Chapter 2212: Illusion Realm

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior," Qin Sang said, controlling his divine consciousness avatar to bow towards the void. Regardless of whether the artifact spirit intended it or not, it was an undeniable fact that he had gained benefits here. The silence remained unbroken; there was no reaction from his surroundings. Qin Sang's divine consciousness slowly withdrew from the Sun and Moon Palace, returning to his main body. He then stood up and left.

When Qin Sang emerged from the cloud mass, he noticed Zhan Yan and the others staring at him. He realized his profound immersion inside had aroused their suspicion. However, outsiders couldn't possibly know what he had gained, so Qin Sang maintained his composure and flew back to Liu Li.

After confirming that neither Qin Sang nor the Sun and Moon Palace showed any abnormalities, Zhan Ran and the others averted their gaze, and Xu Mu leapt into the clouds.

Liu Li was already preparing to leave, so she was startled when she heard Qin Sang intended to stay. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise as she exclaimed, "Fellow Daoist Qin, you..." Previously, Qin Sang had shown little interest in the Sundial of Spring and Autumn. They had initially planned to decisively give up if the artifact spirit didn't acknowledge them on their first attempt. Qin Sang's sudden change of heart clearly indicated something had happened. Thinking of a possibility, Liu Li was first shocked, then immediately grew wary. If Qin Sang were to take the Sundial of Spring and Autumn, Zhan Yan and the others would likely not stand idly by, making a conflict inevitable. Moreover, if the news leaked, it would cause an even greater stir. The allure of a post-celestial spirit treasure was immense; even without the artifact spirit's acknowledgment, many would still vie for it. Besides, powerful cultivators from the Yi Ren Clan were guarding outside!

"Fairy, you've misunderstood. It wasn't that the artifact spirit favored me, but rather I gained other benefits from it..." Qin Sang briefly explained to Liu Li, then paused before adding, "Fairy, you might try approaching it from the perspective of the Dao of Yin and Yang next; it could have an unexpected effect." Liu Li realized, "My master once explained the Dao of Yin and Yang to me, validating it with the way of ice magic. Its profound meaning, though, I could only vaguely remember at my current cultivation level, failing to grasp its true essence."

Qin Sang also felt a bit helpless about this. Had it not been for this unexpected turn of events, he and Liu Li would have entered the Mind Lake much earlier to help Liu Li overcome her tribulation, waiting for the celestial phenomenon to appear. Then, Liu Li could have come to meet the artifact spirit with her Void Refining stage cultivation. The drastic changes in the Sacred Land had completely reversed the situation. They had endured many hardships just to find this place, and now they had to use the Sun and Moon Palace to locate that secret realm. Liu Li, being only at the Soul Transformation stage, would find it incredibly difficult to gain the artifact spirit's acknowledgment!

Seeing that Qin Sang also had some knowledge of the Dao of Yin and Yang, Liu Li shared some of True Master Ning's explanations on the subject. Qin Sang found himself unable to fully comprehend them either. As the saying goes, "teach according to aptitude." True Master Ning had clearly expounded the Dao based on Liu Li's specific circumstances, which did not align with Qin Sang's understanding. The more Qin Sang learned about the Dao of Yin and Yang, the more he felt its vastness and profoundness. All Daoist techniques could be explained through 'Yin and Yang,' including thunder magic! A passage in the Five Thunder Emissary Seal scripture stated: "Yin and Yang clashing form thunder; their agitation creates lightning." Some believed that the various Daos were not strictly distinct; not only were there differences in magnitude, but also instances where one Dao encompassed another, viewing the Dao of Thunder, for example, as part of the Grand Dao of Yin and Yang.

In fact, Qin Sang didn't gain any immediate benefits in the Sun and Moon Palace. Perhaps his comprehension wasn't deep enough; he hadn't obtained any cultivation methods or secret techniques of the Dao of Yin and Yang from the black and white chess pieces. He still didn't know the full details of the pieces, their origin, or their true power. At this point, Qin Sang realized that his understanding of the Dao of Yin and Yang could be applied to thunder magic! If he were to encounter a nemesis like the Extinction Gourd again, or if he had to control the Thunder Beast War Guard to seal a Dao of Thunder spell at the Integration stage, it might not be so difficult. Just these potential insights alone made it worthwhile for him to stay and continue his contemplation a few more times.

Qin Sang, using thunder magic as his foundation, expounded his understanding of the Dao of Yin and Yang to Liu Li. As for how much she would gain, that depended solely on her own comprehension. While they were discussing the Dao via spiritual communication, Xu Mu flew out of the cloud mass. Judging by his expression, he had clearly returned empty-handed as well. After one round, no one had gained the artifact spirit's acknowledgment. No one was surprised; if it were that easy, previous generations would have already taken the Sundial of Spring and Autumn, leaving none for them. Zhan Yan, without hesitation, entered the cloud mass again. Each time the Sun and Moon Palace appeared, it would remain for a period. In the past, the various Daoist sects vied for the amount of time they could spend contemplating before the palace; those not strong enough might not even qualify to enter. Now, only the five of them remained, so time was ample, allowing each of them to try several times. Zhan Yan's second attempt yielded no miracle, and then it was Liu Li's turn.

