Chapter 3, Exotic Space
Lu Yun glanced around and asked, "How many regions are there in this world? Why have I never heard of the Demon Realm before? Besides the Demon Realm, are there other regions? What hidden truths exist in the heavens and the earth that are unknown to people? And what about the so-called Heavenly Gate and the Celestial Cave? I have never heard of them at all. What is going on here?"
Lu Yun steadied his mind and carefully looked around, pondering what kind of place this was. Just at that moment, a voice suddenly resonated within his heart: "Welcome, heir of the Lu family. This is a space I have left behind, belonging to a different realm, distinct from the world you originally lived in. This space has been specifically reserved for you."
The voice said: "Come here, I hope you can inherit everything from me and bring glory back to the Lu family. All things in heaven and earth, as long as one wishes to survive, are constantly in a struggle against fate. The so-called practitioners of immortality are merely manifestations of humanity's resistance against the heavens. The path of cultivation goes against the will of heaven, which is not permitted by the celestial realm. Therefore, every practitioner ultimately faces countless tribulations. Many highly skilled individuals have perished in heavenly tribulations due to being just a step away, their forms and spirits obliterated. Those who can truly escape the heavenly tribulations and attain immortality are exceedingly rare. As for the patterns on that stone coffin and what they signify, I cannot tell you, as it would reveal heavenly secrets and be of no benefit to you. In time, you will come to know everything, so do not dwell too much on it."
Lu Yun was recovering his power while observing the movements around him. At that moment, he suddenly discovered that this mysterious and unknown formation contained an infinite amount of spiritual energy, something that cultivators could encounter but not seek; it was also a precious resource that those otherworldly beings desperately sought. In the realm of cultivation, those so-called otherworldly spirits and demons were, in fact, beings that had absorbed the hidden spiritual energy of heaven and earth, transcending the ordinary and undergoing transformations, ultimately achieving success in their cultivation and attaining the Dao to become immortals. However, because they were not human, they were rejected by the world and labeled as demons.
As time passed, Lu Yun's body gradually rose, sitting three feet above the ground, continuously rotating. The five-colored radiance on his body slowly converged into a peculiar glow, while the surrounding air currents began to swirl, creating a unique spectacle that was exceedingly beautiful. It is unclear how long it took, but Lu Yun's body eventually slowed down, and the brilliance surrounding him gradually faded into his body, gently landing on the ground
Upon hearing this, Lu Yun's expression changed, and a glimmer of brilliance appeared in his eyes; he finally understood the reason. However, he would not easily submit in his heart. Since he had survived, he intended to contend with the heavens and see if the divine could do anything to him. Gazing slightly upward, Lu Yun asked, "Since you, my ancestor, are aware that such a result would occur, is there any way to contend with the heavens for my life and fight with all my might? Since I have not died in this life, I will not easily give up. I want to see if the divine can do anything to me. I want to challenge the heavens and see what fate can do to me." Lu Yun asked again, "Since you, my ancestor, are aware that such a result would occur, is there any way to contend with the heavens for my life and fight with all my might? Since I have not died in this life, I will not easily give up. I want to see if the divine can do anything to me. I want to challenge the heavens and see what fate can do to me."
The voice laughed and said: "What remains here is my intention, formless and invisible to you. I am indeed your ancestor, separated from you by one hundred generations, a full six thousand years. The reason for leaving this space is that there is a treasured heirloom of the Lu family, which I do not wish to waste, so I left this space to await a fated descendant of the Lu family. And you are the only one among the hundred generations of the Lu family who can inherit this treasure I have left behind. The reason for leaving this space is that there is a treasured heirloom of the Lu family, which I do not wish to waste, so I left this space to await a fated descendant of the Lu family. And you are the only one among the hundred generations of the Lu family who can inherit this treasure I have left behind. You are inherently missing a soul and a spirit, making it very difficult for you to survive. The reason for this is actually quite significant."
