Volume 1, Chapter 16: Duel in the Illusory Realm

The guards and the old man kept their eyes averted, focusing intently on nothing but their own breathing. They exchanged glances, weighing their options. After struggling for the better part of a heartbeat, they nodded to one another and decided to make a clean break.

To put it plainly, they were only hired by Lin Yusheng for money; it was not worth sacrificing their lives for her. Most of them had wives and children back home. If not for the harshness of the world and the struggle to make ends meet, who would choose such a dangerous line of work? Even that old man, well into his seventies, was out acting as a guard for a mere few dozen taels of silver. Since even their strongest captain, Ji Bochang, had been taken out in a single stroke by the immortal, staying behind was essentially throwing their lives away. If Liu Yiyun wanted to be a hero, let him be one. At worst, they could just burn a few extra sticks of incense for him when they got back.

Soon, the guards departed, leaving Lin Yusheng alone in the dilapidated temple with the group of Qi-refining cultivators who remained frozen in place. Lin Yusheng had no idea what they were doing, though she guessed that Liu Yiyun had used some incredibly powerful mental technique and that they were currently locked in fierce combat within the spiritual realm. Her heart was in her throat, and she couldn't help but break into a cold sweat for him.

"Young Master, you must win!"

...

Within the illusion created by Liu Yiyun’s "Truth-Shattering" technique:

It was a vast and luxurious imperial palace hall. Liu Yiyun sat high upon the throne, holding a cup of crystal-clear spirit wine, with two handmaidens fanning him from either side. Standing below were the female cultivators of the Joyous Union Sect.

The women were dressed in a variety of outfits—miniskirts, silk stockings, pleated school uniforms, and all manner of attire. (Author's Note: Brothers, my imagination is limited; I really couldn't come up with any other costumes.) One was even wearing a down jacket, as Liu Yiyun simply couldn't think of anything else to put on her without repeating a style. Spread across the floor was a luxurious rug he had conjured, made from the fur of a pure Arctic polar bear imported from Russia.

Beside them stood thirty-seven large, soft Simmons beds. Why thirty-seven? Because only thirty-seven members of the Joyous Union Sect had arrived. Even if the entire sect had come, Liu Yiyun was confident he could have rounded them all up in one go.

Senior Sister Chen looked at her strange clothing and the unfamiliar hall. Her small hands, hidden behind her back, flicked a spell, attempting to summon her dharma sword to confront Liu Yiyun. To her dismay, she realized her storage ring was long gone. Furthermore, she could not muster even a shred of spiritual energy; at this moment, she was no different from a mortal. She looked up at Liu Yiyun, lost in thought.

A moment later, her willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed, and she parted her crimson lips: "What kind of demonic art is this? Where have you brought us?"

"Demonic art?" Liu Yiyun drained the spirit wine in his hand. He stood up, looking down at the sect members with an aggressive, sweeping gaze. He wagged a finger: "Nope, nope, nope. How could a human cultivator like me use demonic arts? As for where this is, didn't you say you wanted to kill me? This is a place I hand-picked specifically for our 'bout of combat'."

"You... you... fine, a bout of combat then! But why has our cultivation disappeared? And what is the meaning of these ropes?" Senior Sister Chen looked down at the bindings on her body. No matter how hard she struggled, she could not break free. She had completely forgotten that she was now as powerless as a mortal, assuming these were still high-level artifacts.

Liu Yiyun leaped lightly, landing right in front of her. He leaned against her shoulder and blew gently into her ear: "Miss Chen, didn't you want to engage in physical combat with me? I haven't asked yet—how exactly do you intend to fight? I’ve been practicing body-refining lately. I wonder if your physical form is stronger, or mine."

"You... you... I..." Provoked by Liu Yiyun, her cheeks and ears turned crimson, and she became tongue-tied. She couldn't help but retreat two steps: "You lecher! If you have the guts, untie us and let us fight properly."

"Pfft!" Liu Yiyun couldn't help but laugh. "As disciples of the prestigious Joyous Union Sect, how can you call me a lecher? If anyone is a lecher, it's your Young Sect Master, isn't it? Just because Miss Lin is beautiful, he kidnapped her for no reason. When he did that, did any of you stand up to protect her?"

Upon hearing him mention the Young Sect Master, Senior Sister Chen’s expression shifted: "How can you compare yourself to him! Our Young Sect Master is handsome, highly talented, and has endless spirit stones. Countless disciples in the sect dream of dual cultivation with him. Being chosen by him is the greatest blessing Lin Yusheng could have earned in a thousand lifetimes."

Liu Yiyun: "..."

Damn, how could someone be so hypocritical? He decided then and there that he would have to punish her properly later.

"Snap." Liu Yiyun clicked his fingers, and the ropes binding the sect members vanished. He stepped forward with a wicked, charming smile: "Fine, call me a lecher then. I’ve untied the ropes; how would you like to fight me now?"

Liu Yiyun’s overbearing demeanor made Senior Sister Chen feel entirely unsettled. She stammered in response: "Our... our cultivation hasn't returned yet!"

"Tsk. Are you naive, or am I? Physical combat doesn't require cultivation. Don't say I didn't give you a chance—all of you, come at me together!"

Senior Sister Chen clearly misunderstood his intent. She extended her slender arm and, with all her might, slapped her palm against Liu Yiyun’s chest. The soft sensation of his pectoral muscles made her face burn even redder. Liu Yiyun felt no pain at all; the light blow felt more like a lover's tease. It only made his heart burn with greater intensity.

He grabbed her arm and pulled her close to his body: "Now, it's my turn."

With that, Liu Yiyun scooped her up, his large hand unable to resist giving her backside a squeeze. He then tossed her onto the large bed nearby with a rough, ungentle motion.

"Ah!" Senior Sister Chen rubbed her head: "What are you trying to do?"

"Heh heh heh..." Liu Yiyun ripped off his top, revealing his well-defined muscles, and walked toward the bed step by step. They grew closer and closer...

"Today, let me see if my physical arts are stronger, or your Joyous Union Sect's techniques."

In an instant, the sounds of battle erupted one after another within the illusory hall, and they did not cease for several hours.