Chapter 7: Breaking Ground

Without waiting for Zhang Fan to respond, he continued, "Since the establishment of the mountain gate of the Fa Xiang School here, whenever the time comes for any elder whose lifespan has come to an end, they will come here alone to disperse their merits and attain enlightenment."

"Senior Brother, do you mean..." Zhang Fan's voice trembled slightly, an ominous premonition surged in his heart

On the rugged path of immortality, on the long journey of life, how many can reach the end?" Zhuo Haowang gazed at the numerous dilapidated caves and said with a heavy heart

The curling smoke rises, voices are bustling, and the air is filled with a rich aroma of meat, which seems less like a paradise of the immortals and more akin to the unique dining halls of secular academies and workshops.

Zhuo Hao looked at Lin Sen's back with admiration and said: "His body is unique. In the first year he came here, he would feel nauseous at the sight of meat; in the second year, he would vomit at the smell; in the third year, he would vomit as soon as it entered his mouth. Now, he only vomits once after eating meat two or three times."

Zhuo Hao stared into Zhang Fan's eyes and said: "They are all disciples of the sect like you, who entered the mountain gate but have no foundational cultivation in the Dao."

... ...

Indeed, this is a cafeteria, and Zhang Fan has already seen quite a few fellow students coming out with food in hand

Zhuo Hao urged the Fire Spirit Cone, and the two of them drew ever closer to the cliff. At this moment, Zhang Fan could vaguely see that the cliff was covered with numerous caves of varying sizes.

Zhuohao Shen and the librarian pointed to a certain spot on the cliff. Zhang Fan followed their direction and saw that all the caves were equally dilapidated and desolate, unable to discern any differences among them.

After speaking, Zhuo Hao seemed to glance at him meaningfully, and with a gentle step, the Fire Spirit Cone soared into the sky once more

Zhang Fan nodded heavily, his expression grave. The restlessness and complacency born from smooth sailing made him appear so ignorant and ridiculous when faced with this path, which is deeper than the sea and heavier than the mountains.

Zhang Fan shook his head; in just this short time, he had already seen numerous outer disciples dressed in green, ordinary disciples in blue, inner disciples in white, and even a core disciple like himself wearing an ice silkworm robe coming and going, making it truly difficult to discern.

These ... ... are ? '' Zhang Fan's voice became unexpectedly dry.

... ...

Here, it may also become our home in the future. Beneath Zhuo Hao's indifferent tone lay unyieldingness, struggle, and fear, which did not escape Zhang Fan's ears

Disciple!" Zhuo Hao's voice echoed in this vast environment, sounding particularly distant. "Forty years ago, when I first entered the mountain gate, my master also brought me to this place. He told me that there is nothing particularly special about this place, and it has no other name; it is simply called the sheer cliff—'Jue' as in 'Jue Ming' (the cliff of death)"

Still smiling as if bathed in the spring breeze, one could hardly tell any difference from before, were it not for the pale complexion and the hem stained with dirt, as if nothing had ever happened

... ...

The passage opened up on the protective mountain formation has seen a constant flow of people over the past day, arriving with hope and leaving in despair, a sight that is all too common

Three meals a day should consist of large portions of fatty meats and bitter medicinal soups to nourish the foundation; at least seven hours a day should be dedicated to labor, such as chopping wood, fetching water, and chiseling stone... to strengthen the body and cultivate a resilient spirit; in the evening, one must also steam in a hot medicinal bath to expel toxins and alleviate injuries and bruises

Well, the lowest among them are cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage, and there are also many seniors at the Core Formation and Nascent Soul stages. In the year I entered the sect, one of the only two late-stage Nascent Soul ancestors of our Dharma Image Sect passed away there. At that time, my master brought me to pay respects, and that scene is something I will never forget in my lifetime

These caves differ from the abodes carved by the monks; they lack the sense of natural harmony and unspoiled beauty, instead filled with a sense of helplessness and desolation in the face of the ravages of time

Along the way, they faintly heard a loud explosion coming from a cave in the sheer cliff, followed by the sound of a massive rock collapsing. However, they did not turn back and continued to swiftly distance themselves from the scene

Sheer cliffs, canyons, massive stones pressing down, and small grass breaking through the soil

The path of immortality is fraught with difficulties, as one seeks and explores in all directions. It is unknown how many extraordinary and remarkable figures, who once shone brightly, are buried along this road that seems elusive and unattainable. Upon reflecting on this, he could not help but become somewhat entranced

Meanwhile

What else could he say? Zhang Fan had no choice but to abandon his immediate desire to cultivate, stepping onto his senior brother's Fire Spirit Spike, flying away in a state of confusion.

