Chapter 126: The Gourd Illusion Realm

With no attachments, there was no reason to avoid dual cultivation.

Just as Zhuang Yan had said, immortal cultivators seek even the slightest chance to achieve immortality. Qin Sang had originally intended to offer up the mysterious orchid to gain an opportunity to break through to the Foundation Building Realm. Now that a different opportunity had presented itself, it was only natural that he wouldn’t miss it.

After asking Zhuang Yan for more details, Qin Sang learned that the Gourd Illusion Realm was linked to an astra called the Red Dust Gourd, passed down from a grandmaster of Shaohua Mountain. This astra was currently under the control of a Golden Core cultivator named Che Yutao.

This astra had a unique ability: it could induce the Gourd Illusion Realm, which affected the primordial spirit, drawing out the heart demons from the depths of one's mind.

Since the astra was controllable, if someone inside the astra was about to fall into inner demons and reach the point of spiritual deviation, they could simply be ejected from the Red Dust Gourd, quickly regaining consciousness.

It wasn’t particularly dangerous and could even be used to temper the disciples' mental state.

Being able to enter the Gourd Illusion Realm to experience a trial of mental fortitude was highly beneficial for one’s cultivation mind.

𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Thus, even without the incentive of dual cultivation, the opportunity to enter the Gourd Illusion Realm was something no one would willingly pass up.

The Gourd Illusion Realm only tested one’s mental state, and for those below the Core Formation Realm, cultivation level had minimal impact.

This trial required participants to remain inside the Red Dust Gourd for three full days, a clear indication of its difficulty. Only those with exceptional mental fortitude and unshakable resolve could hope to succeed.

Qin Sang, confident in the protection offered by his Jade Buddha, which had helped him safely endure the Soul-Devouring Array of Three Calamities, believed that staying in the Red Dust Gourd for three days wouldn’t be too challenging. However, he also recognized that the Gourd Illusion Realm was merely the first stage of the trials, and the Jade Buddha might only protect his primordial spirit, not necessarily helping him overcome other trials.

Still, there was no harm in giving it a try.

After gathering more information, Qin Sang departed from Dao Peak under Zhuang Yan’s envious gaze. He mounted his Sky Shuttle and sped toward the depths of Shaohua Mountain.

The peak of Shaohua Mountain was the secluded cultivation site of Grandmaster Dong Yangbo, a Spiritual Infant grandmaster. This was a forbidden area within the sect, and Qin Sang had only ever seen it from afar. Now, approaching it up close, he was immediately awestruck by the majesty of Shaohua Mountain.

The towering mountain soared into the clouds.

Its imposing height seemed to pierce the heavens, and its grandeur resembled a hand holding up the sun!

Qin Sang didn’t dare to be reckless here. Before reaching the mountain’s base, he lowered his Sky Shuttle to skim just above the water’s surface, paying reverence to the sacred ground as he flew. After a moment, he spotted a long stairway at the mountain’s base, leading seemingly endlessly upward. Midway up the mountain stood a white jade archway over ten zhang tall.

The archway bore three large characters etched at its peak: "Shaohua Mountain."

The calligraphy was sharp as iron hooks and silver strokes, infused with a profound sword will.

This was the true entrance to Shaohua Mountain.

Qin Sang stowed his Sky Shuttle and landed on the stone steps. After brushing off imaginary dust from his robe, he began ascending the steps. He had barely taken a few steps when a stern voice suddenly echoed in his ears, demanding, "Who goes there?"

Qin Sang looked around but saw no one, feeling a sense of caution. Bowing toward the void, he replied, "Disciple Qin Sang, having received the sect leader’s decree, meets both the age and cultivation requirements, and still retains his vital essence. I have come to undergo the Gourd Illusion Realm trial. If I have offended you, I ask for the senior's forgiveness."

There was a brief silence.

"Enter."

Qin Sang’s vision blurred, and when he blinked again, the scene before him had completely transformed. He now stood inside a vast, unfamiliar hall.

Directly ahead was a high platform, and atop the platform rested a small red gourd, facing the grand doors of the hall.

The red gourd was only the size of two fists, its mouth wide open. From within the gourd spewed dazzling rays of multicolored light, swirling and flickering as they extended from the gourd’s opening.

