The ten-day period began the moment he stepped out of the cave.
Lu Xing had to personally experience the state of mind of a Fairy living alone in the snowy mountains during these ten days.
With nowhere else to go, he first placed the ancient zither and the Painting Scroll in the Garden Thatched Cottage. Then he took his sword into the boundless wind and snow, trying to use the magical power contained within the Fairy's body.
Without seeking a deep understanding, Lu Xing learned quickly. With a casual swing of his sword, he could carve a sword mark into the snow. He could also use magical power to soar through the air, coming and going as he pleased, his figure fluttering gracefully.
But that was all.
With no one to teach him, he could only use magical power crudely. He knew none of the exquisite, subtle spell effects of the Xianxia World—traveling a thousand miles in a flash, flying swords tearing through the sky, shattering mountains and splitting the earth, and so on.
After practicing for half a day, he was somehow still inferior to that casual shout on the mountaintop that day.
Had that triggered the power of the Treasure Mirror?
It was not as if Lu Xing had not asked the senior beauties in the mirror, but their answers were:
"You do not need to learn these things. If you encounter danger, Auntie will help you!" Neon Fairy's face was full of doting affection. Lu Xing was certain that her maternal instincts had flared up!
"How boring."
The Empress still sat lazily upon the Dragon Throne atop the mountain, voicing her opinion.
"There is no danger outside either, just like in the mountains. Hurry up and go out to play!!" Blue Skirt Girl continued urging him.
Lu Xing ignored them and asked several of the more good-tempered ones.
Purple-Clad Woman smiled. "I have never gone outside. Logically speaking, if you encounter enemies, just shine the mirror on them."
After thinking for a while, Lute-Holding Girl said, "When I encountered villains in life, I played the zither. Every time I played, they would collapse limply to the ground. Later, after I joined a great sect, I never encountered danger again."
"This zither is yours?"
"No, I only picked it up later."
Lu Xing asked several others, and they all said the outside world was not dangerous. As long as he had the mirror, he could go anywhere in the Three Realms and Six Paths.
Lu Xing believed them halfway. In other words, he remained doubtful.
He returned to the garden. Cold Ice Fairy had probably set up an array here again to block out the wind and snow. Lu Xing was truly bored, so he asked Lute-Holding Girl how to play the zither.
The girl happily taught him.
But after studying for half a day, Lu Xing discovered that he had no talent for it. The music he played was barely even noise.
In the snowy mountains, Lu Xing could only entertain himself. He either took walks outside, played the zither, practiced swordsmanship, or chatted with the senior beauties in the mirror.
It seemed that she had only just heard that he was leaving. A woman wearing a simple hairpin and a coarse cloth skirt appeared, her expression compassionate, and advised him, "Lu Xing, you are still a mortal. You possess a mortal heart, and also a heart inclined toward goodness. Once you leave, do more good deeds. Borrow our strength to accumulate merit; it will greatly benefit your future cultivation."
"Senior, do you believe in Buddhism?" Lu Xing asked her.
The woman in the simple hairpin and cloth skirt, whose lovely figure was still clearly outlined, smiled faintly. "I do not believe in Buddhism, but I agree with some Buddhist principles about saving all living beings. I have also cultivated in Buddhist temples."
Her clothes were plain, yet her exquisite figure was beyond comparison with ordinary people.
A sword-bearing woman also appeared and asked him, "Go back to Heavenly Hành Sect and take a look for me."
Lu Xing did not know where Heavenly Hành Sect was, so he told her that he would go if he had the chance.
There was also a girl with fox ears and a fox tail, who quietly asked Lu Xing to visit Nine Wind Mountain in the Netherworld and see what it was like now.
Judging from her manner, Lu Xing found it hard to believe she was a powerful expert. He also did not know what standard was required to enter this mirror.
Before he had even gone down the mountain, he had received seven or eight requests. It was clear that quite a few people in the mirror wished to return to the mortal world.
One did not know the passage of time in the mountains.
