After the first layer of the Illusory Domain of Greed and Delusion shattered completely, Qin Yu did not immediately return to the outside of the Ancient Gate of Myriad Dharmas. The last piece of white jade platform collapsed beneath his feet, and countless cracks spread along the end of the sky. The divine weapons, heavenly books, elixirs, and ancient steps leading to higher realms that once filled his vision had long since vanished. Even the last Nameless ancient book disappeared along with the shattered world.
Qin Yu's consciousness hung in a silent, lightless Space Silence. His physical body remained in its original state, firmly imprisoned within the thousand-mile-long black mist by the ancient gate's restrictions. He could vaguely sense that his physical body was safe and undamaged, but he was completely cut off from all sounds and noises of the real world.
After a brief period of deathly silence, the black mist arrived as promised, one wisp, ten wisps, hundreds of wisps, silently emerging from the depths of Space Silence, neither invading nor harming his original consciousness, but extending directly into the deepest part of his soul.
In stark contrast to the first layer of biting cold and domineering invasion, the desolate Space Silence gradually faded as the black fog passed through, and the myriad aspects of life were reborn one after another. The dim yellow light of the sky, the continuous verdant mountains in the distance, the winding old road underfoot, and then the scattered houses, the crisscrossing streets and alleys, the gnarled old trees, the gentle breeze swaying the eaves, and the distant sounds of human life and voices slowly became clear.
Qin Yu's eyes flickered slightly. The scene before him was not unfamiliar at all; it was a remnant of the years he had truly walked on his long path of cultivation. The black mist no longer piled up earth-shattering treasures or set up shortcuts and opportunities. Instead, it traced back the path of his life, re-laying out the past that had settled in the cracks of time, inch by inch.
The second trial— the Illusory Dream of Past Regrets —began in response.
Qin Yu stood on that familiar old road. A gentle evening breeze blew from afar, carrying the fragrance of grass and trees and the simple scent of worldly dust. The bluestone under his feet was mottled, every tiny crack clearly visible. The leaves of the trees beside the road rustled softly, and a few birds flew across the sky, their wingtips slicing through the clear morning light.
The entire world was devoid of any deliberate embellishment or intense temptation of greed and illusion; everything was too natural, so natural that it almost replicated a real and enduring era.
Qin Yu did not move hastily. He lowered his eyes to gaze at his own palm, then looked up at the mountains and rivers ahead. His soul remained absolutely clear, knowing from beginning to end that this world was an illusion created by black mist.
But just as we were upholding this Qingming tradition, a familiar voice, etched deep in our memories, drifted from afar.
Then, more long-lost sounds emerged one after another. Those figures who had once amazed him and warmed his path, but who had eventually drifted away due to the passage of time, separation by life and death, and choices of fate, were reborn and stood tall in this world.
Some live Anran to the end of time, some have long since passed away, some once fought alongside him through bloodshed and perilous journeys, while others waved goodbye to him at the crossroads of life, never to cross paths again.
The black mist did not recreate the past with bloodshed, nor did it reenact the heart-wrenching farewells. It was utterly gentle, mending all the brokenness and continuing all the regrets. In this dreamlike realm, all the partings that should have ended ceased.
All unspoken words were fulfilled, all mistakes that could not be undone were corrected, and the paths of life severed by the journey of cultivation, destiny of life and death, and difficult choices were all reconnected and continued endlessly.
Qin Yu slowly stepped forward, the path beneath his feet shifting, the surrounding scenery changing, each a reflection of countless "what ifs" in his life. That time, if he had arrived earlier; that time, if he had lingered longer; that time, if he had foreseen the crisis beforehand; that time, if he had been just a little stronger.
All the past events that can only leave regrets and cannot be rewritten in reality are given the most perfect answer in the Illusory Dream of Past Regrets. There is no life or death separation, no passing by, no futile efforts, and no feeling of indebtedness. Even old stories that have long been smoothed over by the long years and are rarely recalled are retrieved from the deepest part of the soul and vividly reproduced in the dream.
Qin Yu stopped in his tracks. In the middle of the road ahead, a group of familiar figures stood quietly, clearly having waited for him for a long time. No one blamed him for his late Return Path, no one questioned his years of separation. One of them turned to look at him, her eyes gentle, and raised her hand to beckon. Her movements were natural and serene, without the slightest hint of deliberate artifice.
