Chapter 41: Those who readily change form are called transformation, are called illusion

What is widely circulated may be that the Song state senior official Lao Chengzi learned the illusion transformation technique from Mr. Yin Wen in the early Warring States period.

Regarding this point, detailed records once existed in the historical texts.

It is said that after Lao Chengzi mastered it, he could make the four seasons change variably; let winter thunder, let summer freeze ice; let flying creatures run, let land beasts fly.

However, these are too ancient; their authenticity cannot be examined, and the exact cause has become a mystery.

But it cannot be denied that they indeed left a vivid mark, displaying a wonderful illusionary world for later generations to trace.

Nature is wonderful; the phenomena between heaven and earth have their own operational principles, constantly undergoing change.

The eye can see objects because light reflected from the object passes through the cornea into the eye, is refracted by the refractive medium, and forms an inverted image on the retina.

Via the nerves to the brain's center, we then construct in the brain what we 'see'.

But many are invisible to the naked human eye, such as microorganisms, or infrared and ultraviolet light, etc.

What humans can see is limited; besides that, visual deception occurs, famously including mirages, the Ebbinghaus illusion, and the Fraser spiral.

These show that seeing is not necessarily believing.

If so, then what is truly real?

Human subjective initiative can transform and influence nature; likewise, nature can subtly influence humans, unconsciously altering their behavior.

True and false, virtual and real—who can say clearly?

All things in the world have constants and variables; what Ye Qin must do is to see through the essence of life and trace it to its source.

When impoverished, change; when changed, flow; when flow, then endure.

Everything is constantly changing; nothing remains eternally unchanged.

What is illusion?

Perhaps Ye Qin already has the answer.

Exhausting numbers leads to transformation; those who change form are called change, and are called illusion.

The Creator's work is exquisite and profound, hard to exhaust or end; those who rely on form show superficial skill and shallow function, thus arise and cease together, knowing that illusion and transformation are no different from life and death.

Vital energy and material form are all illusion.

At this moment Ye Qin suddenly enlightened; his left eye emitted a ray of light, and as the light faded, a crescent-shaped mark appeared in his pupil.

He raised his head to gaze at the moon; the surrounding white mist grew thicker, seeming like heavy fog, yet his mind was exceptionally clear.

At this time the bright moon in the heavens became even brighter, actually stirring up countless rippling patterns, as if something were coming into being.

Only a huge moon emerged slowly from within, its full outline appearing before the eyes, covering the sky and surpassing the original body.

No wonder the moonlight is so dazzling! For two moons have appeared in the sky!

The two moons are identical; one cannot tell which is real and which is false.

That bright moon flew toward Ye Qin, growing larger and closer, until it finally enveloped the entire mountaintop, as if to carry the mountain away into the distant universe.

The stars in the sky began to twinkle; the Milky Way flowed, gathering into a vast, magnificent river of stars that followed the moon's steps.

Amidst the swirling white mist, the moon splashed the Milky Way, appearing splendid and magnificent; occasionally one hears the tide, as if a summons from the depths of the universe.

Soon the sky lowered, the Milky Way raised huge waves, as if to submerge the entire heavens; inside, heavenly waters churned, faintly revealing a section of white bone.

The bone fragment blocked sky and sun; though only a part, it already caused such a commotion—unimaginable what would happen if the whole were revealed.

As time passed, that huge skeleton finally appeared between heaven and earth.

Mountains and rivers as a ruler! Sun and moon as a scale! The stars of the heavens counted!

Yet its size cannot be measured!

Just how tall, how large is it? Words fail to describe it; it seems as if an ancient creature has awakened.

White Bone sits cross-legged, one hand pointing to heaven, the other to earth, its aura shaking ancient and modern.

What should have been dark eye sockets instead flow with moonlight, layers of silver radiance continually washing, the lunar wheel endlessly turning, shining in concert with White Bone.

White Bone and the bright moon—eternally unchanging.

What should have been a bizarre scene now appears remarkably harmonious.

The originally huge moon fell upon White Bone like a halo, making each bone gleam with a jade‑white luster.

Compared to this, Ye Qin's body is utterly tiny, like dust, almost negligible, yet White Bone and the moon are centered on him.

Ye Qin blinked; the crescent mark in his pupil gradually faded.

At the same time, regardless of White Bone or the moon, the figures began to turn transparent, finally dissipating into the air, carried away by the wind.

Above the heavens, there is still only one moon.

The mountain‑side moon shed faint light, yet Ye Qin felt as if he had just awakened from a great dream.

"That imagination just now was too real."

Ye Qin's thoughts wandered beyond the heavens, unsure whether he could ever truly realize that scene, standing shoulder to shoulder with sun and moon.

But that imagination just now greatly drained Ye Qin's spirit; he now feels a heavy fatigue.

……

After a moment, Ye Qin barely recovered; his gaze fell not far away, his mind following his intent, and soon a white bone skeleton showed a faint outline.

Not long after, it condensed into form.

White Bone sat cross‑legged on the mountain peak, a bright moon above her head, her back to the world, looking down upon the bustling mortal realm.

Cool breezes blew, a gentle wind brushed the face, faint insect chirps and bird calls could be heard; everything seemed tranquil and peaceful, yet extraordinarily real.

But this lake surface is actually an illusion domain!

Ye Qin could sense that the consumption of mental energy was not particularly large.

His tail unconsciously slapped the ground, his snake‑like eyes flickering with contemplation.

Now he is no longer as before, unable to control the illusion realm; he can freely release and retract it.

Ye Qin's own strength has now reached an extremely solid level; adding this Illusion Divine Ability, dealing with those huge beasts is no problem.

With two self-defense means working in tandem, in this mountain forest he could walk sideways without any trouble.

Fortunately, lately few people have gone up the mountain; otherwise, seeing this scene would likely confirm those rumors.

The illusion gradually faded, everything returned to normal, and on that huge stone only Ye Qin's silhouette remained.

This time, there were no small animals behind him.

These animals, though not intelligent, had followed Ye Qin for so long that they vaguely sensed something; at the moment the illusion first appeared, they ran off completely.

Just now, because the imagined scenario was too vast, the mental energy expended has not yet fully recovered, leaving Ye Qin somewhat fatigued.

The whole snake lay limp on the ground, letting the moonlight pour down.

Ye Qin surmised that the larger the illusion, the more mental energy it consumes, and it also relates to the willpower of the target.

For example, a person with strong will would be less affected by the illusion.

Moreover, the illusion has a time limit of only a few minutes; even if Ye Qin does not withdraw the Divine Ability, it will disappear on its own when the time is up.

"Currently this Illusion Divine Ability, though lifelike and hard to discern reality from illusion. But I estimate my present ability can only sustain it for a few minutes, and its use comes with many limitations; the degree of effect also relates to the willpower of the target."

These are all Ye Qin's speculations; the exact situation will need to be further verified through practice.

But he believes that as his strength continues to grow, the duration and scope of casting the Illusion Divine Ability will increase, and even the illusion's imagery will continually evolve!

(End of chapter)