Chapter 101: Chapter 36: Bizarre Mechanisms, Phantom Reborn
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To tell the truth, Qiu Changtian really had no recollection of the previous time retroversions at all.
But he was well aware of the power of Mirror Flower Water Moon’s illusion technique:
Despite sharing the same facial features as Luo Yan, Qiu Changtian went unnoticed by everyone, from the Ziwei Master and Elder Shi Ding to Xu Yinglian and Shi Liuli.
It was truly an unparalleled illusion technique under the heavens.
After time retorsion, failing to detect even the slightest sense of incongruity should not be a difficult task.
However…
“By the way, Ah Jing,” sighed Qiu Changtian, “you are an artifact spirit after all. Don’t you have a way to deal with the original body?”
“I do not possess the power of time. I merely borrow from the Grand Dao of Time,” replied the Kunlun Mirror helplessly, “It is mainly because your rank is too low. How could a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Rank possibly withstand an Innate Spiritual Treasure?”
Qiu Changtian was somewhat amused by this:
“So, it seems that you died without fulfillment, and your body is being used against me, all because my cultivation realm isn’t high enough?”
“I don’t want this either!” The Kunlun Mirror became increasingly embarrassed and said with a grievance, “After all, I am just a mere mirror. If it weren’t for residing in your sea of consciousness, I wouldn’t even be able to move freely.”
“That’s too disappointing, Ah Jing. You should feel some shame.”
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“Feel shame, feel shame,” Kunlun Mirror quickly brushed it off, “listen to me, this time try to bypass the Jade Pond, and do not go to the mirror stand.”
“Hmm,” nodded Qiu Changtian.
Following the steps laid out in the Kunlun Mirror’s guide, once the golden armored strongmen were alerted by the two people inside, Qiu Changtian led Xu Yinglian across the Iron Chain Long Bridge, running straight to the Cloud Platform on the opposite side.
“The celestial music is louder this time,” Kunlun Mirror reminded.
“Hmm,” Qiu Changtian nodded, then took Xu Yinglian around the Jade Pond towards the direction of the Divine Palace.
Xu Yinglian was clueless and originally wanted to explore around, but seeing her senior brother dragging her along without explanation, she felt slightly embarrassed and insecure, with no resistance.
The two of them circled far around the Jade Pond, passing through the arched corridors at the edge of the Cloud Platform, and then over the towering Heaven’s Gate, arriving in front of the Divine Palace.
The Divine Palace of the Queen Mother of the West, known as the “Zhao Palace.”
The word “Zhao” signifies a brilliant radiance.
From the outside, it was indeed a Divine Palace of the Immortal Sect, with columns winding with dragons, and eaves soaring with phoenixes, in the utmost splendid and brilliant style.
As they ascended the steps, the two stood before the sealed palace doors.
The doors were approximately three zhang high, tightly sealed, and extremely heavy.
After confirming there were no traps, Qiu Changtian pushed on the door with force.
Seeing him struggling a bit, Xu Yinglian stepped forward to help. Both of them shouldered the door and let out a concerted shout as they exerted themselves, finally managing to push the doors open.
Inside, the spacious main hall was filled with stands and desks.
Innumerable magical treasures, Flying Swords, Daoist texts, and elixirs, gleaming with flowing light and rising spiritual energy, were neatly arranged on the stands and desks, nearly dazzling their eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Xu Yinglian’s Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart operated, and she suppressed the greedy feelings that rose in her heart, then turned to ask Qiu Changtian:
“What should we do?”
Qiu Changtian fell silent for a moment, then after confirming through the Kunlun Mirror that there were no traps or restrictions inside, he nodded to Xu Yinglian.
Together, they stepped through the palace doors.
……
Their vision suddenly became bright.
Qiu Changtian’s gaze swept over the sea of clouds toward the Divine General guarding the bridge, when suddenly a fast-forwarded miniature film played by Kunlun Mirror flashed before his eyes.
“…Ah, this,” after watching it, Qiu Changtian felt quite troubled, “Which time retroversal is this for me?”
“The fourth time,” answered Kunlun Mirror.
Qiu Changtian quickly pondered:
The first time, he stared at the mirror stand and was reverted.
The second time, he tried to take a piece of the Kunlun Mirror and was reverted.
The third time, he bypassed the Jade Pond and tried to enter Zhao Palace. Time reverted again.
Combining the only evidence available, it seemed that the shard of the Kunlun Mirror was guarding this location at the Cloud Platform.
