Chapter 113: The Fifth Greatest Spring Under Heaven

Chapter 113: The Fifth Spring Under Heaven

Chapter 12: The Transmission of the Sublime Teachings on Ling Mountain, Gaining the Profound Method, Soaring Ten Thousand Miles on the Clouds Alone (Part 23)

Everyone’s hearts tightened with alarm. If that was the case, then what Master Dao’an had obtained must be extraordinary, bearing great significance. Otherwise, the other party would never have been so obsessively determined to seize it!

The elderly man surnamed Wang’s expression shifted slightly. He shook his head and sighed, “Alas, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. Why must you endure such hardship?”

Master Dao’an smiled faintly. “How could I not understand what is more important? If I were to lose my life, what use would this scripture be? Yet this ‘Scripture Beyond Scriptures’ holds immense relevance and benefits the cultivators of our Divine Land greatly. Since it fell into my hands by chance, it must not slip into those cultivators from the ancient Arabian kingdoms!”

Upon hearing this, Elder Wang again shook his head but said no more. After a moment, the two changed the subject, reminiscing about old times.

Ye Hua found the conversation dull and was about to think of a chance to slip away when Hong Ri and Hong Xing whispered to him, “Young Ye, let’s go out for a stroll! It’s truly tedious here!”

Ye Hua’s heart leapt with joy. “Perfect! I was just thinking the same!”

Hong Ri smiled. During a pause in the conversation between Master Dao’an and Elder Wang, he stood and excused himself.

Master Dao’an nodded in agreement, gazing at Hong Ri for a moment before smiling, “I never expected the two talented nephews of the Hong family to advance so swiftly in cultivation. I recall when they first left the Divine Land, they had only just reached the seventh level of the Seven Treasures Realm. Yet in just five or six years, they have broken through to the initial stage of the Three Realms. Truly astonishing!”

Hong Ri and Hong Xing laughed. “Master Dao’an, all thanks to Uncle Wang and our master’s guidance! Without their devoted nurturing, we could never have advanced so easily to the Three Realms. But, to be honest, it’s mostly our own innate talent—rare prodigies of cultivation that appear once in a century! Otherwise, such rapid progress would be impossible!”

Elder Wang scolded angrily, “Those two lads have consumed countless elixirs and immortal medicines of mine. Their master’s decades of savings have been squandered by them, and only with great hardship have they achieved their current status. And yet they dare boast of their genius! Such impertinence! Sigh!”

Seeing Elder Wang’s anger, Hong Ri and Hong Xing sensed the tension and hastily pulled Ye Hua out. Once outside the hall, Hong Xing let out a deep breath. “Every time cultivation comes up, Uncle Hong gets so angry!”

Hong Ri chuckled, “Well, it’s because you finished all his Jade Fat Pills! Otherwise, why would he be so upset?”

Hong Xing shook his head. “Big brother, didn’t you also consume all five or six Dan Zhu herbs after tasting them? I think that’s what Uncle Hong really holds a grudge about!”

Ye Hua listened amusedly to their banter. The two seemed evenly matched. Hong Xing suddenly said, “Enough arguing! Let’s head to Wuyai! It’s been years since we last went!”

“Good idea!” Hong Ri agreed enthusiastically.

Ye Hua asked curiously, “Wuyai? What kind of place is that?”

Hong Ri said, “Brother Ye, do you remember the plaque at the archway when we arrived, inscribed with ‘The Fifth Spring Under Heaven’?”

Ye Hua nodded with a smile. “I was puzzled back then, wondering what spring could claim such a title.”

Hong Ri laughed. “You’ll know when we get there. Its reputation is well deserved!”

Ye Hua’s face brightened. “If that’s true, that’s wonderful!”

“Come, I’ll take you there!” said Hong Ri.

The three left Daxing Zen Temple, climbed the mountain path toward the back of the hill. After a short trek, they came upon a natural hundred-meter cliff formed by mountain rock, at the base of which stood a delicate bamboo cottage. In front of the cottage, a stream flowed as the entrance; behind, dense green trees and flourishing gardens with red smartweed at the front and yellow flowers by the fence. Several blooming ornamental trees scattered petals like a soft carpet. The scenery was elegant and serene beyond compare.

The beauty was like embroidery. Ye Hua was captivated, wondering who could have built such a refined dwelling in such a rugged, picturesque spot.

