After Sheng Jun Chapter 27 (Part 2)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 27 Great Sky Illusionary Realm (part 2)
The next day, at the hour of Chen. (TL: 7-9 am)
Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming stood at the observation platform, preparing to depart for No Return Valley with the Zhu brothers and Jiang Langhao.
Jiang Langhao was full of excitement about the secret realm they were about to enter, having completely forgotten his earlier annoyance.
It bounced on Jiang Xingzhi's shoulder, "Ancestor~ What's inside the secret realm?"
Before Jiang Xingzhi could answer, a cold gaze fell upon it. "There are monsters that specifically eat spirit tools."
"......" Whoosh! Jiang Langhao quickly dove back into the storage pouch.
Jiang Xingzhi looked at Zhong Ming, "Why did you scare it?"
"Just a warning, to prevent it from running around once we're inside."
"Fair enough."
After temporarily entrusting Kunlun to Wu Jie, Jiang Xingzhi took out his peach wood boat to carry everyone toward No Return Valley.
Outside the valley, a large crowd of cultivators had already gathered.
Led by sect leaders or elders from various sects, they were all talented disciples of the new generation from the Three Realms.
The three from Yuhua Sect—Ping Lan and others—were with Shang Lu's group, looking somewhat awkward among them. Fei Yin looked up at the sky, tugging at Ping Lan's sleeve, "Why hasn't Immortal Lord Jiang arrived yet?"
The small bells on her hairband jingled. Ping Lan pursed his lips, "You only ever think about Immortal Lord Jiang."
Fei Yin turned and bumped into him, "Oh my~ Brother, you've become just like Immortal Lord Bai, always getting needlessly jealous."
"......"
While the couple was engaged in their little game, the person they mentioned appeared on the horizon, riding a peach wood boat.
The crowd suddenly grew noisy. "Divine Lamp Daren has arrived!"
Most of the disciples had never seen the "Divine Lamp" before, and now they eagerly gazed toward the sky, their eyes filled with admiration.
The peach wood boat quickly approached and landed in the open space before the valley.
The young man at the front wore blue robes with silver sleeves, with features as beautiful as jade. When he raised his eyes, they shimmered like rippling lake water. As the disciples were struck by his stunning appearance, the air around them suddenly grew colder.
A handsome man in black robes walked up from behind the young man, with an ancient sword at his waist emanating a murderous aura.
Zhong Ming turned his head and seemed to say something, but Jiang Xingzhi didn't hear clearly. "What?"
Zhong Ming leaned in closer, whispering, "Nothing. I was asking if you were cold. Later, I'll go to the lake bottom to investigate for you."
As they moved closer, they created an atmosphere that excluded others. Many disciples withdrew their gazes, showing more self-awareness.
"I'm not cold," Jiang Xingzhi replied, then gave the other a puzzled look. Why speak in such a hushed voice when they could communicate telepathically?
But Zhong Ming straightened up as if nothing had happened.
"Divine Lamp Daren, Lamp Holder Daren."
All the leaders of the various groups raised their hands in greeting.
Jiang Xingzhi returned their greetings and sent Zhu Yan and Zhu Xu to join Haosheng Sect's group.
"Brother Jiang." A greeting came from nearby, and Jiang Xingzhi turned to face a pure white mask. You Suqing waved his fan and noticed the Tingxue sword at his waist, asking, "Is it serving you well?"
Jiang Xingzhi reflected on the feeling, "It feels like a perfect match."
You Suqing laughed cheerfully.
Zhong Ming stared at him fixedly, then sent a sound transmission to Jiang Xingzhi, "Why does he only greet you?"
Jiang Xingzhi sensed his displeasure, guessing it was because the latter had been ignored. He encouraged him, "If you want to make friends, you should take the initiative."
Zhong Ming, "......"
****
The group couldn't linger outside the valley for too long.
Without further delay, Jiang Xingzhi instructed each sect to look after their members, then led everyone with Zhong Ming through the thick fog into No Return Valley.
The white mist obscured their vision.
As Jiang Xingzhi walked in front, he faintly heard discussions from behind:
"This white fog looks familiar."
