Chapter 1: The Naturally Born Stone Man
The last person possessed by evil spirits was burned to death, and his relatives were forced to leave Lianhua Tai Village, wandering in a foreign land. The villagers have an innate and profound fear of such calamities related to ghosts and deities
The children around burst into laughter
Sun Li, feeling helpless, did as his mother instructed. His mother, meanwhile, was muttering incantations, mostly along the lines of asking the immortal for forgiveness.
Fortunately, three months later, the Emperor's self-reproach edict seemed to have truly taken effect. This bizarre and unprecedented disaster gradually approached its conclusion, and there had been no urgent reports of calamity for over ten days.
The third party appears both real and illusory, ethereal and enigmatic, firmly establishing the universe and its vastness
He looked around; his mother was still with her eyes closed, making a wish. His younger brother, Sun Chun, had already run off to one side, teasing a bug in the grass. The bug displayed its defenses, its body bristling with vibrant colors.
Sun Li is the eldest son in the family. His father gave him this name, naturally hoping that as the eldest son, he would be able to support the Sun family in the future
"Bang!" Sun Li received a slap on the forehead from his mother: "The stone god is made of stone; how could his lips move and speak to you? Never say such things carelessly. If the villagers find out, they will surely think you are possessed."
Thirteen-year-old Sun Li blended into the crowd as he walked outside. The teacher stood upright at the entrance, and every student leaving bowed to bid him farewell
From the emperor to the common people, no one will forget this year
The voice came from afar once again, and Sun Li was astonished: "Mother, Second Brother, did you hear someone speaking?"
Father, Mother
Subsequently, Tian Yingdong produced a series of astonishing works, gradually emerging in the flourishing literary scene of the Luomei Mountain region. When scholars spoke of the young talents, they would invariably place Tian Yingdong at the forefront. Even many esteemed scholars from Yuzhou believed that with another two or three years of refinement, Tian Yingdong would possess sufficient strength to excel in the imperial examination.
He quietly opened the door and slipped out. He ran wildly all the way to the back mountain. The statue appeared even more menacing and terrifying in the night, yet for some reason, Sun Li felt no fear at all in his heart. He stumbled along the mountain path, rushing straight towards the statue!
These individuals believe that their amusing behavior has genuinely insulted Sun Li: when a monkey bares its teeth and flaunts its peach fuzz, does one feel frustrated?
However, it was unknown on which day a rumor spread through the village about a slightly plump brothel worker in the county town named "Lili." Tian Yingdong and others, with their malicious sense of humor, often used this to tease Sun Li
In addition to herbs, there are also some peculiar stones, animal horns, and animal bones in the mountains. Sometimes, upon seeing them, the sounds would also inform him of their names, effects, and so on, but Sun Li could not understand at all. Nevertheless, he collected them all. These items had no market for sale, so he put them in a pocket, treating them as his own playthings.
The great fire in the mountains blazed fiercely; not to mention extinguishing it, the villagers did not even dare to approach. They had become like startled birds. Suddenly, someone pointed at the thick smoke and exclaimed in horror, "It seems there is something in there!"
... ...
It is quite strange that such enormous stone statues can only be seen in Lianhuatai Village; once you leave the village, you can only catch a distant glimpse of a shroud of mist.
Upon being gazed at by those eyes, Sun Li felt a buzzing in his mind, his body swayed, and he collapsed weakly to the ground
Three enormous fire meteors descended silently, without even causing the ground to tremble. In their panic, the villagers looked at one another, some unable to believe that they had so easily escaped disaster, while others seemed puzzled as to why the King of Hell had not claimed them.
The almost omnipresent calls were driving him nearly insane
Today is a fine day. Near Luomei Mountain in Yuzhou, during the Sui Dynasty, it is usually characterized by continuous overcast and rainy weather. Days like today, with bright sunshine and clear skies, are truly rare.
The parents gradually became anxious, but Sun Li was indifferent to this. He actually agreed with the matchmaker's dismissive remark: the fate has not yet arrived
The stone statues have a fierce and terrifying appearance, towering above as if they can look down upon the entire world with disdain
What is that? The villagers fell silent as if frozen in fear
One was injured on the face, and the other on the hand, with deep wounds, groaning in pain.
Shall we go find Widow Li's daughter to play?
... ...
In the beginning, it was only when he was sleeping, but later it became regardless of time or occasion... Sometimes, while he was drinking water, he would suddenly let out a shout, causing a mouthful of water to go up his nose...
Those practitioners only need to engage in the simplest form of cultivation to reach the realm of "mortal"
A distant voice suddenly sounded in my ear: "Come..."
