Across the entire Tianling Continent, there are numerous known and unknown Illusory Realms, each possessing distinct properties. There is the Dragon Stone Illusory Realm, where gravity surpasses that of the outside world; the Spiritual Cultivation Illusory Realm, where the concentration of spiritual energy is higher than normal; and even the Seductive Illusionary Realm, which stirs human desire and confuses the mind with phantoms.

What the Nie family possesses is the Life-and-Death Illusory Realm.

Regardless of the specific type, Spiritual Masters can extract their souls using specialized "Illusory Spirit Stones" and enter these realms, forming life forms that feel both real and false. Within any Illusory Realm, if a soul dies, it always returns to the physical body, provided the head has not been blown to smithereens.

The Nie family’s Life-and-Death Illusory Realm allows a Spiritual Master, at the very instant of death, to experience the transition between life and death with senses sharpened nearly tenfold. It is rumored that during this dying process, the Spiritual Master can clearly feel their life force draining away, drop by painstaking drop.

In the outside world, death is instantaneous, perhaps not even allowing time to register pain. But within the Life-and-Death Illusory Realm, the process of dying is stretched out by tens or even hundreds of times. One must endure agonizing pain while watching oneself slowly perish.

Between life and death lies immense terror.

Only by experiencing the horror of death can one truly grasp the preciousness of life. Furthermore, surviving such an ordeal can cause a fundamental metamorphosis in a person's willpower and mental fortitude. This is why, every five years when the Illusory Realm opens, the Nie family selects Spiritual Masters under the age of twenty whose cultivation has reached the sixth rank of Spirit Gathering or higher for this tempering experience.

It can be said that any Illusory Realm provides immense assistance to a Spiritual Master’s cultivation. However, the mechanism through which these realms function remains an enigma to every Spiritual Master to this day; the only certainty is that all discovered Illusory Realms are relics left over from the Illusory Spirit Era.

Legend suggests that before the "Tianling Era Calendar," humanity operated under the "Illusory Spirit Calendar." During that time, this continent was known as the Illusory Spirit Continent.

Approximately ten thousand years ago, some cataclysmic upheaval—a world-shattering event—struck the Illusory Spirit Continent. The vast majority of humans perished, and even the survivors lost all memory. Nearly all textual records that could prove the existence of that era vanished without a trace, save for occasional fragments of ruins unearthed, etched with bizarre script; the history of the Illusory Spirit Continent is essentially a blank slate.

For the current inhabitants of the Tianling Continent, the Illusory Spirit Era is nothing more than myth and legend, lending an air of profound mystery to the Illusory Realms, which are its vestiges. Since antiquity, generations of powerful Spiritual Masters have studied the principles of their construction, yet to no avail.

Illusory Realms can actively absorb the energies of heaven and earth to sustain their operation. Yet, they possess a fatal flaw: if the cultivation of a Spiritual Master entering them exceeds the realm's tolerance limit, fissures will appear, potentially leading to complete collapse or destruction. Of course, everyone understands the invaluable nature of these realms, so regardless of which sect or family possesses one, they are meticulously protected, and such catastrophic accidents are usually avoided.

It is worth noting that many families, sects, and even the Imperial Family on the Tianling Continent owe their prosperity to Illusory Realms. The Nie family serves as the prime example.

Three centuries ago, the Nie family was merely a moderately powerful lineage within the Great Success Empire.

At that time, when the Nie family patriarch accidentally discovered the Life-and-Death Illusory Realm and the Ice-Flame Cave here, he relocated the entire clan and rigorously guarded the secret of the Illusory Realm. After nearly a century of quiet development, the Nie family stunned everyone at the Great Success Empire's decennial "Clan Alliance Assembly," climbing into the top five. This established the Nie family’s prestige and prosperity over the subsequent years; indeed, even Jiyang City achieved its current scale solely because of the Nie family.

There is truth in the saying: Without the Life-and-Death Illusory Realm, there is no Nie family.

"The Life-and-Death Illusory Realm? Hmph. I’ve already experienced a real death. Must I enter another one just to savor the feeling of a false passing?"

Walking home, recalling the rumors surrounding the Nie family’s Life-and-Death Illusory Realm, Nie Kong couldn't help but laugh. Ever since Nie Qingfeng mentioned his potential entry into the realm, Nie Kong had spent his spare time cultivating by having others gather information. Comparing what he learned with the memories stored in his mind, he had gained a basic understanding of the Life-and-Death Illusory Realm. Lately, in the training grounds, he constantly overheard discussions about the candidates chosen for the "Life-and-Death Illusory Realm."

The Ninth Elder had summoned him just now specifically regarding this matter.

If any other collateral branch youth heard they were personally summoned by the Ninth Elder, they would likely be overwhelmed with flattery and apprehension. Nie Kong, however, felt relatively unfazed; he knew clearly that the only reason the Ninth Elder sought him out was the potential and value he had recently displayed.

