102: Physicians use acupuncture to calm the mind and dispel illusions, revealing supernatural powers (Part 1)

The golden light of the Eye of Delusion Breaking slowly receded, and Lin Zhou's eyes returned to their profound depth. However, a strong sense of dizziness and mental exhaustion followed. Forcibly activating a skill that was not yet fully mature to pierce through layers of illusory barriers placed a mental burden on him far exceeding his imagination. His face was slightly pale, and his body swayed, but Su Yueyao, who had been watching him, quickly supported him.

"How are you?" Su Yueyao's clear, cold voice carried a hint of imperceptible concern, as Moonlight Power gently flowed into Lin Zhou's body, nourishing his depleted Mental Energy.

"I'm fine, just a bit exhausted." Lin Zhou steadied himself, took a deep breath, and the Dragon Vein Spiritual Qi spontaneously circulated, rapidly replenishing his consumption. "Thank you."

At this moment, the battlefield situation had drastically changed.

As the illusory mist dispersed, the succubi lost their greatest reliance, their true forms exposed in broad daylight. Although their individual strength was not weak, especially the Succubus Queen's personal guards, whose close-combat abilities were quite outstanding, without the cover of illusions, they were immediately put on the defensive against Lei Huang's Thunder Giant's violent lightning, Yan Li's Phoenix's sky-burning flames, and Lin Zhou's Hundred Schools Kin's precise strikes.

Lei Huang finally vented his pent-up anger. The Thunder Giant swung its warhammer, and thick bolts of lightning, like thunder Dragons, surged towards the succubus horde, making them shriek repeatedly and throwing their formation into disarray.

Yan Li's Phoenix let out a clear, long cry, its wings scattering a sky full of fiery rain, scorching the succubi who tried to regroup or cast small-scale illusions.

Elwin commanded the Literary Heart Elves to suppress them remotely with Vast Righteous Qi, disrupting their spirits; Bronzebeard's Tiangong Dwarves' ballistae specifically targeted the Succubus Queen's personal guards who tried to ascend or charge; and Snik's Law Fishmen maintained a field of order, compressing the succubi's movement space.

Huanmeng Academy's offensive seemed to have been contained.

However, Lin Zhou frowned slightly, feeling little relief. The Eye of Delusion Breaking consumed a great deal and could not be used frequently, and Thousand Illusions, as a Great Master of illusions, surely had more tricks up his sleeve. More importantly, he could feel that although Zhao Hao's kin had been forcibly recalled, his spirit was severely wounded and he would not be able to recover his combat strength in a short time. With a team member down, their sustained combat capability had decreased.

Indeed, just as the succubus army was retreating in defeat, seemingly routed, Thousand Illusions, who had been hidden deep within the stone forest and had not truly appeared, finally spoke. His voice no longer carried the previous playfulness, but became ethereal and elusive, as if coming from every stone pillar in all directions:

"Very good... excellent! To be able to see through my 'Thousand Illusions Maze'... Lin Zhou, you truly didn't disappoint me."

"But, is the Dao of Illusions only about concealment and deception?"

"True illusion strikes directly at the Soul, stirring your deepest desires and fears... making you sink into the dream you've woven yourself!"

Before his words finished, a spiritual fluctuation, completely different from before, spread silently like mercury spilling across the ground! This power was not aimed at sight or hearing, but directly at deeper emotions and the subconscious!

"Second Stage – Seven Emotions and Six Desires Illusion Heart Formation! Rise!"

In an instant, Lei Huang, Yan Li, Su Yueyao, and even Lin Zhou, who was rapidly recovering, felt their minds suddenly waver!

Before Lei Huang's eyes was no longer the enemy, but the long-desired scene of him honorably defeating his Genius older brother in the Family Grand Competition! The joy and pride of that victory were so real that he couldn't help but want to roar to the sky, his mind almost completely immersed in it, and his external defenses and attacks instantly stagnated.

Yan Li saw her fallen mother (the Phoenix Race has a Nirvana Legacy, but it is not without regrets) smiling and walking towards her, opening her arms. That warm embrace moistened her eyes, and she almost wanted to abandon everything and rush into it.

The vision Su Yueyao saw was the most peculiar; it wasn't a specific image, but an ultimate tranquility and Perfection, as if merging with the Taiyin Star, transcending the mortal world, free from all attachments. A Concept of great freedom and uninhibitedness attracted her to let go of all obsessions and indulge in this eternal serenity.

Even Lin Zhou was affected! He seemed to see the Hundred Schools Temple completely perfected, the river of civilization flowing endlessly, himself seated high on a Divine Throne, worshipped by all realms, Su Yueyao by his side, and the Human Race standing at the pinnacle of the Universe because of him... It was a vision of ultimate glory, full of temptation, attempting to shake his mindset of adhering to the present and being down-to-earth!