There is a radiant Tian Yingdong, which makes Sun Li appear dull and lackluster
Ah ... ...
Above ordinary mortals, there exist six realms: Daoists, Sages, True Persons, Supreme Persons, Holy Persons, and Immortals. All practitioners strive towards the goal of becoming Immortals.
Thousands of enormous meteors, engulfed in terrifying blood-red flames, descended upon various states and counties of the Sui Dynasty, accompanied by earthquakes, flash floods, tsunamis, and other disasters
Every morning before the Master delivers his teachings, the children must pay their respects to the statue of the sage. That statue has been hanging on the wall of the classroom for many years and has turned yellow. Sun Li has also looked at it for several years, becoming thoroughly familiar with it.
Three colossal stone statues stand firmly in the mountains
Hahaha
Sun Li had long been accustomed to it
However, under such continuous indoctrination, he gradually came to understand that this debate was, in fact, a kind of ethereal "cultivation" method
Those fireballs accompanying the meteors, each one that falls causes the ground to tremble, and some houses in the village begin to shake
Tianmu Changle's joy was uncontainable; his son was exceptionally talented in both literature and martial arts, making it inevitable for the family to gain prestige. Naturally, he wanted his son to focus on his studies, believing that matters of marriage should at least be considered after his son completed high school. Who knows, his son might even become a top scholar in both fields, and perhaps the emperor would grant him a marriage!
Hehe, I like this...
Once again, there is a hundred-armed giant, with its head and feet immersed in boundless void, and on each of its palms, it supports a galaxy
Sun Li smiled slightly and followed. After walking a dozen steps, he couldn't help but turn back to take a look. Amidst the swirling smoke, he distinctly saw the lips of the enormous stone statue in the center move slightly
Regardless of whether or not it is the case, Sun Li dared not let anyone know of the existence of these three small stone figures, let alone speak of the events of last night. Moreover, he himself found it inexplicable how he had returned.
Heaven and Earth are indifferent, treating all things as mere fodder; when fodder defies Heaven, defying the natural order to seize life, it becomes immortal
... ...
Sun Li felt that he had not slept well during this nap; when he woke up, he was still in a daze. In his dream, someone kept talking to him...
It was a cacophony, mostly consisting of things he had never heard of
The statue on the left has a hundred eyes, while the statue on the right has a hundred arms. It seems that the statue in the center is held in high regard, yet the central statue possesses no remarkable features; it merely appears more imposing.
However, someone as big as Sun Li has already become a good laborer in the family. Every morning, he listens to the master expound on the scriptures, and in the afternoon, he has to busy himself with farm work
After the panic, there comes a state of waiting for death. Everyone watched as the three massive fire meteors fell, closing their eyes in despair
The numerous fireballs accompanied the three largest golden-red fireballs, vying to strike the ground first.
Since the rain began, all the villagers gathered together, anxiously gazing in the direction of the falling meteor, as if awaiting a judgment that concerned their very lives. The thick smoke gradually dissipated, revealing the objects within and on the surface of the books.
Sun Lihan's hair stood on end: "Hmm?"
Regardless of how proudly Sun Li's father boasts about his son in public, Sun Li remains the same overlooked youth he was two years ago
Ah!
Not going, I just went yesterday
The originally unruly Tian Yingdong, after the three enormous stone statues descended the mountain and mysteriously disappeared two years ago, seemed to have suddenly gained enlightenment overnight. At first, he had an extraordinary memory, and within just one month, he had memorized the Four Books and Five Classics, even recalling a significant portion of some obscure texts. The Master was greatly delighted, feeling that having such a disciple made his life worthwhile
The group of people ahead was still laughing and joking when suddenly a massive, bright red flame plummeted from the sky, exploding with a "bang" among them
... ...
In the past two years, Sun Li has occasionally ventured deep into Luomei Mountain, where he sometimes encounters rare medicinal herbs. Prompted by those sounds, he collects them and hands them over to his father to sell at the market, resulting in quite a significant harvest. With this, the Sun family built a new house
Possessed!
But I really heard someone speaking
A group of classmates beside me were linking arms: "Sanzi, what are you doing this afternoon?"
The two individuals who were burned instinctively rolled on the ground, extinguishing the flames.
The mediocre trouble themselves, the ordinary refine themselves, the sage regulates himself, the virtuous align with the truth, the true person guards the spirit, the ultimate person gathers the spirit, the saint treads the void, the immortal is unobstructed
... ... ''
Sun Li stared in horror at the distant sky, and suddenly as if realizing something, he shouted at them: "Run quickly..."
