Chapter 1256: The Second Killing Move of the Illusory Realm Dao

“I love this kind of world too.” Dongbo Xueying stood atop the mountain peak, gazing at the vast world before him, a smile gracing his lips.

Once, deep in his heart, he had harbored the ambition to change the entire world—to ensure that demonic fiends could no longer rampage unchecked. Even he had thought this goal distant, and few had believed in him. Back then, the powerhouses of the Heartworld Continent had long grown accustomed to the existing order, accustomed to the notion that ‘Supreme Existences’ were untouchable, beyond any threat.

Yet, in the end, everything changed!

“But have you seen the crisis lurking behind it all?” the Xia Clan’s ruler asked.

“The crisis behind it?” Dongbo Xueying was taken aback.

“Population,” the Xia Clan’s ruler said. “Although cultivators reproduce at a slow rate and generally must live within cities for safety—given the limited space—two hundred billion years have passed. Now, more and more cities have been built, and the number of cultivators continues to rise. The burden on the Heartworld Continent grows ever heavier. Unlike other Source Worlds, which undergo great destruction, returning everything to its origin before rebirth, the Heartworld Continent was created by ‘Meta’—it exists eternally, never facing annihilation. But with an ever-increasing population, the Heartworld Continent cannot endure indefinitely.”

Dongbo Xueying nodded slightly. “True.”

“After two hundred billion years, the added burden remains within the Heartworld Continent’s capacity. But if this continues, one day, the continent itself may retaliate,” the Xia Clan’s ruler said. “Or perhaps ‘Meta’ will establish new rules. In any case, the population of the Heartworld Continent will inevitably be suppressed.”

“Haha, if Meta sets new rules, it won’t be outright slaughter,” Dongbo Xueying remarked. Just as the Heartworld Divine Palace offered opportunities, providing Supreme Existences with treasures and supreme secret techniques, it was clear that ‘Meta’ still left room for the weak to survive.

The Xia Clan’s ruler nodded faintly.

Neither of them spoke further, for what ‘Meta’ might do was beyond their speculation.

Perhaps with mercy—altering the rules to make reproduction far more difficult for cultivators, naturally slowing population growth.

Or perhaps with cruelty—survival of the fittest, and so on…

Anything was possible.

“Let’s go.”

With that, the two figures vanished into thin air.

—

At the Fan Clan’s Demon Mountain.

“Master, I’ve been studying our clan’s ancient texts and learned that we possess the ‘Heartflame Divine Tree,’ which greatly aids the cultivation of the soul path. I’m now just a step away from becoming a Cosmos God—may I cultivate beneath it?” A young man spoke to the black-robed elder beside him.

“The Heartflame Divine Tree?” The black-robed elder’s eyes widened. “Our Fan Clan has benefited greatly from the presence of His Majesty the Flying Snow Emperor, and our treasures and opportunities have multiplied. Very well, I shall send you to the ‘Illusory Demon Hall.’ As for the Heartflame Divine Tree, put it out of your mind.”

The young man pressed, “Why? The texts state that ever since our ancestor created the ‘Formless Profound Art’ beneath the Heartflame Divine Tree, it has rarely been used for cultivation. Clan disciples should be able to exchange for the right, yet I can’t find it listed in the exchange scrolls.”

“Of course you can’t!” the black-robed elder transmitted mentally. “Right now, His Majesty the Flying Snow Emperor is cultivating beneath that very tree!”

“The Flying Snow Emperor?” The young man’s eyes widened.

The Flying Snow Emperor.

His influence on the Heartworld Continent was immense—he was universally acknowledged as its strongest cultivator. He had forcefully claimed that title by slaying the previous strongest, the ‘Undying Netherlord,’ sending shockwaves through the ranks of Invincible Existences and ordinary Supreme Existences alike. Countless cultivators revered him.

Take the Xiawind Ancient Nation, for instance—its close ties with the Flying Snow Emperor had brought it immense benefits, elevating its prestige above even the Myriad Realms Ancient Nation.

“Now you understand? I’ll send you to the Illusory Demon Hall. Forget about the Heartflame Divine Tree for now. Once His Majesty departs, you may have your chance,” the black-robed elder advised.

“Master, you’re saying the Flying Snow Emperor is right here on our Fan Clan’s Demon Mountain? I—I live here, and I didn’t even know!” The young man trembled with excitement. “Master, may I pay my respects to him?”

He had grown up hearing tales of the Flying Snow Emperor since childhood.

“Pay your respects? His Majesty is in deep meditation. Do you think you can disturb him?” The black-robed elder snorted. “Our ancestor has already issued orders—no one is to disturb him.”

“Oh.” The young man’s heart itched with longing.

