After a while, the old man stepped steadily into the cave, and I paused to open my eyes and see the scene around me.

The cave was empty, and beneath me was a path paved with white jade stones, crooked, as if it were a joke. It is said to be a stone, but it is actually a non-gold and non-wood, and it feels like a jade material. It is said to be a small road, but it is actually only a few dozen zhang long, and the entire twisted arc is quite natural. At the end of the path is a high platform, and as for what is on the platform, it is impossible to see it here.

On either side of the path are two pools of water with never-before-seen flowers. This flower looks like a green lotus but is golden and red, in this dark hole exudes wisps of ghostly light, the petals stretch out of the filaments and float gently, it looks good, but there are always some indescribable weirdness.

"Hey, hey, it's okay, let me down, I can't run away", as soon as he finished speaking, he was thrown to the ground by the old man, and his face and stone made a direct intimate contact. I jumped up and was about to scold, but I heard the old man say, "Isn't it different from what you think?" ”

I was stunned by his words, the surrounding looked deserted, the only thing I couldn't see was the high platform, he looked at me and looked at the high platform, and continued: "Let's go, go up and have a look." ”

Walking along the stone path to the top of the platform, I was startled by what I saw. There is no imaginary treasure, grain, chicken, duck and fish meat should be the scene, in the center of the high platform is a strange "coffin", I can't say what color it is, transparent but can't see through the inside, the material seems to be the same as the jade on the stone road, but more exquisite, the rune patterns carved on the outside are a little blurry, not covered, but people can't figure out what it wants to express.

Further back is a cliff, the cliff is very high, and there is no end below.

The one in the middle is a coffin, but it looks like it, because there is no lid, it is more like a larger box. The coffin emitted a cold air, and it was pulled to both sides of the high platform, and flowed into the pool next to the stone road in the direction of the up.

The thought that the water I usually drink in the city might have come out of a coffin made me feel a churn in my stomach.

The old man seemed to see through my next move, and stretched out his middle index finger and tapped me twice on my chest, "There is no desecration here. ”

He walked over to the ice coffin, recited a few incomprehensible incantations, sat down cross-legged, and said, "Sit down." ”

I walked over with great reluctance, thinking that the old man, though he had just said that he was going to send me on his way, did not seem to have much follow-up. I learned from him to sit cross-legged, and although the posture was a little uncomfortable, he still sat and looked around curiously.

I asked him, "Old man, your treasure is a bit unique, you know that your limit is approaching, and you have made preparations in advance, but you can't take me to the funeral." ”

Although I wanted to be angry with this old man and tell a joke, I saw that he was not interested in what I said, and I did not continue to feel uncomfortable.

After nearly half an hour, the old man exhaled and turned to look at me, "Little thing, what's your name?" ”

“…… Qingyi", I paused for a moment, "What, do you still want to set up a monument for the master?" ”

The old man ignored me, closed his eyes and thought for a while and said: "The mountains and seas flow together, the sun and the moon are in the same boat, the heaven and the earth have poles, and the Dao heart has no poles. ”

I was a little dazed by his sudden words, so I listened to him say to himself: "Mortals don't know where they come in a lifetime, and they don't know how to go in a hurry, and they don't know how to go, and the way can be clear, and the heart can be clear." Have you ever thought that one day you will be free between the mountains and the sea, the same age as the heaven and the earth, and the same dust as the sun and the moon? ”

"Huh? What are you talking about, old man, it's the same as this and that, can you make it simpler. ”

"That is, are you willing to go out and open your eyes to see the real world."

I seemed to understand what he was trying to say, "Huh? Is it a cultivator? Is it to become the fairy who often says in the mouths of the old people, who can call the wind and rain? ”

"Hehe, whether it is a fairy or a god, in the final analysis, it is a choice. Of course, you can understand it as you do, but we are more accustomed to calling it Xiuzhen. Man is the product of the intersection of heaven and earth, yin and yang, and is naturally with all things in heaven and earth. What my generation of cultivators cultivate is the unity of heaven and earth and body and mind, and what they seek is the true nature of this mountain and sea. What the cultivator is exploring is the origin of heaven and earth, and what he understands is the avenue of mountains and seas, and the magic is only a stubble, understand? ”

I still couldn't fully understand the old man's words for a while, and thought, "Is it intermittently scared silly, and it hasn't eased up yet?" ”

As soon as I thought of this, the old man seemed to be able to read the thoughts in my heart, and slapped me, although it didn't hit me, the palm wind still knocked me to the ground.

