367: Meeting a fake wife

While the entire venue was boiling over due to the astonishing champion prize, Venerable Yan, the figure among the Three Giants with the most blazing aura, stepped forward.

His voice boomed like a massive bell, carrying an undeniable dominance that instantly suppressed all the clamor.

“The time has come! All contestants of Fifth Rank and above, immediately enter the first stage—the Soul Illusion Realm!”

Having spoken, he fiercely waved his crimson sleeve!

Boom!

Above the massive clearing in the center of the plaza, space suddenly twisted, and a gigantic, dark gray spatial vortex, easily a thousand feet in diameter, appeared out of thin air!

The vortex rotated slowly, its interior infinitely deep, emitting a strange fluctuation that made one's Soul tremble.

“Charge!”

“First stage, here I come!”

“Thirty years of arduous cultivation, all for today!”

The moment Venerable Yan's voice fell, countless Alchemists who had long been poised for action erupted like a long-suppressed volcano!

Figures transformed into streams of light of various colors, sweeping overwhelmingly towards the dark gray spatial vortex like locusts blotting out the sky!

The scene was utterly spectacular, resembling a meteor shower flowing in reverse!

Jiang Donghua turned and smiled faintly at Mu Qingxian beside him, giving an instruction.

“I'm going now. Just find a spot with a good view and wait for me.”

Mu Qingxian nodded heavily, her eyes filled with trust.

“Martial Uncle will surely achieve a resounding victory!”

Jiang Donghua said no more. His figure moved, but he did not rush forward as anxiously as the others.

Instead, he leisurely stepped into the air, unhurriedly mixing into the massive flow of people and heading towards the dark gray vortex.

The moment his body touched the edge of the vortex, the Sixth-Rank Alchemist badge on his chest, which he had only obtained yesterday and which represented the Pill Tower's certification, suddenly grew warm, emitting a strange Soul fluctuation that matched the vortex's frequency.

Buzz!

As if it were a permission granted by identity verification, the moment this fluctuation spread, the dark gray vortex's suction force on Jiang Donghua suddenly increased, easily drawing him inside.

“So that's it. This badge is the key to entering the Illusion Realm,” Jiang Donghua realized inwardly.

“No wonder the Pill Tower emphasized the need for certification; otherwise, one wouldn't even qualify to participate.”

Light and shadow rapidly shifted before his eyes. After a brief sensation of dizziness, his feet landed on solid ground.

However, the scene after he stabilized was one of absolute darkness.

It was not the darkness of night, but a true, pitch-black void, like thick ink spilled everywhere, where one couldn't see their own fingers.

Even with Jiang Donghua's eyesight, he couldn't discern the outline of his own raised hand!

Even stranger, this darkness seemed to swallow all light and sound. All external noise vanished completely the moment he entered, leaving only a chilling, deathly silence.

Furthermore, an invisible pressure, targeted specifically at the Soul, silently permeated from all directions, attempting to erode and confuse the intruder's mind.

“Soul Illusion Realm? It has some tricks.”

A slight smile curled Jiang Donghua's lips. Far from being panicked, he felt a flicker of interest.

If it were an ordinary Alchemist, even a Seventh Rank one, they would likely have to proceed cautiously here, fully mobilizing their Soul Power to resist the Illusion Realm's erosion while groping their way forward.

But who was Jiang Donghua?

“Spirit Realm Soul, activate!”

He shouted inwardly. That majestic, boundless Spirit Realm Soul Power, far exceeding common sense, erupted like a sleeping dragon suddenly awakened!

Buzz!

Centered around him, an invisible Soul storm swept out!

That dense, all-consuming darkness, under the impact of this terrifying Soul Power, rapidly melted and retreated like snow beneath the sun!

His vision was instantly restored—no, a Soul perception far clearer than physical sight covered a large area around him.

This so-called Soul Illusion Realm, in the face of his Spirit Realm Soul's absolute power, found its confusing and suppressive effects rendered practically useless!

“It seems I can save some effort on this first stage.”

Jiang Donghua released his Spirit Realm Soul Power, dispelling the surrounding darkness, and walked forward slowly.

