Searching for Huangsha City

Ice quickly formed within the sandy enclosure.

Bai Lan then took out a special scarf, inserting one end into the frozen sand while placing the other end inside the mouth of her porcelain bottle. After that, all she had to do was wait.

Once everything was prepared, Bai Lan closed her eyes and began cultivating.

Although the spiritual energy in this place was extremely thin, Bai Lan had brought plenty of elixirs and spirit stones, so she could cultivate without relying on the surrounding environment.

In fact, most people entering the Illusory Heaven Realm made sure to bring a large amount of spirit stones with them.

[Congratulations, Bai Lan, on entering the Illusory Heaven Realm for the first time. You have received the Veil of Obscurity and one thousand experience points.]

Yun Yao’s voice echoed in Bai Lan’s mind.

Bai Lan had only just sat down to cultivate when the reward arrived. As Yun Yao’s voice faded, a white cloak appeared before her.

This cloak was a special treasure—and it was exactly what Bai Lan needed right now.

It was immune to both water and fire and could also conceal the wearer’s identity.

More importantly, with this cloak, Bai Lan could now move freely through the Yellow Sand Realm without fearing the scorching sunlight.

“Heh, Yun Yao, you’ve finally given me something truly useful.”

Bai Lan smiled brightly.

Yun Yao did not respond.

With the Veil of Obscurity in hand, Bai Lan finally felt completely at ease.

She calmly entered a state of cultivation.

She could clearly sense the temperature outside. Once it dropped to a level where her skin would no longer burn easily, she would be able to leave.

Meanwhile, back at the Luoshen Sect, Xue Linglong learned that Bai Lan had already entered the Illusory Heaven Realm.

Without hesitation, she entered the Illusory Heaven Palace as well.

However, when creating her identity within the realm, Xue Linglong suddenly revealed a mischievous smile and deliberately designed a character completely different from her real appearance.

To be honest, the treatment Bai Lan and Xue Linglong received after entering the Illusory Heaven Realm was vastly different.

After stepping through the main gate, Xue Linglong was immediately teleported to a lush oasis.

There were green trees, clear water, and a beautiful pond.

It was practically paradise.

But there was nothing strange about this.

Such was the fortune of someone blessed by destiny like Xue Linglong.

Her natural luck, combined with her long experience surviving alone in the wilderness, meant she had far stronger survival skills than most people.

She would have no difficulty surviving here.

“Sister, I hope we meet soon on the first floor.”

“Hehe.”

Xue Linglong chuckled strangely, her thoughts impossible to read.

Back on Bai Lan’s side, after an unknown amount of time had passed, she felt the temperature outside drop.

She slowly opened her eyes.

The moment she did, she suddenly lunged forward and grabbed a yellow venomous snake that had just crawled into the sand cave.

This place seemed to attract venomous creatures.

“What a pity.”

Bai Lan muttered softly.

With a quick motion, she killed the snake and stored it in her storage bag.

Food was food.

Nothing should be wasted.

After dealing with the snake, Bai Lan checked the porcelain bottle.

It was now completely full of water, even beginning to overflow slightly.

“That should be enough.”

“I can leave now.”

Bai Lan had no intention of staying in this barren wasteland any longer.

Her destination was Yellow Sand City.

That was the gathering place for all trial participants on the first floor.

Each floor of the Illusory Heaven Realm contained a main city.

Just like towns in a game world, these cities served as gathering hubs for trial participants.

They were also designated safe zones.

Inside the city, participants could register for official arena duels.

However, private fights were strictly forbidden.

Anyone who violated this rule would be instantly erased by the consciousness of the Illusory Heaven Realm.

Everything they had gained would vanish, leaving no chance for regret.

But finding Yellow Sand City was not easy.

The terrain of the first floor constantly shifted.

Only those who had visited the city recently knew its current location.

Although Xue Yue had been there before, her knowledge of the city’s location could not be transmitted directly to Bai Lan.

