Tome of Troubled Times
Chapter 817: Heavenly Demon Illusion Realm

Chapter 817: Heavenly Demon Illusion Realm

Ye Jiuyou was truly displeased. Just the day before, she had felt surprisingly pleased due to that rare sense of trust, yet now, in the blink of an eye, this bastard was already guarding against her.

Putting everything else aside, did Zhao Changhe really see her as some sort of fool? If they were truly collaborating, why would she, before the cooperation had even officially begun, run off to murder her ally’s wife? Would that not render their entire cooperation a joke? Had everything she had done up to this point been merely for laughs?

If I truly wanted to kill someone, I’d come directly for you. Do you honestly think you could withstand even a few strikes from me now?

One could only say Zhao Changhe cared far too deeply about his wives, clouding the calm rationality he showed in other matters. Fine. Since that’s how you want it, Cui Yuanyang is also your wife, isn’t she? Choose for yourself.

Zhao Changhe stood stunned for a moment, evidently grasping the truth of the situation. Surprisingly, he then clasped his fist toward Ye Jiuyou and said, “My apologies.”

Ye Jiuyou paused for a moment, then merely gave a soft snort, saying nothing more.

Zhao Changhe continued, “Since that’s settled, Piaomiao and I will go together. Please show us the way.”

Ye Jiuyou lightly tapped her finger toward the empty air, revealing a distant location. “Here.”

Zhao Changhe was taken aback. “Within this very secret realm?”

“Due to the spatial chaos where I reside, all paths are interconnected. In essence, they are fragments of different spaces.”

Zhao Changhe suddenly recalled Hongling’s past experience entering Papiyas’s secret realm. She had described it as expansive and vast; she had spent months playing cat-and-mouse games with Snow Owl’s people, and even said it connected directly to Xiangyang. He had once thought Papiyas was extraordinarily mysterious, but the real power turned out to be Ye Jiuyou herself.

Thinking of this sent chills down his spine. Fortunately, Hongling had the luck of a protagonist; despite wandering right under Ye Jiuyou’s eyes, she had not triggered any misfortune. Otherwise, grass would have perhaps already grown tall over her grave.

Hongling had shared her past experiences with him, which now proved immensely helpful. At least he now had some understanding of what awaited them.

With that thought, Zhao Changhe did not speak further. He gave Ye Jiuyou another respectful salute, then turned and departed.

Piaomiao, on the other hand, stood there expressionlessly frozen for quite some time. She had not even had the chance to question Zhao Changhe about when exactly he had seen her naked, and now he was already gone. Realizing abruptly that his swift departure was precisely to dodge this issue, Piaomiao stomped her foot fiercely and hurried after him. “Stop right there!”

Ye Jiuyou watched the two figures fade into the distance, and her previously irritated expression suddenly relaxed into a smile.

A ripple spread gently through the air, and Ye Wuming abruptly appeared before her.

Ye Jiuyou showed no surprise. “To think you’d use him to find me.... Are your skills truly only at this level? It seems you’re inferior even to Ying Five.”

Ye Wuming was not interested in engaging with her on this matter and merely said blandly, “Why does it seem to me like you harbor malicious intent in pushing Zhao Changhe and Piaomiao closer together? Forcing him to watch Piaomiao bathe... surely you’re not simply doing this to share the embarrassment after being peeked at yourself, are you? And now you’ve even arranged for them to travel together.”

Ye Jiuyou chuckled softly. “Is it truly that difficult to comprehend, my dear big sister? You wished to kill Piaomiao, but you found yourself incapable of doing it directly. Thus, you schemed to borrow Zhao Changhe’s hand instead. To force Zhao Changhe into a position where he was forced to kill Piaomiao, you deliberately awoke her prematurely, causing her to struggle with Cui Yuanyang for control of the same body. As a result, Zhao Changhe would have no choice but to eliminate her for the sake of his beloved wife. Isn’t this clear even to an absolute idiot?”

Ye Wuming responded coldly, “And what of it?”

“Alas, Piaomiao remains a benevolent god in essence, and Zhao Changhe lacks the ruthlessness needed. Yet as long as this dilemma persists, the risk of hostility will always loom. No one can guarantee a safe resolution to this issue, unless you yourself intervene. And even if you do manage to separate their entwined souls successfully, you still face the headache of splitting them into two distinct beings. What a mess... for you, at least. For me, there's a surefire way to deal with all that, and that’s to make Zhao Changhe fall in love with Piaomiao. Once he cares deeply for her, killing her becomes impossible, and your plans naturally crumble.”

