Chapter 597 - 356: Deeper Layer

Chapter 597: Chapter 356: Deeper Layer

Confusion, calm, fear, yearning...

Countless emotions, like raging waves, surged through Lu Cang’s Sea of Consciousness. By the time he realized his Spirituality was being devoured, too much of it was already gone.

This time, Lu Cang had been completely unaware of his disappearing Spirituality.

He only felt his thoughts becoming sluggish, unable to recall many things on the spot.

He failed to notice many things he should have.

His Sea of Consciousness wavered.

Lu Cang felt his mind sway...

"Protecting the Mind is about finding the right remedy for the specific ailment. Simply constructing a barrier is the most rudimentary form of protection."

"It’s attacking your emotions, altering your perception."

As Iz spoke, he began forming a Magic Array within the Sea of Consciousness.

Izparut manifested a type of Magic Lu Cang had never seen before.

DING—

A sky full of light specks enveloped the space above the Sea of Consciousness.

However, the pupil in the sky narrowed slightly.

The Protective Magic for the Sea of Consciousness that Iz had formed was instantly blown apart in the next moment!

Iz was stunned by this.

He said with a hint of resignation, "This isn’t my own Sea of Consciousness, after all."

"But you get the general idea."

"You should have understood it, right?"

...

’Understood... Iz, you really have a lot of faith in my ability to learn.’

’Whatever.’

He could actually grasp the basics, but it was a shame that after losing so much Spirituality, his comprehension wasn’t as sharp as before.

But fortunately, his Talent was still there.

[Divine Level·Lighthouse of All Laws] activated.

Lu Cang reached out a hand toward Iz, directly pulling the Magic Iz had just demonstrated onto himself.

"Iz... this Magic, I’m borrowing it for a moment."

Iz felt the Magic he had just created vanish from him, and he instantly forgot how to cast it.

The feedback felt very strange to Iz.

[Tier Six Mind Magic—Mist of Knowing (Level 501)]

WHOOSH—

A monstrous fog billowed up, filling the entire Sea of Consciousness.

BOOM—

BOOM—

The Sea of Consciousness trembled, causing the fog to quake along with it, but he could clearly feel that the damage to his Sea of Consciousness had lessened significantly.

’This Magic really works...’

"Heh heh... It seems it’s also about to reach its limit."

An Su’s figure had been standing to the side all along.

"This world here was formed based on your perceived experiences... and maintaining its existence constantly consumes your Spirituality."

"You’ve now cut off the supply of Spirituality."

"It can no longer sustain itself."

An Su gave a cold chuckle, then turned to look at Izparut.

"Genius of Magic, what does it feel like knowing you’re about to disappear along with someone else’s perception?"

Iz shrugged nonchalantly. "Quite interesting."

"To think that human perception and consciousness can construct an entire world."

"It’s quite a nice direction for thought..."

"Things from within the Mind?"

Iz murmured, showing not a single trace of panic, dejection, or despair.

RUMBLE—

Suddenly, the Sea of Consciousness shook once more.

Amidst the layers of fog, tidal waves of figures appeared: swarms of Huang Minzhi, swarms of Lu Luwei, and swarms of... himself.

"They’re really... relentless."

An Su said, "This thing’s Mind Attack isn’t the forceful type..."

"It stirs up the confusion, fear, and unease within your heart."

"In truth, all the attacks you’re suffering originate from yourself. Even the slightest Heart Demon will be infinitely magnified."

"If you can’t face your own heart with composure, even if you leave this place, they will plant seeds of shadow in your mind."

"One day, when you have to face your inner self... you will inevitably be trapped by it again."

"What you can do now is face them."

Lu Cang paused calmly.

As the Sea of Consciousness trembled, Iz’s existence also seemed to grow illusory.

Lu Cang faced straight ahead.

Among the overlapping figures, the one at the very front was still that middle-aged version of himself.

"Why are you still unwilling to go back?"

"Don’t you know? They’re waiting for you. It’s been hard on them."

"Is this world really so worthy of your attachment?"

Lu Cang shook his head.

"No, I... I don’t plan on going back."

"Facts are facts. Evading the consequences is just deceiving myself."

