[Hetu] [Heavenly Demon] [Episode 3] Chapter 4

Chapter Four: Yang Shu and the Land Slave
For many, twelve or thirteen is still a naive and immature age, but in ancient times, a twelve or

thirteen-year- boy was considered mature. Yang Shu, born into a noble family, surpassed his peers. His calm mind and

unpretentious ideas made him a promising talent from a young age. Even his cold personality didn't

prevent him from becoming a hot topic among adults, his prominence unmatched by other spoiled young men.
At twelve, Yang Shu's literary talent was already exceptional, but calligraphy, painting, and poetry were not his

pursuits. He grew up in the prestigious Yang family, a family renowned for its military prowess. From the moment of his birth, the pride and

dignity of the Yang family were the sole focus of his soul. Even though people in the capital at that time predicted that Yang Shu,

with his outstanding literary talent, would surely be the top scholar in the imperial examinations, and would undoubtedly be granted a title and prime ministership, even becoming a future

capable minister, all the praise was bestowed upon Yang Shu without reservation.
Yang Shu's father, the old Prince of Zhen, was overjoyed. His only son was so outstanding, independent and

mature , his exceptional talent was astonishing, and some even considered having him abandon martial arts for literature, hoping that the Yang family

would produce its first prime minister in its centuries-long history. At that time, Yang Shu's name in the capital was synonymous with "genius

." Even the old scholars of the National Academy, when Yang Shu was only ten years old, marveled at his intelligence and

predicted he would become a dragon among men. The fact that the Prince of Zhen's lineage, traditionally known for its military prowess, could abandon the idea of having their only son pursue martial

arts speaks volumes about Yang Shu
's talent at such a young age. The once-dominant reputation of the Yang family in the capital, now quiet,

suddenly . Yang Shu, with the pride of the Prince of Zhen's mansion and the inheritance of

the pride of this premier martial arts family, demanded of himself that he do everything better than others! Even at the age of twelve, his martial arts skills

were unremarkable, but this did not diminish people's expectations for him and the Yang family's first prime minister. Even the old town lord had stopped him from practicing martial arts from

the age of eight , instead hiring the most renowned teachers in the land, all so that his precious son could become

the most talented scholar in the world.
Everything changed when Yang Shu was twelve. It was the first time he followed his father into the military camp,

the first time he experienced the awe-inspiring sight of swords and horses. Tall, strong horses, gleaming,

menacing swords—when thousands of horses galloped, the sheer force was overwhelming. All the poems and praises he had learned

seemed utterly inadequate at that moment. Yang Shu stared in disbelief, his shock beyond words; he didn't

even know how to describe the scene.
As a descendant of the Yang family, even though he was too weak to lift a sword or mount a horse,

the respect of the Yang family soldiers, the devout faith in their eyes, their blind worship of the future master of the Yang family—all of this

overturned all the ideas Yang Shu had held in his heart as a young man. For a century, the Yang family had fought on the battlefield, returning victorious, worshipped by the people,

or lying dead on the battlefield, venerated for their loyalty. He realized that what he should inherit was the Yang family's blood,

their loyalty, their battlefield prowess, and their indomitable spirit, not

a leisurely high-ranking official in this peaceful era. He should be a prince who would once again uphold the Yang family
's honor, even at the cost of all past glory. Yang Shu, a renowned scholar in the capital, hailed as the foremost genius, resolutely refused to participate in

the Imperial Academy , harboring a fierce and unwavering determination. His frail body burned with a stubborn

, even frantic, will that made his father sigh. He resolutely picked up a large sword he couldn't even lift, and after repeated

pleas, amidst the disappointment and sighs of others, he finally abandoned his studies for martial arts, somewhat belatedly beginning the training expected of a Yang

family member , learning the family's ancestral military strategies and martial arts.
Ignoring the old town prince's objections, Yang Shu resolutely discarded his precious inkstone and writing brush, burned his once-proud

poems, paintings, and eloquent essays, and even set all his official documents ablaze.

Faced with , though reluctant, had no choice but to compromise. The entire capital was in an uproar, and even

the teachers of the Imperial Academy came to persuade him, unwilling to let such a talented young man's abilities be wasted. But all of this could not

stop the aspirations that had already sprouted in Yang Shu's heart.
Two years later, amidst the almost contemptuous gazes of others, the frail Yang Shu finally possessed his first inner core.

Even though others lamented the decline of the Yang family's literary star, he tirelessly cultivated,

forcing his body, weakened by his studies, to become strong. Exhausted and utterly drained, Yang Shu would often collapse from overexertion during nightfall

, rather than sleep peacefully. He spent almost every night like this,

forgetting all the poetry and songs in his mind, his only belief being to be a true man of the Yang family—not

a high-ranking official embroiled in political intrigue, but a warrior who, even in death, would still be cheerful and composed.
His encounter with Di Nu was simple and sudden. At the First Core Stage,

Yang Shu, whose martial arts talent was not high and whose cultivation was slower than others, felt incredibly anxious. Facing the frustration of being unable to break through to the Second Core Stage,

he was heartbroken and even contemplated suicide. At that time, progress was extremely difficult. On the advice of his senior masters, he chose to cultivate

in seclusion the seclusion of the Yang family was different from that of impoverished martial artists; the location was naturally

a scenic spot, or perhaps a way to relax after hitting a bottleneck.
At the summit of Mount Tai, at the foot of a waterfall, the enchanting scenery washed away all his anxieties. On his first

solo journey, without the usual entourage of servants and guards, Yang Shu found everything about the common people both

novel and exciting. He walked slowly, listening to birdsong and insect chirps, gazing at the verdant mountains, treading along narrow

