Lin Feng stared at the Yingzhou Celestial Mountain below. Right now, the layers and layers of illusory realms covering the surroundings and inside of the Yingzhou Celestial Mountain started to degrade.
Only the Nameless Ancient Formation that engulfed the celestial mountain remained. This left Lin Feng a little bothered. Without the illusory realms, the abnormally close relationship of the Nameless Ancient Formation and the Yingzhou Celestial Mountain was exposed.
It was closer than what Lin Feng and the rest expected. Between both parties, there seemed to be a balance where they supplemented the shortcomings of the other party.
Although this connection was hidden, Lin Feng, Shi Yu, Liang Pan and the rest were still wary of it.
Without the layers and layers of illusory realms as barriers, Lin Feng and the rest could finally communicate with those on the celestial mountain through their powers.
"Master, we are fine, but everyone is separated." Xiao Yan laughed bitterly as he relayed the situation to Lin Feng, "As I burst into the door in the center of the cloud of stars, the shell that I consolidated from the starlight collapsed. My own soul returned to my own flesh and I was sent to somewhere I didn't know. I lost contact with Zhener and Fifth Junior too."
"Because the Heaven Fire Lotus was forcefully summoned in the illusory realm, my soul was inflicted with a little damage. But there's nothing serious."
Lin Feng said, "Seems like only you and Zhu Yi were separated as your positions were shifted. Just now, I contacted Yang Qing and Yuanfang. Although their positions were also shifted, they were not separated."
"Zhu Yi is also fine. Continue to explore, and find a way to control the Yingzhou Celestial Mountain quickly. I will hold the fort for all of you from outside."
Xiao Yan nodded his head, "Yes, Master." After he finished saying, he looked at the pitch-black corridor in front of him and progressed forward.
After Zhu Yi finished his own conversation with Lin Feng, he also advanced forward in the corridor.
As he walked, Zhu Yi noticed the movements around him. He felt that the illusory realm that covered the entire Yingzhou Celestial Mountain had disappeared. Zhu Yi pondered, "As the core illusory realm is broken, the other illusory realms have also disappeared. But this doesn't mean that they have collapsed completely."
"If someone can cultivate the celestial mountain, he can rebuild the core illusory realm. When that happens, the other illusory realms will come to life again."
Right now, Zhu Yi contacted Xiao Yan, Yang Qing, Li Yuanfang and the rest separately using his mana. He understood the rough situation after he conversed with them.
Those from the Celestial Sect of Wonders, besides him and Xiao Yan, that had entered the illusory realm were unable to reach the door of the center of the cloud of stars. Among them, there were a few whose shells, that they consolidated using starlight, were destroyed by others.
If the shells were purely crushed, their souls would not be damaged. Rather, they would be sent back to their flesh outside the illusory realm. But it's just that if they wanted to enter the illusory realm again, it was no longer possible.
In the illusory realm, if their shells and souls were damaged, the injury would remain even if they left the realm.
After the core illusory realm had collapsed, besides Zhu Yi and Xiao Yan, the positions of the rest were also shifted. Right now, Yang Qing, Kui Cow King, Xiao Zhener and the Spiritual Sea Horse King were on one path, while Li Yuanfang, Bai Guang and Jieyu were on another path. Each group were in an unfamiliar corridor each.
Zhu Yi did not escape as he broke through space. That was because he could subtly feel that the immense pressure of the Yingzhou Celestial Mountain and the Ying Sea still remained. Furthermore, after the illusory realm had disappeared, that pressure had become more direct.
Before the situation was clear, attracting too much attention might cause himself to be the target of the celestial mountain and the Ying Sea.
"Oh?" As he walked, Zhu Yi's gaze flashed and he stopped in his tracks.
He could clearly feel that on the other side of the corridor, which was still very far away, there was someone walking towards him.
Just during the moment when Zhu Yi stopped in his tracks, the other party also stopped.
The both of them could clearly sense the presence of the other party even though they were separated by an unknown distance in the dark corridor.
After keeping a silent for a moment, Zhu Yi started to laugh and he moved forward again.
And after the party on the other side pondered for a moment, the other party also continued moving forward.
When the both of them were so close until they could confirm each other's identity, they stopped again. Zhu Yi clasped his palm and fist together and said while smiling, "Princess Xingyun, I didn't expect that we'll meet so soon."
For those who entered the door, besides him and Xiao Yan, the identity of Monk Da Kong was also confirmed. But the identities of the two people that relied on the Blood River Prince and the Golden Crow Grand Sage were still unknown.
The person who came arrived without any companions. From the looks of it, the person must have had relied on either the Blood River Prince or the Golden Crow Grand Sage.
From the other side, a laughter was also heard, "Sorry for offending you earlier, Comrade Zhu. Please forgive me."
Very soon, a lady in yellow came before Zhu Yi. She was in the Intermediate Stage of the Nascent Soul Stage. She smiled while bowing towards Zhu Yi, "Comrade Zhu, you are indeed powerful. Even the Grand Sun Holy Man's Divine Palm of Three Enclosures and the Shifting Stars Technique were unleashed because of you."
Zhu Yi sized her up, "It seems your Starlight Avatar is from the Blood River Prince?"
Shi Xingyun nodded her head and answered honestly, "I can't hide things from your sharp eyes indeed. I did have the intention to work with you, but as Comrade Xiao Yan also arrived at the door, I knew that any hopes for our collaboration were gone."