He quickly realized that the pervasive dark gray gas not only obscured vision but also exerted a considerable suppressive effect on Soul Power.

However, for him, who had already reached the Spirit Realm, this suppression was like a breeze sweeping over a mountain—the effect was negligible.

His Soul perception could still easily cover an enormous range, making it feel as if he possessed countless invisible eyes within this Illusion Realm.

In his perception, the other Alchemists also trapped in this gray world were not having such an easy time.

Most of them were like headless flies, frantically fumbling and crashing into things in the darkness. Some were already completely lost in the illusion, attacking the air wildly, crying or laughing, making fools of themselves.

Furthermore, some Alchemists with relatively sharper Soul perception, the moment Jiang Donghua's vast Soul Power swept past, were terrified out of their wits like startled rabbits. They fled desperately in the opposite direction, cursing inwardly.

“Damn it! What terrible luck! Running into an old monster at the level of an Eighth-Grade Alchemist Grandmaster as soon as I entered?”

“This Soul Power is too terrifying! It's definitely the Spirit Realm! Run, get away from him!”

“If we get targeted by this kind of monster, or accidentally get drawn into his Soul domain, we won't even know how we died!”

Jiang Donghua couldn't be bothered with these frantically fleeing individuals.

He continued walking unhurriedly, like a monarch inspecting his territory. Wherever he passed, the gray mist automatically retreated, leaving a clear path behind him.

However, after he had walked for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the gray mist ahead suddenly churned and condensed into a graceful red figure that haunted his dreams.

That familiar face, the fiery red dress, those eyes carrying a mix of petulance and longing... Red Silk!

Jiang Donghua's heart nearly stopped beating at that moment!

How could the wife he was searching for appear here?

But the next moment, an extreme cold rationality poured over him like ice water, extinguishing the excitement and ecstasy that had instantly surged up.

Something was wrong!

Red Silk was not an Alchemist at all!

How could she appear at this Pill Gathering venue?!

Furthermore, although the aura was extremely well imitated, that subtle difference in the Soul origin could not escape the perception of a Spirit Realm Soul!

This was an illusion!

It was the most realistic trap, created by exploiting the deepest obsession and attachment in his heart!

Having figured this out, Jiang Donghua's gaze instantly turned cold as a blade, and a surge of anger at being profaned rose in his heart.

“Playing tricks! Disperse for me!”

He let out a low shout, not even using Dou Qi, but merely crushing the vast Spirit Realm Soul Power like an invisible giant hammer towards the phantom of Red Silk!

“Bang!”

There was no earth-shattering sound. That realistic phantom, capable of causing countless experts to succumb, shattered like a fragile bubble before the absolutely powerful Soul Power, without even causing a ripple, and reverted into invisible gray mist, dissipating into the air.

“Hmph, using illusions based on human desires to confuse the mind. This method is decent!”

Jiang Donghua snorted coldly, the chill in his eyes intensifying.

The Illusion Realm stage of the Pill Tower was indeed formidable, directly targeting the weaknesses of the human heart.

If his Soul realm hadn't been high enough and his will firm enough, he might truly have fallen for that trick just now.

After this incident, Jiang Donghua gained a clearer understanding of the Illusion Realm.

He held back no longer, fully spreading his Spirit Realm Soul Power like a magnificent sun. Wherever its light reached, all gloom and illusions completely vanished!

The Soul Illusion Realm, which originally required bitter struggle and constant vigilance, had turned into a smooth, straightforward path that he could see the end of!

“The Spirit Realm Soul is indeed profound. This first stage was surprisingly easy to pass.”

He shook his head, no longer delaying. His figure transformed into a streak of light, rushing along the clearest path revealed by his Soul perception towards the end of the Illusion Realm.

At this speed, it wouldn't take much time to clear the first stage.

Protected by the power of his Spirit Realm Soul, Jiang Donghua encountered almost no resistance within the Soul Illusion Realm.

After only a few more minutes, the pervasive, oppressive dark gray dense fog ahead began to thin and fade at a visible rate.

At the edge of his vision, a massive black hole, constantly twisting and rotating, emitting intense spatial fluctuations, slowly emerged.

Beyond the black hole, a strange aura belonging to another space could vaguely be sensed.

