The Legend of the Netherworld

The village was quiet and peaceful in the evening. Lin Xiao had just finished his farm work and was heading home. As he passed the village entrance, he heard the village chief issuing a notice under a tree.

The village chief said, "Tomorrow the Feng Shui Academy's envoys will arrive! All children between the ages of five and fifteen will gather under the large locust tree at the village entrance tomorrow morning to participate in the bone-touching test, which takes place once every ten years!"

Hearing this news, Lin Xiao stopped and couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye." He lowered his head slightly, and his memory seemed to have returned to the distant past.

When I was a child, I had participated in such a test with Lin Jiao, and even thought that I would definitely be able to become a disciple of Feng Shui Academy.

However, time flies, and now I am sixteen years old.

A thought suddenly came to Lin Xiao's mind: "I wonder if Lin Jiao will come back with the messenger tomorrow?" So, Lin Xiao returned home.

The next morning, Lin Xiao stood in front of the yard, holding an axe in his hand, chopping wood skillfully. Every time the axe blade fell, it was accompanied by a clean and sharp "crack".

At this time, a familiar voice came from outside the courtyard: "Lin Xiao, Jiao'er is back today and has arrived at the village entrance. Let's go pick her up. It's been eight years, I'm afraid she has almost forgotten the way home!"

Lin Jiao's mother stood at the gate, a look of joy on her face. Lin Xiao was shocked. Lin Jiao was back? Without thinking much, he quickly put down his axe and rushed to the village entrance with Lin Jiao's mother.

When he reached the entrance of the village, Lin Xiao saw from afar that the envoy from the Feng Shui Academy was standing under a big locust tree, surrounded by a group of excited children, and was explaining to them the cultivation methods of the Liuding Realm and Liujia Realm.

The children opened their eyes wide, as if they were listening to a magical story like the Arabian Nights.

On the side, Lin Jiao was busy maintaining order at the scene.

She was wearing a Taoist robe from the Feng Shui Academy, and her whole body exuded a graceful and ethereal aura, which was out of tune with the mundane scene around her.

Lin Jiao was a graceful young lady. Eight years had transformed her from a mischievous little girl into a mature and steady young lady. She directed the crowd, gently but firmly maintaining order.

Lin Xiao's heart suddenly tightened as he recognized the familiar figure, a mixture of emotions welling up in his heart. Just then, Lin Jiao also saw them, a smile instantly breaking out on her face. She dropped what she was doing and quickly ran towards them.

"Mom! Lin Xiao!" Lin Jiao shouted excitedly.

She ran with her arms open, first hugging Lin Jiao's mother tightly, then she turned to Lin Xiao and threw herself into his arms without hesitation.

Lin Xiao felt the strength of Lin Jiao's embrace, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart. They hugged each other for a long time, as if they wanted to pour all the longing they had for each other in the past eight years into this moment.

"Brother Lin Xiao, you haven't forgotten me, right?" Lin Jiao raised her head and said with a smile, her eyes full of relief.

Lin Xiao smiled lightly: "Of course I haven't forgotten."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Lin Jiao turned and pointed at the children undergoing bone-touching tests. "Once these children have finished their bone tests, I'll be able to go home. The academy's envoys will also visit our home."

Lin Xiao nodded. Although he had a thousand words to say, he didn't know where to start.

He knew that Lin Jiao must have a lot to say to her family, and he already had many questions hidden in his heart, waiting for her answers.

At this moment, the two stood at the entrance of the village, quietly watching the children taking tests under the locust tree, each with a thousand thoughts in their hearts.

Not long after, Lin Jiao's mother went home to prepare lunch, while Lin Xiao stayed with Lin Jiao waiting for the test to end.

The sun shone under the big locust tree, and the children lined up with anticipation, waiting for the bone-touching test from the Feng Shui Academy messenger.

The whole village was filled with an atmosphere of tension and excitement.

Lin Xiao stood aside, watching all this quietly, recalling his experience of participating in the bone-touching test three times, and couldn't help feeling a lot of emotions in his heart.