“Your intentions were obvious from the moment you invited Zhao Changhe here alone,” Ye Wuming remarked.

“Of course. How could he possibly build a bond with Piaomiao if he was surrounded by his countless charming companions? He had to come alone.”

“Perhaps you should consider a new profession; matchmaking suits you quite well. Indeed, among us demon gods, none rules over the institution of marriage. Are you interested?”

Ye Jiuyou ignored the sarcasm, smiling with genuine amusement. “My dear big sister, I just wonder if you’ll intervene to disrupt Zhao Changhe and Piaomiao’s budding connection. If you don’t, those two are quite likely to come together naturally. After all, Piaomiao shares a body with his wife, so intimacy is practically inevitable. More importantly, what Piaomiao represents aligns precisely with the ideals Zhao Changhe strives to uphold. In other words, they walk the same path. No one knows better than you how compatible they are.”

“And why should I know that so well?”

“Haha.” Ye Jiuyou merely giggled, and did not answer the question. “In any case, even if I one day perish, your plans will forever remain incomplete as long as Piaomiao survives.”

Ye Wuming replied icily, “You’re far too self-assured.”

“It’s not clear who’s too self-assured here.” Ye Jiuyou’s smile vanished abruptly, replaced by chilling severity. “The horror sealed beneath the Frost Chi is something that not even the most insane person in this world can imagine. How could you keep something so critical to yourself? Do you truly believe you’re capable of calculating everything alone?”

“Oh? Have you perhaps begun to develop a sense of responsibility toward the mountains and rivers of the mortal realm, like Zhao Changhe and Piaomiao?”

“You sure know how to be funny. Just like in the ancient era, if anything goes wrong, I’ll be forced to bear the blame for oblivion and annihilation. How could this have nothing to do with me?” Ye Jiuyou sneered, her voice bitterly cold. “Even now, there are those who hold me accountable for the collapse of an entire era.”

“Blame?” Ye Wuming suddenly laughed. “Perhaps you should consider instead how long it has been since you felt a true desire for annihilation. You’ve been awake for thirty years. How many lives have you personally extinguished in that time? Has your destructive impulse truly faded away, or does it merely lie dormant, buried deep inside, waiting to erupt once more and usher in death across the three realms?”

Ye Jiuyou stared blankly for a moment, brow furrowed as she contemplated deeply. She abruptly turned and asked, “Ye Wuming, tell me about the origin of our existence.”

“Since you’ve begun seeking the truth, then find it yourself. If you fail, seek Zhao Changhe’s help.” Ye Wuming drifted away, adding casually, “By the way, let me remind you again that the Spirit Tribe’s little world isn’t something you can meddle with at present. Watch yourself.”

“Stop with all the pretense! Can you even face your own truth?” Ye Jiuyou sneered coldly behind her departing figure. “How does it feel knowing that Zhao Changhe is plotting against you now?”

Ye Wuming did not respond.

* * *

Far away, Zhao Changhe was moving away swiftly, but Piaomiao chased him down, firmly gripping his shoulder. “Stop right there!”

Zhao Changhe paused, clearing his throat awkwardly. “If I’m not wrong about the time, the hour of the dragon hasn’t passed yet. Shouldn’t this still be Yangyang’s turn? Did you just shove her back in early again?”

Piaomiao answered icily, “From now until the journey to Papiyas concludes, I’ll remain in control. Cui Yuanyang can’t possibly handle the battles we’ll face. She’d only be a liability.”

Cui Yuanyang giggled knowingly in the spiritual sea. How funny. Big Sister Piaomiao is now resorting to convenient excuses. What’s next, I wonder?

Clearly, Piaomiao just could not handle the embarrassment of their earlier conversation and did not want Cui Yuanyang teasing her further.

Zhao Changhe could only reply, “It’s still a long way before we actually encounter Papiyas.”

“Stop trying to dodge the question!”

“Fine, yes, I saw everything, and it truly was accidental. Tell me clearly what you want me to do, and I’ll comply,” Zhao Changhe sighed helplessly. “What, do you want to kill me? Gouge out my eyes? Or perhaps have me take responsibility by marrying you?”

