Cohabitation with Sword Spirit

Chapter 389 - 124: Only Wishing for an Endless Slumber

The Heart Demon Illusion Realm before Wang Jiu was not unfamiliar to him. During the great wars of Jiuzhou, he had experienced many such illusions.

Generally speaking, the Heart Demon Illusion Realm can be divided into two types: nightmares and dreams. The former accounts for the vast majority, as during that era of the Demon Race’s overwhelming might, most people had their courage completely broken in the first wave of the Demon Tide, losing even the will to hope for the future. All that remained in their hearts were endless nightmares of despair.

But there were also a few who chose to immerse themselves in daytime dreams, never waking.

Most of these people had lost loved ones in the war, retreating into an imagined utopia within their hearts when faced with doomsday, where they could remain forever with their beloved until their bodies perished and their spirits faded to nothing.

Back then, Wang Jiu often led teams to sweep through, quickly shattering these people’s daytime dreams and then fully arming the confused cultivators freshly awakened from their big dreams to throw them onto the front lines to ease the severe shortage of manpower at the front. This process, repeated many times, had become very proficient. The techniques of breaking the Heart Demon Illusion Realm as quickly as possible and reutilizing the living but useless individuals had been systematically summarized and organized by Wang Jiu. Shang Lanfei even published a paper on it, significantly boosting morale at the front and reducing the indulgence rate by 95% in a short period.

Of course, Wang Jiu’s task now wasn’t to break the Heart Demon Illusion Realm. He was here merely as a spectator, so the sophisticated skills of the past were completely unnecessary. He just needed to locate the master within the illusion, have Li Fengyun meet with them, and then unlock the free exploration mode to discover the secrets of this sealed place.

Li Fengyun was also very cooperative, following Wang Jiu silently, only casting curious glances to the left and right.

For cultivators during the Immortal Demon wars, the Heart Demon Illusion Realm wasn’t unfamiliar. However, in the Xiangzhou Continent of this peaceful era, such large-scale illusions rarely appeared. To refine the imagination in one’s mind through the Primordial Spirit into a tangible realm that others can enter requires immense power. Cultivators of such caliber usually wouldn’t succumb to being overwhelmed by heart demons. Shen Ruoshi was indeed a rare case. Therefore, this Heart Demon Illusion Realm sprawling over ten miles became a rare observation specimen.

After just a while, Li Fengyun felt greatly rewarded, gaining new insights into the techniques of refining the Primordial Spirit, transforming illusion into reality, etc., so much so that when Wang Jiu stopped and said they had arrived, he felt a bit reluctant to leave.

The destination of this trip was a spacious courtyard on the outskirts of the town. From the outside, the courtyard was lush with greenery, and the pavilions were exquisite, standing out even in this dreamlike town.

Upon reaching the door, Wang Jiu boldly knocked, and soon a square-faced servant came to open the door, asking with a warm smile, "Whom are you two looking for?"

Wang Jiu stepped aside, allowing Li Fengyun to step forward. With confidence, Li Fengyun stated, "We’re looking for Shen Ruoshi."

"The master? Please wait a moment while I report back." He said, closing the door and heading quickly into the courtyard.

After a short while, the square-faced servant returned, enthusiasm unfaded: "The master invites both of you in to talk."

Following the small path behind the door all the way to the main hall, they saw Shen Ruoshi, dressed as a wealthy patriarch, sitting confidently on a high-backed chair, casting curious glances at the visiting guests.

With just one look, Wang Jiu nodded: "Immersion level 86%, indicating deep immersion with a low probability of dialogue."

Li Fengyun pondered for a moment, combining his understanding of the Heart Demon Illusion and whispered via transmission: "So, he’s immersed in this illusion and doesn’t remember his true identity?"

"Typically, when immersion exceeds 70%, past memories are obscured by the illusion, and he only reacts to relatively sensitive keywords," summarized Wang Jiu.

Li Fengyun furrowed his brow: "Keywords..."

Then he stepped forward a few paces and cupped his hand in salute to Shen Ruoshi: "Greetings, City Lord Shen."

In Li Fengyun’s view, Shen Ruoshi served as City Lord for decades, investing his life’s efforts into Shen City, so he should respond to the title of City Lord. However, upon hearing the phrase, Shen Ruoshi merely furrowed his brow: "What City Lord?"

Li Fengyun was taken aback; the term City Lord was ineffective?

Not losing heart, Li Fengyun turned his thoughts and continued to try: "Mr. Shen, do you remember the Sand Gathering Divine Skill?"