, winding paths, listening to the flowing river, and watching the powerful creeks. For some reason, he felt a sense of peace.
He chose a secluded spot deep in the mountains, almost untouched by human habitation, where

the water, like a waterfall cascading from the heavens, gently washed over the rocks that had remained still for countless years. At the edge of the waterfall, Yang Shu sat down quietly,

seemingly casting aside his inner turmoil. He felt as if he understood the meaning of the mountains and rivers, almost

merging into everything within them. The feeling was exquisite, a tranquil and intoxicating experience.
Sitting cross-legged, the dampness of the soil, the hardness of the rocks, everything about the earth felt as if it

were part of his own body. Yang Shu almost forgot the purpose of his journey. He closed his eyes, absorbing everything. When

he opened them again, he had lost track of how many days had passed. The feeling of being one with heaven and earth was incredibly wondrous; the world around him...

He felt completely at ease, unaware of hunger, fatigue, or the passage of time. He seemed to be in control of everything,

possessing a clear understanding of all.
He closed his eyes in contemplation, and this accidental encounter lasted for over half a month. Yang Shu didn't know

why his mind was so peaceful. In the blink of an eye, he not only broke through the constraints of the second core, but also miraculously gained his third core through

enlightenment . This core wasn't chaotic; it was a pure, reddish-yellow color.

After gaining the power of the third core, he felt no elation, only a natural tranquility. This

surprised Yang Shu, who had been frantic before leaving home, when he found himself at peace.
"Aren't you bored sitting here for so long?" As he gradually awoke from his reverie, a deep

voice beside him startled Yang Shu so much he almost fell to the ground.
In this uninhabited depths of the mountains, a colossal creature, as large as a mountain, was squatting before him.

Even with the power of three cores, Yang Shu was momentarily stunned. This guy's appearance was not only

incredibly ferocious, but his stature was also unprecedentedly tall. He appeared silently and without warning, crouching right in front of him. Such a sudden appearance would scare even a ghost to

death, let alone a human.
"Y-who are you?" Yang Shu was terrified, hurriedly activating his still unstable three cores, warily staring at

the mountain-like giant before him!
"You've been watching my world the whole time, don't you know who I am?" The giant's words carried a hint

of mockery. Seeing Yang Shu's three cores appear, he chuckled, and a terrifying power suddenly erupted from his body. Even without

a trace of killing intent, it rendered the power of the three cores as weak as a mosquito before a flame.
"Y-your world..." Yang Shu was so frightened he was incoherent. Even facing his master at home,

even if he might be beaten to death by them, he had never felt so powerless.

The oppressive feeling emanating from the terrifying power of the seemingly bored giant was enough to make one's heart explode.
"What is this?" The slave didn't even look at Yang Shu. His nose twitched, and all his attention was instantly drawn to the aroma emanating from

the bundle . It was just ordinary dry rations, a few

grain cakes that Yang Shu, who had grown up in luxury, found hard to swallow. If it weren't for curiosity, Yang Shu wouldn't have carried commoners' rations with him.
"E-eat..." Yang Shu's mind went blank with shock, but what he said was the truth. Having

grown up in the luxurious Yang family, he

really didn't know how to describe the grain cakes in the bundle as anything other than food.
"Oh, I'll try." The slave didn't even bother with any more words. Right in front of Yang Shu, he devoured

almost half a month's worth of rations in just a few bites. It still had some bits of food stuck to its teeth. Licking its lips, it said with some dissatisfaction, "It's so hard

, hard to bite, uncomfortable. But this thing is strange, eating... oh, you mean biting it with your mouth and then swallowing it,

right? Like those mountain beasts, I think I've seen them eat, but it's not anything tasty."

What did "eating" mean? It took Yang Cun almost a day to explain it to the freak in front of him, still in shock.

He had long forgotten the dazzling array of delicacies in the capital, but when it came to certain dishes, the slave's eyes

lit up, his mouth practically watering, his eyes practically glowing green: "By the way, you can see me, right?"
"You're so big, of course you can see me." Young Yang Cun's mind had completely shut down; he didn't

know if his conversation with this freak was even within the realm of normal people.
"Come with me first!" The slave sneered, looking annoyed. Suddenly, he gave a strange smile, abruptly

scooping up Yang Shu, whose waist wasn't even as thick as his arm. Before Yang Shu could react, his tall figure flashed and vanished

almost instantly, as if evaporated. In a silent instant, the two were nowhere to be seen.

Yang Shu felt the wind whistling past his ears, so loud it made his head ache. The scenery changed so quickly

that his eyes couldn't keep up. The feeling of rapid movement made his stomach churn, and he almost

felt vomiting. His mind remained hazy, and even after the slave threw him to the ground, he was still dizzy

and unable to react.
"Where...where is this?" Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, Yang Shu was immediately confused.
Logically, he should be familiar with the foot of Mount Tai after living there for two or three days, yet there wasn't

even a village in sight. The crooked little inn was gone, and the winding, narrow path was gone too.