This world was similar to the virtual games from Bai Lan’s previous life—except far more realistic.

“The first floor hides many treasures beneath the yellow sand.”

“Sometimes killing a demonic beast will drop a treasure map.”

“And if you kill another participant, everything they obtained inside the Illusory Heaven Realm will drop as well.”

“That’s why people keep attacking each other.”

“Items from the outside can be brought in, and items found inside can be taken out.”

“This world really blurs the line between reality and illusion.”

After finishing her preparations, Bai Lan left the sand cave.

She put on the Veil of Obscurity and began her journey to search for Yellow Sand City.

“Yun Yao, I’m a little curious.”

Bai Lan suddenly spoke.

“Why can you follow me into this world? Isn’t this supposed to be an independent realm?”

“And the consciousness of the Illusory Heaven Realm… shouldn’t it be something similar to you?”

But Yun Yao immediately denied it.

“No.”

“They are completely different.”

“The Illusory Heaven Realm is merely a treasure left behind by an ancient god from the Celestial Realm.”

“It fell from the Celestial Realm into the Heavenly Domain.”

“The so-called consciousness of the Illusory Heaven Realm is nothing more than an artifact spirit.”

“How could it possibly compare to the consciousness of the Heavenly Dao?”

Yun Yao replied.

Bai Lan felt a bit embarrassed.

That was true.

The Heavenly Dao was the supreme ruler of this world.

“Then I have another question.”

Bai Lan continued.

“You once said that those who possess the Ten Great Heavenly Bodies are not allowed to leave this world.”

“So does that mean I can’t leave either?”

Yun Yao suddenly fell silent.

It seemed she didn’t know how to answer this question.

“I’m sorry.”

“I cannot answer that.”

“I am only a fragment of the Heavenly Dao’s consciousness, not the Heavenly Dao itself.”

“The Heavenly Dao separated me mainly to assist you.”

“My purpose is to help you become a powerhouse in this world as quickly as possible.”

“As for whether the Heavenly Dao will allow you to leave…”

“That depends on whether you can overcome the Heavenly Tribulation during your ascension.”

“The Heavenly Tribulation is the test given by the Heavenly Dao. You should already know that.”

“I’ve told you before.”

“The Heavenly Dao can only grant privileges within the limits of its authority.”

“But leaving the Heavenly Domain and ascending to the Immortal Realm…”

“Trying to take shortcuts will likely be impossible.”

Yun Yao’s explanation sounded perfectly reasonable.

Bai Lan could not find any flaws in it.

After all, from the moment Yun Yao appeared, she had already made it clear that her purpose was to help Bai Lan become stronger while revealing some secrets of the world.

“So in the end, it sounds like I might have to fight you someday.”

Bai Lan sighed helplessly.

Yun Yao did not reply.

The Veil of Obscurity provided excellent protection against heat and sunlight.

For traveling through the first floor of the Illusory Heaven Realm, it was practically a divine artifact.

Yellow Sand City had no fixed location.

It moved every single day.

Encountering it meant good luck.

Failing to encounter it meant bad luck.

Along the way, Bai Lan occasionally spotted other trial participants in the distance.

However, most people avoided direct conflict.

No one knew the true strength of their opponent.

If they accidentally provoked a peerless Heavenly Paragon, they would simply be courting death.

Even geniuses were divided into ranks.

People like Bai Lan were considered peerless Heavenly Paragons.

They were rare monsters of their era.

Normally, there would not even be two of them in the same generation.

Among the Ten Great Heavenly Bodies, there was no clear distinction of stronger or weaker.

Historically, it was extremely rare for two of them to appear at the same time.

The fact that Bai Lan and Xue Linglong existed together was practically an anomaly.

Xue Linglong was a naturally born Heavenly Paragon.

Bai Lan, on the other hand, had taken something of a shortcut.

Originally, she did not possess the Chaos Body.

It was the Heavenly Dao that transformed her.