"Although I do not have any ill intentions, I did mislead you. If I have offended you, please do not blame me."
Zhu Yi replied, "I am not offended. But now that we have met, what are your plans?"
Shi Xingyun laughed, "If you ask me, I think that our previous collaboration can still be furthered, until we decide who the celestial mountain belongs to. "
The two of them were separated by some distance, but the both of them could sense that between the both of them, there was a three-way junction. Besides the area that the both of them were in, there was another path leading in another direction.
Shi Xingyun laughed, "Previously, in the core illusory realm of the celestial mountain, I had the intention of revealing your identity, so that all of us could work together. But who knew that because of the illusory realm, all of us were deaf and dumb."
"Now that we are facing each other, we can reveal everything and settle what to do."
Zhu Yi lifted his eyelids but his expression did not change, "Oh, your words sound a little weird. If I'm not wrong, before everyone entered the illusory realm, all the arrangements should have more or less been made."
"Besides picking the candidates to enter the illusory realm, I believe prior preparations have also been made to protect our physical flesh and activate backup plans in case someone else appears."
"Two Immortal Soul Stage Elders from the Great Zhou Empire have arrived. One of them is Monk Da Kong and the other is the Tidal Sword Elder. Monk Da Kong entered the illusory realm and there is a high possibility that the Tidal Sword Elder stayed behind to protect the body of Monk Da Kong."
"I believe the Great Qin Empire must have done roughly the same. Besides you, I believe only one of Prince Jingfang and the Vivant Joy Holy Man entered into the realm."
Zhu Yi placed both his hands behind him and said slowly, "I guess the person who entered is Prince Jingfang. Am I right?"
Although he was posing a question, he did not expect Shi Xingyun to reply. Rather, he followed by saying, "Even if one is strong, the newly-created entity from the starlight in the illusory realm may not be equally strong. But from the look of that Golden Crow, I believe that it is only able to have such a performance under the command of an Immortal Soul Stage Elder."
"The Great Zhou Empire may have someone as powerful as you in the Nascent Soul Stage, but I don't think that's much of a possibility. That's why I believe it's Prince Jingfang who entrusted his soul to the Golden Crow starlight instead of you."
"Then, besides you and I who entered the door, there are also Monk Da Kong and my senior Xiao Yan. The last person must be Prince Jingfang then."
Zhu Yi looked at Shi Xingyun and asked seriously, "If the both of us collaborate, who will we deal with?"
Shi Xingyun was not troubled and seemed to expect that Zhu Yi would reply in this way. She laughed, "Didn't you mention that Da Kong is around too? The illusory realm is miraculous and unpredictable. Furthermore, he is also one with a lot of secrets. Although his Starlight Avatar was crushed by the four of us and his soul was further damaged by us, I believe that he is still not dead yet."
Zhu Yi answered, "Even if he is not dead, with the grave injuries that he has sustained, I myself will be enough to deal with him."
Shi Xingyun looked at Zhu Yi and a smile appeared across her face. She shook her head, "Because I offended you earlier, I can't blame you for being wary."
"You don't have to be like this. To say that I didn't come for the celestial mountain, it would seem very pretentious. But I am aware of my own abilities. If I have to fight for the celestial mountain by myself, the hope of getting it will be slim."
"By taking a step back, I hope to obtain something from the celestial mountain. To obtain this thing, I will need a magic treasure of yours, the Eternal Night Demonic Stele."
Zhu Yi did not reply and his mind flowed with thoughts, "Her cultivation is not beyond the Intermediate Stage of the Nascent Soul Stage yet, but she is able to restore the powers of the Blood River Prince to this state. Not even a normal Immortal Soul Stage cultivator will be able to do so."
"She has a big secret too. She seemed to hint at something else with her words, and also seems to have some other motive. She is not just purely a Great Qin Empire princess. When we found out that she was birthed from a dragon soul, Master and I were already suspicious of her background and history."
Shi Xingyun continued saying, "Naturally, I won't let you do all this for nothing. If things progress smoothly, you may obtain a magic treasure in the metaplasia realm."
After pausing for a moment, Shi Xingyun followed by saying, "The magic treasure may be greatly damaged and may have fall to the gestation realm. At the same time, the original soul of the magic treasure may have been destroyed too. Regarding this, I have no guarantees. After all, I have not seen the current situation of this magic treasure."
"Comrade, you don't have to worry about assisting me to find this treasure and cause any delays in seizing control of the Yingzhou Celestial Mountain. We can continue exploring and find a method of cultivating this mountain. As long as you activate the powers of the Eternal Night Demonic Stele, the thing that I want will appear on its own."
She was not hiding anything this time. She relayed the truth honestly. After that, she stood where she was and waited for Zhu Yi to make his decision.
"Employing the help of the Eternal Night Demonic Stele to find this thing, don't tell me…" Zhu Yi thought of something and asked, "What is this thing that you are finding?"
Shi Xingyun replied, "I am finding something called the Hornless Dragon Spirit, which is shaped like a dragon. From what I know, this Hornless Dragon Spirit was attached to the Forever-Bright Bodhi Heart Lamp of Zhi Guang Zen Master that was lost on the Yingzhou Celestial Mountain. Although the Zhi Guang Zen Master used the Amogasiddhi Mantra to form the Golden Form of Buddha, the core power concept of the Forever-Bright Bodhi Heart Lamp originates from the Forever-Bright Tathagata Mantra."