Chapter 347: “Truth and Illusion”

At the center of Half-Sun Island, an ancient-style courtyard stood nestled within a bamboo grove.

Inside the courtyard, a side chamber glowed softly with candlelight.

The interior was elegantly simple—bed, table, and chairs, all with clean lines and minimal ornamentation.

On the eastern wall hung several ink paintings of landscapes and flocks of birds, exuding a sense of tranquil refinement.

A beautiful young woman, dressed in a plain-colored gown, reclined slightly at the desk, leisurely flipping through a book of poetry.

“Ling Xi, reading poetry again?”

Like a student caught reading “extracurricular books” by her teacher, the young woman hurriedly closed the book, a guilty look flashing across her face as she turned toward the door.

At the entrance, an elderly man with white hair and a long beard stood with his hands behind his back. He wore a simple azure robe with a wide cloth belt at his waist, giving off an air of antiquity and solemn dignity.

“Master! I’ve already finished today’s spell practice. I’m just reading some poetry to pass the time.”

As she spoke, the young woman stepped forward to help the elderly man to a seat and poured him a cup of tea.

The old man smiled kindly, took the cup, and flipped through a few pages of the poetry book. With a chuckle, he said, “I never said you couldn’t read it. No need to act like you’ve done something wrong.”

“Now, conjure an illusion array for me.”

At his words, the young woman casually pointed a finger, and in an instant, the surroundings became hazy and unreal.

“Mr. Gu, I truly don’t know how to thank you for coming all this way.”

As he spoke, True Immortal Ling Xuan guided his white cloud downward, slowly landing on Half-Sun Island.

As the cloud beneath his feet dissipated, Gu Ning’an smiled and said, “Think nothing of it. Cultivators helping each other is only natural.”

“Last time, True Immortal Ling Xi helped me understand something, yet I never had the chance to thank her.”

Hearing this, True Immortal Ling Xuan gestured with a hand. “This way, sir. Let’s not waste any time so we don’t take up too much of yours.”

“You’re too polite.”

Waving his hand dismissively, Gu Ning’an quickly followed Ling Xuan, stepping into the bamboo grove.

After a short walk, they arrived at an ancient-style courtyard hidden among the bamboo. As they ascended the steps and reached the entrance, just as True Immortal Ling Xuan raised his hand to knock—

The door suddenly transformed into a massive beast with a gaping, blood-red maw!

Roar!

A tiger’s roar shook the heavens and earth!

Even standing a person’s distance away, Gu Ning’an could feel the foul wind rushing toward him!

In the next instant, the beast’s mouth stretched even wider—so vast that, in their eyes, it seemed capable of swallowing the sky itself!

“Junior Sister!”

“What’s going on?!”

True Immortal Ling Xuan shouted, sweeping his horsetail whisk. The monstrous maw instantly vanished, reverting to a simple, timeworn wooden door.

“Master, is Senior Brother back?”

Just as the young woman was about to step out of the chamber, a long sigh came from behind her.

“Ling Xi, your Senior Brother is already dead… What you heard just now was merely an illusion born from your own obsession.”

“Senior Brother… is dead?”

The young woman trembled, her voice urgent. “When did he die? Why don’t I remember?”

The elderly man sighed and said softly, “Your Senior Brother rushed his training in the art of reality and illusion. In his impatience, he was swallowed by the void.”

“By the time I found out, it was already too late. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t pull him back from the illusion.”

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Glittering tears rolled down the young woman’s cheeks. Her voice trembled as she whispered, “Master… Why don’t I remember anything at all?”

The old man shook his head. “You have already reached the True Immortal realm. Sealing away your own memories is as easy as lifting a finger… Some things are better forgotten. You’ll live freer, more at ease.”

“Just as you have also forgotten… that I am dead as well.”

At these words, the beautiful young woman collapsed to the ground, her reddened eyes filled with disbelief. “Impossible! If you’re dead, then what is it that I’m seeing now?”

The elderly man let out a bitter smile and shook his head. “Something you’ve conjured…”

“Illusion!” The young woman froze, clutching her head. “No… that’s impossible! You can’t be illusions!”

“Impossible…”

Outside, not long after the wooden door—transformed into a gaping maw—returned to its original state, the courtyard before Gu Ning’an and Daoist Ling Xuan, as well as the surrounding bamboo forest, vanished completely!

Night turned into day in an instant, and countless celestial beings emerged, surrounding the two and launching a relentless assault without hesitation!

Massive Buddha palm prints, dazzling golden sword qi, roaring flames, and endless frost—all carrying world-destroying power—came crashing down like a torrential storm!

Daoist Ling Xuan stepped in front of Gu Ning’an, sweeping his horsetail whisk to disperse the onslaught in a single stroke before swiftly annihilating the sea of celestial figures.

“Mr. Gu, my Junior Sister seems to be in trouble.”

“I can see that.”

“Can you subdue her?”

“Not necessarily. Junior Sister is more talented than I am, and we were taught by the same master. I may not be able to restrain her.”

“Then shall I lend a hand?”

“That would be most helpful!”

As they spoke, more specters and deities materialized, launching another relentless attack.

Although Daoist Ling Xuan could fend off each assault, he couldn’t take Gu Ning’an out of the illusion.

—Clang!

A wooden sword was drawn, its resonating hum echoing across the heavens like a dragon’s roar!

In an instant, the myriad demonic figures crumbling over the world began to disintegrate into wisps of white mist at the sound of the sword’s cry.

In the blink of an eye, the illusion completely dissipated. Gu Ning’an and Daoist Ling Xuan once again stood before the courtyard, all illusions vanishing as if they had never existed.

“A celestial sword!” Daoist Ling Xuan gazed at the sheathed wooden blade in awe.

At his words, Gu Ning’an placed a hand on the scabbard and smiled. “This sword is called Hongchen—just a simple, mundane wooden sword from the mortal world, hardly worthy of being called a celestial weapon.”

A single hum from that sword had shattered Junior Sister’s illusion… and it wasn’t a celestial weapon?

Daoist Ling Xuan could hardly fathom it—if that sword were to strike him directly, what kind of scene would unfold?

“Ling Xi, the path of illusions is a tangle of truth and falsehood, the hardest to unravel… I often regret leading you and your Senior Brother down this road.”

As he spoke, the elderly man stood up and approached the kneeling young woman. He reached out, helping her to her feet, and then pointed toward the sky.

“Child, in my final moments, I glimpsed a path that led to the heavens…”

“I was unable to walk that path…”

“But if you can step onto it, perhaps you can pull both me and your Senior Brother back from illusion…”