Beyond the Divine States

"The beginning of chaos is hidden under the yellow spring."

A tall and thin man is holding a square board in his left hand and a wooden clapper of different round length in his right hand. The clapper sounds untimely. The man walks through the street as usual, just like a watchman patrolling the street.

Lotus boat slowly and leisurely to the shore, white fog behind the flow.

"Where is this?" Ning Changchang asked.

Qiu Sheng was shocked when he thought of seeing the scene of the small town for the first time when he was a child. Even now it is his fourth time to see this scene, his heart is still beating a drum. He said: "this is liantian town..."

"This..." Ning Xiaoling was very surprised. She came down from the boat and walked slowly towards the town. The wind blew away her fine hair in front of her forehead, with a long lost coolness.

"How is that possible?" Ning Xiaoling's hand stroked the wooden pillars of the archway, which had traces of mildew like water stains.

Qiu Sheng didn't know how to explain it, so he said, "I'll take two immortal masters in."

In liantian, everything is as usual.

All the layout has not changed, but it's late and the moon is in the middle of the sky. Everything is strangely quiet.

Even the gecko general and the spotted frog, who have been lying on the roof all the year round, have stopped fighting and quietly lie on the deep green tiles with big eyes staring at small eyes.

The patrolling rabbit spirit is still in the spirit. It soon notices several people walking at night. They are like enemies. Then it discovers that they are acquaintances. Its long ears are pulled down again. It straightens the two carrots on its back and salutes with fists. It is very chivalrous.

Ning Xiaoling is sure that it is the rabbit essence, and the carrot he sent is still with him.

"Elder martial brother... Is it the same as that day in Linhe?" Ning Xiaoling asked in a low voice.

On the day of Linhe City, they fled from Mrs. white bone and ran into an alley. After going back and forth several times, they would return to a white wall. They turned over the wall and found that it was their own house. Ning Jishui, who should have died long ago, was waiting for them with a smile.

Today's situation is somewhat similar to that of that day.

"Not the same." Ning long-term judgment: "that day is Mrs. white bone's similar means, but this time..."

"What's this time?" Ning Xiaoling asked.

Ning Changchang said: "this time seems to be a little more clever. Previously, we ran for our lives in danger, and it was easy to be planted with mental obstacles. This time is different. It's too... Aboveboard."

But the more so, the more terrible.

Ning Xiaoling nodded her head and could connect the whole liantian town from end to end. It's a good way!

Qiu Sheng explained to one side: "the two immortal masters misunderstood. It's not evil. This situation has been going on for many years. Nothing bad will happen. It's gone safely."

Ning long asked: "how long will that last?"

Qiu Sheng said, "it's as short as three or two days, as long as half a month, and every month."

"It's been too long..." Ning Xiaoling muttered anxiously: "if we can't go back, master must be worried to death. The next four swords won't be missed, too..."

"Go back to the house first." I'd rather say it for a long time.

They went back to Qiusheng's house. Xiaolian didn't sleep, so she moved a bench to wait for them to come back.

In the big water tank at the door of the house, a few more lotus leaves were inserted, among which the fish often had little ripples. The fish were moving in such a small space as the bathtub, eating the fish food sprinkled by Xiaolian, and they didn't realize that they might become food tomorrow.

Lotus leaves exude a faint fragrance, the wind is out of date, and copper bells are ringing.

Ning long listened to the sound of bells, but did not feel relaxed. As he walked into the hospital, a few solitary hanging lights lit candles, reflecting the bamboo shadow on the wall.

In the wooden building, the light is still on, and Mr. Zhang is obviously not asleep. When he enters the yard for a long time, a gray bird just flies away.

Everything is as usual.

"I'll see Mr. Zhang." I'd rather say it for a long time.

Qiu Sheng said, "grandfather only invites guests, but I hate people who don't invite themselves."

"All right, I'll tell him." Ning Changjiu has made up his mind. He knows that the wooden building is not locked, and the old man inside is waiting for him.

When the door of the wooden building was opened, the old man sat in an old heavy chair. The chair was not hollow and breathless. It looked like a black coffin.

