Time Travel: I'm a Flower Thief

Xie Xiaoyi leaped into the air and hovered steadily above the East China Sea.

He held the Heaven-Opening Heavy Sword, its blade pointing diagonally towards the waves below. He closed his eyes and began to nurture and build up his sword's power using the Sword Eight's Qi Circulation Method.

The moment one reaches the state of complete harmony between man and nature, one's entire being merges with the heavens and earth.

On the first day, the sword rang out softly, a response to the energy of heaven and earth.

The next day, his sword intent was initially formed, resonating with his obsession with saving his aunt.

On the third day, the sword energy trembled slightly, a test of the spatial barrier.

The sky over the East China Sea changed color.

The sea breeze picked up, the waves roared, the clouds pressed lower, and even the distant birds circled in alarm, afraid to approach.

It was all because his aura, which resonated with heaven and earth, was both too domineering and too pure.

Xie Xiaoyi moved unhurriedly, letting the energy of heaven and earth flow around him and letting the sword intent accumulate within his sword.

In the state of harmony between man and nature, the wind listens to him, the clouds listen to him, the energy of heaven and earth listens to him, and even the waves of the East Sea slightly submit.

At this moment, he was in mid-air, sword in hand, yet he seemed to be one with the East China Sea and the world.

Suddenly, Xie Xiaoyi opened his eyes. He sensed a sword intent that reached the heavens and far surpassed the unity of heaven and man.

Three days and three nights, a full thirty-six hours, and the sword nurturing was complete!

He instantly became certain that if he drew his sword now, he would surely break the illusion!

So, Xie Xiaoyi gripped the sword hilt tightly with one hand and, without the slightest hesitation, swung the sword down fiercely!

"Open it!"

This sword strike carried a devastating, transboundary power.

The sword energy swept across the East China Sea, slashing straight towards the void where Xie Lingyun had disappeared!

Then there was a loud bang—a deafening roar!

That seemingly empty place instantly twisted violently, and a fine crack stretched wildly from the point where the sword energy landed!

The space began to wrinkle and collapse, emitting a piercing tearing sound.

The gap widened, and the surrounding airflow rushed back in, causing giant waves to surge into the sky from the East China Sea. The seawater was pulled into the air by the suction force of the gap, forming a terrifying waterspout!

In the blink of an eye, a huge rift several meters wide was torn open in the entire void.

Xie Xiaoyi stared intently—

Within the crack, clouds and mist swirled, and auspicious energy rose!

The outline of the ancient fairyland was clearly revealed; it was the primordial illusion he had once dreamt of!

"It's done—"

Xie Xiaoyi looked at the real entrance to the illusion before him, and his joy was beyond words.

With a leap, he transformed into a streak of light and flew straight into the Primordial Illusion!

The moment my body passed through layers of clouds and mist, I felt a sudden change in the aura around me.

The salty, fishy winds of the East China Sea were shut out, replaced by—

A chilling, pure, and vast ancient auspicious aura that is breathtaking.

Every breath felt like being directly infused with spiritual energy.

His very soul trembled slightly.

This is the true Primordial Illusion.

It was on a completely different level from when his soul had accidentally entered his body.

The world here is as stable as an ancient vat, the mountains and rivers are full of spirit, and all things are breathing slowly.

Xie Xiaoyi landed steadily on the smooth, jade-like floating stone ground beneath his feet, surrounded by towering ancient trees that exuded a refreshing fragrance.

The phantom of a divine beast swept across the distant sky, surrounded by auspicious clouds, a magnificent sight beyond description.

As soon as he stood still, the void rift in the air began to slowly shrink.

Boom—

The edges of the crack curled up layer by layer, like a shattered mirror slowly healing.

Boom—

The crack gradually closed, becoming smaller and fainter, until it finally turned into a wisp of golden light and silently dissipated into the air.

The spatial barriers have been completely repaired.

Outside, the East China Sea remains turbulent.

Inside, the Primordial Illusionary Realm remained as tranquil as ever.

Xie Xiaoyi was startled for a moment, but quickly recovered:

So what if it's closed? Let's go find my aunt first. At worst, I can just remember the coordinates and use Kenpachi to split it open again later.

He looked up and glanced around.

The illusionary realm was vast and boundless, with distant, hidden immortal mountains and the faint sound of phoenixes calling out.

However, he wasn't in the mood to look at the scenery.

This is where Aunt Xie Lingyun is right now. We must find her and bring her out.

With a light touch of his toes, he transformed into a streak of light, frantically searching for Xie Lingyun throughout the Primordial Illusion.

The illusion was too vast. Xie Xiaoyi flew from east to west, searched from top to bottom, and searched for almost half a day, but he couldn't even spot Xie Lingyun's shadow.

I don't know how much time passed—

He went from being overjoyed to becoming increasingly anxious, and from being anxious to feeling somewhat desperate.

Finally, he stopped in mid-air, gathered all his inner strength, and shouted at the top of his lungs at the entire illusion:

"Auntie!! Where are you?! I'm here to pick you up, answer me!!"

The shouts shook the clouds three times, but all around remained quiet and deathly still.

After Xie Xiaoyi's shouts faded, the illusion remained quiet, as if even the wind had stopped.

Could it be... that my aunt was already here back then?

The sword strike between Cui Juqing and Xie Lingyun was so powerful that Xie Xiaoyi had a bad feeling.

As if all his strength had been drained, he slowly floated down from mid-air, his legs went weak, and he knelt heavily on one knee.

"Thump—"

His knee struck the stone with a dull thud.

Tears could no longer be held back and welled up in a flash, splashing down her cheeks and hitting the ground.

He gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, but he could no longer hold back and cried his heart out.

"Auntie...where are you...?"

"I cleaved through illusions, traversed the primordial chaos, desperately striving to become stronger, all just to find you..."

The cries echoed repeatedly in the empty illusion, so mournful that they made one's heart clench.

I don't know how much time has passed...

Just as Xie Xiaoyi was crying the hardest and was about to collapse to the ground—

A gentle, trembling voice suddenly drifted from afar: "Xiao Yi, is that you?"

Xie Xiaoyi's crying stopped abruptly.

That sound?

He suddenly looked up and followed the sound—

A woman of breathtaking beauty appeared in the field of vision; it would be hard to find another woman as stunning as Xie Lingyun in the world.

His mind went blank, unable to distinguish between illusion and reality, only knowing that this was the person he had been thinking about day and night.

Xie Xiaoyi scrambled to his feet and ran frantically toward Xie Lingyun.

"aunt--!"

"Xiao Yi—!"

The two drew closer and closer.

The next second, they collided violently and embraced tightly.

Xie Xiaoyi used all his strength to hold Xie Lingyun tightly, wishing he could crush her and never separate from her again.

Xie Lingyun also reached out and hugged his waist, her tears soaking his clothes, choking and unable to speak.

Once we part ways, all that remains is the pain of longing.

They looked at each other speechlessly, only tears streaming down their faces.

Xie Xiaoyi held on too tightly, showing no sign of letting go, and Xie Lingyun gradually found it difficult to breathe.

"Xiao Yi, loosen your grip... I can't breathe..."

"I dare not let go... I'm afraid that if I loosen my grip, you'll be gone... I'm afraid this is all a dream..."