Jian Chou originally thought she would plunge headfirst into darkness with the Nameless Sword and end up with a bloody head, but she never expected to see such an expansive scene before her eyes.
Fudao Shanren had come from the nunnery gates, charging straight to the back of the nunnery, crossing the mountain stream to see a cave, and plunged in without hesitation!
After a brief darkness, Jian Chou’s heartbeat suddenly stopped, holding her breath.
The dense, almost tangible darkness was gradually dispelled by the flowing five-colored radiance.
Gentle, bright, yet not blinding.
This seemed to be inside the belly of a mountain, with the bottom being a pool a hundred zhang in radius.
A stone wall rose steeply ahead like a knife’s edge, towering high to the mountain belly’s dome over thirty zhang above.
At the lower part of the stone wall were two tightly closed golden giant gates. About ten zhang above the giant gates, deeply embedded in the stone wall, was an enormous sphere that occupied a full third of the wall’s size!
It was a sphere protruding outward by half, made of stone, with a pitted and uneven surface that seemed to have hollow ancient patterns. Inside, however, was bright white light that rotated gently, as if flowing and spinning within the sphere.
That white light scattered outward and somehow became five colors.
The brilliant radiance almost captured all of Jian Chou’s attention.
She still stood on the Nameless Sword, with whistling sounds in her ears, getting closer and closer to that stone gate!
The closer they got, the more she realized her insignificance.
Swish!
The Nameless Sword’s tip pointed downward as it descended. Fudao Shanren landed at once, standing before that enormous stone gate.
Jian Chou followed him down. When she looked up at the stone gate, she discovered that she had to crane her neck high to barely see the top of these two golden gates.
Even higher above, that enormous sphere seemed ready to fall at any moment, extremely precarious!
Light continuously scattered from the sphere, shooting into the surrounding dense darkness before vanishing in a flash.
Watching this, Jian Chou felt her heart trembling with fear.
“Junior generation pays respects to Shanren!”
In the vast and strange space, the voices of four people speaking in unison suddenly rang out.
Jian Chou was startled and withdrew her gaze, turning around to discover that beneath this precipice actually stood two men and two women, all seeming to have bloodstains on their bodies. At this moment, they were all bowing toward Fudao Shanren, who stood beside her.
She couldn’t see their facial expressions clearly, only felt they seemed overly respectful.
Fudao Shanren seemed to sense Jian Chou’s surprise. Holding the broad Nameless Sword in one hand and supporting himself with that broken bamboo pole in the other, he turned his head toward Jian Chou while smugly raising his eyebrows.
In that instant, Jian Chou, who already understood Fudao Shanren’s nature, immediately grasped his meaning—
How about that? Isn’t your master impressive? Are you scared now?
Jian Chou seemed to have already heard Fudao Shanren saying these words, and couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of her mouth, saying nothing.
Hmph.
Little brat.
Seeing Jian Chou ignore him, Fudao Shanren felt somewhat displeased. But he couldn’t let these young disciples from other sects bow for too long, so he turned his head and put on airs: “What time is it now? No need for such a ceremony, rise.”
Only then did the four people breathe a sigh of relief, straightening their postures and raising their heads.
Thus, Jian Chou had the opportunity to observe them.
Two men and two women, arranged left and right, all facing Jian Chou.
On the far left was a male cultivator carrying a long sword with a crimson red scabbard, wearing a dark red robe with some dark brown traces at the sleeves and collar that looked like bloodstains.
He had prominent cheekbones but an extremely ordinary appearance. At a glance, one couldn’t find any distinctive features.
Second from the left was another male cultivator, shouldering a black great axe. His right-hand fingers were covered with new and old scars in a dense pattern, wearing black metallic bracers.
Jian Chou didn’t know what material they were made of, but just looking at them made her feel their weight.
She raised her eyes to observe this person’s face, only finding an honest appearance with thick black eyebrows and eyes wide as copper bells, also looking at her.
For a moment, Jian Chou was somewhat stunned, as if startled by him.
