Yu Shizun was stumped—and by this junior Yan Zhen, no less. In the past, it had always been her lecturing him and imparting all sorts of life lessons. Now their roles had reversed, leaving Yu Shizun quite unaccustomed to the shift.
Yan Zhen was still worried:
“No, I can’t tell for sure. Let me check you over with the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Flame anyway.”
Yu Shizun blinked her eyes:
“You’ve been fooled, Yan Zhen. I’m not under any illusion technique…”
“Sick people always claim they’re perfectly fine.”
“Then, are you sick?”
“Uh, well…”
—Hahaha!
A burst of hearty laughter interrupted their exchange. The Thousand Illusions Saint Lord was laughing with unrestrained delight, his chuckles carrying an almost eerie quality reminiscent of Curator Jin’s peculiar style.
Hearing such fiendish mirth, Yan Zhen belatedly caught on and shot back irritably:
“Senior, this is getting a bit much.”
The Thousand Illusions Saint Lord remained unfazed:
“What’s this? Words are a form of illusion too, and you’ve fallen right for it. Even that peculiar fire seed of yours couldn’t dispel this kind.”
“They say in Zhuzi Continent that liars have to swallow a thousand needles.”
“But no one in this world can always be perfectly upright and honest. Take you two, for instance. You clearly have feelings for each other, yet you deny being a little couple.”
Yan Zhen: “…”
Yu Shizun: “…”
“I’ve said all there is to say. Though I’d love to chat more with you youngsters, my divine sense can only hold out this long—it’s been so many years, after all.” The Thousand Illusions Saint Lord sighed with genuine emotion. “Compared to people, trees have far longer lifespans. This lord will put in a good word for you with the Mirage Tree. I hope you’ll treat it well and prove worthy of its trust.”
Yan Zhen clasped his hands in a fist:
“Senior, rest assured. I’ll do exactly as I promised. If I break my word, may heaven strike me down with lightning!”
The Thousand Illusions Saint Lord nodded approvingly:
“As expected of a sacred land’s prodigy—so outstanding. The younger generation of Mystic Heaven Continent is truly formidable, hahaha!”
Amid his jolly laughter, this ancient powerhouse from bygone eras gradually faded from view, leaving behind one final exhortation:
“Youngsters, cherish the moment and don’t waste your prime!”
Yan Zhen bowed deeply, his words sincere:
“We respectfully see off Senior Thousand Illusions. Safe travels on your journey ahead.”
Yu Shizun gave a slight curtsey as well, observing all due propriety.
Though Senior Thousand Illusions had a rather offbeat way of speaking, he was a good sort at heart. He hadn’t tried to make things difficult for them on purpose.
He truly regarded the Mirage Tree as a friend, not a possession, and so sincerely wished for it to find a worthy home.
Evidently, the Thousand Illusions Saint Lord had kept a low profile, which explained why history held so few records of him. Otherwise, his status as a Mystic Saint expert alone would have earned him a place in the annals, the stuff of legends.
Yan Zhen made a mental note to look into the Saint Lord’s life story later. There might be plenty of intriguing tales.
At that moment, the surrounding Mirage Mist parted of its own accord, forming a path. Yan Zhen naturally took Yu Shizun’s hand and said:
“Let’s go, Yu Shizun. Time to meet the Mirage Tree.”
Yu Shizun glanced at his hand and subtly tried to pull hers free, but Yan Zhen’s grip was firm. After two failed tugs, she gave up, lowered her head, and murmured an assent.
The faint pink flush on her cheeks was hidden by her veil, but her shy, maidenly demeanor was plain to see.
Yan Zhen’s heart stirred. Once again, he realized that beneath it all, Yu Shizun had a rather endearing personality—not the aloof ice queen he’d once imagined.
Her name was Yu Shishi, after all. And when facing her beautiful master, she even referred to herself as “Shishi.” Should he call her “Shishi” from now on, or stick with “Little Yu’er” like the beautiful master did?
Lost in such thoughts, Yan Zhen suddenly felt a sharp sting in his hand. He jolted back to his senses with a wince.
