“Is… is this the Little Qiong Peak I once knew?”
Amid a maze formation on the outskirts of the pill room, the newly ascended immortal of Du Xian Sect, Daoist Qi Yuan, stood in disarray. His gaze was vacant, and his robes were rumpled as he stared helplessly at three narrow paths ahead.
Days had passed, and he was still trapped.
Despite spending many years studying formations, Qi Yuan’s mastery was shallow at best. His time in recent centuries had been consumed repairing his Dao foundation. His approach to studying formations had been superficial—merely memorizing how to set them up without delving into their principles.
Now, confronted with an intricate maze array…
“Who could have set such a formation on my Little Qiong Peak? Is this some kind of scheme?”
Muttering to himself, Qi Yuan tried to recall his previous steps. Half-dazed, he stumbled upon a new path.
The forest ahead was lush and ordinary, without the characteristic white mist of an illusionary maze.
Cautiously, Qi Yuan stepped forward, only to spot something new—a wooden plaque hanging from a tree branch. On it were three words:
“Lost your way?”
Instinctively, Qi Yuan nodded, then shuddered as wariness flooded his expression.
This handwriting… why did it feel so familiar?
Fixating on the plaque, Qi Yuan noticed another one hanging farther back on another tree. He walked a couple of steps closer. The scenery shifted slightly as if the formation rearranged itself.
The second plaque bore another message:
“What brings you to Little Qiong Peak?”
“I’m a resident here!” Qi Yuan snapped, though his hands trembled.
Could it be…?
Could this be the fabled Temporal Rift?
Ancient legends spoke of primordial beings entering valleys, only to emerge thousands of years later, unaware of the passage of time.
Could such an absurd fate have befallen him as well?
Another plaque appeared ahead. Driven by a mix of curiosity and trepidation, Qi Yuan approached it. With every step, the scenery subtly shifted. The plaques kept appearing, each marked with words that unnerved him further.
“Are you a disciple of Du Xian Sect?”
“This array protects the pill room in compliance with sect regulations.”
Pill room? His disciple had vaguely mentioned one…
“Did you trespass on Little Qiong Peak without permission?”
“Trespass? I’m the Peak Master here!”
“Please refrain from damaging the plants and trees. This path leads to an area without soundproofing arrays.”
Wait… was this an exit?
“This is a filler plaque.”
“The clearing is just ahead.”
“Step forward three paces.”
Qi Yuan halted, holding his breath. Suspicion filled his heart as he saw a large tree ahead. Hesitantly, he took three steps forward.
The scene shifted once more. A small clearing surrounded by trees appeared before him. Fallen leaves littered the ground, and a short table sat in the center. Beside it was a barrel of spirit spring water.
“What… what is this place?”
Another plaque stood nearby. Qi Yuan walked over, his expression tense as he read its words, recognizing the handwriting:
**”Kind visitor, please wait here. If I do not arrive promptly, it means I am either in seclusion or at a critical stage of alchemy.
Should you grow impatient, feel free to use your immortal energy to call for help.
Little Qiong Peak welcomes you, but next time, kindly announce your visit rather than accidentally trespass near the pill room.
Sincerely, Little Qiong Peak Master Qi Yuan.”**
Qi Yuan’s hands trembled as he took several steps back, only to collide with a tree trunk. His retreat was unknowingly cut off.
“Did… did I set this up myself?”
His eyes widened in shock, as if he’d seen a ghost. Whatever drunken haze lingered vanished instantly. Surveying his surroundings, he felt a slight dizziness.
Could this be a demonic influence?
No, no, this wasn’t demonic influence. Was this the muddled state known as Immortal Confusion?
Earlier, a sect elder had warned him about this condition, saying it made immortals vulnerable to earth energy corruption and mental deviation.
Could he… could he simply be the heart demon of the real Qi Yuan?
His hands shook uncontrollably. Sprinting back to the plaque, he stared at the handwriting, his disbelief mounting.
The script on these plaques…
Wasn’t it… his own handwriting?
A slip of his foot sent Qi Yuan tumbling onto the leaf-strewn ground. He sat there, dazed, his disheveled hair even messier.
Temporal Rift, Immortal Confusion, Heart Demon…
**”Who am I? Am I truly just a manifestation of my own heart demon?
No, impossible! I am Qi Yuan! I am not some heart demon!
I am Qi Yuan, and Qi Yuan is me! I must have fallen into a Temporal Rift, not succumbed to a heart demon!”**
“No, no… no… NO!”
Gripping his head, Qi Yuan let out a guttural cry, startling birds throughout Little Qiong Peak. The commotion even caught the attention of a few passersby in the distant sky.
Suddenly, a concerned female voice called out:
wannaberecluse On SRTT Chapter 50.1