I looked at the old man angrily, but what he did just now still made me fall into deep thought, "Old ......, if I cultivate with you, can you teach me anything?" ”

"Although you kid looks like an ordinary mess and has no spirituality, it is fate that we met here. If you worship me as a teacher now, I can reluctantly accept you as a disciple and pass on your cultivation tips, and the future will be promising. ”

Looking at the strange and smug expression on the old man's face after he finished speaking, I tentatively said: "Since I don't have any talent, I'd better play with my friends in the city honestly, and be happy every day, it's good." ”

After speaking, the old man jumped up in a hurry, "Stinky boy, I don't know how many people want to be real apprentices." If it weren't for the fact that you are clear and clear, your temper is gentle, your source pool has a deep foundation, and most importantly, it is just in time for the old man's love for talent, how could ordinary people have the opportunity to enter my door, and they would not come over quickly to salute. ”

The more I listened to him, the more I felt that the big bad wolf was persecuting the little sheep,

"Old man, how do I feel that you are looking forward to me being your apprentice."

The old man couldn't help but pause when he heard my words, his eyes widened, "Joke, this Dao is one of the three major gates of Zhongzhou, the Great Elder of Taiqing Palace, and his skills have reached the realm of transformation, which is the realm of immortals you just mentioned." The old man is one of the best, I don't know how many people want to be my apprentice, hmph, while I haven't changed my mind, I'll give you another chance to come and apprentice! ”

I tilted my head to look at him boasting, and though I didn't quite believe what he said, it seemed that the old man had caused the spectacle in the valley.

"Can you answer me a few questions, old man?" ，

"Ask!"

"Did you make this crack in the North Mountain just now, and this hole that suddenly appeared? I had seen a large dark cloud suddenly appear in the sky, and a flash of golden light dissipated. And what are you doing standing in front of the cave in a daze? And why did you look like you were scared silly when I first ran into you? Uh, and what's this coffin for? ”

The old man rubbed his brows, "...... Can you ask question by question, boy? The cracks in this mountain, the clouds in the sky, and the golden light you mentioned were all caused by the cave where I opened this mountain. The opening process of the cave requires a lot of spiritual power and consumes the mind, so the old man will have a short period of soul instability.

As for what you said about this coffin, it is indeed a treasure in this cave, and I call it the Ice Coffin. It is a naturally formed gem in this mountain, and its usefulness will be explained to you later. This cave is supposed to have been opened by a great god to protect this immature mountain treasure.

Many years ago, the old man happened to pass by this place and was unable to open it, and it was only recently that he accumulated enough treasures to use as sacrifices to open this place.

Of course, these are not very important, and the next important thing is to let the teacher make a simple and detailed self-introduction.

I am Yi Mingzi, the elder of Lingxiu Mountain in Taiqing Palace, and my Taiqing Palace is one of the oldest and most powerful Three Avenue Palaces in this mountain and sea, and Yuqing Palace and Shangqing Palace are held simultaneously to educate the living beings in the world, preach the law, and find the truth.

What you said before is just the simplest technique, and you can't look down on it at all, of course, it's already a miracle for you mortals, and you'll find that it's just a miracle if you follow the teacher. ”

"Oh, that's amazing...... Ay? Who said they wanted to worship you as a teacher, I ......"

