(A Cataclysm castle: an ancient castle left over from the sacred spirit race, with a long history, where countless mysterious royal hermits once resided.
The buildings in the spirit castle retain the original appearance of the ancient times, and the water, trees and grass in the castle are full of spirituality.
It is the only ancient castle of the Water Spirit tribe that is as famous as the Water Spirit Palace.
When the young Kellen the Great, Her Majesty the Queen, and the Nine Spirits arrived here, there was already a supernatural high man living here!
-- Excerpted from "The Secret Figures That Kellen the Great Will Never Forget" compiled by historians after the Creation of the Divine Territory)
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"Hehe... Welcome, welcome! Welcome to the Disaster Spirit Castle! Come in!"
With a creaking sound, the heavy stone gate slowly opened beneath the majestic city tower. The guard who opened the door was an old man with a smiling beard, dressed in silver armor and holding a spear, looking very energetic.
But the passage of time had etched too many rings on the old man's face. The emaciated body has become somewhat hunched. He looked more like an old 拄杖 than a spear guard.
The old man, in the moonlight, had a glimmer of light in his eyes, which seemed to be filled with years of wisdom. Looking closely at the little girl with blue eyes, she was lost in thought for a long time. Said:
"Ok! Good! Are you Shui Gongjin's daughter or Shui Qi's daughter?"
The old man's voice was hoarse but clear, and the unusual joy in his eyes was not concealed at all.
"Old man, my father is Shui Qi." In the tender childishness of Elara, there was already a hint of maturity. In her view, there was nothing left to hide from the old man. Because the old man's question was straightforward and his expression was very kind.
The old man chuckled again, "remarkable! Amazing! Your Highness, please come inside!"
The old man let the water Elara into the city gate and then looked at Kellen on the Nine Spirits, a trace of unknown astonishment flashing in his eyes. In an instant, a kind smile was already covered with astonishment, and he nodded slightly to the Nine Spirit and Kellen, looking more like a slight bow. Chuckled:
"Come in! Inside, please!"
Kellen seemed to feel a bit impolite and shouldn't have sat on the high back of the Nine Spirits and received the old man's salutation and inquiry. Just as she was about to slide off the Nine Spirits. The Nine Spirits had already left the old man's tiny figure far behind, and a formation of silver-armored warriors had followed the city gate.
After a few minutes' journey, a moat appeared before them, which was ten feet wide. Elara's eyebrows tightened a little, and in an instant, a rainbow bridge stretched all the way to the training ground across the moat.
When they crossed the rainbow bridge and reached the training ground, there were already two young, ethereal, blue-robed scholars waiting there.
"Congratulations to all of you on your successful arrival at the Disaster Spirit Castle! Elder Ji Shi has already been preaching in the Salvation Hall. Please follow me!"
Looking around, pavilions and terraces, one after another, emit a faint blue glow, highlighting the unique solemnity and sanctity of the aquatic spirit castle. However, there seemed to be few people in the vast fortress. A silence from the sounds of the heavens seemed to have slumbered here for a long, long time.
Passing through the wide, flat training ground, one is greeted by high, bluish stone steps. They followed the blue-robed scholar up the steps, and a grand hall stood before them. The hall was empty, as if it had been abandoned for a long time, but under the blue light, it was spotless and solemn.
Led by the blue-robed scholars, they entered the hall and went around the spacious courtyard. After turning a few bends, there was a long corridor standing by the water. The corridor, with its elaborately carved beams and painted pillars, upturned eaves and jade tiles, gives off a faint air of the water spirit royal family under the glow of blue light.
Elara wondered to himself, could the one living here also be a hermit of the Water Spirit Royal family? If so, what kind of royal nobleman would he be living in such a desolate place? Able to endure such a laid-back life?
All kinds of distractions flashed through people's minds and were eventually digested without a trace. The word "mysterious" welled up in everyone's mind for no reason and lingered for a long time. A strong sense of curiosity drove everyone to follow the blue-robed scholar out of the corridor surrounded by water.
