Chapter 600 - 359: Fighting for the Moon Position

Chapter 600: Chapter 359: Fighting for the Moon Position

I might as well touch it.

’The most frustrating part is that I don’t have any other choice. In this ’preview’ state, I should be able to leave once time is up, or if I choose to end it myself.’

However, Lu Cang wanted more than just to end the preview.

He wanted to determine what was "real" and what was "illusory" to obtain truly useful intelligence.

Lu Cang stepped forward.

To the naked eye and his Perception, this rock seemed no different from any ordinary stone.

Before touching it, he first reached out with his "Core."

「True Stone」

「An anchor point for distinguishing between the real and the false.」

「Creator: Eliya Yumi. Hidden Knowledge: A legendary Level 9 Illusionist.」

’This person... I’ve seen them in my memories before.’

’But my memories are supposed to be like dream-like illusions.’

’From what I recall, this being is a Secret Keeper, someone who enjoys burying secrets.’

’A Level 9 Illusionist, huh.’

There were many known gods. At least, Lu Cang was aware of quite a few Divine Spirits.

However, there were very few known Level 9 Reincarnators...

The ones he knew by name were An Su and Emperor Fu.

Emperor Fu was a Level 9 Architect and was suspected to have already stepped into the Supreme realm of Level 10. Beyond that, Lu Cang didn’t know of any others.

Eliya Yumi.

’Right. I’ll remember that name.’

After assessing the level of danger, Lu Cang placed his hand upon the "True Stone."

DING—

In a flash, he felt a distinct sensation, like a single drop of water landing in his Sea of Consciousness...

Lu Cang suddenly felt a vast, clear tremor spread through his entire Sea of Consciousness.

’Oh...’

’Now I finally get why touching the True Stone lets you know whether you’re in an illusion or the real world.’

Lu Cang felt his Mind detaching from his body. Simultaneously, the clarity in his Sea of Consciousness began to give way to a surging tide—

It was as if his soul was leaving his body.

Lu Cang looked down upon this world from on high.

The world remained stable.

Meanwhile, his Sea of Consciousness began to roil violently as countless complex and trivial pieces of information and intention flooded into his body.

Lu Cang watched as his physical body began to swell and transform.

Transcendent things, things that didn’t belong to this world’s dimension or understanding, were also pouring into him.

If this world were fake...

As his entire perception of reality warped, this illusory world should have fluctuated and changed with it.

But...

The world remained perfectly still, without the slightest change.

HUUU—

After a period of transformation, Lu Cang’s body, which had undergone countless mutations and expansions, returned to its original form.

And that frenzied knowledge was gradually expelled from his body.

’This place... is not an illusion.’

Lu Cang had his answer—a solid, grounding truth that filled him with an immense sense of peace.

"Is it over?" Xin Qianhuan asked.

"Yes, it’s over. Thank you."

Xin Qianhuan said, "Oh..."

"That was merely to help you distinguish between what’s real and what’s false. But as I’ve said, everything you have experienced so far has been real, not an illusion."

"Still, you can consider this a little something to set your mind at ease."

As it spoke, a white door materialized beside Xin Qianhuan.

"I have guided you this far."

"The rest of the path is yours to walk alone."

Lu Cang paused for a moment before asking, "If I pass the Trial, can I take someone with me from the Deep Land?"

Xin Qianhuan asked, "Who do you wish to take?"

Lu Cang said, "There should be a girl from the Holy Spirit Race... named Lu Luwei."

Lu Luwei was not a pure-blooded human.

"Oh."

"If you successfully obtain the inheritance rights to the Deep Land, you are entitled to take certain unimportant people away."

Lu Cang repeated, "Unimportant?"

"Are there important people, then?"

Xin Qianhuan affirmed, "Yes."

"There are some existences in the Deep Land who are absolutely forbidden from leaving. For example, Eliya Yumi."

’That person again.’

’So he’s in the Deep Land too? Still, I have no intention of provoking a Level 9 Illusionist.’

’He seems extremely dangerous.’

Lu Cang said, "Alright, I understand."

"Is there anything else I should be aware of?"

Xin Qianhuan said, "Hmm... No, nothing."

"Thank you."

Lu Cang extended his hand to Xin Qianhuan.

Xin Qianhuan seemed to hesitate for a moment but still shook Lu Cang’s hand.

「Xin Qianhuan」

「Creature of Fantasy」

「A being that does not exist in reality. It was imagined into existence by someone in the Deep Land who then firmly believed it to be real.」

’A creature of fantasy... That’s a new one on me.’

’This power would be terrifying if it existed in the real world. You can have whatever you think of. What the hell is Magic compared to an ability like this?’

’Magic requires logic, theory, and academic support.’

’But this power of just ’thinking it so’ only requires you to believe it yourself...’

Lu Cang and Xin Qianhuan released their handshake, and Lu Cang walked through the door that had appeared.

THUD—

The door closed behind him, leaving Lu Cang standing in a vast, empty darkness.

"You intend to accept the Deep Land’s Trial, don’t you?" a playful voice said.

Lu Cang replied, "I thought walking through that door was the same as accepting by default."

"Do I have any other choice if I don’t undergo the Trial?"

The playful voice answered, "It seems... you do not."

"It’s been a long time since a newcomer arrived here."

"In that case, allow me to formally introduce myself. I am the master of this Deep Land, which lies in the crevice between the Void and reality."

"I am the founder of the Deep Land, the enlightener of Illusion, the former master of the Realm of Mind and Consciousness, and... Mind and Fantasy Luoti."

TAP—

Three spotlights cut through the darkness, illuminating a young girl with twin-tails, dressed in a black Lolita outfit and holding the hem of her skirt.

"This is an outfit I just had custom-made. I can’t quite seem to remember the specific reason why, though."

"There seems to be a peculiar Law about you that’s disrupting my perception of you."

"But I suppose I might have seen some interesting outfits in your memories and decided to create this one on the spot."

"Oh, right... It’s worth mentioning that this outfit is a product of my imagination. So, in reality, I’m not wearing any clothes at all."

"So please don’t look at me with a lewd gaze, okay?"

The little girl who called herself Luoti spoke in a long, continuous stream.

’No... If you didn’t want people to look at you lewdly, you probably shouldn’t have added that last sentence, right?’

Lu Cang looked at Luoti’s small frame, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

However, the truly important thing wasn’t that statement, but her self-introduction.

Lu Cang spoke up, "Mind and Fantasy Luoti?"

"As far as I know, only some Moons and some Divine Spirits are granted such titles."

Lu Cang thought for a moment before adopting a respectful tone.

"Are you... a Divine Spirit?"

Luoti beamed, clasping her hands together. "Yes, I am~"

"I’m so happy you guessed my identity the very first time we met."

"Actually, you’ve arrived at the perfect time."

Lu Cang asked, "The perfect time? What do you mean?"

She clasped her hands together and said sweetly, "Well, Purity Moon begins tomorrow, you see. The Moon Position for the fifth month has always been vacant, and it just so happens to be a leap year, so I was thinking of contending for it."

"But I’m missing a proxy in the mortal world."

"Your arrival is just too perfect."

"If you could perform a few small Rituals for me in the mortal world, once I become the Moon of the fifth month, I’ll be sure to give you a handsome reward."

Huh?

’Contending for the Moon Position?’

’Is that really something you should be discussing with me?’