The next morning, as the sun rose, its rays passed through the protective formations of the Blade Emperor City, becoming gentler as they bathed the countless structures of the city in golden light.
“Xun Yi.”
Just as Xinghuo Xun Yi was about to leave his residence, he spotted the imposing figure of his father sitting silently in the courtyard. “Father,” he greeted.
Xinghuo Divine Emperor spoke, “Yesterday, I met with Elder Dongbo. His mastery of the Void Path is unparalleled among practitioners of the Rule-Oriented Mysteries system. He has elevated both the *Dark Realm* and the Vermilion Nightmare inheritance to the sixth level of the Star Tower—a feat never before achieved, as the Vermilion Nightmare was originally capped at the fifth level. He has even refined it himself, bringing him half a step into the seventh level. And he has accomplished all this in just a few billion years. Since the era of the Primordial Ancient Sacred World, he is undoubtedly the most extraordinary genius in the field of illusions.”
“Seek him out. He may have a way to help you,” Xinghuo Divine Emperor advised.
“Help me?” Xinghuo Xun Yi frowned. “I’ve already consulted all the Chaos Realm experts skilled in illusions. None could offer a solution. What makes Dongbo Xueying any different?”
“The Chaos Realm experts you met were all Ancient Cultivators,” Xinghuo Divine Emperor said coldly. “The Ancient Cultivation system and the Rule-Oriented Mysteries system are fundamentally different. The former only requires the ability to unleash sufficient power, while the latter delves into the underlying principles of reality. Practitioners of the Rule-Oriented Mysteries system grasp the essence of illusions at a far deeper level.”
Xinghuo Xun Yi paused, then nodded slightly.
He had to agree.
Different cultivation systems followed entirely different paths.
Take the Devouring system, for example. In its early stages, practitioners didn’t need to think—they simply had to “consume” endlessly to grow stronger.
The Rule-Oriented Mysteries system, however, required studying the mysteries of the world even at the Transcendent stage. One had to master complete laws to ascend to the True God stage, and a full “rule system” to become a Void God. The difficulty of reaching the Void God level in this system was incomparably higher than in the Devouring system.
Even the equally challenging Sorcerer system followed a different direction.
The Rule-Oriented Mysteries system sought the fundamental truths—the core principles governing reality.
Sorcerers, on the other hand, believed that the essence of the world could be found in “all things.” The patterns of the universe manifested in the myriad phenomena, and they considered the Rule-Oriented Mysteries system too abstract. By studying the tangible, they strengthened their bodies, refined their souls, and mastered formations and artifact forging, reaching extraordinary heights in all fields.
“Very well, I’ll go,” Xinghuo Xun Yi agreed.
Though he could not forget, he knew deep down that it had all been an illusion. He *should* move forward, cultivate, and grow stronger.
But…
Now, the very thought of cultivation filled him with instinctive revulsion. Every attempt reminded him of his training in the illusionary world—and of his wife, who had perished with its collapse. The pain was so deep that he despised anything related to illusions. It was an involuntary reaction, beyond his control.
“Do not delay,” Xinghuo Divine Emperor urged. “Even if he cannot help you now, as the foremost expert in the Void Path, his future breakthroughs may yet provide a solution.”
“Mm.” Xinghuo Xun Yi turned and walked away.
—
When Xinghuo Xun Yi arrived to seek an audience, Dongbo Xueying was already out enjoying the delicacies of Blade Emperor City. The city boasted countless restaurants, and those Ancient Cultivators with culinary talents crafted dishes so exquisite that even supreme experts like Dongbo Xueying were left in awe. Naturally, he made it a habit to sample them all.
“Ah.” Dongbo Xueying spotted the golden-robed youth waiting silently at his gate.
As a Grand Assembly Mentor, it was common for young geniuses to seek guidance. Most mentors didn’t refuse, as these interactions allowed them to observe the talents more closely.
But Xinghuo Xun Yi?
“Greetings, Elder,” the youth said respectfully.
“Xinghuo Xun Yi? Come in,” Dongbo Xueying said with a smile.
“Yes.” The youth was impeccably polite, showing no outward signs of distress.
