Chapter 6: The Fuxi Classic Supported by Bamboo Shoots

Zhang Kuangyun felt a bit guilty, so he spoke gently to comfort Bai Binglan, saying: "Miss Bai, it's alright, it's alright. You have done very well today. After all, your skills are still limited, and you have little experience in slaying demons and monsters; in the future, just be careful and obedient, stay behind me if there is any sign of danger, and remember not to run around, and everything will be fine."

Why did this young man, clearly witnessing my wrongdoing, not show the slightest suspicion, but instead risk his life to rush in front of me and save me with his own life

In these circumstances, as they traveled along the way, Bai Binglan had already shown great interest but in a restrained manner, posed her questions.

Approximately one day later, they had approached Mount Jiuyi

In the struggle between life and death, even a slight deviation can lead to a thousand-mile error. Moreover, now that the Black Hawk monster has been blasted by a massive fire and thrown several steps to the side, it is currently lying in a disheveled posture, akin to a dog gnawing at the mud, amidst the rubble.

The spring days in the picturesque Xiang River region are certainly not limited to such static beauty; as Zhang and Bai stroll through, they are accompanied by the fluttering of butterflies and the blooming of flowers, with the songs of orioles and the dances of swallows following them. Occasionally, they might startle the golden pheasants and white rabbits hidden in the grass; from the moment they catch sight of these creatures to the instant they vanish without a trace, it all happens in the blink of an eye

Bamboo Forest?" Zhang Kuangyun did not react in time

At this point, he paused for a moment and said to Binglan with an extremely earnest tone: "Miss Binglan, please give me a little more time, I will definitely find a way to improve my skills, and then I will be able to teach you as well"

To exaggerate, one might say that if it were formed by the superimposition of a celestial map filled with stars, some people might actually believe it

Yet even the fractal geometry that aligns with the natural principles cannot fully depict the patterns on the surface of this "Fuxi Classic" before us

Moreover, it subtly emits a faint golden-red glow in accordance with the angle of sunlight, not only flowing brilliantly within the patterns of the cover but also seemingly on the verge of overflowing, cascading onto the hands of the wild clouds

The main temple of the Xuanling Sect, where Zhang Kuangyun resides, is located on the highest peak among the Nine Peaks, known as Shunyu Peak

"Look! A water-blue large butterfly!" Amidst the exclamations of surprise and cheer, before Zhang Kuangyun could react, Bai Binglan had already joyfully dashed down the hillside towards a rare blue-winged golden-patterned large butterfly

Hmm," Zhang Kuangyun said, "You have limited experience, so it is quite normal for you to be unable to articulate this. Look at this scripture, its ancient appearance clearly indicates that it is an ancient scroll. However, no matter how we calculate the years, this scripture could only have been produced using materials like bamboo slips or tortoise shells, yet it oddly resembles the format of a paper book.

Our sect, of course, has no problem!" He deliberately stopped and earnestly argued, "The Xuanling Sect has been established for a thousand years, with many outstanding individuals emerging. It is not only due to our profound heritage that we have earned the title of the third in the world. The earlier failure in battling the demon was solely my own issue.

Indeed! Isn't there a saying among the human race that goes, 'An orange grown in Huainan is an orange, while one grown in Huaibei is merely a tangerine'? It must be like this! This black eagle demon was not inherently bad, but upon entering the territory of humans, it was led astray by them

After leaving Mufu Mountain and walking for a long time, Bai Binglan finally regained her normal mood

Hmm," Bai Binglan said, "Do you see a book in the forest?"

At this moment, Zhang Kuangyun had lost all means of escape, and there was no way to avoid it. He could see that his splendid head was about to be hooked off by the black eagle old demon; the black eagle demon, seeing that this move was bound to succeed, had already revealed a cruel smile on his sinister face

When she spoke these words, Bai Binglan smiled gracefully; although it was a tease, it was merely a jest.

Is that so? Bai Binglan blinked her eyes

Why, despite my having given him a chance, does he repay my kindness with enmity and seek to bring about my demise

The status of these five major ancestral halls is roughly arranged according to the five characters "Xuan, Ling, Qing, Miao, Fan"

The Nine Peaks of Cangwu are Shunyuan, Ehuang, Nuying, Qilin, Shicheng, Shilou, Zhuming, Xiaoshao, and Guilin.

Each peak has a clear stream flowing down, and the shapes of the peaks are quite similar, often causing visiting tourists to become confused and lost, hence the name "Jiuyi". This is also the original origin of the name "Jiuyi" Mountain.

"So you still kept one talisman," Zhang Kuangyun said with a smile, "If you had used all three talismans earlier, that old bird would have undoubtedly met its demise... Well, actually, this is quite good too. Not only did we take down the Black Hawk monster, but the two of us also managed to coordinate in battle so quickly together."

In the Jiuyi Mountains, there are abundant stone pines, fragrant cedars, and variegated bamboos, all of which are local specialties of Jiuyi. Visitors, even if they do not see the towering peaks of the Cangwu Nine Peaks, can tell they are nearing Jiuyi simply by observing the increasing presence of fragrant cedars and variegated bamboos along the roads.

