Chapter 316 : Illusion Technique Genius
Chapter 316: Illusion Technique Genius
In a dimly lit room, Li Qingqiu sat on a chair, looking at the floating sphere of light above the table. Inside it was reflected the scene of the Masked Disciple conversing with Yan Qing, while Chu Jing, Wei Tianxiong, and a female disciple stood nearby, watching together.
This female disciple was named Yu Lan, the eldest disciple of Hall Master Chai Yunshang of the Enforcement Hall. She now oversaw the Suppressing Evil Tower.
Wei Tianxiong clicked his tongue in amazement and said, “This disciple is quite good. He’s acting as if it were real. I heard the Sect Master has a Dark Hall under him—this disciple is from the Dark Hall, right?”
Li Qingqiu did not deny it, but instead asked, “Can your illusion technique incorporate a bewitching effect on the mind?”
Today, their gathering was not to scheme against Yan Qing, but to evaluate the spell created by Chu Jing.
In life, Chu Jing had possessed two exceptionally outstanding talents. After becoming a ghost cultivator, he had continued cultivating. He was already at the Second Layer of the Spirit Perception Realm, yet he rarely displayed his strength. What the sect disciples feared was his identity and his methods.
Wei Tianxiong had been invited specifically to offer guidance.
Facing Li Qingqiu’s question, Chu Jing pondered and said, “I can try that later.”
Wei Tianxiong spoke bluntly, “Your spell has too many flaws. If this person could move and leave the prison, once he encounters other living beings, the illusion would break. Right now, it’s at best a tool for extracting confessions—not yet suitable for combat.”
He was speaking the truth. That was also why, in Yan Qing’s eyes, there was only the Masked Disciple and no other figures.
In reality, the Black Fiend Demon Monkey was still chattering endlessly as it cursed Yan Qing, while Yan Qing leaned against the wall, appearing as though he were asleep.
Yu Lan did not speak. She already found the spell astonishing and could not see any flaws. What intrigued her most, however, was how Chu Jing had projected the illusion Yan Qing experienced into this spirit stone.
Chu Jing looked at Wei Tianxiong and said, “I will have to seek guidance from Senior Wei in the future.”
“We’ll see if I have time,” Wei Tianxiong replied perfunctorily. Aside from Li Qingqiu and Yuan Li, he treated everyone else this way—after all, he had once been an elder of the Divine Origin Sect.
Li Qingqiu continued watching, quite interested in the conversation within the illusion.
As he looked at the Masked Disciple inside the illusion, his gaze was filled with appreciation.
This disciple was a genius with dual outstanding talents. Having entered the Dark Hall for only five years, he already possessed his own distinctive style.
Within the Dark Hall, only this disciple had rapidly mastered Chu Jing’s spell.
Although Li Qingqiu no longer deliberately promoted disciples with excellent aptitude, he had always kept an eye on them. After all, as long as they did not fall prematurely, they would become the backbone of the sect in the future.
Thinking of this, Li Qingqiu summoned the Dao Lineage Panel, found a disciple’s portrait, and opened it.
【Name: Xie Shu】
【Gender: Male】
【Age: 34】
【Loyalty (to Sect Master / Sect): 99 / 96 (Max 100)】
【Cultivation Aptitude: Excellent】
【Comprehension: Excellent】
【Fate Traits: Illusion Technique Genius, Repaying Kindness】
【Illusion Technique Genius: Possesses extraordinary comprehension and creativity in the path of illusion techniques】
【Repaying Kindness: Will spare no effort to repay those who have shown him kindness】
……
When Xie Shu entered the sect, he was already an adult, so he did not stand out in the entry assessment. It was only after cultivating the Primordial Unity Scripture that he rose to prominence.
His background was not complicated. Like many others, he had been saved by the Clear Sky Sect. His entire family had perished during the dark years under the rule of Emperor Zhao Zhi. He had traveled thousands of miles to reach the Clear Sky Sect, ultimately achieving his wish.
It was precisely because of the 【Illusion Technique Genius】 fate trait that Li Qingqiu had him cultivate Chu Jing’s new spell.
Xie Shu had a quiet personality and did not like to show off. He had not even participated in the Grand Dao Tournament, so he was completely unknown. After being assigned to the Dark Hall by Li Qingqiu, his loyalty had instead increased—something that made Li Qingqiu sigh at how different people could be.
Under the gaze of the four, Yan Qing was clearly persuaded by Xie Shu and began putting on airs, negotiating terms with him.
“I suddenly feel this matter can be carried out accordingly,” Chu Jing said abruptly.
He could tell that Xie Shu was not simple. No wonder the Sect Master had chosen him to test the spell—and even selected this place.
Chu Jing realized that he still did not understand the sect’s disciples well enough. From time to time, astonishing geniuses would emerge and surprise him.
At the same time, he admired Li Qingqiu immensely. As Sect Master, Li Qingqiu’s discernment was almost unbelievable. While working for him, Chu Jing knew that Li Qingqiu would occasionally promote certain disciples in secret—and those disciples would later prove themselves, never disappointing his hidden support.
“Hm? The illusion is changing—this kid is not simple!”
Wei Tianxiong suddenly exclaimed in surprise. Hearing this, Chu Jing’s expression shifted as he stared intently at Xie Shu within the illusion.
Yu Lan, however, could not understand anything at all. She saw no changes within the illusion.
Li Qingqiu, on the other hand, saw some clues. Xie Shu’s illusion had begun to follow what he had just mentioned—bewitching the target’s mind. Yan Qing’s emotional state was clearly off, becoming somewhat heightened.
“At the Ninth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, he can already influence the mind of a Spirit Perception Realm cultivator. Once he develops spiritual sense, his illusion techniques will only become stronger,” Wei Tianxiong praised.
