Baiyu City.

Under the deep darkness, Zheng Yi slowly opened his eyes.

His breath, originally calm, turned rapid and clear in the vast quiet chamber.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide, full of surprise.

It wasn’t until he saw the quiet chamber for a few breaths that his expression calmed down.

Long ago, when checking the Three Thousand Worlds function of the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror, fearing any accident might occur, he had already advised Elder Chen and Liu Cheng’en that he was in seclusion, and no one must approach.

“Was that… a dream?”

“Or… the real Three Thousand Worlds?”

Zheng Yi forced himself to calm down, yet that scene kept lingering in his mind.

The corpse was bitten and devoured clean by Liuu Ling’er, bite by bite!

The soul was turned to ashes by Liuu Yin’er using Demon Fire!

All these sensations of pain, despair, he could still feel the bitterness on his body.

“What exactly… happened?”

“Yin Yang Treasure Mirror, Spirit Pool World…”

“Did the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror take me to a real world, or… is it just a reflection?”

“A reflection of a real world?”

“Illusion Talent?”

His heart stirred, and he delved deeper into the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror once more.

The mist dissipated, and lines of text reappeared on the mirror’s surface.

[Illusion Truth World ended.]

[You survived a mere twelve years in this world, a short life that has already ended. Your greatest achievement was scaring a Demon to tears while being its post-meal snack, with no other accomplishments.]

[Illusion Progress: 18%]

[Lifespan consumed: 12 years.]

[Illusionary Items: None.]

“What does this mean?”

“Instance statistics?”

“Why does it feel like playing a game?”

Zheng Yi was full of doubt, but he still speculated based on the current situation.

“Illusionary World? Does it mean what I just experienced wasn’t a real world? But an illusion?”

“An illusion infinitely approaching the real world!”

“Illusion Progress? 18%? That is… 18 percent?”

“And what about Illusionary Items?”

“Can I bring things from the Illusionary World out?”

“Should be able to bring out valuable things…”

Based on existing information, Zheng Yi quickly speculated.

“And the lifespan… consumed twelve years?”

He hurriedly checked his lifespan, and sure enough, it decreased from the previous 5112 to 5100, a full reduction of twelve years!

His lifespan was now only five thousand one hundred years!

“Damn it!”

Zheng Yi reviewed the text on the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror once more, while his mind was still replaying all the experiences in the Illusionary World.

Twelve years of life, devoured by a Demon in one day, even the soul was annihilated by the Demon.

Now, he was still trapped in the resentment and anger of the previous life.

Without experiencing it personally, how could anyone understand the misery within?

Born and then raised as food for Demons.

Even to make the meat more tender and enjoyable to bite, they taught him cultivation and martial arts, absorbed Spiritual Qi, and tempered the flesh.

Doing so, how is it any different from massaging and free-range feeding pigs and dogs?

Think of the previous life, some people would massage livestock, feed them premium feed, and even have dedicated people play music or treat illnesses for them, all to make the meat tastier.

The Demon’s actions in the previous life, how are they different from these livestock?

He is a human, not livestock!

Livestock live in ignorance, and if eaten, they are eaten.

But the Human Race…

A race with wisdom, emotions, and beliefs.

Raised for twelve years, just to be devoured in one day?

This kind of anger and resentment is enough to turn one’s soul into a Fierce Ghost demanding life!

After a full quarter of an hour, Zheng Yi finally calmed down.

The Illusionary World had ended, and no matter how much he dwelled on it, it wouldn’t help.

What he needed to do now was to sort out the information obtained from the Illusionary World and prepare for the next entry.

Yes!

He could enter again.

In the deep dark universe on the mirror surface of the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror, the star representing the Spirit Pool World was still flickering, albeit weakly.

It meant… he could enter again!

The moment his mind made contact, he felt an obstruction, like trying to open a door but something behind it was blocking, yet the door wasn’t locked.

If he pushed hard enough, he could force his way in.

But he felt that his spirit was too exhausted, and forcing entry wasn’t a good idea.

He sensed again, and the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror displayed lines of text once more.

[Each entry into the Illusionary World consumes lifespan. The time spent living in the Illusionary World will consume a corresponding amount of lifespan.]

[Current mental exhaustion is not suitable for entry.]

[Note: The time flow in the Illusionary World differs from the real world, please be aware, Life Master.]

“Huh?”

“Living how many years in the Illusionary World consumes that many years of lifespan?”

“The time flow is also different?”

“I wonder what time it is now?”

Zheng Yi wondered, “I stayed in the Illusionary World for twelve years, even though I was in a haze as if dreaming, I did indeed experience twelve years.”

“In Great Yu time, how long has passed?”

In the previous life, he survived for twelve years but was always confined in the Spirit Pool, completely unaware of the outside world.

The only time he left the Spirit Pool, he was transported as food to the Snake Demon Liuu Ling’er’s room.

And was swallowed in one gulp!

No… that can’t be right…

Zheng Yi’s brows furrowed as he recalled his visit to the Spirit Pool at ten years old, thanks to a breakthrough to the fifth layer of the “Spirit Eating Technique”, where he once encountered a dense fog.

Now thinking about it, that towering black shadow wasn’t a city wall at all, but a Demon!

The Demon guarding the Spirit Pool!

“The Spirit Pool is a place where Demons raise the Human Race, so aside from the nannies who look after the children, there must be powerful Demons guarding it!”

Zheng Yi pondered, “I’ve been cultivating for twelve years, only to reach the seventh layer of the “Spirit Eating Technique”, and I’m no match for these Demons!”