"Doesn't it resemble the one outside Kunlun Mountain a few days ago......"
Thump—Jiang Xingzhi's heart skipped a beat.
Zhong Ming's gaze fell on him, as if saying: See, the eyes of the crowd are sharp.
Jiang Xingzhi cleared his throat, and his cautious voice carried through the white fog to the entire group behind him, "The mountain mist may cause mild hallucinations. Stay focused and don't get distracted!"
The voices from behind suddenly ceased.
Zhong Ming, "......"
For a moment, he felt the urge to advocate against superstition in this world of cultivation.
Under Jiang Xingzhi's guidance, the group successfully entered the valley, arriving at the mirror-like Youpo Lake.
The disciples, already warned by their elders about the weak water at the lake's edge, stood far from the shore. Only Zhong Ming and Jiang Xingzhi stood by the water's edge, looking toward the center of the lake.
Zhong Ming said, "You settle them in, I'll go down into the lake to check."
Jiang Xingzhi nodded, "Be careful."
Zhong Ming smiled at him, seemingly in a good mood. Then he turned around and, amid gasps from the crowd, steadily crossed the weak water and plunged into the center of the lake!
Splash—ripples spread across the lake surface.
Jiang Xingzhi thought about that smile just now... had he said something that made him happy? It was just "be careful," if Bai Mu liked hearing such things, he'd have Wu Jie remind him day and night.
A "jingle" sound came from behind, and Jiang Xingzhi turned to see Fei Yin slipping over, "Immortal Lord Jiang, it's been a while!"
Jiang Xingzhi recognized this straightforward young woman. He returned her greeting, then asked about the current situation at Yuhua Sect, relieved to hear that everything had stabilized.
After finishing their discussion, Fei Yin suddenly glanced at his neck, "Immortal Lord, why aren't you wearing that red jade pendant anymore?"
Jiang Xingzhi paused.
Since learning that Bai Mu had feelings for him, he had removed it to avoid giving the wrong impression.
"All sorts of unexpected situations can happen in the secret realm, so I put it away for safekeeping."
Fei Yin's clever eyes twinkled: Oh~ A couple's jade pendant, afraid of losing it so he stored it safely.
Seeing movement from the center of the lake, she giggled, "I'll head back now!"
A black figure emerged from the water and quickly returned to the shore.
Zhong Ming dried his wet clothes with a pulse of spiritual energy and said to Jiang Xingzhi, "The flower is about to bloom."
Jiang Xingzhi scanned the circle of Three Realms cultivators standing in readiness and nodded, "Prepare the formation."
...
Opening the Kongxuan Secret Realm required arranging a formation according to the Five Elements and Six Lines.
Different precious materials were placed in various positions of the formation, with the lake center as the focal point, gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the flower bud.
Jiang Xingzhi flew to stand at the focal point in the center of the lake, while the other sects spread out in eight directions, offering up their treasures. Zhong Ming guarded the formation from outside, ensuring its flawless operation.
After three full days, the flower bud at the center of the lake finally began to open—
A huge energy vortex gathered above Jiang Xingzhi's head, and the air above seemed to be torn open by an invisible force. Dark clouds gathered overhead, and a sudden wind rose from the bottom of the valley.
Everyone's robes fluttered as they gazed at the gradually opening entrance to the secret realm, a mixture of longing and fear in their hearts.
Beneath the opening entrance, the blue figure looked quite small, as if it might be swallowed at any moment. But as the entrance widened, covering the entire sky above the valley, Jiang Xingzhi's slender figure remained steadfast.
Truly like a supreme deity.
At the formation's focal point, Jiang Xingzhi watched as the secret realm's entrance successfully opened, and he slowly let out a breath.
He hadn't forgotten to emphasize his importance.
Under everyone's gaze, Jiang Xingzhi tilted his head slightly, a ball of golden light gathering at his brow.
A distant voice spread throughout the valley, "Secret realm that has hidden treasures for a thousand years, I command you by the bloodline of the ancient spirit—open now!"
In the howling wind, the crowd below gazed reverently at this ancient majesty.
Except for the people from Qingfeng Pavilion among the crowd.