Even the few scattered houses at the foot of the mountain, and even those particularly dilapidated houses, had vanished.
The scene was too eerie; the deserted silence sent a chill down Yang Shu's spine. Had he encountered

a ghost wall?
"You entered my world from here!" The Earth Slave pointed to a towering locust tree, somewhat

puzzled . "That day I was sleeping in the mountains when I felt a living person walk in. When I came, I saw you

sleeping here, and then you went up the mountain. I wanted to see what you were up to, but you just

went to sleep by the waterfall. How boring!"
"Your world?" Yang Shu looked around, his mind filled with questions, truly not understanding

what the big man was talking about. Was he a bandit king who ruled the mountain? It didn't seem like it! But everything happening before his eyes was truly bizarre. If he

remembered correctly, there was a small teahouse next to that big tree, and a broken path full of bluestone.

Where had they all gone? The places where people used to drink tea and rest were now just rows of big trees. What was going on

?
"Yes, you just appeared here out of nowhere." The earth slave nodded decisively.
Yang Shu's mind went blank for a moment. Why was the scenery he had seen before coming up the mountain so different from now? That day,

he had drunk a bowl of tea in that little teahouse, and the kind face of the old man who brewed the tea was still

vivid in his mind. After finishing his tea, he had originally planned to set off, but the summer afternoon was really

uninspiring . Right, he had taken a nap under this locust tree... Yes, that must have been when the problem occurred.
"I... I don't know either." Yang Shu panicked, his young heart filled with fear, and asked in a somewhat frightened manner:

"How do I get out? By the way, are there people around here? I'll ask them for directions."
"People?" The earth slave smiled foolishly and gestured with his lips, saying, "You're the first person to come here."
"No, no way, how do I get out?" Yang Shu's mind went blank, his face turned pale, and

his voice trembled as he asked, "You... you've been staying here the whole time, and you haven't gone out?"
"Hmm, I've forgotten how long I've been here," the Earth Slave said, its face filled with desolation and pain. "It seems like

I've been here since the beginning, never gone anywhere, never seen anyone. This place is vast, and

there's no one here except for wild beasts. I don't understand what they say, and they ignore me."
"Ah..." Yang Shu's mind went blank. Looking at the enormous monster in front of him, even more pained than himself, he was filled with

panic. His first thought was, "Am I really seeing a ghost? Am I really

going to stay in this wretched place forever?"
The Earth Slave was also bewildered. With Yang Shu's repeated questioning, its mind went numb, and it didn't know what to do. The Earth Slave didn't

know how old it was, nor how long it had been here. In this languageless world, it spent

its days in a daze. It had no idea how many years it had spent in emptiness. It couldn't

communicate with the wild beasts, and it seemed to have an unspoken understanding with them not to harm each other. In this extremely empty time,

it didn't even understand what the human world was.
What was eating? It didn't know. What was sleeping? In its mind, it was just closing its eyes, and it didn't even know if that

was sleeping. Because there is no concept of time here, and it has no sense of hunger or thirst. It can

roar and run through the mountains and forests when it is restless, passing through many days and nights, yet it

feels no fatigue, and it doesn't even know how big this world is.
"Then... what do you usually do?" Yang Shu's mind was completely blank. The only thing he was sure of was that the tall, mountain-like creature

in front of him was definitely not human.
"I don't know what I do..." The Earth Slave looked miserable, pointing to its head, and said weakly,

"Since I opened my eyes, the only thing I know is that I am not human. I am one of the Five Elements,

and after being granted the True Spirit of Earth, I was sealed in Mount Tai, waiting for some destined person."
"The Five Elements... what are they?" Yang Shu's mind was full of questions. In his youth, although Zhang Baocheng was a

national teacher respected by the world, the secrets of the struggle between heaven and earth had not yet been spread. Who knew that

the spirits of the Five Elements had been gradually gestating long ago?
"I don't know either..." When the Earth Slave said this, it looked even more frustrated than Yang Shu.
"Idiot, moron, totally an alien creature!" After calming down, Yang Shu talked

to , and his heart sank completely. This guy didn't belong to this world at all. Not only did he not understand any social customs,

he didn't even know what grains were, what kind of animal was a pig, or what kind of animal was a chicken. He didn't know

writing, and he didn't even know the geography. He didn't even

know that the tall things next to him were trees, or that the green things on the ground were grass. This guy's mind was a complete blank. Apart from boredom, he had no knowledge

whatsoever .
"Besides mountains and forests, is there anything else here?" Yang Shu suddenly felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave

, cold from head to toe. According to it, this world was boundless. Was he really going to be

trapped here to die?
"No, there's nothing fun here." Without even thinking, the Earth Slave suddenly punched a

large tree . With a "boom," it startled Yang Shu. But at that moment, something strange happened.

The tree trunk, which was thicker than his waist, broke off, and after the trunk and branches fell to the ground, they were mysteriously

swallowed up by . Then, the broken tree roots slowly began to be covered with a reddish-yellow light, and in an instant, they regenerated into

a huge and lush tree trunk.
"Look, I tried smashing a lot of things, but they immediately grew back," the Earth Slave said, looking

frustrated "I also tried killing a few wild beasts, but they did the same thing, immediately coming back to life! I killed

them many times, and they seemed to feel nothing at all. No matter how many times they died, they would immediately come back to life."
"Ah..." Yang Shu's mind completely exploded. This was not the real world at all. How could a tree

grow back immediately after being broken, or even a creature revive immediately after dying? It was unheard of, and seeing it with his own eyes now made him even more disoriented

.
Yang Shu fainted. He didn't know how much time had passed, but when he vaguely regained consciousness, he was no longer at the foot of

Mount Tai , but in a place that looked like the bottom of a cliff valley. Everywhere there were huge, bluish-yellow boulders,

and not a single patch of green could be seen. There were no trees, no birdsong or insect chirps, only a deathly silence.

