"Eternal Illusion Demon Flower? What's that?" Xiao Yan turned his head and asked. It was clear he had never heard of such a thing. After all, this wasn't the Dou Qi Continent, and most of his knowledge about this world had come through Lin Jing.
"The Eternal Illusion Demon Flower is a terrifying plant cultivated by the Yimo race," Lin Jing replied, biting her lip slightly. "It can claim a person's life without them ever realizing it, and no one else would notice anything wrong either."
"According to records, it's said that such a flower can only be cultivated over a thousand years using the fresh blood of a Yimo King as a catalyst. It must also consume the flesh and blood of countless living beings before it can bloom. The Eternal Illusion Demon Flower releases a fragrance that humans cannot detect. Once inhaled, it traps the victim in an illusion until their physical body wastes away and dies..."
Lin Jing's expression turned bitter. She had only ever read about this flower in ancient texts—she never expected to see it in person. Judging from Qing Tan's state, she was clearly under the flower's influence. But Lin Jing still had one doubt. If this really was the Eternal Illusion Demon Flower, why hadn't she or Xiao Yan fallen into an illusion?
Xiao Yan understood. His body contained the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, which naturally dispelled any energy harmful to him. Lin Jing, meanwhile, had previously ingested a pill infused with that flame, granting her some resistance to the flower's effects. That was why both of them were immune to the flower's toxic fragrance.
Staring at the entranced Qing Tan, Xiao Yan asked curiously, "So you're saying these flowers were made by the Yimo? But aren't you all working for the Yimo? Why would they harm their own people?"
"You're the one working for the Yimo! Your whole family works for the Yimo!" Lin Jing exploded with anger at the accusation.
"Oh? Am I wrong?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. "If I remember correctly, your people mine Yang Yuan Stones to deliver to the Yimo, don't you? If that's not working for them, then what is?"
"We do mine Yang Yuan Stones for the Yimo," Lin Jing admitted, clenching her fists. "But it's not because we serve them. Quite the opposite—my aunt agreed to it in order to protect the remaining humans."
"Oh?"
"This continent, the Tianxuan Continent, has fought two major wars against the Yimo," Lin Jing continued. "The first was led by a legendary figure known as the Symbol Ancestor, who sacrificed his Reincarnation to seal the Yimo Emperor, granting Tianxuan ten thousand years of peace. The second war broke out just over a decade ago..."
"My father, Lin Dong, attempted to break through to the Ancestor Realm to oppose the Yimo Emperor. But... he failed."
Father named Lin Dong, daughter named Lin Jing—Xiao Yan silently mocked the lack of creativity. Still, he continued listening. "And then?"
"Without a strong enough Ancestor Realm expert, Tianxuan Continent lost. My mother and many other seniors perished in that battle." Lin Jing's voice dimmed. "My aunt, Qing Tan, had resolved to die as well. But before the war, my mother entrusted my infant self to her care. That's why she stayed alive—she had to protect me."
"Qing Tan was strong. And since the Yimo were preoccupied elsewhere, they didn't wipe us out completely. But in exchange for this land where humans could survive, my aunt agreed to mine Yang Yuan Stones for them." Lin Jing sighed. "You might think it's cruel, forcing people to be miners. But if you saw how humans are treated elsewhere—rounded up and kept like livestock—you'd understand."
"Tch, those Yimo are really stupid," Xiao Yan scoffed. "Haven't they heard of the phrase: 'If you don't cut the weeds at the roots, they'll grow again in spring'? So Qing Tan's the last powerhouse in this world? No wonder the Yimo want to take her out."
To be honest, Xiao Yan didn't particularly care about Qing Tan's fate. But she still owed him ten billion Xuan Yuan Pills. Dead or not, he wasn't letting her off without repaying that debt.
He extended his soul power, scanning ten thousand miles in every direction to make sure no enemies were nearby. Once he confirmed the area was secure, he prepared to act. Now that he knew the Eternal Illusion Demon Flower's effects, he realized it was similar to the nerve poison of his Nether Poison Flame—except perhaps even more dangerous. If he tried to forcefully wake Qing Tan, she might violently resist. In her current state, she probably believed the illusion to be the real world and reality to be the dream.
Fortunately, Xiao Yan had experienced his fair share of illusions before—some so vivid that it was hard to tell dream from truth. He had plenty of experience with them. After using the Void Devouring Flame to consume all of the Eternal Illusion Demon Flowers, he sat cross-legged before Qing Tan and gently pressed a finger to her forehead. A vast surge of soul energy surged into her body.
Although the external flowers were gone, their power had already seeped into Qing Tan's body. If she remained lost in the illusion and refused to wake up, she would eventually die like the others—just more slowly. Xiao Yan's task now was to forcibly bring her back to reality.
As a white light enveloped him, his soul slipped into Qing Tan's illusionary world.
Xiao Yan looked down at the spiritual projection of his own body, then lifted his gaze to observe his surroundings. It was a small town—much smaller than Wutan City—but still relatively lively.
From a glance, he could tell Qing Tan must have known this place very well. Illusions are often constructed from a person's memories, and the extreme realism of the town meant she had likely lived here for more than a decade.
But Xiao Yan wasn't here to marvel at her past. He needed to find Qing Tan quickly.
In this illusion realm, his soul power was greatly weakened. He could only search by moving with the flow of people and checking each building one by one. The town wasn't large, but the task was still tedious. Thankfully, Xiao Yan had patience—and it paid off. In one modest house, he finally found Qing Tan.
But she wasn't alone.
Inside the house was a middle-aged couple. Although Xiao Yan didn't see any resemblance between them and Qing Tan, her respectful address confirmed they were her parents. There was also a teenage boy, slightly older than Qing Tan—clearly Lin Dong, Lin Jing's father.
"Who are you?" Lin Dong's family stared in shock at the stranger who had suddenly barged in. But Qing Tan, upon seeing Xiao Yan, froze. Her eyes flickered with confusion. She felt like she'd seen this black-robed youth somewhere before... was it in that recurring dream?
Xiao Yan ignored the others' astonishment. He strode forward, grabbed Qing Tan's wrist, and said firmly, "No time to explain. Come with me, now."
(End of Chapter)
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