Chapter 99: Newborn Canyon

Shen Duo and Feng Jun exchanged a look, then listened intently to the conversation of the rogue illusionists at the neighboring table.

After questioning the waiter who brought their wine, they learned that the Genesis Valley, located not far from Normans, was set to open in the near future.

For nearly a thousand years on the Shengmang Continent, the Genesis Valley and the Radiant Mountains had been known as the continent's twin wonders. This was not only because they were filled with natural treasures and rare, high-level phantom beasts, but also because both locations were perilous in the extreme.

It was said that thousands of years ago, many experts at the level of Spirit Illusionist and above had perished in these two places. To prevent further innocent casualties, the Four Great Families of the continent joined forces to seal off both the Genesis Valley and the Radiant Mountains.

At the same time, to avoid wasting the abundant cultivation resources within, a rule was established that they would open once every five years. During this period, anyone could enter these perilous yet infinitely tempting lands. The Four Great Families, the various academies, and the imperial families would dispatch experts to ensure everyone's safety. However, for safety's sake, even when the Genesis Valley and the Radiant Mountains were open, access was restricted to the outer perimeters; the depths of the valleys remained strictly off-limits.

No wonder there were so many people in the city of Normans; likely more than half of them had traveled from all over just to wait for the opening of the Genesis Valley.

Feng Jun's eyes gleamed, clearly harboring great anticipation for this Genesis Valley.

The two grabbed a quick bite at the tavern, browsed the auction house in Normans, and then headed straight for the city's Mercenary Guild.

Shen Duo first inquired about the Raging Flame Mercenary Group, learning that they had just been promoted to an A-rank group and were currently reorganizing in Kalbas. She then accepted an E-rank mercenary mission to deliver a message to Lorkadan City before leaving the Mercenary Guild with Feng Jun.

After wandering aimlessly around the city for a while longer, dusk began to fall, and Shen Duo and Feng Jun checked into a small inn. With the impending opening of the Genesis Valley, it seemed they would be staying in Normans for some time.

The next day, the two visited the tavern once more to gather information, confirming that the Genesis Valley would open in three days. Afterward, they went out together to purchase food and supplies.

Upon returning to the inn, Feng Jun mentioned that he could faintly feel the barrier to a higher level. He planned to enter closed-door cultivation to advance his rank and would not step outside until the Genesis Valley opened. Shen Duo agreed, secretly breathing a sigh of relief. Without Feng Jun trailing her all day, she finally had the opportunity to investigate the other plane.

That night, Shen Duo did not return to the inn. Instead, she took Lou Jingbai to a remote suburb on the outskirts of Normans.

Standing on high ground, the distant city of Normans looked like a sea of lights. The transparent protective barrier shimmered in the air, reflecting the city lights like ripples on water, creating a dreamlike illusion as if all the bustling prosperity before them were merely a mirage.

In the sky above Normans, night patrols riding flying phantom beasts passed by from time to time, maintaining order in the port city. Shen Duo took a deep breath of the cool, fresh night air, then closed her eyes and slowly opened the small, white-glowing scroll resting in her dantian. With a faint flash of light, Shen Duo materialized in the corresponding location on the alternate plane.

Before Shen Duo could even catch her breath, a suffocating pressure suddenly bore down on her, followed immediately by a sharp blade formed from condensed Spiritual Phantom Qi slicing directly toward her face.

Startled but not panicked, Shen Duo reacted instantly. In a flash, she drew her longsword from her storage ring, channeling azure sword qi into the blade to block the oncoming attack.

The fierce, illusory blade carried a pressure far greater than any physical weapon, bearing a thunderous, bloodthirsty aura that threatened to cleave its target in two the very next second.

It was too late to dodge. Shen Duo made a split-second decision to meet the powerful blow head-on.

A massive explosion shattered the silence of the outskirts, scaring away all the low-level magical beasts in the vicinity.

Shen Duo spat out a leaf that had flown into her mouth and cursed the heavens. She had chosen such a secluded spot, yet the moment she arrived, she was ambushed by some shameless expert! Was lying in wait the trendy thing to do on this plane?

Grumble though she did, Shen Duo dared not underestimate her opponent. As the choking dust cleared, the ground where she stood had been hollowed out into a crater spanning dozens of square meters. Her once clean, neat black illusionist robe was now torn and tattered, stained with patches of blood. Dust and grime smudged her pale face, leaving her in a thoroughly disheveled state.

Had she not already reached the rank of Sword King, that single strike would likely have sent her to her grave!

Shen Duo glared at the slender figure gradually taking shape behind the settling dust, her dark, clear eyes narrowing slightly.

Having traveled between two planes for the first time, Lou Jingbai was still immersed in wonder and delight when Shen Duo was suddenly attacked. Taken by surprise, he only breathed a long sigh of relief once he was certain her life was not in danger. Instantly reverting to his true form, he shielded Shen Duo, his narrow fox eyes flashing with rage and astonishment.

The figure shrouded in the dust froze for a moment upon seeing the five-tailed fire fox cloaked in flames. Then, a burst of wild, excited laughter rang out. "Oh? An illusionist too? What fantastic luck today!"

"Who are you?" Shen Duo asked, keeping a wary eye on the figure drawing closer through the darkness.

The slender black figure paused, letting out another peculiar laugh. "Shouldn't you first explain to me why you suddenly appeared out of thin air?"

The man's strength was like a bottomless black hole that Shen Duo could not fathom. As he drew nearer, she felt an unprecedented aura of danger closing in.

Right then, Lou Jingbai's voice sounded seriously in her mind, *Duo, this man is an Illusion Grandmaster!*

*What!*

Shen Duo's eyes widened in shock as a wave of helplessness and anger washed over her. Had it been a Sky Illusionist, she might have managed to put up a fight by pushing past her limits. But against an Illusion Grandmaster, she was utterly powerless. Wasn't this plane supposed to be dominated by swordsmen? How did such a freakish illusionist suddenly pop up, and an Illusion Grandmaster at that—a rank she had never even witnessed before? Since when did Illusion Grandmasters grow on trees? The heavens were truly playing with her!

*Don't worry, Duo, you still have me!* Lou Jingbai quickly comforted her, sensing her thoughts.

Shen Duo pushed aside her complaints, facing the formidable enemy without fear. If it really came to the worst, she could simply take Lou Jingbai and flee to the other plane; it wasn't as if this man could follow them there. With this trump card in hand, she felt much more at ease.

The figure opposite them seemed slightly surprised by how quickly Shen Duo regained her composure. In the dark night, the slender man's eyes gleamed as he stared at Shen Duo and the five-tailed fire fox shielding her, his entire being radiating an intense desire for battle.

The six-pointed Grandmaster star array beneath his feet flashed as bright as day, and in that instant, Shen Duo finally saw the man's face clearly.

*—*—*

[Draft Box: Care to guess if this newcomer is the male lead?]