Thick fog , like being in a fairyland, making it impossible to see anything in the distance.
"You're awake!" The Earth Slave squatted to the side, and seeing Yang Shu awake, immediately said, "By the way, this place is quite strange.
I forgot about it when you asked earlier. Now, see if there's any passage."
"Where is this?" Yang Shu felt a headache coming on. After a day of astonishment, he was completely exhausted.

Now, the surroundings were shrouded in mist, making it impossible to see anything. He was still in a daze.
"This is the highest point. I don't know its name either," the Earth Slave said, pulling Yang

Shu up without further ado and striding forward.
The thin boy was as light as a feather in front of the enormous Earth Slave. When the Earth Slave lifted him into the air, Yang Shu

felt dizzy, but a scene that suddenly flashed before his eyes startled him, causing him to break out in a cold sweat and

instantly clear his mind. Through the thin mist, he could see that he was on a cliff, and in the distance, he could

see a majestic mountain rising from the bottomless abyss below.
The distance was simply too great; it felt like looking down from a mountaintop, everything shrouded in mist, blurring

his vision. But a fleeting glimpse sent a jolt through Yang Shu's mind.
Jade Emperor Peak! What he saw from this vantage point was the Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of Mount Tai! That was

the place he most longed to stand there and admire the mountains and rivers! Impossible. Jade Emperor Peak was already the highest point on Mount Tai; there couldn't be anything higher

. Where was he now? Was he truly looking down upon the world from the heavens?

"We're here! This is it!" As Yang Shu was still reeling from the shock, the Earth Slave had already set him down.
Everything was a vast expanse of white, like fog, yet it didn't feel like fog; he couldn't see anything at all. Yang Shu

stood frozen , completely bewildered, utterly disoriented. Where was he? Why was there

such a majestic and awe-inspiring peak on Mount Tai? This was impossible! The slave looked at the dumbfounded Yang Shu, and

, in a fit of impatience, said impatiently, "What are you waiting for? Quickly take a look at what this thing is!"
"What is it? I...I can't see it!" Yang Shu replied woodenly, surrounded by a dense fog, at most only...

He could see things within a few meters, but apart from the somewhat dazed Earth Slave, he couldn't see anything ahead.
"Oh, right, there are a lot of clouds today!" The Earth Slave looked around, then suddenly took a deep breath.

Before Yang Shu could react, the Earth Slave's veins bulged, and he opened his mouth and roared,
"Ah!" "Ah..." Yang Shu immediately squatted down, covering his ears, his face drained of color from the pain. What was that sound

? It was terrifying! In an instant, not only were his ears ringing, but his head felt like it was going to split open! Pain—at this

moment he felt almost nothing but pain.
The long roar echoed between heaven and earth, as if to frighten all living beings, so loud it was astonishing.

Even the shouts that pierced the sky on the battlefield didn't feel this terrifying. Yang Shu's head ached so much he wished he could

die ! His ears started bleeding little by little, until the pain became so intense that it felt like his soul was being shattered. He could

no longer endure this hellish torment. Blood spurted from his mouth, his vision went black, and he collapsed to the ground.
This series of torments nearly drove Yang Shu to the brink of collapse. Young minds are not naturally resilient, and even

the mature-beyond-his-years Yang Shu couldn't accept these successive strange encounters. Just as Yang Shu was in so much pain that he almost bit his tongue to

commit suicide, the deafening roar finally stopped, and a slightly puzzled voice came from beside him:

"What's wrong with you? What is this?"
As he spoke, the Earth Slave reached out and wiped Yang Shu's ear, looking at the bright, warm

blood with curiosity. The mottled blood on the huge finger, as large as Yang Shu's arm, puzzled it greatly. It

put the finger in its mouth and sucked on it, then immediately couldn't help but spit out: "What does this taste like? It's disgusting!"
"You, I'm going to kill you..." Yang Shu's mind wasn't exactly broken, but he was definitely on the

verge of madness. Seeing that the Earth Slave had never even seen fresh blood, he now wanted nothing more than to kill it, or rather,

if he could kill it, Yang Shu would never give it a chance to be saved.
"What's wrong? Right, how come there's such a strange thing?" The Earth Slave shook its blood-soaked fingers,

then looked at Yang Shu's bleeding ear, its face filled with curiosity and a strange excitement about the new thing.
"I..." Yang Shu couldn't even speak, lying on the ground panting, too weak to even stand up

. At this moment, he was completely exhausted. The mental torment and physical pain had brought the once incredibly strong

boy to the brink of collapse. Facing this monster that knew nothing, he didn't know how to express his

desire to kill it.
"What's wrong with you? What is this?" The Earth Slave seemed more curious about Yang Shu's cold sweat. Looking at the cold sweat on Yang Shu's

skin , and then at its own skin that was as dry as iron, its expression was quite shocked. It seemed

that in its eyes, Yang Shu was the one who was truly abnormal.
Yang Shu didn't even want to speak. He lay on the ground, closed his eyes, and another day and night passed. When he finally woke up,

he was so frightened that his brain almost convulsed—the Earth Slave was taking off its clothes with great interest. In the capital,

tales of courtesans and virgins turning into virgins were commonplace. Growing up in the Yang family, Yang Shu was well aware of

these things. Seeing the towering slave in front of him undressing, Yang Shu was terrified.

