Perhaps many do not know that the character '' (shèn) in the term "mirage" (, Hǎishìshènlóu) actually refers to a type of creature. One account suggests it is a shellfish-like animal capable of inhaling and exhaling mist, thus forming remarkably vivid illusions.

Another says it is a creature dwelling by the coast or the mouth of large rivers, resembling a Jiao dragon, called the Shenlong. The Shenlong's head bears forked antlers like a deer's, its neck down to its back is covered in a red mane, and its scales are a dull earthen color.

It is said that from the waist backward, the scales grow in reverse, pointing forward. Its feet resemble those of a Jiao, wide at the front.

The Shenlong possesses an incredible ability: the breath expelled from its mouth can manifest all sorts of phantoms. Most of these illusions are magnificent, luxurious pavilions and towers never before seen by man.

Through their windows, one can observe elaborately dressed nobles moving about. Their bearing is stunningly graceful, and these phantoms shift with the observer; even when looking at the same illusion, different people perceive subtle variations in detail.

The Shenlong favors swallows as its diet, reportedly consuming nothing else. However, swallows are swift flyers and rarely touch the water's surface, so the Shen conjures illusions to lure them into its mouth.

A mirage is the phantom conjured by the Shenlong's breath, but it can also be created using the Shen's fat: mixing the fat with high-quality wax to make a candle. If lit at dusk just before it rains, one can also see illusions.

But such illusions are far inferior to those created by the Shen itself. Moreover, there is a fascinating legend: because the Shenlong enjoys eating swallow meat, in places where a Shen dwells, dishes made from swallows are strictly forbidden from being sold, and people are absolutely prohibited from consuming them.

This is because the Shen, upon smelling swallow, will attack anyone who has eaten one. When the Shen discovers a lack of swallows, it becomes enraged, causing bridges to collapse and ships to sink, bringing collateral damage to others.

Therefore, unless one intends to capture a Shen, no one would dare eat a swallow before venturing near waters where a Shen resides. The Shenlong is an exceedingly rare dragon, entirely due to the Shen's method of reproduction: a snake and a pheasant mate in the first lunar month, laying a single, very small egg.

This egg attracts clouds and thunder from the heavens. Lightning strikes the egg, pushing it into the earth, where it transforms into a coiled snake shape several dozen meters down.

After two to three hundred years, the earth surrounding the egg turns to stone and begins to ascend toward the sky. Upon encountering moonlight, the rock shatters, and only then does the nascent Shenlong emerge.

As for those eggs that are struck by lightning but fail to enter the earth, they can only hatch into pheasants. Many pheasants are thus hatched from eggs that fail to become Shen.

However, if these pheasants leap into the sea, they transform into Shen. Mirage phenomena have occurred in many parts of the world: on calm seas, wide river surfaces, lakes, snowfields, deserts, or Gobi regions, tall towers, cities, and trees occasionally appear in the sky or "underground" as illusory scenes, which are called mirages.

Mirages are not only generated over the sea or in deserts; they can occasionally be seen on asphalt roads as well. Scientists believe that a mirage is actually the result of light refraction through atmospheric layers of varying vertical density.

Yet, whether the Shen and Shenlong of ancient Chinese legends ever truly existed remains a mystery to everyone. The place where mirages are most frequently witnessed in China is the coastal region of Shandong, specifically an area called Penglai.

These illusions often appear over the sea there. The ancients attributed them to the Shen, a subordinate of the Jiao dragon, exhaling its breath to form towers and cityscapes, thus giving the place its name.

Thinking of Penglai reminds me of what the attendant of Fengli Da Xian told us—that Fengli Da Xian himself had retreated to Penglai Island for solitary cultivation. And since Penglai Island is itself an illusion formed by a Shen, this fact already suggested to us that a Shen might exist within the mountains we are currently in.

Everything before our eyes now indeed confirms the presence of a Shen here, aligning with one of the legendary descriptions: that the Shen is a clam. What surprises me, however, is that I never knew the Shen fed on corpses, and that it looked so grotesque.

According to the legendary descriptions, the stream of gas the Shen is now releasing from its tail should be forming an illusion. Sure enough, shortly after the smoke dissipated, I saw the figure of a white-haired old immortal appear at the very top of the giant corpse-tree—the external shell of the Shen.

This person was none other than Fengli Da Xian, whom we had seen before. The white-haired old immortal sat composedly in his high perch, a mass of cloud-like smoke coiled beneath his rear, his eyes closed in repose.

I knew it was an illusion, yet I couldn't help but speak: "Are you Fengli Da Xian?" The old man narrowed his eyes, and after a few seconds, finally spoke: "Indeed, you have finally arrived." "You are no Fengli Da Xian! You are merely an illusion created by the Shen!" Nie Chuan shouted from ahead.

