The shock this scene delivered to Xu Ying was even greater than the appearance of the phoenix. A phoenix appearing brought all birds paying homage to it, but the emergence of Jiuyi saw a hundred thousand mountains vying to pay homage to the ancestor of all mountains—they were clearly not on the same level!
What secret did Mount Jiuyi actually hold?
Could there really be an ageless immortal here?
"The Mount Jiuyi before us now must be the true Mount Jiuyi, right? Why were these nine great mountains buried in dust, turned into nine seemingly ordinary peaks?"
Xu Ying murmured, "And why have they revealed their true forms again? Is it because of the Netherworld invasion, or something else?"
He had originally thought the Netherworld invasion was merely a sudden, accidental incident—that a few hidden masters had summoned the Plague God to divert the Nai River, seizing the chance to rescue the maiden in the coffin, which inadvertently triggered the Netherworld invasion.
Yet looking at it now, this affair was far more complicated than he had imagined.
Summoning the Plague God, diverting the Nai River, rescuing the maiden in the coffin, the Netherworld invasion, the emergence of the new territory, the Cangwu Great Abyss, the phoenix taking flight over Mount Jiuyi... This entire chain of events seemed to be secretly orchestrated by someone behind the scenes.
"Ah Ying, I've been here before."
Suddenly, the bronze bell's voice spoke. The bell sounded as though it were murmuring in a dream, muttering, "My master brought me to this mountain. I have seen this scene of ten thousand mountains paying pilgrimage."
Above the Sea of Chaos within Xu Ying's mind, the bronze bell shook violently, as if trying to shake off the shroud of dust covering its memories.
"Back then, my consciousness was just beginning to awaken. I experienced many things, but my memories are hazy."
It murmured, "Three thousand years ago, I followed my master to many places. Back then, the mountains, rivers, and geography were vastly different from what they are today. The same was true for Mount Jiuyi. I faintly remember master saying that a grand figure was buried here. When he was interred on Mount Jiuyi, a hundred thousand mountains leaned toward Jiuyi one after another, as if prostrating to him..."
Those were memories from its infancy. Back then, the bell's sapience was half-formed, and it could not remember many things clearly.
"The moment Master hung me in the pavilion on Little Stone Mountain, I seemed to have caught sight of Mount Jiuyi from Little Stone Mountain."
The bronze bell still sounded as if talking in its sleep, its words intermittent. "I seem to recall that this great mountain gradually shrank. Not only this mountain, but many other towering mountains and great rivers also gradually disappeared..."
"This world might be slowly returning to its original state," said the bronze bell.
Xu Ying stood atop the summit, gazing out at the hundred thousand mountains, waves of emotion surging within his chest.
When that grand figure was buried, ten thousand mountains worshipped, together revering Jiuyi—what a magnificent image of the Great Dao!
Right then, a commotion rose from the tree. "The one on the parasol tree is a fledgling phoenix! It's not fully grown!"
Someone had already climbed up the parasol tree and shouted in astonishment, "Those divine birds are guarding the fledgling phoenix!"
Others were both startled and overjoyed, laughing aloud. "Hurry, up the tree! Maybe we can capture the phoenix! If we catch it, our fortunes are made!"
"Even if we can't catch the phoenix, catching another divine bird would make us rich!"
"I heard that during the reign of Emperor Zetian Dasheng, there were phoenix bones in the imperial palace. The Dasheng Emperor comprehended the phoenix bones and conquered the world! If even phoenix bones are like that, what about a real phoenix?"
Uncle Xiao looked up at the parasol tree and said, "Young Master Weiyang, many people have climbed the parasol tree. Shall we go up and take a look?"
Yuan Weiyang looked up. The parasol tree rose to an unfathomable height, its canopy sheltering all of Mount Jiuyi. Its leaves caught the high-altitude sunlight, refracting splendid, dazzling colors.
Bifang, roc, azure birds, and all sorts of other divine and extraordinary birds soared around the parasol tree. From time to time, colossal shadows swept swiftly across the mountain ranges—a truly breathtaking spectacle!
Standing atop the summit of Mount Jiuyi, one could not clearly see the various divine birds and could not comprehend the Dao images. Only by observing them at close range could one gain enlightenment.
Therefore, the people who came here—whether members of the imperial palace or disciples of the Cangwu Sect—all climbed up the parasol tree, trying to draw nearer to these divine and wondrous birds.
Yuan Weiyang glanced toward Xu Ying, only to see him standing at the peak. Instead of attempting to comprehend the phoenix or the other divine birds, he was staring fixedly at the sea of clouds and the mountains, motionless for a long time.
