33: Chapter 33 The Trial of the Secret Realm (Part Two)

The black boat continued to travel through the endless darkness, moving for about another hour. It arrived at an unknown location, pitch black on all sides, with nowhere to dock.

Yun Che was wondering why it had stopped here when a voice, sounding almost like a command, suddenly rang in his ears:

"Jump down!"

Yun Che thought he had misheard and couldn't help but be stunned.

Jump down from here?!

Below was a darkness that even spiritual perception couldn't probe!!!

That mysterious voice rang in his ears again:

"Hurry up and jump!"

This time, Yun Che didn't hesitate. He leaped off the small boat.

This was undoubtedly a bizarre dark space. Yun Che wanted to fly, but found it completely impossible.

He only felt his whole body falling rapidly in the darkness, with cold, biting winds whistling past his ears like countless sharp ice blades, carrying bone-chilling cold.

However, this was not a particular problem for Yun Che. He possessed both the Evil God Art and the inheritance of the Demon Emperor of Calamity Heaven, rendering him immune to both dark energy and any elemental damage.

After a few breaths of time, a light finally appeared several hundred zhang in front of him.

A huge light screen appeared before his eyes, and the images within the screen were clearly visible.

Blue Pole Star, Illusion Demon Realm, the Yun family estate.

Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou were sitting opposite each other, treating each other with mutual respect.

Yun family disciples were bustling in and out.

Chu Yuechan and Yun Wuxin also appeared. The little fairy of the past was still as extraordinary and unworldly as ever, like an iceberg snow lotus. Yun Wuxin was already at the middle stage of the Divine Origin Realm, graceful and fresh.

Xiao Yun and Tianxia Diqi also arrived. Their child, Xiao Yong'an, was seventeen or eighteen, heroic and spirited, with an extraordinary bearing.

The Little Demon Empress was in colorful robes, flying over lightly like a butterfly.

...

These images were so real that Yun Che felt as if he were there in person. A surge of joy welled up in his heart, and he felt incomparably comforted inside.

The happiness of his family was like warm sunshine sprinkling into his heart, adding a rare sense of peace and tranquility to his mood.

However, these images quickly became mixed in color and blurred, mottled like ancient murals eroded by time. Immediately after, they were like fragile glaze, shattering and disappearing completely from the light screen.

Yun Che couldn't help but feel regret in his heart; even if such images weren't real, it would be very happy to watch them for a while longer.

At this moment, the space around him became even darker, and the cold wind became colder and more bone-piercing. On the mysterious light screen ahead, in an instant, brand new images appeared. This time, it was the Yinxue Realm.

As always, it was covered in white snow, with snow filling the sky and biting cold winds. The Ice Phoenix Divine Hall stood towering and majestic, like the dwelling of a god, emitting a sacred and majestic aura.

Yun Che saw Imperial Consort Mu Xuanyin again. Her cold, frosty appearance could not hide her proud bosom, which was even more prominent than before. The inner passion that only he could feel had not changed either; the combination of ice and fire was actually so perfect.

Mu Feixue was still inside the divine hall. Her face was as cold as frost, like a brilliant ice lotus guarding the Minghan Heavenly Pool alone, constantly controlling ice snowflakes to write the name "Yun Che" in the air.

Then, Yun Che also saw the Ice Phoenix Palace and the white-robed Mu Bingyun.

Everything presented before his eyes was so real. Yun Che felt waves of warmth in his heart and his thoughts drifted, but he couldn't help but doubt in his heart: was jumping down so recklessly just to appreciate these light screens? He stared fixedly at the screen, lost in thought.

Finally, at the moment the image fell apart this time, he seemed to feel something—something unreal and illusory hidden behind the image. He was so excited that he almost forgot he was falling rapidly.

At this time, the surroundings were still covered in darkness just like before. However, now not only was there cold wind, but ice crystals had even appeared, enough to kill anyone instantly—except for Yun Che, of course.

Yun Che ignored all this in his excitement, eyes wide open, seriously watching the third scene that had just appeared. This time, the scene was very strange, something he had never seen in his life.

