Chapter 3: Mount Zhāoyáo (Seeking Recommendations)

  "Nan Shan Jing!" Li Meng muttered out the name of the map on the first page.

  This is a common ancient ink painting, but it is depicted vividly, although the color is single, it is full of spirituality, mountains and rivers are clear at a glance, even modern maps can't have this spirituality.

  There are also words on the map, marking the names of mountains and rivers. First is Zhaoyao Mountain, followed by Tangting Mountain, Ao Wing Mountain, and Changyang Mountain, which are very clear.

  "Just a map? What's on the second page?" Li Mang really couldn't understand what was special about this map, although it was drawn finely and the small characters were clear, but this obviously wasn't the kind of adventure he had been hoping for. In his imagination, it should be at least some sort of treasure or cultivation method!

  Then, Li Mang eagerly turned to the second page.

  However, a strange thing happened. The second page didn't move at all, and the following pages were the same, as if they had merged into one, making it impossible to turn them over.

  But this "Shan Hai Jing" is clearly nearly twenty pages thick and doesn't look like a prank from its appearance.

  "What's strange? Why can't I turn the page?" Li Mang thought hard but couldn't figure it out, and could only put his gaze back on the first page, the map of Nanshan Jing.

  As Li Mang's attention was fully focused on the Nan Shan Jing map, a strange scene occurred. He suddenly felt that the map was gradually enlarging, as if it had a 3D effect, with an immersive trend. It seemed like the map was expanding in front of him, but more like the map wanted to pull him in, because there was an inexplicable suction force on his body...

  Li Meng suddenly came to his senses, and when he looked at the map of Nanshan again, he felt a mix of emotions: shock, fear, but more so excitement.

  "Just now, I seemed to have seen the scenery in this Nan Shan map." Li Mang's eyebrows jumped up and down, his heart almost leaping out.

  Among the many strange books of ancient and modern times, there are descriptions of this kind. In the famous "Liaozhai's Records of the Strange", there is a chapter called "Painting on the Wall", which describes a world of ghosts and demons in a painting, as well as other strange stories about paintings of immortal realms and spaces.

  "Could it be..." Li Meng guessed at a certain possibility, his breathing quickening involuntarily.

  However, before verification, Li Mang still had to make some preparations, so he rummaged through his own courtyard for a long time and finally found some defensive weapons.

  A vegetable knife, a watermelon knife.

  The Huang Emperor's weapons were naturally very many, but he was just a clerk and did not have the right or need to be equipped with weapons. It was already quite good that he could find this kitchen knife and watermelon knife.

  Holding a 50-centimeter-long watermelon knife tightly in his hand, the vegetable knife was tucked under his armpit. Li Mang's courage had increased greatly, and he once again opened the first page of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, his eyes fixed tightly on the map of the Southern Mountains.

  The same scene happened again, the map expanded infinitely in front of Li Mang's eyes, and then he felt a suction force enveloping his whole body, which made his nerves tense, his face turned red, but not because of fear, but due to excitement.

  "Hmm..."

  Li Mang transformed into a stream of light and drilled into the interior of the Nan Shan Jing map, while afterwards, the "Shan Hai Jing" on the bed automatically closed and gradually faded away, soon disappearing without a trace, it was unknown whether it had hidden its shape or also followed Li Mang.

  Li Meng only felt a flash before his eyes, and when he came to again, he found himself in a brand new world. Before him was a vast expanse of green, above him was a blue sky with white clouds, not a cloud in sight, but there was no sun or moon or stars to be seen. Moreover, the spiritual energy in this space was overwhelming, and taking a sniff, it smelled like the aura of the gods, something that the polluted earth of today did not have.

  Then Li Mang found himself in a forest, with towering Osmanthus trees before his eyes. The trunks were also very thick and sturdy. Tens of meters high, two or three meters in diameter, some even seven or eight people holding hands might not be able to encircle one.

  Li Meng's first thought was: "My goodness, these trees must be worth a lot of money!"

  The second thought is: "Is this the world of Shan Hai Jing? The southern mountain range? Judging from the environment, this place is likely to be an ancient space."

  As for the third idea...

  In his right hand was a 50cm long watermelon knife, tightly gripped. In his left hand, he pulled out the vegetable knife from his armpit, also grasping it tightly.

  What if we don't and we run into a dinosaur?

  Li Mang's nerves were taut, but he didn't even think about it. If he really encountered a dinosaur, how much effect could his vegetable knife and twenty-inch watermelon knife have?

  All I can do is seek peace of mind.

  Fortunately, what Li Mang worried about did not happen. Except for the distant birdsong and monkey calls, this area is at least safe for now.

  "This is specifically in what place, I don't know if the Shan Hai Jing can still be taken out, at least we can take a look at the map of Nan Shan Jing to identify the location." Li Mang thought so.

