’I have to admit, this Illusion Realm is pretty badass. It can even reflect events from before my soul transmigrated.’
’I almost fell for it.’
’If I’d had even the slightest attachment to my past life, I would have been trapped inside.’
"Who dares to trespass in the Holy Spirit Celestial Palace! Kill!"
Just as Su Mo was marveling at this, a thunderous shout rang in his ears, and a group of Golden Armored Soldiers surged out from the darkness.
These Golden Armored Soldiers had stern, expressionless faces. A thick, murderous aura and the stench of blood emanated from them—the clear signs of battle-hardened veterans.
Once given an order, such veterans would charge fearlessly until their last breath.
’Huh? Why is there a group of veterans here?’
Su Mo stared at the Golden Armored Soldiers, his face etched with surprise.
There were at least a hundred of them, all at the Martial Monarch Level. If they joined forces, they could even kill a Martial King Powerhouse.
However, Su Mo quickly realized something was off.
When his Soul Power swept over them, the seemingly divine Golden Armored Soldiers were revealed to be nothing but skeletons on the verge of collapsing.
’What a powerful Illusion Realm!’
Su Mo marveled, then swaggered straight toward the Golden Armored Soldiers.
’Since it’s an illusion, there’s no need to fight.’
CLATTER!
As Su Mo passed through the Golden Armored Soldiers, they immediately reverted to their true skeletal forms and clattered to the ground in a heap.
Seeing this, Su Mo couldn’t help but look back with a smile.
’Just as I thought. An illusion.’
「Somewhere in the Holy Spirit Secret Realm.」
Having just finished his negotiations with the Ink Flood Dragon, the Saint Spirit Manor Master was preparing to leave the Holy Spirit Secret Realm when he suddenly cried out in shock, "That person... he passed through the Illusion Array completely unscathed?"
"What? That person passed through the Illusion Array?"
"That’s impossible!"
"Manor Master, could you be mistaken? That Illusion Array is incredibly insidious. How could anyone possibly pass through on their first try?"
"Exactly! Even if he’s powerful, there’s no way he could have emerged completely unscathed!"
Everyone was horrified.
The Saint Spirit Manor Master trembled as he spoke. "There’s no mistake. I left a Residual Soul in the Illusion Array, which allows me to sense everything that happens inside. That person truly did pass through completely unharmed."
"This..."
Everyone was struck dumb with astonishment.
Fairy Jinghong asked curiously, "Is this Illusion Array you all are talking about really so treacherous?"
"Treacherous doesn’t even begin to cover it," the Saint Spirit Manor Master lamented.
Li Nan said gravely, "Fairy Jinghong, you may not know this, but the Illusion Array has two stages, and both are exceptionally lethal."
"Oh?"
Fairy Jinghong’s curiosity was piqued.
Li Nan continued to explain, "In the first stage, it reflects every regret you’ve had in your life. It then manifests these scenarios before you, offering you a chance to make up for those past regrets. What would you do?"
"I... I suppose I would try to remedy them," Fairy Jinghong said hesitantly.
Li Nan nodded. "Any normal person would choose to do so—to try again and leave no regrets. But that’s exactly how you fall for the trap. The Illusion Realm will give you chance after chance, only to shatter your hopes each time, until your spirit breaks completely."
HISS...
Fairy Jinghong drew in a sharp breath.
’What a terrifying Illusion Realm.’
’It actually knows how to prey on the human heart.’
Li Nan continued, "The second stage is just as terrifying. You’ll find yourself facing an opponent you can never defeat. You’ll try to flee, but you’ll never be able to escape. In the end, you either collapse from despair or die from exhaustion."
"That is indeed the case!"
Fairy Jinghong nodded gravely.
’Many who enter the first stage become hopelessly trapped. Even if they manage to see through the illusion, they are then hunted by an unbeatable foe, eventually dying of utter exhaustion.’
Fairy Jinghong asked, "Is there no way to break the array, then?"
Li Nan shook his head. "Everyone’s past regrets are different, so the resulting illusions are unique to them. Naturally, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. You can only rely on your own strength and conviction to break through."
"I... see," Fairy Jinghong said with a sigh of resignation.
’I was thinking of challenging the Illusion Array to temper my will, but now... I’d better not.’
’It wouldn’t be worth it if I ended up dying in there.’
Just then, the Middle-aged Steward suddenly asked, "Manor Master, how long did it take that person to pass through the Illusion Array?"
"Two seconds!" the Saint Spirit Manor Master replied, holding up two fingers.
What?
Two seconds?
Everyone was dumbfounded.
In the past, they had to undergo a full month of cleansing baths and meditation, making every possible preparation before they even dared to set foot in the Illusion Array.
Even then, it would take them over twenty days to overcome the Illusion Array.
Not even their Manor Master was an exception.
And yet... this person only took two seconds?
Li Nan shook his head. "Impossible. Absolutely impossible! Manor Master, you must be mistaken."
"Right, the Manor Master has to be mistaken."
The crowd looked at the Saint Spirit Manor Master doubtfully.
The Saint Spirit Manor Master retorted, "How much time has passed since I coughed up blood?"
"About three minutes."
"Exactly. Right after you coughed up blood, the Ink Flood Dragon arrived to negotiate. Three minutes, at most," the crowd said with conviction.
The Saint Spirit Manor Master said, "That proves it, then. The barrier array I set up is exactly a three-minute journey from the Illusion Array."
Instantly, everyone froze.
’So it really was two seconds.’
’This is unreal!’
’How in the world did he do it?’
Just as they were reeling from the shock, the Saint Spirit Manor Master suddenly froze.
Li Nan asked, "Manor Master, what’s wrong now?"
The Saint Spirit Manor Master answered, "The Illusion Array... has been destroyed."
"What?"
"Could he have found the core of the Illusion Array?"
"Excellent! Now when we go to collect Holy Spirit Spring Water, we won’t have to go through that bullshit Illusion Array anymore. That thing was absolute torture!"
Everyone leaped up in excitement.
They had been tormented by the Illusion Array for years.
The Saint Spirit Manor Master was also thrilled, grinning from ear to ear.
Every time they tried to acquire the Holy Spirit Spring Water, they would lose more than half of their experts. This was why their Holy Spirit Manor had been unable to become the strongest power in the Northern Profound Domain.
Now, they finally no longer had to worry about the Illusion Array.
「In the Holy Spirit Celestial Palace.」
Su Mo had no idea that the Illusion Array would only trigger twice, nor had he, as the others guessed, found its so-called core.
He was, however, growing rather annoyed.
The Holy Spirit Spring Water was right before his eyes, yet he was still unable to reach it, forced to waste time dealing with this bullshit illusion.
’Hmph. You dare stand in my way? Watch me tear you apart.’
Su Mo snorted, raised his hand, and struck out with his palm.
True Dragon Venerable Fist.
BOOM!
With a tremendous bang, half of the Holy Spirit Celestial Palace collapsed, and the supposed illusion never reappeared.
Su Mo strode forward.
Soon, he arrived before a massive spring. A dozen or so drops of Spiritual Liquid hovered above it, emitting an exhilarating aura.
Su Mo exclaimed in delight, "Holy Spirit Spring Water. I’ve finally found you."