Jumping from the first rank of Spirit Gathering to the ninth in just six or seven days was a speed that naturally warranted the family's attention. If Nie Kong were still the frail invalid he was before, no one would spare him a second glance, and even the Ninth Elder wouldn't recall having treated that sickly boy.

Nie Kong held little interest in the Ninth Elder’s talk of experiencing and comprehending life and death. What truly held his focus was a remark the Elder had made almost playfully: that the Life-and-Death Illusory Realm contained extremely rare medicinal herbs, and possibly even treasures akin to Spirit Patterned Weapons.

This was the most peculiar aspect of the Illusory Realms. You could argue they were real, as a Spiritual Master would not genuinely die inside if they were even moderately careful; yet, you could argue they were false because they contained mountains and water, flora and fauna, and even hosted vast populations of ordinary animals and spirit beasts.

"Today is the thirteenth, tomorrow the fourteenth, and the day after is when the Life-and-Death Illusory Realm opens."

Nie Kong muttered under his breath, a flicker of worry crossing his mind. He heard one could stay in the realm for up to seven days. During that time, only Hua Mei would be home. Nie Fengxing and Wu Tong, who harbored intense hatred for him, might try to harass her. Given that Hua Mei was just an ordinary woman, handling them alone would be difficult.

"Great Radish Apprentice."

Suddenly, a sweet, clear voice reached his ears.

Only that little brat, Mu Hongling, knew that nickname and used it to address him! Nie Kong quickly looked towards the source and, sure enough, spotted a stunning young girl, dressed in fire-red, cheerfully waving at him from a nearby fork in the path.

It had been days since he last saw her... An idea suddenly struck Nie Kong, his eyes lighting up. It would be a colossal waste not to utilize such a convenient resource. Thus, Nie Kong’s face broke into a wide smile as he walked over, greeting her enthusiastically: "It’s my little Master."

"I told you not to add 'little'."

Mu Hongling adopted the stern posture of a teacher, her round face tense, lecturing him with an air of authority. "Bad apprentice, how has your cultivation progressed these past few days without seeing me?"

Nie Kong shook his head. "The low-speed setting is going alright, but the medium speed isn't great. I've been using the Gyro at medium speed for days, and I can only manage about twenty rotations before getting pinched."

"That fast a progress?" Mu Hongling looked somewhat astonished.

She herself only began practicing the medium-speed Gyro after reaching the Spirit Channeling realm, and it took her nearly half a month to reach the level Nie Kong described. Yet, judging by his tone, he sounded somewhat dissatisfied, which immediately sent Mu Hongling into a slight frenzy.

She huffed twice, the young girl pouting charmingly. "Bad apprentice, you’re misbehaving again. Are you trying to act humble in front of your master? I’m your Master! Treating your Master like an outsider—looks like your hide is itching again." Mu Hongling rolled up her sleeves, her two beautiful jade arms waving in front of Nie Kong in a clear gesture of impending correction.

Nie Kong laughed. "Little Master, I certainly don't treat you like an outsider. Coincidentally, I actually need your help with something right now."

"Spit it out, spit it out."

Mu Hongling assumed the help Nie Kong needed was related to cultivation, and immediately her face bloomed into a smile, the dimples by her mouth trembling. She hadn't tired of the Master role yet, and she no longer cared about the "little" prefix. "An apprentice's business is naturally the Master's business. As long as I can help, your Master will never refuse."

Nie Kong quickly said, "It’s a small favor, just a trivial task for Little Master. But before I explain, I wanted to ask, how many more days will you be staying in Jiyang City?"

"At least another month, why do you ask?" Mu Hongling squinted at Nie Kong suspiciously.

"It’s like this: I have to enter the Illusory Realm the day after tomorrow, and only sister-in-law will be home. I worry that Nie Fengxing will harass her. Oh, Nie Fengxing is the clan leader’s third son, and he’s had ill intentions toward my sister-in-law for a long time. Since Little Master isn't in a hurry to leave, could I trouble you to look out for her for a few days?" Nie Kong explained.

"That person’s name is Nie Fengxing?" Mu Hongling frowned, a trace of disgust flashing in her eyes.

"That’s right."

"Hmph. Great Radish Apprentice, rest assured and enter the Illusory Realm. Your Master has decided to help you with this favor," Mu Hongling declared, lightly slapping her chest as she agreed readily.

"Then thank you, Little Master. Come, I’ll take you to see my home first." Nie Kong was slightly surprised. He had braced himself for a long negotiation, perhaps even preparing some teasing remarks to coax Mu Hongling, but he hadn't expected her to agree so readily, without the slightest hesitation or reservation.

"Let's go!"

After following Nie Kong for a few steps, Mu Hongling finally caught on.

Tapping the back of her head with her fist, the young girl grumbled with a long face, "I got the short end of the stick! Why do I do whatever he asks? I’m the Master, and he’s the apprentice! Now it seems like I’m his apprentice. If I had known, I wouldn't have agreed so quickly..."

... P: This chapter introduces an important setting and background for the book, so the content is slightly shorter. However, the groundwork is laid, and the excitement of the Illusory Realm is about to begin... ...