Such a magnificent spectacle was something Xu Lang had never seen before. He was also secretly grateful that he had the chance to witness such a fairyland-like wonder.
Xu Lang wasn't unfamiliar with waterfalls, but he had never seen such a magnificent one. An indescribable sense of grandeur surged into his heart, making him feel that exploring the natural beauty of his homeland was a meaningful endeavor.
As Xu Lang was immersed in the gorgeous scenery, Old Hu suddenly said, "I've seen this kind of terrain, from a book passed down in my family. This kind of mountain and water configuration is an excellent Feng Shui treasure land."
"Look, there's a front for gazing and a rear for support. The nine great waterfalls are like nine dragons drawing water, dividing the hills into a giant blooming lotus. This Feng Shui configuration is called the Nine Dragons Encasing Jade Lotus."
"No matter how many more or fewer waterfalls are on the mountain, it won't qualify as the Nine Dragons Encasing Jade Lotus Feng Shui configuration. Nine is the extreme number, representing supreme meaning. Nine also has the same sound as 'long-lasting,' implying eternity, and it's considered the most auspicious number."
"The conditions for forming this Feng Shui configuration are extremely strict. If the waterfalls don't have enough water volume, they can't be called the Nine Dragons Encasing Jade Lotus. If the waterfalls aren't large enough, they're not called dragons but snakes."
"The Nine Dragons Encasing Jade Lotus, this Feng Shui treasure land is also known as the 'Luo Shen Chariot.' According to the book passed down in my family, this Feng Shui configuration is most suitable for burying women. If a man is buried there, his family will suffer great misfortune."
Xu Lang picked up the thread of the conversation, saying, "If that's the case, then perhaps the rumor about the Liao Dynasty Empress being buried here isn't a fabrication. The occasional porcelain shards salvaged from the river might be burial objects belonging to the nobles in the tomb."
"But I have a question. Did the Liao and Jin dynasties really pay so much attention to the Central Plains' Feng Shui teachings? Did other countries study our ancestors' Feng Shui theories?"
"According to what you're saying, is the best Feng Shui location in the Nine Dragons Encasing Jade Lotus configuration the very center of the lotus?"
Old Hu replied, "Han culture has been passed down through generations. Noblemen in other countries also value their afterlife affairs. It's not surprising that they'd be familiar with some Feng Shui configurations. If the book is to be believed, then the center position is indeed the best Feng Shui spot."
"Of course, I don't believe Feng Shui has any practical value. Throughout history, how many kings and princes have there been in our country? Even emperors can form an entire camp, let alone other nobles."
"If Feng Shui configurations really work, why would there be dynastic changes? The historical tide of rise and fall doesn't have much to do with where ancestral graves are buried. No emperor in history was buried casually, and yet no dynasty has lasted for a thousand years."
"Forget it, why am I explaining this to a little brat like you? It's like you could understand anyway. What's with all this act of being a grown-up!"
After saying this, Old Hu chuckled, leaving Xu Lang with a black line across his face. He'd been underestimated for his age once again.
But Xu Lang didn't mind. Considering his two lifetimes, he was a few years older than Old Hu, this middle-aged youth. He wouldn't get into it with a kid.
Yanzi pointed at the valley in front of Niu Xin Mountain, saying, "That's the famous Lama Gorge. Legend has it that there are wildmen there, and it's haunted at night. Should we go? We've been searching all night, and we don't know if she's there."
The Fat Man sat down, gazing at the dense primeval forest in the valley, frowning and saying, "If Tian Xiaomeng went into the Lama Gorge, she would definitely get lost. There are only four of us and two dogs, with just two hunting rifles. Finding someone won't be easy, and we also have a little kid with us. We have to be careful if we go."
Old Hu said, "Now that we're here, what other choice do we have? Forget about wildmen and ghosts, even if we really encounter them, it's their bad luck. It'll be a good chance for me to catch a few and bring them back to the village for everyone to see what wildmen and ghosts look like."
Old Hu and the Fat Man came from military families. From childhood, they had been exposed to it, and their genetic inheritance was enough. They had a bit of bloodthirst and madness in their bones, combined with their passionate youth, and the fearless nature of their age was fully displayed in them.
Besides, they had guns and dogs. With their pride, how could they possibly back down now?
Although Xu Lang was young, he had been walking with them for a night, but he seemed energetic. The Fat Man said he was young, but everyone knew he wasn't a burden.
