Ning Beichen felt a surge of excitement, confirming his hunch was correct. There was indeed another dimensional space inside, and that was the only explanation for the temporal anomalies.
However, he chose not to share this revelation with the old Taoist priest.
Firstly, explaining dimensional time was complex, and even Ning Beichen and Liu Yilin only had a partial grasp of it.
Secondly, such knowledge would offer no benefit to the old priest.
The trio – Ning Beichen, the old priest, and the tiger – emerged, returning to the sinkhole. The starry wall they had encountered had mysteriously vanished, reverting to its original state. Without Ning Beichen's abilities, even the old priest would have found it difficult to decipher the array and enter. However, since there was nothing of substance inside, the old priest likely wouldn't be interested in returning.
After leaving the sinkhole, they spent a day's journey before re-entering the civilized world. Ning Beichen released the giant tiger, realizing it couldn't be brought along and certainly couldn't be taken out. Setting aside the practicalities of finding space for it, the sheer spectacle of Ning Beichen riding a six-meter-long tiger through populated areas would have caused unprecedented chaos.
The dream beast, however, was a different matter. Being only fist-sized, it could easily be tucked away in a pocket.
Before departing, Ning Beichen had spent three days conversing with the old priest's senior disciple, subtly hinting at matters concerning the Zhou Tian Lu. Whether the disciple could comprehend it or find it useful, Ning Beichen remained unsure.
After bidding farewell to the senior disciple, Ning Beichen left Mount Wudang, his next destination being Mount Qingcheng.
The true lineage of Taoist culture on Mount Qingcheng began with Zhang Daoling. Legend has it that Zhang Daoling preached here before ascending to immortality. Since then, many renowned Taoist figures have cultivated on Mount Qingcheng, further enhancing its reputation as a magnificent and sacred mountain of Taoism, celebrated for its "ethereal beauty." It was undeniably a renowned grotto-heaven and blessed land.
Such a place was a must-visit for Ning Beichen.
However, his previous experience at Mount Wudang had been less than pleasant. Therefore, to avoid unnecessary attention and disturbances, Ning Beichen adopted a disguise for his trip to Mount Qingcheng. While he wasn't afraid of these people, constant entanglements were tiresome, especially considering they were often influential figures. Confronting them would tarnish his reputation, while tolerating them would embolden them to cause further trouble.
Disguised as an ordinary backpacker, with a sun hat obscuring his face, Ning Beichen blended seamlessly into the crowd of tourists. By opting not to stay in hotels and thus avoiding registration, he had so far managed to evade any troublesome encounters, a situation he found quite satisfactory.
As he walked, Ning Beichen conversed with Liu Yilin on the phone. He hadn't seen her for some time, and for reasons he couldn't quite articulate, he found himself constantly thinking of her. The call also served as an opportunity to update her on his recent experiences.
Upon learning about Ning Beichen's time on Mount Wudang, Liu Yilin concurred with his hypothesis. She believed the place was likely situated between three-dimensional and four-dimensional spaces. Thus, one of Ning Beichen's objectives in visiting Mount Qingcheng was to verify whether ancient grotto-heavens and blessed lands truly resided in these higher dimensions, as he suspected.
Naturally, verifying this required him to first locate the specific grotto-heaven and blessed land on Mount Qingcheng. A "blessed land" likely referred to a particular significant mountain or river, which, according to Liu Yilin's theory, might function as a coordinate – a limited set of entry points into three-dimensional and four-dimensional spaces. A "grotto-heaven", on the other hand, would signify the ruins, possibly remnants of ancient sects, or perhaps desolate and extremely perilous locations. Ning Beichen and Liu Yilin speculated that these places could serve as gateways to true four-dimensional worlds or lead to the "Mortal Shedding Realm." However, such locations were notoriously well-hidden, making Ning Beichen's pursuit largely a matter of chance.
Ning Beichen arrived at the main hall of Mount Qingcheng, joining other tourists in offering incense. The grand statues evoked no particular feeling in him; despite the temple's fervent worship, they were mere effigies, soulless objects. He couldn't expect to find what he was looking for there. Nevertheless, the scenery was undeniably beautiful, surpassing that of previous locations and exuding an ethereal aura.
He soon departed, making his way into the mountain range with practiced ease. Hours later, resting and eating atop a peak, Ning Beichen mused about the convenience the giant tiger would have offered. Without it, traversing the terrain on foot would be slow and arduous. However, the tiger's sheer size made it impossible to travel discreetly; in ancient times, perhaps, but in the modern era, it would be suicidal.
After a brief rest following his meal, Ning Beichen continued his journey. Before nightfall, he reached a modest peak where he spotted a house. Observing it from a distance, he wondered if it belonged to a local farmer or a forest ranger. Since darkness had fallen, he decided to seek shelter there for the night. Although he had a tent, a house offered superior comfort. The only uncertainty was whether the house was occupied.
Ning Beichen's speed was remarkable; what appeared to be a considerable distance was covered in just over ten minutes. He could have moved even faster, but he restrained himself, fearing that his speed might startle anyone in the vicinity.
"Hello? Is anyone home?" Ning Beichen called out from outside the house.
The door creaked open, and a young girl emerged. She appeared to be in her late teens, dressed in simple, unadorned clothing, suggesting she might be a local resident. However, the presence of a young girl living alone in such a remote mountain location struck Ning Beichen as unusual, as it would likely be a frightening prospect for a typical young woman.
"Hello there, young lady. I'm a tourist exploring the mountains. It's getting late, and I saw this house, so I came to see if I might be able to stay for the night. Is your family home?" Ning Beichen asked, doing his best to appear harmless.
"I live here alone," the girl replied.