"Mr. Zhang." Ning long called him.

The old man was not angry at his coming uninvited and asked, "what's the matter?"

Ning Changjiu naturally sat down and said, "I just want to have a chat with the old man."

"What can I talk about?" Mr. Zhang's words are plain, and he doesn't seem to think that this young man can bring him any surprise.

Ning Changjiu opened the door to the mountain and said, "have you ever practiced in Yujian Tianzong?"

Mr. Zhang said with a smile: "all my life, I only love the pen but not the sword. When I was young, I was a bit spiritual, so I became a painter. Now when I am old and my inspiration is exhausted, I am a down-to-earth painter. I just want to die."

Ning Changchang asked, "why did I see your real work in Yujian Tianzong?"

Mr. Zhang asked, "does Tianzong have my painting?"

Ning Changchang nodded and said, "I felt familiar with your paintings when I first saw them. Today I remember that in our neifeng sword hall, there are three paintings embedded in the screen, and the strokes are very familiar."

Mr. Zhang didn't deny it and said, "maybe I bought it. It's not unusual."

Ning long ignored his words, and continued: "the three paintings are: one is a wild man riding an elephant to hunt snakes, one is a monster that a group of immortals go into the sea to hunt dragon faces, and the other is a ten thousand sword flying to cut off nine demons. Although the three paintings are covered by black gauze, I still feel the sword meaning of Tianzong."

Mr. Zhang thought for a while, shook his head and said, "I don't remember drawing these. It's just that when I was young, there were friends in Tianzong, but I didn't get along with them for many years. I don't know whether I was alive or dead."

Ning Changjiu asked, "I don't know who your friend is. I can give you my regards."

Mr. Zhang did not answer, and continued: "those three paintings are all common myths. Many painters have painted them, but they are not new."

Ning Changjiu looks at this "old friend" calmly, trying to find a little aura on him, but he hides so well that he never shows the slightest.

If Ning didn't know him for a long time, he would feel that he was just an ordinary old man in his old age, and would never associate him with the hidden master.

Ning Changchang said, "the vividness of your paintings is by no means comparable to that of ordinary painters."

Mr. Zhang suddenly looked back at him and asked, "have you heard about me before?"

"No I'd like to answer for a long time.

"Then why do you look like that?" Mr. Zhang thought of the first meeting with Ning Changchang. He couldn't figure out why he made the young man lose his manners because he was an ugly old man. This is what he wants to know most now.

Ning Changjiu explained: "my husband is like an old friend of mine. I have a close relationship with him. It's a pity that the old man died a few years ago. My husband's appearance is too similar to him. I didn't react for a moment."

Mr. Zhang agreed with the explanation and said, "you are leaving tomorrow. Why do you come to see me today? Are you not satisfied with the two paintings?"

Ning Changjiu shook his head and said, "Sir, our painting skills are superior to those of nature. It's just that we can't leave tomorrow."

Mr. Zhang said curiously, "is the God angry again?"

"The gods are angry?" Ning long puzzled.

Mr. Zhang said: "it's the ghost festival. When the ghost festival comes, the whole liantian town will be connected end to end. That's God's anger."

Ning Changjiu asked, "which God?"

Mr. Zhang replied: "you immortals don't know. As an old man, I don't know. It's just a legend that this was the hometown of a certain God. The lotus pond was also a huge swamp. We occupied the territory of the God. Of course, the spirits of the God should punish us."

Ning Changjiu was still puzzled. He thought of something and asked, "does this have anything to do with the southern wasteland in the central part of Nanzhou?"

Old Mr. Zhang is old, so he is more knowledgeable. He replied: "along liantian Town, further north is Nanhuang. After crossing Kunling mountain, you will see the red line drawn by the immortal. That red line becomes the red river. On the other side of the Red River is Nanhuang. As for the origin of liantian Town, there are different opinions. Where do I know?"

Ning Changchang asked, "how can I get out? Is there a precedent? "

Mr. Zhang replied, "precedent? Yes, it is... Someone came in from the outside on ghost day. It was a little girl. After watching it for a while, she left. But that was eight years ago. "

Eight years ago... This is a very common sentence, but it has a very different meaning in Ning long time.