“Now that I think about it, no wonder the “Spirit Eating Technique” only records methods for absorbing Spiritual Qi and converting it to Magical Power, with no mention of any Magic techniques.”

“After all, the Demons only want a succulent and delicious meal filled with Spiritual Qi, not a rebellious grasshopper capable of performing Attack Technique!”

The fury in Zheng Yi’s eyes grew even more intense.

“Is there any way to clear this Illusionary World?”

“Could it be escaping the Spirit Pool? Or wait a moment!”

Zheng Yi’s eyes suddenly lit up.

He looked at the progress of the Illusionary World.

One point eight percent!

In the last Illusionary World, aside from cultivation, I basically did nothing.

How could there be such a high degree of world completion?

Nearly one-fifth!

Looking again at the Illusionary World evaluation.

[You survived for a mere twelve years in this world, and your brief life ended. Your greatest achievement was startling a Demon into tears at a meal. Please keep up the effort.]

“The greatest achievement was startling a Demon into tears at a meal…”

“Startling her into tears…”

Zheng Yi murmured, “Does this mean the condition to clear this Illusionary World lies with Liuu Ling’er? If I kill her, can I pass?”

“Although Liuu Ling’er is a Demon, her strength is clearly weak, she must have recently been born.”

“But by her side, there’s the powerful Demon Liuu Miao’er.”

“A mere wave of the hand can annihilate my already-transformed Fierce Ghost form! Her strength is undoubtedly formidable…”

“Or maybe… try slaying other Demons?”

Zheng Yi recalled when he broke through to the seventh layer of the “Spirit Eating Technique”, and the dozen shadows that came with Liuu Ling’er.

“Liuu Ling’er clearly holds a higher status than the other boys and girls, that’s why I, this ‘Pseudo-Immortal Seed,’ was assigned to her.”

“If next time I enter the Illusionary World, I deliberately avoid cultivating, perhaps other Demons will snatch me away.”

“Or maybe…”

“Could I find a way to leave the Spirit Pool before twelve years old, what would be the consequence?”

He recalled that in the previous life, during those twelve years, many children were sent out of the Spirit Pool early for various reasons.

Where did they go?

“Hoo…”

After another quarter of an hour, Zheng Yi exhaled deeply.

After organizing all the information from his past life, he had a preliminary plan in mind.

Recalling again the scenes and people of the Illusionary World, his eyes suddenly lit up.

“Hmm? Something’s wrong!”

“The Yin Yang Treasure Mirror shows that I haven’t obtained any Illusionary Items, but… my memory remains!”

Zheng Yi exclaimed in surprise, “Not just the memories from the Illusionary World, but… the “Spirit Eating Technique”!”

“The cultivation method passed down by the Demons, universal throughout all Spirit Pools!”

“In the Illusionary World, I managed to reach the seventh-layer Qi Cultivation in just ten years, not only because of my Spirit Root qualification and Root Bone Comprehension but also due to this “Spirit Eating Technique”!”

“It’s because of the power of the Spirit Eating Technique that my cultivation speed was so fast!”

“I just don’t know… does the “Spirit Eating Technique” have any effect in this world?”

Zheng Yi immediately sat cross-legged, carefully recalling the complete content of the “Spirit Eating Technique”.

“Heaven and Earth are the inns of all things; Time is the guest of a hundred generations; Spiritual Qi is the root of all things…”

Over three thousand words flowed and were recorded in his mind.

After all, ten years of continuous cultivation had already imprinted these three thousand words firmly in Zheng Yi’s memory.

At this moment, Zheng Yi quickly entered a state of cultivation.

The dense Spiritual Qi around him began to circulate with his cultivation exertion.

Before long, faint strands of Spiritual Qi seeped slowly from the surrounding air, slithering inside his body like small snakes.

With the running of the Cultivation Method, Zheng Yi seemed to be in a warm hot spring, with the warmth flowing through all his acupuncture points and limbs.

The Magical Power mist within his Dantian also began to slowly swirl and continue to increase.

As time passed, rays of sunlight pierced through the glazed windows and shone in.

At this moment, Zheng Yi slowly opened his eyes and took a deep breath.

Two thin, white dragons appeared from his nostrils and slithered away, disappearing into the air.

Zheng Yi carefully sensed the whirlpool of Magical Power within his body, and indeed, it had increased slightly.

After a night of cultivation, he genuinely felt invigorated and his spirit was extremely exuberant.

It’s a Cultivation Technique!

This “Spirit Eating Technique” is indeed a Cultivation Technique!

Who would have thought that, after years of searching in the Great Yu World for a Cultivation Technique, he found it so easily now?!

Then… is there even a need to excavate the ancestral tombs?

This thought just circled in his mind before quickly making a decision.

Dig!

Of course, I must dig!

The “Spirit Eating Technique” and the improvement of his Dual Cultivation technique serve the same role, providing the method but lacking the technique.

This means Zheng Yi now has the method to achieve Dao, but not the technique to protect his Dao!

“Hoo…”

He exhaled and slowly stood up.

“Growl…”

At this moment, a fierce sensation of hunger surged, as if he hadn’t eaten for three days and nights.

His face changed slightly: “The Yin Yang Treasure Mirror had warned that the time flow rate in the Illusionary World and the real world is different. I’ve spent twelve years in the Illusionary World, how long has passed in the real world?”

“It can’t be twelve years!”

Startled, he opened the door of the quiet room in haste.

“Someone, come here!”

Soon, a commotion echoed from afar, and two Shadow Guards appeared and quickly ran over.

“Your Majesty? You have exited seclusion!”

Zheng Yi frowned and said, “Why the panic? By the way, how long have I been in seclusion this time?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep