Legend of the Great Sage

in Li Qingshan’s memories.
Under the murky sky, they stood in the centre of a four-way intersection.
The complicated traffic lights constantly flashed as the people and cars flowed through.

“It’s no wonder that everyone saw different things in the Mirage sea.
So the illusion reflects the world in your mind.” Li Qingshan sighed emotionally.

“So this was where you once lived?” Xiao An asked in surprise.
She could tell that this unfamiliar city operated off its own set of principles.

Only two people knew about Li Qingshan’s possession of “innate knowledge”.
One was brother ox, while the other was Xiao An.
He had mentioned it to her when he plagiarised novels in the past.
Of course, it was not some kind of grand, earth-shaking secret in this wondrous World of the Nine Provinces.

“How is it? Isn’t it a mess?” Li Qingshan smiled.

“A little, but you’ve thought about returning, haven’t you?” Xiao An said in thought.

“Of course I have, but I’ve even decided to never return to Crouching Ox village, so let alone here.
C’mon, our destination is probably there!”

Li Qingshan pointed into the distance.
A pagoda that completely contrasted against the modern landscape stood there, reaching into the clouds and looming over the entire city.

“That should be called the Clam building, right?”

He followed the streets and walked over slowly, arriving beneath the building before long.
A signboard of classical elegance hung above the vermillion doors, labelled “Clam Building”.

“Heh, I actually guessed it!” Li Qingshan smiled.

However, a hint of worry appeared in Xiao An’s eyes.

Li Qingshan went up and knocked on the door, loudly stating his reason for visiting.
He took out the letter of introduction written for him by the Great Banyan Tree King.

The letter of introduction suddenly moved and broke free from his hand, spiralling into the sky and disappearing into the murky clouds.

Li Qingshan looked up.
The Clam building seemed like it was about to collapse.
Before long, the vermillion doors swung open, and a voice rang out from the clouds.
“Since the Great Banyan Tree King has sent you here, come on in!”

The voice was extremely pleasant, but almost neutral.
It was impossible to distinguish its gender.

Don’t tell me they’re actually female? Li Qingshan thought.
Although he was tempted to directly fly up, he still stepped through the vermillion doors, and they slammed shut again.

However, the first floor of the Clam building did not have the antique style Li Qingshan imagined.
Instead, it was a metallic, futuristic room.
A foul air filled his face.
In the centre of the room stood a huge monster.
Its black body shone with a metallic lustre, leaning forwards and standing on two legs.
A spiky tail dragged behind it as it produced a deafening roar, revealing rows upon rows of sharp teeth as it lunged over.

“Why does this look like that Alien Queen! It sure is an illusion.
Am I supposed to fight my way up?” Li Qingshan thought as he rubbed his chin.
Then he threw a punch, and the monster that resembled an Alien Queen was immediately smashed to pieces.
Its blood spattered on the walls and floor, immediately producing white wisps of smoke and eating away huge holes.

“It’s been so many years, but I still remember the characteristic of their acidic blood! If I have some time in the future, I could write another novel and strengthen the Divine Talisman of Great Creation,” Li Qingshan said with interest.

With a crack above his head, a metallic trap door swung open.

“It really is that!”

Li Qingshan gradually realised too that the various scenes in the illusion arose from his thoughts.
If he were clueless about the legends of the Mirage sea and purely believed what the Great Banyan Tree King told him, then perhaps everything would have unfolded very smoothly.
It was exactly because he believed this trip would not be so simple that an obstacle like this appeared.

If that were the case, then the Great Banyan Tree King’s “lies” made sense.
In this world of the Mirage sea, “lies” could become reality.
It was exactly because the survivors from the Mirage sea believed in a certain lie that they managed to escape.
The most popular belief of the cultivation community perhaps included lethal factors instead.
If you believed the Clam King of Mirage Sea used clam qi to hunt, then she actually hunted.

Of course, all of this was purely hypothetical.
It was not like he could confirm this from just seeing one side.
After all, the Mirage sea was still under the Clam King of Mirage Sea’s control.
Perhaps she actually used it to hunt cultivators! Since this belief could be recognised by the cultivation community of the South sea for thousands of years, it was not a groundless rumor.

But he was here already.
All he could do was fight his way up!

Not only was Li Qingshan unafraid, but he even became very curious about what kind of monsters would appear instead.

Li Qingshan leapt up to the second floor, but Xiao An remained where she was.
She thought of something. Oh no!

If her thoughts were correct, then perhaps the Mirage sea really would become a deadly trap.

AUTHOR’S WORD: The Dream isn’t Over

I’ve read everyone’s comments.
Although I don’t want to admit I can be influenced by others, I do feel very happy and very touched.
Of course, there’s nothing along the lines of getting moist in the eyes.
Oi, is it really that difficult to accept that you’re a feeble mortal?

Sorry, I’ve always been too arrogant, and I’ve neglected your power.
I’ve been constantly gazing at the sky, only to forget you were the ones holding me up.

When I look back at the road that led me here, I didn’t walk it alone.
I can still remember when I wrote my first novel.
When I received my first comment, I felt utterly delighted.
I felt I was so powerful! I was a novelist, aha! Oh right, and that comment was cursing me too…

So why now, when I’ve clearly received ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times more comments of praise, that I’m blind and deaf to them?

Now, I can see them all and hear them all.
Even if this is the centre of the desert, there are the echoes of thousands!

Climb up to your feet! Keep going!

The dream still isn’t over!

……

“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the most perfect man of them all?”

“Anyone but you!”

“Go die!” Ping!

Alright, I’ll admit that for now, but I want to write a perfect novel! Even if I can’t do it now, even if I can’t do it in the future, even if I’ll never be able to do it, I want to write a perfect novel!