Chapter 18: Illusion of Despair
Escaping Mount Ziyang was something Luo Xue had been planning all along.
In terms of importance, it even outweighed investigating Daoist Ziyang’s secret and the truth behind everything.
After all, only by surviving could there be a future.
So, during these past few months, Luo Xue had often left the courtyard to observe the surrounding terrain, especially the water they had arrived on.
Mount Ziyang was less a mountain and more an island.
It was surrounded by water in all directions, a boundless expanse with no end in sight.
However, on their way here, Luo Xue had secretly memorized the route and the location where the Cloud Wanderer had docked.
And during her free time, Luo Xue had used the available materials to build a small raft.
The small raft could at least carry two children away from Mount Ziyang. As for how far they could go, it was all up to fate.
…In any case, it was much better than staying in this deadly place.
There was also good news: during their time on the Cloud Wanderer, Luo Xue had never seen any waves on the water, so they didn’t have to worry about capsizing.
The distance between the courtyard and the water’s edge wasn’t far. It only took Luo Xue and Su Yiyao about ten minutes at full speed.
Soon, the shimmering reflection of the moonlight on the water illuminated their faces.
Luo Xue breathed a sigh of relief and looked back. Flames still seemed to be rising in the distance; the fierce cultivator duel hadn’t ended yet.
“Foundation Establishment cultivators…”
Luo Xue’s eyes narrowed. Foundation Establishment cultivators were powerful, but not invincible. It was just that they weren’t strong enough yet.
One day… they would return.
“Let’s go.”
Luo Xue took Su Yiyao’s hand and ran to a large rock, pulling a small raft out from underneath it.
Calling it a small raft was an overstatement; it was just a few logs tied together with ropes.
However, these logs were rather peculiar, incredibly light, even Luo Xue could barely push them.
With Luo Xue and Su Yiyao working together, they quickly pushed the raft to the water’s edge.
But just as Luo Xue was about to push the raft into the water, something strange happened.
“Ah, Ah Chou…”
Su Yiyao suddenly stopped, looking up at Luo Xue with a puzzled expression.
“What’s wrong, Xiao Yao?”
Luo Xue was slightly taken aback.
“Look, the raft seems to be… broken?”
Su Yiyao pointed to the front of the raft and whispered.
Luo Xue had been pushing the raft from behind, so she hadn’t noticed the situation at the front.
Looking at it now, a hint of shock appeared in Luo Xue’s eyes.
No, it wasn’t broken…
It was… disappearing.
About a tenth of the front of the raft had vanished, the cross-section almost reaching the point where the ropes were tied.
“What’s going on?”
Luo Xue stood up, intending to go and take a closer look.
But before she could take two steps, Su Yiyao’s panicked scream rang out,
“Ah! Ah Chou, you… you…”
“What’s wrong with me?”
Luo Xue turned around.
“You’re… also… broken…”
Su Yiyao covered her mouth, looking at Luo Xue with worry and panic.
Luo Xue turned her head, her pupils constricting.
She clearly saw that her left arm had also disappeared.
But the problem was, Luo Xue could still feel the presence of her left arm. She made a fist; there was nothing unusual.
Wait!
Just then, Luo Xue realized something. She took a few steps back and looked at her left arm again.
Sure enough, it reappeared.
Luo Xue’s expression turned serious as she looked up at the water.
Seeing this, Su Yiyao gasped slightly. Luo Xue’s sudden abnormality had frightened her.
“Perhaps I know what’s going on…”
Luo Xue took a deep breath and walked forward step by step.
As Su Yiyao watched in horror, Luo Xue’s body gradually dissipated.
“Ah Chou!”
Su Yiyao’s heart pounded, and she immediately rushed forward, trying to grab Luo Xue, who was about to disappear completely.
“No, don’t…”
“I’m fine.” Luo Xue’s calm voice rang out. She steadied the stumbling Su Yiyao and covered her eyes with her hand. “Don’t look, Xiao Yao. Go back.”
“Ah Chou…”
“I’m fine.”
Luo Xue gently pushed Su Yiyao back.
At the same time, she turned and walked back, her vanished form reappearing.
“What’s wrong?” Su Yiyao, still shaken, looked at the silent Luo Xue. “Ah Chou, just now… what happened?”
“…We can’t leave.”
Luo Xue whispered, her expression grave.
She turned her head slightly. In her vision, the boundless water surface was exceptionally calm, reflecting the starry night sky, creating a breathtaking view.
But a few steps away, it was completely different.
“The entire Mount Ziyang… is enveloped in an illusion…”
Luo Xue closed her eyes in despair.
This illusion made everyone believe that Mount Ziyang was located in a paradise-like wonderland.
In reality… Mount Ziyang was surrounded by a poisonous swamp filled with death and decay.
The beautiful starry sky was real, but beneath it, an endless miasma of foul air hung over the stinking swamp, bubbling constantly and emitting an even more pungent stench.
Terrifying swamp beasts roamed freely, and the remains of creatures corroded by the poison were everywhere.
To protect the ten-year-old Xiao Yao, Luo Xue couldn’t bear to let her see such a horrific scene, so she immediately retreated back into the protection of the illusion.
And, what was worse…
If this was the case, then this small raft wouldn’t be able to carry them on their escape.
They had failed before they even began.
Luo Xue opened her eyes and looked into the distance.
At some point, all movement had ceased.
The night… returned to silence.
…
“Truly worthy… of being True Person Phoenix Yin’s successor disciple. A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator… even bound by the Spirit Locking Formation, can still fight one against two and defeat us.”
Zhang San gasped heavily, insects constantly crawling out of his severed arm. These were the Gu insects Daoist Ziyang had planted earlier.
On the other side, Li Si lay on the ground, eyes bulging, his body surrounded by countless iron shavings. His Natal Magical Treasure had been destroyed.
Daoist Ziyang wasn’t much better off. The formation runes inscribed on his body were tattered.
Countless gruesome wounds almost tore his body apart, and his messy, long hair was matted with blood.
His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like a crazed demon.
The Xuanyin Gu Seed floated in mid-air beside him, slowly revolving.
“If not… for these useless trash… unable to even bear a sliver of my Master’s power, how could it have taken so much effort for me to deal with you two little insects?”
Daoist Ziyang stumbled towards Zhang San, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
“Die!”
Sword light flashed, and a head fell to the ground, the Natal Magical Treasure shattering.
“I… am a cut above you!”
Daoist Ziyang grinned ferociously, then slowly turned his gaze towards the distance, his expression even more sinister.
“Now, it’s time to deal with that little mouse…”
Leave a Reply