Mountain and Sea Demon Martial Arts, Starting with Vertical Pupils

Chapter 59 Mountain and Sea Realm

Chen Luo's pupils contracted sharply. Although he had some suspicions, he still couldn't help but tremble when he heard Luo Yi's confirmation with his own ears.

Many fragments he didn't understand in the past suddenly came together in an instant.

Da Lin may appear to be a dynasty that has stood for over a thousand years, but in reality, it is a fence that has been confined by the so-called Zhujian Demon Court.

It is precisely because they are kept in captivity and dependent on others that they are powerless to eradicate the 100,000 demons in the deep mountains within their territory, yet they have been able to maintain their dynasty for a thousand years amidst the surrounding demons.

The people of Dalin are nothing more than domesticated poultry raised by the demon court.

Like the annual monster tides in Qingshan County, he had never known their cause. Now, however, he never expected that it was the Demon Court's way of pruning and suppressing the growth of the Da Lin human race. Just like chicks in a henhouse, if there are too many and they grow too big, some must be caught and slaughtered to ensure that the chicks stay in the henhouse forever.

Chen Luo remained silent, but his mind was filled with even more thoughts.

Therefore, the various forms of subsidies provided to martial artists in Dalin that defied the norms of feudal dynasties, such as free schools, private schools, and martial arts selection offices, can be explained. They probably stemmed from a rebellion against these barriers and a desire to break free from them.

This resistance may have lasted for hundreds or thousands of years, or even longer, and may have involved countless bloodshed and bones, but according to Commander Luo's intentions... the territory of Da Lin has never changed in thousands of years, and the barriers have always remained.

"Why is this happening?" Chen Luo asked Luo Yi.

"Why were they kept in captivity?"

Luo Yi shook his head. "No one knows the reason. Perhaps a few people know, but they have never revealed it."

Chen Luo remained silent, his mind a jumble of chaotic thoughts.

Luo Yi said calmly, "I told you beforehand that this is ultimately just a conjecture. Whether it is true or not, we don't really know. Whether you believe it or not is up to you to decide."

Chen Luo remained silent, knowing in his heart that this conjecture was most likely the truth.

On the one hand, this conjecture can explain too many strange and illogical things.

on the other hand.

Before Luo Yi uttered the word "poultry," Chen Luo had already felt a sense of oppression, like being caged and kept in captivity, when the roar of the beast caused the neighbors to flee in terror.

It is important to understand that martial arts emphasizes a free and unrestrained mind. If a martial artist is imprisoned in a space, no matter how well the space is disguised, and even if the martial artist is unaware that he is imprisoned, there will always be an intuition that he can feel an inescapable sense of unease and constraint.

Chen Luo felt this way; the sense of oppression was extremely real, especially when the roar of the beasts rang out and the neighbors fled. This sense of oppression even made it hard for him to breathe at one point.

Looking back now, a single beastly roar wouldn't have caused him such repression; it was more likely that he had a deep-seated intuition, a feeling that he was being domesticated.

Now that the truth is clear, the unsettling intuition that had been bothering him has finally been resolved, and Chen Luo actually felt a sense of relief.

Luo Yi, standing to the side, didn't say anything more, but just quietly looked at Chen Luo with a scrutinizing gaze.

Chen Luo seemed to have no reaction, only frowning and remaining silent, without revealing any emotion. Luo Yi waited patiently, with only the torches crackling in the silence of the night.

"Commander Luo, I have another question."

After a long while, Chen Luo looked at Luo Yi again and slowly asked, "You only mentioned the Zhujian Demon Court. What's outside the Zhujian Demon Court like?"

"..."

Luo Yi paused for a moment, a barely perceptible glint of light flashing in his eyes. He stared at Chen Luo and said, "I don't know what lies outside the Zhujian Demon Court. Perhaps there are even larger demon tribes, or many demon courts similar to the Zhujian Demon Court, or even other human tribes... The only thing I know is that this world is called the Mountain and Sea Realm, and all demon tribes, including the Zhujian Demon Court, are within the Mountain and Sea Realm."