As for the pair of weapons I have transmitted to you, you must cherish them immensely, for they are of utmost importance to you. Without them, you will lose the foundation for contending with fate throughout your life, so keep this in mind. You currently lack one soul and one spirit, and I am prepared to restore that missing soul and spirit for you, allowing you to return to completeness. The items that will fill your missing soul and spirit are precisely my two weapons. Humans possess three souls and seven spirits, which can cultivate three primordial spirits, and those three primordial spirits are essentially the three souls of a person. Due to your innate lack of one soul and one spirit, you will be unable to cultivate three primordial spirits in the future, at most you can only cultivate two, which is where you fall short compared to others. However, after I have supplemented your incomplete soul, you will be able to cultivate a particularly formidable divine weapon, which will be at least as strong as others' primordial spirits, and this is where you will surpass others.
Lu Yun smiled and said: "Are you referring to the formation outside? It has trapped me for quite a long time, quite formidable. I saw over a hundred skeletons outside the formation; it seems they all perished under that formation out of curiosity, wanting to explore the secrets of this stone coffin."
Upon thinking of this, Lu Yun smiled faintly and gently placed his right hand on it. As his palm made contact, Lu Yun suddenly felt a jolt in his body, a strange current flowing throughout him. It seemed as if something within him was being drawn out, a sensation akin to having his very soul drained, which was both terrifying and uncomfortable. Lu Yun's body began to tremble as he desperately tried to escape this predicament, but unfortunately, his hand was firmly held, making it impossible to shake free. In that moment, Lu Yun was filled with extreme dread, uncertain of what would happen next. His body continued to tremble as he struggled to break free from the situation, but his hand remained tightly ensnared, leaving him unable to escape. At that moment, Lu Yun was profoundly alarmed, not knowing what would transpire next.
Lu Yundao: "So, Ancestor, when will you pass on to me the weapons and the techniques? What is the name of the unique skill you created? And what is your weapon? Could you please let me know?"
Walking around the stone coffin, Lu Yun's gaze settled on the lid. On the lid, there was a vividly realistic pattern, truly a masterpiece. The pattern depicted a strange battle scene. In the sky, a mass of dark clouds rolled, and within the black clouds, a pair of eyes shone with a sinister and enchanting red and blue light, quite terrifying. On the ground, however, lay a mountain of bones. Several figures were flying and moving, and numerous gleaming weapons were battling countless demonic beasts, with the surroundings drenched in blood red, creating a scene of utter devastation. Again, in the sky, a mass of dark clouds rolled, and within the black clouds, a pair of eyes shone with a sinister and enchanting red and blue light, quite terrifying. On the ground, however, lay a mountain of bones. Several figures were flying and moving, and numerous gleaming weapons were battling countless demonic beasts, with the surroundings drenched in blood red, creating a scene of utter devastation. Beneath the dark clouds, a stream of colorful light flowed, emitting dazzling brilliance, as a seven-colored divine sword, resembling a celestial dragon, fought fiercely against the demonic creature within the black clouds.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Yun's body suddenly radiated a brilliant light, but it vanished in an instant. In just a moment, after adjusting his thoughts to resonate at four thousand eight hundred times per second, Lu Yun instantly traversed the barrier and entered the innermost part. This method may sound simple, yet in reality, true practitioners capable of achieving it are exceedingly rare. If it were not for his mysterious master and a stroke of good fortune, Lu Yun would be like those who perished outside, forever unable to enter. This method may sound simple, yet in reality, true practitioners capable of achieving it are exceedingly rare. If it were not for his mysterious master and a stroke of good fortune, Lu Yun would be like those who perished outside, forever unable to enter.
Lu Yun inquired: "Then, what exactly is the ancestral treasure of the Lu family that you speak of? How useful is it to me, and where can it be found?"