Fengli Da Xian glanced at him. A hint of a smile suddenly appeared on his otherwise expressionless face.

He stroked his beard and said, "What exactly is an illusion? Life itself is but a dream; perhaps you are already living within an illusion, merely believing everything to be real." His words sent a cold sweat down my spine, for they instantly reminded me of what had just happened.

That long-faced man had kept me and [redacted for atmosphere] confined, making us live in an illusion, and we never realized it, thinking everything was true. Nie Chuan froze, then asked, "What do you mean?

Are you going to argue semantics? A mere illusion is nothing more than smoke passing before the eyes; it has no effect on the real world.

Aren't you just such an existence? No matter how hard you argue, you are nothing but floating dust." Fengli Da Xian waved his whisk through the empty air and declared, "You, a mere fledgling, dare to speak so boldly.

Do you realize that I don't need to influence your so-called real world? I only need to trap you forever within the illusion created by the Shen.

Your very survival—life or death—is under my control. If I wish you dead now, both the you in the real world and the you standing here will instantly perish.

Do you believe me?" Nie Chuan looked defiant and was about to say more, but I quickly cut in. I said, "We believe you!

We believe you! Great Immortal Fengli, you are boundless in your power, and magnanimous in spirit.

Please forgive this ignorant boy." As I spoke, I moved forward and saw that the black, withered hands on the ground had transformed into ordinary weeds. The piles of corpses, the carrion flies, and the stench were all gone.

The corpse-mountain upon which Fengli Da Xian sat had become a lush, ancient pine tree, around which colorful butterflies danced. Fengli Da Xian snorted and said, "Since the time of Emperor Qin, rulers of every nation on earth have sought the secret of eternal life.

But do you know what true immortality is?" I walked to Nie Chuan’s side and discreetly winked at him, signaling him to remain silent. The current situation suggested that Fengli Da Xian was in a good mood and wished to impart some knowledge.

Whether he was an illusion or real now, listening to him couldn't hurt. So, I followed his lead and asked, "Please enlighten us, Great Immortal, what constitutes true eternal life?" Fengli Da Xian stroked his beard and replied, "It is simple.

True immortality requires detachment from the physical body. Because the body is subject to disease, natural disasters, aging, and other limitations.

However, the spirit is eternal. Therefore, only by shedding the physical form can one achieve the realm of everlasting life." Nie Chuan’s lips moved, as if he were about to object.

I knew he must be thinking that spirit detached from the body would be destroyed—resulting in annihilation of both form and spirit—and therefore could not lead to immortality. I thought the same, but I didn't want to argue excessively with Fengli Da Xian, so I asked, "May I ask, Great Immortal, how can the spirit be preserved forever?" Fengli Da Xian looked at me, seemingly in contemplation.

After a while, he stated, "You have just seen it. Beneath me resides a Shen, a rare creature formed from the spiritual essence of heaven and earth.

If the Shen can extract a person’s spirit and will from their body and preserve it within its own form, then spiritual longevity can be achieved. Furthermore, the Shen can create a space around itself where only thought can survive.

Any person or animal entering this area will fall completely into an illusion, and their physical body will eventually become the Shen's food." I continued his thought: "Is it only when near the Shen's true form that one can see the real world?" Fengli Da Xian smiled faintly and said, "Indeed, that is correct. However, the moment you see the Shen's true form is also the moment you become its bait.

For instance, now..." I broke out in a cold sweat and rapidly backed away. As I retreated, I asked, "If one becomes the Shen's food, do they all become its puppets, living forever?" Fengli Da Xian scoffed, "That is not certain.

Only those with true Immortal Destiny can achieve everlasting life; the rest of the rubbish will only become fertilizer." I forced a dry laugh and said, "You brought us here, actually intending for us to be fertilizer, correct?" To my surprise, Fengli Da Xian shook his head and replied, "No. Even if I hadn't led you here, those trapped in the illusion would eventually find their way here on their own, because this is the final destination for all." I kept backing away, inquiring as I retreated, "Then what about Lei Yun Seng?

Does such a person truly exist?" Fengli Da Xian fell silent for a moment, his expression turning somewhat enraged. "Do not mention that person in my presence.

He was the only one in the last thousand years who attempted to build a second world within my illusion. We are irreconcilable enemies.

That is why he wants you dead, and why I insist on protecting you." Nie Chuan seemed to have become interested in our exchange and interjected, "Does Lei Yun Seng also possess a Shen?" Fengli Da Xian huffed, "With his meager cultivation, how could he possibly command such an ancient divine beast? If it weren't for those people constantly helping him from the shadows, I would have eliminated him long ago." "Those people?

You mean..." I pressed on. Fengli Da Xian smiled slightly.

"Precisely. You guessed correctly.

Those people are of your kin, just a different faction." I stopped retreating, exclaiming in astonishment, "Are you saying my tribe was once split into two factions?"