Mountain and Sea Realm One...

Chen Luo silently asked, "How big is the Mountain and Sea Realm?"

"It's very big, but no one knows exactly how big."

Luo Yi pointed his knife at the snow on the ground, "Just like this snow, you don't know how long this snow will stretch, nor do you know where the end of the Mountain and Sea Boundary is."

Chen Luo took a deep breath. "I understand. Thank you for your explanation, Commander Luo."

"It's alright," Luo Yi said. "Is there anything else you'd like to know?"

Chen Luo asked, "Why is Commander Luo telling me these things?"

This was something he didn't understand. Luo Yi had previously said that as a reward for his bravery, he could ask whatever he wanted, and then guided him to uncover the secrets of the Demon Court and the Demon Tribe. Was this really a reward?

Anyone with a weaker mentality would likely break down upon learning these unbelievable truths.

"Of course it counts. If you can enter the Inner Realm someday, these will become your foundation, and you will naturally understand them then," Luo Yi said. "Of course, if these things overwhelm you, then even if you enter the Inner Realm, you probably won't amount to much in this life."

Chen Luo didn't understand his meaning, guessing that they would only know when they reached the Hidden Realm. He had another question: "Um, I heard from Captain Lan that Pharmacist Xu was also there, but I don't think I saw him?"

Luo Yi was surprised that Chen Luo would ask about Pharmacist Xu, and said, "He had other important matters to attend to, and left after applying the medicine to the red monkey."

No wonder the red ape looked so still; it had been drugged. Chen Luo suddenly realized. Why did he always feel that Pharmacist Xu was elusive? He had always wanted to thank Pharmacist Xu in person, but since he got the medicine from Qingyun Martial Arts School, he had never had the chance to find him again.

"If you have no further questions, you may leave now." Luo Yi looked at Chen Luo. "The Mountain Guard will remember your contribution today. Also, do not spread what I have told you today, otherwise it may cause the people's hearts to waver."

"I understand." Chen Luo nodded. He finally understood why Instructor Li and Headmaster Huang had never discussed these matters in depth with their disciples. It wasn't that they were unwilling, but rather that they were unable to.

In addition, he felt that Commander Luo's tone of voice seemed much gentler when he spoke to him, whether it was his imagination or not.

After he took his leave, Luo Yi silently watched his departing figure. Not long after, Pharmacist Xu emerged from the darkness.

"According to the rules, these things should only be known to those in the Hidden Realm at the very least." Pharmacist Xu looked at Luo Yi with annoyance. "Old Luo, I asked you to help him, and this is how you help him?"

"How can I help him if I don't test his true worth?" Luo Yi said calmly.

"Test the color?"

Pharmacist Xu asked in confusion, "What grade did you test?"

"During my decades as commander, I have spoken to countless outstanding younger generations about these matters. Everyone reacted differently. Some were shocked and couldn't believe it, some were filled with anger, some were fearful, and some even became despondent because of it."

"Each reaction often represents an attitude, a martial arts mindset, and to some extent, a person's martial arts."

Luo Yi's expression was complicated: "Over the years, after learning about these things, there are only two juniors who have left a deep impression on me, one of whom is Chen Luo."

"Hmm?" Pharmacist Xu asked, puzzled.

"After he learned of these things, after the initial shock, I could sense a hint of anger in his silence, but he did not rush to express it, nor did he ask any further questions about the Zhujian Demon Court."

Luo Yi's eyes shone brightly. "His first question was actually to me: 'What lies beyond the Zhujian Demon Court?' This boy has extremely high standards. Even though he knows he is trapped in a cage, his heart still yearns for the outside of that cage. I have never seen anything like it before."

"That makes sense." Pharmacist Xu pondered for a moment, a strange look appearing in his eyes. "Ordinary people would definitely feel resentful about the humiliation of being kept in captivity, but he can look beyond the mountain and sea boundary. Such lofty aspirations are truly rare."

After saying that, he suddenly became curious, "If this kid is one of them, then who is the other one?"

"Song Ruokui, a daughter of the Song family," Luo Yi said.