Chapter 3

"South Mountain Classic!" Li Mang recited the name of the map on the first page.

This was a common ancient ink painting, yet it was vividly depicted. Although the colors were monotonous, it was full of vitality, and the mountains and rivers were clearly visible, even more so than modern maps.

There were also words on the map, marking the names of the mountains, streams, and rivers. The first was Yaoyao Mountain, followed by Tangting Mountain, Yuanyi Mountain, Niuyang Mountain, and so on, all very detailed.

"Just a map? I wonder what the second page is!" Li Mang could not understand the peculiarities of the map. Although the painting was intricate and the small characters were clear, this was clearly not the adventure he was looking for. In his imagination, it should have been a treasure map or cultivation techniques.

So, Li Mang eagerly turned to the second page.

However, something strange happened. The second page did not move at all, and the subsequent pages were the same, as if they were fused together, making it impossible to turn them.

But this copy of the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* was clearly about twenty pages thick, and from its appearance, it did not seem like a prank.

"Strange, why can't I turn the page!" Li Mang was puzzled and could only return his gaze to the first page, the map of the South Mountain Classic.

As Li Mang focused entirely on the map of the South Mountain Classic, a bizarre scene unfolded. He suddenly felt the map gradually enlarge, as if in 3D, giving him a sense of being right there. It seemed as if the map was expanding before his eyes, but more like it was trying to pull him in, as he could feel a mysterious suction force.

"..." Li Mang shivered, suddenly becoming alert. When he looked at the map of the South Mountain Classic again, his heart was far from calm, filled with both fear and excitement.

"Just now, I seemed to see the scenery inside this South Mountain map." Li Mang's eyebrows twitched, his heart almost leaping out of his chest.

In many ancient and modern strange books, there are descriptions of similar phenomena. In the famous *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio*, there is a story called "The Painted Wall," where the painting depicts a world of demons and ghosts, as well as other strange tales of fairy realms and spatial dimensions within paintings.

"Could it be..." Li Mang guessed a possibility, his breathing becoming rapid.

However, before verifying it, Li Mang needed to prepare. He searched his yard for a long time and finally found some self-defense weapons.

A kitchen knife and a watermelon knife.

The weapons of Yanhuang were naturally numerous, but as a clerk, he had no right or need to carry weapons. Finding these kitchen and watermelon knives was already quite good.

Holding the fifty-centimeter-long watermelon knife tightly in his right hand and the kitchen knife under his left arm, Li Mang felt much braver. He then turned to the first page of the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* and stared intently at the map of the South Mountain Classic.

The same scene occurred again. The map expanded infinitely before Li Mang's eyes, and he felt a suction force enveloping his entire body, making his nerves tense and his face flushed, not out of fear but excitement.

"Whoosh..."

Li Mang transformed into a streak of light and entered the map of the South Mountain Classic. Subsequently, the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* on the bed automatically closed and gradually faded, soon disappearing, either hiding its form or following Li Mang.

Li Mang felt a blur before his eyes. When he regained his composure, he found himself in a new world, surrounded by emerald green. The sky was blue with white clouds, but there was no sun or moon. The air was filled with a refreshing and invigorating energy, something the polluted Earth lacked.

Li Mang then realized he was in a forest, with towering osmanthus trees, their trunks very thick. Some trees were dozens of meters tall and several meters in diameter, and it would take seven or eight people holding hands to encircle them.

Li Mang's first thought was: "My goodness, these trees must be worth a fortune!"

His second thought was: "Is this the world of the *Classic of Mountains and Seas*? The South Mountain area? From the environment, it seems to be an ancient space."

As for his third thought...

He tightened his grip on the fifty-centimeter-long watermelon knife in his right hand and drew the kitchen knife from under his left arm, holding it tightly.

If he didn't do this, what would he do if he encountered a dinosaur?

Li Mang, with his nerves on edge, didn't need to think about it. If he really encountered a dinosaur, how much use would his kitchen knife and twenty-inch watermelon knife be?

He could only hope for peace of mind.