In his previous life, when he was eight years old, his elder martial sister asked him to study painting with Mr. Zhang. At that time, Mr. Zhang didn't come to Dahe Town for long.

"What kind of girl is that

How powerful? " Ning Long's words are just as casual.

Mr. Zhang also did not avoid: "is a little girl, carrying a weapon, in the town around, and then left."

Fourth elder martial sister

Ning Changjiu felt more and more that things were not simple. In those years, except the first elder martial sister and the second elder martial brother, the other elder martial brothers and sisters were not on the mountain most of the time. His task was just to cultivate Taoism, so he didn't know what happened in those 20 years.

Now he's walking through Nanzhou and catching their trace little by little. First the elder martial brother, then the fourth elder martial sister... What is the master going to do?

Ning long smile: "thank you for your help."

Mr. Zhang seemed a little sleepy. He nodded, waved his hand and said, "just stay honest and wait until the ghost festival is over. Tianzong knows about the ghost festival in liantian town. You don't have to worry too much about it."

Ning long gently said a good voice, and then leave.

Just out of the wooden building, the finch fluttered back.

……

……

"Elder martial brother, how can we come across such strange things every time?" Ning Xiaoling said bitterly, "if this had happened a month ago, I would have been very happy, but this time... Alas."

Ning long comfort way: "this good or bad no one chase."

Ning Xiaoling said with admiration, "elder martial brother, you really know how to make fun of hardships."

Ning Chang's worry is no less than that of his younger martial sister. He doesn't believe in the anger of the gods. He knows that Mr. Zhang must be hiding something from him. The fourth elder martial sister was willing to come here, which means that there may be something that even the master is interested in.

Ning Changchang said, "I'll go to Liantang again tomorrow."

Ning Xiaoling's eyes lit up and said, "elder martial brother's bird is not very powerful. Last time Linhe City was able to shine through, this time the white fog should be no problem, right?"

I don't have much confidence.

The next day, the sun rose as usual, the farmer, the craftsman and the weaver girl worked as usual, and the monsters gradually woke up. When Ning Xiaoling passed the road, the rabbit spirit stared at her for a long time, and then seemed to realize something. He was angry and asked Ning Xiaoling for carrots.

Ning Xiaoling understood that this rabbit essence may be because he said he wanted to go, but he didn't go, thinking he cheated it.

Ning Xiaoling has the misery speech, under the rabbit essence's pursue fiercely beat, returned the carrot, that rabbit is angry and proud to leave.

Ning Changchang first went to the memorial archway at the entrance of the town to have a look. The front of the grass had turned into a lake. As he turned to leave, his nails rubbed the wooden column, leaving some traces.

They re-enter Liantang.

Then, they found that there was no fog in the lotus pond in the daytime. As soon as the sky and the earth were clear, they still couldn't see the edge at a glance.

This time Qiusheng was not accompanied. Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling went boating alone.

Shortly after the lotus boat passed through, the python reappeared, sticking out a huge blue head and walking with them.

Lotus leaves grow very fast, some even higher than the top of the head, lotus boat out of date, such as through a big blue umbrella.

Ning Xiaoling looked at the exaggerated Python beside the lotus boat. She was no longer afraid. She even leaned out and put her hand into the water to touch its smooth but rough scales. The python was very docile and just swam quietly, as if it was her duty to accompany tourists boating.

Ning long called out his own gold.

Jinwu stood on his shoulder and watched the water color with him, but the water around him was covered with sparkling golden light.

The python turned its head. It looked at the golden black on Ning Changchang's shoulder, and its narrow vertical pupil became thinner. It seemed that it was out of fear, so it shook itself restlessly, and its head plunged into the water and dived into the depths of the lotus pond.

The water shake up huge waves, rather long with a finger to buckle the side, the lotus boat together with the whole rising water pressure down.