Even with Liu Li's high comprehension, a qualitative leap was impossible in such a short time. However, since she was doing it, she would certainly give her best. Liu Li sat cross-legged before the palace gate. With the experience from her last attempt, she withstood the impact without spitting blood. Time passed, and the deadline quickly approached; it seemed it would be another failure. Just then, the clouds suddenly stirred, and the Sun and Moon Palace vibrated slightly. In an instant, everyone's eyes widened in disbelief. What did the sudden movement of the Sun and Moon Palace mean? Was the Sundial of Spring and Autumn about to acknowledge Liu Li as its master? Qin Sang was also very surprised, but he reacted extremely quickly, his figure flashing repeatedly to block the path between Zhan Yan's group of three and the cloud mass.

*Whoosh!* A sword light appeared horizontally before him. Then, thunder rumbled across the sky. *Crack!* A bolt of green lightning struck down before the three of them. "I urge the three of you not to cross this line, or you will find me ruthless!" Qin Sang warned in an icy tone, secretly preparing to summon the Thunder Beast War Guard. He was willing to expose his strength; he absolutely could not let these three ruin things. Sensing the power of the Five Thunder Heavenly Heart True Seal Talisman, Zhan Yan and the other two suddenly sobered up, their expressions shifting uneasily. At this moment, the strength Qin Sang displayed was far beyond what a cultivator at the Void Refining stage should possess, and Liu Li's identity also made them hesitant to act.

Just as the three hesitated, the Sun and Moon Palace vibrated again, and a cracking sound emanated from it. Everyone looked on in astonishment, only to see a crack appear on the top of the Sun and Moon Palace. *Crack!* The vibrations continued, and the crack spread rapidly. *Boom!* The Sun and Moon Palace suddenly exploded into countless fragments, and from it, a greyish-white stream of light shot out with incredible speed. Before anyone could clearly see what was within the light, it streaked towards the horizon.

Almost simultaneously, Qin Sang felt something unusual in his sleeve. His secret talisman spontaneously jumped out, but just as it was about to fly away, Qin Sang confined it in place. Others also experienced changes. A circular treasure mirror appeared on Zhan Yan's chest, like a heart guard, transforming into a rising full moon that gently rotated above his head, shooting a white line that extended to the very edge of sight. Jing Zhen's wrist jingled with a crisp sound. She wore a red string with a precious bell hanging from it, which was now violently shaking, its rapid ringing seemingly urging its owner to hurry to a certain place. Xu Mu also released a talisman, different from Qin Sang's secret talisman, but similar in function. These were all ancestral tokens they had obtained from the cultivators of the Yi Ren Clan, guiding them to this location. At this very moment, all the tokens unanimously pointed towards the same direction: the path taken by the grey stream of light!

The rapid succession of events was dazzling, but one thing was certain: it wasn't that the Sundial of Spring and Autumn was acknowledging Liu Li as its master. It was highly probable that the changes in the Sacred Land had alarmed the artifact spirit, causing it to actively break through the Sun and Moon Palace! When Qin Sang realized what was truly happening, his heart also sank. "It's likely the Sundial of Spring and Autumn that flew away. Chase it quickly!" Zhan Yan and the other two no longer bickered and hurriedly gave chase. The Sundial of Spring and Autumn appearing on its own was unprecedented; the opportunity to subdue this treasure might finally be at hand!

With the collapse of the Sun and Moon Palace and the appearance of the Sundial of Spring and Autumn, the cloud mass immediately showed signs of dissipating. Liu Li flew out, thankfully unharmed. Gazing at the direction where the grey stream of light and the three cultivators had vanished, she said gravely, "The location I calculated earlier was also there." The Sundial of Spring and Autumn, the secret talisman, and their collective destination—everything pointed in the same direction, all converging at the same time! Would the place they were heading to become the eye of a storm? "Since we've arrived, we'll make the best of it!" Faced with this situation, Qin Sang instead calmed down. If they were all heading to the same place, it would be even better, saving them the trouble of traveling back and forth! Despite this, Qin Sang couldn't help but feel regret. The opportunity to comprehend the black and white chess pieces was a rare one, and missing it now meant it would be difficult to encounter again in the future. Although he hadn't gained direct benefits, it felt as if a door to the secret of the black and white chess pieces had been opened for him, which would undoubtedly prove immensely useful in the future!

