Chapter Sixty-Four: The Illusory Realm

Great Yuan Sect!

Spirit beast: Water-Taming Spirit Turtle!

As Luo Tian’s curiosity was piqued, he couldn’t help but secretly rejoice—this was truly like a pillow arriving just as one was feeling sleepy. He had been fretting over where to observe the turtle form, and now, a giant turtle had come right to his doorstep.

Having realized the advantages of directly observing magical beasts when cultivating the Form-Intent Nine Beast Fist, Luo Tian was now much less reliant on that manual; he would only use it as a reference and for occasional corrections, no longer practicing mechanically by rote.

Yet, judging by the current scene, the Shen Yang Sect and the Great Yuan Sect were not particularly harmonious or close—at least, the formation Shen Yang Sect had assembled hardly looked like a warm welcome. If anything, it seemed as if they were on high alert against a formidable enemy.

The Water-Taming Spirit Turtle was drawing ever closer to Liu Changtian. Not only was the entire turtle now visible, but even the people riding atop it could be clearly seen by Liu Changtian.

“Fellow Daoist Feng of the Great Yuan Sect, you’ve come a long way—why did you not send word in advance? Had you done so, our Shen Yang Sect would have welcomed you with open arms. May I ask what brings you here today?”

Though Liu Changtian’s words sounded cordial, a hint of anger simmered in his chest; in truth, he was questioning why the other party had arrived unannounced.

He did not use the secret voice transmission technique that cultivators above the Vein Flow Realm could employ, but instead spoke aloud as if using a loudspeaker, so that every outer disciple on Ziyang Mountain’s summit could hear the sect master’s words.

To ride a spirit beast straight from the sky and refuse to enter through the sect gate was a grave insult to the Shen Yang Sect. Though the Shen Yang Sect was weak, Liu Changtian was nonetheless a sect master, and a certain amount of temper was only natural.

As for the address “Fellow Daoist,” it was reserved for those who had at least reached the Core Formation Realm, with a core of at least the Spirit Core grade. All were seekers of the Dao; unless there was a life-and-death enmity or a profound bond, such formalities were customary. As for cultivators with Human Spirit Cores, or those in the Vein Flow or Qi Condensation Realms, they were not considered true seekers of the Dao. To call them “Fellow Daoist” would be an insult to the Dao itself.

Cultivators with Human Spirit Cores remained perpetually at the first tier of Core Formation, never able to advance, and thus held the lowest status among Core Formation cultivators. In the eyes of some powerful Core Formation experts, even a promising Vein Flow cultivator was superior to one with a Human Spirit Core.

“Haha! I, Feng Jinbo, am a straightforward man—can’t imitate your flowery ways of speaking!” The Great Yuan Sect master, addressed as “Fellow Daoist Feng,” responded with a hearty, booming laugh that echoed across the sky. “I heard your Ziyang Mountain is holding a martial competition today, so I thought I’d join the fun!”

Join the fun?

Liu Changtian frowned, momentarily unable to gauge Feng Jinbo’s intentions. He replied blandly, “If Fellow Daoist wishes to bring disciples to our Shen Yang Sect for study and exchange, you are most welcome. As for joining the fun, that won’t be necessary. The Ziyang Mountain Martial Gathering’s purpose is to select outstanding outer disciples—it is an internal matter of our sect.”

“You’re really suspicious, aren’t you?” Feng Jinbo’s tone was impatient with further bickering. “I’m already here—what, you won’t even invite me down to talk? Are we just going to keep flying in midair?”

Liu Changtian snorted coldly and said nothing.

Realizing the other had given tacit consent, Feng Jinbo wasted no more words, immediately guiding the Water-Taming Spirit Turtle down to the platform atop Ziyang Mountain.

As the dark shadow on the platform grew larger, Luo Tian gathered his focus, fixing his attention on the uninvited guests from the Great Yuan Sect.

This Water-Taming Spirit Turtle had limbs over a meter thick, its deep green skin rugged and furrowed, exuding an ancient, weathered aura. Its massive shell, both long and wide, measured over a dozen meters, providing an enormous surface area. Atop its shell, three or four meters above the ground, stood dozens of Great Yuan Sect disciples, all with smug expressions, looking down on the Shen Yang Sect crowd with contempt.

At this moment, a pale blue barrier still enveloped the turtle and the Great Yuan Sect members in their light green robes. The undulating, watery glow was mesmerizingly beautiful.

“Hmph! What are those idiots so arrogant about? This is the territory of our Shen Yang Sect!”

“Exactly! I think these guys need a lesson. If it comes to blows, don’t hold back!”

