You said you would practice martial arts. Have you mastered the Tiangang Dharma?

Chapter 489 Yunmeng Lake
In the Third Heaven, it seemed that all the monsters were easy to talk to. Even if there were monsters with more individual personalities, they would not deliberately cause conflicts. Even if you asked about the channels of the Fourth Heaven, they would tell you everything they knew. It could be said that as long as you asked, they would answer and would never deliberately hide anything, just like some attempts that could be found everywhere.

Therefore, Jiang Qiu easily learned some information about the Fourth Heaven from Zi Su. The information was almost the same as those of the monsters outside. They all said that no one had entered the Fourth Heaven for a long time, and no one knew how to get there. However, she did hear that the legendary Yunmeng Lake was a place closer to the path to the Fourth Heaven, so she could go there to ask.

Then, she told Jiang Qiu the general direction she knew. Actually, they in Jingyue Valley didn't know where Yunmeng Lake was exactly, because it was too far away. Everyone in the Jingyue Valley was just an ordinary demon and couldn't cross such a long distance in a short time, so they hadn't visited it for many years. It was said that if any demon really visited, it was their descendants who came back to report the news, and those who went there had all died of old age.

Yes, the third realm is like this. Most of the monsters only live for a little over a hundred years, and many of the natural treasures are only for nourishing the body and preventing degeneration.

After arriving in the Third Heaven for several months, Jiang Qiu and the others gradually felt the signs of the passage of time. It seemed that just like birth, aging, sickness and death, they would also die in the Third Heaven in the near future.

This is like a curse. Limited life and abundant resources give the Third Heaven a peaceful and prosperous atmosphere, but it also hinders them from continuing to explore the unreachable Fourth Heaven. Even if there are monsters who really want to explore, they will eventually die in the cycle of time. It is impossible for monsters without power to reach such a far place!

With no other options, Jiang Qiu used the massive resources he had obtained in the First Heaven to exchange for the natural treasures in Jingyue Valley that could sustain his physical vitality, and then embarked on the journey to Yunmeng Lake.

When the first ray of morning light pierced through the mist of Yunmeng Lake, the triple barrier of Qingqiu Secret Realm was covered with emerald ripples. The branches of the thousand-year-old Jianmu tree stretched out in the mist, and the jade-like leaves shook off the night dew, condensing into round pearls the moment they fell into the Liuli River. The purple alfalfa in Xingluoyuan on the opposite bank was waking up, and the pale purple flower waves were filled with tiny blue fireflies - they were the firefly spirits that had not yet returned to their nests, chasing the morning breeze.

The sound of bells rang out from the treetops, and the seven-story vermilion-painted watchtower emerged from the branches. The bronze bells hanging from the eaves moved without wind, startling a few bluebirds with transparent wings. These spiritual birds with a wingspan of three feet flew over the aerial bridge with vines intertwined, and the spiritual power flow brought by the wing tips drew winding light traces in the mist. The gray raccoon monster who was brewing morning dew tea at the bridge head raised his head, the fluff on the tip of his ears was stained with water droplets, and the snow buds floating in the teapot reflected his amber pupils.

"A Shuo, your tail has hit the tea basket." The clam girl poked her head out from the sparkling water, the pearls on her shell hair accessories trembling with her movements. Her fingertips were still stained with the Noctilucent Algae she caught last night, the green juice was dripping down her white wrist, and the moment it touched the glazed river water, it opened up like peacock feathers.

The gray raccoon boy hurriedly rolled his fluffy tail in front of him, and the white jade cups on the tea table clinked. Suddenly, the clear cry of cranes came from the other side. Twelve red-crowned cranes holding bottles of morning dew flew over the river in the formation of the Big Dipper, startling the red-billed ducks that were preening their feathers. On the backs of the cranes sat rabbit demon girls who had returned from collecting moonlight. In the crystal bottles in their arms, the silver-white light blended with the morning glow to form a gorgeous aurora.

The market on the north bank of Liuli River is waking up. The flower fairies shake out the white gauze woven with dew and display the honey made overnight on the emerald leaves. The fungus man carrying a bamboo basket emerges from the cracks in the earth veins. The glowing spores hanging from the brim of his hat drift with his footsteps, decorating the stone road with a flowing galaxy. The old willow spirit, with his hunched body and tangled roots, grinds cinnabar with a jade pestle wrapped with aerial roots. The red mist rising from the stone mortar condenses into a talisman to ward off evil spirits in the air.

