Chapter 86: Illusory Realm!

Jiang Yun's sudden movement drew the attention of Zi Yan and the other two. Instantly, they all looked in the direction Jiang Yun was staring at, but all they could see was the stone wall.

Perplexed, Zi Yan asked in confusion, "Xiao Yun, what are you talking about? We've already collected all the treasures here!"

"I thought so too at first, but now I'm not so sure," Jiang Yun replied mysteriously.

Under the questioning gazes of the group, Jiang Yun raised his hand and took out three yellowed maps from his storage ring — the fragments of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame map.

There were a total of four fragments; Jiang Yun had already gathered three of them, and the image of the lotus flower was beginning to take shape.

At this moment, Jiang Yun sensed a strange wave emanating from the fragments, which seemed to resonate with a spatial node within the cave, causing a mysterious vibration.

The remnants of the Nether Lotus Demon Saint's soul were sealed within the fragments. Such a figure had reached the level of an Emperor's Soul in life, imbued with an immortal aura.

Even with just a wisp of his soul, under the right conditions, he could potentially defy the heavens and return. These ancient demons were all formidable; with just a fragment of his soul, the Nether Lotus Demon Saint could manipulate the Heavenly Refining Formation through Xiao Yan's body, controlling the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, which possessed the power of a Seven-Star Dou Saint.

At this moment, Jiang Yun sensed a peculiar force attracting the remnant soul within the map.

Following this sensation, Jiang Yun arrived at a spatial node. He extended his hands and tore it apart forcefully.

Immediately, a wave of unusually strong vibration spread out from the space!

In the eyes of everyone, the surrounding space suddenly shattered, and in the next moment, the space around them extended, as if an existing space had unexpectedly merged with the surrounding space.

Although the stone chamber was still there, it had expanded several times. However, the group didn't find it strange, as if it had always been this way.

"Nightmare Fog?" Jiang Yun whispered to himself as he sensed the unusual change. These semi-emperors on the continent were really something.

Before them lay an ancient altar.

The altar was grand, built entirely of cyan boulders. Over time, it had inevitably been marked by the passage of years.

Jiang Yun's gaze fell on the top of the altar, where a stone tablet engraved with a lotus flower stood silently, exuding an ancient aura as if it had existed forever.

"Xiao Yun, what is this?" Zi Yan approached, gazing at the distant altar.

"This is probably the inheritance of the Nether Lotus Demon Saint. For some unknown reason, it ended up here. Otherwise, with a semi-emperor's inheritance, the entire continent would be in an uproar!" Jiang Yun explained wistfully, as if he didn't care how much of a sensation his words might cause.

The inheritance of the Nether Lotus Demon Saint! A figure once hailed as the closest to a Dou Di a thousand years ago!

Moreover, it might involve the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame. For so many years, who among the empire clans hadn't coveted this third-ranked entity on the Heavenly Flame List?

Even Gu Yuan and the Soul Emperor would be tempted. At their level of power, ordinary means couldn't improve their strength; only extraordinary items like the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, Nihility Devouring Flame, and Nine Heavens Golden Lightning could enhance their abilities.

With such a great temptation, who wouldn't be moved? Even the empire clans couldn't remain indifferent.

"So it's that lotus guy?" Upon hearing Jiang Yun's words, Zi Yan exclaimed without thinking, evidently having been deeply impressed by the Nether Lotus Demon Saint in the past.

Jiang Yun fell silent momentarily, a dark flame suddenly rising in his eyes. As the flame danced, it scanned everyone present. Finding nothing unusual and with Qing Ming's confirmation that no one had fallen under the Nightmare Fog, Jiang Yun finally relaxed.

"Zi Yan, keep Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian safe. I will see if I can obtain his inheritance."

If it were the Yellow Springs Demon Saint's inheritance, Jiang Yun wouldn't be interested. But the Nether Lotus Demon Saint's inheritance intrigued him. His Heavenly Refining Formation, if not the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent's formation arts, was at least a top-tier existence.