Lu Yun gazed at the painting, pondering what it might imply. After examining it closely for a while, he noticed a handprint on the stone coffin, clear yet not very conspicuous. Lu Yun murmured to himself, "Whose handprint is this? What does it signify?" As he spoke, he extended his right hand to compare gently. Upon closer inspection, he was indeed startled; the size of the handprint was exactly the same as his own palm, as if it had been prepared specifically for him. In that moment, Lu Yun suddenly realized that this stone coffin must be an artifact left behind by his ancestors from the Lu family, intended for him, which explained the remarkable coincidence.
Lu Yun was taken aback upon hearing this. Weapons, what weapons? They must not be ordinary items; otherwise, my ancestor would not have ascended to immortality, still reluctant to part with them, wanting to pass that pair of weapons to me. Looking around, all he could see were glowing nebulae, nothing else. He wondered what kind of weapons they were and if they were powerful. Lu Yun asked, "Ancestor, did you bring me here just to pass on your techniques and weapons? Is there nothing else? May I ask about the pattern on the stone coffin outside? What does it conceal?"
The weapons I pass on to you are a saber and a sword, named "Soul Extinguishing" and "God Extinguishing" respectively. You must cherish them well, for they are more formidable than the legendary artifacts, capable of extinguishing souls and slaying gods. You must remember not to use them lightly. I obtained them from the "Ten Thousand Extinguishing Ancient Cave," the most mysterious of the five great caves in the world, which ranks first. They are extremely powerful; I have hardly used them throughout my life. You must remember not to wield them carelessly, or you will incur the wrath of heaven.
The voice said: "Your arrival here is indeed a great fortune. My original plan was to first dissipate your true energy and then impart to you the entirety of my life's skills. However, upon careful examination, I found that you possess as many as five types of true energy within you, all of which are exceptionally profound techniques. It would be a pity to destroy them. Therefore, I now intend not to obliterate the five superior techniques you already possess, but rather to maintain your current state and simply impart to you another set of our Lu family's unique skills. This is a technique I created out of boredom while waiting for you over the past six thousand years, to pass the time. As for the power of this technique, I believe you will understand it in due course. Regarding our Lu family's treasured heirloom, it is actually just a pair of weapons from my past, albeit quite extraordinary. They are currently hidden around you, but you cannot see them."
From a distance, a swirling black nebula pulsated at the center of the large hole, with strands of black energy flowing around the four guards, continuously rotating and probing, striving to find a breakthrough point. At this moment, Lu Yun had raised the frequency to 3,600 times per instant, which was already his limit. The reason he was able to reach this state was due to a previous exploration that had exhausted his energy. After subsequently absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy and power, his cultivation had made significant progress, leading to this advancement. The reason he was able to reach this state was due to a previous exploration that had exhausted his energy. After subsequently absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy and power, his cultivation had made significant progress, leading to this advancement.
Lu Yun slowly sat cross-legged, beginning to circulate his energy to restore his power, preparing to traverse the mysterious formation. He was surrounded by a flowing radiance of five colors, and the air around him gradually drew closer. The hidden spiritual energy and true qi in the air were attracted to Lu Yun, as if he were a large magnetic field, rapidly absorbing the surrounding energy and slowly transforming it into his own power, replenishing the true qi and cultivation he had previously expended
The voice said: "You only need to achieve a state of mind free from distractions; I will take care of everything else. Now, I intend to restore the missing soul and spirit for you. Prepare yourself, relax your mind, and think of nothing. Just like in your usual practice, maintain a calm mind like still water, and that will suffice"
In addition to the Demon Realm, the world also contains the Ghost Realm and the Beast Demon Realm, all of which belong to the evil side. On the righteous side, there are mysterious places such as the Nine Heavens Void Realm, the Cloud Law Realm, and the Heavenly Capital. These are collectively referred to as the Three Realms and Seven Domains, but few are aware of them. Nevertheless, these are merely a few special existences; the affairs of the world still primarily revolve around the Human Realm, which is the true heaven and earth. In time, you will naturally come to understand this, and there is no need to concern yourself with those special spaces, as they currently have little impact on you.
