Eternal Illusion Chapter 6 The Soul Tide

The Soul Tide

So you're Jones? For the lord to have silently broken through the manor's barrier—he must be a rare expert. No—this kid has weak mana; he's just a small fry not worth mentioning. But that woman behind him—I can sense unfathomable, terrifying mana within her. For such a master I can't see through to exist in this far eastern border... Could she be the rumored Border Witch? If so—if this powerful strength could be used by me.

Who are you two? Wait—that sword. Who we are doesn't matter. We're just doing a job for pay. What do you mean? A child paid us with this sword to investigate the mastermind who's been sending people to harass his family.

Lord, do you have a subordinate named James? What do you know about him? James? Not strong in combat, but quiet, honest, steady—a decent talent.

But what I've learned is very different. James is just an ordinary squire—such a powerful woman wouldn't bother coming to me with a lie. What she says is probably true. I've been so focused on exterminating demon beasts that I haven't personally inspected whether supplies reached their villages, and the same goes for the compensation.

I know about this matter. I will investigate it thoroughly and give the people an answer as soon as possible. The lord is surprisingly straightforward. That's good. This is your responsibility, after all. We outsiders shouldn't get too involved. We'll await the lord's methods. Then we'll take our leave.

Wait—please stay. What else is there? This esteemed lady, forgive my presumption, but are you the rumored Border Witch? What of it? It's an honor to meet you. I am Andrew Jones, and as a baron and knight, I extend an invitation to you. Would you be willing—No. But I haven't even said—No need. I know what you want. I'm not interested.

But— Hey, what are you doing? He was thinking some filthy thoughts. I read his mind and found it disgusting, so I taught him a lesson. Wait, when did I— Shut up. Forget this person—let's go. Weren't you going to teach me magic? Let's go home.

So strong... too terrifying. Just one look, and it felt like the weight of the entire starry sky pressing on my back. Such power... why? What a waste. With that strength, one could completely... Steward, get over here. My lord, you... How much did you embezzle? What—how much did I eat? I don't know what you're talking about. I'll count to three. Three. It wasn't me. Two. My lord, let me explain. Thirty-seven million. Thirty-seven million—with the odd bits, at most thirty-eight million. I can see that's the truth, but do you think that number satisfies me? Fifty million. I'll make up the shortfall from my own pocket. How long until it's done? Road renovation within half a year. The withheld supplies and compensation—delivered within two months.

How I treat you is how you'll treat James. Get everything out of him, then kill him. My ranks don't need parasites like you. I can give you one chance, but he doesn't deserve one. Thank you, my lord, for sparing me—thank you—I won't dare again. Remember, this is the last time. This far eastern border is big enough that finding a replacement for you isn't hard.

For the coming period, arrange for some people to move into the small villages outside the border forest and quietly investigate the Border Witch's movements. Also prepare a carriage—I need to look something up at the Royal Capital's Grand Library. Don't you want to go home? This world isn't without artifacts that could let you cross the world barrier and return home. If you're determined to return, I'll do everything I can to help you find a way.

Grandpa, in my previous life I was thirty-four at this point. Reborn, I'm fourteen now. My old classmates are all approaching fifty, and this world is huge—finding such an artifact might take who knows how many years. So after I find a way home, what's left in my hometown? There won't be a single person I know in the world. I'll just be a lonely wanderer disconnected from the era—dead in the past, lost in the future. I have a home, but I can't go back anymore.

Is that so? Then cultivate the dao with me. Cultivate the dao? Grandpa, I have a question. The end of cultivation is immortality—eternal life. But that road is too long, and few can reach its end. Even if someone finally becomes an immortal and enjoys eternal life, what about their family? Their fellow cultivators? Their friends? Everything they love will die along the way. In the end, attaining immortality but losing everything—how can that be called freedom? How can that be called supreme liberation? What's left for the immortal is endless regret and pain.

Cultivation is clearly a path toward eternal loneliness. You want me to cultivate with you, but what am I pursuing? If the end of the immortal path holds only suffering, then it doesn't seem worth dedicating my entire life to.

Jiang Qiu, do you know what dao I'm taking you to cultivate? Do you think the world is big? Of course. How big exactly? Take this county seat—though this city is vast, calling it "the world" would be like borrowing false grandeur. The world is so big that no one knows how many years it would take to walk to its end on foot alone. Yes—you're right. How big is the world? If the world is this big, how many suffering people must there be in it? We're going to save them. That is the dao we will cultivate. So—will you come with me?

So I dreamed of things from long ago. Is it because I stargazed with Yvur again last night, and missed him a little? The same starry sky, the same moon. Yes—different lands and rivers, but the same wind and moon; the Dipper points west, autumn has arrived. When I first came to this world, it was still summer. Time has passed so quickly without my noticing.

After this period of testing, I've confirmed that mana can indeed charge the attendant head. But at the current rate, activating it again will take at least three more years. I'm still very concerned about what those Heavenly Heart Sect animals are doing, but for now, I can only wait patiently.