"Fresh star sand! Star sand just mined from the Jadeite Peak Mine!" The mandrill with rock armor knocked the crystal cluster on his chest, and the dark purple ore burst into tiny electric lights during the collision. In the rattan basket under his feet, the unpolished raw crystals were emitting a hazy halo, attracting several little rattan monsters to circle around the basket. These little green guys had lilies of the valley on their heads, and the buds would tinkle whenever they were excited.

The thousand-year-old ginkgo tree in the center of the market suddenly shed its golden leaves, weaving a floating bridge in the air. A deer doctor carrying a medicine basket came over on the leaves, and the Zhuyu grass wrapped around his antlers still had the scent of moss. A frog spirit with a lotus leaf on its head emerged from the tree roots, and its eardrum vibrated and shouted like thunder: "Collect the late spring dew, the summer solstice rain, and the white dew frost. The three seasons of spiritual water will be exchanged for dragon scale powder——"

The sweet aroma of wine suddenly wafted from the South Lane. The proprietress of the Nine-tailed Wine Shop was leaning against the carved window lattice to comb her fox tail. Each tip of her fox tail was decorated with bells of different colors, which played a mesmerizing melody as she moved. The peach wood wine label hanging under the eaves moved without wind, and the one with "Morning Dew Brew" suddenly burst into green light, startling the wine bug that was secretly drinking and falling from the jar, and smashing into a pool of amber wine stains on the bluestone slab.

At noon, the spiritual spring at the root of Jianmu began to surge. The water column sprayed from the spring eye blossomed into a lotus shape in the air, and each petal was a flowing rune. The water monsters practicing by the spring showed their true forms one after another. The green-scaled mermaid swung its fish tail and jumped into the water curtain, and the ancient totem emerged in the aroused halo. Several kappas danced to pray for rain on duckweed, and the ripples formed by their webbed hands hitting the water surface actually condensed into a Bagua formation in mid-air.

A spiritual storm suddenly rolled up on the west side of Xingluoyuan. It was the wind demons cultivating new star sand veins. The blue-haired girl was suspended in the center of the eye of the storm. The mist entangled in her hair turned into a solid body, shaping the crystal dust raised on the surface into a hexagonal structure. The little demons watching clung to the lichens to prevent being swept away by the airflow. The sound transmission behemoths in their arms made a shrill cry due to the energy fluctuations.

As dusk falls, the Liuli River begins to reflect the stars in the sky. Fishermen paddle their firefly boats to cast their nets, and the moonstones inlaid in the mesh shine as bright as stars when they come into contact with the river water. The night owl crouching on the bow opens its third eye, and its golden pupil penetrates the water, guiding the fishing net to cover the fattest schools of rays. In the distance, the star-gazing tower on the top of the chalcedony peak lights up, and the tortoise-shell fortune-teller is burning yarrow, and the twisted hexagrams of the smoke columns echo the Milky Way.

When the last ray of light sank into the horizon, ancient rings emerged from the trunk of Jianmu. Each concentric circle sealed a star map from a different era, which was slowly rotating at this moment. The elders of the demon clan at the treetops formed seals at the same time, and thousands of air roots dropped golden light curtains, covering the entire Qingqiu Secret Realm in a soft barrier. The night patrolling phoenix flew over the edge of the light curtain, and the light tails dragged by the wings blended with the glow of the star sand veins, writing ancient demon texts in the air that no one could decipher.

In the hazy morning mist, a gray fox boy named Ah Shuo stood quietly on a green branch. His eyes were like the brightest stars in the night sky, brilliant and deep. His long eyelashes fluttered slightly, as if telling the secret of the morning breeze. There was a subtle tenderness in his eyes, as if he could see through the depths of people's hearts, but it also concealed the naivety and curiosity unique to teenagers.

The fox boy's ears are pointed and stand upright, shaking slightly to catch the sounds around him, alert and smart. His fur is a light gray, which forms a sharp contrast with the dead branches and leaves behind him, making him particularly eye-catching. A fluffy tail is wrapped around his slender waist, occasionally gently sweeping the fallen leaves under his feet. Despite his thin figure, the fox boy has an extraordinary temperament. He stands proudly and elegantly, as if he is a guardian in the mountains and forests, watching over his territory. When he gently jumped off the branch, his soft paw pads silently touched the ground, showing a natural kingly demeanor.

He walked on the forest path, each step seemed light and agile. The sunlight shone through the treetops, dappled on his body, and his gray hair glowed golden under the light and shadow. His eyes remained focused and sharp, and no movement escaped his observation.

The fox boy seemed to be searching for something, his movements were sometimes slow, sometimes fast, his smart eyes revealed a hint of determination and hope during his exploration. In this world that belonged to him, every leaf and every wisp of wind were his friends and guides.