Sun Li shook his head, a faint bitter smile appearing on his face, recalling a phrase he had read in a book: "In a state of confusion, the mediocre find their own joy"
The conversation still involved the two individuals, yet Sun Li could always sense the presence of a third person, a presence as steady as an ancient divine mountain, unshakeable.
... ...
Tian Yingdong kept his distance, narrowly escaping but left pale with fright. He stared blankly at his injured companion, unsure of what to do.
He is Tian Yingdong, the son of the village chief Tian.
"Who is talking?" Sun Chun scoffed
Everyone hurry to take a look, the smoke is billowing and rising, obscuring visibility, but it seems that something truly enormous and menacing is hidden within it
I am bored. The Master has asked me to read the Book of Changes, but I cannot understand it at all. What is the point of it?
After walking several miles, he could not help but turn back for a glance. The three stone statues stood unmoved beneath the white clouds, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. However, Sun Li was filled with confusion.
Sun Li was momentarily stunned.
There is neither encouragement nor supervision. The treatment is no different from that of an ordinary person
The statue with a hundred eyes on the left actually moved its head, and each of its eyes scanned itself once.
Sun Li grew up in the mountains, developing strong legs from his upbringing. However, even at full speed, he only reached the vicinity of the statue by late at night
In the past two years, another child from Lianhua Tai Village has risen like a comet, shining brilliantly
Sun Li suddenly jolted: Hadn't he gone to the mountain? He had even seen those three stone statues, then lost consciousness. But how could he wake up in his own bed?
Since the statue descended here, no one has dared to approach that forested area
Sun Li was startled: "Who?!"
He began studying at a young age, and at the age of thirteen, it was precisely the time when his thoughts began to take shape
When encountering an outstanding student with excellent grades, the teacher naturally smiles warmly, and may even pat the student's head and offer a few words of encouragement
Occasionally, images flicker by; in the void, a hundred-eyed giant emits countless rays of light, and under its sweeping gaze, stars fall one by one
In the third year of the Kaiyuan era of the Great Sui, a change in the heavens occurred
Sun Li looked at the three small stone figures of *Tu* and *Shu*, somewhat in disbelief: Is it really them?!
However, after a considerable amount of time, the anticipated major earthquake did not occur, and the enormous shriek of the meteor streaking across the sky also faded away. People slowly opened their eyes, only to see thick smoke billowing from the back mountain of the village
Flames of bright red swiftly traversed the sky and fell down. The smaller ones were only the size of a fist, while the larger ones were as big as a human head
Sun Li's second younger brother, Sun Chun, was very obedient, kneeling devoutly, his small head knocking against the bluestone slab with a thud. Sun Li, being filial, said: "Mother, I will pay my respects now"
Sun Li hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided not to tell his parents and younger brother about the matter of the little stone man. The tragic fate of the person from the last family who was possessed left Sun Li feeling apprehensive. He resolved to bear the burden alone if he truly was possessed, vowing not to involve his family.
"You child, so startled and jumpy, what is the matter? Quickly kneel down and bow to the Stone God in apology. If the Stone God takes offense, our family will not find peace." The mother hurriedly pulled him back.
Sun Li shivered slightly and immediately closed his mouth, not daring to speak again
The Master nodded slightly and waved his hand to let him pass
As Tian Yingdong turned his head, he immediately saw Sun Li beside him, and a strange smile appeared on his face as he called out, "Lili, are you going to entertain guests this afternoon"
If I am truly possessed, then let me suffer alone and do not involve my family
The mother reached out to feel his forehead: "This child, could he be ill?"
Huff, huff, huff
Most people are not even considered "ordinary"; they live their lives in mediocrity, arriving in this world with their eyes closed and leaving it in the same state, without understanding any truths. Such individuals can only be referred to as "mediocre people".
The voices of the two speakers were extremely loud, akin to thunder
... ...
The Emperor Wu Long of the Sui Dynasty, who had just changed the era name, was compelled to issue three consecutive edicts of self-criticism and once again changed the era name to "Tianshun"
Sun Lixin smiled, his eyes dazzled by the beauty.
It is chaotic and cannot be peaceful
This phenomenon has led many villagers to secretly speculate that heaven is about to bring disaster to Lianhua Terrace Village
Sun Liqi is strange: Did I hear it wrong
Thus, within a few days, the villagers spontaneously set up incense altars outside the mountain, placing incense, candles, and paper offerings, and began to venerate the three malevolent deities. Moreover, some individuals prostrated themselves in worship every day
Sun Li naturally understood that they were mocking his name
When encountering those who are obstinately unruly and lack ambition, the Master naturally adopts a stern expression and delivers a few words of strict admonition
Although this is merely the periphery of Luomei Mountain, the average peaks reach several hundred zhang in height. However, these peaks only reach the ankles of the three colossal stone statues.