Before the eyes, there was another vast training ground. On the opposite side of the training ground were high stone steps. Looking up, I couldn't even reach the top! They thought to themselves: The steps must be at least a thousand.
"Please, everyone! I'll be there soon!" The blue-robed scholar dropped two sincere words and climbed the steps.
The people behind him looked at each other, all questioning one question in their hearts: "Why can't we use the spirit technique to fly through the air? If we were to climb up such steep stone steps step by step until we reached the top, hehe... I'm afraid anyone's legs can't stand it, can they?"
Kellen laughed and slid off the Nine Spirits' back. He followed first, thinking it was a perfect opportunity to master the mountain climbing skills. There was only one thought in his mind: Go!
Watching Kellen go up step by step, Elara understood and followed. The warriors had no choice but to follow them up. After a short while, the warriors were left far behind by the two little guys and gradually disappeared from sight. From this perspective, the high stone steps are more than a thousand layers?
After a long time, the cold moon and starlight spread all over the sky.
Just as the two little ones felt hopeless about reaching the summit, a grand and solemn hall suddenly came into their view. Looking up, they saw a large aquarium plaque hanging under the eaves of the high roof. Three large aquatic characters on the plaque, glowing blue: Dushengtang.
The two children smiled at each other, at last they had arrived, and were overjoyed. Slowly walking towards the hall gate, my legs and feet aching and numb.
The door was wide open, and beside it the Nine Spirits were already waiting in silence. It seems that the Nine Spirits are much faster than the two children. Looking into the hall, there was already a group of blue-robed scholars sitting cross-legged in the hall, facing the high hall, seemingly listening attentively.
Looking from the high hall, an old man in a blue robe with grey hair and beard seemed to be preaching.
Feng and Ling looked at each other for a moment, both stunned. Both were puzzled. How could someone be preaching here? How strange! How strange! You should be able to get the key here, right? Could it be that the key is in the hands of the old man in the high hall?
Just as the two children were puzzled, they had already crossed the door and entered. The threshold was very high, and it could be said that the two children did not step in, but rather climbed in.
When I came to my senses, I saw that the clothes of the two of them had also turned into blue robes, which was quite strange. A scholar in a blue robe came towards him, pointed to the side, and saw two cushions appear out of nowhere in the distance. Just as he was gesturing for the two children to sit over, Feng Ling and the other did not hesitate and quickly sat over. At this moment, Jiuling followed.
After a long while, the two children, no longer looking around, settled their minds and began to listen attentively. It was only then that the old man's voice, like a loud bell, echoed in the hall for a long time. It was as if a powerful spiritual technique had taken control of everyone's thoughts in an instant. Only to hear:
"Heaven is high and earth is low; the universe is settled. Low and high, high and low positions. Stillness and movement are regular, hardness and softness are broken. Just as birds of a feather flock together, good or bad fortune arises. In heaven they form, on earth they take shape, and change is seen.
Beat it with thunder, moisten it with wind and rain, the sun and the moon move, cold and heat, the way of heaven becomes male, the way of earth becomes female.
Qian knows the beginning of the great, Kun makes things. ..."
Chapter Forty-Five: The Spirit Fire Well Array
(The first time I came into contact with such a mysterious master, his test for me was also of great significance.
Here I received the harshest training.
It was a breakthrough growth for both my physical fitness and my mental maturity.
After this test, it was decided whether the mysterious old man would take me as his apprentice.
Now, the endless years have passed in a hurry, but when I look back, it's just as it was.
-- Excerpted from the Queen's Memoirs, compiled by historians after the Creation of the Divine Territory)
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It is unknown how long it had been before a blue curtain opened the eyes of Water Elara.
"Everything is an illusion!"
The old man's voice, as bright as a bell, echoed through the blue screen, and Water Elara looked around. He found himself alone, enveloped in the blue screen. At that moment, the old man in the blue robe with white beard, who had just been preaching in the hall, suddenly appeared before Water Elara.
