Qi Refinement's eighth or ninth level was already considered a legendary realm; if a Foundation Establishment cultivator appeared, they would be treated as an immortal descending to earth.
For Foundation Establishment cultivators at the bottom of the Nine Provinces, this Secret Realm world was as wonderful as a dream.
Countless beauties threw themselves at them, so-called Grandmasters could not withstand even a single move, vast quantities of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures could help them rise to Nascent Soul, and they could establish a nation and enjoy the majesty of the Son of Heaven.
To be precise, they would not even dare dream of such things.
None of this held much appeal for Jiang Li, but he had roughly guessed what the Secret Realm wished to test. Out of respect for his senior, he still acted according to the Secret Realm's wishes.
Surrounded by swallows and warblers, Jiang Li decided to dominate the world.
Jiang Li restrained his power to Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Three days later, he defeated the Eighteen Route Lords; five days later, he founded a nation, established systems, and selected officials. People called this event the "Five Three Founding of the Nation."
When other nations heard that Jiang Li was an immortal, they came one after another to pay homage and demonstrate their submission.
Ten thousand nations bowed in worship—the lord of the world! Throughout all ages, no one could surpass Jiang Li at this moment!
Seven days after Jiang Li entered the Secret Realm, the vigorous new nation was rising. He sat in the vast palace, expressionless.
Chun Er had never left Jiang Li's side during his campaigns. Now, she was the Empress, accompanying him at his side.
The many ministers gathered countless beauties for Jiang Li to fill his harem. These beauties admired Jiang Li and willingly served him; none had been forced.
There were also alchemists who believed Jiang Li came from the Immortal World. They collected all manner of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, Spirit Stones, and fine wine for him. These items filled the treasury to bursting; even Spirit Transformation cultivators would turn green with envy at such wealth.
"This is not a place to linger for long. I'm leaving," Jiang Li said blandly, unclear whether he was speaking to himself or to Chun Er.
Upon hearing this, Chun Er began to sob. Great tears fell one after another, and before long, they had soaked her costly dress.
"I know that you are not from this world, benefactor, but is there truly nothing here worth making you stay?"
Jiang Li spoke truthfully. "No."
"There are three thousand beautiful women in the harem for you to pluck as you please. Does that truly not move you, benefactor?"
"I've seen more beautiful women."
"I don't believe it!" Chun Er shook her head resolutely. She had great confidence in her appearance. She had become Empress not merely because she had accompanied Jiang Li the longest—a full seven days—but also because her beauty stood above all the other flowers.
"I've seen the Red Dust Fairy."
"..."
Chun Er immediately fell silent, though it was unknown where she had heard that title.
She did not give up and continued, "Can the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures in the treasury not attract you, benefactor? I've read their descriptions. There is a Longitudinal Light Divine Fruit in the treasury; consuming one is equal to thirty years of an immortal's cultivation. There is also the Azure Wave Dividing Sea Art. Once cultivated to great mastery, it can sever rivers with a single sword. And there's also..."
Jiang Li did not answer. He silently took out a Creation Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill.
If the Immortal Ascension Ladder had not been severed, this pill alone could allow one to ascend on the spot! Its value was beyond measure! Chun Er clearly recognized it and fell silent.
What she truly wanted to say was, Give me the immortal pill, and let me return to the Nine Provinces with you, all right? Chun Er still had not given up. She continued asking, "Before long, you will unify the world and become its true master. This is a great undertaking that emperors throughout history would envy to the point of madness. Do you truly feel no attachment?"
Jiang Li sighed. "As the current Human Emperor, revered by the Nine Provinces, no matter how I look at it, that should be better than becoming the master of a Secret Realm, shouldn't it?"
Chun Er stood dumbfounded, unable to react for a moment.
Jiang Li continued, "Actually, all those reasons were merely excuses to brush you off. The real reason is: why would I remain in an Illusion Realm?"
"Isn't that right, Dream Senior Meng Chun?"
At those words, Chun Er stopped pretending as well. She changed back into the clothes she had worn in life, dignified and graceful. They differed somewhat from her current attire, carrying a faint sense of history.
