Misty Rain of the Old Times

The interior of the illusion array is not completely covered by illusions; there is a normal area. The array is adjusted every hour, creating a mix of reality and illusion that makes it difficult for those who enter to understand.

These normal areas are almost all guarded, allowing them to have a clear view of the situation inside the formation without being affected, and also to observe the outside world, just like one-way glass.

The illusionary realm inside changes every hour, but there is always a route to enter and exit the normal areas. This route is either for people familiar with the changes in the illusionary realm or for someone inside to guide and direct you. Otherwise, one wrong step can easily lead to getting lost and disoriented.

On a raised embankment on the left side of the canyon, a middle-aged man dressed in black sat cross-legged with a long sword across his lap. His eyes were half-closed, clearly indicating that he was practicing internal energy cultivation. From his position, he had a clear view of his surroundings.

Chen Xuan strolled up behind him as if he were in his own home. Even though these normal areas were unaffected by the illusion, he was like a part of nature, and no one gave him a second glance despite his size.

He looked up at the bright sun in the sky. Although it was morning, it was already very hot in the height of summer. Yet the middle-aged man in front of him was dressed in all black, which absorbs a lot of heat. Wasn't he afraid of getting heat rash?

Well, he's at least at the Innate Realm. Even if he's at the bottom, this heat shouldn't affect him. Guarding the entrance in the illusion array is more than enough for him. Taking advantage of the illusion array, he can handle even the upper-middle Innate Realm with his cultivation. Besides, he has so many helpers who aren't pushovers either.

Not having time to scare or tease him, Chen Xuan gently patted his shoulder and activated the Purple Mystic Illusionary Eye as the other party subconsciously turned around. With his current mastery of this eye technique, even someone of the same level would fall victim to it if they weren't careful, let alone someone with only innate cultivation. Even without meeting his eyes, the other party was instantly controlled by him, his eyes becoming dull and numb, but his mind remained clear.

Under Chen Xuan's mental control through his gaze, the middle-aged man was unable to move or speak. Although he was conscious, he was filled with terror. Who was this person in front of him? When did he get behind me? What happened to me?
"I'll ask, you answer, where are Liu Yuyuan and the others?" Chen Xuan asked directly, not paying attention to the other person's thoughts at the moment.

The man, secretly terrified, wanted to call out to his companion, but instead answered insincerely, "Who is Liu Yuyuan?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan's lips twitched. He realized that he had asked the wrong question. The other party was not unwilling to answer because of his strong will, but because he did not know who Liu Yuyuan was at all. So he changed his approach and asked, "Seven or eight people came here earlier. What happened to them? Where are they now?"

"Before dawn, seven or eight people did sneak in, but we used the illusion array to injure and capture them. They have already been taken to the depths. I don't know the specifics now, and I don't know if Liu Yuyuan, whom you mentioned, is among them," the man in black answered truthfully, his heart filled with fear. Why was his stubborn mouth not listening to him?

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan thought to himself, "So he was only wounded and captured, and not killed immediately. It seems his life is not in immediate danger."

It wasn't that he didn't hope Liu Yuyuan would have a better ending, but given his experience here yesterday, this outcome was truly unexpected, which made his suspicions even more certain.

Nodding, Chen Xuan asked again, "As far as I know, everyone who comes here should be ruthlessly killed by you, right? Why did you only injure, capture, and take away those people earlier?"

“I don’t know either. It was an order from above. By the way, one of them came here yesterday. I wounded him but left him barely alive, making the other side think he was lucky to survive. That was also an order from above. Is he the Liu Yuyuan you mentioned?” the man in black answered almost instinctively.

'Why did I tell him all this? I can't control my mouth at all, it's too eerie,' the man in black roared inwardly as he answered, filled with terror.

Liu Yuyuan was indeed set up, but he didn't realize it. He thought he was lucky to run to me injured to fulfill his promise. He was just being schemed against. This confirms that someone wanted to target him through him.

With a flicker of thought, Chen Xuan asked again, "Do you know where they were taken? And who's behind you?"

"I don't know. We are just here on orders to guard the place. We have no special instructions. Anyone who comes here must be killed," the other party replied decisively.

Upon hearing this answer, Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow slightly. He was, after all, a cultivator with innate cultivation level. He should be able to easily rise to the middle or upper levels in any force. Yet he knew nothing about it.

I don't think the other party could answer the question against their will under the control of my Purple Mystic Illusionary Eyes. It seems they really don't know. This shows that the water behind the scenes is very deep. If the real mastermind is Qin Ruyu, then it makes sense given her background.

Hey, Qin Ruyu, that seemingly sickly beauty, is actually quite cunning.
Having learned that Liu Yuyuan and the others were probably out of danger, Chen Xuan's unreliable nature gave rise to some frivolous thoughts.

Quickly dismissing those thoughts, Chen Xuan asked again, "Then you must know what you're guarding, right? There's nothing in this canyon at all."