Fortunately, the thing Li Mang feared did not happen. Apart from the distant sounds of birds and monkeys, the area around him was currently safe.

"Where exactly am I? I wonder if I can take out the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* again. At least I can look at the map of the South Mountain Classic to determine my position." Li Mang thought.

"Whoosh!"

As soon as Li Mang finished speaking, the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* reappeared from his heart.

"Why does this make me feel so uneasy?" Li Mang's lips twitched, but he still caught the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* in his hand. It's no wonder he felt this way; anyone seeing a book emerge from their heart would feel uneasy.

Li Mang opened the first page but was disheartened to find that he could not determine his exact location. The map of the South Mountain Classic contained dozens of mountains and rivers, indicating that the scale had been greatly reduced. It was impossible for him to determine his position based on the current scenery.

"Should I explore slowly?" Li Mang was conflicted; blind searching was not a pleasant task.

"Hey! What kind of tree is this?" Li Mang suddenly noticed a plant he had never seen before and quickly ran over.

The tree was not tall, shaped like a paper mulberry tree, but with black patterns. Most incredibly, it emitted a glow, illuminating the surroundings, truly a marvel.

"Could this be a legendary natural treasure?" Li Mang's eyes sparkled, but he was also cautious, looking around and holding the watermelon knife tightly in his right hand.

"Isn't it said that natural treasures are guarded by spirit beasts? What a ridiculous rumor!" Li Mang complained, then cautiously approached the strange tree and reached out to touch it.

The moment he touched the leaves of the strange tree, Li Mang's body trembled, and a map of the South Mountain Classic appeared in his mind. More incredibly, he could now determine his position.

He was in the first mountain range of the South Mountains, called Que Mountain Range. The first mountain was Yaoyao Mountain, the first mountain on the map of the South Mountain Classic.

Li Mang felt both strange and frightened, taking a step back. But when his hand left the strange tree, the sense of direction in his mind completely disappeared, as if it had never existed.

Looking at the not-so-tall tree before him, Li Mang marveled, thinking, "This tree can actually help determine direction... Could this be the legendary *Migu*?"

*Migu*, a plant from ancient legends, is said to prevent one from getting lost when worn. Such a miraculous species actually exists, truly incredible.

However, having such a plant was indeed beneficial. At least in this unfamiliar space, he wouldn't get lost. Li Mang had always had a poor sense of direction, and in a new place, he would surely confuse the directions unless he carried a compass.

But a compass couldn't be implanted in his body, so it couldn't always be carried.

Li Mang focused his mind and tried to make the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* return to his body. The book complied, disappearing into his chest, which made Li Mang even more conflicted. Was this book making his heart its home?

Despite his confusion, Li Mang did not hesitate. He reached out and broke off a branch of the *Migu* tree and put it in his pocket, finding that its directional ability still worked as long as it was worn.

At this moment, Li Mang suddenly realized that the world of the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* was not an ordinary space but a world filled with mystery. If the things recorded in the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* were real...

Li Mang felt both incredulous and excited. The *Classic of Mountains and Seas* is known for its strangeness, otherwise it wouldn't be called the first strange book in the world, the ancestor of spirits and monsters. It records many bizarre events, magical beasts, and powerful immortals. If this world of the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* also contained them...

Li Mang felt his blood boil at the thought.

Of course, having lived in the Yanhuang mental institution for half a year, Li Mang had developed a habit of always being cautious. He did not let his excitement overwhelm his reason.

He had a vague premonition that this mysterious world of the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* was not only full of opportunities but also fraught with danger. Opportunities and dangers often coexist, and one must not be careless, or else it could be tragic.

With this in mind, Li Mang tightened his grip on the kitchen knife and watermelon knife and headed east, where there was a stream on the map of the South Mountain Classic.

Li Mang understood that places with water and streams might offer greater discoveries.

...

PS: Due to prolonged computer use, I have developed lumps in both eyelids that require surgery. This will affect my writing. For the remaining days of this month, I will update once a day. Starting in March, I will resume updating twice a day. Please follow and add the book to your shelf for now.