214: Chapter 213 Illusion (Part 3)

Ao Zhan's method of breaking the illusion was even more direct.

He stood within the white mist, his entire body surrounded by a faint blue light of ice crystals.

That light congealed into a thick layer of ice armor, enveloping his entire person within it.

Around him, countless illusory figures were roaring and pouncing frantically.

Those figures included opponents he had killed, women he had failed, and companions he had betrayed—all the debts he owed had turned into malevolent ghosts at this moment, seeking his life.

Ao Zhan remained expressionless.

He simply raised his right hand and gave a light squeeze.

The layer of ice armor around his body suddenly exploded!

In the instant it exploded, countless fine ice crystals splashed in all directions!

Wherever those ice crystals passed, every illusory figure was completely frozen!

They maintained their pouncing postures, turning into ice sculptures frozen in place.

Ao Zhan walked between those ice sculptures; with every step he took, an ice sculpture shattered into dust.

He walked forward step by step over the crushed ice, and no illusion could hinder him for even half a step.

—

Zhao Yuanjing's situation was much more wretched.

His Divine Soul was already injured, and now, facing the erosion of the illusion, he found it even harder to withstand.

Within the surrounding white mist, countless figures were pouncing toward him!

Those figures included fellow disciples he had framed, Loose Cultivators he had oppressed, and women he had failed—all the evils he had committed had now turned into nightmares, frantically tearing at his Divine Soul!

He desperately circulated the water repelling pearl, attempting to use its water-repelling power to isolate those illusions.

But the power of the water repelling pearl could only defend against physical attacks; it had very little effect against erosion at the Divine Soul level.

Those figures passed through the water membrane formed by the water repelling pearl and pounced directly into the depths of his Sea of Consciousness!

His face contorted.

His body trembled.

Clutching his head, he let out a shrill, miserable scream:

"Get away—!!! Everyone get away from me—!!!"

No one responded to him.

Only those illusory figures were frantically tearing and devouring within his Sea of Consciousness.

He struggled to walk forward, every step incredibly difficult.

With every step, one figure would dissipate, only for even more figures to swarm in.

His pace grew slower and slower.

Finally, he stopped in place, unable to take another step.

—

Song Hu's method of breaking the illusion was simple and crude.

Carrying that massive iron hammer, he charged recklessly through the white mist.

No matter what those illusory figures were, he would simply smash them with his hammer.

"Boom!"

A figure exploded.

"Boom!"

Another figure exploded.

He just kept smashing hammer after hammer, forcefully carving out a path.

As he smashed, he cursed:

"Damn it! You dare block my way! I'll smash you to death!"

—

Liu Ningshuang's breaking of the illusion was much more difficult.

She stood in the white mist, looking at the illusory figure before her, her eyes turning red.

That was her deceased younger brother.

The little boy who had voluntarily given up his chance to Cultivate so that she could, only to die in an accident later.

"Sister..." the little boy's voice was tender, "I miss you..."

Liu Ningshuang bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes.

But she did not stop.

She took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the twin swords in her hands.

"Sister misses you too," her voice was raspy, "but I cannot stay here."

"Sister still has a road to walk."

She closed her eyes and struck with both swords!

As the sword light flashed, that illusory figure dissipated into the white mist.

She opened her eyes, and tears finally fell.

But she did not stop.

She wiped away her tears and continued walking forward.

—

Huo Qingfeng stood within the white mist, his body surrounded by a faint green light.

Around him, countless figures were pouncing frantically.

But he simply stood still, motionless.

When those figures pounced within three feet of him, they would automatically dissipate, as if they had never existed.

His gaze was as calm as water.

The corners of his mouth even held a faint smile.

"An illusion..." he murmured softly, "quite interesting."

He raised his right hand and gave a light wave.

A green sword light shot out from his fingertip, sweeping across!

Wherever the sword light passed, all illusions completely dissipated!

He walked forward step by step through the Void Realm, as if taking a leisurely stroll in a courtyard.

—

Deep within the illusion zone, Jiang Hanzhou had already slashed through his ninth illusion.

His face was slightly pale, and fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead.

Slashing through nine illusions in succession required consuming the power of his Heart Blade for each one, and his Divine Soul was already somewhat fatigued.

But he did not stop.

Because ahead, the white mist was gradually thinning.

Through the thinning white mist, a massive, dilapidated palace could be vaguely seen standing silently.

The Dragon Palace Ruins.

He had finally broken through the illusion zone.

He took a deep breath, quickened his pace, and sped toward that palace.

Behind him, the white mist continued to churn.

Within the white mist, countless figures could be vaguely seen—some struggling, some roaring, some weeping in despair.

Those were the people who had failed to break through the illusion.

Their Dragon Gate Trial ended here.

Jiang Hanzhou did not look back.

He simply gripped his tiger soul saber and sped toward the palace that was drawing closer and closer.

Ahead, the silhouette of the Dragon Palace Ruins became clearer and clearer.

It was a palace complex spanning thousands of feet; massive coral palaces had collapsed on the seabed, broken coiled-dragon pillars floated in the Void Realm, and tattered debris drifted slowly in the undercurrents.

In the center of the palace complex was a main hall a hundred feet high.

On the lintel of the main hall, three ancient characters were inscribed—

"Yuelong Hall."

Those three characters shimmered with a faint golden light in the dark seabed, and within that light was an indescribable pressure.

Jiang Hanzhou stared at those three characters, a burning light flashing in his eyes.

Yuelong Hall.

Leap over the dragon gate to enter the inner sect.

He had finally made it here.

But just then—

A cold voice came from ahead:

"Halt."

Jiang Hanzhou stopped and looked up.

A hundred feet ahead, a figure stood proudly.

That figure wore mysterious black battle armor, his entire body surrounded by a faint blue light of ice crystals. His face was cold and stern, his thick eyebrows like swords, and his tiger-like eyes contained majesty as he stared coldly at him.

Ao Zhan.

The number one person of the Heavenly Sword Peak Outer Sect.

Behind him, the doors of the Yuelong Hall were already clearly visible.

Jiang Hanzhou looked at him and was silent for a moment.

Then, he smiled.

The smile was faint, yet it carried an indescribable meaning.

"Senior Brother Ao, what are your instructions?"

Ao Zhan looked at him, his gaze lingering on him for a long time.

In that gaze, there was scrutiny, curiosity, and also a faint—Battle Intent.

"Being able to walk to this point is not bad," his voice was ice-cold, "but it ends here."

He raised his right hand.

At his palm, a faint blue longsword quietly emerged.

The sword was entirely transparent, as if cast from ice crystals, and bone-chilling coldness flowed over the blade.

xuan bing sword.

A Heaven Rank Medium Grade divine weapon, Ao Zhan's famous Sharp Weapon.

"Of the thirty spots, only the last one remains." Ao Zhan looked at him and said word by word, "Do you want it?"

"Defeat me."