral hall during the New Year."
"The south of Wuling Sect is close to the sea. We can go and have a look together in the future. I heard from my sixth grandfather that there are some islands scattered far away in the sea. The islands are full of rare treasures. I don't know whether they are true or false."
"My grandfather once told me about a flood when he was a child. Half of the Liang Kingdom and the entire country were soaked in water. Standing on a high place and looking around, the turbid waves were rolling all around and the country was covered with water. I estimate that the water at that time was stronger than It will be a lot worse than before. Even if we have this big ship under our feet, even with the strength of the Liang Kingdom, I'm afraid I can't build a second one."
Qian Chao's mind was not here. He looked at a few people and said: "When the spiritual enlightenment was over, I found that there were fewer people in Tingtao Pavilion. Those people were probably going to the outer door. It's just not clear when they left. Didn't notice, weren't they on the boat with us? Where is the outer sect, isn't it within the sect?"
After the five people passed the spirit opening in Tingtao Pavilion, only Qian Chao noticed the change in the number of people in the pavilion. At that time, almost everyone was recalling the illusion they experienced when they opened their spirits. Now after listening to Qian Chao's words and thinking about it in detail, I can't help but be curious, when did those who failed to pass the spiritual enlightenment leave and where were they taken?
"They were all probably taken away by the senior brothers who were refining qi in the valley. We were opening up the spirits at the time, so it was impossible to notice." Tang Ping said, "The outer sect is naturally not within the sect, but it probably isn't. It would be too far. We new qi refining disciples can't live without grains yet. Even if our cultivation is deeper in the future, we can only live without grains. But as long as we haven't established the foundation, we still have to eat whole grains. These things will They are all provided by the outer sect. But the outer sect is not all about these outer sect disciples. Otherwise, after five years, all these outer sect disciples will be gone, and then there will be no one in the outer sect to do anything."
Everyone nodded after hearing this, and Qian Chao said: "I took a rough look at Tingtao Pavilion after I opened the spirit. The number of people was probably less than 30%. I didn't expect so many people to go to the outer gate."
Tang Ping smiled after hearing this and said, "Then take a guess, are those who go to the outer sect more likely to come from a family like you or from aristocratic families?"
"This..." This stopped Qian Chao from asking. He knew that there were many people who failed to pass the spiritual enlightenment, but he had never thought about what kind of background there were more of them. He raised his eyes and swept around the deck, and saw many people gathered far and near. Among these people, he recognized Liang Bake, who was staring at the water in a trance, and Yan Bake, who was leaning on the railing and hugging his shoulders in silence. It was strange. , where is Yan Song? Could it be that he failed to pass the Spirit Opening? The Wu sisters were hiding from everyone and were whispering something. They didn't know whether they had used the Zhuangling Pill. Shen Wei was standing far away from the two girls. When Qian Chao looked over, he nodded to him. Most of the others couldn't recognize their names, and some of them looked familiar. They must have been in Chunxiang Hall. Let’s meet often.
Qian Chao looked at it for a while but couldn't figure it out and said, "I really can't tell about this."
After hearing this, Tang Ping said, "In my opinion, more children from aristocratic families will enter the outer gate."
"Why?"
"Well, what we practice in Youming Valley is the Jade Sea Sutra. Other families use this book to train their nephews and nephews. Each family has its own set of methods. Quite a few of them The children of the aristocratic family have been practicing according to their own methods for a long time when they were at home. After arriving at Youming Valley, they were unwilling to change their ways and continued to practice according to their own methods at home. I made up my mind to come to the sect at that time. Before Ming Valley, my sixth grandfather also warned me that what I had learned in the Tang family must not be continued in You Ming Valley. I should practice according to the scriptures given by the sect. I must not keep practicing according to the old way that I am familiar with. , now it seems that the mystery of spiritual enlightenment should be found in the "Jade Sea Sutra". As long as the qualifications are not too bad and one year of effort is spent on the "Jade Sea Sutra", you can almost become a Qi refining disciple through spiritual enlightenment. , those children from aristocratic families who are stubborn and unwilling to adapt will naturally suffer."
After Tang Ping finished speaking, only a few people understood it. Even Lu Pingchuan understood that the Jade Sea Scripture was much better than other body training methods.
"Why do you always feel that the sect is deliberately trying to trick those disciples who are unwilling to give up their own practice?" Yanxuan asked.
