The Legend of the Netherworld

Lin Jiao led everyone back up the stairs they had come up, arrived in front of the corridor, turned into a fork in the road, and there were still endless stairs in front.

As she walked, she introduced everyone: "We are going to the Tianji Pavilion now, where Elder Xuantian lives."

"Elder Xuantian?" Yuan Hong asked curiously.

Lin Jiao smiled faintly and continued, "He has white hair and eyes as deep as the night sky. He is well versed in astronomy, geography, and divination. The Tianji Pavilion is the sect's core for predicting good and bad luck and gaining insight into the future. Disciples there study the 'Heavenly Secret Calculations', which enables them to foresee storms and avoid disasters. The Tianji Pavilion, led by Elder Xuantian, is of vital importance, providing the basis for every decision made by the sect."

Soon after, everyone finally arrived at the entrance of Tianji Pavilion. Before them was a magnificent attic, brimming with mystery.

On the flat ground in front of the pavilion, several senior brothers were intently practicing swordsmanship. Holding long swords, their strikes were sharp and their movements were graceful, each step seeming to resonate with the heavens and the earth.

Everyone was fascinated by the sight, and saw these brothers chanting in unison:

"The mountains and rivers are silent, listening to the sound of the sword; the stars hang low as I walk.

With every step, the wind and clouds move, and the tip of the sword lightly breaks through the void.

The Qi sinks into the Dantian and the power is generated naturally, and the sword moves are continuous like a flying dragon.

The white crane spreads its wings and breaks through the clouds, and the dragon emerges from the sea and cannot be stopped.

Follow the sword and your heart will be clear, all the troubles in the world will become nothing.

The sword's light washes away all thoughts like water, but the heart of Tao is eternal."

The sword light was like water, and the sword intent soared into the sky. At that moment, it seemed as if the heavens and the earth were whispering to these sword-cultivating disciples. Lin Xiao and the others were stunned by this scene, and their hearts were filled with longing.

"This is the power of the sect..." Lin Xiao sighed in his heart.

Seeing that everyone was staring intently, Lin Jiao said softly, "Don't disturb their practice, let's keep going." So she led everyone along the main road, heading towards their next destination - Baicao Garden.

The Hundred Herb Garden is the domain of Elder Medicine King. Lin Jiao continued to explain as they walked, "Elder Medicine King possesses exceptional medical skills and a compassionate heart. He oversees the sect's Hundred Herb Garden. Here, rare and exotic herbs are cultivated."

The Medicine King Elder is not only proficient in medicine, but also excels at using medicine to cultivate his spiritual cultivation, enhancing his abilities through pharmacological research. His "Medicine King Divine Chapter" is hailed by locals as a divine book that can bring the dead back to life.

As they approached the Baicao Garden, waves of medicinal fragrance filled the air, refreshing the mind. The gate of the Baicao Garden was somewhat similar to that of the Feng Shui Academy, but much smaller in scale.

There were two guards standing at the door. When they saw Lin Jiao coming, they bowed respectfully.

Lin Jiao explained her purpose and said she was looking for Senior Brother Lin Qing.

The doorman nodded and led everyone into the Baicao Garden.

As you step into the garden, the medicinal fragrance becomes stronger, and the surrounding plants are full of vitality.

The surroundings are filled with all kinds of medicinal herbs, some of which are strange in shape, some of which are colorful, and each one seems to be telling of its magical effects.

Senior Brother Lin Qing was busy tending to the medicinal garden. Seeing everyone arrive, he put down his work, a smile spread across his face, and greeted them warmly. "You're here! Perfect! I'll take you on a tour of the Hundred Herb Garden."

Everyone followed Senior Brother Lin Qing into the medicinal field. Lin Xiao and the others were full of curiosity about everything around them, and asked from time to time about the types and uses of the medicinal herbs grown here.

The medicine garden was filled with all kinds of rare and magical medicines. Lin Xiao looked at them carefully as he walked.

He noticed a small seedling with nine leaves swaying gently in the breeze, and pointed at it and asked, "Brother Lin Qing, is this the Nine-Leaf Ganoderma Lucidum? Is the one next to it the Licorice? And is the one further away the Jade Flower?"

Senior Brother Lin Qing looked in the direction Lin Xiao pointed, nodded and said, "Indeed, I didn't expect you to know so much about herbs." Before he finished speaking, everyone else looked at Lin Xiao in surprise.

Lin Xiao smiled and explained, "Ten years ago, Taoist Master Daoxian gave me a copy of 'World Expo', which contains detailed pictures and texts about these medicinal herbs. I happened to have some impression of them, but I didn't expect to see them in person today."

In fact, Lin Xiao had already read "World Expo" thoroughly, and the knowledge in the book had been deeply imprinted in his mind.

