Before me stood a palace-like edifice, soaring beneath an endless sea of stars, imbued with an indescribable aura of mystery and solemn grandeur. Every person held aloft a Phoenix Pearl, its brilliant luminescence bathing a vast expanse of the heavens.
Simultaneously, the plaque above the main gate bore an inscription penned in bold, wildly cursive script: One flower, one world; One tree, one world; Three thousand Great Worlds, Three thousand Minor Worlds. The myriad things of existence, Illusorily manifest in myriad forms; The endless transformation of all phenomena, The ten layers of the Labyrinthine Realm.
These eight lines of five-character verses had stood for nearly ten millennia, yet to this day, no one had managed to fully grasp their profound secrets. Every wandering warrior who arrived here instinctively sought to glean some understanding. A thousand people yielded a thousand interpretations, and precisely which meaning the verse truly implied remained perpetually elusive.
However, our present purpose was urgent; no one had the inclination to decipher the meaning of those mysterious verses now.
The commander for this operation was Jian Li, whose expression was grave as he surveyed the yawning entrance to the grand hall.
“From this moment forward, everyone maintain maximum vigilance!” Jian Li commanded.
“Yes!” the young disciples chorused in response.
The main gate of the hall was colossal, towering some fifteen or sixteen meters high. Stepping inside, the surrounding walls were adorned with exquisite relief carvings depicting all manner of rare beasts and monstrous creatures. Many of these were familiar to us.
Though the carvings were monochromatic reliefs, we could still discern the imagery on the vast wall to the left: the centipedes, pincer bugs, vile maggots, leaping hornets, and others from the Centipede Cave. These were unremarkable, but the central figure was a gigantic creature coiled into a massive ball, resembling something between a centipede and a dragon.
That was the Evil Centipede—a name that struck terror into all who heard it. During my time in the Coffin of Death, though I never saw the Evil Centipede in its entirety, its terrifying bulk and appearance, matching the legends, allowed me to recognize immediately that the carving on the stone depicted the evil martial arts of the Centipede Cave.
Slightly to the left was another tableau of mutated beings. Each possessed enormous wings sprouting from its back, a small, elongated head, and a tail like that of an ox, yet their bodies were human in form, albeit far more robust and ferocious. They wielded implements that seemed like Soul Eels or bolts of lightning, and more unsettlingly, seemed to spew forth plumes of fire from their mouths. Though I had never encountered these creatures in the Marfa World, I recognized them instantly as the Woma beings from the Woma Temple.
All the Woma creatures were varied in form, yet they encircled four slightly larger, more distinct specimens. The conspicuous, gigantic serrated twin blades allowed me to identify those particular figures immediately: they were the Woma Guards among the Woma hierarchy.
Encircled and heavily protected at the very center were creatures of unremarkable appearance. Their hands seemed to cradle twin arcs of crackling electricity, and their eyes, the size of fists, glittered with an unnatural light. Even as a mere grayscale relief, I could sense the cunning and malice contained within that depiction.
Without a doubt, that was the Woma Hierarch.
Further to the left were towering, bipedal monsters resembling giant boars—the White Wild Boars from the Mengzhong Pig Cave. They looked ferocious, brandishing enormous Wolf Fang Hammers, their eyes sweeping around with palpable killing intent.
The other three walls depicted different entities. The Zuma beings from the Zuma Temple and the Zuma Hierarch, the Skeleton Legions of the Bone Demon Cave, and the deeply unsettling Yellow Spring Hierarch were all conspicuously present. Clearly, the reliefs in this palace illustrated the various denizens dwelling beneath the Illusionary Realm.
Deeper still were the Iris Hierarch, the Crimson Blood Demon, the Stone Tomb Corpse King, the Bull Demon King, and countless other arch-fiends whose names struck fear across the continent. Seeing this, everyone couldn't help but shudder. If these carvings depicted the true face of the Illusionary Realm, it was easy to imagine the extreme peril awaiting them on this mission.
Picking any one of them—the Woma Hierarch, Yellow Spring Hierarch, Zuma Hierarch, or Iris Hierarch—would be enough to cause widespread panic. Now, to break through the layers of defense mounted by these terrifying behemoths and reach the Tenth Layer of Illusion was a daunting prospect.
To be honest, I had little confidence. Even this mission, orchestrated as the most powerful demon-slaying endeavor ever assembled by the three major guilds of the Dragon Continent, offered little reassurance.
We proceeded cautiously toward the main portal at the front of the palace, maintaining heightened alert.
Behind the main gates lay a long, narrow passage, subtly sloping downward.
Leading the way were my Master, myself, and two Martial Uncles. At this point, our exceptional intuition and sensory perception proved invaluable. Through years of sunless cultivation in the Dragon Continent, I had long adapted to relying on my Death Desire Eye to discern environmental changes. As for the Elders and Grandmasters, their cultivation naturally matched mine. The entire contingent followed closely behind us four leaders, threading their way carefully through the passage.