Not far out, Lin Sen's face suddenly turned pale. He hurried a few steps to hide behind a large tree by the roadside, not even having time to bend down, and vomited loudly. Once his intense gasping subsided, he wiped his mouth and resolutely turned back toward the dining hall

Among the majority of his peers who entered with a look of fear and exited in pain and stooped posture, he stood out so distinctly that Zhang Fan unconsciously followed his figure with his gaze

In the midst of conversation, a youth as thin as a bamboo pole emerged from the dining hall, smiling as he walked, greeting his fellow students with a cheerful demeanor.

Such days must continue for an entire year

Originally, there were over forty people kneeling by the roadside, but now only he remains. As long as he can endure for three days, the sect will accept him, starting as an outer disciple

Among the crowd, there are those who disdain, those who mock, and those who advise and criticize... He remains unfazed, standing tall with his back straight, kneeling upright.

He is called Han Zuo, and he has been kneeling like this for a day and a night.

"Disciple, do you know who they are?" Zhuo Hao asked with a calm expression

In the end, Zhang Fan no longer searched in vain, but instead gazed up at these once-glorious sights with a complex mix of emotions, now marked by solitude

After sending off the gloomy Shentu Hong, Zhang Fan had not yet had a moment to catch his breath when Zhuo Hao appeared before him

Five years? With this person's attitude, how could it possibly take so long to pass? Before Zhang Fan could even ask, he witnessed the answer with his own eyes

After Zhuo Hao's explanation, Zhang Fan finally understood that, unknowingly, he had skipped certain important steps. This was not due to his exceptional talent or strong will, but merely a legacy left by his ancestors

As he moved forward once more, Zhang Fan's previously restless heart had completely calmed down

"Originally, my master wanted me to bring you here to see this yesterday. After some thought, I decided to wait until today to bring you over. I believe you understand my master's intention," said Zhuo Hao, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, speaking softly in the wind.

Throughout the journey, Zhuo Hao remained silent, creating an atmosphere that felt extremely oppressive. This made Zhang Fan, who had experienced smooth sailing since entering the sect, feel quite uncomfortable.

He is named Lin Sen, possessing a mixed wood attribute and a spiritual root for books. He once saved the life of a Foundation Establishment senior brother, which led to him being brought to the mountain gate. It has been five years since then. Zhuo Hao also stared intently at this person and said slowly

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhuo Hao suddenly said with a serious expression: "Junior brother, come with me; I will show you some things."

By the roadside, a dark-skinned boy, dressed in tattered clothes and clearly from a farming background, was kneeling motionless.

Not long after, Lin Sen stepped out again, this time walking steadily, slowly yet resolutely disappearing from their sight

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fan trembled all over, feeling a chill continuously spreading from deep within his heart.

Zhang Fan silently gazed, his heart seemingly enlightened

Zhuo Hao remained silent, not revealing his whereabouts, and the impatience in Zhang Fan's heart had completely vanished without a trace

Moments later, they stopped at an unexpected location

Let's go!" Zhuo Hao tidied up his emotions and gradually flew away with Zhang Fan

It is said that many of the senior brothers in the foundation-building stage have high hopes for him, and once he passes this hurdle, he will officially take him as a disciple

After more than an hour of flight, the two stopped in front of a towering peak that reached into the clouds, with its summit hidden from view.

This time, Zhuo Hao remained silent for a long time, merely gazing deeply at the sheer cliffs that appeared to be hewn by knife and axe, his expression shifting unpredictably, at times nostalgic, at times fearful, at times shrinking back, and at times invigorated