"Young Master?" asked Uncle Xiao.
Yuan Weiyang said, "Let's climb the tree first. Uncle Xiao, be careful. Something feels off. Some people don't intend to comprehend Dao images; they want to capture the phoenix!"
Uncle Xiao acknowledged her words, looking at Xu Ying with a puzzled expression.
Yuan Weiyang took the lead and leapt toward the parasol tree, saying, "Pay him no mind. He has comprehended something else."
Uncle Xiao hurriedly followed her.
Xu Ying remained motionless atop the summit for a long time, seeming to blend into one with the Mount Jiuyi beneath his feet.
Yuan Qi had also intended to climb the parasol tree, but seeing Xu Ying remain inactive, he grew anxious. Just as he was about to urge him on, the bronze bell's voice suddenly spoke, "Don't disturb him. He is about to enter a profound state. It's likely that by observing the hundred thousand mountains, he shows signs of entering the Dao."
"Entering the Dao?"
Yuan Qi asked in surprise, "Lord Bell, can looking at mountains let someone enter the Dao too? Isn't entering the Dao something that only happens when breaking through cultivation realms?"
The bronze bell replied unhurriedly, "Anything possessing the image of the Great Dao can allow one to enter the Dao through observation. When ordinary Qi Refiners observe an image of the Great Dao and gain some comprehension, imprinting the Dao image into their Realm of Xiyi, that cannot be called entering the Dao. Entering the Dao means stepping into the Dao itself to comprehend its underlying principles. Observing an image of the Great Dao merely captures the surface; entering the Dao is grasping the true principles of the Great Dao."
Yuan Qi said, "When I broke through to the Pass-Breaching stage, I perceived heaven and earth inverting and the interchange of Li and Kan. Was that entering the Dao?"
"Not at all. That was merely gaining some insight; it holds no real power. Entering the Dao requires comprehending a divine ability."
The bronze bell explained, "Only if you had comprehended a divine ability while knocking on the pass could it be considered entering the Dao. This time, as Ah Ying enters the Dao, you must seize the opportunity. His divine sense will radiate Dao charm, and the principles he comprehends will permeate his divine sense. Positioned right beside him, if you grasp the principles contained within his Dao charm, you might be able to enter the Dao yourself and gain some comprehension."
Yuan Qi's spirits immediately lifted. He focused with all his might, attempting to capture the Dao charm radiating from Xu Ying.
*The dumb snake is quite diligent,* the bronze bell observed for a moment, thinking to itself. *It would be even better if he were a little smarter. Unfortunately, he isn't.*
Gradually, a wondrous divine sense emanated from Xu Ying's body. Like the tactile senses of his thoughts, it extended out from his mind, connecting with heaven and earth, connecting with Mount Jiuyi. It sensed the flow of the mountain winds and stroked the skin of the great mountain.
He seemed able to perceive the breeze brushing through the mountain woods and sense the babbling streams. His divine sense became like the sense of touch for Mount Jiuyi, turning into a neural network spread across this entire colossal mountain.
He seemed to become the mountain itself.
He saw his own mountain roots connected to the earth, growing from an unreachable, unfathomable depth beneath the ground, extending outward underground in all directions.
He felt the thoughts of the mountain, the erosion and transformations across boundless ages.
Through the vision of the mountain, he could observe everything within it.
He could clearly perceive every blade of grass and tree on Mount Jiuyi, hear their voices, and feel their joys, anger, sorrow, and delight. He could see rabbits bounding through the woods, foxes lurking in concealment, and feel the swimming fish in the pools.
His awareness even reached the great hall of the Cangwu Sect, witnessing people of all descriptions. In the hall, a manic, irritable middle-aged man with disheveled clothes was gulping down spirit pills by the handful.
Suddenly, the middle-aged man glared viciously in his direction and flicked his sleeve, hurling a pill furnace straight at him.
Xu Ying's consciousness drifted past like a breeze, arriving at a small mountain lake, where he saw a young woman bathing in the water.
The maiden splashed water and danced lightly in the lake. Xu Ying passed under her moving arms, bringing a wisp of coolness.
He came to the parasol tree, sensing the vast consciousness of this divine tree communicating and resonating with him.
All of this was utterly marvelous.
He moved all the way up along the parasol tree and saw the fledgling phoenix nesting upon it. The fledgling seemed to sense him as well, turning its head in astonishment to look at the empty air.
Xu Ying's consciousness brushed past it like the wind, ruffling a few of its phoenix feathers.
The fledgling phoenix seemed thoroughly annoyed and spewed a burst of flames right behind him.