Ning Xiaoling was scared. She had touched the snake well, but suddenly something like this happened. She immediately drew back her hand and looked at the elder martial brother in surprise: "what's the matter?"

Soon, it was calm.

Ning Changjiu looked deeply at the place where the shadow on the water disappeared and said, "it seems to be afraid?"

Ning Xiaoling knew the strength of the golden black. She didn't think it was too strange. She thought about the big snake and said, "don't scare it like this next time."

Ning long gently stroked the golden black feather, and then held it in the palm of his hand.

Jinwu flew into the air and hovered in a certain position. Then, a golden line connected to the lotus boat. Jinwu in the air guided them to move forward.

At first Ning Changjiu felt that there was an undercurrent hidden under the boat. Unconsciously, they let the lotus boat drift a little bit, and then turned its trajectory into a circle.

So he let Jinwu pull the lotus boat and let Jinwu walk in a straight line in the air. Because Jinwu has no innate consciousness of nature, he will not be influenced by anything in theory.

Jinwu with lotus boat forward, more and more quiet around.

Finally, they returned to the gate of liantian town again, and the familiar archway looked like a sarcastic smile.

Ning Changjiu stepped down from the lotus boat and looked at the wooden pillars on the archway. There were traces left by his fingernails.

"We're back." Ning long said.

Ning Xiaoling did not feel surprised, but muttered: "this is clearly impossible. How can we go straight forward and return to the original place?"

Ning Changjiu said: "you put your finger on the eggshell, keep going forward, and finally return to the origin."

Ning Xiaoling thought that at this time, how could elder martial brother still be joking, "is liantian town round?"

Ning Changjiu shook his head gently: "impossible. But there is another possibility... "

"What?"

"This may also be the power of the law..." Ning long said the incredible conjecture in his heart: "liantian town is similar to the existence of the kingdom of God, and this ghost festival is one of the laws of liantian town."

……

……

Liantian Town, like Fengdu in Linhe City, may be a small kingdom of God.

It was three days after Ning Changjiu made this remark.

Even though Ning long felt that his guess was very close to reality, they still couldn't find a way to break the game.

For three days, they tried many ways, but they couldn't leave here.

Beyond Liantang is liantian Town, beyond the wheat fields on both sides, and at the end is liantian town. The world extending in all directions points its center to the only town.

But when Liantang was boating, the black Python never appeared again.

"Younger martial sister, have you found something very strange?" Ning long asked.

"What's the matter?"

"Lu didn't come to us." I'd rather say it for a long time.

"Elder martial brother, are you stupid..." Ning Xiaoling rolled her eyes and said, "we can't get out. Where can we get in if we marry our master?"

Ning Changjiu shook his head and said to himself, "in the outside world at this moment, what's liantian town like?"

Ning Xiaoling reproached: "if elder martial brother wants to have the ability, go out and have a look, don't you know?"

Ning long also laughed at himself.

The reason why Lu's marriage failed to break the Fengdu on that day was that the realm was not enough.

But now no one knows more about Lu Jiajia's strength than Ning Changchang. Her sword spirit has changed qualitatively. Her strength is more than twice as strong as that of Linhe City. Even in the beginning of Ziting, she should not be the enemy. If this is really a broken Fengdu like Linhe City, it should not be impossible to cut it off, or

Ning long took a wooden tube out of his arms.

It was the wooden tube given to them before they left. Ning long directly crushed it, and the pair of Bi hidden in it was also broken.

Ning Xiaoling didn't know why elder martial brother did this. Although they were trapped here at the moment, they didn't encounter any strange danger.

"Shall I pinch it?" Asked Ning Xiaoling.

"Keep yours first." I'd rather say it for a long time.

Ning Xiaoling nodded.

Both of them sat on the boat, looking into the endless distance, and no longer spoke.

This time, they did not try again, but floated with the current. Ning Xiaoling picked a lotus leaf to cover the sun, and the little face under the lotus leaf was even younger than the first lotus.

She tugged at the water in boredom and didn't think she could help break the game.

So time goes by day by day.

Counting the days, the four swords are getting closer and closer. However, this mysterious ghost festival continues abnormally without any sign of disappearing.