“Master, can you at least tell me which direction the Heartflame Divine Tree is in?”

The black-robed elder chuckled and pointed. “Over there.”

The young man gazed into the distance, eyes alight with fervent hope.

In that direction…

Right there on the Fan Clan’s Demon Mountain, the strongest cultivator of the Heartworld Continent—the Flying Snow Emperor—was cultivating!

—

In truth, most Cosmos Gods were aware of the Flying Snow Emperor’s close ties with the Xiawind Ancient Nation.

For instance, the Flying Snow Emperor and the Xia Clan’s ruler often discussed the Dao together, sharing wine and occasionally sparring across the Heartworld Continent. Both were Supreme Existences in the Void Path, and both had obtained supreme secret legacies. Their exchanges greatly benefited one another.

Similarly, the Flying Snow Emperor’s relationship with the Fan Clan’s ancestor was no secret.

The Fan Clan’s ancestor had even deliberately spread the news, ensuring all Cosmos Gods knew that a clone of the Flying Snow Emperor resided long-term on the Fan Clan’s Demon Mountain. This left the world’s Cosmos Gods green with envy, for they all yearned to interact with him. Beyond his overwhelming strength, the Flying Snow Emperor wielded immense influence in the Broken Tooth Mountain Range, where treasures and opportunities abounded.

Had they not seen how the Xia Clan’s ruler, the Fan Clan’s ancestor, the Sword Demon Lord, and the Cang Emperor had all benefited?

Had they not seen how the Southcloud Nation’s ruler now strode unopposed?

Had they not seen how the Yingshan Matriarch had broken through to become a Cosmos God?

“Haah…”

Beneath the Heartflame Divine Tree, Dongbo Xueying sat cross-legged in white robes as deep purple leaves drifted down around him. He opened his eyes, a trace of regret flickering within them.

“Still not there yet,” he murmured. “The time I spent observing the Thousand-Eyed Water Pearl was too brief. If only I could have studied it in depth, perhaps I would have already created the third killing move of the Illusory Dream Path.”

Over these long years, he had explored every floating island in the Broken Tooth Mountain Range that housed the mysterious eyes, memorizing the structures of their illusory worlds. Based on the gray eye’s illusory world, he had once devised the first killing move—’The Radiance of the Illusory World!’ After thoroughly examining the golden eyes, eight hundred million years after slaying the Undying Netherlord, he had created the second killing move—’The Slaughter of the Illusory World!’

“Just as I predicted, these two killing moves cannot be used simultaneously on a single foe,” Dongbo Xueying shook his head.

‘The Radiance of the Illusory World’ lured enemies into a mesmerizing stupor.

‘The Slaughter of the Illusory World’ sought to annihilate their souls outright—or at least wound them.

The two were fundamentally different illusory worlds.

An enemy’s soul could only enter one illusory world at a time.

“Unless my illusory world can simultaneously encompass both ‘Radiance’ and ‘Slaughter’… but that’s far too difficult.” Dongbo Xueying longed to study the Thousand-Eyed Water Pearl again, for its internal structure was that of a vast, thousand-eyed world.

“Northriver Emperor!”

At the thought, a surge of frustration rose within him.

With the Thousand-Eyed Water Pearl, he might have already devised the third killing move—a perfect fusion of the first two, elevating his understanding to new heights. Perhaps he could even reach the ‘Supreme’ level in the Illusory Dream Path! Of course, achieving Supreme might not be so simple; there would still be obstacles. But at the very least, creating the third move would deepen his comprehension.

Yet all of this had been ruined.

“That Northriver Emperor entered the Serpent Fang Corridor and never returned,” Dongbo Xueying mused. “Is he hiding there, fearing my retribution? Once the Thousand-Eyed Water Pearl’s power is exhausted, he’ll have no choice but to emerge—or be trapped forever.”

Even if he did emerge, the Thousand-Eyed Water Pearl would likely dissipate, its energy drained.

“The Thousand-Eyed Water Pearl…” Over the years, Dongbo Xueying had visited countless floating islands but never found another. Historically, obtaining either the Thousand-Eyed Water Pearl or the Serpent Fang Marrow Pearl was exceedingly rare—typically reserved for the Five Supreme Monarchs. His previous stroke of luck at ‘Blackleaf Lake,’ where he had faced only soul pressure without other dangers, had been a one-time fluke.

“Have I truly lost my chance to obtain another? Well, even without it, I can still create the third move. Perhaps this way, my foundation in the Illusory Dream Path will grow even deeper.” With this thought, Dongbo Xueying steadied his mind and resumed his cultivation, focusing on merging the two killing moves of the Illusory Dream Path.