As soon as Qin Sang appeared, the red gourd suddenly emitted a brilliant light. The multicolored radiance surged, and then it spat someone out.

The person fell to the ground in a disheveled state, sweat pouring down his face. His green Daoist robe was soaked through, clinging tightly to his body. He looked utterly confused, his eyes dull and filled with deep anxiety, as if he still couldn't make sense of the situation. The scene was quite comical.

Upon seeing the person's cultivation level, Qin Sang dared not show even the slightest hint of mockery. He quickly stepped aside and stood respectfully.

The person was actually a Foundation Building Realm cultivator.

"Junior Brother Feng, wake up!"

A loud voice echoed from within the cave dwelling.

The man on the ground suddenly jolted as if awakening from a dream. His eyes quickly cleared, and he stood up, a faint glow sweeping over his body, wiping away the sweat and dust. In an instant, he regained his immortal aura.

"Thank you, Senior Brother, for your timely wake-up call." the man clasped his hands in thanks toward the three individuals standing nearby. "Senior Brother, may I ask how long I was inside the Red Dust Gourd?"

One of the three, a skinny, elderly Daoist with a goatee, his eyes particularly sharp, held a horsetail whisk in his arm. His bearing was otherworldly. He was none other than Yu Xin, the current sect leader of Shaohua Mountain.

Hearing the question from the cultivator surnamed Feng, Sect Leader Yu responded, "Junior Brother Feng, you managed to hold out inside for an entire day. That is quite a rare feat. Judging by your expression, it seems you've gained much from the experience?"

Feng let out a bitter laugh and said somewhat forlornly, "Old dreams are hard to wake from! I trouble you, Senior Brother Sect Leader, to send me down the mountain."

Once the cultivator surnamed Feng disappeared, Qin Sang quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Qin Sang greets the sect leader and the two senior uncles."

Sect Leader Yu waved his horsetail whisk, and a speck of spiritual power resembling stardust fell onto Qin Sang.

"Mhmm, your yang essence remains intact. You meet the requirements. Go ahead. Approach the Red Dust Gourd, and it will naturally pull you into the radiance."

Following his instructions, Qin Sang walked up to the platform. Suddenly, a flash of multicolored light swept across his vision, and he found himself in a vibrant, rainbow-colored space. Sneaking a glance around, Qin Sang saw beams of radiant light filling the air, dazzling and mesmerizing.

Around him, dozens of figures sat in meditation. Among them were Foundation Building Realm senior uncles and Qi Refining Realm senior brothers, each enveloped in a multicolored glow. They sat motionless, the atmosphere around them eerily silent, devoid of any sound.

Qin Sang suddenly felt a heavy force press down on him, forcing him to sit on the ground. Above him, a strand of multicolored light began to stir and shot down like a serpent, coiling around Qin Sang.

Knowing that the trial of mental fortitude had likely begun, Qin Sang dared not reveal any weakness and quickly crossed his legs, entering a meditative state.

Wrapped in the multicolored light, Qin Sang felt nothing. As he used his inner vision to examine himself, he noticed that the multicolored light had penetrated his body, creating strange ripples in the space where his primordial spirit resided. However, the faint yellow glow from his Jade Buddha firmly blocked the intrusion.

Upon witnessing this, a thought suddenly emerged in Qin Sang’s mind.

Both the Soul-Devouring Array and the Red Dust Gourd use external forces to induce my heart demons, but if I am fortunate enough to break through to the Core Formation Realm, and later face the true heavenly tribulations during his Spiritual Infant formation, will heart demons still be triggered by external forces?

If I allow the heart demons to enter his mind, once I am affected, will the Jade Buddha still be able to help him overcome them?

Unexpectedly, just as this thought surfaced, the light emanating from the Jade Buddha suddenly flickered—a phenomenon Qin Sang had never witnessed before. He was immediately alarmed.

To his shock, the ripples were allowed to pass through the Jade Buddha’s protection and entered Qin Sang’s primordial spirit.

The scene before his eyes abruptly changed.

Skyscrapers, bustling traffic, crowds of people.

It was the world of his previous life!

He saw the house he had bought for his parents in his past life. Unable to resist, he took a deep breath and began walking toward it.

His heart was filled with anticipation, yet his mind remained utterly clear.

It was as if he were a spectator, watching a movie unfold, ready to withdraw at any moment.