The Legend of the Netherworld

Lin Xiao followed the dirty Taoist priest and set foot on a weed-covered path. The mountain road along the way was rugged and bumpy, but Lin Xiao's heart was full of doubts and curiosity, and he couldn't help but keep asking questions to the dirty Taoist priest.

"What can I learn at Feng Shui Academy?"

"By the way, when will I be able to climb walls or fly on clouds?"

However, the dirty Taoist priest remained silent throughout the entire journey, walking through the forest until they reached an open hillside.

Lin Xiao saw two simple thatched huts before him, with an old well in front of them, giving the place a desolate look. Next to the hut on the left was a large cave, the edges of which had been neatly chiseled, clearly man-made.

The dirty Taoist pointed to a thatched hut on the right and said, "You will live here from now on."

Lin Xiao nodded, and then followed the dirty Taoist priest into the dark cave.

The dirty Taoist priest asked Lin Xiao to sit cross-legged and prepared to teach him the way of cultivation. After Lin Xiao sat down as he was told, the dirty Taoist priest gently placed his right hand on Lin Xiao's shoulder and began to slowly inject strength into him.

But at the moment when the energy flowed into Lin Xiao's body, the dirty Taoist was suddenly startled and felt that Lin Xiao's body was like a huge vortex, madly devouring his energy.

The dirty Taoist priest immediately withdrew his hand and thought to himself: "Xuan Ling is right. This child is extremely talented. It's really rare to see him. It's a pity that he is a little old."

He calmed his mind and said, "I will now teach you a set of internal skills called the Boundless Ocean of the Heart. This set of skills compares your mind to a boundless ocean. Through meditation and introspection, it will gradually expand the ocean of the heart, allowing it to accommodate more of the vital energy of heaven and earth, thereby increasing your strength."

After saying that, the dirty Taoist gestured for Lin Xiao to place his hands on his hands, and then began to teach him his secret method.

After a moment, a mantra began to emerge in Lin Xiao's mind: "The mind is like a bright mirror, always wipe it diligently; do not let it attract dust, so that the foundation can be built. Qi enters through the nose and slowly reaches the Dantian; circulates endlessly, and true energy is naturally generated. The mind is boundless, with countless artistic conceptions; tranquility and violence are all born from the heart..."

When Lin Xiao finished meditating and opened his eyes, the Zang Taoist priest had already stood up and said calmly, "From now on, when you meditate, practice this set of internal skills. It will help you absorb the vital energy of heaven and earth, thereby increasing your strength. This set of internal skills is an unexpected discovery of mine. It is more suitable for physical cultivation than the one taught in the academy - the Quiet Heart Concentration Method."

Lin Xiao was extremely grateful. He quickly stood up, bowed and said, "Thank you, Master!"

However, the dirty Taoist shook his head and said coldly, "Don't call me Master. I have been closed to the sect for many years and do not accept disciples. The reason I taught you this method is that I don't want it to be lost.

In addition, you will carry fifty rafts of water every day from the path behind the mountain to the well in front of the thatched cottage. Also, you will be responsible for tending the vegetable patch along the road. When the time comes, I will naturally teach you martial arts."

Lin Xiao listened and nodded seriously. Then he asked curiously, "Is there a book like 'Feng Shui Academy's School Regulations and Precautions'? I feel like I should learn more about Feng Shui Academy first."

At this time, the dirty Taoist priest had already turned around and walked out of the house. "I don't understand what you are saying, but you must complete what I ordered. Finally, I will give you a word of advice: practice well."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao immediately got up and went into the house to look for a shoulder pole and bucket for carrying water.

Because Lin Xiao’s main role was to listen to advice, since the dirty Taoist priest asked him to do so, he silently did as he was told.

Looking at Lin Xiao's receding back, the dirty Taoist priest said nothing more, went straight back to the cave, sat down cross-legged, and began to meditate.

However, as he entered into meditation, the conversation he had with the headmaster last night emerged in his mind.

That was last night. The head of the sect, Xuan Ling, visited the back mountain late at night. He came to the dirty Taoist priest who was meditating and said softly, "Brother, I am here to see you."

The dirty Taoist priest slowly opened his eyes, his gaze deep and cold, and asked calmly: "Xuan Ling, what brings you here at this time?"

The headmaster clasped his fists and bowed, saying in a deep voice, "I didn't mean to disturb you during your quiet cultivation, but today's matter concerns the future of Feng Shui Academy, so I had no choice but to come and see you."