Senior Brother Lin Qing continued to lead the group forward until they came to a grove of fruit trees. Seeing the trees laden with plump fruits, Lin Qing smiled and introduced them: "These are Jiao pears. Eating them has the effect of clearing away internal heat and calming the mind."

Upon hearing this, everyone came closer to observe the fruits. Lin Xiao reached out and plucked a pear, sniffing it gently. A fresh fruity fragrance filled his nose, instantly making him feel peaceful.

After passing through the pear tree forest, they came to the planting area of ​​Ganoderma lucidum and Ganoderma lucidum.

Senior Brother Lin Qing continued, "These Ganoderma and Ganoderma lucidum have the effect of replenishing qi and calming the mind, while the old mountain ginseng over there is a sacred product that greatly replenishes qi and strength, calms the mind and improves intelligence. There are also various medicinal herbs such as Hericium erinaceus, tree pearls, kudzu mushrooms and lotus roots, each with its own miraculous effects."

Lin Xiao listened attentively, memorizing each medicinal herb carefully and comparing it with the "World Expo" in his mind. From then on, the physical images of these medicinal herbs were deeply engraved in his memory.

After walking around, everyone was exhausted.

Senior Brother Lin Qing thoughtfully arranged for everyone to dine in the dining hall of Baicao Garden.

In fact, there are more than 30 such medicinal gardens in Baicao Garden, but after visiting only a part of them, people found it difficult to digest so much information.

After the meal, everyone rested for a while, and then Lin Jiao led everyone out of Baicao Garden and returned to the corridor.

This time, they walked up the steps to the main hall. Lin Jiao pointed ahead and said, "That's the main hall. The initiation ceremony you will participate in tomorrow morning will be held here."

However, she did not continue towards the main hall, but instead led everyone to turn right and come to four forks in the road.

Lin Jiao pointed to the fork on the far left and said, "This one leads to the back mountain, but according to the academy rules, students are not allowed to go there."

Then Lin Jiao chose to take the main road in the middle left, leading everyone forward, and finally arrived at the academy's Sutra Pagoda.

Lin Jiao explained, "The Sutra Pagoda is the most precious place in the academy, housing countless secret manuals and techniques. However, you are not yet formal disciples of the academy, so you can only visit from the outside."

Although they could not enter, just by looking at the ancient Sutra Tower from afar, everyone could feel a mysterious and profound aura emanating from the tower.

Then, Lin Jiao led everyone back to the original fork in the road. This time, she chose the main road in the middle. Everyone followed her up and down the stairs and finally arrived at the Xuanzhen Pavilion of the Formation Elder.

Lin Jiao introduced: "The Elder of Formation Dao is extremely wise and has unique insights and attainments in formation techniques. The Xuanzhen Pavilion he leads is the core institution in the sect for research on formation techniques and mechanical techniques.

The formations set up by the Formation Elder can not only trap enemies invisibly, but also gather spiritual energy, helping practitioners achieve twice the result with half the effort. His 'Myriad Formations' in particular are feared by countless enemies.

Although it was late, Lin Jiao did not take everyone into the Xuanzhen Pavilion, but just took them on a brief tour around the periphery.

Then they continued along the main road and arrived at the Zen Hall of Elder Chanxin.

Lin Jiao explained, "Elder Chanxin possesses a peaceful mind and profound cultivation, making him the spiritual leader of the sect. The Chanyi Hall he oversees is where disciples cultivate their minds and comprehend the essence of Zen."

Through meditation and preaching, Elder Chanxin often guides his disciples to understand their true nature, transcend worldly worries, and reach a higher state of spiritual practice. His 'Chanxin Jue' (Zen Heart Secret) can purify and elevate one's soul.

Similarly, they did not enter the Zen Hall, but just took a brief tour of the periphery and then returned to the original fork in the road.

This time, they chose the main road on the far right and headed to the Sanyuan Palace of Elder Sanyuan.

Lin Jiao said: "The Sanyuan Elder has a profound understanding of the Three Yuans and Nine Yuns, and the Sanyuan Palace focuses on studying the relationship between time and Feng Shui.

"The elders here teach their disciples how to optimize the Feng Shui layout by grasping the time period." Lin Jiao explained as she walked.

When they arrived at the gate of Sanyuan Palace, they saw the elder giving a speech and hurried away.

Finally, they continued along the main road and arrived at the Star Pavilion of the Star Elder.

Lin Jiao continued, "Elder Xingchen is well versed in astronomy, geography, feng shui, and numerology. He can observe the stars and predict good and bad luck.

The Xingchen Pavilion he leads focuses on studying the relationship between the movement of stars and feng shui patterns, and predicts changes in geographical feng shui through observing astronomical phenomena.

After visiting the various sects of Feng Shui Academy, it was already dark.

Seeing that everyone was a little tired, Lin Jiao planned to take everyone back to Xuelin House.