It would be very beneficial for Jiang Yun's understanding of formation arts!

Jiang Yun turned to instruct Zi Yan, who nodded solemnly, her expression serious. She cautioned earnestly, "Xiao Yun, be careful. That lotus guy doesn't look like a good person."

Jiang Yun silently nodded, his gaze fixed on the stone tablet. From it, he sensed an extremely strange vibration. His soul perception, when nearing it, felt as if it had been submerged in a quagmire, with no feedback.

"Brother Jiang Yun, be careful. Qing Lin believes you can succeed!"

"Good luck."

From both sides, voices of encouragement from Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian came. Jiang Yun nodded lightly, his figure moving to appear on a stone pedestal directly in front of the stone tablet. He slowly sat down cross-legged. Suddenly, the stone tablet emitted a strange vibration. The next moment, Jiang Yun fell into a deep sleep.

Instantly, darkness enveloped him, and Jiang Yun's soul perception was sealed within his body. The abrupt confinement startled Jiang Yun, but he did not panic. He pondered briefly and gradually relaxed.

Soon after Jiang Yun's body relaxed, the darkness quietly dispersed. Rays of light pierced the darkness again, illuminating Jiang Yun, accompanied by the roaring sound of thunder.

"Boom!"

High in the ancient, aura-filled sky, thunder roared like enraged dragons, shaking the heavens and the earth.

Before him was an endless silver sea where lightning surged, and massive bolts of thunder roared like raging dragons.

It was a sea made of thunder and lightning!

"The space inside the stone tablet? Or... the Nightmare Fog?" Jiang Yun's body floated mid-air like a Dou Zong, his eyes vigilant as he gazed at the space ahead. The Nether Lotus Demon Saint's reputation and techniques had left a deep impression on him.

With caution, Jiang Yun began to tread through the void, moving slowly towards the depth of the space. As he moved, the surrounding thunder swarmed towards him, and intense pain surged from his feet.

Seeing this, Jiang Yun activated his soul power, forming a purple barrier. Any thunder entering within twenty feet of him was consumed by the hidden black flame.

Boom!

In the sea of thunder, a dazzling lightning bolt, like an enraged dragon, tore through the sky and crashed down into the sea of thunder, causing towering waves.

Jiang Yun walked unperturbed, his expression calm. He had no idea how long he had been walking, but the sea of thunder seemed endless, without a visible endpoint.

As his gaze extended towards the still radiant silver thunder sea, Jiang Yun frowned slightly.

"Indeed, the Nether Lotus Demon Saint is formidable. Even though I knew about his methods, I ultimately got pulled into this illusion... but..."

"But you underestimate my abilities!"

"Evil Spirit Purple Light!"

With Jiang Yun's low shout, a sky-piercing purple light burst forth. Instantly, the entire sky seemed torn open. Jiang Yun saw darkness once more as a familiar sensation enveloped him.

A black figure moved slowly through the surrounding snowfield. Suddenly, a fiery volcano appeared ahead, adding a vivid red to the white world. The figure halted abruptly.

"A volcano? What trick is this now?" Jiang Yun murmured, a cold smile curling his lips. He was certain he hadn't broken free from the Nether Lotus Demon Saint's Nightmare Gift, but he wasn't worried. According to his judgment, just beyond this illusion was his destination.

Provided he could break the illusion!

The volcano wasn't high, not even reaching five hundred meters. Yet, on its slopes bloomed clusters of fiery red lotuses. The flowers and leaves were all crimson, each as large as a washbasin. From a distance, the undulating sea of lotuses swayed gracefully, like a scene from a dream.

Jiang Yun's keen eyes noticed a larger fire lotus at the peak. It was a meter in diameter with twelve petals, standing proudly at the summit, exuding a fragrant aroma. The potent vitality within seemed to breathe life into the entire world.