Clutching his clothes, he retreated, his eyes red as he cried out, "You... what are you doing!"
"Why are these things of yours so strange?" the slave asked, his eyes full of curiosity.
"What's so strange about them!" Yang Shu was pale with fright, cold sweat pouring down his back! Could this guy

be gay? No way! He knew nothing, how could he understand such nonsense?
"No, those soft things of yours can be taken off!" The slave didn't

know fabric were. As he spoke, he tugged at his seemingly tattered robe.

The fabric was connected to his flesh; as he pulled, even the skin was pulled up. It

wasn't clothing at all, but part of his body! The so-called clothes were simply something connected to his skin

.
"What...what's going on?" Yang Shu suppressed his immense fear and stepped forward to tug at the man's

clothes . It wasn't clothes at all; it was an extension of his body. He had initially thought the giant

was wearing tattered hemp clothing, but now, looking at it, the so-called clothes had the warmth and

elasticity . What...what was happening?
"I don't know either, it was just like this from the beginning." The Earth Slave suddenly closed

his eyes slightly as he spoke.
"Get out...change back!" Yang Shu suddenly felt a darkness engulf him. The Earth Slave, who had been wearing tattered clothes, had

his "clothes" vanish instantly, disappearing into his body and transforming into a tall, naked man

with muscles as large as blocks of iron. The problem was that his groin was like that of an animal; it

was impossible not to censor it.
"What happened?" Although the Earth Slave was filled with questions, he still managed to change the clothes back, or rather, they

grew back from his body. The phenomenon was incredibly bizarre.
Yang Shu didn't want to deal with him anymore. This monster, who couldn't even excrete properly, was from a completely different

world. Yang Shu's strongest thought now was to leave this place as quickly as possible. He

chose to ignore the strange occurrences, immediately roused himself, sat up, and surveyed his surroundings

.
He now understood why the Earth Slave had roared so loudly; the roar had almost completely dispelled the dense

clouds . It was clearly a simple-minded idiot, mistaking him for a monster of its own,

hence the earth-shattering roar. After the roar, the previously

misty mountain peak became clear, no longer as hazy and indistinct as before.
This was an incomparably majestic mountain, its imposing presence even surpassing that of Mount Tai.

Looking down the cliff, all that remained was mist, with Mount Tai faintly visible beneath. Good heavens! This was a

mountain peak above Mount Tai! Even the so-called Jade Emperor Peak lacked its imposing grandeur! Moreover, this

mountain was full of cliffs and precipices, without a single tree, just a mountain made of pure boulders and mud, devoid

of life and creatures, making one feel a sense of weakness even in their soul.
"Alright, look here!" Seeing Yang Shu's surprised expression, the Earth Slave, in his impatience, immediately...

Yang Shu pulled him up, pointing to an enormous stone tablet on the cliff.
This was the highest point of the mountain. Yang Cun had no interest in appreciating the other magnificent sights. Following the Earth Slave

's direction, he saw the colossal stone tablet standing at the summit. Its size

reminded of the Heavenly Pillar and the legendary Mount Buzhou. He didn't know the exact size of the tablet, but its terrifying height reached straight to the sky,

its top invisible, instantly inspiring awe and reverence.
The tablet was made of an unknown material; it wasn't the usual gray-blue, nor was it bluestone, nor did it resemble

translucent white jade. The entire tablet was a deep, heavy reddish-yellow, seemingly ancient and weathered, yet exuding

an aura of unparalleled stability and solemnity. Like water poured onto the entire earth in an instant, its immense size and

grandeur displayed a quiet, transcendent presence.
The towering tablet was shrouded in mist, giving it an air of mystery and unparalleled solemnity.

For some reason, as Yang Shu approached it, he almost felt compelled to kneel down. He forced himself

to stay awake . The bottom of the stone tablet was inscribed with various strange characters he couldn't understand, while the parts closer to the clouds were in perfectly clear

writing. Even from a great distance, for some reason, he could clearly see each

character despite the mist.
"Boundless earth, agriculture, gentle and honest nature, without knowledge, desire, or self."
The simple words were easy to understand, but they held no mystery. Yang Shu suddenly felt utterly weak,

collapsing to the ground. He looked helplessly at the strange patterns beneath the words, letting out a tearful sigh.

The stone tablet didn't record any way out. The words were easy to understand, but even the erudite Yang Shu of his youth couldn't

decipher the meaning of the patterns.
"You understood those things?" The earth slave stared blankly at the stone tablet, looking surprised and

bewildered.
"I understood..." Yang Shu spoke weakly, beginning to consider whether he should just

smash his head against the wall and die. This place is so strange, and there's this weird guy too. If we stay here any longer

, going insane or dying is practically the same thing.
"I...I think I understand what's below too..." The Earth Slave stared wide-eyed, mouth agape,

incredulously saying, "I...I don't know why, I don't know what it is, it's just...it's like

a voice suddenly spoke to me."
"What did it say to you?" Yang Shu, seeing its shocked expression, suddenly felt hopeful again. A miracle! The Earth Slave

actually knew what a voice was, which meant that something new had appeared in its otherwise empty brain.
"Kuizhu, Tongtian, Di Rushi, Anyin, Wuwei, Suixinsuoyu, Xunzhu, Shiyu Hualing, Zhenzhi,