He sank deeper and deeper into the Dao. He even passed beside his own physical form, seeing the little snake tucked inside his collar staring wide-eyed, yet with the corner of its mouth drooping sideways, snoring with loud huffs and puffs.
Yuan Qi had clearly fallen asleep.
Xu Ying's awareness returned to the great mountain. The mountain was heavy, steadfast, unmoving, and unshakable. He quietly comprehended the wondrous Great Dao, his form like a mountain, still and resolute.
He assimilated with the mountain.
Right at this moment, a strange sound suddenly entered his ears—like a calling, yet also like meaningless static noise echoing through heaven and earth. The sounds multiplied, disrupting his state of entering the Dao.
Gradually, Xu Ying felt himself growing heavier and heavier. His body seemed to slowly turn to stone, making it difficult to struggle, impossible to wake!
Beside his ears, that strange sound grew louder and louder, like people speaking, like curses. Accompanying those sounds, tentacle after tentacle seemed to grasp him, coiling around his legs and his body, latching onto his flesh and dragging him downward!
He felt as though he had returned to Cangwu Abyss, being dragged down into that very abyss by countless tentacles!
He saw the abyss gaping open like a colossal maw, while he was as small as a flying insect, slowly falling into it.
Just then, he saw a great serpent in the sky. The serpent bore two horns—one black, one white—and was looking at him with a bewildered expression.
"Ah Ying! Ah Ying! Grab my tail!"
At the edge of the abyss, the great serpent lowered its long tail. Xu Ying grabbed hold of it, and the great serpent instantly hauled him upward.
The moment he flew out of the abyss, Xu Ying snapped awake. He opened his eyes, only to find himself still standing atop the summit of Mount Jiuyi, having not moved an inch.
Yet without him realizing it, sweat had drenched his clothes.
"Lord Bell, just now when I entered the Dao, I heard that voice calling to me again, dragging me into the abyss and trying to devour me!" Xu Ying said with lingering fear to the bronze bell. "Fortunately, Little Qi was beside the abyss, and I held onto his tail to climb back out."
The bronze bell said, "You were immersed in the Dao for too long; your mind dwelt with the Dao and left your physical body. Your body was hovering near death, which produced these illusions."
Xu Ying found its analysis reasonable and nodded in agreement.
Just then, Yuan Qi yawned and woke up, chuckling, "I just had a bizarre dream. I dreamed I went back to Cangwu Abyss, and Ah Ying fell into it, so I lowered my tail and pulled him up."
Xu Ying froze, and the bronze bell let out a dang.
Was that truly a dream, or had it really happened? Or was it merely an illusion from Xu Ying's body hovering near death?
The bronze bell hurriedly asked, "Ah Ying, what else did you see when you entered the Dao?"
Xu Ying said, "I also saw a middle-aged man in the great hall eating spirit pills like regular meals. He seemed to see me and threw a pill furnace at me. I also saw the phoenix on the parasol tree; it was a fledgling phoenix, and it even spewed fire at me. Oh, and I saw a lake in the mountains where a girl was bathing. Under her left breast, there was a black mole the size of a sesame seed."
The bronze bell pondered. "The man in the hall and the phoenix on the tree aren't easy to verify. The only thing convenient to verify is the girl bathing in the mountain lake. Let's go!"
It said enthusiastically, "Let's go check out that lake and see if there really is a girl bathing, and whether she really has a sesame-sized black mole under her left breast!"
Neither Xu Ying nor Yuan Qi responded.
The bronze bell muttered awkwardly, "Don't you want to see the mole? Let's go! What are you standing around for?"
Xu Ying cleared his throat and said, "Lord Bell, the parasol tree is right beside us. Wouldn't it be simpler to just go up the tree and ask the phoenix if it saw me earlier?"
The bronze bell cursed under its breath and stopped insisting on heading to the lake.
Just as Xu Ying was about to climb the parasol tree, he suddenly looked down as if seeing a ghost. Yuan Qi poked his head out from his collar, only to see a slightly plump young woman in green clothes rushing swiftly toward the parasol tree.
The maiden was slender, tall, and nimble, wearing a white bustier beneath her green robes. From afar, she shouted in a crisp voice, "This old lady was busy taking a bath, never expecting a golden phoenix to fly onto the parasol tree! I almost missed something huge! Move aside, everyone move aside!"
"Ah Ying, is this the woman with the mole under her left breast?" Yuan Qi looked up and asked.
As if having overheard those words, the maiden suddenly turned her gaze toward them with a sharp glare.
Chapter 66