"Let's go!" Qin Sang and Liu Li immediately set off. They hadn't forgotten Yu Zhen, who now also sensed the changes in his talisman seal and was feeling anxious. "Fellow Daoist Yu," Qin Sang said directly this time, without prevarication, "Before we leave the Sacred Land, it's impossible for me to return the Extinction Gourd to you." Yu Zhen understood Qin Sang's meaning; with the situation unclear, no one would willingly hand over a treasure that could be used against them. Qin Sang's attitude satisfied him, and he was secretly delighted, thinking that his efforts had not been in vain after all. "I've accumulated some wealth, and I certainly won't let True Master Qin suffer any losses then!" Yu Zhen quickly said. Qin Sang cast a deep glance at Yu Zhen. This young man was quite an interesting character. From his words, it seemed trapping Zhang Yan was merely to show goodwill, not to use as a bargaining chip, and he would pay extra during the transaction. "No hurry, we might even have an opportunity to cooperate," Qin Sang said meaningfully. Upon hearing this, Yu Zhen was slightly stunned, feeling a sense of unexpected blessing from misfortune. With the Extinction Gourd in Qin Sang's hands, the Celestial Child and Tang Kun were likely in dire straits. No one would refuse an opportunity to cooperate with such a formidable individual. Before his words even finished, Qin Sang and Liu Li summoned their escape light and pierced through the air.

Although Yu Zhen was eager, he knew it was best to avoid appearing in public at the same time as Qin Sang. He deliberately took a detour before rushing towards the location indicated by the talisman seal.

As Qin Sang and Liu Li flew swiftly, the secret talisman's reaction grew increasingly intense. Just as they had anticipated, the talisman pointed precisely to the place they wished to go! By now, they could no longer sense the Sundial of Spring and Autumn at all. Even Zhan Yan and the others, who had immediately given chase, had been left far behind by the Sundial and lost its trail.

As they flew, a sound of piercing the air reached them from afar. Qin Sang and Liu Li slowed down, observing a red rainbow streak across the sky in the distance. Cultivators were being drawn in from all directions. After a brief discussion, they concealed their presences and proceeded stealthily.

Sand swirled across the vast, desolate land. From afar, amidst the boundless wilderness, a splash of green suddenly emerged, like a gemstone embedded in the earth, drawing all eyes. It was a lush jungle, with verdant mountains and clear waters, brimming with vitality, remarkably untouched by the storm. "This is it!" Liu Li said gravely. The secret talisman also pointed to this jungle! According to True Master Ning, this place was an illusionary realm where truth and falsehood were indistinguishable, and reality and illusion coexisted. They were meant to utilize this illusionary realm to help Liu Li overcome her inner demon tribulation. During this process, Qin Sang also needed to enter the illusionary realm. This illusionary realm was exceptionally unique; it could transport Qin Sang into Liu Li's inner demons, where he would meet her, guide her, help her through the tribulation, and resolve her demonic obstacles. True Master Ning speculated that Liu Li's inner demons were likely related to Qin Sang and Bing Yao, thus Qin Sang was the one to untie the knot. Qin Sang had never heard of such a marvelous place before. He looked around and saw lush grass, flowers covering the ground, streams flowing around the mountains, and birds and beasts living contentedly. It was as if it were a different world from the outside. The secret talisman had also led them here, and it now seemed that this illusionary realm might hide an even greater secret!

On the edge of the jungle, a dozen figures were currently floating, observing the forest with surprised and doubtful gazes. To their senses, everything seemed real, yet this was clearly illogical. Qin Sang and Liu Li did not approach them. Instead, they circled to another side and, when no one was around, swiftly entered the jungle. Instantly, a fresh scent of vegetation washed over them. Qin Sang landed by a stream, cupped a handful of clear water, and felt its coolness. Everything appeared incredibly real.

"Now is the time," Qin Sang said. Liu Li nodded. Entering the illusionary realm also required choosing the right moment. The illusionary realm had its own operating principles, and now, with its power stable, there was enough time for her to make a breakthrough and then face the heavenly tribulation when the illusionary realm's power erupted.

Qin Sang glanced at the secret talisman in his hand. The talisman had guided them to the illusionary realm and, unlike before, hadn't fallen silent, but it also no longer offered clear guidance. It seemed this illusionary realm was the ultimate destination, which explained why those other people were lingering outside. No abnormalities had appeared within the illusionary realm yet; they could only hope that any changes would come later, allowing him and Liu Li to complete their tasks first.

Knowing time was short, the two swiftly traversed the mountain forest, gradually moving away from the sight of others. However, once the heavenly tribulation descended, it would certainly not escape everyone's notice, so Qin Sang had to guard her.

After flying for a while, they arrived above a mountain peak, surveyed their surroundings, and finally chose this spot! Liu Li burrowed into the mountain, personally carving out a cave dwelling and setting up formations to prepare for her breakthrough. Qin Sang, meanwhile, set up array flags on the mountaintop to summon Mount Daiyu. Unlike last time, as soon as he activated the secret art, Mount Daiyu suddenly erupted with strange fluctuations, emitting layers of green light. Fortunately, Qin Sang had set up a grand formation beforehand to seal off the anomaly, otherwise it would likely have alarmed those outside the illusionary realm. Qin Sang stood atop the peak, holding the immortal mountain with one hand, his deep eyes gazing into the depths of the illusionary realm. He had finally found the essence of the immortal mountain! The next moment, his Dharmakaya left his body and, carrying the immortal mountain, pierced through the air.