  "Tweet!"

  Li Meng's words had just fallen when Shan Hai Jing once again drilled into his heart.

  "Why does this make me feel so creepy." Li Mang's mouth twitched, but he still took the Shan Hai Jing in his hand. It's not surprising that he would think so, anyone who sees a book drilling out of their own heart would probably feel creeped out too.

  Li Mang opened the first page, but it was a disappointing discovery. He couldn't even tell where he was specifically located. In this Nan Shan Jing map, there were dozens of mountains and rivers, which showed that the map had been scaled down a lot. It was almost impossible for him to identify his location based on what he saw in front of him.

  "Must we grope around slowly?" Li Mang expressed his dilemma, this blind search was not a pleasant thing.

  "What's this tree?" Li Mang suddenly discovered a plant he had never seen before in the distance, and hurriedly ran over.

  The tree is not tall, its shape resembles a constructed tree, but it has black stripes. What's even more incredible is that the tree emits a radiant glow, illuminating all directions, truly magical.

  "Could it be the legendary heavenly treasure?" Li Mang's eyes sparkled with excitement, but at the same time he didn't dare to be careless, looking around cautiously, his right hand tightly gripping the watermelon knife.

  "Isn't it said that next to a heaven-sent treasure, there will be a spiritual beast guarding it? What a ridiculous rumor!" Li Mang ridiculed, and only then dared to approach the strange tree, carefully stretching out his hand to touch it.

  The moment he touched the strange tree leaf, Li Mang's body shook, but a map of Nanshan appeared in his mind. What was even more incredible was that this time he could actually tell where he was.

  He is in this mountain forest, which is located in the first row of mountains in Nanshan, called Que Mountain Range. This is the first peak, named Zhao Yao Mountain, which is the most forward mountain on the map of Nanshan.

  Li Mang felt a sense of eeriness and horror, and involuntarily took a step back. But when his hand left the strange tree, the sense of direction in his mind completely dissipated, as if it had never existed before.

  Looking at the small tree in front of him, which was not very tall, Li Mang secretly admired it and thought: "This tree can actually allow people to distinguish directions... Is this the legendary Mi Huan?"

  Ming Kui, a plant in ancient legend, when worn on the body will not lose direction, and can even prevent illusions. Such a magical species, unexpectedly really exists, it's unbelievable.

  However, it's not bad to have this thing, at least in this unfamiliar space, you won't get lost. Li Mang's sense of direction has never been strong since he was a child. If he goes to an unfamiliar place, he will definitely confuse east, south, west and north, unless he carries a compass with him.

  But a compass can't be embedded in his body, so it can't be carried with him at all times.

  Li Meng's mind stirred, and he concentrated on letting the Shan Hai Jing return to his body. The Shan Hai Jing seemed obedient, and with a "zip" sound, it burrowed into his chest. This again made Li Meng feel entangled - was this book treating his heart as its home?

  Entanglement returned to entanglement, but Li Meng's movements didn't stop for a moment. He reached out and broke off a section of the mysterious tree branch and stuffed it into his pocket. He discovered that its directional distinguishing effect still existed as long as he wore it on his body.

  At this moment, Li Mang suddenly realized that the world of Shan Hai Jing was not an ordinary space, but a world full of mysterious colors. If all the things recorded in Shan Hai Jing existed... Li Mang felt unbelievable, followed by excitement, yes, excitement.

  "The Shan Hai Jing" is renowned for its absurdity, otherwise it wouldn't be evaluated as the world's number one strange book, the origin of gods and monsters. Inside, many absurd things are recorded, such as magical and mysterious creatures, powerful immortals... if this "Shan Hai Jing" world in front of us also possesses them...

  Li Meng felt his blood boiling with excitement.

  Of course, after living in the Yellow Emperor's mental hospital for more than half a year, Li Mang also developed a habit of being vigilant at all times, and now he has not been broken through by fantasy.

  He vaguely had a premonition that in this mystical world of Shan Hai Jing, not only were there opportunities, but also dangers lurking alongside. Opportunities and dangers often coexisted, and one couldn't be the slightest bit careless, or else they would lose their life here, wouldn't that be a tragedy?

  Thinking of this, Li Mang tightened his grip on the vegetable knife and watermelon knife, took aim at the east direction and set off. In the Nan Shan Jing map, there is a stream to the east.

  Li Mang understood that where there is water and a small stream, there should be even greater discoveries.

  ……

  PS: Due to excessive computer use, I've developed severe eye problems and need surgery to remove the growths on my eyelids. This will affect my writing schedule. For the remaining days of this month, I'll be updating once a day. Starting in March, I'll resume the normal two updates per day frequency. Please bear with me for now and add the book to your shelf for later reading.