Chapter Two: Family Heirloom

Under the lofty Cangfeng Ridge, a peculiar figure watched silently as Lu Yun stood before him. There was a hint of a smile in the strange man's eyes. Lu Yun, clad in a light blue robe, stood handsomely with a faint smile on his face, exuding charm. His gaze was as clear as water, with a hint of mystery that was incredibly captivating. He appeared akin to a talented scholar from the Jiangnan region—fragile yet captivatingly elegant.

The odd figure smiled faintly and said, "Twelve years have passed, and today you've finally made progress. You've absorbed all the skills I've imparted, spanning across various disciplines. Though you still have a long way to go, with dedication, you'll eventually catch up to me. The knowledge I've shared with you from centuries of learning, in just twelve years, is an unparalleled feat. Your life is filled with mutations and uncertainties; whether you can challenge fate depends solely on you. No one else can aid you. Now that you're about to leave, let me share a few things for you to remember when the time comes."

Lu Yun replied with a smile, "Master, speak freely. There's only us here; no one else."

The odd figure, with a peculiar expression, continued, "Firstly, I've passed on all my techniques to you, encompassing the Daoist, Buddhist, Confucian, demonic, and ghostly arts. Remember, use them sparingly, as they might bring trouble. Among these, the Daoist's 'Heaven-Cleaving Dao of Tai Xuan' and the Buddhist's 'Eternal Zen Heart Sutra' are dominant. Confucianism's 'Mighty Virtue Heavenly Barrier' is resolute, the demonic art of 'Desireless Traceless Heart' is enigmatic, and the ghostly art of 'Soul Transformation **' is malicious. Though you've learned them in twelve years, your mastery is still limited. But compared to peers, your skills are unparalleled."

"Secondly, the world is vast, with countless sects in the realm of cultivation. Each has its merits worth exploring. However, due to deep-seated grudges, many sects have faded. Yet, you should beware of the five major sects and six academies. Once you retrieve our ancestral artifact, head to the Yi Garden in the western Shu region. There are mysteries there, and if you ever visit, remember my words."

"Yi Garden, one of the six academies, stands out for nurturing both cultivators and scholars in Chinese literature. While it's the least renowned, it's the most popular due to its diverse curriculum. Its 'Yi Jing' is famed, especially for the 'Twelve Heavenly Laws of Yi,' said to alter destiny. Among its treasures is the 'Sky-Shifting Ruler,' an ancient artifact."

"Moreover, there's a secret within Yi Garden—a technique called the 'Five Thunderous Heaven's Decree,' unmastered since its inception. If given a chance, learn it. This technique slays all demonic creatures, unparalleled in its supremacy against evil entities."

"Thirdly, I've observed ominous signs in the celestial bodies recently. The world will soon face turmoil, and malevolent forces will emerge. Within three years, calamity will strike, impacting the cultivation world, engulfing it in chaos. Be vigilant."

"Fourthly, you lack a weapon. It might be wise to acquire one. In the realm of cultivation, weapons range from divine, immortal, spiritual to magical. Divine weapons are rare, immortal ones even rarer, created by ascended cultivators. Spiritual weapons are commonly forged, and magical ones vary. Remember, weapons empower through different paths—righteous cultivation or sinister means."

"Lastly, a piece of advice from my years of experience: besides humans, spiritual beings seek enlightenment to become immortals. They're seen as monsters by humans, but like humans, they vary in nature. Remember not to judge them solely by human standards. Humanity's wickedness exceeds that of these beings. Keep this in mind when you embark on your journey."

Lu Yun carefully considered his master's words and said, "Rest assured, Master. I won't follow the path of those you mentioned. Take care, and I shall depart. This land is now under your watchful eye."

The peculiar figure nodded, "Understood. Go forth. Life's mysteries will reveal themselves in due time. The path of cultivation is arduous; take care of yourself."

With a courteous bow expressing gratitude for twelve years of mentorship, Lu Yun turned away, cast a final glance around, and ascended into the sky, disappearing into the horizon. The peculiar figure watched the sky, sighed softly, then turned and vanished into the cave. The mountain breeze carried the scent of flowers, restoring tranquility.

Suddenly, on a towering peak, a blue figure appeared without a sound, mystifyingly emerging without anyone knowing from whence. Quietly observing the mountain below, this youth in his early twenties was none other than Lu Yun. His face held a slight smile as he gracefully moved through the woods, swift as flowing clouds and water.