Once inside the cave abode, Dongbo Xueying took a seat in the courtyard while Xinghuo Xun Yi stood quietly beside him.
“Your father has already spoken to me about your situation,” Dongbo Xueying said directly.
“Does the Elder have a solution?” Xinghuo Xun Yi asked, his gaze steady.
“Let’s try first.”
Dongbo Xueying smiled.
Xinghuo Xun Yi felt that smile expanding before his eyes—and then, he was lost.
In the *Worldstone* illusion, he had been the master, remaining lucid. But now, under Dongbo Xueying’s illusion, he succumbed instantly.
“Let’s see if an illusion can change him,” Dongbo Xueying mused. “Other Chaos Realm experts skilled in illusions have tried, but they were all Ancient Cultivators. Their control over illusions is far less refined than mine.”
He himself dabbled in Ancient Cultivation.
The illusions within the Vermilion Nightmare inheritance, for example, were preordained—powerful in impact but lacking in finesse.
—
Dongbo Xueying sat sipping fruit wine while Xinghuo Xun Yi remained motionless, completely immersed in the illusion.
An hour passed in the real world.
But in the illusion, Dongbo Xueying subjected him to a thousand cycles—hundreds involving love, others testing loyalty to nation, race, sect, or family. Each cycle was designed to stir his deepest emotions.
Slowly, Xinghuo Xun Yi’s eyes regained focus.
“Any better?” Dongbo Xueying asked.
“The Elder’s methods are indeed profound,” Xinghuo Xun Yi said softly, shaking his head. “In the illusion, I forgot the past. Each cycle was like a new dream. A thousand dreams later, I awoke—and they faded. But my time with my wife was different. I was fully conscious then. Every moment is carved into my soul.”
Dongbo Xueying’s expression shifted slightly.
Of course.
Illusions where one forgot the past were like dreams—vivid in the moment, but their impact paled in comparison to experiences had in full awareness.
“I know my wife and I existed only in an illusion. Some might find that laughable. Others have tried sealing my memories, and I would have gladly let them. But it’s no use. Memories can be locked away, but the emotional scars remain. I still loathe cultivation. Even the Cosmic Gods say I must face this to truly grow.” Xinghuo Xun Yi’s voice was soft, his smile tender. “To outsiders, it may seem absurd, but to me, those years with her were the most beautiful.”
“I can’t forget.”
“Logically, I know I shouldn’t be affected. I promised her I wouldn’t let her memory hold me back. I *want* to move forward, to cultivate. But it’s no use. None of it.”
Dongbo Xueying studied the young man before him.
A prodigy, shackled by his own heart.
“Truth and illusion—where is the line?” Dongbo Xueying mused. “We dismiss the illusionary world as false, but what is real? The beings within have parents, nations, loves, hatreds. They cultivate, they live. To them, *they* are real, aren’t they?”
Xinghuo Xun Yi froze.
Yes.
Only at the end had he revealed the truth to his wife, manipulating the illusion as its master. Until then, every being in that world had lived, fought, and died, believing in their own reality.
“They are independent lives, with memories, emotions,” Dongbo Xueying continued. “In a way, they *are* real—just lives born within an illusion.”
“Real? *Real?*” Xinghuo Xun Yi’s eyes blazed, his face flushing. “My wife was a true life?”
Neither his father nor the other Chaos Realm experts had ever suggested this. To them, it had all been just an illusion.
“What defines a real life? An independent existence, with memories, emotions, bonds—is that not enough?” Dongbo Xueying asked. “Must they have souls? Some lifeforms, like metal beings, lack souls yet live. Your wife’s essence was the spark of consciousness within the illusion—her life’s core.”
That core enabled independent thought, emotion, even cultivation.
Ordinary illusions couldn’t achieve this, but the *Worldstone*’s illusionary world surpassed even Dongbo Xueying’s current abilities. Its internal laws were nearly cosmic, birthing countless lives—each as real as any other.
“Yes… a life core, independence, memories, emotions, cultivation—she *was* real.” Xinghuo Xun Yi’s voice trembled. “My wife was real. She truly existed.”
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