This was a vast, boundless desert. The golden sea of sand rolled and undulated like solidified waves, extending to the end of his vision. The scorching sun shone down without reservation, making every grain of sand sparkle with dazzling light.

Strong winds whistled past from time to time, rolling up layers of sand waves like galloping yellow dragons dancing on the earth. The sand dunes had various shapes; some were towering and steep, like majestic mountains; others were round and gentle, just like sleeping giant beasts...

Yun Che had gained something new this time. Without waiting for the image to fall apart, he could feel certain illusory elements within the image. These elements had never appeared in the real world.

And at this moment, a piece of text appeared in his consciousness:

"Illusion Truth Manual": In the world, there is illusion and truth, following like a shadow. Illusion is a dream, with infinite thoughts and endless images...

However, illusion cannot be relied upon for long, like floating flowers that pass easily, or bubbles that vanish easily. It is merely superficial and difficult to be real. If one does not pursue reality, it will eventually become illusory.

Truth is reality, the place where substance lies, and where reason exists. Like the firmness of a rock, like the evergreen of a pine and cypress. It can be relied upon, trusted, verified, and proven.

...

Therefore, one should take truth as the foundation and illusion as the wings. Use truth to guide action, and illusion to inspire wisdom. Only by combining truth and illusion can one go far. Do not drown in illusion, do not neglect truth...

...

Yun Che immersed himself in it, closed his eyes to meditate, constantly realizing and contemplating...

Suddenly, he opened his eyes!

Immediately, in the huge light screen opposite, the illusory images began to collapse and return to reality, leaving only a dim light screen in front of him.

Then, dozens of images appeared and collapsed one after another. After practicing the "Illusion Truth Manual", all illusions and ethereal things were broken, defeated, and disappeared.

At this time, Yun Che's falling speed slowed down significantly, the cold winds around him became gentler, and the world around him seemed less dark. Finally, he landed lightly on a small hill.

A small hill, a small pavilion, a lamp, a stone table, and two stone stools. An old man was already waiting for him here.

"This old man is Hua Buhuan, I have been waiting for the Prince here for a long time!"

The little old man in front of him was dressed extremely sloppily. His long hair was draped casually, messy like grass, as if it hadn't been combed for a long time. The robe on his body was tattered and covered with dust and stains.

His face looked slightly weary and weathered, and the whole person looked like a traveler who had drifted in the world for a long time and experienced storms.

Yun Che had never seen such an unkempt person. Even in this endless darkness, without contact with others, he should have tidied himself up for his own sake.

But Yun Che would never underestimate him, because he was at the peak of the Divine Extreme Realm.

Old Man Buhuan smiled all over his face and greeted him politely:

"It has been many, many years since anyone has set foot in this place, as if it were a corner forgotten by the world. But today, I am honored to see the Prince's presence in person. This is truly a great fortune for this old man!"

"I presume the Prince must have experienced many thrills and exciting illusions along the way, yet left lingering memories, and gained a lot. How about I prepare a welcome banquet for the Prince?"

Yun Che didn't want to bother with him, but he still sat down. However, he didn't drink his tea. There was a question he was very concerned about right now, so he asked:

"As you said, do you know what I saw along the way?"

Old Man Buhuan took out a teapot of unknown age without haste, poured a cup of tea, handed it to Yun Che, and said:

"Please have some tea, Prince!"

Then he continued:

"This place is the [Ten Thousand Flower World], and I am just a little old man guarding the secret realm. All the illusions the Prince saw along the way arose according to fate and left with the wind; they are not known to this old man."

Yun Che finally breathed a sigh of relief. Old Man Buhuan continued to introduce:

"One flower, one world. The 'ten thousand flowers' in [Ten Thousand Flower World] actually refers to ten thousand illusions, or ten thousand dreams. But each trial-taker can see at most nine hundred and ninety-nine illusions or dreams here."

"Every trial-taker, through viewing the illusions and successfully cultivating the 'Illusion Truth Manual', can come here, and I will send them away."

"But like the Prince, who successfully cultivated the 'Illusion Truth Manual' after viewing only sixty-six illusions, I have never heard of or seen such a thing in my life. I truly admire you!"