Who are you? Water Elara looked puzzled, with a hint of surprise in her expression, but seeing the old man's extremely kind look, there was no trace of fear.
"I am a mortal who saves lives and helps the world." The old man slowly approached the water Elara and smiled slightly, "Who are you? To come to the Spirit Fire Well array at such a young age is truly a great blessing!"
"Spirit Fire Well Array?" Water Elara looks astonished. "Isn't this the Disaster Spirit Castle?"
The old man smiled, and with a wave of his sleeve, the blue curtain slowly receded, and a lush lawn had already spread all over the ground. A few natural Wells in the lawn, glowing with a fiery red light, seemed to reflect the blue sky. "Everything is an illusion, hehe..."
"Is this really the Spirit Fire Well array? How could I be here?" On the innocent little face of Water Elara, the puzzled expression was not concealed at all. Then the expression on his face suddenly changed, and he felt enlightened and said, "I understand, the Spirit Fire Well Array is also a suppression space! Is that true, old man?"
The old man chuckled and said, "Where the heart goes, the man will go. The little girl is not only persistent, but also very perceptive! Hehe... You haven't told me who you are yet?"
This time, Water Elara opened her beautiful big eyes and laughed happily: "I'm Water Elara!"
"Water Elara? It truly lives up to its name! The last level of the Realm Position Spirit Suppression Technique is a test of wisdom and courage. Before Elara were six fire Wells, three celestial fire Wells and three terrestrial fire Wells. In each well, you have to find a key. When all six Wells are repaired, it indicates that they are qualified. How detailed is this rule?" The old man chuckled.
"What key? Is it the key to the completion of the spiritual practice of the realm position?" "Water Elara asked, looking puzzled.
"Hehe... The key is in the well, only to find out when you go in! Hopefully your friend won't have to wait too long! Remember, this is a fire well!" The old man's voice echoed across the open lawn, but his figure had already vanished from sight.
Water Elara had no time to think, so what if it was a fire well? One word, "jump!"
"Boom!"
A fierce, fiery wind rushed up the well, straight towards the small bones of the water Elara. Suffocating, hot, and suffocating. Gradually, consciousness began to blur as if the whole person were about to be dried up by fire.
Elara's instinctive desire to survive, with the palms facing down, was filled with spiritual energy, and thirty-six inscriptions flashed before her eyes one after another. Two jets of water gushed out from the deep blue pupils! Wherever the water jets swept, the fire grew fainter and even extinguished. Two bulging arms, as if they were about to burst.
"Whoosh --"
With a loud bang, two streams of water rushed down Elara's bulging palms, and wherever they swept, there was a white steam and a faint fire.
The already out-of-control body still rapidly sank into the well, and around the eyes, there was a fiery wind. Looking further down, it seemed as if the fire well was bottomless. In a short while, the steam and the blazing fire were mixed together, blurring the previously unclear sight in the well.
In a daze, Elara found that the place where the searing flames and the rising steam met was like a black object in the shape of a key, long and small, like a hare seen on ordinary days.
Elara did not think much of it, but a continuous stream of water, driven by the spirit, rushed down as fast as it could. The fire well seemed to have no bottom at all. For an hour, it did not touch the ground!
How strange!
If you keep chasing like this, I'm afraid you won't get the key and will die in the fire! Looking down, the black key flickered in the firelight and vanished in the steam. As Water Elara hesitated, the key seemed to have sunk, submerged in the raging fire.
A strong desire to obtain the key welled up in her heart, but at the same time she knew deeply that if this went on, sooner or later her spirit would be exhausted and she would die of exhaustion!
On one side was the desire to choose, on the other was life and death. A two-way choice seems equally important to the water Elara at this moment. If you had to choose between fish and bear's paw, what would you choose?
Keep going! Not far off!
The allure of the key is within sight, and perhaps with a little effort, it will really catch up! Elara did not think much of it and cast the spell with all his might again. Another hour passed.
