Illusory World Art

"Damn, this is awkward. Cut the nonsense—I heard you obtained some precious medicinal herbs. I came to pick out a few treasures from you."

After selecting several precious medicinal herbs, Xiao Yao immediately left and returned to Sound Valley.

The affairs of the Xiao Clan had already stabilized. With Xiao Wu, Xiao Chen, and the others handling the clan's matters, there was no cause for concern.

"Hall Master, that senior was actually the mysterious founder of Sound Valley.

Who would have thought that the creator of Sound Valley was such an unparalleled existence?"

"What is so surprising about that? Those forces that have endured for thousands of years naturally possess deep foundations.

None of them should be underestimated."

Deep within the secret realm of the Xiao Realm, this was the place closest to the Plane Embryo.

Xiao Xuan's physical body had been destroyed, leaving only his Primordial Spirit to withstand the immense pressure emanating from the Plane Embryo.

Although Xiao Xuan was at a disadvantage, the Plane Embryo could not swiftly erase someone whose soul realm was so high.

Not only that, but under its methods, his soul was instead being tempered and condensed.

"Rumble..."

"Xiao Xuan, you bastard! You live within my world and can be counted among my people—how dare you commit such treason?"

Waves of consciousness rippled out from within the vast, majestic pressure.

Xiao Xuan refused to be outdone. "Treason?

No, I do not think so. You know as well that the Dou Qi Continent is weakening.

That should not benefit you, should it?

I merely wish to break through to a higher realm by another path.

It would bring you nothing but benefits and no harm, so why are you so wary?"

"Hmph. So what if there are benefits? Compared to freedom, everything else is meaningless.

Xiao Xuan, do you really think I have no way of dealing with you?

All these years, I was merely preparing a backup plan.

Since that is the case, then remain forever sunk within your own world.

Five Elements Illusory World!"

A burst of golden light descended, swallowing Xiao Xuan within it. His Primordial Spirit stood motionless where it was.

Rather than weakening, the golden light grew ever stronger, continuously wearing away at Xiao Xuan's Primordial Spirit.

The day was already late. The Sun had set in the west, and brilliant evening clouds filled the horizon.

The gentle breeze swayed the trees. At the summit of this vibrant mountain stood several faintly visible houses, thin smoke rising from them.

At this moment, the Sun had just risen, and glistening dewdrops covered the flowers and plants. Everything was fresh, everything so harmonious and moving.

Within a dense forest far from the summit, an exasperated voice rang out.

"Who was it? Sixty years! If I find out who it was, I will beat you senseless!"

Sixty years ago, this middle-aged Daoist had discovered a peculiar little tree on this unnamed mountain.

Its flowering period lasted an entire year.

Only afterward did it bear several scarce green fruits, yet after waiting nearly ten years, he had still not seen them ripen.

Although he had wanted to transplant the tree to the Herb Garden and tend to it,

he knew that spiritual and rare treasures generally required a particular environment to grow, so he abandoned the idea.

He often came here to guard it, hoping to pick the fruit once it ripened and study the medicinal properties of this spiritual fruit.

"Hm? Could he have eaten the spiritual fruit?"

Two zhang away, he discovered a child of eight or nine lying unconscious on the ground.

The child's cloth clothes were tattered beyond recognition, making it impossible to tell what sort of outfit they had once been. Several scratches marked his fair little face, and his hair was a mess.

He hurriedly stepped forward and picked the child up, only to discover that both of the child's legs had been congenitally fractured. Frowning, he flew his sword at full speed back to Dazhu Peak.

"Father, who is he?"

"What happened to him?"

The middle-aged Daoist glared, and everyone immediately fell silent.

With his profound cultivation, the middle-aged Daoist treated the child's injuries for half a shichen before the child finally woke up. He suddenly clutched his head in agony.

"Who am I?

Why do I feel like I have forgotten something very important?

And where is this? Did you save me? Who are you?"

When the child first woke, he clutched his head, his face twisted in pain. Then he gradually improved. At the sight of the figures beside him, he grew agitated and tightly grabbed the hand of the beautiful middle-aged woman seated by the bed.

After firing off a string of questions, before anyone could answer, he blurted out several more.

Hearing this, the few of them exchanged looks, their faces filled with sympathy and pity.

The middle-aged woman smiled kindly and patiently explained what had happened to the child.

When she reached the part about this being Dazhu Peak on Qingyun Mountain, and that her name was Su Ru while the fat middle-aged man was Tian Buyi, the child suddenly froze.

"Ah..."

"Dazhu Peak, Tian Buyi, Su Ru?

Why do these place names and your names feel strangely familiar to me, yet I cannot remember anything?"

The child's face was filled with confusion. He held his head, yet no matter how hard he tried, he could not remember.

Tian Buyi and Su Ru exchanged a glance. Seeing that the child seemed to remember only Dazhu Peak and their names, while having forgotten everything else, they relaxed.

Though this child's aptitude... his body...

The compassionate pair both thought to themselves, Could the mighty Dazhu Peak truly not afford to raise one child?

Su Ru stroked the child's head. "All right, child, do not think about it anymore. From now on, this will be your home, and these people will be your senior apprentice brothers."

As soon as she finished speaking, the child proved quite quick-witted. Looking at Tian Buyi and Su Ru, he hurriedly tried to climb up and perform the ceremony of accepting a master, but he could not rise no matter what.

"Child, do not move. Your legs will gradually heal."

"Greetings, Master and Mistress. Greetings, Senior Apprentice Brothers and Senior Apprentice Sisters."

"Since you cannot remember your own name, do you remember your surname?"

The child thought for a moment before uncertainly saying, "I think... my surname is Xiao!"

"Then your surname shall be Xiao. As for your given name, meeting you is a mysterious fate, so Xuan shall be your name!"

"Yes, Master!"

The child was Xiao Xuan, who had been locked in a stalemate with the Plane Embryo on the Dou Qi Continent. Yet now, he seemed to have forgotten everything.

"Daren, your Junior Apprentice Brother is in your care."

"Yes, Master!"

A Daoist who looked honest and simple picked Xiao Xuan up and walked out of Shoujing Hall.

Before long, they arrived at a small courtyard.

"Junior Apprentice Brother, you are still young. From now on, you can live with me."

Considering his current situation, Xiao Xuan did not refuse.

"Yes, Senior Apprentice Brother!"

Inside Shoujing Hall, Su Ru watched the departed Xiao Xuan and sighed sadly. "Sigh, what kind of parents could be so cruel as to treat a child like that?"

"His fate truly has been full of hardship. Everything will depend on his own fortune. Still, this child is rather blessed—he ate every last one of the strange fruits I guarded for sixty years.

The spiritual medicine cleansed his marrow and reshaped his body, so he should originally have possessed outstanding aptitude.

But his legs... congenital cartilage weakness. Perhaps that was why he was abandoned.

No matter what, could Dazhu Peak truly not take in one pitiful child?

Xiaofan, Ling'er, you are close in age. Take good care of that poor child from now on."