A trace of impatience flashed in the eyes of the dirty Taoist priest, and he said coldly: "If it is about going out of the mountain to recruit disciples, there is no need to persuade you anymore, go back."

The headmaster shook his head and said anxiously, "That's not the case. Junior Brother Daoxian has recruited a sixteen-year-old physical cultivator today. He has exceptional talent and is very rare. But I suspect that Junior Brothers Sanyuan and Chanxin will refuse to recruit this over-age boy tomorrow because of the conflict between the two physical cultivation sects."

"You and I both know that if this boy cannot stay at Feng Shui Academy, it will be our greatest loss since the establishment of the academy. Junior brother, I implore you to help."

Upon hearing this, the dirty Taoist priest's expression was as cold as ice, and he said firmly: "I will no longer accept disciples in this life. You don't need to persuade me anymore. Go back."

Seeing this, the headmaster knew that it was futile to persuade him further, so he had no choice but to clasp his fists and say respectfully: "Junior brother, I'm leaving." After saying that, he hurriedly left the back mountain.

Lin Xiao walked with steady steps along the path behind the mountain, going further and further, until after five miles he finally arrived at a clear stream.

He looked down at the gurgling stream, picked up two heavy buckets, and began to return along the steep mountain road.

At first, Lin Xiao didn't feel too tired. After all, he had been farming with his grandparents since he was young, and carrying water was not unfamiliar to him.

However, as time went on, after he finished carrying water for the third time, fatigue gradually set in. After carrying water for the fifth time, Lin Xiao was exhausted. He put down the bucket and sat by the well, panting heavily.

He looked up at the well in front of him, and couldn't help but look down curiously. The rock wall at the bottom of the well was extremely dry, obviously, the well had been dry for a long time.

Lin Xiao was stunned for a moment, wondering in his heart: "This well is dry, so what kind of water am I carrying?"

He turned his head to look at the dirty Taoist priest in the cave not far away. The other party was still meditating with his eyes closed, as if he was completely unaware of his fatigue.

Lin Xiao felt a little irritated, so he decided to try the "Boundless Heart Sea Technique" taught by the dirty Taoist priest, perhaps it would help him recover some of his strength. He found a comfortable position, closed his eyes, and began to practice mental skills, trying to bring himself into a meditative state.

However, just as he was beginning to get into the state, he heard the cold voice of the dirty Taoist priest: "You are so indecisive. You want to practice before you finish your work. In the end, you will only end up losing more than you gain."

Lin Xiao was startled, his eyes snapping open. He quickly stood up and bowed deeply toward the cave, appearing extremely apologetic, as if to acknowledge his mistake. He then picked up his shoulder pole and bucket and walked down the mountain again to continue carrying water.

For the next few hours, Lin Xiao silently completed the tasks assigned by the dirty Taoist priest. He went down the mountain again and again, carrying water up the mountain again and again. His legs were already exhausted, and his shoulders were sore from the weight of the shoulder pole.

However, Lin Xiao gritted his teeth and did not complain any more. Until it gradually darkened, Lin Xiao had only carried water ten times today, which was far from the fifty times required by the dirty Taoist priest.

Before it got completely dark, Lin Xiao carried the last load of water.

This time, he did not pour the water directly into the well, but turned to the vegetable field next to it and evenly watered the soil.

After doing this, he picked some vegetables and took them back to his thatched hut.

By this time, night had fallen and the mountain air had grown cooler.

Lin Xiao casually cooked some vegetables. Although it was just a simple dinner, he felt particularly satisfied because of the hard work.

After finishing his dinner in a hurry, Lin Xiao sat down cross-legged and couldn't wait to start meditating and practicing the "Boundless Sea of ​​Mind".

As the mental method was running, Lin Xiao felt the energy in his body slowly flowing, and the familiar mantra appeared in his mind again: "The mind is like a bright mirror, always wipe it diligently; don't let it be covered with dust..."

The whole person seems to be in a boundless ocean. Gradually, the feeling of fatigue slowly dissipates from every limb, and the body and mind are greatly relaxed.

Lin Xiao finished his first exercise and felt that his fatigue was relieved a lot, as if he had regained his energy.

Feeling the benefits brought by the Boundless Sea of ​​Mind Technique, Lin Xiao couldn't help but get excited and continued with the second meditation exercise without hesitation.

Lin Xiao was immersed in the practice of this set of mental skills for the entire night.