That must be the venue for the second stage, the Pill World!

Jiang Donghua's steps were composed. With a single step, he passed through the spatial passage.

The scene before his eyes suddenly opened up.

He found himself on a temporary platform forcibly constructed by powerful spatial energy.

The platform was small, suspended in nothingness, surrounded by shimmering spatial barriers, with solid light beneath his feet.

“Tsk tsk, the Pill Tower's spatial methods are truly extraordinary.”

Jiang Donghua praised inwardly.

To be able to utilize spatial energy to such a refined degree and construct such a stable transit point was definitely beyond the ability of ordinary experts.

At this moment, some people had already gathered on the platform, but the number was small, only a few dozen individuals.

Each of these people possessed a steady aura, sharp eyes, and Soul fluctuations far exceeding the average person. They were clearly the elites who had successfully, and quickly, passed through the first stage of the Soul Illusion Realm.

Among them were white-haired old men, imposing middle-aged individuals, and a few arrogant young people.

When Jiang Donghua's slightly younger figure stepped onto the platform, he immediately drew the attention of these dozens of gazes.

Most of these gazes carried scrutiny, curiosity, and a barely noticeable hint of wariness.

To be able to pass through the bizarre Soul Illusion Realm so quickly and reach this place meant they were certainly not mediocre!

Who among those present was not a famous Master Alchemist or Alchemy Grandmaster in the Central Plains and even across the entire continent?

The sudden appearance of such a young, yet unfamiliar face naturally put people on guard.

Many people began searching their memories, wondering when the Central Plains had produced such a young Alchemist genius.

Jiang Donghua ignored the gazes directed at him and surveyed the platform on his own.

His gaze paused in one corner.

A plain-looking middle-aged woman wearing ordinary gray clothes was sitting cross-legged there. Her aura was restrained, making her seem inconspicuous, but the ancient-styled badge on her chest, which emitted faint spatial fluctuations, indicated her identity as a core member of the Pill Tower, likely the supervisor or guide for this location.

Jiang Donghua casually found an empty spot and, like the others, sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes to rest his mind, and waited quietly.

Time passed minute by minute.

Figures continued to flash onto the platform, all contestants who had subsequently passed the first stage. However, the overall increase in numbers was slow, showing just how high the elimination rate of the Soul Illusion Realm was.

After a few more hours passed, the middle-aged Pill Tower woman, who had been sitting with her eyes closed like a stone statue, slowly opened her eyes.

Her gaze calmly swept over all the contestants on the platform. Her voice was not loud, yet it clearly entered everyone's ears.

“Congratulations to everyone for passing the first stage. This place is the transit point leading to the second stage, the Pill World.”

“The rules for the second stage are as follows: You will enter the Pill World. The Pill World is an independent space where our Pill Tower cultivates medicinal ingredients. It has its own rules and is not without danger. You must find the medicinal ingredients required on your respective scrolls within ten days.”

As she spoke, she waved her sleeve, and streams of light accurately flew toward every contestant present.

Jiang Donghua reached out and caught them, finding a jade slip and a silver stone.

The jade slip recorded the names and diagrams of three types of medicinal ingredients, while the silver stone emitted stable spatial fluctuations.

“This is a Spatial Stone.”

The middle-aged woman continued.

“Within ten days, whether or not you have collected all the ingredients, crushing this stone will automatically teleport you back to this platform. Those who fail to return on time or fail to collect the required ingredients will be eliminated.”

“Remember, fighting is not forbidden within the Pill World, and life and death are decided by fate.”

Once the rules were announced, a tense atmosphere immediately permeated the platform.

“Whoosh!”

“Whoosh!”

“Whoosh!”

Almost the instant the rules were announced, several figures impatiently shot out, rushing toward the spatial vortex at the end of the platform, which was clearly the exit. After quickly receiving their jade slips and Spatial Stones, they plunged in without looking back and disappeared.

Clearly, they wanted to seize the initiative.

Jiang Donghua, however, was in no hurry. He slowly stood up, checked the information on the medicinal ingredients in the jade slip, put away the Spatial Stone, and only then slowly stepped forward, following the flow of people toward the entrance to the Pill World.