"I thought my illusion arts were masterful enough to deceive you, Fellow Daoist. I never imagined that I had overestimated myself."
The information provided by the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion had once stated that the Great Dream Hermit, whose true name was Meng Chun, had been a female cultivator whose beauty had crowned the world eight hundred years ago.
As for the Illusion Realm, Jiang Li had already seen through it the instant he stepped into the Secret Realm. Everything here was false.
The Great Dream Hermit was a female cultivator proficient in the path of illusion arts. It was said that once illusion arts were cultivated to their end, one could invert reality and falsehood—one thought made truth, one thought made falsehood. It was exceedingly terrifying.
Crack—
The Illusion Realm split apart like a mirror, shattering into fragments. Countless shards fell, merging into the earth like droplets of water and vanishing without a trace.
The Illusion Realm disappeared completely, revealing the Secret Realm's true appearance: a primeval forest. Jiang Li swept it with his Divine Sense and found that it was enormous, roughly a quarter the size of Tianqing Prefecture.
Jiang Li stood in an open clearing. At the same time, eight hundred disciples from various sects lay on the ground nearby, their expressions all different. Some were conflicted, some delighted, and some radiated killing intent. No one knew what choices they had made within the Illusion Realm.
Meng Chun stood before Jiang Li and said with slight apology, "I did not know that the current Human Emperor had come here. Meng Chun has been discourteous."
The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's intelligence was not wrong. Meng Chun had indeed died beneath the Heavenly Tribulation. What stood before Jiang Li now was merely a contingency she had left behind before undergoing her tribulation, a lingering remnant of thought.
"Not at all, not at all. I was the one who barged into the Secret Realm recklessly and caused Dream Senior trouble."
Seeing Meng Chun hesitate, Jiang Li smiled. "If Dream Senior has something to say, please speak plainly."
Meng Chun said, "I once met the Human Emperor of my era. He could be called an outstanding hero of his generation, yet he was not like you, Fellow Daoist, as though you were an immortal banished to the mortal world. Could it be that the Nine Provinces have now found the Immortal Ascension Ladder?"
"That is not the case. I merely broke through to the Great Ascension Stage by luck."
Meng Chun's pupils contracted slightly. Jiang Li's breakthrough to the Great Ascension Stage seemed even more shocking to her than the appearance of the Immortal Ascension Ladder.
"I thought the Great Ascension Stage was only a legend. So there truly are people capable of breaking through to the Great Ascension Stage."
"Luck, just luck." Jiang Li did not say much more on the subject. "Did Dream Senior arrange this Illusion Realm to test these youngsters' resistance to beauty, treasures, and power?"
"Yes. As long as they resist even one of them, I consider them to have passed and allow them to enter the Second Layer."
That was not difficult to guess. First, beautiful women were handed to them for free; then Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures came in quantities just as freely given; finally, Foundation Establishment cultivators could roam the world unopposed.
In truth, upon careful thought, one would find many unreasonable aspects within the Illusion Realm. For instance, where had the others who entered the Secret Realm gone? There were far too many beauties, and the other nations had submitted far too quickly.
The wondrous aspect of the path of illusion arts was that it made cultivators automatically overlook these unreasonable details. They sank ever deeper into the Illusion Realm until, in the end, they could not pull themselves free.
"Mm—"
Qin Luan, lying on the ground, made an indistinct sound. This was a sign that he was about to see through the Illusion Realm.
Time in the Illusion Realm differed from reality. By comparison, Qin Luan had already spent a month within the Illusion Realm.
In Meng Chun's view, being able to see through the Illusion Realm in one month already showed excellent resolve.
Seeing someone about to awaken, Meng Chun smiled faintly. "Fellow Daoist, let us discuss the Dao after this Secret Realm ends."
She revealed a mysterious smile, left behind only one sentence, and vanished.
"Perhaps the next trial will suit Fellow Daoist very well."
Though she did not know Jiang Li's purpose, with his Great Ascension Stage cultivation, he could have manipulated her Secret Realm as he pleased. Yet he had not done so.
Since the other party had shown her respect, she would not pry too deeply into his purpose.
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