The Sand Gathering Divine Skill was Shen Ruoshi’s core cultivation technique, just like the Wind and Cloud Divinity Transformation Technique to Li Fengyun. It had long been integrated into the cultivator’s blood, muscles, and Three Souls and Seven Spirits. Li Fengyun believed that even if he forgot to eat and drink, he wouldn’t forget his core technique; using these four words to stimulate him should undoubtedly succeed.

Yet the very next moment, Shen Ruoshi frowned even more: "Who are you people, and what do you want to say?"

Li Fengyun was simply shocked. How deeply entrenched in illusion was Shen Ruoshi? He had forgotten he was the City Lord of Shen City and even forgot the Sand Gathering Divine Skill; what did he still remember?!

In desperation, Li Fengyun blurted out: "Father-in-law, you really..."

Before he could finish speaking, the wealthy patriarch-like Shen Ruoshi suddenly exuded a startling aura, an invisible force gust swept through the hall, leaving the servants inside in disarray.

"Shut up, you brat! Who’s your father-in-law?!"

This feeling was all too familiar, exactly like the domineering father-in-law who once sought to separate him from Yue’e. Li Fengyun’s eyes lit up: "Father-in-law, are you feeling better?!"

"Where did this lunatic come from; get out!" Shen Ruoshi was no longer polite, picking up the teacup beside him to hurl it at Li Fengyun’s face.

Though his actions appeared as a simple throw by an ordinary wealthy man, the True Essence in his hand subconsciously gathered. The terrifying True Essence of the Sea Overturning Realm tore at the space, shredding the solid space into fragments gathered around the teacup. In an instant, the teacup became a weapon capable of devastating the entire city.

Li Fengyun’s gaze hardened, recognizing the threat. He slightly clasped his hands, and an invisible Divine Sword was held within them, his entire physique rapidly shifting into the Sword God Body, poised for combat.

Given his current strength, he was slightly superior in combat power to Shen Ruoshi at his peak, especially since Shen Ruoshi’s consciousness was now foggy, resembling a brawny man with only brute force left, making the power disparity even greater... But still, being a master of the Sea Overturning Realm, every move wielded substantial might, forcing Li Fengyun to cautiously respond.

At their level of immortal cultivation, entering combat left no room for error, as a single mistake could lead to one’s demise in both form and spirit. Yet just as Li Fengyun prepared to face the battle, a voice filled with amusement and exasperation suddenly came from outside the door.

"Dad, you’re losing your temper again."

At this sound, all three in the room were taken aback.

Shen Ruoshi reacted first, immediately setting his teacup back on the table. The spatial shards gathered around the cup scattered like fine sand. At the same time, his fierce and harsh demeanor softened to one warm and amicable, gently saying: "I wasn’t losing my temper; I’ve always listened to you and been polite to everyone."

"Hmph, as if I didn’t hear it all, and you still dare deny it."

As the voice spoke, a tall and well-proportioned woman gracefully entered, her face graced with a warm and delightful smile, beautiful beyond compare.

It was Shen Yue’e, Shen Ruoshi’s daughter.

The Shen Yue’e who had long been deceased.

Seeing her, Wang Jiu immediately concluded that she was one of the cores of the entire Heart Demon Illusion Realm, the obsession in Shen Ruoshi’s life.

Turning around, Wang Jiu became interested in Li Fengyun’s reaction.

According to his understanding, Li Fengyun’s true love was solely Shen Yue’e. Although he married Lu Xin and fathered children after Shen Yue’e’s passing, clearly, these acts did not sway the allegiance of true love.

So, upon seeing his lost love resurrected in the Heart Demon Illusion, what kind of reaction would Li Fengyun have? Would reason triumph over emotion, forcing him to deny the other’s existence, or would his mind waver, leading him to immerse himself in the illusion alongside Shen Ruoshi?

However, to his surprise, Li Fengyun merely shook his head lightly, showing a clear expression of disappointment: "Not the same person at all."

Wang Jiu asked, "What’s the difference?" glancing at this current version of Shen Yue’e and positing his own hypothesis, "Is it the difference in bust size? This Shen Yue’e is clearly the maiden version before childbirth, with a notably different chest size compared to the Shen Yue’e I conversed with."

Upon hearing this topic, Li Fengyun’s face involuntarily broke into a warm smile: "Indeed, after having Qingming, Yue’e’s figure became even more perfect... However, regardless of the body type, I love them all the same, and it’s not just her appearance that I cherish but also her unique soul. This current Yue’e is a lookalike without the essence, merely a refined forgery."

"In what way exactly?"

"The real Yue’e would never be so tender and gentle towards her father."