Hong Ri seemed to read his thoughts and whispered, “Don’t be fooled by the scenery. The owner of this bamboo cottage is Lord Lai Gong Yuchenglong, a formidable figure not to be trifled with. We should be cautious.”

Ye Hua was startled but nodded. The three moved lightly past the cliff and walked several hundred meters more. Suddenly, a thunderous roar like a stampede of horses, dragons’ cries, and tigers’ bellows filled the air. A faint mist hovered, and Ye Hua felt a light drizzle, the cold air biting his face. He knew a waterfall lay ahead.

Sure enough, as they rounded a bend, a jade-like dragon of a great waterfall descended from a steep cliff opposite. Midair, a stone beam jutted out abruptly, striking the waterfall and sending sprays soaring tens of feet high with thunderous noise.

The waterfall split, scattering into countless smaller cascades—some thin and crystal-clear, fluttering like curtains in the wind. The shapes shifted endlessly: pearls, balls, sudden rain, clouds, smoke, mist; some flowing intermittently, some splitting left and right, some plunging straight down, others winding sinuously.

All waters gathered into a deep pool at the cliff’s base. The depth was unfathomable. Where the waterfall struck, white waves surged and sparkled silver.

The three stood several dozen paces from the pool when suddenly a gust of wind stirred, and the mist from the waterfall danced toward them, drizzling over their clothes.

Hong Ri exclaimed in surprise, “Ah!” Their garments were dampened by the spray.

Ye Hua glanced around and saw the pool’s water flowing eastward into a stream. He smiled, “I wonder where this water flows?”

Hong Xing said, “Ahead lies a vast abyss called the ‘Abyss of No Return.’ Its depths are pitch black and unfathomable. The Fifth Spring Under Heaven lies beside that abyss. Let’s go see!”

They followed the stream for over a hundred meters until a wide chasm appeared ahead, about a hundred yards across. At the edge, peering down, they saw only darkness. The stream vanished without a trace or echo, and chilling winds blew intermittently from the abyss, causing Ye Hua to shiver and step back.

To the left, not far off, stood an octagonal stone well, from which clear water gushed, forming a narrow stream that flowed toward the abyss.

Hong Ri noticed Ye Hua’s gaze and said, “That is the Fifth Spring Under Heaven—the ‘Octagonal Glazed Well.’”

Before he could finish, four figures suddenly emerged from a cliff corner ahead. All wore black robes, with prominent noses and deep-set eyes, clearly not natives of the Central Plains.

The four paused briefly upon seeing Ye Hua’s group but paid no heed, heading straight to the Octagonal Glazed Well. One scooped a handful of water and drank. After a moment, his face lit with joy.

He whispered something to the others, who also smiled broadly. They began inspecting the well, excitedly discussing among themselves.

From a distance, Ye Hua, Hong Ri, and Hong Xing watched the four foreigners crowding around the well, gesticulating enthusiastically.

Hong Xing laughed, “These Western barbarians have probably never seen such a sacred spring, brimming with spiritual energy and extraordinary power!”

Hong Ri said, “You think the title ‘Fifth Spring Under Heaven’ is given lightly? The spiritual energy in that water rivals many low-grade elixirs, not to mention its myriad other mystical properties! Cultivators specializing in water-based techniques would be ecstatic to find it, treating it like treasure!”

As they spoke, one of the four suddenly produced a white jade porcelain bottle. Hong Ri’s face twisted with disdain, sensing some scheme unfolding. He watched lazily, as if enjoying a spectacle.

Ye Hua understood—they intended to collect the spring water. Yet he sensed it would not be so easy. Suddenly, the man with the bottle unleashed a misty radiance from it, enveloping the Octagonal Glazed Well.

The well immediately shot forth a jade-green beam, resembling a fountain, spreading over the stone platform several yards away, forming a protective shield. The light from the bottle struck the green shield but was repelled.

The man’s expression flickered, awkwardness showing. His bottle then blazed with white light, releasing a more powerful beam, striking the shield again. Yet the shield shimmered without faltering, and the bottle’s glow faded.

His face darkened, turning sour. With a flash of white light from his other hand, he revealed a phoenix-beak blade and swung fiercely at the green shield surrounding the well.

Hong Ri, seeing the bottle’s failure, was about to mock loudly but then noticed the man’s furious use of a weapon against the well’s barrier. Anger flared in his heart. Pointing, he sent forth a streak of fiery light, which flashed and erased the man’s presence.

Hong Ri shouted, “You Western thieves! Shameless to the extreme!”