Chapter 231: Searching for Flowers in a Mirror, Fishing for the Moon in Water

This portal differs in location from the Long Gong's gate tower.

Its surface shimmered with swirling light, revealing a gap in the formation.

Gazing inside, the light grew deep and dim, utterly obscuring vision.

Jiang Jian stood before the portal, brows slightly furrowed, halting his steps.

"Are you going in or not? Don't delay my formation setup!"

The academy teacher spoke again, his tone tinged with impatience.

Jiang Jian glanced at him, fell silent for a moment, then walked past him and entered the formation portal.

CRASH!

The portal behind him slammed shut with force!

Jiang Jian stood at the formation's edge, surrounded by utter darkness, silent and still.

Seconds later, the darkness receded like a tide.

The scene of Long Gong gradually emerged.

Unlike before.

At this moment, Long Gong had lost its bustle and noise, appearing eerily quiet.

Since Jiang Jian took the Long Gong's ultimate treasure and the source of its fortune, the water veins' spiritual energy had grown increasingly thin.

Many creatures had gradually left Long Gong, seeking cultivation elsewhere.

Yet the Seven Palaces and Nineteen Halls still held various scarce resources.

Many spiritual objects here depended on Long Gong's existence and could regenerate slowly.

Still, many remained here.

Qiushui Palace.

Jiang Jian halted, gazing up at the hundred-zhang palace gate, eyes filled with thought.

"Stop right there!"

A demon general blocked Jiang Jian with a halberd, his expression stern.

"Whoever trespasses into Qiushui Palace dies!"

As his words fell, the water soldiers on both sides stepped forward, drawing weapons and fixing their gaze on Jiang Jian.

These creatures were utterly unfamiliar.

Jiang Jian scanned them once—none of them were recognizable.

"Has something happened to Qiushui Palace?"

As he pondered:

Jiang Jian took a step forward, spiritual energy surging, moon-white flames flickering.

BOOM!

The blazing flames erupted, blasting every creature before him into the air!

The blocking demon general spat blood, hurtling backward and crashing hard against the gate pillar.

In an instant:

Jiang Jian's figure darted past, entering Qiushui Palace and landing before the Fuhai Cave.

He gazed at the cave ahead, sensing faintly.

His expression grew colder, more grim.

The Fuhai Cave now had not only demon generals guarding it, but also water soldiers stationed there.

Yet every demon general and water soldier before him were strangers.

Seeing Jiang Jian, they grew wary, faces filled with fear, slowly retreating.

Clearly, they had witnessed everything that had just happened at the gate.

For a moment, no one dared move against Jiang Jian.

Someone had already turned and fled into the cave to report.

Moments later:

A creature emerged, clad in a deep blue long robe, a long sword strapped to his back, striding forward.

"Who are you? Why are you causing trouble here?"

He stared at Jiang Jian, expression stern.

Jiang Jian said nothing, instead fixing his gaze on the sword on his back, pupils contracting.

A spirit-infused treasure—Qiushui Sword!

But the true Qiushui Sword had been taken by me and stored in my storage space.

At the same time:

Jiang Jian also realized every demon general and water soldier here were all demonic spirits and water monsters.

Not a single human was present.

"This is not Qiushui Palace!"

Jiang Jian stared at him, a terrifying suspicion forming deep within his mind.

"Or rather—"

"This is Qiushui Palace from long ago."

"Before the Long Gong Marvel had ever manifested."

"A Qiushui Palace existing within the dimensional wall!"

Jiang Jian's expression turned grave.

His thoughts churned rapidly.

The Sheng Ghost's nature was terrifying.

It could turn dreams into reality.

After being hunted by the academy teacher, it fled to the Lihai Long Gong, and to save its life, chose to merge with the Long Gong Marvel.

The Sheng Ghost had originally hoped for luck.

It never imagined the Diyue Academy would react so swiftly.

As soon as the world portal stabilized, they sent all their teachers to scatter across the world.

They began eliminating unruly native creatures.

The Sheng Ghost had just run straight into their crosshairs.

Facing them head-on, it stood no chance.

It could only rely on its own nature, merging with the Long Gong Marvel, barely clinging to life.

The teacher's method outside Long Gong was precisely the Separation Formation!

"The Long Gong Illusion appeared after the Sheng Ghost merged."

Jiang Jian, based on the available information, guessed the truth with near-perfect accuracy.

This place shifted between illusion and reality, bizarre and surreal.

By sheer coincidence:

Jiang Jian had somehow passed through the formation portal and entered the Long Gong Illusion!

CRACK!

A fissure suddenly appeared before Jiang Jian!

The fissure was horrifying.

As if tearing the world apart.

Yet all the demon generals and water soldiers before the Fuhai Cave seemed utterly unaware.

Even the creature with the Qiushui Sword on his back showed no reaction.

The fissure's edges had even spread across his face, yet he remained oblivious.

His form had also grown hazy.

Clearly:

The Long Gong Illusion was merely the Sheng Ghost's nature, passively manifesting.

Its existence was fragmented, appearing randomly.

It could collapse at any moment.

The creature with the Qiushui Sword spoke again, his voice twisted: "Daring to cause trouble here? Long Jun will not spare you!"

His form grew even more insubstantial.

Hearing this:

Jiang Jian's gaze turned icy, his spirit trembling.

He suddenly recalled another matter.

The illusion contained Lihai Long Jun.

This scene bore a striking resemblance to when he obtained the "Dizang Staff."

CRACK!

More jagged fissures tore through the world!

This illusion fragment would not last much longer—it would collapse completely!

Jiang Jian turned, stepped forward, and his figure dissolved into black light.

Rushing toward the main hall of Long Gong!

Crack!

Boom!

Countless cracks spread across heaven and earth like a spider's web.

The entire world began to collapse!

Jiang Jian's expression turned icy; he abandoned "Chizhi Tianya" and switched to the more agile "Rainbow After the Rain."

Amid the shattering of the world behind him, he surged straight into the main hall of Long Gong!

In an instant.

An overwhelming, terrifying pressure slammed into him!

Upon the majestic throne sat a figure.

Its gaze was cold, devoid of any emotion, looking down upon Jiang Jian.

The cracks exploded with sharp snaps, spreading rapidly—already reaching Jiang Jian's back!

In the blink of an eye.

Jiang Jian did not hesitate; with a thought, he activated the Long Jun title!

A brilliant golden aura appeared!

The light cluster condensed the primordial fortune of Long Gong, representing the title of "Li Hai Long Jun"!

Above the throne.

The figure saw the light cluster and its gaze sharply hardened!

Its terrifying aura erupted instantly, sweeping across all directions!

Boom!

The entire world froze.

The collapsing cracks halted unnaturally, suspended by an incomprehensible power.

The main hall of Long Gong fell utterly silent.

Jiang Jian lifted his head, gazing at the being above.

He knew deep within—he was very likely about to see the true treasure of Li Hai Long Gong!

Like the "Earth Store Cane" of Yinshan's wonderland.

As a former wonderland, Li Hai Long Gong too held such supreme treasures!

The willow branch was an external treasure, open to those who sought it.

But its illusory treasure was exceedingly difficult to obtain!

Originally, after losing its wonderland nature,

the path to Li Hai Long Gong's illusion had been sealed, and its supreme treasure could no longer be claimed.

Yet the Shengui, in its desperate flight, fused with Long Gong.

Its inherent nature inadvertently triggered the creation of illusory fragments!

(End of Chapter)