Illusion-type spells existed in every sect, but few people cultivated them. Mainly because there were too many ways to counter them, and their killing power was insufficient. Wei Tianxiong himself had only dabbled in them and was far from proficient.
This Clear Sky Sect was truly strange—there were all kinds of geniuses.
Li Qingqiu remained silent and continued watching.
After about one incense stick’s time, Xie Shu turned and left. Only after he disappeared into the darkness did the illusion end.
Yan Qing felt as though he had just experienced a hazy dream. When he opened his eyes and heard the irritating voice of the Black Fiend Demon Monkey, a smile appeared on his face.
A Clear Sky Sect disciple walked over and struck the monkey’s prison door with a sword sheath, scolding, “Behave yourself!”
“Hmph!”
The Black Fiend Demon Monkey snorted coldly, no longer bothering to curse.
Seeing that neither it nor the disciple had noticed he had just been trapped in an illusion, Yan Qing began to feel anticipation toward Xie Shu.
With such methods, perhaps he really could help him escape.
……
On the mountain path, Li Qingqiu and Xie Shu walked one after the other up the mountain. Xie Shu had already removed his opera mask, revealing a clean and youthful face.
He was not particularly handsome, but his features were pleasant, giving others an immediate sense of goodwill. He appeared gentle, even somewhat introverted.
Watching Li Qingqiu occasionally nod in greeting to disciples along the way, Xie Shu’s eyes were filled with admiration.
He admired Li Qingqiu deeply—so much so that he wanted to dedicate everything to him.
He could never forget his youth, when his entire family had been slaughtered. At the moment of his despair, Li Qingqiu had appeared, killed all the bandits, and instructed him to head south to Clear Sky Mountain to find refuge.
At that time, Li Qingqiu had been in a hurry, as if he had other matters to attend to. Later, he learned that Li Qingqiu had been eliminating evils for the sake of all under heaven.
Before enemies, Li Qingqiu was powerful and cold. Before disciples, he was kind and magnanimous. In Xie Shu’s eyes, such a person was irresistibly charismatic.
Xie Shu understood his own nature. He would never become someone like the Sect Master. Thus, he only wished to serve him—to allow him to live longer. As long as Li Qingqiu lived, the Clear Sky Sect would endure, and all under heaven would benefit.
“Xie Shu, how do you view that cultivator named Yan Qing?”
When they reached a secluded area, Li Qingqiu suddenly asked.
Xie Shu snapped out of his thoughts. After a moment of consideration, he said, “He is already afraid inside and wants to submit to the Clear Sky Sect. I feel he is about to break. If the hope I give him shatters, he may collapse.”
Although Yan Qing had put on the airs of a Spiritual Sea disciple in front of him, Xie Shu could see through the fear and unease in his heart.
“In truth, he doesn’t believe me—but he forces himself to.”
Xie Shu added.
He felt no sympathy for Yan Qing. Even without knowing his past, he believed this person must have committed heinous crimes—or posed a threat to the sect—to be suppressed at the bottom of the Suppressing Evil Tower.
Before entering the Dark Hall, Xie Shu had already witnessed the darkness of human nature. He leaned toward good, but that did not mean he believed goodness outweighed everything.
He could accept that the Clear Sky Sect had a dark side. He was even willing to become that darkness—as long as he could repay the Sect Master.
“For now, we cannot kill him. His soul is protected by a special restriction. If he dies, it will certainly alert the Spiritual Sea,” Li Qingqiu said directly.
Hearing this, Xie Shu fell silent.
He did not understand the restriction the Sect Master spoke of, but he knew the Clear Sky Sect needed time to grow.
At that moment, someone approached from ahead.
Xie Shu looked up—he did not recognize the person.
“Sect Master!”
Bai Ning’er quickly approached Li Qingqiu and raised his hand in salute, his expression excited.
Although he considered himself part of the Sect Master’s faction, he rarely had the chance to see Li Qingqiu. Having encountered him by chance today, how could he not be excited?
“What are you going to do?” Li Qingqiu asked with a smile.
Though he did not interact much with Bai Ning’er, the latter held a high place in his regard. He quite liked this young man.
Bai Ning’er was among the few who frequently made contributions yet never claimed credit. He had never come to make requests, nor had anyone mentioned any demands from him.
“I’m going to check on the Five-Colored Deer. I haven’t seen it for quite some time,” Bai Ning’er replied.
The Five-Colored Deer was an auspicious creature Bai Ning’er had brought back. It lived on Clear Sky Mountain. Though it lacked strong combat ability, it could accelerate plant growth and even enhance the spiritual energy in a certain area. Thus, it held a high status within the sect, with dedicated disciples assigned to care for it.
Li Qingqiu nodded and said, “In a few years, accompany me on a mission. Prepare yourself mentally.”
He said this because Bai Ning’er was deliberately suppressing his cultivation to continue participating in the Grand Dao Tournament—a complete waste of time in Li Qingqiu’s view.
Even if Bai Ning’er remained at the Ninth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, he would not achieve good results in the tournament.
Upon hearing this, Bai Ning’er’s eyes lit up. He immediately assured, “Sect Master, rest assured—I will not disappoint you!”
Li Qingqiu patted his shoulder and continued up the mountain.
Xie Shu and Bai Ning’er glanced at each other. Both nodded but did not speak.
As they passed by one another, the same question arose in their minds.
Who is he?
He seems quite close to the Sect Master.
They silently memorized each other’s appearance, so they would recognize one another in the future.
Along the rest of the journey, Li Qingqiu casually chatted with Xie Shu without assigning any specific tasks. He escorted him all the way to the entrance of the Dark Hall cave before leaving.
Xie Shu stood there, watching his departing figure.
Even after Li Qingqiu disappeared from sight, Xie Shu did not turn away.