Qin Yu did not respond, and the calm he had shown when facing the first opportunity of a supreme treasure was gone. He could readily abandon worldly possessions when faced with the obstacle of greed, and a simple "If there is nothing, then continue on" was enough to break the deadlock.
But the hurdle of past regrets is always the most tormenting. All the world's most powerful weapons and treasures are external possessions; if lost, they can be regained, and if lacking, one can find a way to make a living. But some people, once separated from us in reality, are gone forever, with no hope of ever returning.
Qin Yu moved forward steadily, slowly approaching the group of figures. At close range, he could clearly see the subtle expressions in each person's eyes and brows, the gentle curve of their lips, and the warm tone in their words.
Everything before him was not a figment of his imagination, but rather a reflection of his real life experiences. It was a path to fulfillment that had never been reached in reality, paved along the remaining traces of fate.
"Come back." The gentle voice drifted on the breeze, soothing the soul.
Qin Yu remained silent for a long time. He knew better than anyone the falsehood of this world, but the cruelty of the second test never lay in whether one could see through the illusion. Even if people were to tell themselves a thousand times that it was all an illusion, they would still be unable to escape falling into it. Knowing that it was false and being willing to give up perfection again and face regret were two completely different states of mind.
The person in front of me slowly raised their hand, their palm warm and gentle. There was no coercion, no deception, only a soft, tender sentence that struck the softest spot in my heart. "This time, it's not too late."
Qin Yu's fingertips trembled almost imperceptibly. Greed tests the greed in human nature, which can be restrained by the Dao heart; old regrets question the cherishing in people's hearts, which are the hardest to let go of. People can give up the extravagance they have never had, but it is difficult to push away the perfection that has been lost and regained.
All the regrets buried deep in our hearts, the irretrievable past, and the loved ones we miss day and night, are all perfectly fulfilled at this moment.
This illusory realm does not force people to submit through suffering and hardship. It bestows upon people the most desired perfection, free from fighting, danger, separation, and debt. It does not even require them to abandon the path of cultivation or stop here. They only need to accept this perfection with equanimity to fill all the regrets in life, and the path of cultivation ahead is still promising.
This is the most unsolvable hurdle in the Illusory Dream of Past Regrets and illusory dreams. Danger lurks within gentleness, and constraints are born from perfection.
Qin Yu slowly closed his eyes, his past half-life flowing like fleeting clouds, slowly swirling in the depths of his consciousness. He did not evade the pain, nor did he gloss over the regrets, nor did he erase the feelings of the past, but faced all the gains and losses he had experienced along the way with equanimity.
He was acutely aware of what he had lost, remembered which choices had led to lifelong regrets, and frankly admitted that if life truly offered a second chance, he would indeed want to rewrite some of the endings.
"I wish you were all here." Qin Yu finally spoke, his voice low and gentle, every word sincere. "There are some things I truly wish had never happened."
He spoke slowly, candidly revealing all his inner obsessions. "If I had been stronger back then, if I could have arrived sooner, if some choices could be made again... I would think about it, and I would feel regret."
The illusion remained intact, and the gentle hand remained in front of him, never withdrawing. Qin Yu opened his eyes and gazed at the old friend before him, his eyes showing neither cold indifference nor deliberate attempt to sever the ties of affection.
He accepted all his emotions openly, without deceiving himself or feigning kindness. Then he slowly raised his palm and gently grasped that hand. The warmth of his palm was real and touching, exactly the same temperature he remembered.
The figure before him smiled, her eyes brimming with the joy of reunion, but Qin Yu ultimately did not linger. After holding hands for a moment, he slowly released her, his gesture gentle yet firm.
"But what has already happened is my life." Qingfeng passed by, causing his clothes to sway softly. Qin Yu gazed quietly at the old friend he had lost and then found again, the emotions in his eyes still lingering, the longing still present.
"Regret is in it, and so is loss." His eyes were clear, and his mind was transparent. "If I were to abandon the years I have truly lived through in order to preserve this sense of fulfillment, then the past that I cherish and remember would never be the same again."
As he finished speaking, he strode forward, calmly walking past the group of old friends without pausing or looking back. Behind him, the crowd stood silently, no one calling out, no one trying to stop him, only a gentle silence remained.