Piaomiao froze. None of these options seemed remotely viable, but then... really, what could she do about it?

“So... Wouldn’t it be better for everyone if we just moved past this? Even Ye Jiuyou wouldn’t dwell on such meaningless trivialities.” He sighed again. “And don’t say I’m pretending innocence after taking advantage. In theory, shouldn’t you, as a god, be beyond such mortal modesty? Perhaps you’re influenced by your human incarnation?”

Piaomiao replied coldly, “I cannot speak for other primordial demon gods. But I was born from humanity’s qi veins, so naturally, I inherited some human sensibilities. Why should I be shameless? Go ask Ye Wuming whether she feels shame!”

“Ah... It appears I’ve misunderstood. My apologies,” said Zhao Changhe. “But given that perspective, even your capacity for love and hate must have a basis. Perhaps the hatred simply hasn’t been ignited yet by betrayal or violence?”

Piaomiao wanted to scold him for deflecting again but held herself back, realizing deep down he was right. Pressing this further would lead nowhere. Was she really about to demand he marry her?

Besides, the words he had spoken earlier, about serving or representing the god of the land, abruptly resurfaced in her mind. Piaomiao struggled internally for a moment before finally blurting out angrily, “The truly shameless one here is Ye Wuming!”

With those words, she took flight first, rushing toward Papiyas’s secret realm without another glance back. Zhao Changhe exhaled softly, then quickly followed behind her.

***

Given their speed, the seemingly endless mountain range was soon found to actually have an end. A ripple spread into the void, and suddenly, they had entered another space altogether.

Immediately after entering, they sensed an atmosphere vastly different from the one before.

Ye Jiuyou’s domain had been characterized by a chilling, eerie cold born from her long cultivation, resulting in relentless snowfall and a pervasive aura of deathly silence devoid of any conventional life forms. There were dry, lifeless trees “growing” there and nothing much besides them.

But here, the environment felt completely natural. There was green grass, blooming flowers, trickling streams, birdsong, and humming insects, all matching the beauty of late spring. Save for extraordinary circumstances, the seasons here likely aligned entirely with the outer world.

Yet this place held its own strangeness. Upon entry, Zhao Changhe felt a vague dizziness, as if multiple illusory whispers filled his mind, clouding his senses. His vision blurred, reality melding indistinctly with illusion.

Far off, celestial maidens seemed to dance enticingly, their faint silhouettes tantalizingly visible. Heavenly music drifted into his ears, relaxing body and mind.

The Heavenly Demon Illusion Realm.

Only those of Zhao Changhe, Piaomiao, or Yue Hongling’s caliber could traverse such a realm unaffected. A typical martial artist stepping inside would succumb instantly to madness, completely losing themselves before they even faced any kind of actual combat.

But Zhao Changhe’s immediate reaction was surprisingly composed. “Huh. Honestly, this is nothing compared to the spiritual onslaught of the Abyss of the Frost Chi, or even Ye Jiuyou’s aura.”

Piaomiao glanced at him briefly. It became apparent to her that this man truly was a martial fanatic; he was constantly dissecting every experience and constantly learning. No wonder he progressed with such astonishing speed.

“Most importantly, the illusion here is noticeably weaker. At the very least, it’s well within our comfort zone.”

Abruptly, he drew his saber and slashed at empty air. Distorted phantoms instantly wailed before him, twisting grotesquely into multiple human faces as they dissipated into nothingness.

Illusion beasts...

Indeed, these were the very beings described by the Tome of Troubled Times as “various vajras, demons, exotic beasts, and lingering spirits.” Some among them were formidable indeed. Just as Ye Jiuyou’s domain undoubtedly housed hidden dark creatures native to its space, so too this Heavenly Demon Illusion Realm teemed with its own unique inhabitants. But unlike whatever things were in Ye Jiuyou’s abyss, these illusions appeared openly, saturating the surroundings.

Zhao Changhe swung his saber, advancing swiftly like a tiger among a herd of sheep, cutting his way forward several li in mere moments. Piaomiao followed calmly behind, her hands clasped behind her, as if intentionally allowing Zhao Changhe to use this as a moment of practice and growth.

In fact, at Zhao Changhe’s current level, these random creatures offered no real experience or training value. Yue Hongling had spent months here before she fully broke through to the Profound Control Realm, but that was before the breakthrough. To Zhao Changhe, the way he was now, the “battle experience” here was more like an ant-stomping experience. The truly troublesome place lay deeper, a region Yue Hongling had not dared approach.