Before I finished speaking, the old man snorted coldly all his life, "Then the old man can only kill you, how can mortals know such a heavenly opportunity." ”

As he spoke, he pointed to his side, and the long sword behind his back was sheathed, and the cold cold light was a little dazzling, turning slowly, as if it would cut my throat in the next moment,

I trembled when I saw this scene, "Please, I am apprenticed, Master is above, please accept the apprentice's worship." ”

I saw the old man grinning, put the sword back, and said, "That's right, the apprenticeship ceremony should be three bows and nine knocks, bathing and changing clothes, and sacrificing to the sages." Of course, if you are young and ignorant, you will not be blamed for not knowing the etiquette as a teacher, so get up. ”

Looking at the old man's beard raised with the corners of his mouth, I felt that I might have been fooled, patted the mud on my body, stood up and looked at him squintingly,

"Why do you look at the teacher like this, come and come, this teacher also worships, and I will give you a gift for the teacher."

As he spoke, he took out a black fan from his arms, "Here, keep it away, this treasure is amazing, it was found by the teacher in an ancient cave mansion with great difficulty, and it has the ability to destroy the world, with your current ability, you must not be able to see it, all in all, just don't take it out at will, hehe." ”

I took the black fan with disgust, and I couldn't tell that it was a "powerful" treasure in the sworn state, just like a folding fan bought on the side of the road to cool off, and it was the kind that was accidentally burned when I lit firewood. But the apprenticeship has already been completed, and it is too late to say anything. I said perfunctorily, "Thank you."

I wiped the black ash from my hand, pinned it to my waist casually, and continued to look at "my master" with squinted eyes.

He also smiled a little awkwardly and rubbed his hands. Maybe he didn't feel majestic enough, so he straightened his chest, stood with his hands in his hands, and said seriously: "From now on, you will be the chief disciple of my Lingxiu Mountain, and you can't lose the face of our Lingxiu lineage when you go out." ”

"Damn! I just said that I don't know how many people want to be your apprentice, and I'm the only one who co-authored it! I feel more and more that this old man is simply framing me.

He also seemed to feel a little embarrassed, "That's why you can prove your talent, the old man never accepts apprentices." Since you are the founding disciple of the old man, you will definitely teach you as a teacher, so that you can become the strongest cultivator in this world! ”

Looking at my disdainful eyes, the old man smiled awkwardly, "Sit down, and I'll talk to you briefly about the cultivation realm," and pulled me to sit down on the stone platform.

"Cultivating the truth and cultivating the truth, cultivating is the truth of the Great Dao, and cultivating is also the true nature of people, and people are one of the creatures in this vast world.

Before heaven and earth were born from Wuji, there was already the origin of this world, which is called Tai Chi by cultivators.

From nothing to something, the origin is transformed into yin and yang, yang is clear and yin is turbid, yang is light and yin is heavy, clear and yang converge into the sky, turbidity and yin condense into the earth, yin and yang rise and fall, under the law of the great avenue, they blend and give birth to all things in this world, which is the axiom explored by countless outstanding cultivators since ancient times.

In addition, cultivators are not all human races like you and me, birds, swimming fish, animals, plants and trees, etc., and even soil, sand and stones can be cultivated, absorbing the aura of heaven and earth, constantly reborn, and through understanding the truth of heaven and earth, and corresponding to heaven and earth, you can move mountains and reclaim the sea and even live forever.

Of course, these are all legally feasible cultivators, and there are very few cultivators who can truly comprehend the Great Dao and grasp yin and yang.

Do you know why the Three Great Dao Palaces are called Taiqing, Yuqing, and Shangqing, this is because these three Dao ancestors are one of the few enlightened people throughout the ages, leaving behind the inheritance and blessing of the world, educating future generations, and setting up an immortal monument, letting us know that those realms are not water, moon, and mirrors, and they are unattainable. ”

Seeing that I was dumbfounded as he listened, the old man smiled proudly and twisted his beard,

"Cultivators are divided into five realms, entry, truth-seeking, enlightenment, Dharma transmission, and enlightenment, and there are higher realms above this, and of course, those are too far away from you.

Monks at different stages will have different phenomena when they practice, so the cultivation realm has given these realms more popular names.

The introductory stage is to infuse the aura of heaven and earth into the body, gather it into the source pool of the life gate, become the root of the body's qi, and nourish the body through the aura, so that people can more easily sense the heaven and earth, so it is called refining qi.