Yu Shizun said coolly:
“Stop grinning like an idiot. Hurry up and let’s go.”
Yan Zhen scratched his cheek sheepishly and led Yu Shizun by the hand along the path cleared by the parting Mirage Mist. After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, they finally spotted the Mirage Tree.
It was an ordinary-looking large tree in form, about ten meters tall with a trunk requiring two people to encircle. Its branches and leaves were lush, casting a broad canopy of shade.
The Mirage Tree’s leaves shimmered in vibrant colors, and it bore glowing fruits of the same hue, all radiating an intensely unique fragrance. Yan Zhen felt his Mystic Power surging within him after just one breath—like the effect of the Saint Milk he’d consumed before.
A Ninth-Order Holy Medicine indeed—truly extraordinary!
The two drifted down beneath the tree. Yan Zhen promptly introduced himself and stated their purpose.
No sooner had he finished than a ethereal figure appeared atop the tree: a woman clad in a long skirt woven from leaves. It was the Mirage Tree Spirit, her eyes closed as if in slumber.
“Thousand Illusions has already spoken to me. If even someone like him trusts you, then naturally I won’t doubt you. I hope you won’t betray that trust.”
“Absolutely not!”
“Thousand Illusions Grotto-Heaven is indeed on the verge of collapse. Time cuts like a knife, years pass relentlessly—even a Cave Heaven World can’t endure forever, let alone mortal beings.”
“…”
Yan Zhen wasn’t sure how to respond. He couldn’t help thinking that this Mirage Tree Spirit would get along famously with his Saint Lord master; both carried that heavy artistic flair.
“Um, actually, we’d like to ask Senior Mirage Tree for one more favor.”
“Speak it, but I can only do what lies within my power.”
“It’s… could you release your holy medicine aura to lure over the Azure Sea Tide Birth Fire?”
“Azure Sea Tide Birth Fire? Now that you mention it, I’ve sensed an incredibly powerful presence wandering this vast ocean, occasionally passing nearby. It must have detected my existence.”
Yan Zhen was startled. So the Azure Sea Tide Birth Fire had long since locked onto the Mirage Tree?
The Mirage Tree Spirit continued:
“What do you plan to do by drawing that big fish here? It’s very powerful and can harness the ocean’s might. You’re no match for it.”
Yan Zhen couldn’t very well say he wanted it to fight the tree like dogs tearing into each other. Circumstances had changed; he could no longer have the Mirage Tree weaken the Azure Sea Tide Birth Fire for him. He’d have to capture it himself.
To convince the Mirage Tree Spirit, Yan Zhen revealed his Six Paths Extreme Flames.
Gold-Silver Fire. Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Flame. Great Crimson Heaven Flame. Wind-Thunder Crystal Fire. Rootless Earth Spirit Fire. Xuan Huang Dual Qi Flame.
The six Heavenly Extreme Flames bloomed forth in unison. The temperature around them spiked dramatically, turning the area into a blazing furnace. Even the Mirage Tree Spirit jumped in alarm, particularly wary of the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Flame.
“You—you human, how do you possess so many Extreme Flames?”
“I’ve cultivated through Extreme Flames. Please help lure the Azure Sea Tide Birth Fire, Senior Mirage Tree. I’ll reward you generously afterward.”
“You’re… certain you can suppress that big fish?”
“Should be able to.”
Trapping the Azure Sea Tide Birth Fire inside Thousand Illusions Grotto-Heaven would cut it off from the Azure Sky Bihai Sea’s power, making it far easier to capture.
“Very well, I’ll help you. But you must promise not to destroy this place.”
Yan Zhen thumped his chest confidently, claiming he could take down the Azure Sea Tide Birth Fire in minutes without causing much damage here.
The Mirage Tree Spirit eyed his supreme self-assurance with some doubt but had already given her word.
She slowly merged back into her main body. Then a branch extended outward, vanishing beyond the boundary wall. Using herself as bait, she cast the line to hook the big fish!
