The Legend of the Netherworld

The days passed quickly in Lin Xiao's simple life.

Spring passed, winter arrived, and another year had passed. On the day before New Year's Eve, Lin Jiao finally returned home from Feng Shui Academy.

As usual, she brought back many stories about her spiritual practice, but this time she could only stay for two days and had to leave on the first day of the new year.

Because the master was planning to take her to the Secluded Valley for secluded training, they were supposed to set off before the New Year. Fortunately, Lin Jiao begged him so much that the master made an exception and agreed to let her set off on the second day of the New Year.

Lin Jiao has now reached the fourth level of Qi cultivation, Dingchou, and is making rapid progress.

As soon as the two met, Lin Jiao couldn't wait to share her experiences at the Feng Shui Academy with Lin Xiao. There were exciting good news and also worrying bad news.

"You know what, brother? I can now perform fire control with one hand, and water control with the other hand at the same time!" Lin Jiao said proudly, "This is something that ordinary people can only do at the eighth or ninth level of the Ding Chou realm."

Lin Xiao showed an envious look: "You are really amazing, Lin Jiao! It seems that your time at Feng Shui Academy was not in vain."

"What's more, I even crossed the border and defeated my senior brother who was at the Ding Chou Fifth Realm. It was so satisfying!"

Just as the story was about to end, Lin Jiao mysteriously took out a bottle of small pills from her arms and handed it to Lin Xiao: "Brother, take these. They are ordinary pills that can make you healthy." Lin Jiao looked at him with a smile.

Lin Xiao thought it was just an ordinary pill, so he swallowed it without thinking too much.

In reality, this was still the precious bone-strengthening medicine given to Lin Jiao by the Sect Leader. Lin Jiao knew that if she told Lin Xiao the truth, he would not easily accept it, so she could only continue to conceal it.

The two chatted for a while and then went home to prepare for the New Year.

On the first day of the new year, Lin Xiao and Lin Jiao came to the village entrance again, ready to say goodbye.

Lin Xiao knew in his heart that this farewell might be a separation for a long time, and Lin Jiao seemed to realize this as well.

She looked at Lin Xiao seriously and said, "Brother Lin Xiao, I'm going into seclusion this time to practice, and it may take three to five years, or even ten years before I can come out.

The headmaster told me that if I were born into a wealthy family, I would have reached the seventh or eighth level of Ding Chou by now, or even reached the ninth level of Ding Chou. The only way to catch up with them now is to practice in seclusion. You must never forget me.

Lin Xiao smiled and said softly, "How could I possibly forget you? Don't worry about your cultivation. When you come back, I will definitely be here waiting for you."

After hearing this, Lin Jiao stood on tiptoe, gave Lin Xiao a light kiss on the cheek, then turned and left.

Lin Xiao watched her figure gradually disappear at the end of the village entrance, and his heart felt inexplicably empty. Although he spoke lightly on the surface, he had a faint feeling of reluctance in his heart.

After returning home, Lin Xiao's life returned to normal. He still helped his grandparents with farm work during the day and read "World Expo" or practiced Tai Chi Baguaquan at night.

With the arrival of spring, eight-year-old Lin Xiao had reached the age to go to a private school. Logically, even if his family was poor, he could still serve as a schoolboy for wealthy children, at least learning a few words.

However, on the first day of attending the private school, Lin Xiao discovered that the lecturer's level was not even as good as his.

Lin Xiao felt that in modern society, he was a top student from a 211 university, which would have been considered a scholar in ancient times. So after attending classes for a few days, Lin Xiao decided to drop out of school and go home to continue helping his grandparents with their work.

Seeing that Lin Xiao was so smart but had no chance to continue his studies, his grandparents wanted to send him to the dyeing workshop in town as an apprentice.

However, the owner of the dyeing factory felt that Lin Xiao was too young and at the age of eight could not bear the heavy work of an apprentice, so he suggested that Lin Xiao wait until he was older before learning the craft.

Time flies, and the days pass by. Another year has passed, and in the blink of an eye, Lin Xiao is already nine years old. The Spring Festival is approaching again, but this time, Lin Jiao did not come back.

Without Lin Jiao's company, this Spring Festival became lonely and boring. Lin Xiao was always thinking about her, wondering whether her retreat training in Feng Shui Academy was going well.

Lin Xiao stood at the entrance of the village, looking at the mountains in the distance, and couldn't help but think: "I don't know when Lin Jiao will come back..."