Zhao Changhe tested the waters briefly and quickly found it uninteresting. He turned to Piaomiao and said, “There’s little point lingering here. We can fly straight ahead.”

Piaomiao watched indifferently as an illusion beast identical to herself shattered into pieces. She commented lightly, “Have you encountered these illusion beasts before? You’re just chopping them apart without hesitation. Anyone unfamiliar with you might mistake you for a heartless man if they saw you attacking Yangyang’s face without a second thought.”

“I haven’t fought them before, but my wife has been here. I know how they work. Many of these beasts intentionally take on appearances you can’t bear to strike, manipulating your heart to affect victory. At the very least, it reveals what’s deep within our hearts and what we truly cherish.”

Piaomiao replied expressionlessly, “Mm-hm. The faces of those you cherish.”

Zhao Changhe looked at Cui Yuanyang’s face before him, then at the vast sea of Yue Honglings, Tang Wanzhuangs, Xia Chichis, Huangfu Qings, Lady Threes, a Sisi every here and there, and even the occasional stray Baoqin. Surprisingly, Ye Wuming also appeared among them.

He could only swing his saber silently, wordlessly trudging ahead, entirely forgetting his previous suggestion of flying over this area.

Thankfully, the face of the ancient Piaomiao had not appeared yet. Otherwise, he would have no heart to continue.

To be precise, these illusions were not necessarily about showing faces he “cherished” but rather those who would cause hesitation or soften his resolve. Further in the distance, there were even numerous familiar men like Ying Five, Cui Yuanyong, Situ Xiao, various fathers-in-law, and even Han Wubing, whom he had not seen in ages.

Notably, Tang Buqi did not appear, indicating he would never hesitate to strike that particular individual.

Piaomiao quietly followed behind, a strange feeling stirring in her heart. Even other men appeared, yet the ancient Piaomiao did not... did this imply he would strike her down without hesitation?

Perhaps he simply doesn’t remember the ancient Piaomiao’s appearance well, or perhaps... He’s even seen me bathing, yet he’d strike without hesitation? What a shameless scoundrel!

“Who are these?” Piaomiao asked casually, noticing several unfamiliar faces. These were faces even Cui Yuanyang’s memories lacked, but still no ancient Piaomiao.

Zhao Changhe responded quietly, “My parents... and grandparents from both sides...”

Piaomiao frowned. “Typically, illusions don’t show faces of the deceased. You have that many relatives still alive?”

“Yeah,” Zhao Changhe admitted. At the same time, his strikes were clearly growing softer. His words were certainly tough enough, but only the heavens knew how agonizing it was to continuously cut down the faces of the ones he loved most. Compared to this torturous advance, the ice beasts in the Abyss of the Frost Chi were child’s play.

Piaomiao noticed his saber wavering and offered to help. “Should I take over? There’s no one who would make me hesitate.”

Zhao Changhe swung his saber silently a few more times. “No... This is something I need to face myself.”

Swish!

With a swift slash, he rounded a bend in the terrain. Then, his eyes widened suddenly. He skidded to a halt, quickly turning back to block Piaomiao. “Wait, wait!”

Confused, Piaomiao pushed him aside.

From behind the small hill Tang San had just leveled appeared an entire group of ancient Piaomiaos, none of whom wore any clothing.

Zhao Changhe’s face instantly flushed crimson.

“HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Serves you right! ” Deep in their shared spiritual sea, Cui Yuanyang was already rolling with laughter.

Piaomiao’s face turned bright red. Instinctively, she waved her hand, reducing the entire group of her naked illusions to dust.

The feeling was indescribably awkward. Without illusions of herself, she had felt annoyed, but seeing herself like this was even worse.

I really should not have come here with him... This is all Ye Jiuyou’s fault! And you dumb bunny, why are you laughing so hard?!

As she thought this, Cui Yuanyang’s laughter intensified.

Piaomiao focused her gaze, and her face heated even more intensely. Because of her impulsive attack just now, the illusions had adjusted, now reflecting those who could cause her hesitation.

In the distance ahead, amidst a couple scattered faces of Cui Yuanyang, stood a seemingly endless field filled entirely with countless Zhao Changhes.