Lu Yun, hearing this, asked in confusion: "What is the reason? How did you know my fate six thousand years ago? This is too mysterious; I truly cannot believe it"
Lu Yun relaxed his entire body, slowly adjusted his mood, and softly said, "Alright, we can begin now." After speaking, he slowly closed his eyes, quietly letting go of all thoughts, allowing everything to unfold naturally, leaving no trace.
In this world, there is only one true realm, which is the space where humanity exists. As for the so-called demonic realm, it merely refers to a space created underground through a special method. That space cannot be compared to the vast external realm. Within the demonic realm reside only evil spirits and demons, who revel in bloodshed and glorify violence, thus being completely at odds with this world of humanity, and have been sealed away by the cultivation realm.
Gazing quietly at the stone coffin, a ripple of emotion passed through Lu Yun's eyes. The stone coffin was quite special; from a distance, one could only see its general shape. However, upon approaching, it became apparent that the coffin was a single entity, with not a single seam visible. It was unclear how to open this coffin, and what secrets lay hidden within. Strange, mysterious, and intriguing.
By chance, I discovered this celestial dragon's spiritual vein years ago and have occupied this place ever since, leading to the prosperity of the Lu family for generations and the wealth and honor we have enjoyed for thousands of years. However, it is precisely because of this that you have been deemed unacceptable by heaven, destined to lack a soul and a spirit throughout your life, with a fate filled with anomalies. Furthermore, this spiritual vein will soon be destroyed, disappearing without a trace. Consequently, the world will also be affected, for beneath this spiritual vein lies one of the largest passages to the Demon Realm, which has been sealed by the spiritual energy of the vein. Once the vein is destroyed, the passage to the Demon Realm will open, and the common people will fall into crisis, suffering attacks from the demons of the Demon Realm. Therefore, after you leave here, within three years at most, the world will plunge into a calamity, and the entire cultivation realm will be drawn into it, with no one able to escape this disaster.
The voice chuckled, "Those people cannot enter. Even if someone could breach the two barriers and get inside, if they are not a descendant of the Lu family, and not someone who is inherently missing a soul and a spirit, no matter who they are, they still cannot enter. What I have been worried about is whether you can enter; that is the key issue. You are inherently missing a soul and a spirit, and have been frail since childhood. Whether you can survive is still uncertain. Even if you do survive and grow up, your frail health raises the question of whether you can learn the skills, which is another unknown. This space is a very special existence in the world, and I must set up formations outside to protect it, to prevent others from damaging this space. To protect this place, the formations I have laid out outside are quite formidable. Whether you can enter ultimately depends on your fate. Your arrival today was quite unexpected for me, but I am very pleased."
Lu Yun fully relaxed his body, striving to absorb the spiritual energy around him in order to enhance his cultivation and increase his spiritual power. As time slowly passed, Lu Yun surprisingly took twelve hours to gradually conclude his practice, ceasing the act of drawing in the surrounding spiritual energy. At this moment, a faint smile appeared on Lu Yun's face; regardless of whether he could unravel the secret of the stone coffin, he had already gained significant benefits. The advantages obtained from this visit were certainly no less than those from consuming a ten-thousand-year-old ginseng. At this point, Lu Yun felt that his cultivation had at least doubled, which was a matter of great joy and astonishment for him.
Lu Yunjing fell into a quiet contemplation, having listened to the words of his ancestors, which enlightened him on many matters. He learned about the nine great spiritual veins of the world, as well as the impending calamities that would befall it. At the same time, he also realized that his illness could be cured with the assistance of his ancestors, which was indeed a joyful revelation
The voice chuckled and said: "Do not be anxious, I will slowly tell you. This time I have many things to share with you, so you must listen carefully and remember. This is our only opportunity to converse; from now on, you will no longer hear my voice or receive my messages. Let me first speak about this foreign space. It is a realm I forcibly created using spiritual power, where you will not feel the passage of time, as time here is ten times slower than outside. This space is filled with boundless spiritual energy, primarily because it is one of the nine great spiritual veins between heaven and earth. Let me first speak about this foreign space. It is a realm I forcibly created using spiritual power, where you will not feel the passage of time, as time here is ten times slower than outside. This space is filled with boundless spiritual energy, primarily because it is one of the nine great spiritual veins between heaven and earth.
