I have Taoism and can understand other worlds

Chapter 633 Hundred Streams Holy Land
Two days passed in the blink of an eye. When the doorbell rang, Jiang Wen waved to the alchemy furnace. Several milky-white pills were put into his sleeve. After putting the furnace away, he got up and opened the door.

Yuki stood gracefully at the door, dressed in a light blue gauze robe.

Beside him were two elder guards who respectfully bowed to Jiang Wen: "Honored guest, the elders invite you to the council hall."

"Let's go, they must be preparing for the trial," Jiang Wen replied, instructing the guards to lead the way.

When they went to the main hall with Xue Ji, they saw that the once empty elder's seat was now occupied by eight old men.

These old men were all different; some had dragon horns on their heads, some had three eyes open, some had blue faces and fangs, and some had ears like fans.

Judging from their expressions and appearances, Jiang Wen knew which tribe they came from. Having sifted through the records of various tribes in the Hundred Streams within the Rock People tribe, he could also discern some of their origins.

He bowed respectfully to the many elders and waited quietly to the side.

The dragon-man elder was naturally among the many elders. He nodded to Jiang Wen and then talked with the other elders.

Before long, the elders stopped their discussion.

"Let's begin," said the old dragonman.

"Then let's get started."

The elders agreed one by one, and they sat steadily on the high platform.

The blood and energy stored within his body erupted, like a whirlwind sweeping through the entire hall.

The figures of the eight elders merged into the blood energy, gradually transforming into various ferocious beasts and exotic species. This realm is called Blood Energy Transformation, which allows one to become the source of the ancient bloodline of various races, using their physical forms to fight against heaven and earth.

The old dragon-man transformed into a blue dragon, coiling above the high platform. Although it differed from the true dragon Jiang Wen had seen, he could still sense the earth-shattering power contained within it.

"open!"

The eight elders spoke in unison, and the high platform shimmered with different lights.

Ancient seal script appeared on the high platform, turning into a phantom image in mid-air.

Blood essence taking form, that's interesting. Jiang Wen looked at the eight elders, showing some interest in this bloodline technique. Although it wasn't a particularly profound method, it still had some uses; the ability to transform into human form alone was quite remarkable.

The illusory image of the seal script floated on the high platform, and Jiang Wen didn't have to wait long.

Eight illusory images suddenly flew towards the dome above the main hall and converged at the top. Then, light spread in all directions, and the entire hall was transported to another world in the next moment.

The sky was a murky, yellowish-brown, as if shrouded in a layer of perpetual dust, devoid of sun or moon, letting in a deathly light. A chill seeped into the bones, not the cold of wind and snow, but a sinister chill that could freeze the very soul.

This place is not blessed by the gods, and it is completely different from the land of fallen immortals.

Jiang Wen stood in the main hall, looking into the distance.

The land was barren, and a few strange flowers peeked out from the cracked black soil.

The flowers were slender like claws, their petals a vibrant crimson, as if soaked in congealed blood, dazzlingly bright amidst the ashen landscape—the very same spider lily that grows only in the most yin places. They swayed silently, moving without wind, releasing a faint, mesmerizing fragrance.

A wide river stretched out in the distance, its water dark and inky, yet strangely untouched by any turbidity, instead exuding an extreme purity and chilling aura.

Jiang Wen squinted at the eerie river. Its surface was as smooth as a mirror, without waves or the sound of flowing water; it was terrifyingly silent. Only a chilling aura rose continuously from the river, as if it could devour all life.

As he gazed into the distance, he could vaguely make out the outline of a dilapidated ancient bridge, its surface covered in erosion and half-hidden in a thick, impenetrable gray fog. Further away, there appeared to be abandoned palaces and pavilions, their style ancient and simple, yet utterly crumbling, silently lying beneath the twilight sky like the remains of a colossal beast.

The surrounding wilderness was desolate, with nothing but the lonely, blood-red flowers and the lifeless, ink-black river. There was no sound, no living creature, and even the wind seemed dead.

Time has lost its meaning here; only eternal chill and silence flow slowly, and all things seem to be drowning in a long, endless, and bone-chilling dream. This is a lonely world, Jiang Wen thought.

"This is the Hundred Streams Holy Land, also the trial ground." The dragon elder, having shed his human form, sat on the high platform, his face somewhat pale. He looked at Jiang Wen and spoke quietly, as if describing something very ordinary.

"A holy land?" Jiang Wen looked at everything before him, finding it hard to connect this desolate and eerie world with a holy land.

“Yes, this is our sacred place,” another elder chimed in.

"You can only stay in the holy land for a few days. When the inscription on this stone tablet has completely faded, you must return."

Elder Sanmu waved his hand, and a stone tablet the size of a palm flew into Jiang Wen's hand.

Although the stone tablet is not large, it is engraved with golden characters: "Hold fast to the Zen mind and control the wind and rhythm; spread the Tao and awe the universe."

These characters?! Jiang Wen's heart stirred as he looked at the golden characters above. He recognized them; they were similar to those he had studied.

Holding the stone tablet, he looked at the dragon elder and asked, "What is written on this stone tablet?"

“We don’t know either.” The dragon elder shook his head. “However, this stone tablet can protect you as you travel in the holy land. When the words fade, you must return here. We will leave a door here, through which you can return.”

Jiang Wen didn't ask any more questions. He knew that even the elders of the Azure Sky Tower couldn't understand the meaning of the inscription on the stone tablet. He put the stone tablet away and waved to the elders.

"Go, we cannot stay any longer," the elders said, and then their figures gradually disappeared from the spot.

After they dispersed, only a stone gate remained of the original main hall, the stone gate leading to the blessed land.

Xue Ji followed beside Jiang Wen, looking around at the silent surroundings with some fear. Compared to the Land of Fallen Immortals, this place seemed like the depths of hell.

Cold and desolate, without day or moon.

Jiang Wen took out the stone tablet, and the omnipresent chill gradually dissipated. That kind of coldness, which even he could not avoid, was truly frightening.

"Let's go, we need to complete our respective trials."

After saying this, Jiang Wen walked towards the distant river. Xue Ji looked around and reached out to tightly grasp the hem of Jiang Wen's clothes. She had a premonition that if she got lost here, she would never have peace again.

"Wait, wait for me," Yuki whispered.

The two walked towards the river, one in front of the other.

At first, Jiang Wen thought the river was very close, but gradually he realized it wasn't. Every time he thought it was right in front of him, the river seemed to drift further away. It felt like he could never reach the river, like trying to catch the moon's reflection in the water.

"This river is called the River of Hesitation. It is said that those who feel lost and hesitant can never cross it. Many candidates for sainthood have failed to advance because they could not cross this river," Xue Ji explained to Jiang Wen, recounting the origin of this long river.

The two stopped, and Jiang Wenjing looked at the wide, long river. To reach the river and cross the ancient bridge, they had to get close to it.

"The River of Wandering?" Jiang Wen suddenly laughed, then said to Xue Ji, "If you want to cross the river, recite it with me."

"what?"

"Tai Shang Tai Xing, constantly adapting to changes."

"Exorcise evil spirits and bind evil spirits, protect life and body."

"Wisdom is clear and the mind is peaceful."

"Three souls are eternal, and there is no loss of soul."

(End of this chapter)