Before long, Lu Yun reached a deep valley. Gazing below, he furrowed his brow, "This must be it. Why did our Lu Family ancestors choose this desolate place as our ancestral burial ground? The intense yin energy here suggests hidden malevolence and numerous sinister entities."

Raising his gaze to the sky, Lu Yun pondered. Whenever lost in thought, he gazed at the heavens, as if expressing his unyielding determination to defy fate. Glancing once more at the valley, Lu Yun murmured, "It seems our Lu Family ancestors must have been extraordinary to conceal our ancestral tombs over this dragon vein's 'eye,' ensuring our prosperity for generations. Truly remarkable."

Lu Yun's body swayed slightly as he began descending slowly, displaying no haste. Simultaneously, a dazzling red light burst from his body, radiant as the midday sun, exceptionally bright. As a safety measure, Lu Yun activated the Confucian 'Mighty Virtue Heavenly Barrier,' protecting himself securely. Descending deeper, he sensed an increased eerie atmosphere and a potent malevolent aura emanating from the valley's depths, heightening his vigilance.

Lu Yun realized that powerful spiritual entities, likely malevolent, were concealed below, as the overwhelming and sinister aura suggested. He had to be cautious.

这段描述有趣且充满冒险色彩.以下是对这一场景的英文翻译:

"Watching the ground inch closer, Lu Yun focused his entire body's energy, keenly observing the surroundings, relentlessly searching for the source of that sinister and evil aura. However, after a while, he found the valley surrounded by weird, barren rocks, nowhere for concealment, yet the elusive spirit remained unseen. This puzzled Lu Yun. What startled him further was the incredible ability of this supernatural entity to vanish from sight.

Lu Yun hovered about three feet above the ground, emitting a burst of red light that dyed the valley blood-red, revealing everything in sight. But there was nothing there, perplexing. Glancing around, not far to the left, a cavern loomed large, exceptionally eerie, brimming with malevolence. Lu Yun's suspicion rose; his hands moved in a spell, conjuring a peculiar blue and golden radiance. A slight downward push from his hands caused the ground to collapse instantly. An astonishing surge of energy spread outward, upheaving the earth, creating a shockwave centered around Lu Yun, swiftly expanding in all directions. Thunder roared in the air, as if the sky were collapsing, an astonishing spectacle.

Gusting winds and eerie cries filled the valley, akin to howls of infernal spirits. A dark mist enveloped Lu Yun, with a three-headed spirit serpent swirling within, its body stretching about a hundred feet, akin to a mass of black clouds, casting darkness around, dimming the light. Each of the serpent's three heads, each about thirty feet thick, glowed like crimson lanterns, emitting a ghastly red light within the gloomy valley. The three red tongues, each several yards long, incessantly moved, emitting eerie winds filled with malevolent poison, corroding everything.

Lu Yun, facing this colossal entity, was staggered; it was the first time he had encountered such a monstrous spirit, truly terrifying. Recollecting his master's tales about the three-headed spirit serpent, he felt a foreboding sensation. Legends described this serpent as an extremely rare creature, believed extinct long ago. Encountering it here was unfathomable. Said to be a variant of the dragon, its lifespan spanned thousands, even tens of thousands, of years. With three heads bearing distinct sinister qualities—spewing flames, icy coldness, and fatal venom—it was the rarest and most malevolent entity. Infinitely intelligent, it cultivated much faster than ordinary spirits, belonging to the realm of rare demonic entities; encountering it meant almost certain death.

Lu Yun found it astounding to have encountered it today. Conflicted whether to rejoice or despair, he assessed the cavern entrance. The serpent's massive body likely couldn't enter, granting him a chance to evade its attacks. With that in mind, Lu Yun swiftly darted towards the cave entrance.

In mid-air, the serpent's three heads, eyes gleaming with malice, thrashed towards Lu Yun. A fierce wind accompanied by unparalleled force swept his way. Feeling the tremendous power approaching, Lu Yun raised both hands forcefully, aiming to halt the serpent's attack and harness the rebound force to hasten his entry into the cave.