The voice said: "The questions you are asking are, in fact, merely trivial matters. The reason you have not heard of those sects is that you have only just begun to enter the realm of cultivation, and there are many things you do not know. Just as some sects you are aware of now did not exist in our time, so you need not concern yourself with this. As for the Demon Realm you inquired about, I can share some information with you; consider it common knowledge to remember.
The voice said: "This reason is actually related to me as well. If back then I had claimed this place of spiritual energy for myself, ensuring the prosperity of the Lu family for generations, you would not have appeared, suffering from innate deficiencies, lacking one soul and one spirit. This is, in fact, a punishment from the heavens for our Lu family. It demands that our lineage be severed from you, in order to restore fairness to the world"
Now I intend to first restore your soul and spirit. Do you have any questions? I will naturally tell you what I can. Once I transmit to you 'Heaven and Earth Boundless', my thoughts will depart and vanish from the world, so if there is anything unclear, you may ask me, and I will do my best to answer you
Under the heavens, there are a total of nine spiritual veins, distributed among the major mountains and beautiful waters. Among these nine spiritual veins, the top three are the most extraordinary. The first three spiritual veins are unbranched, rich in spiritual energy, and abundant in spiritual aura. In contrast, the remaining six spiritual veins resemble the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, with countless branches and dispersed spiritual energy, showing a significant gap compared to the top three. This place happens to belong to the third-ranked Tianlong spiritual vein, which is rich in spiritual energy. As for the first-ranked Tiandi spiritual vein, it is said to be located in the East China Sea, the most mysterious refuge of the immortal sect—Tiandi Gate, whose true location remains unknown. The second-ranked Tianxing spiritual vein is rumored to be at the peak of the snowy region, occupied by the mysterious immortal sect—Tianwai Dongtian.
Standing quietly before the four guardians, Lu Yun understood in his heart that as long as he passed through this barrier of formations, he would be able to enter the innermost part and uncover the secrets of the stone coffin. A dark cloud surged around Lu Yun as he once again invoked the supreme mysticism of the Demon Sect—Desire Without Trace. His thoughts vibrated at an incredibly high speed, with the frequency instantly rising to 2,400 times per moment, rapidly exploring the mysteries of this layer of barrier, seeking to find a flaw that would allow him to pass through smoothly.
Lu Yun was startled, but soon calmed down. Looking around, Lu Yun asked, "Where are you? Why can't I see you? Are you an ancestor of the Lu family? Why did you leave this mysterious space?"
As for the skills and weapons I wish to pass on to you, they are the secrets I have kept throughout my life, and I hope you will strive diligently. If you wish to contend with the heavens, you must work twice as hard and engage in rigorous training. Only then will there be hope. Over the past six thousand years, I have integrated all my life’s learnings into a single set of techniques, which I have named "Heaven and Earth Boundless," divided into nine levels. Given your current cultivation level, mastering the first four levels should pose no problem, but achieving mastery of all levels is an impossible task at this time. I plan to have you cultivate here for a period, as this place is rich in spiritual energy, which can accelerate your progress threefold and will be extremely beneficial for your cultivation.