Bringing up the rear were the three Elders of the Scarlet Moon Villa. Meanwhile, the Elders from Shiliu Cloud Villa and the Yun family held positions in the center, ready to counter any sudden change.
After a considerable trek, we finally passed through the constricted corridor.
The space before us suddenly opened up into a wide area.
The surrounding walls were composed of dark gray stone, dotted with numerous luminous crystal shards. The floor was solid black-gray. This terrain bore a striking resemblance to the Centipede Cave.
On the stone wall beside us were four large characters: Illusionary Realm, First Layer.
Everyone instinctively gripped their weapons tighter, sharpening their focus. We were now undeniably within the boundaries of the Illusionary Realm.
My Master produced a map, fixed our bearing, and selected a direction. The Dragon Shadow Villa and the Artisan Gate had previously scouted the Illusionary Realm, so they naturally knew the path.
Along the way, we frequently encountered indistinct clumps of bloody flesh and mangled remains—mostly zombies, centipedes, vile maggots, leaping hornets, and worms—mutated creatures from the Zombie Cave and the Centipede Cave.
They appeared to have perished recently. Clearly, others had pressed deeper into the Illusionary Realm before us. Calculating the timeline, these were not the main forces that set out twenty-odd days prior, but rather other groups who had arrived later, just like us. The residual traces indicated a substantial number, easily over a thousand individuals.
“It seems other guilds, who received the news later, have also arrived!” Jian Li analyzed.
“Indeed. The routes leading to Heavenly Capital Peak have been ceaselessly busy with wandering warriors lately. I suspect this activity will continue, meaning more and more people will converge here in the Illusionary Realm.”
“There’s no need to worry about that just yet,” Jian Qiu interjected. “More people mean greater strength, and a higher chance of breaching the Illusionary Realm’s levels. But once this massive crowd breaks through the final barrier of the Tenth Layer, it’s bound to erupt into chaos. That will be the truly troublesome time.”
“Forget about that for now,” Jian Qiu continued. “Life and death are determined by fate. Since they chose this path themselves, we can’t control it. We can only pray we seize the Crimson Blood Demon Sword first, nipping all future conflicts in the bud.”
“One can only hope.” Yun Peng was not optimistic about the unfolding situation.
We pressed northwestward. All along the route lay mountains of monster corpses and wreckage, testifying to the ferocity of the battles fought by those ahead. Yet, we saw no human remains. This suggested that the advancing warrior army held an absolute advantage in the preceding engagements.
A day later, we finally reached the northwestern extremity of the First Layer of Illusion. We encountered no monster attacks on our journey; clearly, the initial wave of warriors had already decimated the First Layer’s denizens.
Before us yawned a cavernous passage, dark and vast, like the gaping maw of some colossal beast, giving the unsettling impression that once entered, there would be no return. Nevertheless, we stiffened our resolve and pressed onward.
We traversed the tunnel for another two hours. Finally emerging from the passage, we arrived at the Second Layer of the Illusionary Realm.
The scenery felt strangely familiar. Upon closer inspection: the ground was ochre-colored and rough; the surrounding walls were a fragmented tapestry of yellow and black. It resembled an ancient city abandoned in the desert, permeated by foul smells of blood and decay, mingled with the distinct, heavy stench of pig manure. The floor was littered with the corpses of red or black wild boars—evidence that the previous group had carved their path through here.
This layer of the Illusionary Realm was virtually identical to the First Layer of the Mengzhong Pig Cave.
On the walls, we saw massive humanoid statues, resembling officials from the ancient Song Dynasty: a square hat with two flat plumes extending horizontally, paired with official robes and a girdle. Their expressions were solemn, gazing into the distance. I couldn't fathom their significance, which only deepened my curiosity about the origins of the Pig Cave and the Illusionary Realm itself.
Every fifteen meters or so stood a sturdy stone pillar, upon which a torch burned fiercely, providing the sole illumination within the cavern. Following the main thoroughfare southwest, the quantity of monster remains increased, and the stench grew overwhelmingly pungent.
Another day passed before we finally reached the entrance connecting the Second to the Third Layer of the Illusionary Realm. To our surprise, a substantial contingent of people blocked the entrance. Judging by their banners, it appeared to be an alliance formed by several small to medium-sized guilds.
They stood at the entrance to the Third Layer, their expressions hesitant, gazing into the passage.
“Are you from the Panlong Yun Family?” Upon seeing our banner, the leader of that group, a Mage, swiftly approached us. At that moment, myself, Jian Li, and a dozen or so Elders were all clad in standard Zuma gear, making it impossible for outsiders to discern our features—and even if they could, they might not recognize us. Thus, it was only upon recognizing the Yun Family standard that the group offered their query.
