Chapter 2703 The Despairing Illusory RealmAbout half a year ago, right before Duan Ling Tian left Nine Specters County, he had visited Bloody Specter City. Bloody Specter City was the place he had ascended to when he ascended to the Spirit Overarching Heaven. Before he left Nine Specters County for good, he had decided to visit Liu Feng Gu, the County Governor of Bloody Specter City. It was also from Liu Feng Gu that he had learned that an old lady had come to the city to look for him with ill intention. Most importantly, he learned that the old lady was extremely powerful. For this reason, when he left Bloody Specter City and Nine Specter County, he had decided to back out of participating in King Qin’s Mansion’s Martial Competition of the 16 Counties.

Duan Ling Tian chanced upon a Celestial Talisman gathering dust on a roadside stall in a small city in Horse Teeth County, which was also under King Qin’s Mansion’s rule, and paid for it at a mere cost of 10 prominent Celestial Stones. The Celestial Talisman turned out to be a Shadow Void Escaping Talisman. He only managed to pay such a small price for the treasure due to the vendor’s ignorance of the talisman’s value.

Ever since Duan Ling Tian had ascended to the Spirit Overarching Heaven, whether he was in Bloody Specter City or the County City of Nine Specters County, he had been studying Memory Celestial Talismans to gain a better understanding of the Devata Realms. That was how he had recognized the talisman as a Shadow Void Escaping Talisman through some specific markings in the roadside stall.

Duan Ling Tian knew that Shadow Void Escaping Talisman had to be inscribed by a Celestial King, at least. Even then, the success rate was only 1%. Apart from that, the materials needed were rare and expensive as well. Once activated, he knew it could carry the user a million miles away. It could help one to escape from Celestial Kings and those who were weaker.

For this reason, after Duan Ling Tian obtained the Shadow Void Escaping Talisman, he changed his mind and decided to attend the Martial Competition of the 16 Counties. Even then, he did not plan to participate in the competition. He was only going to watch the show.

Duan Ling Tian, then, decided to attend with a fake identity. For this reason, he joined the Flying Dragon Sect and became a Revered Elder in the sect. With that, he joined the group of people from the Flying Dragon Sect to attend the Martial Competition of the 16 Counties.

Apart from that, Duan Ling Tian truly did not expect the old lady would be lying in wait for him there. However, he did not dwell on it too much. After all, as long as he did not participate in the competition, he would not be exposed. In any case, even if he decided to participate in the competition and exposed himself, he had felt reassured since he had the Shadow Void Escaping Talisman. Let alone a mid-rank Celestial Kingdom like the Cloudy Rock Celestial Kingdom, even the high-rank Celestial Kingdoms might not even have a single Shadow Void Escaping Talisman.

Duan Ling Tian knew how precious the Celestial Talisman in his possession was. Therefore, if it was not absolutely necessary, he would not use it.

At that time, as Duan Ling Tian watched the Martial Competition of the 16 Counties, he found himself vacillating between participating and not participating in the competition. However, it had to be said that he was leaning toward not participating since he would be taking a huge and unnecessary risk.

It was when Tian Ji Yu, the County Governor of Nine Specters County, managed to buy an hour for him that he decided to participate in the competition. If the old lady was not present, then, all would be well. If the old lady was present, well, he thought, worst-case scenario, he would just use the Shadow Void Celestial Talisman.

Thinking about everything that happened, Duan Ling Tian said with a sigh, “I suffered a great loss this time. In any case, I’ve already fulfilled my promise to County Governor Tian and Elder Zheng Qiu.”

Although Duan Ling Tian felt regretful, he did not let it bother him for long. After all, he knew there was no cure for regret in this world. Since things had turned out this way, there was no point in thinking about the what-ifs.

Duan Ling Tian lamented inwardly, ‘It’s pity that County Governor Tian died and didn’t manage to get his hands on the Great Overarching Pills.” He was not particularly saddened since he was not friends with Tian Ji Yu. They only had a business deal between them. He had no doubt that if Tian Ji Yu could obtain a Great Overarching Pill by killing him, Tian Ji Yu would not hesitate to act at all. Therefore, he was not saddened over Tian Ji Yu’s death. He only felt Tian Ji Yu’s death was unfortunate. Just as the Great Overarching Pills were almost in Tian Ji Yu’s grasp, Tian Ji Yu had died.