Tandao..." The Earth Slave's brows furrowed, as if it were in great pain to finish reciting these words, but

who knows what it actually remembered? "How does one enter the world?" That was the only thing Yang Shu cared about; he had no memory
of the other long and confusing words . 　　"What do you mean by 'entering the world'?" The Earth Slave looked bewildered. Although Yang Shu had read the strange ancient texts, he had clearly overestimated the Earth Slave's intelligence. Understanding those words was simply impossible for an Earth Spirit's brain. 　　Helpless, he could only ask it to read them again in their entirety. When the Earth Slave read, "With the will to die, one leaves the realm to obtain the Five Elements, and the Earth follows its own desires. Those who are destined to obtain them will obtain them, while those who are not destined to control them will not. The spirit of the Earth is ignorant and fearless, yet it sacrifices all lives. In a moment , one becomes a spirit or a vessel, all within a single thought. Those who are destined to obtain them will attain the Dao, gain strength, and gain enlightenment, all within the realm of creation. All phenomena arise from the mind, cause and effect, all within a single thought," Yang Shu seemed to understand something in an instant. 　　He looked at Mount Tai under the clouds, then at the Earth Slave beside him, who looked on with curiosity. He hesitated for a moment, then asked firmly, "Why are you called Earth Slave?" 　　"I don't know. When I found out, I called myself Earth Slave." This guy's intelligence was really not high. He spoke as if it were a matter of course, but he was clearly also extremely bewildered. 　　"Do you want to leave here?" Yang Shu asked cautiously through gritted teeth. 　　"Leave here? Where to? Why?" The Earth Slave asked a barrage of questions, its curiosity overwhelming . It had no idea that there was a real world outside; it had lived here since birth, its mind practically blank. 　　Yang Shu was speechless, completely at a loss for words. After 　　a series of coaxing, deception, and even seduction attempts, Yang Shu felt like call the Earth Slave naive and ignorant would be an understatement. It didn't understand anything he said. What were city walls, what were mansions? It had absolutely no concept of them. Even the brothels and courtesans that Yang Shu despised were Its狰狞 (zhengning - ferocious/hideous) face was filled with an undeniable innocence and purity. In this situation, Yang Shu almost burst into tears, feeling an urge to jump off a cliff and die. 　　Yang Shu glanced at Mount Tai below the clouds; jumping down would be certain death. But the ancient texts clearly indicated that if the Earth Slave jumped with him, they would be safe. Based on this fundamental belief, young Yang Shu, tears welling in his eyes and gritting his teeth, continued to tempt this ignorant monster. He described the wonders and beauty of the real world, almost becoming a child trafficker, just to give this simple-minded creature a glimpse of the vibrant world. 　　"Eat? You mean those things you bite into?" After several days of coaxing, the Earth Slave's blank expression finally changed when the topic of countless delicacies came up. It seemed to be recalling those multigrain biscuits; the taste and feeling, not belonging to this world, caused its expression to change for the first time. 　　"Yes, it tastes much better than those!" Just as Yang Shu was about to continue enticeing it, a sudden thought struck him, and he asked suspiciously, "You can taste the flavor?" 　　"I don't know, oh... it's probably bitter, astringent, and a bit hard!" The Earth Slave was bewildered, and then a wave of pain washed over it, because these words it shouldn't know had come out of its mouth, and for some reason, it understood their meanings . This strange feeling left the Earth Slave completely bewildered. 　　This continued for half a month. The usually arrogant Yang Shu, except when the topic of food came up, would occasionally...

Aside from the initial flash of light, he practically blurted out all sorts of anecdotes and scandals from officialdom, yet this strange

fellow showed no reaction whatsoever. Yang Shu was nearly

driven mad. For a descendant of the prestigious Yang family to have fallen to such a state, if he had a sword, he would have chosen suicide rather than wasting time here. Seeing the Earth Slave's bewildered expression, Yang Shu

angrily stood up and walked to the edge of the cliff, hysterically roaring, "Enough! I don't care whether you go or not!

I don't have time to argue with you. If I'm going to die, I'm going to die. I don't want to say any more of these insulting things to you."
"Death? What is death?" The Earth Slave's bewildered question truly made one understand what it meant to wish

for death .
The strange string of characters was awkward, but its length conveyed only two meanings. First, to leave

this place , they had to take the Earth Slave with them; the only way to do that was for the Earth Slave to jump off the cliff with them. Despite

his hesitation looking down at the Jade Emperor Peak shrouded in mist, Yang Shu remained resolute. The height was so great that even a god would perish from a fall.

Yet today's extraordinary encounter was utterly baffling, so strange that Yang Shu, for some reason,

felt an overwhelming confidence in his leap.
"Forget it, I can't be bothered with you!" Yang Shu's head spun. He sat cross-legged, leaning against the stone tablet,

and closed his eyes to rest.
"Tell me again, what are all those things? What is death? What is…?" The Earth Slave

kept asking questions, its face filled with innocent curiosity. It was clear that even though its mind struggled to comprehend the

unfamiliar vocabulary, the monotonous life here was starting to stir within it.
"Think for yourself!" Yang Shu didn't bother with further words. Leaning against the stone tablet, he suddenly felt

an inexplicable lightness throughout his body. Taking a deep breath, his previously weary body felt exceptionally comfortable. Even the three inner cores

he was nurtured became peaceful. Previously feeling somewhat unstable, they now seemed

to be quietly enjoying the atmosphere, feeling particularly content and comfortable.
The towering mountain, perched atop Mount Tai amidst the clouds, soon rose again,

shrouding and making everything appear ethereal and dreamlike once more. Yang Shu didn't know how much time had passed

before he awoke from his meditation. His physical sensations were still somewhat unclear, but his mind held a clear understanding—this wasn't

the ethereal feeling of falling asleep, but a meditation on the earth, a fusion, a profound understanding, a

feeling unlike anything he'd ever experienced. It was as if he were standing there, looking down upon all living beings, high above them all. This feeling was beautiful yet not