"Then who can blame you! Once you enter the sect, you must strictly follow the sect's rules. Not to mention that the sect's cultivation methods are always much better than those of those aristocratic families. Even the cultivation methods are not willing to follow the sect's rules. People may not be able to be of the same mind as the sect in the future."
Only then did everyone understand that every step the sect took seemed ordinary, but when they thought about it, they realized that every step seemed to have a profound meaning.
Tang Ping also saw Yan Bai who was alone and unhappy over there. She was also curious that Yan Song had not passed the spiritual opening, so she said: "I didn't expect that the two young masters of the Yan family, Yan Song, could not come. It's really..., only I'm afraid that Yan Song won't be able to come in five years. The sect will not hold another spiritual opening for the outer disciples. The fine incense in Tingtao Pavilion is a treasure. I won't light another one easily. Yan Song I will be sixteen in less than two years, and it will be difficult to practice cultivation once you are over sixteen."
Just as they were talking, there was a faint sound of "roaring" water. After noticing it, several people looked towards the bow of the boat. Looking past the old man who was still standing on the bow, they realized that the river seemed to be narrowing, and the water flow was faster and faster. The sound grew louder and louder, as the rapid water hit the stone walls on both sides of the bank and the sides of the giant boat, making the sound louder and louder.
The mountains along both sides of the river have been revealed in the mist, and the mottled stone walls go straight up and down like knives and axes cutting them, connecting the bottom of the river to the sky. If you want to appreciate the dangerous beauty of these strange peaks on the banks, you have to lean up and look straight in the direction. However, I saw that there were pine trees hanging upside down on the cliff, twisting and knotting like strange pythons, but they were full of green and extremely strong.
In the water under the cliff, there are jagged strange rocks that either protrude from the water or are hidden under the water. The sound of the water and rocks hitting each other is gradually deafening. The strange rocks have been impacted by the water flow for an unknown number of years, and each one is round and sharp. Like the sharp teeth of a ferocious dog poking out of the water, if a ship is going down the river and is accidentally carried by the current and hits it, even an iron ship will be torn to pieces by these countless canine teeth and people will die.
But this giant boat was still moving steadily upstream in the rapids.
The sun has long been blocked by the mountain peaks, and the coolness in the river is getting stronger, along with the water vapor that permeates the river.
The giant boat turned a big bend along the river. When the river gradually became straight, the rumbling sound of the water almost blocked everyone's conversation. Face-to-face conversations had to be directed into each other's ears to be understood. At this time, people found that their robes were almost soaked by the water vapor in the air, and when they looked up and looked straight ahead, many people were shocked and turned pale in horror.
In the distance, in the river directly ahead, a white tide nearly a hundred feet high was running along the mountains on both sides of the bank. It was carrying an astonishing force of water, and rushed towards it with a fierce and deafening force. It frightened everyone and caused them to lose all their color. The two waves started to fight. , couldn't help but hold on to the railing beside him. When I calmed down and looked again, I realized that it was actually a huge waterfall at the end of the river. The place was filled with white mist, and it was difficult to distinguish the water from the sky. The roaring sound was really like the galloping of thousands of horses, which was breathtaking. Look at the momentum of the river rushing down from the waterfall. It is like the Tianhe River hanging upside down, endless and unstoppable. It is really hundreds of feet of pure white horses hanging in the wind, fluttering in the wind!
This spectacle amazed everyone on board!
Only the old man at the bow of the boat still stood with his hands behind his hands, making no movement except for his clothes and sleeves moving in the wind, like a sculpture.
If we go further, we will definitely crash into the current of this waterfall. Even though this boat is big, it may not be able to withstand the impact of the thunderous water flow, and it may not escape the fate of capsizing. Everyone on the boat is not trying to feed the fish in the water. Ha? Everyone looked straight at the senior old man in panic.
The faint mountains on both sides gradually became shorter. When everyone came to understand, they were shocked to find that it was not that the mountains on both sides had become shorter, but that the giant boat gradually emerged from the water. Not long after, the keel at the bottom of the giant boat It actually completely broke away from the water and kept rising.
From the giant boat, countless bright white water droplets dripped along the side of the boat. The ripples when entering the water were quickly carried away by the rolling water before they stretched out. Only the giant boat gradually rose up, getting higher and higher, but Steady as flat ground. At this time, everyone on the boat could clearly see the wonderful scenery of the peaks of the mountains on the shore without raising their heads. It was really green pines and cypresses, with birds flying in the forest.