Hey, how about we go fishing this afternoon
In a short period, the territory of the Sui Dynasty was filled with lamentations.
It is just a fraction of what it used to be.
In the second year of the Tian Shun era of the Sui Dynasty, Sun Li was already fifteen years old, yet he had not yet married
The sound echoed, as if countless mountain demons and vengeful spirits were responding together: "I have arrived..."
A thick layer of wax has accumulated on the incense table, and the smoke from the incense candles curls upward. Through the haze, Sun Li suddenly feels as if the central one among the three stone statues in the distant mountains has cast a glance at him.
The stone figures are only the size of a fist, appearing somewhat rough, yet they unmistakably belong to the three statues within the large mountain behind the village
Sun Li's father certainly understood his wife's temperament; he smiled and said nothing. Sun Li's mother had already hurried out.
He suddenly stood up, and something flashed in the corner of his eye. He turned his head to look and was instantly stunned: on the old table by the bed, there were three small stone figures.
Ali, come here, you should also pay your respects, asking the Stone God to forgive our family's transgressions and to bless our family and livestock with prosperity
As he bowed and stood up, in Sun Li's eyes, the image of the sage transformed into that of a stone statue. His lips moved slightly, and a deep, distant voice resonated: "Come..."
Mother shook her head and said, "What nonsense are you talking? It's just the three of us here, who else is there to speak?"
"Hurry up and bow, look, your younger brother has already bowed his head," urged the mother
It is currently the off-season for farming, and my parents have not gone out. Upon seeing him come out, the two elders smiled. My mother, curious about the commotion outside, glanced at Sun Li's father. Old Sun showed no reaction, so she quickly tidied up her work and said, "The stone statue is gone? What happened, head of the family? I will go out and inquire..."
Regardless of how hard his father tries to boast, Sun Li remains just an ordinary young man in the eyes of others
Sun Li sat by the bed, having made up his mind
Come on, come on...
After leaving the five thatched cottages of the school, he walked leisurely towards home
... ...
However, not everyone is qualified to cultivate; there seem to be some stringent requirements. Yet, what those requirements are, Sun Li could not quite understand.
According to what they said, there is a group of people in this world called "cultivators," who categorize the people of this world into various levels
Several cries of anguish were heard, and among those people, three or four fell to the ground, some were injured by the explosion, while others had their clothes catch fire
Everyone was in a panic, knowing that such a massive meteor impact would inevitably trigger a series of disasters. With the proximity to the small village, there was no way for them to escape.
What is most frustrating is that there is not just one voice; at least two voices are arguing, yet it gives one the impression that there is a third presence. However, that third person remains silent for reasons unknown.
Sun Li's father is particularly proud and often boasts about his son to others
Meteor! Run!
Finally, the ceremony was over. Mother stood up, pulling Sun Chun along, and called to her eldest son: "Ali, let's go back. If I don't return to cook, your father will surely starve himself."
The voices of the crowd gradually grew louder, as people discussed how the fearsome and imposing giant statue had vanished without a trace overnight. Baseless speculations and rumors began to circulate.
Tian Yingdong is also fifteen this year and has not yet married, but this is the result of the Tian family rejecting at least twenty marriage proposals.
Practicing martial arts and possessing strong innate talent, upon reaching the pinnacle state, even if one is respectfully referred to as "the best in the world," can only barely be considered a "mortal".
He was drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked through, and his hair stuck to his forehead, yet he held a surge of determination within. Using both hands and feet, he climbed up a peak, not even glancing at the three massive stone statues, and shouted fiercely, "I have arrived!"
In the village, the notorious Zhang San, known for his bravado, once made a bet with someone over three jars of aged wine. He claimed he dared to touch the stone statue, but halfway there, he was so frightened that he ran back, screaming in terror. He fell seriously ill for half a month and never dared to mention what he had seen or heard that day.
The only benefit is that when he sees something, if that thing is relatively precious, a voice will suddenly emerge to remind him
He is rather inconspicuous in this Lotus Terrace Village, and many events and many gazes tend to overlook him inadvertently
He sat up, shook his head, and became momentarily alert. Looking out the window, it was already late morning
Mother! Sun Li opened his mother's hand: "I saw the mouth of that statue move, it is speaking to me..."