The test finally ended at noon. Four children passed the test: eight-year-old Wang Yiming, ten-year-old Liu Yi, nine-year-old Wang Hao, and six-year-old Yuan Hong.

The faces of the selected children were filled with excitement and pride that were difficult to conceal, and the villagers watching also admired the children's good luck and talent.

Seeing that the test was over, Lin Xiao walked forward to look for Lin Jiao.

At this time, Lin Jiao was inviting the envoy from Feng Shui Academy to her home for lunch. Seeing Lin Xiao approaching, Lin Jiao smiled and introduced him, "Brother Lin Xiao, this is Taoist Priest Daoxian, and this is Senior Brother Lin Qing."

Lin Xiao clasped his hands together respectfully, bowed, and said, "Greetings to Taoist Master Daoxian, Senior Brother Lin Qing."

Taoist Priest Daoxian glanced at Lin Xiao and said with a smile, "I remember you. You begged me to touch your bones three times. You were very persistent back then."

Lin Xiao scratched his head sheepishly and replied with a smile: "I am indeed sorry to trouble you, Taoist Priest. I was always unwilling to give up when I was young."

Taoist Master Daoxian waved his hand and said with a smile: "It's a good thing that the young man is eager to learn the truth."

Lin Xiao then said, "Master, it's already lunchtime. Mother Lin Jiao has already prepared a sumptuous meal for us. If you don't mind, please come to Lin Jiao's house and have a meal together."

Taoist Priest Daoxian nodded and said with a smile: "In that case, then it is better to obey than to be respectful."

So, the group headed to Lin Jiao's home. Lin Jiao's mother had already prepared a sumptuous meal and warmly entertained Taoist Master Daoxian and Senior Brother Lin Qing.

The atmosphere at the table was harmonious, filled with laughter and conversation. Taoist Master Daoxian would occasionally praise Lin Jiao's mother's cooking skills. Lin Jiao and Lin Xiao kept talking in low voices, as if trying to make up for the eight years of separation.

After the meal, Taoist Master Daoxian stood up and said, "I have something else to do. I need to go to the home of the child who passed the bone-touching test today to explain the situation." After that, he took Senior Brother Lin Qing and said goodbye and left.

After Lin Xiao and Lin Jiao saw the Taoist priest off, Lin Jiao finally had a chance to quietly reunite with her family. She chatted with her parents for a while, discussing the Feng Shui Academy, and then went next door to find Lin Xiao.

Lin Jiao found Lin Xiao and shared her bittersweet memories of her retreat. "These eight years have been truly difficult," she said. "I practiced from morning till night every day, and sometimes I was attacked by wild beasts, leaving me covered in wounds."

Lin Jiao sighed, a hint of fatigue in her eyes, but her tone was filled with tenacity and pride. "However, I have also made considerable gains. I have broken through to the fifth level of Dingmao."

When Lin Xiao heard the news, he was happy for her but also felt sorry for her.

Lin Jiao continued, "You don't know, every time I feel like I can't hold on, I think of you. As long as I think of Brother Lin Xiao, I will have endless motivation."

Lin Xiao's heart warmed, and he smiled and replied, "Although my life here is dull, I always miss you. Life in the village is always the same, but recently something strange happened..."

Lin Jiao looked at him curiously: "What's the matter?"

Lin Xiao said slowly, "A few days ago, I experienced severe pain. It felt like all the bones in my body were broken, but they healed quickly. Afterwards, I found that my body seemed to have become much stronger, my strength was much greater, and I walked more lightly than before. I think... maybe I can practice now."

A hint of surprise and joy flashed in Lin Jiao's eyes. "Really? That's great!" Lin Jiao didn't know the secret of Lin Xiao's life experience, so she thought to herself, "Maybe the bone-strengthening medicine I gave Brother Lin Xiao back then has finally taken effect, but the effect will only be exerted after he reaches a certain age."

She said excitedly, "I'll go find Taoist Priest Daoxian and ask him to give you another bone-touching test! If you can really practice, then you can also enter the Feng Shui Academy!"

Seeing her so happy, Lin Xiao was also full of anticipation and nodded slightly.