The key was faintly at the place where the fire and steam met, but Elara's own spirit magic and spirit power seemed to be far less than before.
Even the innate talent is limited. Everyone and everything has the way and the law that cannot be surpassed. No matter how high one's cultivation is, it is impossible to fill the bottomless void of spiritual dharma.
On one side is the desire to choose, on the other is life and death.
Why can't you catch the key that seems so close? Could it be that I didn't try hard enough before? Why didn't I work hard an hour ago? If you had made a little effort when you were full of energy, wouldn't it have been all done?
Now in such a sorry state, unable to go up or down, what should be done? Are you going to be burned to death in this well?
The road is long and arduous; I will search high and low...
Can one live and die for righteousness, can one live and die for desire?
A key, though light, is indeed insignificant when compared to life.
A key is heavy. Without this key, it means not being able to complete this spiritual practice. If it cannot be perfected, how can there be Nirvana? If one cannot attain nirvana, how can one see the six souls and seven spirits of one's parents? If one cannot see one's parents, it is a great lack of filial piety!
As a son of man, be filial!
If there is any lack of filial piety, it is a great rebellion!
Is there really a lack of filial piety?
Elara has come all the way to the space of the law, the mountain of the Foot, the Mountain of the hand, the Crimson Water Abyss, the Tower of the Giant Beast, the Castle of the Calamity, familiar place names. It's all about the hardships and tribulations of life and death. If one is to be unfilial, what is the purpose of such trials and tribulations?
Countless flashes of thought, have you ever given up? Countless flashes of thought, would you have persisted to the end without Kellen?
Yes! Sure! Do it without hesitation!
Nirvana! The Netherworld! Save your parents!
The blazing fire is constantly blurring Elara's thoughts and wisdom.
Is there really unfilial piety?
Not at all!
Not in the past, not now, and not in the future!
All along the way, even in the face of death and death, the mind has remained steadfast!
Thinking about it this way, I haven't slackened at all in the previous hour. In other words, I've given it my all! The key is always right in front of you, never obtained, never touched, never really seen clearly...
"Hehe... Everything is an illusion... It is a test of wisdom and courage..."
The old man's words echoed in the hazy mind at this moment, as if conveying some message.
"Hehe... Everything is an illusion... It is a test of wisdom and courage..."
The water Elara, in a trance, gradually ceased all spiritual manipulation. Gradually, his body was suspended in mid-air, his arms spread out, and then he froze. It seemed as if the whole mind had frozen at that moment. The crystal-clear ice gradually covered Elara's entire body, and even the blazing flames, like the sharp blade of a sword, did nothing to affect this layer of ice.
Elara's mood began to cool down, calm and quiet. Thoughts also began to become clear.
"The illusion," yes, the key that is pursued with all one's might, is perhaps just an illusion. "A test of wisdom and courage," which is quite clear, is not a test of spiritual magic. Even if one has extraordinary spiritual skills, it is of no use.
"Boldness", clearly knowing that water and fire are incompatible, clearly knowing that this is a well of fire, clearly knowing that one is of the Water clan... But I still jumped in, and how deep I went into the well!
Thinking about it this way, I was bold enough.
"Wisdom" is an illusion, and it is not wise to pursue it with all one's might.
Three fire Wells in the sky, three fire Wells in the earth.
The earth's virtue is so thick that it bears all things. For two hours, not seeing the earth, it is obviously contrary.
Thinking of it this way, the directions are completely opposite!
Well, well, the sky is vast and endless. Not to mention two hours, even for the rest of my life, I'm afraid I won't reach the dawn of the sky. It's really a futile effort!
Turn around and sink down. After more than two hours, the fire grew fainter and the flames still lingered. But Elara's little feet had landed safely. Opening her eyes slightly, it turned out to be a dry well. But there was indeed a stone door at the bottom of the well, and beside it was a small key. It's so different from the key in the illusion!
Elara stared blankly at the key and, without thinking much, opened the door.