The group immediately decided to go to the Lama Gorge, determined not to return without finding Tian Xiaomeng.
Yanzi was a little worried. She had heard the terrifying legends of the Lama Gorge since childhood and would naturally have some fear. But with the urgency of saving someone, she could only suppress those fearful emotions and agreed to go to the Lama Gorge to help.
Xu Lang's curiosity outweighed his fear. He had been in this world for more than two years and had almost always stayed in Gangzi Camp. Now that he had the chance, he wasn't willing to back down.
If he wanted to back down, he wouldn't have suggested coming up into the mountains to search. Now, seeing the Feng Shui configuration of the Nine Dragons Encasing Jade Lotus, he had another thought he needed to verify.
Would cultivating under this Feng Shui configuration accelerate his progress?
Xu Lang had a top-tier cultivation method and had already confirmed that he could cultivate. Naturally, he wanted to see the scenery of higher realms. This was a rare opportunity, and he would regret it for life if he didn't take it.
If he could accelerate his cultivation progress, it would be like opening a new world for Xu Lang. This was a matter related to his future.
There was another main reason. Xu Lang believed in Old Hu's protagonist aura and believed that he wouldn't die easily. Sometimes, a protagonist aura is more important than experience. If they were in danger, he would definitely protect Old Hu...
Learning from Han Paopao was not shameful; the one who laughs last wins.
The two hunting rifles were for hunting, with great close-range lethality, but their accuracy was difficult to guarantee at a distance.
Although the Fat Man and Old Hu were from military families, they didn't use these guns much. Yanzi and Old Hu each took one, and the Fat Man and Xu Lang each carried a hunting knife, looking quite intimidating.
Of course, the two hunting knives were quite sharp, after all, they were a hunter's tools for making a living. Poor quality could be fatal.
Compared to the wildmen and ghosts in the legends of the Lama Gorge, the more direct threat was animals, such as bears and wolves. The two hunting rifles were single-shot, and reloading ammunition took a significant amount of time.
The four of them walked in the forest for a whole afternoon. The sound of the waterfall on Niu Xin Mountain grew louder and louder. After walking for seven or eight hours, they were finally close to the foot of the mountain. They didn't encounter any bears or wildmen, not even any aggressive animals. They also didn't see Tian Xiaomeng.
The Fat Man found a stone to sit on, panting heavily and waving his hand, saying, "Hope deceives the eyes. We originally estimated it would take four or five hours to reach this point, but we had to detour. I can't go on. I'm tired and hungry. I'm going to die."
Yanzi explained, "It's like that in the mountains. It doesn't seem that far, but you have to go around and around, and the road you actually have to walk is much longer. And you naturally walk slower in the mountains. You'd better endure it for now. We came out in a hurry, and we didn't prepare much food. You've eaten all the dry food."
In fact, everyone was exhausted. One night and a whole afternoon, anyone would be worn out. It was a good thing they brought some dry food, otherwise, the four of them would have collapsed long ago.
After all, they were in the old forest, completely different from the outside world. There were too many threats to life, and the terrain and creatures were the most obvious manifestations. It was a huge test of both their physical and mental strength.
They had already wasted so much time. It would be dark in a few more hours.
Yanzi said, "Then let's rest for a while. It seems like Li Zi Huang can't find Tian Xiaomeng's scent. What should we do? If we can't find her, my father and Old Branch Secretary will definitely scold me to death when they come back."
Xu Lang comforted her, "Sister Yanzi, there's no use blaming yourself now. Even if we really can't find Tian Xiaomeng, Uncle won't beat you, right? You're not one of us guys. At most, he'll scold you a few times to vent his anger. You won't lose a piece of meat anyway."
Old Hu took a few sips of water and asked, "Did a bear eat Tian Xiaomeng? Or was she captured by wildmen to be their wife?"
The Fat Man chuckled and chatted with Old Hu. Bickering had become their daily routine.
After about ten minutes, their tired bodies had somewhat recovered. Suddenly, they heard Xiong Da and Li Zi Huang roaring madly.
Hunting dogs were all of excellent bloodlines. They would never roar like this unless they encountered something extremely dangerous.
The Fat Man asked, "Yanzi, what's going on? Did they discover some wild beast?"
The three of them turned their heads to look, only to find that Yanzi's face had instantly turned pale. They heard Yanzi shout loudly, "Get up the trees, it's a bear!"