Heavenly Illusions

Chapter 1- First Meeting

The Demonic Realm was separated into three dimensional folds that were stacked on top of each other in a cylindrical fashion. The first dimensional fold consisted of extremely powerful Great Demons that ruled the Demonic Realm, while below it was the second and third dimensional folds, which consisted of mid-level and low-level Demonic Beasts.

As for the number of Demonic Beasts within the Demonic Realm, given that their fertility was far greater than that of human beings, the number was incalculable.

The most egregious ones were low-level Demonic Beasts.

Within the low-level dimensional fold, which consisted of various environments, one could not go ten steps without stumbling upon a deadly creature. A swarm of fire beetles in a volcanic region that can burn through a steel pillar in seconds. A thumb-sized snake in a great forest that could kill several hundred normal humans with a drop of its venom. They were endless.

It was within this low-level dimensional fold, inside a great forest, that a particular baby tortoise floated absent-mindedly within a small stream.

Raising its small head, it watched the light shimmer through the water above, feeling the gentle current nudge his shell.

The stream was crystal clear, making the baby tortoise easy to see. Its shell, slick and black, looked as if it were made of jade. Intricate golden patterns were stylistically drawn over its surface and seemed to faintly pulsate with a mysterious power when examined closely.

The baby tortoise’s eyelids were droopy, which slightly hid the emotions that were etched deep within its eyes.

This emotion was undoubtedly one of extreme boredom.

Gurgle… Gurgle…

Bubbles flowed out of the baby tortoise’s mouth as it let out a frustrated sigh.

An Mo could not count how many times he had sighed this sigh in his short fifteen years alive. However, he knew for certain the number of times he sighed over the last month was comparable to the previous fifteen years combined.

The reason? Of course, it was due to his boredom!

When he was just born, none of the beast younglings within the low-level dimensional fold would play with him and instead avoid him like he was cursed. Even when he had gained some ability after growing up and was able to traverse the spatial distortions between the dimensional folds to enter the second layer, he was ruthlessly expelled within the first hour after entering.

He had instantly recognized the force to be the external power unleashed by a Demonic Beast that was likely one of the strongest creatures in that dimensional fold. Even though the expulsion force was extremely gentle and had even helped block the spatial distortions while sending him back, that didn’t mean he was happy.

After a few years of him hiding his aura and sneaking out of the low-level dimensional fold, this exciting life of sneaking around under the noses of those mean older brothers and older sisters came to an abrupt end when he underestimated himself and tried to sneak into the high-level dimensional fold.

He wasn’t even able to pass through the spatial distortions between the dimensional folds before his vision blurred, and he was back in the low-level dimensional fold.

As for trying to go back, forget it. He had tried, only to find out that a terrifying restriction, which specifically targeted his bloodline, had encompassed the entire low-level dimensional fold.

This happened a month ago, and now, a month later, he was regretting his actions with every fiber of his being.

Gurgle… Gurgle…

After another sigh of frustration, An Mo moved his limbs to carry himself to the surface and leave the small stream. However, just as he reached the surface, it was at that moment that something strange occurred in the air above.

Violent spatial distortions appeared in the void before a figure flew out in a disheveled manner.

An Mo reacted almost instantly to the distortions that appeared; however, he was a fraction of a second late. He was unable to dodge, and so the figure successfully used his clean, slick black shell as a steppingstone before they could fall into the stream.

Like a swallow gently flowing in the sky, this person drifted to the bank of the stream without even looking back, leaving An Mo completely enraged as he stuck out his head to look at the clear footprint on his back.

Before the disheveled old man could go far, An Mo opened his mouth and let out a furious shriek.

“Ahhh!! You little bastard! I’ll fight you to the death! Don’t run if you have the guts!!”

Caught off guard by the sudden voice, the old man spun around, thinking his pursuers had already caught up to him. However, he was stunned to instead see a baby tortoise glaring at him with its golden eyes as it crawled out of the stream. And on its back was unmistakably his footprint.

After a moment of thought, the old man suddenly turned back and walked up to the baby tortoise. After stopping in front of it, he bent down and used his wide sleeve to wipe off his footprint.

An Mo had already planned on how to attack this strange human in front of him, but he was caught off guard by his action of cleaning off his footprint.

Seeing the little creature’s bewildered gaze as it looked up at him, the old man released a hoarse chuckle and was about to open his mouth to speak. However, his somewhat clouded eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light as he fixed his gaze on the void above the stream.

“Damn it!”

The old man cursed under his breath, and without a second of hesitation, he scooped up An Mo into his arms before he turned and vanished into the forest ahead in the next second.

Just a few seconds after the old man vanished, spatial distortions appeared in the void above the small stream, after which several youths wearing Daoist robes and Martial Artists' attire stepped out.

However, the moment they appeared, they were subjected to the Demonic Realm’s restrictions against human beings intruding. A great pressure descended upon the group, and several people were crushed into a bloody mess without even having the time to let out a scream.

The only ones who had been able to survive this great pressure were the youths from more powerful Sects who were given high-level protective treasure. But even so, this place was not safe.

“Damn it! The old bastard actually teleported to the Demonic Realm?! Is he crazy?!”

One youth who had survived but was among the severely injured ones, let out a cry of alarm. Then, without a second thought, he flipped over his hand and took out a teleportation token and crushed it. Using the faint spatial distortions still remaining in the void, he locked onto the coordinate where he had initially teleported from, before quickly teleporting back.

Several more youths did the same, as they had never expected that by following the spatial distortions of the old man’s teleportation token would lead them to break the Realm Wall and barge into the Demonic Realm.

Thankfully, this was the low-level dimensional fold, and not the mid or even high-level one. If they had been teleported there, the restrictions would have been stronger, and they, along with the protective treasures, would have been crushed into nothingness.

After several youths crushed their teleportation tokens, only three people remain standing in the air above the small stream. Two boys and one girl.

With just a single glance, one could tell from their appearance and demeanor that they were disciples from the top Sects within their region. This did not even mention their cultivation levels, which were at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Given that they only looked to be around fourteen or fifteen years old, they were undoubtedly top-tier geniuses of the human race. Of course, this was relative to their own region within the Human Realm, which was quite expansive.

Among the three, the youth who was at the forefront of the group looked the most distinguished. He had sword-like eyebrows and a pair of bright, spirited eyes that radiated an eerie calmness.

However, if one looked closer, perhaps they could pierce that veil to see the turbulent emotions stirring within that stem from a boundless malice and rage.