But should I really stay in the far eastern border forever? Lord Jones wanted to invite Yvur to the west to fight demon beasts, right? Battlefields are unpredictable—being powerful doesn't guarantee survival. The stronger you are individually, the more likely you become the priority target for the enemy to concentrate forces and destroy. Besides, what exactly is the Demon King's strength? I have no idea. But since he's the king of demon beasts, he might be like those terrifying great demons in the depths of Myriad Demon Valley—existences that even Mahayana cultivators find troublesome.

"No big deal—I'll wipe them out casually."

He does command many extraordinary, super-standard powerful spells. But if that's all, let alone the terrifying great demons in the depths of Myriad Demon Valley—even against a Mahayana cultivator, he might slip up. If the opponent is unprepared, his destructive power could indeed kill an ordinary Mahayana, but as long as they guard against his time magic, space magic, and speed magic, the outcome is uncertain.

My Life-Origin Candlelight Illumination can't see through him, but at least I can tell his bone age isn't great—probably a little over a hundred years old. He can still grow. With his talent, in a few more decades, he'll truly mature to a level where he can easily suppress Mahayana stage cultivators. But not now. Especially since he has a gravely ill mother in bed—he's surely unwilling to risk his life going west to war. The way he anxiously cut off Lord Jones earlier was probably because he'd just been bragging in front of me about casually slaughtering the Demon King, and didn't want to embarrass himself.

Childish temperament. Today, let's go to Silver Creek City again and add more rewards to the commission, get the Nine-Revolution Soul-Returning Pill made as soon as possible to cure his mother, and then I can say goodbye to him. I don't have much magic talent anyway—I'll learn those powerful magics from him later if I ever have sudden insight. After leaving, I can visit other cities, go to the western front, see surrounding countries. Even outside the cultivation world, the things I must do won't change.

This world is huge. Everywhere there are people being bullied, oppressed, ravaged by war, tormented by plague. Wherever there are suffering people, there lies the dao I must cultivate.

Yvur, what's for dinner today? Shredded potato with shredded ginger.

But I want braised pork knuckle.

You look like a braised pork knuckle. You eat what I make—no ordering from the menu.

I don't care—I don't like potatoes. I want braised pork knuckle.

Enough, no arguing. We'll eat this for now—I'll make braised pork knuckle for dinner tonight.

Childish temperament. What are we doing today? Going to the village as usual. Morning: train with Norn in swordsmanship—you can watch how I use sword techniques. Afternoon: I'll go to Silver Creek City alone. You stay home and cultivate properly.

I don't know much about swordsmanship. In your opinion, does Norn have real potential? In the cultivation world, his talent wouldn't be top-tier, but it'd be enough for many major sects to fight bloody battles over him.

And the afternoon? You don't need me to come with you? No need. The adventurer's guild is manageable—Leon is at most a little annoying—but don't you hate going near the church? I always feel like that goddess wants to smite me. And the spatial teleportation array is already set up, right? It's just a few seconds round trip. I'll come back once I've asked.

Then when I'm tired of cultivating, I'll go hunt a demon boar in the forest.

How can cultivation make you tired? All you think about is food. No wonder you're still a Qi Refining small fry after all this time.

What fry?

Jiang Qiu: Focus your mind. Attach your intent to the sword's body. Don't stare fixedly at the blade's edge. Where your thought goes, the sword moves.

Norn: Mr. Jiang Qiu, the sword always feels heavy. It seems unwilling to follow my command.

Jiang Qiu: It's not the sword that won't obey—your mind is trapped by physical fatigue. Mana circulates along the arm. Loosen. Don't fight it. Yes, just like that.

Yvurgon: By the way, how did that Lord Jones handle the James matter?

Jiang Qiu: The steward squeezed everything out of James. Embezzlement, harming returning squires, pocketing compensation—every charge confirmed. He's been executed. The withheld supplies and compensation are being distributed to the villages. The lord has also stationed people in the villages to prevent further harassment from thugs.

Yvurgon: At least he's capable of action. By the way, any news from the adventurer's guild about the Nine-Revolution Soul-Returning Pill ingredients?

Jiang Qiu: Still missing three of the most critical main ingredients. The bounty's been up for days—no leads yet. We can only wait. I'm about to teleport to Silver Creek City to see Father Leon again. The church's intelligence network is wider.

Yvurgon: That priest—I always feel he's hiding many secrets.

Jiang Qiu: Everyone has secrets. As long as his goals don't conflict with ours, no need to dig deep. Norn, steady your mind. Don't let your mana run wild.

Norn: Ah!

Black mist churns and spreads around the youth; stones on the ground tremble.

Jiang Qiu: Losing control again?

Jiang Qiu taps a finger, and a gentle spiritual force directly suppresses the restless, violent mana. The black mist instantly disperses.

Jiang Qiu: Remember—emotion is the fuse of mana. Anger, grief, obsession—all ignite mana. Once out of control, mana will devour your reason, reducing you to a monster that only knows slaughter. The greater the power, the heavier the cost.

Norn: Sorry, sir. I thought of Cody's gang again, and what happened to my eldest brother. I couldn't hold back my anger.

Jiang Qiu: Having anger isn't wrong. It's because of the injustice in your heart that you have the determination to protect. But don't let anger rule you. Strength is a shield, not a butcher's blade for venting emotion. Practice well. I'll be back in the evening.