She put away her playful spirit and seemed contemplative along the way

"This is a book." Zhang Kuangyun did not think much of it as he casually walked over, picking up the book while saying, "This forest is secluded, and I wonder who came here to read, only to leave the book behind."

I initially perceived her as intelligent and quick-witted, as she seemed to understand the discussions I had about various techniques and sword arts along the way. This led me to become somewhat overconfident and bring her along to slay demons; however, I did not anticipate that once it came to actual combat, the situation would be entirely different. I misjudged the matter.

Among them are countless blossoms, resembling brilliant stars scattered throughout.

She is merely a child of an official family, having followed me for only a short time, not yet having ascended the mountain to enter the path, yet I have brought her to participate in such a perilous battle

Why does this eagle demon, knowing that I am of the same clan, still want to kill me

Upon thinking of this, Bai Binglan, who originally intended to mock the youth, suddenly felt a different kind of emotion in her heart

Seeing her like this, Zhang Kuangyun not only felt unable to blame her, but also felt a sense of guilt within himself

Thus, in the mouths of some people, the Xuanling Sect is also referred to as the Xuanling Palace

The scene of a beautiful girl chasing butterflies is always delightful, especially with Bai Binglan's agile figure, her movements ethereal, as she chases a butterfly across a meadow of green grass and flowers, unaware that she resembles a dancing colorful butterfly herself

I originally thought that you were the third most formidable sect in the world, quite impressive indeed. Who would have known that you are so mediocre? I truly need to reconsider the matter of joining your sect.

The foul stench of blood surged into the sky, and Zhang Kuangyun glanced at the beheaded demon with a cold sneer before turning around to retreat, going to see the girl who had lent him a helping hand.

From Zimufu Mountain to Jiuyi Mountain, the landscape unfolds in layers of mountains and waters

Thus, for the Xuanling disciple Zhang Kuangyun, merely gazing at the patterns on the cover of the book was enough to leave him in a daze...

However, at this moment, the three bamboo shoots in front of me were arranged in a triangular formation, surprisingly supporting an old-colored book together

I entered the realm of Xuanling not long ago; coupled with the early passing of my esteemed master, the enlightened Zhenren Huiming, I have yet to become an official disciple and remain a layperson to this day

In late spring, the vegetation is lush, and the mountains and waters in the distance seem to be enveloped in a layer of emerald green mist

The so-called land of Xiaoxiang derives its source of the Xiaoshui River from the streams of the nine peaks of Jiuyi Mountain

Before she could finish her sentence, Bai Binglan suddenly exclaimed softly, "Look, what is that in the grass?"

At first glance, these patterns appear chaotic and disordered, but when illuminated by golden light, the entire paper radiates with brilliance, revealing that these patterns are indeed intricate yet not cluttered. The directions of the lines subtly correspond to the concepts of Taiji, the Two Principles, the Three Powers, the Four Symbols, the Seven Stars, the Eight Trigrams, and so forth. They intertwine and overlap, and within a small space, they seem to encompass everything.

Therefore, I can only learn some basic skills, and it is to be expected that my abilities are lacking; it is not that our sect is inadequate

Therefore, Zhang Kuangyun inherited the Xianlu Hall from his esteemed master, the Enlightened Master Huiming, which is also situated on Shicheng Peak

The patterns of the harmony of heaven and the responsiveness to human culture have always been valued by Taoism, which places great importance on symbols and talismans

Initially indifferent, when he picked up the book and glanced at the cover, his previously casual expression suddenly turned extremely serious

Upon her reminder, Zhang Kuangyun focused his gaze and beheld a peculiar sight: three tender bamboo shoots had broken through the soil, each measuring just over an inch in height

Having just set foot on the mountain path for a short while, she began to look around, sometimes spotting uniquely colored wildflowers, and would walk over to examine them closely

If after six months it still does not work, then I will take the plunge and, considering my diligence in work, I will plead with the elders of the sect to assign you a better senior brother or sister to accompany you

Then Bai Binglan suddenly spoke, wearing a mocking expression, and said: "Senior brother, although you previously killed the monster, even such a small demon took quite a bit of effort, it seems your skills are not that impressive after all"

Although she forcefully found an explanation within herself, Bai Binglan's heart still felt somewhat uneasy

Mount Jiuyi, located in the Cangwu plains, is also known as Cangwu Mountain. Spanning over 2,000 square miles, it features layered peaks and towering heights, standing out in the heavens and the earth. Although it is not one of the Five Great Mountains, it is nonetheless a remarkable landscape among the mountains and rivers of the divine land.

Thereafter, after sufficient rest, Zhang Kuangyun took her to search for the cave where the Black Eagle Old Demon was hiding the children

Zhang Kuangyun was worried that she might have an accident, so he hurriedly followed behind her

Zhang Kuangyun suddenly changed the subject midway, as he noticed the girl who had just helped him. She was now in a daze, staring blankly with a wooden expression, fixated on the corpse of the Black Hawk Old Demon, looking utterly astonished and terrified.