Seeking the truth is no longer simply incorporating the qi of the outside world, but tasting the operation of the internal source pool and the external aura, communicating the spiritual knowledge of the body, imitating and groping the rules of movement of all things in nature, discovering the interaction between them, and making the qi and blood of the body in harmony with the laws of heaven and earth.

The key is to find the perception of this world, and the heart wants to condense into the law, and take the heart and soul as the four poles of communication, which is more refined and pure spiritual power externally, and the internal is the initial formation of its own Tao, and the spiritual energy around the body is turned into the true qi of the Tao, which is called the opening of the mountain, which is the opening of the sect. ”

Seeing what I was about to open my mouth to say, the old man didn't give me a chance, and said to himself, "Shut up and don't interrupt me, the cultivator is already very powerful at this time, and after a small achievement, he can educate the world."

Some people open sects and sects, collect disciples, collect sect luck, some people build temples and open altars to make incense, in short, they all involve one thing, that is, "reading".

The cultivation of this realm is completely different according to the path of cultivation, and the cultivation methods are completely different, and at that time, you need to realize it yourself, which the monks call the realm of enlightenment.

With the continuous accumulation, transformation, and sublimation of "thoughts", we can understand the way we are seeking, touch the true nature of the world, and reach the realm of enlightenment.

This realm is completely different from the previous one, it is not just that it can be carried out steadily through retreat cultivation as before, because when touching the heavenly machine, people and the original qi will sense each other, and all kinds of visions will appear, and almost all of them are extremely dangerous, and they will die at every turn, so this realm is called calamity.

Qi refining, holding arts, opening mountains, becoming thoughts, and breaking the calamity are the five popular realms of the cultivation realm, each layer of the first four realms can be vaguely divided into nine heavens, and the realm of breaking the tribulation has no clear boundary, and every once in a while it will lead to the arrival of the heavenly tribulation.

Only the cultivation of the Heavenly Vertical that truly penetrates the origin and is in harmony with heaven and earth can further enter the supreme realm. ”

After saying this, the old man seemed to look into the distance, and his eyes showed hope, "How many cultivators are chasing a realm that is difficult to reach in their lifetime. ”

Infected by this vibe, my eyes widened and I asked curiously, "What about ......that?" What is this realm called? ”

He looked down at me and said seriously, "Mengzhen." In the hearts of cultivators, it was just a dream that was difficult to realize, even though the three Dao Ancestors had already reached that realm, and the legends were just legends. ”

Hearing this, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, but when I think about it, it seems really fun to be an immortal who moves mountains and reclaims the sea against the wind.

"Old man, what realm are you?" ，

Master gave me an angry look, and cocked his beard like a "proud princess": "As a teacher, he is now the Fifth Heaven of the Mountain Realm. ”

"Ah, it's just the beginning of the mountain realm."

"Your uncle, do you know how many of the countless cultivators in the world can start a sect and reach the realm of being a teacher, hmph, ignorant child."

"Hahaha, Master's realm is high, are you angry!"

The two words blurted out "Master" made the two of us pause, and the old man smiled with satisfaction, "From now on, you will be the descendant of Lingxiu Mountain, if someone dares to bully you, the old man will be the first to refuse, and you can practice as a teacher with peace of mind." ”

I didn't speak, I lowered my head and thought for a long time, "After that, are we going to leave here?" ”

"Of course, my Taiqing Palace stands on the Holy Land Zhongzhou, and only when I get there is it more suitable for cultivation. So, give you a day, pack your things and get ready to head up the mountain. ”

Hearing that Master was going to let me leave Beishan City and leave this hometown where I was a child, the feeling of loss filled my surroundings with my lowered head.

Master saw my unhappiness and patted me on the shoulder, "After ten years of cultivation, let you go down the mountain." ”

"Will I be able to come back by then?" I asked excitedly.

The old man nodded.

The day was fleeting, and I didn't pull my friends to create, but ate a big meal at home without heart or lungs. Knowing that I was going to leave home for a long time, my parents and elders were extremely reluctant. After the old man whispered a few words in their ears, they still chose to agree.

The first rays of sunlight in the morning pierced the quiet night, and I packed my bag full of dry food and a roast chicken, turned back and waved to my family at the city gate, and followed Master on the way back to the mountain.