Lu Yun was suddenly engulfed by the stone coffin, and he felt that the trembling sensation that had gripped him had vanished. Unable to resist, he opened his eyes. He had originally thought he would be lying in the stone coffin, but upon opening his eyes, Lu Yun was astonished. He had entered a wondrous space that seemed boundless, with no limits in sight. Surrounding his body were shimmering nebulae, displaying a variety of colors, resplendent and exceptionally beautiful, exuding an air of mystery. His body floated quietly in mid-air, as if it bore no weight, allowing him to move freely; the sensation was extraordinarily marvelous. Surrounding his body were shimmering nebulae, displaying a variety of colors, resplendent and exceptionally beautiful, exuding an air of mystery. His body floated quietly in mid-air, as if it bore no weight, allowing him to move freely; the sensation was extraordinarily marvelous.
Lu Yun's eyes sparkled with a hint of divine light as he stood quietly before the mysterious formation. His gaze was firmly fixed on the stone coffin ahead, with a brilliant radiance flickering in the depths of his eyes. Suddenly, the air around him began to surge, and Lu Yun moved without wind, a dark blue light erupted instantly, emitting a dazzling brilliance that enveloped his body. At that moment, Lu Yun exerted all his strength to perform the most formidable Taoist technique passed down by his master, the "Tai Xuan Li Tian Dao." His entire power surged explosively at an astonishing rate, the might of which was truly remarkable. The air around him surged once more, and Lu Yun moved without wind, a dark blue light erupted instantly, emitting a dazzling brilliance that enveloped his body. At that moment, Lu Yun exerted all his strength to perform the most formidable Taoist technique passed down by his master, the "Tai Xuan Li Tian Dao." His entire power surged explosively at an astonishing rate, the might of which was truly remarkable.
Lu Yun let out a faint sigh and said: "It turns out there are so many strange spaces in the world, truly incredible. May I ask how my ancestors plan to help me restore my one soul and one spirit, and what should I do?"
Suddenly, Lu Yun's body began to fade, gradually disappearing into the air, leaving only a fleeting shadow at high speed. However, his physical form had already forcefully traversed the outermost layer of this miraculous formation, the "Eight Demons Conquering Heaven" formation, entering the first layer of the barrier. Lu Yun's body resembled fine dust in the air, slowly expanding from small to large, and in the blink of an eye, it gradually coalesced back into his original form, revealing his handsome visage.
As the frequency of his thoughts increased, Lu Yun gradually began to perceive certain matters and gained a certain understanding of the barrier surrounding this place. At the same time, he faintly sensed a method to break it, which brought him great joy. As the dark clouds dissipated, Lu Yun was drenched in sweat, breathing lightly. Glancing at the stone coffin, Lu Yun slightly closed his eyes, and his internal energy rapidly circulated through the micro and macro cycles, astonishingly restoring the energy he had expended and replenishing his power.
As Lu Yun's body trembled, the stone coffin suddenly emitted a dazzling light, more brilliant than the sun, forcing Lu Yun to quickly close his eyes. With the emergence of the light, the stone coffin automatically opened, and a burst of radiance enveloped Lu Yun. Immediately, Lu Yun's body shook, his right hand was pushed away, and in an instant, his body was drawn into the stone coffin. Soon, the lid of the coffin returned to its original state, while Lu Yun completely vanished inside the coffin.
The voice said: "Your destiny was foretold by me before my ascension, and in order to preserve the lifeblood of the Lu family, I left this space and prepared everything for you, to contend against the heavens and gamble on your life's fate. Your life is unlike that of ordinary people; your destiny is filled with mutations, changing at any moment, and no one can see through it. To enable you to confront the heavens, I left a testament before my ascension, instructing the descendants of the Lu family to remember for all eternity: if a person is born lacking one soul and one spirit, they are the fated one destined by the Lu family, and they must come here to retrieve the ancestral heirloom. Your life is unlike that of ordinary people; your destiny is filled with mutations, changing at any moment, and no one can see through it. To enable you to confront the heavens, I left a testament before my ascension, instructing the descendants of the Lu family to remember for all eternity: if a person is born lacking one soul and one spirit, they are the fated one destined by the Lu family, and they must come here to retrieve the ancestral heirloom. In truth, I am also uncertain whether you can enter here."