Chapter 14: Illusionary Apocalypse_1

Gathering his mind, Ji Changsheng felt a slight perception. It was already deep into the night, and the Mystic Temple - due to its small number of disciples - was usually quiet, but tonight, it was noticeably noisy.

This night, he feared, would be very long.

Changsheng had made arrangements in Bai Guanlin's room. Perhaps there would be unexpected surprises later, but he certainly wouldn't wait around to see them now.

He quickly returned to his residence, and once again entered the illusion.

When he had previously attempted to assassinate Bai Guanlin, the protective garment on Bai Guanlin had shielded him automatically, causing Changsheng to suffer minor internal injuries.

He had to recover to his prime condition before dawn.

Furthermore, in case the Bai Family truly possessed a method to trace the real murderer, he had to make some preparations in advance.

...

The illusion.

Jiangyuan County.

The county official, Sha Zhengping, was entertaining a distinguished young man.

However, his face was full of sorrow, and he laughed bitterly over and over, "Your Highness, I really don't know why the Immortal came to Jiangyuan County, and I have no idea where the Immortal is now."

The restless Crown Prince Dali responded, "Lord Sha, the team of masters I had assembled in the capital city were all defeated at Rotten Helve Temple. That Immortal might just be our last hope."

Sha Zhengping continued to show his troubled smile. "Your Highness, naturally I also hope for the Immortal to descend and calm the Beasts Tide, but I truly have no control over the Immortal's whereabouts."

"Is there no way to summon the Immortal?" The Crown Prince didn't want to give up.

If he could depend on himself, he would never place his hopes upon deities.

However, the Crown Prince had been severely beaten by the Demonic Beast Tide, and his body was now covered in wounds.

In the present Great Li Dynasty, the Emperor had already utterly given up and sunk into a state of drunken stupor, awaiting the day when the Demonic Beasts would overrun the Imperial Palace.

Even the majority of the court officials had given up.

They tried to struggle at first, but facing the Demonic Beast Tide that had lost all sense of reason, they were defeated time and time again, until they chose to just wait for death.

Only the young Crown Prince still had hope.

He didn't want to die yet and wished to struggle a little longer.

Now, all those in the world with the will to resist were gathering around the Crown Prince, fighting in the frontlines against the Demonic Beast Tide, but the situation showed no sign of improvement.

Only, not long ago in Jiangyuan County, it was rumored that an Immortal had descended and averted the county's doom.

When the Crown Prince first heard this news, he thought someone was spreading rumors.

It wasn't until more and more people discussed it that he finally couldn't sit still and rushed to Jiangyuan County himself.

After his investigations, he realized that an Immortal had indeed descended. The Crown Prince almost wept from joy.

Unfortunately, he quickly discovered that his joy had been premature.

The Immortal came quickly but left even faster.

And regarding how to call upon the Immortal again, he was at a loss.

He could only pin his hopes on Jiangyuan County and its governor, Sha Zhengping.

But Sha Zhengping also disappointed him.

"Your Highness, I have gone over it countless times. The day the Immortal descended was completely random. Right when I was at my wit's end, the Immortal suddenly appeared. I don't know how the Immortal was summoned."

The Crown Prince was a wise ruler. He was immensely crushed, but his thinking remained clear.

"Lord Sha, think carefully. What happened before the Immortal arrived, or what you said to people around you, it is extremely important."

Though the Crown Prince was anxious, he didn't speak rudely to Sha Zhengping.

With the apocalypse upon them, and the Great Li Dynasty on the brink of collapse, imposing one's status on others would be the most foolish choice.

Sha Zhengping also understood the gravity of the situation.

The Crown Prince had sent most of the remaining capable masters of the Great Li Dynasty to perish at Rotten Helve Temple. Considering the current state of the world, the Great Li Dynasty wouldn't last more than half a year, destined to succumb to the beasts.

The Immortal was their only lifeline.

What exactly happened before the Immortal's descent that day?

His daughter seemed to have said something.

What was it again?

An idea suddenly dawned on Zhengping, "Yes, I remember now. That day, certain death seemed imminent, so I had hoped my daughter would leave before the Demonic Beast Tide attacked.

"My daughter refused to leave, saying that if Demonic Beasts exist in this world, wouldn't there be merciful Bodhisattvas and Immortals as well? She vowed to pay any price to summon the Immortal to grant salvation.

"Then the Immortal descended.

"Could it be that the descent of the Immortal was related to my daughter?"

The Crown Prince also lit up, hope blossoming within him.

"Where is Miss Sha?"

"Your Highness, please wait. I will immediately bring my daughter to meet you."

"No, I will go meet Miss Sha myself."

The Crown Prince didn't dare to be presumptuous at this point.

He embodied the virtue of respecting the wise and capable.

When the Crown Prince met Sha Jiangxue, instead of being captivated by the heroic figure of Jiangxue, his gaze was drawn towards the painting hanging high on her room's wall.

In the painting, there was a gateway to an immortal's abode, vividly depicted with dragons and phoenixes, majestic and splendid.

The gateway was open, and an Immortal with an extraordinary presence and a profound air of mercy emerged from it.

Seeing this painting, the Crown Prince felt an urge to bow deeply in worship.

"Is this the Immortal from the legend?"

Sha Zhengping nodded, "Ever since that day, my daughter has become the most loyal devotee of the Immortal. She had the famous artist of Jiangyuan County paint this picture, and since then, she has worshipped it every day."

The discussion between Sha Zhengping and the Crown Prince attracted Sha Jiangxue's attention.

Sha Zhengping hastily explained their purpose.

The Crown Prince supplemented, "Miss Sha, if you can summon the Immortal again, you would have granted a great favor to the Great Li Dynasty and its people."