Fudao Shanren didn’t notice their exchange, only glancing at the tightly closed giant stone gate before asking: “While I was away, nothing happened here, right?”
“After coming out of the hidden realm, we never entered again. However, that beast tried to charge the hidden gate multiple times but never succeeded.”
A clear and gentle voice suddenly rang out from the side, carrying a hint of lingering fear.
Jian Chou looked toward the voice and saw that it was a woman standing beside the axe-wielding male cultivator.
She wore a water-blue gauze dress with strange patterns embroidered on all four corners that looked roughly like two closed windows. She was slender and graceful, with rippling eyes that held an intoxicating radiance. Her lips had a full luster, and her narrow phoenix eyes revealed a hint of hidden scrutiny, as if curious about Jian Chou’s identity.
This woman held nothing in her hands, only clasping them at her waist, displaying excellent bearing.
Honestly, Jian Chou’s first impression of her was quite good.
Shifting her gaze, Jian Chou looked beside her—
Standing next to her was a little girl about thirteen or fourteen years old, with a timid expression, wearing red clothes. She had a round face and was quite adorable, blinking curious eyes at her.
Jian Chou also blinked.
The little girl immediately seemed startled and withdrew her gaze.
Fudao Shanren caught this scene and gave Jian Chou a warning look.
Seeing this, Jian Chou immediately dared not look around anymore and stood obediently to the side.
She didn’t know what was happening…
In this situation, Fudao Shanren’s gaze was extremely intimidating.
Seeing her behavior, Fudao Shanren turned back, his gaze sweeping across the four people’s faces one by one.
“Time is of the essence; delay breeds complications. You traveled thousands of miles to this place for trials, and while it was overreaching yourselves, it’s not your fault—blame your elders for acting without brains. Since I, Shanren, have encountered today’s events, I naturally won’t abandon you.”
When these words were spoken, the several people standing before him all seemed to breathe sighs of relief.
Based on this scene, Jian Chou deduced that Fudao Shanren was probably an important figure in Shijiu Zhou.
Could it be that he had times when he didn’t lie?
Finding this curious, she pricked up her ears to continue listening.
Fudao Shanren continued: “The teleportation array requires five people to activate. Now I’ve found the fifth person. Your trials need not continue. In a moment, you’ll directly activate the teleportation array and return to Shijiu Zhou.”
“Thank you, Shanren.”
The four finally felt their hearts settle back in their chests, expressing gratitude in unison.
However, they also became curious about the “fifth person” Fudao Shanren mentioned.
Earlier, they had been speaking continuously, not daring to challenge Fudao Shanren’s authority and keeping their eyes straight ahead. But now, having relaxed, they all looked toward Jian Chou.
When these gazes fell upon her, Jian Chou felt uncomfortable all over.
She thought to herself, should she introduce herself now?
The words were already at her throat, and Jian Chou felt somewhat nervous, about to speak.
Unexpectedly, Fudao Shanren beckoned to her: “Jian Chou, come here. I have something to instruct you.”
Jian Chou?
Her name was Jian Chou?
All four people were listening intently. The sword-carrying youth had no particular reaction, but the axe-wielding man smacked his lips as if silently repeating the name in his mind.
The blue-robed woman gave Jian Chou another look, her gaze flowing.
As for the little girl, she seemed to overcome her fear again, looking curiously at Jian Chou.
The question in all four people’s minds was the same: What was her relationship with Fudao Shanren?
Unfortunately, Jian Chou didn’t know any mind-reading techniques and couldn’t read others’ thoughts.
Hearing Fudao Shanren call her, she was startled and looked toward him.
Fudao Shanren walked to the side.
Jian Chou didn’t know how this enormous space within the mountain’s belly was formed. The ground where she currently stood protruded from the deep pool in the mountain’s belly, extending outward in a semicircle.
The semicircular platform backed against the stone wall, facing the surrounding pool water, encircled all around.
Fudao Shanren walked to the water’s edge, some distance from where the four people stood.