Though the disciples of Shen Yang Sect had their own internal frictions, in the face of outsiders, such words resonated with all.

“What, you enter my Shen Yang Sect and still fear some danger?” Liu Changtian’s voice carried a hint of dissatisfaction. “Aren’t you going to lift that Water Spirit Barrier?”

“Haha, Old Liu, you sure have a sharp tongue. I simply forgot!”

With a boisterous laugh, Feng Jinbo made a gesture, and the blue barrier burst with a crisp sound like a popped balloon. Instantly, every outer disciple of Shen Yang Sect heard the rush of water in their ears, as if they had left Ziyang Mountain and been transported to a place of roaring tides and surging waves.

In that moment, the scene before their eyes changed abruptly.

The mighty river surged, waves crashing, crystal spray soaring—it was the rage of stormy waters, thundering, roaring, and surging. Amidst these waves, countless fish were swept downstream, yet refused to yield to the overwhelming force of nature, their fins and tails thrashing in great and small arcs, struggling amid the torrent. Though powerless to resist, they still fought with all their might.

This is…

Luo Tian narrowed his eyes. Of course, he knew this was an illusion, but it was so lifelike that it would be easy to forget where one truly was. Even though Luo Tian understood the workings of the illusion and could break free with a mere thought, he chose to stay, intending to use this opportunity to study the fish form in depth.

The undulations of the body, the movements of the tail fin—Luo Tian didn’t know how long the illusion would last, but he had no worries about his own safety. He focused all his attention, choosing a fish at random to observe.

His Divine Sight could perceive the flow of vital energy and see through illusions, yet Luo Tian refused to withdraw, keeping his gaze fixed on the fish, finding that the energy flow was purer than ever—his observation more effective than usual.

In this illusory realm, Luo Tian had no sense of his physical body, as if only his spirit wandered within. In the distance, the rumble of waves grew louder, and as Luo Tian turned to look, he saw a giant turtle standing firm in the river, unmoved by the rushing waters—steadfast and unshakable.

That’s exactly right!

Luo Tian felt a surge of excitement. As expected, this illusion was the work of the Water-Taming Spirit Turtle. Such a water-attribute beast would be intimately familiar with rivers, fishes, and turtles, which explained the striking realism of the scene.

He had longed to study the fish and turtle forms, but now that the opportunity came, even Luo Tian was astonished. Who would have thought he’d gain such profound insight into both forms through direct immersion in an illusion?

If it comes, it comes in full measure!

Spirits lifted, Luo Tian immersed himself even deeper into the illusion.

“Ha! These Shen Yang Sect disciples aren’t much, are they?”

“Who says otherwise? Their reputation is well-deserved—unable to see through a mere illusion. It’s laughable!”

Hearing the Great Yuan Sect disciples whisper among themselves, Liu Changtian’s face darkened. No matter how quietly they spoke, how could anything escape the notice of a Core Formation master?

“Enough!”

With a single shout, Liu Changtian’s voice became as dozens of longswords, piercing straight into the minds of his disciples, thundering like a great bell. Such skill could wake disciples from an illusion without harm—a feat of remarkable control.

This display made Feng Jinbo’s heart tremble. Even if Shen Yang Sect was the weakest in Tianfeng Prefecture, Liu Changtian was still a formidable Spirit Core master, not to be underestimated.

Illusions are difficult to guard against, and the Water-Taming Spirit Turtle was equivalent to a human Core Formation cultivator; for the late-stage Qi Condensation disciples, it was no contest.

That the Shen Yang Sect’s outer disciples fell prey was inevitable.

With Liu Changtian’s intervention, the disciples who had been vacant-eyed and dazed now awoke as if doused with cold water. Some even looked pale with fright.

Even as cultivators, there were many forces against which they were powerless. For Qi Condensation disciples, a flood or tidal wave was still an irresistible force, naturally leaving them shaken.

“Hey, look over there—one fool is still stuck in the illusion and can’t break free!”

“Indeed, the Shen Yang Sect is full of trash. Even their Ziyang Mountain Martial Gathering selects such weaklings?”

“A total joke—an utterly useless brat. In our Great Yuan Sect, he’d have been kicked out long ago!”

As the voices of Great Yuan Sect disciples grew louder, not only Feng Jinbo and Liu Changtian, but also all ten-odd elders and the thirty-nine outer disciples of Shen Yang Sect, turned their eyes to the only one still lost in the illusion.

Liu Changtian’s face grew longer than a donkey’s.

This Luo Tian—he’s brought shame to Shen Yang Sect beyond measure!