"I don’t think a life in the Deep Land belongs to me."

"I also know that I’m often conflicted and awkward, but no matter what, I’ve always followed my heart."

"Being resolute and decisive isn’t the only right way to be."

"Even Kumironi would be in a bind because I’m a Death Priest. Even Iz would sigh and bite his tongue when I practice Combat Skills."

"How could anyone exist without ever feeling lost?"

"I feel sorrow and regret for what happened to Earth, and I truly cherish this opportunity to be transcendent."

Lu Cang looked at Huang Minzhi.

"Brother... I grieve your death as well."

"But pure grief changes nothing."

"Rather than grieving, what I want to do more is to save you all."

"My Mind certainly has many flaws. I’m not a perfect person, mentally or morally."

"But I believe that everything I’ve done, at the very least, I can face myself without shame."

"If I were asked about all my decisions, I wouldn’t have any regrets."

Following Lu Cang’s response, the shaking in his Sea of Consciousness grew increasingly violent... but at the same time, the previously shrinking Sea of Consciousness began to expand ever wider amidst the hurricane- and tsunami-like tremors.

An understanding seemed to gradually dawn in his heart.

The knot of depression that had been coiled in his heart seemed to be slowly unraveling.

’That’s right. Ever since returning from Earth, this matter has been weighing on my mind, impossible to shake.’

Time passed continuously.

Lu Cang had thought he had already forgotten everything that happened on Earth.

That he had sealed away his feelings for Earth.

He had even gradually stopped dreaming about Earth.

But only now did he realize that he had never truly let go... Everything that happened that day in the Secret Sea still echoed in his ears.

Lu Cang slowly closed his eyes.

"So that’s how it is..."

After closing his eyes, he slowly opened them again.

But when he opened them this time, Lu Cang found himself on a boat on calm waters, sitting on a cold bench.

Everything that had just happened felt like a fleeting dream.

Even An Su, who had spoken to him in his Sea of Consciousness, seemed to be just a figment of his imagination.

"Kid, you’re finally awake."

An Su’s thoughts echoed in Lu Cang’s mind.

Lu Cang opened his eyes and nodded slightly.

His Perception swept over his surroundings, and soon... Lu Cang saw the giant pupil floating in the sky, facing him from a great distance.

Meanwhile, Lu Luwei and Leng Qingying were sleeping as if in a coma, dead to the world on either side of the bench. ℯℯ𝑙.

’This is mental warfare?’

’I have no idea if the scene I’m in is real or fake...’

’Just what layer of the Illusion Realm is this?’

’There’s no way to tell whether I’m in an Illusion Realm or in reality right now.’

At this point, Lu Cang couldn’t even tell if his Future Preview was real or fake.

’Or rather, when did I fall for this trap?’

’Did it really happen on Moonfall Island, while I was investigating for Lu Luwei, during a Future Preview?’

’Could it have been even earlier?’

Just as he had started to get familiar with the previous environment, just as he felt he was about to break the enemy’s offensive, the scene suddenly switched in the blink of an eye...

It was as if he had fallen into a deeper layer of a dream before the previous one had even finished.

’What’s more troublesome is...’

’...I was the one who initiated the switch.’

’I thought I had understood something, that I had seen through the enemy’s intentions.’

’And then, I woke up.’

’But after waking, I found myself in an even grander dream.’

He suddenly recalled his recent experience.

Lu Cang couldn’t help but frown.

Probing Lu Luwei’s Sea of Consciousness, finding the Deep Land within it, killing Lu Luwei, but releasing this unknown enemy, then deciding to test the creature’s strength, only to end up trapped in its domain...

The scenes kept switching.

Just as he became slightly familiar with his surroundings, he was immediately moved to an unfamiliar place.

It felt exactly the same as now.

’Could it be... that the starting point wasn’t here at all?’

’This is really the first time I’ve encountered such a troublesome enemy.’

The scenes changed again and again.

Lu Cang felt like he couldn’t tell the difference anymore.

’Have I truly woken up now, back in the real world, or am I still stuck in its domain?’

’Or, an even worse scenario.’

A thought formed in Lu Cang’s mind: end this preview.

’If I end it, I’ll know if this is a real Future Preview or not.’