"We are only here on orders to guard this place and kill anyone who trespasses. We know nothing else," the man in black said truthfully.

It seems the people here really don't know anything; they're just gatekeepers. Even with their innate cultivation, they haven't reached the core. Goodness, having an innate master guarding the gate—that's something else.

"Then you guys go ahead with your work. Forget about what you've seen me and what you've said. Everything's normal," Chen Xuan said, pursing his lips and turning to head deeper into the canyon. Since he couldn't get any information out of him, he might as well go and see for himself.

He didn't intend to take action against the guards here, not because he was worried about alerting them—he had the confidence to overturn the table—but because killing these clueless low-level henchmen was pointless.

Tsk, since when has innate cultivation become something lowly? Back in the day, reaching the innate cultivation level meant I gained a degree of personal freedom, and now it's so cheap...

As Chen Xuan headed deeper into the canyon, he glanced back at the distance. There were quite a few people coming in this direction. Were they people from Yuexiangju coming to collect medicinal herbs again, or were they chivalrous figures like Liu Yuyuan who had obtained clues from other places and tracked them down here?

After a brief moment of observation, Chen Xuan didn't dwell on it too much. Among the people who came, there were two with innate cultivation. If they were chivalrous heroes of the martial world, he would be more cautious. Even if they stepped into the illusion, he could handle them. If they knew what was good for them, they would back down.

He soon arrived at the bottom of the canyon, where there was a sizable pool of water. It was not stagnant water; groundwater had gathered, but it did not form a stream flowing out of the canyon. Instead, it seeped into the ground through the cracks in the rocks.

The person who set up the formation to cover this canyon is incredibly immoral. The drought is so severe now, how many people can survive in the pools of water inside the canyon? Once the problem is solved, remove the illusionary formation to avoid harming innocent people.

There was a hole about ten feet high in the stone wall in front of the pool, dark and its destination unknown. The water in the pool flowed out from that hole, and there were small boats moored on the bank. Chen Xuan walked across the water as if it were flat ground towards the hole, without even getting his shoes wet. After entering the hole, he explored it with great interest. He guessed that the person behind it trusted the setup outside. After all, even ordinary innate masters were helpless against array formations. Therefore, there was no one guarding the cave, and there were no traps or hidden weapons. Come to think of it, once someone had entered the cave, small traps wouldn't be of much use.

Where were Liu Yuyuan and the others taken? Were they captured but not killed, deliberately luring me here? If they were targeting me, were they confident they could handle me? Or were they simply using me as a delaying tactic, even at the cost of sacrificing some of their men?

With these thoughts in mind, Chen Xuan followed the waterway, winding and turning for thousands of meters. In the pitch-black depths of the underground, several forks appeared ahead. He paused here for a moment, which reminded him of his experience in Wanku Mountain, a similarly intricate and complex environment, like a maze.

For most people, this situation would be unpredictable, and they would likely have to keep trying and making mistakes. However, Chen Xuan only paused for two breaths before confidently continuing to delve deeper into the correct fork in the tunnel.

The reason Chen Xuan was certain he hadn't gone the wrong way was because the air still smelled of blood, likely left behind by Liu Yuyuan and the others who had been taken away. Of course, this wasn't enough to confirm that the road ahead was correct. Besides, there was the fragrance of the Acacia Ice Moon Flower; people from Yuexiangju frequently came to collect materials, and he couldn't very well go in circles and make things difficult for himself...

As Chen Xuan delved deeper into the complex environment and followed the clues, a group of people arrived outside the canyon, which was concealed by an illusion array. There were quite a few of them, about forty or fifty, dressed in various styles, clearly people from the martial arts world.

They stopped several hundred feet outside the 'mountain hollow' that they could see at a glance, and observed it, without venturing in rashly.

These people followed the lead of two people with innate cultivation, a man and a woman. The man was burly and wielded a long staff as thick as a child's arm. He was in his forties and had a resolute and imposing face. The woman was about thirty years old and had a slender figure. She wore a black and white dress and looked like a composed and beautiful woman.

Behind the graceful and beautiful woman followed a girl in white, who was exceptionally beautiful, like a wildflower blooming on a mountaintop. The two of them standing together attracted the attention of a group of men around them who couldn't help but steal glances at them.

The girl in white was naturally aware of the peeping eyes around her. A hint of helplessness flashed in her eyes, but she didn't care. She was beautiful, and no one was doing anything out of line by peeping at her. Surely they wouldn't start a fight. Her attention was more focused on the mountain hollow in front of her, her eyes somewhat confused, unable to make out anything.

After observing for a moment, the beautiful woman turned around with a hesitant look in her eyes, frowned at the burly man with innate cultivation who was holding a stick, and asked, "Master Wu, have you noticed anything?"

