Chapter 282: Great Sumeru Way

"The situation we're currently facing is quite unique. We can't find a path to resolve the issue, we have no discernible clues, and we're completely bewildered. Continuing like this will only lead to a waste of time." Ling Yao stated with a cool, detached expression.

After her Sword Dao awakened, the young woman's cool demeanor seemed even more incisive than before. Her beauty also appeared to have enhanced, giving her the aura of a transcendent, banished immortal.

"Perhaps I have a method that can unravel the mystery currently ensnaring us, though I'm unsure if it will ultimately succeed." The Empress spoke abruptly. Around her, the Five Hanyue Maidens collectively turned to their master, their faces etched with alarm.

"You're not contemplating..."

"Precisely. I am now at the Grand Completion of the Divine Infant Realm. With Ah Yang's assistance, I should be able to execute the supreme secret art of the Illusion Realm – the Great Sumeru Dao!"

Xu Yang and the others were all taken aback. "What is the Great Sumeru Dao?"

"Simply put, it's akin to your 'Asking the Dao with Heart,' but the Great Sumeru Dao doesn't leverage the power of the Dao to invoke the laws of heaven and earth. Instead, it accomplishes this through pure spiritual energy. Once successfully cast, it allows one to truly perceive with the heavens and earth as their eyes, drawing upon the power of all Daos to simulate events that have transpired within a specific area."

As the Empress concluded, everyone present was astounded. Even the Taotie Ancestral Beast, who had lived for a million years, couldn't help but draw a sharp breath.

"Does such a miraculous cultivation technique truly exist in this world?"

The Empress nodded gravely. "The founding Imperial Ancestor of the Hanyue lineage was the foremost illusionist in the history of the Three Thousand Dao States. He once utilized this method to deduce the complete landscape of the continent a million years ago. That miracle, in its time, was truly awe-inspiring, solidifying the Hanyue Empire's renown. However, this technique demands an exceptionally high level of spiritual energy, and I am not entirely certain I can execute it successfully."

Xu Yang mused for a moment, then said, "If I'm not mistaken, the time and distance this method can deduce are directly proportional to the intensity of one's spiritual energy, correct? The stronger the spiritual energy, the greater the area covered by the deduction, and the further back the timeline can extend!"

"Precisely. While I cannot estimate the distances of the numerous parallel spaces within this Burial Cultivator Tomb, the time elapsed since we first heard the sounds and saw the appearance of the spirits is not excessively long. With concerted effort, we should be able to discern some details. Only by truly comprehending what occurred during this period can we determine the proper course for our investigation."

While no one present harbored any doubt regarding the Empress's words, Xu Yang remained concerned that her performance of this method might entail some noticeable side effects.

"I'll join you. By combining our spiritual energies and collaborating with the power of the Ancestral Dragon Soul, even if we cannot successfully execute the Great Sumeru Dao, we will still guarantee the safety of your soul form. I certainly wouldn't want you to suffer damage to your soul for the sake of everyone."

The Empress offered a faint smile. "Very well. With you by my side, I feel reassured."

The two wasted no time in hesitation. After all, every additional second of delay would consume more spiritual energy, and naturally, a shorter computed timeline meant less inherent danger to themselves.

With numerous experts present to act as protectors, and this illusion providing both support and defense, Xu Yang and the Empress simultaneously sat cross-legged in the void, their palms facing each other. As they closed their eyes and concentrated, their soul resonance system rapidly coalesced, and faintly, the roar of the Ancestral Dragon Soul could be heard reverberating above the illusion.

"Such potent Dragon Soul energy. Is this the true might of an Ancestral Dragon?" The crimson-bodied Sky Sword Soul sighed inwardly. These individuals in Xu Yang's team indeed possessed extraordinary, heaven-defying opportunities, each one more prodigious than the last. Simply considering the Empress's ability to host an Ancestral Dragon Soul—what a blessing that would take tens of thousands of years to cultivate! This foundational power alone was more than enough to enable the Empress to dominate the entire continent...

Their formidable spiritual energy transformed into two streams of light, one blue and one gold. Woven together by the Dao Heart Whisk positioned between them, these streams astonishingly coalesced into a nearly materialized spiritual aura!

"Heavens... materialized spiritual energy? This is simply too heaven-defying!" Everyone present was utterly dumbfounded. Even old Taotie, upon witnessing such profound creation from these two youngsters, couldn't stop nodding in utter amazement.

"The combined spiritual energy of these two individuals has already reached the pinnacle of human potential. For a legendary powerhouse who has ascended to godhood, spiritual energy alone can coalesce into a materialized force comparable in strength to a magic artifact. Within the range their spiritual energy can extend, a single thought is sufficient to instantly control the life and death of a target tens of thousands of miles away."

Upon hearing the Sword Soul's words, Long Kun's eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.

"My heavens... that must be the legendary power of a god, right? Just a flicker of thought, and one can slay an opponent from a thousand miles away?"

The Sword Soul chuckled softly. "Beings capable of ascending to godhood wouldn't concern themselves with the life, death, fortunes, or misfortunes of mortals. If one's soul hasn't reached the requisite level, they naturally won't have the opportunity to command such power."

Everyone present nodded in agreement.

Soon after, as the nearly materialized spiritual aura between Xu Yang and the Empress continued to expand, subtle changes also began to manifest throughout the entire illusionary space.

In the sky of the illusion, fluctuations of numerous Daoist laws began to appear, outlining an ethereal interplay of rainbow-hued lights.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the first fully formed illusion began to emerge, faintly manifesting in the illusion's sky.

"Heavens, look, it's a success! The scene conjured by the Great Sumeru Dao has truly manifested!" The Five Hanyue Maidens were the most elated. As inheritors of the Hanyue Imperial lineage, they understood intimately the significance of the Great Sumeru Dao within the Illusion Realm; being able to perform it was, in itself, a lifelong source of pride for any illusionist.

"No... the intensity isn't sufficient. The image isn't clear, and the content presented by the illusion is very fragmented. If it's not stable enough, the timeline won't remain consistent, and what we perceive will be jumbled." The Sword Soul's expression grew more solemn, for he could sense the truly terrifying rate at which Xu Yang and the Empress were expending their spiritual energy.

Time passed by second after second. Xu Yang and the Empress's expressions were exceedingly solemn, their brows beaded with sweat. Throughout the entire illusion, the might of the Dragon Soul steadily intensified.

"Let's not just stand here observing! Let's channel our spiritual energy to support them!" Ling Yao was the first to propose. Everyone nodded in affirmation, and spiritual lights of various colors coalesced around Xu Yang and the Empress's forms in the void, collectively merging into the Dao Heart Whisk and extending to the very edge of the illusion's celestial dome.

Finally! The Sumeru Dao totem, which had long been indistinct, now fully materialized. The entire sky transformed as if into a mirror, manifesting an incredibly clear image.

"That's... the Asura's Tomb! Heavens, it turns out the previous Sword Master's assessment was indeed accurate!" The Sword Soul's expression instantly changed to one of profound shock, as if he had revisited a dark, unbearable memory within his mind, causing those nearby to cast puzzled glances his way.

There was no time for further explanation. Everyone, while actively channeling their spiritual energy, remained fixated on the sky.

Finally, several familiar silhouettes manifested within the shimmering light curtain. "That's... Tuoba Yun!"