As soon as it perceived a threat, or an attempt was made to leave the Cloud Platform and enter Zhao Palace, it would trigger the defensive mechanism of the Kunlun Mirror shard.
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To confirm this conjecture was quite simple.
By wandering around the Cloud Platform with Junior Sister Xu, without trying to enter the Zhao Palace or investigate the central Jade Pond,
if after the same amount of time the time retrospection still hadn’t been triggered, then they could largely prove their point.
Therefore, Qiu Changtian replicated the method, and after the golden-armored warriors were lured away, he didn’t say much and directly pulled Xu Yinglian onto the Iron Chain Long Bridge.
Although Xu Yinglian often liked to compete with her senior brother, deep down she acknowledged his abilities and decisiveness.
Since Qiu Changtian didn’t care to explain, she didn’t ask further, merely following closely behind him, her expression tense as she silently pondered the deeper meaning of her senior brother’s actions.
Upon reaching the Cloud Platform, the two heard the sounds of celestial music, seemingly just within reach.
It was louder than the sound from their previous time retroversions.
Not only that, the surrounding archways and stone columns began to gradually reveal illusory images.
Although the outlines were faint and flickered unsteadily, one could vaguely make out the countless golden-armored warriors standing guard around them.
However, the eyes visible through their facial armor were cold and lifeless, unlike those of regular people.
There were also fairy maidens weaving in and out of the crowds, their faces half-hidden behind pipas, their jade throats rolling as they sang enchanting tunes.
Yet within the shifting glances of their eyes, a bitter and malevolent intent flashed by frequently.
With a grave expression, Qiu Changtian realized that if they were subjected to a few more retroversions, these golden-armored warriors and fairy maidens might become real and would likely attack them en masse…
They had to break the time retrospection mechanism as quickly as possible!
He ignored the illusions, simply walking in circles along the edge of the Cloud Platform with his junior sister.
After about ten rounds, Xu Yinglian couldn’t hold back her curiosity any longer and asked with a frown,
“What are you looking for, senior brother?”
“Oh, I’m studying a formation,” Qiu Changtian responded.
“Formation?” Xu Yinglian exclaimed in astonishment. Were these illusions caused by a formation?
Moreover, her senior brother understood formations?
Wait a second, I remember during his previous excursion, he had helped the cultivators of the Yuqing View break a formation…
Dammit, not only does senior brother have a high cultivation level, powerful Daoist magic, and a mastery of Sword Control Technique, but now he’s even delving into formations?
When will I ever catch up to senior brother?
While Junior Sister Xu was thinking this, she saw Qiu Changtian giving her a strange look.
[Invincible character setting, synchronization value +1.]
“What’s wrong?” Xu Yinglian suppressed her frustration and asked again.
“Don’t talk for now,” Qiu Changtian frowned and replied, “I’m thinking over a problem.”
Since their arrival at the Cloud Platform, he had been constantly keeping track of time.
Up to now, nearly three times the duration of the previous time retroversions had passed without triggering the mechanism, which was telling.
Qiu Changtian asked Xu Yinglian to stand on this side of the archway and then cautiously approached the Jade Pond. He didn’t look at the mirror stand in the pond’s center but instead used sword light to sever a dried lotus pod.
Then he turned around, peeled out two lotus seeds, and gave half to Xu Yinglian, saying,
“Eat these.”
Xu Yinglian hesitated, but seeing Qiu Changtian chew and swallow without hesitation, she too put the lotus seeds into her mouth.
After eating the lotus seeds, Qiu Changtian turned his back on the Jade Pond and contemplated.
Hmm, still no time retrospection triggered.
The triggering mechanism was almost clear: as soon as they tried to force their way into the Zhao Palace or if the Kunlun Mirror shard on the mirror stand sensed a threat, it would initiate the retrospection mechanism.
That is, they only had to launch a surprise attack while it wasn’t paying attention…
Thinking this, Qiu Changtian suddenly turned around, and from his sleeve, the Immortal Capital Thunder flew out, striking the Jade Pond Mirror Stand like a bolt of lightning!
……
Qiu Changtian emerged from the cave, his vision suddenly clear.
In the distance was the endless sea of clouds; nearby were the Iron Chain Long Bridge and the bridge-guarding Divine General, and… the mini movie played by the Kunlun Mirror.
Listening in astonishment to the Kunlun Mirror’s explanation and realizing he had failed four times already, Qiu Changtian began to silently reflect once more.