When Chi Yufeng heard the words "ancient bloodline," he instinctively felt a sweetness in his throat. He pressed his chest, barely suppressing the surge of vital energy.
After the secret realm officially opened, Jiang Xingzhi flew back to the shore and told everyone, "You can enter now. With the secret realm's suction force, the weak water can be crossed."
The various sects began to enter the secret realm in succession.
After everyone had entered, only Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming remained by the lake.
Jiang Xingzhi gave Zhong Ming several glances, "You really want to follow me? I'm going in for other matters and don't plan to search for treasures. You won't get anything if you follow me."
"Do you even need to ask?" Zhong Ming looked at him steadily. "I didn't come to the secret realm just to search for treasures."
The entrance overhead was gradually shrinking. Without saying more, Zhong Ming grabbed Jiang Xingzhi's wrist and flew upward, "Let's not get separated."
When entering the Kongxuan Secret Realm, one would experience some turbulence before being randomly assigned to different landing spots.
Jiang Xingzhi also feared separation, so he didn't pull away. "Mm."
The wind howled past their ears, and just before entering the secret realm, a burst of white light appeared before their eyes. Jiang Xingzhi squinted slightly, suddenly wondering:
How did Bai Mu know they would be scattered immediately upon entering?
****
But soon he had no time to ponder this question. As dots of white light scattered, what appeared before him seemed to be a sparse forest, with large patches of hazy mist rushing toward him.
Jiang Xingzhi's heart skipped a beat.
The Great Sky Illusionary Realm!
He couldn't believe they were thrown into this place right after entering.
The "Great Sky Illusionary Realm" amplifies one's deepest desires, causing many cultivators to become addicted and unwilling to awaken once they enter.
Jiang Xingzhi felt the hand holding him let go.
"Bai......" He had no time to warn Zhong Ming to stay alert before being pulled into the depths of the illusion.
On the other side, Zhong Ming, who had released Jiang Xingzhi, was also drawn into the illusion.
Having broken through the Great Sky Illusionary Realm before, he wasn't particularly concerned. But before breaking the illusion, a thought suddenly crossed his mind—he wondered what scene he would see in the illusion this time.
The white mist before his eyes faded, and a new scene emerged.
After Zhong Ming regained his senses, he looked around.
It was a familiar environment—the golden forest behind Kunlun Mountain, with a hot spring emitting steam.
He was standing bare-chested in the pool. The illusion was incredibly realistic; he could even feel the warm water temperature and the subtle flow of the water.
There was a rustling sound behind him. Zhong Ming turned to see Jiang Xingzhi standing barefoot on the shore, still wearing that snow-white inner garment from that day, covered by a light blue outer robe.
His transparent foot showed faint blue-green blood vessels, with exquisitely shaped arches, stepping on pebbles covered with fallen leaves.
Indeed, he was seeing the person he had been constantly thinking about.
Zhong Ming's throat tightened. "......Jiang Xingzhi."
Jiang Xingzhi entered the water with a splash. His robe hem and black hair spread out on the water surface, his eyelashes moist with water vapor, like wet raven feathers. He floated over to Zhong Ming, stopping at a distance of about one fist away.
Zhong Ming looked down to see the person facing him, looking up, almost identical to that day.
Knowing it was an illusion, he still couldn't help but place his hand on Jiang Xingzhi's cheek, his fingertips brushing against it.
"Who did you dream about?" he asked.
Jiang Xingzhi looked up at him, his face and ears flushed red. Suddenly, he leaned forward, hugging Zhong Ming's waist and burying himself in his embrace. His cool face pressed against the burning chest, causing Zhong Ming's fingertips to tremble.
He raised his hand to embrace Jiang Xingzhi's shoulders, his chin rubbing against the latter's head. "Who did you dream about, to have that expression?"
The person in his arms moved slightly.
The next moment, a soft sensation pressed against his jaw.
Boom! A string in Zhong Ming's mind suddenly snapped.
His breathing and heartbeat became chaotic, and the hand on Jiang Xingzhi's shoulder tightened.
He allowed Jiang Xingzhi to kiss his chin, turning to bite his Adam's apple, lips pressing against his skin, voice muffled,
"I dreamed of you, Xu Jian."