frivolous , utterly ethereal.
"Hey, are you alright?" The Earth Slave—squatting beside Yang Shu—seemed unable to

process . Its brow furrowed slightly, as if eager to hear the new and wondrous things Yang Shu had described.
"I'm fine!" Yang Shu's tone returned to calm, his face expressionless, seemingly already accustomed to this series of

extraordinary encounters . Watching the three dantians surrounding him transform from chaotic to a reddish-yellow, shimmering with a warm light,

he felt no surprise, though he didn't know why.
"By the way, you..." The Earth Slave hadn't finished speaking when it felt something was off. This

little , but now it seemed indifferent, or even contemptuous, when spoken to

. This was the first time the Earth Slave had felt such annoyance. "I'm leaving. Are you staying here?" Yang Shu's gaze remained fixed on the now- cloud-shrouded stone tablet
as he spoke . In that brief moment, it felt as if a thousand insights had flooded his mind. Strangely, in just the time it took to close its eyes, it seemed to have already understood this peculiar world. 　　"What? Where are you going? Hey!" The Earth Slave was still completely bewildered, but Yang Shu no longer intended to pay it any attention. He finished studying the patterns on the stone tablet with profound meaning, then strode steadily and resolutely towards the edge of the cliff. 　　"Everything here is ultimately an illusion!" Yang Shu looked at the rocks and sand on the cliff, then at the Earth Slave behind him. "Only you are real here. Whether you leave or not is up to you! Where you go after you leave is also up to you. Yang Shu is a descendant of the Yang family and doesn't want to linger here any longer!" 　　"You know how to get there?" The Earth Slave paused, its simple-minded brain seemingly suddenly gaining the ability to think. It suddenly asked excitedly, "Can you take me with you?" 　　"Yes." Yang Shu looked calmly at the giant creature before him. To be precise, only it could take him away from here. This world was a world that didn't exist at all. It was the only thing here with consciousness, or rather, it was the only pillar of this world. Where this realization came from was unknown, but when Yang Shu awoke , he was completely certain that this feeling was correct. 　　At the edge of the massive cliff, the clouds below grew thicker and thicker, almost obscuring the majestic summit of Mount Tai. Young Yang Shu sat on the Earth Slave's shoulders, his weight seemingly nonexistent to the Earth Slave. 　　Choosing to jump off the cliff, the view below was terrifying. The immense height of the precipice instilled fear in even the resilient Yang Shu. 　　The Earth Slave, however, had no other thoughts. It knew nothing of death, pain, blood, or fear; it was curious about everything. Ignorance is tantamount to folly. Before Yang Shu could react , the Earth Slave, upon hearing to jump, took a few steps forward without hesitation, pushed off the cliff with its legs, and leaped without a second thought ! It was as if the height above the clouds was merely a stone's throw away, without any hesitation or delay. 　　"Ah…" Its massive body plummeted downwards, its form gradually thinning into a dot in mid- air a slightly childish yet terrified scream. 　　Like a dream, after jumping from the precipice, Yang Shu's vision went black. When he awoke , he found himself beneath the large locust tree. It felt as if he had a long and vivid dream, the tangible reality and the palpable terror within him unmistakable. The moment Yang Shu opened his eyes, he felt as if he were drenched in cold sweat. His heart skipped a beat, and an indescribable pain shot through his head. 　　The feeling of the wind howling past his ears, the sensation of his body falling from such a height, remained vividly clear. 　　Opening his eyes, he saw that the scenery was still at the foot of Mount Tai. The dilapidated teahouse built of firewood was surrounded by passersby and hurried tourists, and the cobblestone path was still covered with countless footprints. Over the years, countless people had walked this smooth, flat path, leaving behind the marks of time, as if telling a story of this place.

Everything was real then.
"It was just a dream!" Yang Shu looked up at the sun and clouds in the sky and breathed a sigh of relief.
"What is a dream?" Suddenly, a curious question rang in his mind. Yang Shu immediately trembled

. The voice was rough and ignorant. If it was just a dream, then the memory it brought him

was far too real, far too unforgettable.
"You, you are the Earth Slave..." Yang Shu stood up abruptly, looking left and right, but he couldn't see that

mountain-like body.
"Yes, I told you everything. I don't even know why I have this name." The Earth Slave's voice

remained simple, full of ignorant indifference.
"Where are you?" Yang Shu was filled with panic. Yes, people of flesh and blood walked past him, their

faltering steps, the weariness on their faces—he was indeed alive, but that dream... was it not a dream?!

Where was the Earth Slave? Why did that ignorant monster's voice appear in his mind?

Passersby chuckled, watching the richly dressed young man

muttering to himself . It was no wonder; many scholars who failed the imperial examinations came here to relax and study, some even

choosing to end their lives on Mount Tai. Such scholars were not uncommon on Mount Tai. However, the young man before them looked quite

young; hopefully, he hadn't gone mad because of failing the internal examination.
"I don't know..." the Earth Slave said, its words sounding somewhat defiant. Its tall body remained seated on

the misty cliff edge, lonely and resentful, gazing at the thick fog below.
Why was this happening? How could such a scene appear in his mind? Yang Shu was stunned, speechless.