In the twinkling of an eye, ten days and nights passed.

Ning long sat in the room, quietly looking at the painting on the wall.

Qiusheng looks at the fairy master's lonely figure in white. He feels guilty and regrets that he didn't tell them about it earlier.

"Are all these paintings by Mr. Zhang?" Ning long asked.

Qiu Sheng nodded and said, "yes, my grandfather only likes his own paintings. No matter how good they are, they won't be hung on his own wall."

Ning long nodded and looked at the painting in the middle.

Until night fell.

After tonight, there are only two days left before the fourth summit.

Ning has been staring at that poem for a long time.

Then he went out of the door and looked at the familiar water tanks, lotus leaves and bells. Then he crossed the threshold and walked back into the house. Then he went through the house and went into the backyard. Looking at the lights on the wall and the bamboo shadows, the bright moon in the sky was dim, and a Greyhound fluttered away.

He went back to the room, woke Ning Xiaoling and said in a low voice, "come out with me."

Ning Xiaoling is dragged out of the house by Ning Changjiu.

"What's the matter..." Ning Xiaoling was dizzy.

Ning Changjiu took her to walk outside the house to the yard again, and then asked, "what do you find?"

"What?" Ning Xiaoling felt that the elder martial brother was a little bewitched and said, "it's normal. Nothing happened..."

"Look around carefully." Ning long said.

Ning Xiaoling is sober.

Ning Changjiu took Ning Xiaoling out of the wooden building to the gate.

"Did you find anything?" Ning long asked again.

Ning Xiaoling pondered for a while and recalled what she had just seen.

She found that when they got out of the yard, the Greyhound flew back. This was something she knew for a long time. At first, she thought that the little bird was afraid of strangers, so she flew away when she saw strangers. Now it's very strange to think about it. It's been a month. They should be familiar with it.

"Is that little Greyhound weird... Is it a big hidden demon?" Asked Ning Xiaoling.

Ning Changchang shook his head and took her back and forth again. This time, Ning Changchang told her many more details: "when we enter the door, the wind blows first, and the bell rings again. But when we go out, the bell rings first, and then we feel the wind. The time difference between them is very short. You can feel it with your Divine sense."

Ning Xiaoling suspiciously closed her eyes, spread out her mind, walked back and forth at the threshold several times, and found that it was really such a thing... Although the difference was extremely subtle.

She also found that outside the door, the lotus leaves looked very dark blue, while inside the room, they looked a little light, which she thought was due to the light.

"What's going on?" Ning Xiaoling was surprised.

Ning Changjiu took her to the yard again. He pointed to the white wall full of bamboo shadow, pondered for a while, and said, "this may not be very obvious. Look here."

Then he pointed to the lamp hanging on the wall and said, "when you enter the courtyard, the light will be brighter, while the moon in the sky is not very impressive. But when you come back, the light and the moon will turn upside down."

Ning Xiaoling thought it was incredible, but she walked back and forth in the yard, and the finch flew back and forth with her steps.

Ning Xiaoling found out that all this was just like what elder martial brother said. It was just such a small difference. How did elder martial brother find out?

Ning long closed his eyes, so far to understand everything.

He knew the doubts in Ning Xiaoling's heart and said, "come with me."

Ning Xiaoling followed him into the room.

Ning Changjiu pointed to the layout of the town in the center and said, "do you see the poem above?"

Of course, Ning Xiaoling knew this poem. On the first day when she enjoyed the painting with her elder martial brother, she said that she could write it herself.

Now she read out the poem with a different mood

"The fragrance of plain lotus rings the wind, the lamp reflects the bamboo wall and the courtyard. Home to the bird, looking at the high building, solitary lights such as water on the moon

Ning Xiaoling still didn't understand: "what's wrong? This is what our house looks like."

Ning long closed his eyes and sighed: "you read it upside down."

Ning Xiaoling frowned, and her eyes fell on the last word. Then she read forward slowly: "the moon blows the water like a lamp, the skyscrapers return home, the shadow shines on the courtyard wall, the bamboo reflects the lamp, the bell moves and the wind shakes the fragrant lotus element..."

