Everything came down to the fact that the Great Gu Master still existed.
This was the most crucial point, one that even bore on their current safety, because while other things remained uncertain, one thing was certain: the corpse-cultivator—that is, the Great Gu Master—was also inside the Lishang illusion realm, most likely right beside them.
“It seems Lishang really isn’t just a soul-seizing melody, but an illusion melody as well—it doesn’t just seize souls, it seizes objects too,” Xuanyuan Lige said flatly.
Baili Weisheng and Jun Beiyue seemed to understand as well. Jun Beiyue said calmly, “So when Ziqing played Lishang, we were soul-captured—our bodies remained back in the Xinqing Pavilion. But when you and Ziqing played Lishang together, both our souls and our bodies entered the Lishang illusion realm.”
That explained the question that had puzzled them earlier.
“Whether it’s a soul-seizing melody or an illusion melody, once the composer dies, the composer’s spirit remains within the illusion realm they created. So the Nanzhao musician must be here,” Xuanyuan Lige said.
“He should be the creator of this place, yet it seems the Great Gu Master has gained the upper hand here,” Baili Weisheng said, turning to look toward the imperial palace along with Jun Beiyue.
“Who is Xinyun, then? And where was Jinjiao back then?” Baili Weisheng was puzzled—he was certain Xinyun wasn’t Jinjiao.
What exactly was Xinyun planning?
They felt they were extremely close to the truth now, with only one last step remaining. But it was precisely this last step that left them with so much, so much uncertainty!
Including this endlessly repeating illusion before them—they still couldn’t figure out exactly what it was.
“We can’t get down, and we can’t get out! Ugh!”
Baili Weisheng grew agitated, and without warning shot straight up into the sky—only to be immediately bounced back. A barrier completely enclosed them.
“Xinyun should know everything most clearly,” Xuanyuan Lige said.
Jun Beiyue’s eyes turned cold and grim. He knew they couldn’t simply sit here waiting to die—they had to find a way out. This illusion realm was dangerous, and Ziqing was in danger too!
To get out, they would have to break the barrier!
But none of them knew how!
At this moment, Jun Beiyue felt a flicker of regret—that he hadn’t taken barrier techniques seriously back then, that he hadn’t bothered to learn them.
If Meng Wanyue had been a good mother, perhaps he would have had the inclination to learn barrier arts. It was just a pity…
Jun Beiyue shook his head unconsciously. He didn’t want to think about his mother. He had always simply regarded his mother as the palace’s Consort Wan, who had died over twenty years ago and had never once appeared since.
He lowered his head, staring at his own hands, saying nothing for a long, long while.
Both Baili Weisheng and Xuanyuan Lige had been uneasy for several days now—Xinyun hadn’t come back, and there was no telling how Ziqing was doing!
Given the situation they’d seen in the imperial palace, Xinyun and the Great Gu Master were clearly opposed to each other. What if they encountered the Great Gu Master?
After all, the Great Gu Master had ended up in her current state precisely because of the human gu. If she caught sight of Ziqing, heaven only knew what schemes she might have in mind for her!
The more they thought about it, the more anxious Xuanyuan Lige and Baili Weisheng became. Finally, Xuanyuan Lige couldn’t hold back any longer. “Jun Beiyue, say something, would you!”
Unexpectedly, Jun Beiyue didn’t answer him. Instead, he kept his head lowered, seemingly trying hard to recall something, making strange hand gestures as he did.
Xuanyuan Lige frowned, while Baili Weisheng exclaimed in surprise, “Jun Beiyue, do you know barrier techniques?”
Jun Beiyue, seemingly interrupted, looked up and shot him an irritated glare, then lowered his head again, concentrating hard. Baili Weisheng no longer dared to speak.