When Lu Yang reached the top of Hundred Refinements Peak, half of the Dao Seeking Sect elders were gathered there.
Present were the Second Elder, Fifth Elder, Eighth Elder, and the projection of the Sixth Elder.
The Fifth Elder glanced at the Second and Eighth Elders, calling them “two troublemakers” and asking, “You two came up with something new and want me to apply for a patent?”
In his mind, the Second Elder was someone who spent all his days tending the herb garden, practically already retired. If it hadn’t been for his sudden burst of energy recently, the Fifth Elder would have thought he had gone moldy.
As for the Eighth Elder, he had been hiding within the sect recently, likely avoiding trouble he caused outside.
“It wasn’t the two of them; it was Peach Blossom Leaf who came up with the idea, and the Second and Eighth Elders helped bring it to life,” explained the Sixth Elder.
The Fifth Elder nodded. That made much more sense.
“Disciple Peach, what have you invented?” The Fifth Elder spoke kindly. He encouraged disciples to think creatively and push the boundaries of conventional thought. In this area, he had high hopes for Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, though Li Haoran needed a bit more effort in that regard.
“It’s a combination of formations and talismans that can lead someone into an illusion... Oh, Senior Brother Lu, what brings you here?” Peach Blossom Leaf was just about to explain when she noticed Lu Yang approaching leisurely.
Seeing how lively the scene was, Lu Yang quickly guessed what they were doing and smiled, asking, “Junior Sister Peach, have you completed the illusionary realm?”
“With the help of the Second and Eighth Elders, the initial version is complete. I was just about to demonstrate it to the Fifth Elder. Would you like to try it too?”
Lu Yang readily agreed. He was also curious to see how Peach Blossom Leaf’s “movie” production had turned out.
Peach Blossom Leaf took out two talismans from her identity jade token, handing one to the Fifth Elder and the other to Lu Yang.
Then she unrolled a scroll inscribed with a formation that Lu Yang couldn’t quite understand.
“Is this the talisman designed by the Eighth Elder? And the formation drawn by the Second Elder?” The Fifth Elder recognized their handiwork. Both the talisman and the formation were designed with impressive simplicity.
“Fifth Elder, Senior Brother, please stand on the formation. Once you’re in place, tear the talisman in half. You’ll feel a slight pulling sensation—that’s the sign that you’re about to enter the illusionary realm,” Peach Blossom Leaf explained. This illusion was crafted for mortals and low-level cultivators, so she worried that if either of them resisted the pulling sensation, the talisman would be rendered useless.
Following the instructions, Lu Yang tore the talisman in half. He felt a gentle pull on his consciousness, and without resisting, his mind was soon drawn into another world.
Boom!
The moment he entered this new world, Lu Yang was greeted by the deafening roar of countless thunderclaps, as if the very heavens were filled with nothing but the sound of thunder.
Amid the flashing lightning and booming thunder, a lone figure stood majestically in the sky, unafraid of the relentless barrage of thunderbolts striking him.
He eventually found the demon cultivators’ hideout and killed several of their minions in an attempt to rescue Xiu Xiu. Unfortunately, it was too late—Xiu Xiu had already been sacrificed, and the magical treasure had increased in power.
The demon cultivator laughed arrogantly, boasting that with the power of the treasure, he no longer feared the Righteous Path and could now roam the world freely.
In his fury, Ah Lei’s emotions triggered the unsealing of the lightning that had bound him. His shattered swordsmanship reformed, and lightning gathered once again, threatening to strike him down. But the brilliance of his swordsmanship pierced the sky, scattering the heavenly lightning.
He regained his original strength and his memories.
Ah Lei, now restored to his identity as Sky Encompassing True Lord, erupted in rage. His swordsmanship enveloped the entire Hundred Thousand Mountains, and with each step he took, another layer of seal broke. Accompanied by endless spiritual energy, his presence surged like a heavenly demon descending to destroy the world.
“You... are dead!”
The demon cultivator collapsed in terror, finally recognizing Ah Lei’s true identity.
“Sky Encompassing True Lord... the strongest swordsman below the Tribulation Crossing Stage... We should have never provoked him!”
“No, no, no! With this magical treasure in hand, I am no longer the same as before!” The demon cultivator activated the treasure, and a fierce wind arose. The earth quaked, as if trying to bury the Sky Encompassing True Lord.
But a single strike of sword light descended like divine punishment, splitting the treasure and the demon cultivator in two, turning them to dust.
“Xiu Xiu, I have avenged you...” Sky Encompassing True Lord murmured, holding Xiu Xiu’s lifeless body as a single tear rolled down his face.
The illusion ended.
“So, what do you think? How’s the script this time?” Peach Blossom Leaf was brimming with excitement, eagerly awaiting Lu Yang’s feedback. She had taken his suggestions to heart and added much more detailed plot development.
The story had a male protagonist who, after losing his memory and powers, lived a peaceful life with a gentle village girl. When the girl was killed, the protagonist’s rage broke his seal, allowing him to exact revenge with a single, mighty strike. Just imagining the scenario was thrilling.
Lu Yang, however, looked conflicted, unsure how to respond. “The script is great, but... why does the male lead have my master’s face the entire time?”
While his master was indeed dignified and handsome, Lu Yang had known him for so long that seeing his master’s face on the male lead made it impossible to immerse himself in the story.
The Fifth Elder wholeheartedly agreed.
What should have been a poignant scene—Sky Encompassing True Lord holding Xiu Xiu’s lifeless body—nearly made the Fifth Elder burst out laughing, all because the male lead looked exactly like the Ninth Elder.
(End of the chapter)