At this time, everyone on the boat looked surprised or happy, and they all held on to the railings in their hands and looked down at the waterfall that the giant boat flew over. Only then did they see clearly that this waterfall was the end of a huge river above. There is still a big river under the boat, spreading into the distance like a piece of blue silk.
When the waterfall turned into a white line in the distance, the giant boat slowly returned to the water. After a while of rocking up and down, the giant boat was still moving quickly and steadily along the river. It’s just that the terrain on both sides of the river bank is flat at this time. From a distance, it seems that there are mountains looming in the distance, but the green space nearby is lush, the trees are luxuriant, and wild flowers are dotted everywhere, spread out on both sides like a tapestry, and there are countless bees and butterflies. During the play, the beauty of the scenery is breathtaking.
Yanxuan clasped his hands in front of his chest and said with some fear: "I was really scared to death just now. I was afraid of running into it at first, and then I was afraid of falling. Now I feel at ease, but the scenery here is really beautiful. "
Tang Ping smiled after hearing this. She didn't care about what she had experienced just now. She knew that nothing would happen. Seeing that Yanxuan was scared, she hugged her to reassure her. However, when she looked at Qian Chao, Li Jian and Lu Pingchuan, they all felt He was frightened but not afraid, which was much better than the panicked and pale-faced ones on the boat. I couldn't help but praise him secretly in my heart.
"You're so good. This boat is really good. It can fly. Hehe, it's just like a kite!" Lu Pingchuan patted the railing and praised.
Li Jian remembered what he had said before that the Liang Kingdom couldn't build a second ship with this ship, and couldn't help laughing at himself, shaking his head and saying, "This ship... Liang State really can't build it. !”
Qian Chao was even more excited at this time. First, the bronze carriage from that year ago, and then the giant boat in front of him. These magical objects in the world of spiritual practice all made him yearn for them. He couldn't help but patted the railing and sighed: "We've come to the right place. , you’ve come to the right place.”
"We're almost there," Tang Ping said, "This should be the upper reaches of Tianshui River. Tianshui River originates from Tianshui Lake in the sect. That's the real paradise on earth!"
As soon as these words came out, several people were extremely yearning and looked into the distance.
After walking for a while, the shadow of a towering mountain faintly appeared in the mist in the distance. It was blurry and unclear, and the mountain peak was still hidden in the mist.
After the giant boat had been traveling for another cup of tea, everyone on the boat finally got a clear picture, and everyone on board suddenly became excited.
The broad river below the giant boat they were riding in turned into a group of towering mountains like a thin line in the distance, and the mountain tops stood at the end of the river, reaching to the sky, like a giant wall. Walk towards them slowly.
Getting closer, you can see the green mountains and the looming pavilions.
Looking closer, you can see the steep and majestic mountains. From the buildings on the mountains, you can watch the flying geese carefully by opening the wooden windows. You can sit in the pavilion and enjoy the changing weather while talking and laughing.
Look at the gentle rolling hills of these mountains, like a saddle or an embroidered pillow, filled with greenery and flowers and trees. The dangerous place is full of jagged rocks, barren grass, and protruding peaks like hard bones reaching into the sky.
All the disciples on the boat raised their heads and looked quietly at where they came from, no one said anything.
The giant boat finally turned into the mountains. At this time, the river had narrowed very narrowly, less than a shot away, but the water in the canyon was extremely gentle. The river was winding, but the sound of flowing water could not be heard. But it's not big. The giant boat turns back and forth along the river, looking very flexible. On both sides of the mountain walls, branches and vines are criss-crossed, with flowers and fruits in various colors. There are birds building nests on the cliffs, holding branches in their mouths from mud, and apes and monkeys foraging among the trees, climbing and jumping.
The beauty of the scenery here makes you regret that you can’t take it all in!
In front of the river, there is a suspended stone bridge that flies over the mountain walls on both sides. The stone bridge is dozens of feet high from the water. This bridge is so dangerous that it would be scary to walk on it. It is not known how long it took to be built. The people under this bridge Moisture soaked in, the surface of the stone bridge has been covered with green moss and green radish, but it is still very stable, which is amazing. What is even more amazing is that there is an extraordinary attic built on the bridge. The attic is built in a simple and steady manner, facing the bridge. Everyone who got off the giant boat became excited when they saw the words on the plaque on the attic.
On the black plaque, three large gilt characters are vigorous and powerful, with extraordinary writing power.
Wuling Sect.
