"Where is the Netherworld?"
Lu Xing asked again.
Some of the souls in the Treasure Mirror came from the Netherworld, such as the Fox Demon Girl.
Chu Mo answered again, "The Netherworld is filled with yin and baleful energy. Wicked cultivators and Demon Cultivator sects are everywhere, and they often clash with the sects of the human world. It is said that beneath the Netherworld, one can pass through the Gates of Hell to reach the Yellow Springs Nine Netherworlds. Most Demon Ancestors of the Netherworld cultivate in seclusion within the Yellow Springs."
Lu Xing understood. The Yellow Springs Nine Netherworlds beyond the gates were similar to the Immortal Realm. It was not like he had initially thought, that the Netherworld was simply the underworld. Many ordinary people lived there as well.
"What about the stars in the sky? And what lies beyond the continent?"
Lu Xing asked one question after another. Though he did not receive precise answers, he gained a general understanding of things, including the Demon Race, Demon Cultivators, Extraterrestrial Demons, and legends passed down from ancient times.
"Is there anything else you wish to ask, Senior?"
Chu Mo found it increasingly strange. The beauty before him possessed a face and bearing unlike any he had ever seen, yet she asked questions that only children would ask. Could she be a demon who had taken human form?!
At that thought, he had no choice but to become cautious. Every demon capable of taking human form was equivalent to a Nascent Soul Realm expert.
"Let me think."
Lu Xing looked them over again, then glanced at the mirror. He felt that he—or rather, the Fairy's body—could still keep them in check.
So he cleared his throat and asked, "Do you have any cultivation methods or techniques? Take out a few for me to look over. Any realm will do. I'll give you another spirit herb in return!"
Unsurprisingly, this question once again drew baffled looks from the four of them.
Why would a senior of the cultivation world need the cultivation methods and techniques of ordinary cultivators?
Lu Xing's expression did not change.
He had no choice but to ask. First, communication with the Cold Ice Fairy was difficult, and the beautiful souls in the mirror would not teach him how to use spells. Second, with the Cold Ice Fairy's appearance, who knew what might happen if she went out into the world?
"I have a copy of Thunderclap Swordplay. Would you be interested, Senior?"
Chu Mo was the first to take a book from a small pouch at his waist.
Seeing this, Lu Xing could not help asking, "Do you have any more of those things? Give me one too."
All four fell silent.
"Are you truly the master of this herb garden?!"
Pang Jian asked darkly, his eyes fixed straight on her.
Lu Xing heard a voice from within the Treasure Mirror. "Point the mirror at him, and I'll kill him."
It was the woman in black robes.
But someone quickly stopped her. The Blue Skirt Girl also said with a smile, "Just watch the show. Don't be so impatient."
Lu Xing had grown up in a peaceful modern world, so he naturally did not have such murderous intent. He merely pressed a hand against the mirror in vigilance and asked Pang Jian blandly, "What if I am? What if I'm not?"
The atmosphere instantly froze.
Pang Jian did not dare make another sound.
"Junior Brother Pang!"
Chu Mo shouted at him, "You have offended Senior. Hurry and apologize! Give your Storage Bag to Senior!"
Pang Jian silently cupped his hands in salute. However, he did not have an extra Storage Bag of his own, so he could only borrow one from Wu Juemin and toss it to Lu Xing as an apologetic gift.
Lu Xing calmly tried fiddling with the Storage Bag. In the end, he had to ask them before he managed to open it with spiritual power. He put the longsword he had brought from the Ice Cave inside, then took it back out.
Lu Xing was instantly pleased with himself. Obtaining a Storage Bag meant he had completed the beginner's quest of cultivating immortality!
"Very well. Thank you, everyone."
Lu Xing smiled at them. "You may now choose two ordinary spirit herbs each. If you have any spare cultivation methods or techniques, take them out for me to inspect, and we can trade again."
At that smile, not only Chu Mo and the other two male cultivators, but even Wu Juemin, a female cultivator herself, felt their souls sway. It was as if a celestial maiden from the Upper Realm had descended upon the world. Their minds were bewitched, and only after a long while did their divine senses clear, cold sweat instantly breaking out across their backs.
Only when the Fairy noticed that their minds had been entranced and stopped smiling did they recover.
Wu Juemin was deeply shocked. Who exactly is this Fairy, so devastatingly beautiful, yet so ignorant of worldly matters?!
"Choose."
Lu Xing did not find it strange. After all, he too had once been captivated by the beauty of the Fairy in the mirror.
This scene did remind him of something:
Before outsiders, especially male cultivators, the Fairy could not smile carelessly.
It was one thing if they were merely bewitched. If they mistakenly believed the Fairy had taken a liking to them, that would be troublesome.
"Thank you, Senior!"
Chu Mo respectfully bowed, then quietly discussed something with his companions.
Lu Xing did not pay them any mind. He flipped through the Thunderclap Swordplay he had obtained and discovered that there were many terms he could not understand. However, it was not convenient to keep questioning them now, so he could only wait for an opportunity to learn later.
The group soon finished their discussion and offered several cultivation methods, medicinal prescriptions, and pill formulas in exchange. Lu Xing selected some of them and gave them seven spirit plants in total.
He could also tell that, in terms of value, any single medicinal herb from the Purple-Clad Woman's garden was worth more than their entire fortunes.
But Lu Xing had learned quite a few things from them, so he decided to be generous this once.
After receiving permission, the four chose spirit plants from the garden.
Chu Mo quickly selected two fruits from the tree and dug up two medicinal herbs. The others also chose white jade fruits from the tree. Lu Xing did not question them and let them take the items.
"Senior." After thanking him once more, Chu Mo tactfully reminded him, "Quite a few rogue cultivators seeking treasure have entered the mountain. I fear they will find this place within a few days."
Lu Xing thought for a moment, then said, "I'll handle it. You may leave."
Only then did the four bid farewell. Before leaving, Pang Jian looked back once more, seeming highly unwilling to leave with only this much.
Lu Xing took out the mirror. Before he could ask anything, the Blue Skirt Girl said with a giggle, "Someone among them will definitely come back! Why don't we hide and wait until they come to steal something, then jump out and scare them senseless!"
"Are you a child? That's so childish!"
Lu Xing could not help complaining. The girl replied righteously, "It means I still have a childlike heart. Just imagine it—the thief turning pale with fright, kneeling and begging for mercy. Wouldn't that be fun?"
Lu Xing thought it sounded fun too, but the mischievousness was too strong, so he ignored her.
Instead, he asked the others, "Seniors, do you have any good ideas? How can we hide this garden, or keep people from barging in whenever they please?"
He had not cared before, but after living here for ten days, Lu Xing no longer wanted to see the garden destroyed.
Neon Fairy said, "The location has already been exposed. No matter how you hide it, it will be useless."
"We must kill a group of them to stop others from coveting this place!"
"Why not stay here instead of going to live among mortals?"
Seeing that they could not agree, Lu Xing decided to wait until the Fairy returned before discussing it again.
Nothing happened over the next two days, and no outsiders came. Once the ten days were up and Lu Xing completed the task of experiencing the Fairy's state of mind, he returned to Earth.
Before leaving, he also left behind a written message. As he wrote down questions for her, he felt the helplessness of humanity in the Future World and alien civilizations, separated by five thousand years and able to complete only one conversation.
Several days later.
More than a hundred streaks of light darted through the mountains. Guided by someone, they arrived above the stone stele and looked down at the entire garden.