Her voice became smaller and smaller, and she found that the poem was as smooth from the end to the end.

And she immediately understood that this poem is just the scene of them walking out of the door to the hospital, and the reverse is the scene of them walking out of the yard!

The chill aroused goose bumps. At that moment, Ning Xiaoling suddenly felt that the world around her was so unreal. She was still confused: "but... What does this mean?"

"It's a palindrome." Ning Changjiu looked at the layout of the town and said in a low voice: "there is no ghost festival here at all. We are now trapped in a palindrome, and the poet, using his painting skills comparable to sky high, has influenced the whole town with the power of this palindrome based on this hut."

"Today's liantian town is a poem that connects the beginning with the end."

Ning Long's voice is also getting lighter and lighter.

Ning Xiaoling's eyes widened and her breathing voice began to increase. She immediately turned her head and looked at those wooden buildings: "is that old Mr. Zhang..."

Ning didn't answer for a long time, but said, "I'm not sure about one more thing."

"What?"

"Why didn't master come to us?"

"This question..." Ning Xiaoling originally wanted to say that the elder martial brother had already asked, but under this situation, she realized that the elder martial brother must have other meanings.

Ning Changjiu went straight to the hospital again.

The door of the small wooden building is closed.

He knocked directly at the door.

"What's the noise in the middle of the night?"

After knocking for a long time, Mr. Zhang opened the door. His face was covered with anger.

Ning Changjiu looked at him quietly and asked, "Sir, where was the painting you drew for us?"

The two paintings were originally to be taken back by them when they were leaving, but because of the delay of Ghost Festival, Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling did not ask about it.

Mr. Zhang didn't avoid saying, "that's why he called me in the middle of the night?"

Ning long with an apology: "trouble old man."

With anger, Mr. Zhang took them into the building, took out the two paintings, spread them out, and said, "do you have any questions?"

Ning long looked at the two paintings on the table for a long time. After a long time, he said: "Sir, I don't know why. I think these two paintings seem to have lost their look."

Mr. Zhang's anger dissipated, and his face also calmed down: "what do you want to say?"

At the next moment, Ning Changchang's dagger came out of the sheath like a sword and stabbed the old painter with the inevitable move.

……

……

Time goes back to 13 days ago.

To the sword emperor Tianzong.

Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling go back to the mountain gate together. The boy in white looks calm, and the girl in white skirt looks pretty.

Yazhu smiles when she sees them and writes down their names.

Ning Changjiu saluted Yazhu and said seriously, "martial uncle, my younger martial sister and I both got a chance this trip. We have a big feeling in our heart. For the sake of the four summit swords, we want to shut up for more than half a month. During this period, no one should disturb us, OK?" Ning Xiaoling nodded and agreed. Yazhu looked at him strangely and thought how the boy suddenly became so fond of practice. But this is a good thing after all. On that day, she saw Ning Chang's sword with her own eyes. Half a month later, she was full of expectations for Ning Chang, so she naturally accepted it. After that, Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling have been in the room, and have never stepped out. At first, Lu Jiajia was a little strange. Why Ning didn't go to see her after returning to the peak for a long time? But soon she laughed at herself and thought that he was her apprentice. How could she have this kind of attachment? She immediately cut off the idea and continued to shut up. No one found out that the brothers and sisters were fake. It should have been safe. But Ning long did not expect that there was another pair of eyes staring at himself in the room. That pair of eyes came from the porcelain vase. She watched Ning Changjiu turn a three-dimensional person into a flat picture every night. She knew that this was not Ning Chang, but the real Ning chang... Han Xiaosu was very scared. She hid in the bottle and did not dare to move. She only hoped that the other party would not find herself. It was not until the thirteenth day that she finally could not bear the pressure of this conspiracy. She was determined to try her best to tell the peak master here about it. That night, she took out the hairpin that Ning Changjiu had given her and floated out the porcelain vase“ Who are you? " A dull voice came as she was about to float out of the window. Han Xiaosu's soul is cold.