"Dreamy Fire Spirit Lotus!" Jiang Yun exclaimed in surprise, naming the fire lotus. It was a kind of ancient herb thought to be extinct, possessing the ability to restore soul essence and enhance spiritual power, just like the Soul Baby Fruit.

Moreover, it could be the main ingredient for refining a ninth-grade treasure pill: the Fire Spirit Pill. As the name suggests, this pill could heighten one's affinity to fire attributes, granting the consumer top-tier fire elemental abilities akin to those of a Fire Spirit.

"Unfortunately, it's fake!" After a moment of observation, Jiang Yun shook his head regretfully and began walking towards the summit.

As Jiang Yun stepped onto the volcano, a strange wave swept over his body, causing goosebumps to appear all over, filling him with discomfort.

Jiang Yun's expression grew serious as he continuously scanned the surroundings with his spiritual sense. This place was too quiet—eerily quiet, like entering a land of death.

"Buzz—"

To Jiang Yun's cautious eyes, the swaying Dreamy Fire Spirit Lotus suddenly quivered, as if a stone had been thrown into a calm lake, rippling through the entire realm.

In the next moment, endless red light appeared above the lotus. To Jiang Yun's surprise, the red light gradually formed a vague humanoid shape and walked towards him.

A young man with a blurred face emerged, dressed in red, tall like a small sun, radiating intense heat to incinerate all darkness.

This immense aura overwhelmed Jiang Yun, making the figure seem like the ruler of this realm, surpassing any opponent Jiang Yun had ever faced.

"Roar—"

Before Jiang Yun could react, the red-clad youth lunged with lightning speed, fiery wrath transforming into a fierce red tiger that pounced towards him like a mountain falling from the sky.

"White Tiger Seal!!" Jiang Yun recognized the familiar wave and exclaimed. However, he didn't hesitate.

A powerful black finger manifested from heavenly energy, crashing down towards the white tiger.

"Boom—"

Upon impact, the space rippled slightly, with no energy explosion. Both attacks disintegrated upon contact, cancelling each other out.

"Boom—"

Just as the Broken Soul Finger dissipated, Jiang Yun struck with his palm, shattering space. A giant black-flame-covered hand hurtled towards his foe with a destructive force.

Yet, the opponent wasn't easy prey. The youth raised his hand, emitting a dangerous purple glow, hinting at an impending terrifying strike.

"Boom—"

A purple spear materialized, bursting forth with space-piercing sharpness, targeting Jiang Yun.

"Rumble!"

Destructive power spread, with purple and black lights blanketing the sky. The devastating aura covered the area for miles.

"Damn—"

"That's my mirrored self—"

"Nether Lotus Demon Saint, well played—"

Jiang Yun cursed amidst the roaring, recognizing the opponent as a replica of himself, possessing all his techniques. Jiang Yun even suspected the mirror version held the Demon Saint's combat experience.

A semi-emperor stand-in?

Such an opponent was the hardest to defeat. Only one knew one's own weaknesses—especially an enhanced version.

"Since it's like this, let's have an exhilarating battle!"

After initial frustration, Jiang Yun calmed quickly. This was an opportunity not everyone had—to battle his mirror self. Defeating it would bring unprecedented gains.

Thoughts racing, Jiang Yun's hand didn't pause. A massive handprint descended from the sky, while eerie chains shot towards the foe.

This was undoubtedly his most formidable adversary!

"Rumble—"

Raising his palm, Jiang Yun saw the adversary's hands forming familiar signs. Next, a giant black tortoise emerged, stepping through the air towards him.

"Boom—"

Jiang Yun's attack landed directly on the foe, causing ripples that sent shockwaves sweeping the area, collapsing the ground.

"Damn, this turtle shell!"

Seeing the unscathed tortoise, Jiang Yun cursed. How did he not realize the defensive skill was so annoying before?

"Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermillion Bird, Black Tortoise..."

"Four Spirit Celestial Seal!"