The man she called Hero Wu looked away, scratched his head, and said somewhat awkwardly, "Miss Liu, you've stumped me. I'm just a rough man, I didn't see anything. What about you? Did you find anything?"

Shaking her head, the beautiful woman pondered, "I didn't see anything either. Everything seems normal. This desolate wilderness is easy to spot at a glance. Is your information, Master Wu, truly accurate?"

"Well... to be honest, Miss Liu, I overheard someone mentioning this at a restaurant earlier that there are clues about the large number of missing women in recent years. The people talking said they were also invited here last night to investigate together, but they got carried away by drinking and were delayed. I asked a few questions in a hurry and found out the exact location, so I invited some people to come with me. I happened to meet you on the way and learned that you were also investigating this matter, so we came together. Actually, I don't know the specifics," Wu said apologetically.

I could tell from his tone that he was a reckless person who believed everything he heard. He would rush over as soon as he got any news without ever bothering to find out the details.

Having been fellow practitioners of the martial arts world and having dealt with him many times, the beautiful Liu, the female knight-errant, knew his personality. Helpless, she pondered and said, "Our sect has had a female disciple go missing during her training, so we have been investigating this matter for years. Now that we have finally made some progress, how could we not come and see? I haven't had a chance to ask Master Wu who first spread the clues?"

"I asked some people who get into trouble because of drinking, and they said it was a righteous man named Liu Yuyuan. They got the information from somewhere and started investigating. Last night, they invited their comrades to take action. By the way, I've heard of Liu Yuyuan. His fiancée also disappeared a few years ago and has been under investigation ever since. I think the information is probably correct," Liu the Hero thought for a moment.

Upon hearing this, the beautiful woman, Lady Liu, looked thoughtfully at the mountain hollow again and said, "This matter has caused such a stir that even your Yuhua Kingdom's court and the public are in an uproar. Now that we have a rare clue, we certainly cannot give up like this."

Wu, who was clearly not good at thinking, gave a "yes, yes" look and then asked, "So, in Ms. Liu's opinion, what should we do next?"

After thinking for a moment, Lady Liu hesitated and said, "According to what Hero Wu said, Liu Yuyuan has already led his men to this location. We must be too late, but we haven't seen anyone alive or dead. There's definitely something strange about this place. Let's split up and search; we're sure to find something."

Upon hearing this, Wu Daxia immediately slapped his forehead, blushing with embarrassment, and said, "Well, there's something I forgot to mention. Liu Yuyuan, who first spread the news, mentioned that after entering a mountain valley, he was suddenly in a completely different environment and was ambushed before he could figure out what was going on. It seems that those who acted first also disappeared because of this."

Upon hearing this, Ms. Liu's eye twitched. Could you be any more unreliable? How could you forget something so important?

Her gaze sharpened instantly, and she said in a deep voice, "I think I understand now. It must be an array that concealed the traces. No wonder no one has been able to find any clues for so many years!"

Startled, Master Wu's expression also turned serious. Knowing that formations were not easy to deal with, he took a deep breath and humbly asked, "It seems we've really gotten close to the truth. In that case, what's our next step?"

“We must not act rashly. For years, countless people have been without a clue, and now suddenly there is a lead. It’s hard to say whether it’s a conspiracy. We’ve all heard the news and come here, so it will probably spread quickly, and more and more people will come. Let’s split up and explore carefully first, as a preliminary scouting trip. If we find anything, we can discuss the next steps once we have more people. What do you think, Master Wu?” Lady Liu thought carefully. Women are meticulous and seek stability, and they do not act blindly or impulsively.

Wu, the hero, knew that while he possessed considerable skill, he wasn't as intelligent as some others, but he was also receptive to advice. He nodded and said, "Let's do as Miss Liu says."

The two of them had the highest cultivation levels and their words carried the most weight. After discussing the matter, they communicated with the others and all responded by dispersing to explore carefully, prioritizing stability. Even with their enthusiasm, no one intended to lose their life in vain.

The group sprang into action to explore, waiting for the others to arrive. Among them, the white-clad girl following the beautiful Liu, the female knight, whispered, "Uncle-Master, will there be a solution this time for something that has baffled countless people for so many years?"

"Who knows? We've been investigating ever since our first female disciple went missing. We can't let any opportunity slip by. This isn't the first time we've had similar leads, and they've all come to nothing in the past. Hopefully, we'll get results this time. Xue'er, don't think too much about it. You've been in a bad mood lately. No matter what the outcome is, just think of it as going out for a walk to clear your head. Your martial uncle is here for you," Liu the Heroine said softly, affectionately patting her head.

The girl in white nodded and hummed in agreement. Then, as if she had thought of something, a look of grievance and sadness flashed in her beautiful eyes.

Their group dispersed outside the illusion array to investigate. Such a large and conspicuous operation meant they were discovered by the guards inside the array the moment they arrived… (End of Chapter)