The Art of Chaotic Divinity-Chapter 1180: The Queens Request
Xiang'er soon guided Ling Feng into a spacious palace hall. After a brief wait, the Illusion Heart Queen appeared on the main seat, her presence dreamlike and unreal.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Ling Feng immediately rose and bowed toward the Illusion Heart Queen.
He held a measure of respect and goodwill toward this queen.
At the very least, she was not one of those obstinate elders who clung to age and status.
The Illusion Heart Queen lifted her hand slightly, signaling for Ling Feng to relax. Her red lips parted as she spoke calmly.
"Young one, it seems you gained more than a simple trial within the Dream Pool."
"I was merely fortunate," Ling Feng replied with a faint smile. "I did gain a little."
"May I take a look?"
Her elegant eyes rested on him. Her tone carried neither warmth nor coldness, only composed curiosity.
When seen in private, the Illusion Heart Queen appeared far more solemn and graceful than the playful image she occasionally showed before others. Every movement she made carried the poise of royalty.
"Of course."
Ling Feng nodded and lifted his palm. Six inscriptions floated above his hand.
"Six Dream Illusion Rule inscriptions?"
The Illusion Heart Queen's pupils contracted. Although Ling Feng's inscriptions remained faint and incomplete, the Dream Illusion Rule it carried was unmistakably genuine.
Ling Feng dispersed the inscriptions. In truth, he had already comprehended six Dream Illusion Rule inscriptions while on the Nine Levels of Dream Illusion. When he later entered the Dream Pool itself, he had also gained insight into the ninth Dream Illusion Rule inscription.
Still, Ling Feng had long since learned to keep a few cards hidden. What he revealed now was enough.
Even those six incomplete inscriptions were enough to astonish the Illusion Heart Queen.
She herself had only mastered five. And hers, unlike Ling Feng's, were fully condensed and capable of formidable power!
It was with these Dream Illusion Rules that she, though only at the fourth level of the Human Emperor, could stand against Human Emperor of the fifth or even sixth level. That strength was the reason she could guard her territory in the Inner Sea.
At her side, Xiang'er could not help the twitch in her eyelids. She had trained under Illusion Heart Queen's guidance for ten years and had managed to comprehend only two inscriptions of the Dream Illusion Rule.
But Ling Feng had done it in less than an hour!
"It was pure luck!"
Ling Feng said with an awkward laugh. He rubbed his nose, a little regretful. If he had known the Queen would react like this, he would have shown only three inscriptions instead of six.
"There is no need for modesty," the Illusion Heart Queen replied with a smile. "Talent is still talent. I myself could only reach the eighth level of dream illusion when I was below the Human Emperor realm. In that alone, you have already surpassed me by far."
Ling Feng smiled politely, saying nothing more. He would rather stay humble.
With the Eye of the Emperor, almost any ability could be duplicated directly. If he still could not imprint a few inscriptions, he might as well gouge out those eyes and grind them underfoot!
Of course, the true nature of the Eye of the Emperor was not something he could speak of openly.
"Young one, I have a rather shameless request," said the Illusion Heart Queen as she gazed steadily at Ling Feng. "If you agree to my terms, I will allow you to use the Hourglass of Time for three days. You should understand that three days in there equals three years outside. The effect will be far greater than a single year!"
"A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring. Your Majesty has shown me great favor. Not to mention one request, even ten or eight, I would have no reason to refuse."
Ling Feng gave a fist-and-palm salute and laughed heartily.
"You are indeed a fine young man!"
The Illusion Heart Queen nodded slightly before continuing. "To speak frankly, despite years of cultivation, I have only comprehended five inscriptions of the Dream Illusion Rule. I hope you can share the method by which you condensed and circulated the sixth inscription."
"That's all?"
Ling Feng smiled. "Naturally, I have no objection. I learned these inscriptions from the Dream Pool itself, which belongs to Your Majesty. I cannot claim to teach anything. I am only returning what I received."
A faint smile curved the Illusion Heart Queen's lips. Most cultivators guarded their rule-based power inscriptions like priceless relics, yet Ling Feng's unreserved attitude was something she seldom saw.
"I was not mistaken about you."
Illusion Heart Queen said. "Since you are willing to help, I will not let you do so without reward. Besides granting you three days with the Hourglass of Time, I will also give you some of my own insights into illusion techniques. Study them together with the Nightmare Heart Technique you are cultivating. They should help you reach greater understanding."
As she finished, the Illusion Heart Queen raised her slender finger. A stream of energy shot from her fingertip, and a flood of information poured into Ling Feng's sea of mind.
"My thanks, Your Majesty!"
"There is no need for thanks. It is a fair exchange."
In a shimmer of blue light, Illusion Heart Queen's figure flickered. She appeared directly before Ling Feng and rested a hand lightly on his shoulder.
The next moment, light enveloped them both, and the palace vanished from sight.
When Ling Feng's vision cleared again, he found himself in a quiet chamber.
"This is my place of meditation," said the Illusion Heart Queen. "No one will disturb us here."
The Illusion Heart Queen sat cross-legged across from Ling Feng. It was the first time she had ever been this near to a man, and a soft flush colored her delicate face.
In truth, she was not the real Illusion Heart Queen, but a maiden who had never known worldly experience.
Ling Feng caught a trace of her scent, soft and faint like orchids and musk. A strange feeling stirred in his chest. He quickly shook his head to chase it away.
How could he possibly be attracted to an "older woman"? The thought was absurd.
His blood was simply too vigorous!
He coughed lightly and forced himself to calm down. "Your Majesty, I have never tried to help another condense rule inscriptions before. But I have an idea. I can imprint the inscriptions directly into your sea of mind. Then you can study them at your own pace and comprehend them more easily."
"Oh?"
The Illusion Heart Queen looked at him in surprise. "Your understanding of spiritual consciousness techniques has already reached that level?"
"I have merely had the guidance of a great teacher and some fortunate opportunities," Ling Feng replied with a modest smile. "If Your Majesty trusts me, you may open your sea of mind. I will imprint the rule inscriptions there. It will save you both time and effort."
"Open my sea of mind?"
The Illusion Heart Queen studied him carefully. Every cultivator knew that the sea of mind was the most sacred and vulnerable place within. It was something no one opened to outsiders unless there was absolute trust.
Even the Tianbai Emperor's spiritual manifestation, when sending his spiritual manifestation, had warned Ling Feng repeatedly that entering another's sea of mind was a taboo among those who cultivated the spirit.
"If Your Majesty is unwilling, then I have said nothing." Ling Feng quickly added, "But please rest assured, I have no ill intentions. I will not pry into any of your secrets!"
"Hehe. When you use someone, do not doubt them. When you doubt them, do not use them!"
The Illusion Heart Queen bit her lip and said in a steady voice, "Go ahead. I will allow it!"