Jian Chou followed him over. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Fudao Shanren raise his hand and flick, creating a light screen that appeared behind Jian Chou, separating the master and disciple pair from the four people behind.
“Don’t be surprised, it just isolates sound and sight.”
Speaking here, those four couldn’t see or hear.
Jian Chou understood but was curious: “Does Master have something to instruct me?”
“Earlier, fearing something would happen to them, I was rushed and didn’t have time to tell you many things. Danger could occur here at any moment. I want you to leave with them, directly through the teleportation array, to reach Shijiu Zhou. When you arrive there, you’ll appear on a sea island. When you get there, don’t wander around. Take this thing and wait for me at the original spot. In at most two days, and I’ll come find you.”
Saying this, Fudao Shanren handed Jian Chou the broken bamboo pole that never left his side.
Jian Chou’s mouth twitched.
Was this a parting gift?
Why was it…
So…
Shabby!
The broken bamboo pole was dirty, with nine sections and about four feet long. Normally, it was probably tormented severely by Fudao Shanren, as its originally green surface seemed to have developed many white scratches.
It looked completely ordinary without any special features.
Jian Chou hesitated for a long while before accepting it, holding it in her hands.
“Thank you, Master.”
“You’ve also read the ‘Ten Thousand Phenomena as One Method’ I gave you. It contains the most basic magical artifact manipulation techniques. With your exceptional talent, just learning by imitation should be enough to bluff people. Since you’re just teleporting over, probably no danger will arise.”
Fudao Shanren spoke while glancing at the giant gate that showed no movement, his eyes hiding deep wariness.
“It’s just that Shijiu Zhou is a place of cultivation, and these four aren’t cultivators from my Yashan. Ultimately, people’s hearts are hard to fathom. Master sees that axe-wielding one looks like a fool—easy to deceive, perhaps reliable at crucial moments.”
Human hearts are treacherous?
Why did this seem…
Somewhat different from what she expected?
Jian Chou gripped the broken bamboo pole with both hands, nodding. Regarding her impression of that axe-wielding man, she agreed with Fudao Shanren’s judgment.
“Disciple thinks the same. By the way, Master, does your broken bamboo pole have a name?”
“…”
Broken bamboo pole?!
Fudao Shanren nearly exploded with anger!
“Do you know how precious this thing is? This is a nine-section bamboo I traveled far to the South Sea to obtain! Do you know how many people cry and still can’t get half a section?! Still calling it a broken bamboo pole? Don’t hold it anymore, give it back!”
“No, no, no!”
Seeing this unreliable master wanting to take back the broken bamboo pole, Jian Chou was utterly amazed and quickly protected it.
“Master, you’ve already given it away. How can you take it back? Disciple thanks Master for the reward!”
“Good that you know your place!”
Seeing her finally behave, Fudao Shanren felt relieved.
He originally thought there were many things to instruct, but thinking about it, besides this broken bamboo pole, there wasn’t much else to say. As long as Jian Chou had some brains, she shouldn’t encounter problems after arriving there.
He would quickly resolve the problems in this Qingfeng Nunnery hidden realm and could return to Shijiu Zhou to report.
Therefore, Fudao Shanren directly reached out to remove the light screen and led Jian Chou back toward the four people.
All four looked toward Jian Chou, or rather, the broken bamboo pole in her hands.
The little girl blinked, the sword-carrying male remained silent, the axe-wielding man widened his eyes in disbelief, and the blue-robed woman’s eye corner twitched frantically with some subtle spasms.
She hesitated while looking at Jian Chou for a long time before addressing Fudao Shanren: “Shanren, this must be the fifth person you found? Please forgive Lan’er’s rudeness, but may I ask her distinguished name and which sect she’s from?”
Fudao Shanren raised an eyebrow, glanced at her, then looked toward Jian Chou.
Jian Chou understood.
Holding the long, verdant nine-section bamboo, she stepped forward half a step, clasped her hands in a salute, and slightly lowered her head with a gentle smile.
“Disciple of Yashan, Jian Chou.”