Yun Che asked curiously:

"May I ask who wrote this 'Illusion Truth Manual'?"

Old Man Buhuan replied:

"This secret manual was specially left by Senior Meng Wangu for those who are destined in later generations. I believe the Prince has already deeply felt the mysteries contained within it. As for whether the author of this manual is Senior Meng Wangu or someone else, I do not know."

Yun Che did not continue this topic and asked:

"Oh, you just said I only viewed sixty-six illusions, which is extremely rare. What was the situation with people before?"

Old Man Buhuan seemed to fall into some kind of memory and replied:

"The best before you was Meng Bugui, the first successor of Senior Meng Wangu. He viewed a total of three hundred and sixty illusions before he was able to cultivate the 'Illusion Truth Manual'."

"As for the current Sovereign, that kid Meng Kongchan, he viewed a full nine hundred and thirty illusions before barely passing."

Yun Che couldn't help but sigh:

"In that case, didn't I see fewer illusions and miss out on a lot of excitement?"

Old Man Buhuan shook his head repeatedly:

"That is a great misconception! Since the Prince has devoted himself to cultivating the 'Illusion Truth Manual', not only can you see through thousands of illusions, making them vanish like floating clouds; you can also create thousands of illusions, and the wonder of these illusions is beyond imagination."

"Anything that comes to mind or is desired can be like a master's stroke, concretized and vivid, floating before your eyes, making people marvel. It is as if the world changes according to your will."

Yun Che continued to ask:

"If one has viewed nine hundred and ninety-nine illusions and still hasn't been able to successfully cultivate the 'Illusion Truth Manual', what will happen?"

Old Man Buhuan replied:

"Then the trial-taker will sink into the illusion forever, sleep here, until they are swallowed and die by the endless darkness and cold wind."

He added: "Actually, in the millions of years, there have only been a dozen or so trial-takers who have reached the [Ten Thousand Flower World], and less than 70% of them have fallen here. The success rate of passing the test is actually quite high!"

Yun Che was stunned. You call a nearly 70% death rate a high success rate?

He asked again:

"Is this entire secret realm an illusion, and not just the light screen I saw earlier?"

Old Man Buhuan seemed to hear such a question for the first time. He thought for a while and replied:

"I am in it, and it is difficult to see the whole picture, so I really cannot answer your question. This secret realm is intricate and full of mist. Although I have experienced many years, I still have not found the answer. Or perhaps, with my current cultivation realm, it is really difficult to give you a definitive answer."

"Perhaps, when you break through to a sufficiently high realm, like climbing to the top of a mountain and looking down at all the mountains, you will naturally get the answer you want."

Yun Che thought, this Old Man Buhuan is already at the peak of the Divine Extreme Realm, yet he still cannot see through this secret realm. It seems that the gap between the True God Meng Wangu and other peak Divine Extreme Realm practitioners is still very large.

He felt relieved in his heart. The degree to which one can see through illusions by cultivating the "Illusion Truth Manual" is also related to one's own cultivation realm. He just didn't know if activating the Evil God Art would be helpful.

Old Man Buhuan still wanted to say something. He hadn't had a guest in many years and didn't want Yun Che to leave immediately. But Yun Che couldn't stand his sloppiness and dirtiness anymore, and said impatiently:

"How about you send me away now? I have other trials to face later."

Seeing that Yun Che had no intention of staying, Old Man Buhuan still enthusiastically said:

"Why is the Prince in such a hurry to leave? Why not drink this cup of tea before leaving? This is a practice tea that I have spent many years alone here to understand and brew. It is very beneficial for consolidating your realm and improving your cultivation!"

Yun Che, however, did not appreciate it at all and said indifferently:

"You'd better keep the tea for yourself to drink slowly. I'm leaving!"

Old Man Buhuan had no choice but to wave his hand. The whole person, along with the small hill and the small pavilion, disappeared on the spot. Yun Che found himself back on the black boat.

Or rather, he had never left this black boat from the beginning. The old man rowing the boat looked at him with the same expression, not feeling at all that he had gone and returned.