On the Dragon Continent, the Panlong Yun Family was one of the Six Great Families. While not rivaling the major powers like the Azure Dragon Gang, White Tiger Alliance, or Black Tortoise Alliance, they still possessed considerable prestige.
The man addressing us appeared to be around fifty, lean of build, draped in a black-brown Demon Robe, wearing the standard Zuma set for Mages, and holding an Ancient Jade Scepter. Out of respect for the Yun Family, the man removed his helmet and advanced slowly. A flicker of surprised delight crossed his face, which struck Jian Li and me as somewhat peculiar.
“I am Yun Peng,” he introduced himself quickly.
“It is Elder Sect Master Yun Peng,” the leading Mage quickly bowed low. “Junior Han Luo, leader of the Scorpion Gang, greets the Elder.”
“Han Luo,” Yun Peng seemed to recall something. “What relation are you to Han Fang?”
“Han Fang is my esteemed father,” Han Luo replied respectfully.
“Ah, the offspring of an old acquaintance.” Yun Peng’s solemn expression softened considerably, then he turned serious. “No need for pleasantries. You all seem to have arrived quite early, yet why linger at the entrance instead of proceeding to the Third Layer?”
“Elder, you are unaware. The next layer is guarded by the Woma Hierarch.” Han Luo explained. “We initially entered the Third Layer but were forced to retreat back here.”
“What exactly transpired?” Yun Peng’s expression grew grave as he instinctively looked toward Jian Li.
“What? Have the vanguard forces still not broken through the Woma Hierarch’s defenses?” Jian Li asked.
“Precisely.” Han Luo seemed surprised; even the Yun Family Elder looked toward Jian Li with deference. Though he didn't know Jian Li’s exact status, he quickly explained, “We have been here for three days, and the battle inside has been incessant. We are merely members of smaller guilds, banding together hoping to gain experience and see the legendary Woma Hierarch for ourselves. If we could participate in slaying the Hierarch, that would be ideal. However, just facing the Woma Hierarch’s guards nearly resulted in our total annihilation, forcing our retreat to the Second Layer. We decided to wait and see if the combined forces of the Azure Dragon Gang, Black Tortoise Alliance, and White Tiger Alliance could defeat the Woma Legion and slay the Hierarch.”
“I see,” Jian Li and the others understood. “This journey into the Illusionary Realm is exceedingly perilous. The Woma Hierarch only guards the Third Layer; the deeper you go, the stronger the monsters become. We advise you to turn back soon.”
“Elder’s teaching is noted,” Han Luo replied. “But since we have come this far, we must at least broaden our horizons. I trust that the combined demon-slaying army of the Azure Dragon Gang, White Tiger Alliance, Black Tortoise Alliance, and the Brotherhood Mage Corps will triumph over the Woma Hierarch. Even if we must leave, we wish to wait until the outcome of this battle is decided.”
“Hahaha, you young man, just like your father, always eager for excitement!” Yun Peng chuckled, then turned to Jian Li. “Shall we wait here, or proceed onward?”
“Let’s go in and take a look,” Jian Li decided. “There is still a long road ahead. If they exhaust themselves fighting the Woma Hierarch too fiercely, it will greatly impact our subsequent operations.”
“Indeed. Going in sooner will allow us to offer support earlier,” added Elder Feng Yuanming of the Feng Family.
“Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!” From the other end of the passage came tremendous roars, and even from this distance, we could feel violent tremors shaking the ground. Everyone’s expression shifted slightly.
We subconsciously quickened our pace.
As we neared the end of the tunnel, the sounds grew louder until they were like being immersed in continuous thunderclaps, the earth-shattering noise making our eardrums ache uncomfortably.
Clearly, the battle at the far end of the passage remained deadlocked.
Finally, we reached the tunnel’s terminus. However, with the situation still unclear, we dared not rush out into the fray. Through the small patch of light visible from the exit, we saw a chaotic world illuminated by flashing lightning, swirling snow-blades, and surging seas of fire. All the young disciples of the Yun Family were beside themselves with excitement.
This was the fierce confrontation between the three major guilds, joined by the continent's strongest Mage guild, the Brotherhood, challenging the Woma Legion. It was a spectacle rarely seen in a thousand years, and we had stumbled right into it. How could they not be exhilarated?
They instinctively tightened their grips on their weapons, burning to plunge into the battlefield immediately. For young warriors like them, opportunities to participate in such an earth-shattering war were exceedingly rare, and being part of it would be vital for their future growth.
This was why, despite knowing the mission was fraught with peril, the entire Yun Family allowed their younger generation to participate—to provide them with tempering. This endeavor might cost many disciples their lives, but those who survived would surely be the elite of the elite.
No pain, no gain; only those who withstand the trial can become the future pillars of the Yun Family.
It was not just the Yun Family; noble clans and esteemed sects across the continent used such adventurous experiences to hone their succeeding generations. Thus, adventure remained the unchanging, eternal theme of the wandering warrior world.
Now, the real adventure was about to commence!
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