After a while, Duan Ling Tian’s thoughts took a different direction. “I can’t say the trip is a complete loss… After all, I managed to find out where Murong Bing is from.’ As far as he was concerned, his greatest gain from this trip was not winning the competition but finding out where Murong Bing was from.

“Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect… I’m sure we’ll meet again soon…” Duan Ling Tian murmured to himself as that figure from years ago flashed in his mind. He seemed to be lost in his thoughts at this moment. In fact, he had no feelings for Murong Bing. However, since he and Murong Bing had sex, and it was also her first time, he felt that as a man, he should take responsibility for it. Since they had sex, Murong Rong Bing could only be his woman. He would not allow any other man to take her away!

Even if Duan Ling Tian did not find out where Murong Bing was from today, he was certain he would still be able to find her in the future. After all, as his strength improved, he would definitely be able to find her. It might just take a little longer. As he thought about it, he suddenly felt it was not too big a loss to exchange the Shadow Void Escaping Talisman for Murong Bing’s location. As far as he was concerned, a Shadow Void Escaping Talisman was nothing compared to Mu Rong Bing whom he had already seen as his woman!

…

Duan Ling Tian had been flying for a long time when he suddenly muttered to himself, “What the hell is this place? After flying for so long, there’s no end in sight…”

Even after several days, he was still flying above the desolate mountain. There was no end and beginning in sight at all.

“Hm?” Duan Ling Tian saw something flickered in his sight.

In just a brief moment, a vast expanse of snow appeared before his eyes. It was as though he had entered a world of ice and show. He could see snowy peaks in front of him. It looked extremely dazzling.

“An Illusory Realm?” It did not take long for Duan Ling Tian to realize he had entered an Illusory Realm. Moreover, it seemed like an extraordinary Illusory Realm. If it were not extraordinary, he would have long seen through it and would not have wandered aimlessly in the desolate mountain for days. “Let’s see if I can break out of it…”

Illusory realms like their names suggest were illusory. To break the illusion, one would have to find the realm’s core. Once the core was broken, the illusion would break

“This illusory realm… is really not simple!” After traveling several days and several nights, the scene before Duan Ling Tian changed again.

The world of ice and snow vanished and Duan Ling Tian found himself in a boundless grassland. A green expanse laid before him with no end in sight. To find the Illusory Realm’s core in such a place was even harder than finding a needle in the ocean. Therefore, he decided to wait it out. ascending the heavens.

Duan Ling Tian was quite confident that such a brilliant Illusory Realm definitely had more than three illusions. Indeed, it was just as he had expected. After traveling for another few days and nights, a new illusion appeared.

This time, he found himself in a lush forest. It was so lifelike that the forest even had beasts that would vanish like smoke as soon as he touched them. He searched the forest thoroughly. Whether it was the plants, flowers, trees, birds, or beasts, he left no rock unturned. He had to find and break the core if he wanted to leave.

However, days and nights passed again, and the illusion changed again. And yet, Duan Ling Tian still did not find the core.

“How can I be so unfortunate? The first time I used the Shadow Void Escaping Talisman, I ended up in this awful place… It would have been fine if it was an ordinary Illusory Realm, but it just happens to be an extraordinary one!” Duan Ling Tian felt somewhat helpless.

Although he had smoothly escaped from the powerhouse from the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect with the help of Shadow Void Celestial Talisman, he ended up in this confusing and extraordinary Illusory Realm.

As time passed, the illusions continued to change as well. At this moment, Duan Ling Tian finally realized he had no way of finding the location of the core with his current ability. He sighed. “It seems like I have no way of breaking out for the time being!”

At this point, Duan Ling Tian calmly accepted this and no longer struggled. He was aware that his current cultivation base was simply not enough for him to leave this place.