Jiang Qiu turns to Yvurgon.

Jiang Qiu: I'm off to Silver Creek City. Back soon.

With a flash of light, Jiang Qiu vanishes—teleported through space.

Yvurgon: Honestly—leaving me at home again. Fine. I'll go check on Mother.

Scene change—Silver Creek City, Goddess Church.

Jiang Qiu appears in a side hall of the church. Father Leon is already waiting.

Leon: Lord Jiang Qiu. A rare guest. You actually dare to step directly onto the Goddess Church's territory—aren't you afraid the goddess's will might target you?

Jiang Qiu: I've done nothing to blaspheme the goddess. With a clear conscience, why fear the divine? I came to ask the church to help search for three magical herbs.

Jiang Qiu hands over a paper with the herb names written on it.

Leon takes it, scans the names, and his brows furrow slightly.

Leon: These all belong to ancient magical herb materials—extremely rare in the present age. Two of them are rumored to be nearly extinct. You need these to refine the Nine-Revolution Soul-Returning Pill—to save the Border Witch's sleeping mother?

Jiang Qiu: You know quite a lot.

Leon: The church's ancient texts record this pill formula. Awakening someone whose souls have dispersed comes at a great cost. Even if the ingredients are gathered, the risk of refinement failure is extremely high. If refinement fails, it won't just fail to save her—it may cause the remaining souls to disperse completely, beyond recovery. Are you sure you want to take this risk?

Jiang Qiu: Yvurgon knows the risks. She's still willing to try. I promised her.

Leon: Bonds of obligation, then... I can use the church's intelligence network to search. However, I have a condition.

Jiang Qiu: Let's hear it.

Leon: The demon beast armies in the west are gathering. The rumors of the Demon King's revival grow louder. Once the Demon King's army breaks through the far eastern border, the entire continent will be engulfed in war. I hope that if war breaks out, you and the Border Witch will act to protect the common people of this land.

Jiang Qiu: The dao I cultivate is the path of salvation. If sentient beings suffer, I will not stand idly by. But Yvurgon—she has her mother's care to consider. She has the right to refuse. I cannot agree on her behalf.

Leon: Acceptable. I'll notify you the moment there's news on the herbs. Also—one more thing. Recently, across the continent, ordinary people have been falling into inexplicable comas, their souls draining away—symptoms highly similar to the witch's mother. The church has admitted many patients and can't find the cause at all.

Jiang Qiu: Large numbers of ordinary people losing their souls? Not isolated cases?

Leon: No. More and more, across cities and villages. Many people fall asleep and never wake again. Cultivators, mages, ordinary people—all affected. As if an invisible hand is silently harvesting the souls of all living things. Church leadership suspects it's connected to the coming Demon King revival.

Jiang Qiu: Harvesting souls... for what? Refining evil artifacts? Sacrifices for a resurrection?

Leon: No answers yet. The matter is still being suppressed to avoid public panic. My lord—this world is about to descend into chaos.

Before he finishes, a massive roar comes from outside the church. The earth shakes violently.

People outside scream in panic.

A nun rushes in, flustered.

Nun: Father! It's terrible! South of the city—so many people are collapsing unconscious without warning!!

Jiang Qiu immediately rushes out of the church. On the streets, countless pedestrians are falling straight to the ground one after another, sinking into deep comas. Some were just talking moments ago—the next second their eyes go blank and they crash to the ground.

An extremely subtle, cold, invisible wave drifts over the city.

Jiang Qiu's eyes surge with spiritual power, seeing through illusion.

Jiang Qiu's thoughts: No evil spirits visible. No spell fluctuations. But... souls are slowly being stripped from these people's bodies and dissolving.

What force is silently plundering souls?

Meanwhile, in the distant forest cabin.

The witch's mother lies in bed. Faint light flickers over her body—her remaining souls are being pulled by that distant invisible force.

Yvurgon stays by the bedside, her expression changing drastically.

Yvurgon: Mother!!

Yvurgon's mana spreads at full force, building a barrier to fiercely protect her mother's body, blocking the soul from being dragged away.

Yvurgon: What power is this!!

Silver Creek City.

Jiang Qiu raises his hand, spiritual power enveloping the fallen people around him, trying to stabilize their souls.

But the moment his spiritual power touches them, the invisible force bypasses the spiritual power's bindings and continues slowly extracting souls.

Jiang Qiu: My spiritual power can't block it! This isn't ordinary evil sorcery!

Father Leon hurries over. The holy emblem in his hand radiates sacred light. The light spills out but similarly only briefly delays—it cannot fully stop the soul drain.

Leon: Even the goddess's holy light can only slow it! The source isn't in this world!

Jiang Qiu: Not in this world? Meaning the power comes from another dimension?

The clouds in the sky churn madly. Far in the western horizon, surging pitch-black clouds rise into the sky, blotting out the sun. A terrifying, oppressive force rolls in from across mountains and rivers.

A low reverberation, like echoes from the abyss, faintly lingers between heaven and earth.

Jiang Qiu looks up toward the west.

Jiang Qiu: The Demon King... is it?