Chapter Sixty-Five: The Valley of a Thousand Marshes

The two of them returned once more to Pisces Gorge.

Tu Lu took a deep breath. “We’re finally back. Although Zi Tuo Peak couldn’t possibly still be in this area, no matter how slow he moves, we should start our search here just in case.”

Zi Ling nodded, then produced a map.

“There’s one main road from here to the provincial capital, and three smaller paths. Beyond that lies the vast wilderness, teeming with fierce beasts—a perilous place. Given Zi Tuo Peak’s cultivation, I think it’s most likely he took the main road. Still, we can’t rule out the possibility that, in desperation, he chose one of the smaller paths. After all, he’s the former city lord’s son, and with the protective artifacts he carries, it’s not impossible he could survive the side routes.”

Tu Lu nodded in agreement, taking the map from Zi Ling and studying it thoughtfully.

“According to this map, there are eleven danger zones along these four routes: two on the main road, nine on the side paths. The smaller paths also pass by a few monster lairs—just common beasts, but even for a cultivator at the Mountain-Moving Realm, they could pose significant trouble.”

“But it’s unlikely Zi Tuo Peak would be trapped by mere beasts. Our focus should remain on those danger zones.”

“That makes sense.”

Tu Lu nodded. “In that case, gather your people here and have them search along the three smaller paths, with special attention to the nine danger zones. We’ll travel the main road ourselves and search every inch if we must to find him!”

Zi Ling agreed, stowing the map, and the two set out swiftly.

...

Within half a day, they had covered half the distance.

They paused before a valley.

“Careful—up ahead is Thousand Marsh Valley. It’s usually a scenic spot along the main road, but sometimes illusions appear here. Even cultivators at the Purple Palace Realm, if their minds are weak, can become trapped.”

“Alright.” Tu Lu had just nodded when a gust of white wind swept past them.

Bad news!

A chill ran through him as the scene before his eyes suddenly shifted.

...

His consciousness found itself on a tiny island.

Despite being fully aware of the illusion—his powerful spirit constantly reminding him—he had no time to devise an escape before a striking figure appeared before him.

“Sister!”

He trembled, his mind buzzing; reason vanished in an instant.

He rushed forward to embrace her.

Lin Ru’s lips curled into a gentle smile as she opened her arms, drawing Tu Lu close.

But just then, the ancient Buddha lamp within the Heavenly Dragon Token flared with brilliant light. The flame flickered violently, and Tu Lu cried out in pain, as if something had jolted him. His mind wavered.

Lin Ru’s expression changed dramatically; the scene around them shattered like a porcelain vase.

The next moment, he found himself in a strange place...

He stood in the starry sky, surrounded by floating asteroids, with a vast blue sphere beneath his feet.

“That was... just now... an illusion?”

Only now did Tu Lu recover, but as he took in his new surroundings, he was once more left astounded.

...

“Could this be another illusion?”

He forced himself to look up and saw a colossal statue towering above, far larger than the planet below, standing like a pillar of the cosmos.

The longer he gazed, the more familiar it seemed.

“That’s it—this is the Visualization of the Minor Celestial Cycle!”

A shock ran through him. The statue was exactly the object he visualized during his cultivation of the Minor Celestial Cycle Visualization. Yet this time, the image was far clearer and more awe-inspiring than ever before.

If his usual visualization was like glimpsing it from billions of miles away, now he was at the statue’s feet, beholding a sacred miracle.

But compared to the statue, he felt infinitesimally small and utterly insignificant.

“Is this... really an illusion?”

He dared not be certain. The sensation was utterly unlike what he’d experienced on Mystical Spirit Island—this felt incredibly real, his mind unusually lucid.

“No, I can’t linger here any longer!”

He immediately directed his consciousness toward the ancient Buddha lamp. Before long, the world around him began to tremble.

At last, as he drew his consciousness back from the Buddha lamp, he glanced once more at the enormous statue.

For some reason, it felt strangely familiar...