For Zhang Kuangyun, who has lost his loved ones, the Xuanling Sect is undoubtedly his home; after traveling far and wide in the Wu and Yue regions for so long, as he approached the Shicheng Peak of Jiuyi Mountain, he truly felt a sense of "the closer to home, the more timid one becomes"

Stop chasing, we—" Just as Zhang Kuangyun had thought several times that he could not catch up with Bai Binglan, he wanted to call her back

If it were a paper book, it would be one thing; perhaps its ancient and worn appearance is due to some special reason. But if you take a closer look, it is not made of paper. Look at it under the light—" At this point, Zhang Kuangyun stretched out his hand and placed the ancient book above his head among the bamboo forest, in a beam of leaked sunlight—suddenly, the originally old and dull cover of the scripture revealed countless exquisite patterns!

It is evident that Bai Binglan was also captivated by the beautiful scenery of Shicheng Peak

"No, no!" she shouted in her heart, "How could we, the demon race, be so evil and cruel? There must be something wrong..."

When Zhang Kuangyun first laid eyes on it, he felt that the book "Three Bamboo Shoots" resembled a three-legged stool.

This sense of unease is not simple, for her, this feeling of unease has never been experienced before

As Bai Binglan continued forward, she thought to herself: "He had just been feeling insecure in secret, yet he still had to pretend to be righteous and defend the sect. However, he was not merely stubborn or boastful; while defending, he also considered the future of me, his apprentice."

In the repeated questioning within her heart, the prejudices that once felt as solid as ice began to unconsciously thaw...

Zhang Kuangyun did not hesitate at all, already chasing like the wind, raising his sword, and slaying the ferocious black eagle monster under his blade

However, under the powerful motivation of "learning for application," the Daoist principle of "one symbol governs the world" has been studied to such a profound extent.

What happened? Bai Binglan curiously leaned over.

Even future generations are unaware that at this time, among the leading Daoist sects in the world, a theory of patterns similar to what would later be known as "fractal geometry" had already been developed—one must understand how profound this mathematical theory is

The boy, who was wholeheartedly comforting, did not realize that Bai Binglan, who was lost in thought, was not stunned out of fear, but was repeatedly recalling everything that had just happened

The remaining five major sects of the Xuanling are as follows: the Xuan Zong Hall, which focuses on the study of Daoist methods, is located at Shilou Peak; the Ling Zong Hall, which specializes in talismans, is situated at Zhuming Peak; the Qing Zong Hall, dedicated to sword techniques, can be found at Guilin Peak; the Miao Zong Hall, for female disciples, is located at Nuying Peak; and the Fan Zong Hall, for lay disciples, is positioned at Shicheng Peak

Such bamboo shoots are quite common in the Jiuyushan Mountains during spring

Yes. Zhang Kuangyun nodded and said, "When you look at its shape and material, don't you find it quite special?"

"Hmm, thank you, Brother Zhang!" The girl, who had originally worn a teasing expression, now changed to a gentle and submissive demeanor, slightly bowing to Zhang Kuangyun in greeting

However, unexpectedly, the Black Hawk Demon suddenly spun its body, instantly covering the original flaw; instead, the sharp blade in its hand spun like the wind, and the cold gleam of the hooked blade on the iron staff aimed towards Zhang Kuangyun's neck!

In observing his words and actions these days, it seems that his status within the faction is quite low. For him to seek out those elders is no small feat; not only would it be difficult to make a request, but even the act of visiting them would be a considerable challenge. Yet, he is still willing to stand up for me, a newcomer he has only just met

At that moment, the Black Hawk Monster suddenly felt a wave of scorching hot wind rushing in from the side

Before he could react, a massive flame erupted at his left rib, instantly generating a powerful shockwave that not only deflected his anticipated strike but also sent his entire body crashing to the side

The name of Jiuyi Mountain originates from the nine peaks that are arrayed at the foot of the mountain, referred to as "Cangwu Nine Peaks"

"Yes," Bai Binglan said, "the little sister thinks it is very special, but where exactly is it special... she just can't say."

This book is extraordinary. Zhang Kuangyun said solemnly, You see, it is called The Fuxi Classic. Over the years, I have read many esoteric texts, yet I have never heard of such a scripture.

Upon seeing those disheveled children imprisoned in the cave, Bai Binglan's heart was no longer merely unsettled; it had begun to feel a sense of unease.

Even amidst the beautiful scenery that is suitable for both movement and stillness, the moments of silent walking can feel somewhat lonely

As I tread the mountain path of Shicheng Peak, listening to the gentle flow of the mountain stream and observing the scattered bamboo by the roadside, Zhang Kuangyun feels that the bamboo and water here are more beautiful and melodious than anywhere else

However, even so, Zhang Kuangyun's face still turned red

Hmm? Zhang Kuangyun was taken aback and hurried over, following the direction pointed by Bai Binglan's finger, looking towards a bamboo grove at the corner of the hillside.