Lu Xing did not need to sleep or eat, and he had no way of telling the time. Heavy dark clouds always shrouded the sky above this snowy mountain, making him suspect at one point that this world contained no living people at all.
But after calming down, Lu Xing truly did experience a little of the Fairy's state of mind.
Her body was pure and without blemish. She feared neither bitter cold nor scorching heat, and ate neither grain nor common food.
If she had no competitive ambitions, then she truly could live anywhere, free of desire and want.
Still, he had felt it, but Lu Xing could not understand it. What enjoyment was there in life for a Fairy living alone in a snowy mountain?
Perhaps his horizons were too narrow.
No matter what, Lu Xing was a mortal and could not endure such emptiness.
That day, he flew to the summit of the snowy mountain and admired the setting sun on the horizon. He estimated that about eight days had passed, leaving two more days before he completed his task and returned.
He had only enjoyed half the scenery when Blue Skirt Girl suddenly said to him, "What is so good about this? Hurry home and tidy up. Get ready to go down the mountain!"
Lu Xing glanced into the mirror. This girl loved to play and laugh; if he was not careful, she would trick him.
"If you do not go down the mountain soon, someone will steal your home!" the girl added with a giggle.
Lu Xing originally did not believe her, but he inexplicably sensed something in his heart. He stood and flew down the mountain, his skirt fluttering as he returned to the garden.
There were no footprints before the stone stele that read "Visitors Halt."
But this was the Xianxia World. He could not judge whether someone had come based on that.
Lu Xing was using the Fairy's body, but his divine sense was far inferior to hers. He lingered outside for a moment and, seeing no one, finally stepped inside.
Clang!
In an instant, hundreds upon thousands of gleaming flying swords filled the sky. Their bright points aimed directly at Lu Xing. The sudden attack made him involuntarily take a step back.
"Hehehehe!"
Blue Skirt Girl, the Empress, and quite a few of the beautiful souls in the mirror all burst into laughter.
Lu Xing had no time to care about them. He nervously drew his sword. He had underestimated these cultivators; the power of this flying sword move seemed quite formidable.
"Who are you?"
Someone soon emerged in the air. Lu Xing looked over and saw a man dressed in a tight gray robe, his hair bound beneath a crown, standing in midair. Beside him floated dozens of densely packed flying swords of varying sizes, the small ones as tiny as thumbs and the large ones as thick as door panels.
After seeing Lu Xing's face clearly, a flash of amazement passed through his eyes. His tone softened considerably, and he even cupped his hands. "I am Chu Mo. My earlier conduct was disrespectful; I ask the Fairy's forgiveness. May I ask which sect the Fairy belongs to, and why you have come here?"
As he spoke, he waved a hand behind him. The hundreds upon thousands of flying swords spun back, and two men and a woman emerged from the garden, all dressed as cultivators and holding Spirit Artifacts as they watched warily.
Lu Xing glanced at the mirror. Seeing them all watching the show, he relaxed for the moment. He returned the gesture and said, "I belong to no sect and have no name. You, however—why have you trespassed into my garden?"
No name, no sect.
Yet that was not what surprised them. What astonished Chu Mo was this: "Did you plant all the spirit plants here?!"
The other three did not believe him either. One of them even sneered.
Lu Xing said, "I did not plant them, but the original owner gave the garden to me."
Chu Mo calmly turned back to glance at the garden.
"You say it is yours. What proof do you have?"
Another man sneered. A treasure pagoda floated before him, and he also held a round sphere in his hand. The flying swords from earlier had emerged from it.
"What belongs to me belongs to me. Why would I need proof?"
Lu Xing guessed their purpose. Right now, the only one he could trust was the Fairy.
He trusted that she truly possessed the strength to travel through the Three Realms and Six Paths!
After steadying himself, Lu Xing walked into the garden, ignoring the sharp gazes of the three men and one woman as he entered the dazzling patch of exotic flowers and strange grasses.
Wealth stirred people's hearts.
A tense atmosphere filled the air. The group all seemed ready to strike.
But in the end, Chu Mo gestured to his companions and stopped them from acting.