Sun Li was tormented by the sounds of arguments for two years, yet he still could not figure out how to cultivate himself
On the left, there are a hundred arms, and on the right, a hundred eyes; in the middle, it appears to be unremarkable.
Sun Li was reluctantly pulled by his mother to kneel in front of the incense altar. However, he always felt an inexplicable sensation towards the three stone statues.
He quickly tucked the three small stone figures close to him, opened the door, and walked out
According to reports, Sun Lijia is considered well-off in Lianhuatai Village. He is of good appearance and has no bad habits, yet his marriage proposals repeatedly fall through, often due to various reasons provided by the other party, leaving Sun Lijia's parents at a loss for words.
He did not know whether he was truly possessed, but ever since that day when he heard the statue speak, there has been a voice calling out to him from afar, no matter where he is or what he is doing
Above the mediocre, one finds the "ordinary person"
Under the darkness, Sun Li distinctly saw the three enormous stone statues and glanced down at himself
He held three incense sticks, respectfully bowed three times, and then stood up to place the incense into the incense burner
The children of Lianhua Village finished their classes and dispersed in a bustling manner
The great path is layered in three thousand folds, and the world speaks of it as the gateway to immortality. Yet I alone break through the door and carve out a new path, my fate not confined within the five elements, my soul not bound within the six realms
In an instant, the thousand mountains respond
Sun Li approached, clasped his hands in a bow, and respectfully and solemnly said: "Please do not pass, Master."
Ninefold Extreme Method, celestial and demonic beings fill the sky, annihilating desires and thoughts, overturning seas and mountains. Even if the Great Way is boundless, I have a single thought that follows my heart. On this long journey, the ancients are unseen, only hoping for those who come after...
The duality of heaven and earth, the transformation of yin and yang... controlling the universe with one's hands, perceiving yin and yang with one's eyes
However, Sun Li understood that he was by no means as ordinary as others perceived him to be. Looking around at the group of children, he realized that he was different from them.
At that moment, a commotion arose outside: "The statue, the statue is gone! The statue is gone..."
The disaster lasted for a full three months, with various urgent reports marked by blood-red handprints continuously sent to the capital. The citizens of the capital, upon seeing exhausted warhorses foaming at the mouth, driven recklessly by equally fatigued knights as they galloped through the streets, would feel a wave of sorrow, knowing that yet another area had suffered calamity. Each urgent report signified the loss of thousands, even tens of thousands, of innocent lives
Sun Li was astonished as he gazed at the three enormous fire meteors, which trailed long tails of flame. Ahead of them was a dazzling flame shield, of immense size, even several times larger than the largest meteor recorded during this calamity of the Great Sui Dynasty.
On the seventh day, the great fire was finally extinguished in a sudden downpour.
In the clear sky, three enormous golden-red fireballs are slowly descending, and their trajectory clearly indicates that they are heading towards Lianhuatai Village
Come on
Those individuals were so terrified that they screamed repeatedly, using their books to shield their heads as they fled in all directions
The entire village was thrown into chaos; in the face of such a natural disaster, no one in this small mountain village could remain calm. Chickens were flying and dogs were barking, children were crying, women were shouting, and men were yelling, creating a complete uproar
The scholar is a man in his forties, with a slightly frail build, and is said to hold the title of a licentiate. The area around Luomei Mountain has long been known for its rich literary culture, and even a small village like Lianhuatai has pooled resources to invite this scholar to teach the children of the village.
The startled birds took flight, producing a strange sound of flapping and fluttering.
Sun Li felt as if something was waiting for him. This was because the three entities in his mind would occasionally emerge to engage in a debate.
Such a gigantic and ferocious statue left the villagers feeling uneasy, their faces displaying great distress. Village Chief Tian intended to report the disaster, but since Lianhua Terrace Village had not suffered significant losses, he hesitated and could only shake his head, deciding to observe further.
Sun Li did not pay them any attention. Tian Yingdong and his group assumed they had won, laughed out loud, and no longer regarded him, quickly walking away
What is not known to outsiders is that Tian Yingdong is not only exceptionally talented in literature but also possesses extraordinary bravery. He can lift a stone lock weighing 300 pounds with one hand. Last winter, while walking in the snow with the county magistrate's daughter, who had come to seek him out, they unexpectedly encountered a hungry tiger. Tian Yingdong actually fought and killed the fierce tiger with his bare hands! This also made the county magistrate's daughter secretly admire him.
These individuals are all wealthy households in the village, not required to engage in field labor, with the leader being Tian Yingdong, the son of the village head Tian.