He finally stopped in front of a bush, where a rabbit was hiding. His eyes flashed a gleam, and then he quietly sneaked over, ready to bring a little fun to this morning. In this quiet forest, the gray fox boy was the most moving scenery.

He likes to walk around, and he was born in Yunmeng Lake.

Yunmeng Lake, a vast expanse of water, is like a shining sapphire between heaven and earth. The morning mist and steam make the lake look like a fairyland. When the sun rises, the sunlight shines through the mist, reflecting colorful light, adding a bit of mystery and vitality to this quiet water.

On the lake, lotus flowers stand gracefully, with crystal dewdrops hanging on their petals, swaying gently in the wind, making rustling sounds. Occasionally, a few dragonflies fly over, skimming the water, leaving behind a string of ripples, stirring up the tranquility of the lake. The lakeside is full of reeds, swaying gently in the wind, as if they are performing an ancient dance.

In this tranquility, there are occasional bird calls, which are the water birds singing happily, playing and chasing on the water, or shuttling through the reeds, enjoying the gift of nature. In the distance, several fishing boats are leisurely passing by, and the fishermen on the boats cast their nets of hope, looking forward to the joy of harvest.

On the bank of Yunmeng Lake is a dense forest with tall and straight trees and green leaves covering the sky. The forest paths are winding and moss grows on both sides of the stone road, giving people a sense of simplicity and tranquility. From time to time, small animals shuttle through the forest, chasing and playing, full of vitality.

In a corner of the lake, there is a simple pavilion, which is built of bluestone and looks antique. Next to the pavilion is a clear stream, the gurgling stream forms a sharp contrast with the vastness of the lake. By the stream, some small flowers bloom quietly, exuding a faint fragrance, attracting butterflies and bees to visit.

Yunmeng Lake is not only a masterpiece of the Third Heaven Law, but also a source of inspiration for the craftsmen of the demon clan in successive generations. Here, you can feel the tranquility and harmony of nature, and also experience the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. Whether it is the morning glow or the sunset, it adds a bit of charming color to this beautiful water.

In the embrace of Yunmeng Lake, people seem to be far away from the hustle and bustle of the world and find inner peace and purity. Everything here makes people forget the troubles of the world and just want to indulge in this beautiful picture, breathe with nature and share the same fate.

After more than ten years of hardships, Jiang Qiu and his companions finally stepped into one of the older inns, carrying the wind and dust along the way. His long black hair was a little messy, but it couldn't hide his deep eyes, as if he could see through all the vanity in the world. His eyes were as bright as stars, flashing with the light of wisdom, as if he could catch the spark of hope in this dim room.

Under his sword-like eyebrows, a pair of phoenix eyes showed tenacity and indomitable spirit, as if he had experienced many vicissitudes of life but still maintained a sense of innocence. His slightly narrowed eyes revealed a hint of fatigue, but this did not affect his handsome face, but instead added a bit of mature man's charm to him.

He was wearing a gray robe, which was slightly worn at the hem, but it could not hide its well-tailored silhouette. The design of broad shoulders and narrow waist allowed him to maintain an elegant posture in the dust. Although he was in a hurry, his steps were steady and powerful, as if every step he took was on the track of time.

When he reached out and took off the wine bag from his waist, his slender and powerful fingers glowed with a light green color, which was extremely eye-catching. His movements were neither fast nor slow, revealing a sense of calmness. Even the simplest action of pouring wine seemed like a carefully choreographed dance.

Looking around, his eyes swept over the demon travelers who had already fallen asleep, and then returned to the flickering oil lamp in front of him. Then, he gently took a sip of wine, and there seemed to be a story flowing in his eyes, but he was unwilling to show it easily. His arrival seemed to bring a bit of liveliness to this quiet night, but it was still calm.

It’s a long journey from Jingyue Valley to here. If one doesn’t have very good physical fitness, for example, Ah Xiong is very strong and good at running, it would take more than ten years to get here.

It was too far, and they almost got lost several times. Many demons on the road didn't know how to get here, but fortunately, they still came. They were just a little older by more than ten years. He looked like a middle-aged man in his thirties, a little vicissitudes of life, and the nine-tailed fox also brought a unique charm that had been brewed for a long time. The eyebrows and eyes were more charming, but the posture was more calm. Everyone was taciturn, except for Yiwei, who was still a girl and was always curious about the scenery on the road. By now, Ah Xiong was no longer a loli, she had a girlish feeling and began to transform into an adult.
(End of this chapter)