The only thing he was certain of was that the scene he saw didn't originate from his pupils, but

rather from his own heart, his own mind, his own soul. His gaze remained on the small bluestone path, but he could clearly

see the world belonging to the Earth Slave. It sat there, resentful, aggrieved, and utterly helpless. How could

this be?
"Why didn't you come out?" Yang Shu asked calmly. Initially, he didn't like this giant monster because

he was in a precarious situation back then. But now that he had escaped, his mindset had changed. He

and the Earth Slave had jumped off the cliff together, but why did he feel like he was in a dream, while it remained trapped

in that strange world?
"I don't know what's going on," the Earth Slave said, somewhat frustrated. "But I know for sure that this world is still this

world, but it's no longer on Mount Tai. It seems to be inside you!"
"Inside me?" Yang Shu asked in surprise. He closed his eyes, trying to sense what was happening. But

when he opened them, he was once again standing on that cloud-shrouded, heaven-like peak. Sitting cross-legged before him

was the enormous, mountain-like Earth Slave, and in front of him was that awe-inspiring cliff again.
"I told you, that stuff was all a lie!" The Earth Slave pouted angrily. Seeing Yang Shu's

nonchalant attitude at his sudden appearance, he couldn't help but complain, "I couldn't leave at all. After I jumped, you

disappeared , and I'm still here all alone. And I jumped so many times, always landing here."
"What happened?" Yang Shu ignored his incessant complaints, sat down in front of the Earth Slave, and

pondered the mystery with great confusion.
They remained silent, quietly pondering for an unknown amount of time, but Yang Shu still found nothing. With a helpless

sigh , he felt that he was wasting too much time and his body might be in danger. He decided to walk

to the edge of the cliff and get out first. Having experienced it once before, looking at the towering, magnificent mountain peaks, he felt

no fear. Without even uttering a sound, he simply started to fall.
When he woke up again, he was indeed still in the same state as when he was asleep. Yang Shu was immediately confused. He could still communicate with the Earth Slave in his mind

and could still clearly see everything it did in that world. Faced with this strange

phenomenon , Yang Shu was completely baffled. Helpless, he could only

try to find a solution while meditating with his companion, all the while rushing back to the capital. They had been away for too long. As the only son of the Yang family, the young Yang Shu

was acutely aware of his importance and couldn't linger.
They hadn't actually climbed Mount Tai yet, but Yang Shu had long lost the leisurely pace of his

earlier pursuit of martial prowess. The leap from a first-stage to a third-stage martial artist had brought little excitement. On the way back to the capital,

his mind was tormented daily by the idiotic questions posed by the Earth Slave. Yang Shu felt like he was going insane! In each

conversation with the Earth Slave, he endured the stares of others who looked at him like he was crazy. This self-talking state, once

back in the capital, would likely make the news of the eldest son of the Yang family going mad commonplace.
Finally, they made it back to the capital. The days of travel hadn't left them particularly tired, but the mental torment inflicted by the Earth Slave

had nearly driven them to their wits' end. Yang Shu hurriedly returned to the capital to reunite with his family, then immediately secluded himself in

a quiet villa on the outskirts of the city under a pretext. His reasons were twofold: first, to adapt to the immense power of the Three Dan True Qi; and second, to attempt

to communicate with the Earth Slave. He feared that constantly bombarding the Earth Slave with its various questions would drive him mad.
Aside from the occasional unavoidable public appearances, Yang Shu spent his youth almost entirely in a

completely different world. Each time he returned to the capital, people marveled at the young Prince's growing maturity.

The praise extended beyond his literary talent; even the Yang family in the capital could sense the young master's increasingly formidable cultivation.

Gradually, Yang Shu was no longer the capable minister people had hoped for; in the eyes of many, the composed

young man resembled a man destined to rule the future of his family.
At twenty-two, a typical nobleman's son would already have many wives and concubines, and a house full of children and grandchildren. The Yang

family was frantic with worry, for their increasingly unfathomable young master showed no intention of marriage. He had rejected

marriage proposals from numerous prominent families in the capital, and made no attempt to continue the family line,

spending most of his time cultivating. The old Prince of Zhen was now on the verge of despair. He would rather his son be a dissolute

playboy, abducting women and indulging in debauchery, than a capable minister or a powerful warlord. For

the Yang family , the most important thing now was to have an heir, not some ephemeral dignity.
"I'm back." After a year of seclusion, when a weary Yang Shu returned to the Prince's mansion,

the experts there were astonished. Yang Shu was now a mature man, and from his…

He could no longer sense any life force from his body.
"His name is Di Nu, and he will be living in the Yang family from now on." As Yang Shu entered, he left behind only these empty

words before going directly to the main hall and kneeling before his father, silently awaiting the marriage arranged for him by the family.
In the front hall, the experts of the mansion, all the guards, and even the veterans who had fought in the north and south for many years

stared wide-eyed at the scene before them in disbelief. Accompanying Yang Shu back was a

burly man who looked like a ghost or god. His head was taller than the gate of the Yang family, and when he sat cross-legged in front of the gate, he was like a boulder. His body

was covered with muscles like steel, and his arms alone were thicker than an adult's waist. Such a strong man

was something that no one had ever seen or even heard of.
"This must be a horse, right?" Di Nu looked at the manger beside him with some confusion. The Western Region horse was

as tall as him when he was sitting. This thing could carry people for such a long distance. Di Nu, who was as big as a mountain,

certainly couldn't believe it.
"From now on, you'll live in my backyard and be a member of the Yang family." Yang Shu stepped out, silently

facing everyone's astonishment. In the blink of an eye, the Earth Slave followed, its hopping steps like a child

seeing a relative, leaving everyone even more confused. Where did this monster come from?

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[Hetu] [Heavenly Demon] [Episode 3] Chapter 4

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