Within the gloomy valley, an earth-shattering sound erupted, stones flew in all directions, shaking the entire mountainous terrain. Just as Lu Yun barely managed to enter the cave, the serpent's colossal tail struck the cave entrance, causing a tremendous explosion that shattered the stony walls, an awe-inspiring sight.

Inside the cave, Lu Yun's heart raced. Sensing the valley's tremors, he muttered, 'Even my master would retreat if encountering such a colossal spirit, mere escape is an option. Encountering this here is both fortunate and exasperating. Why did our Lu family ancestors choose this remote place? The valley, while an auspicious spot, teems with malevolent spirits, a danger to anyone. Were it not for some skill remaining, I'd be finished today.' Speaking to himself, he meticulously surveyed his surroundings, extraordinarily vigilant.

The cavern was spacious, seemingly bottomless. As he descended, the malevolent aura grew denser, intensifying Lu Yun's unease, sensing a ferocious beast lurking below. Several branching paths surrounded them, each concealing myriad peculiar spirits of varied shapes and sizes. Lu Yun had now switched to the 'Soul Transformation**' of the Ghost Sect, emanating a black aura that repelled these spirits. His aura held a malevolent energy, instilling fear in these spirits.

Time passed as Lu Yun ventured deeper until he reached a vast chamber, about a dozen yards wide. This seemed the cavern's core; surrounded by three passages forming a triangle. A fist-sized pearl in the center illuminated the area brightly. Amidst it stood a stone coffin, guarded by four statues, all armed sentinels, poised with weapons, vigilant. Surrounding these figures were eight symbols etched into the ground, sinister depictions resembling legendary malevolent ghosts, truly chilling.

Lu Yun circled the stone coffin, noticing piles of bones around, possibly hundreds. This heightened his caution; he knew this place concealed a profound secret, else so many wouldn't have met their demise. Despite the rich spiritual energy, the prior malevolence had vanished, confounding him. All energies converged upon the stone coffin, leaving Lu Yun intrigued by the enigmatic contents hidden within.

Inspecting the eight symbols and the four statues, Lu Yun surmised that this chamber held a significant secret, heavily guarded to remain untouched for years. Contemplating his next move, Lu Yun decided to test the potency of these formations to devise a strategy.

Channeling the 'Heavenly Virtue' from the Confucian tradition through his right hand, Lu Yun conjured a vigorous and blazing red light. With a powerful swing, his palm, akin to an unstoppable force, struck the stone coffin. Simultaneously, he rotated 180 degrees, appearing on the opposite side, surrounded by a radiant red light, protecting his body.

Just as Lu Yun's immensely forceful palm neared the stone coffin, the eight demonic symbols on the ground emitted a dazzling light, creating a protective shield around the coffin. Simultaneously, the four sentinel statues reanimated, brandishing their weapons, emanating a four-colored radiant aura, forming a formidable barrier that repelled Lu Yun's powerful strike.

His expression changed; Lu Yun raised his head in contemplation. Breaking through these dual defenses seemed no simple feat. Inside the stone coffin lay what Lu family ancestors had likely concealed, but why guard it so fiercely? Curiosity enveloped Lu Yun. Circling the coffin, he continuously moved, a five-colored aura emanating from him, probing the mysterious formation using the 'Traceless Desire' technique from the Dark Sect. Lu Yun accelerated the rate of his energy, initially checking at a rate of a hundred to two hundred breaths per moment, escalating to an astounding rate of twelve hundred, yet he couldn't penetrate the formation, sensing no trace of the coffin's essence.

Lu Yun pushed himself further, reaching ten layers of energy. His energy frequency surged to twenty-four hundred breaths per moment, his limit. If unsuccessful now, Lu Yun would have exhausted his options. Among the five techniques he mastered, the Dark Sect's 'Traceless Desire' allowed the highest energy frequency. His master could achieve sixty-eight thousand six hundred breaths

 per moment, a rarity in the world. Lu Yun maintained his energy at twenty-four hundred breaths, meticulously probing the formation's secrets, hoping for a breakthrough.

Time passed, and Lu Yun was drenched in sweat, exhibiting signs of exhaustion due to immense energy expenditure. Finally, after enduring a little longer, Lu Yun, utterly drained, collapsed, lying on the ground, panting heavily, his clothes soaked in sweat. With a faint smile, he gazed at the mystical formation, having finally comprehended its secrets, unlocking a chance to bypass the defense and access the contents within."