This "Seven Emotions and Six Desires Illusion Heart Formation" was even more dangerous than the previous illusions! It didn't directly create false images, but rather stirred the strongest emotions or desires within the affected person, causing them to weave their own "reality" that best suited their heart, thus disintegrating their will from within! Unless one's mind was as firm as a rock, or they possessed special methods, it would be extremely difficult to break free!

"Not good!" The Fire of Civilization in Lin Zhou's Sea of Consciousness violently swayed, forcefully incinerating the glorious illusion, and his consciousness returned to clarity. But he saw his teammates beside him had already fallen victim!

Lei Huang's Thunder Giant stood still, a captivated smile on its face; Yan Li's Phoenix retracted its flames, its eyes glazed over; although Su Yueyao still had Moonlight Power protecting her body, her eyes were vacant, clearly her mind had been drawn by that "transcendent Concept," losing perception of the outside world.

The situation, which had just been turned around, instantly took a sharp turn for the worse! And this time, they were directly breached from within!

"Hahahaha! Sink! Is eternal slumber in your most desired dream not more wonderful than a cold victory?" Thousand Illusions' triumphant laughter abruptly ended, replaced by utter shock and astonishment! "My Seven Emotions and Six Desires Illusion Heart Formation... was actually broken?! What kind of power was that?!" The remaining succubi took the opportunity to regroup, and led by the Succubus Queen, began to close in on the Cloud City group, who had lost their ability to resist! Their faces bore cruel and seductive smiles, their Whips of Agony already raised, and Soul Sucking poised to strike!

In this critical moment, Lin Zhou's mind raced. The Eye of Delusion Breaking was for external illusions, and its effect on an illusion array that stirred inner desires would be greatly diminished. Moreover, his Mental Energy had not fully recovered, and forcibly using it might backfire. The Vast Righteous Qi of the School of Confucianism could defend but not attack, and the will of the School of Military was too overbearing, potentially harming his teammates' minds... "Inner confusion, like a blocked mind... requires awakening the spirit and opening the senses, stabilizing the Divine Soul!" A thought flashed through his mind like lightning—the School of Medicine!

The School of Medicine not only heals the body but also the mind! The "Huangdi Neijing" states: "If the spirit does not advance, and the will is not governed, then the illness cannot be cured." For this state of confused mind and restless Soul, it was precisely the right treatment!

His consciousness instantly connected with the light cluster representing the School of Medicine's philosophy in the Temple of Civilization. Unlike the sharp edge of the School of Military or the uprightness of the School of Confucianism, the School of Medicine's light cluster emitted a gentle, inclusive, and vibrant emerald green light, containing the supreme profound principles of regulating Yin and Yang, dispelling evil, and supporting the righteous.

"With Spiritual Qi as needles, and Divine Thought as the guide, stimulating Acupoints to connect with the spirit, stabilizing the Soul and calming the mind!"

Lin Zhou was enlightened, combining his precise control over Divine Power and his understanding of the life structure of his kin. A new, embryonic auxiliary Divine Ability based on the School of Medicine's theories quickly took shape!

He raised his hands virtually, his internal Divine Power and Fire of Civilization intertwined, mixed with Dragon Vein Spiritual Qi and the School of Medicine's unique "Healing Vitality," condensing into dozens of fine, hair-like, softly glowing emerald green needles at his fingertips—Spiritual Qi Acupuncture!

Skill Construction: Lingshu Soul Stabilizing Needles (School of Medicine Auxiliary Divine Ability - Original Creation)

Effect: Condenses pure Spiritual Qi into spiritual needle-auras, stimulating specific Divine Soul Acupoints (a virtual Concept, acting on the spirit body) to achieve the effects of [Clear Mind and Bright Eyes] (greatly increasing illusion resistance, seeing through falsehoods), [Calm Spirit and Stable Soul] (stabilizing the spirit, expelling negative emotions), and [Activate Potential] (briefly increasing mental focus and reaction speed).

Consumption: Moderate Divine Power and Mental Energy, requires precise grasp of the target's mental state, extremely high demands for needle application.

Range: Single target, or small-scale group (difficulty increases).

"Go!"

Lin Zhou's eyes sharpened, and he flicked his fingertips!

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!"

Dozens of emerald green spiritual needles, as if alive, traced arcane trajectories and shot with unparalleled precision towards Lei Huang, Yan Li, Su Yueyao, who were trapped in the illusion, as well as their core kin hero units!

The spiritual needles silently merged into their glabella (the position of the ancestral 竅 in the mental projection).

The effect was immediate!

Lei Huang shivered, the captivated illusion in his eyes shattering like a reflection in a mirror. He violently shook his head, saw the Succubus Queen's personal guards almost upon him, broke out in a cold sweat, and roared, "That was close! Thank you, Brother Lin!" His Thunder Domain instantly reactivated, and violent lightning blasted back the approaching enemies!

Yan Li also awoke from her mother's warm "embrace," a hint of lingering fear and determination flashing in her beautiful eyes. Phoenix flames surged skyward, more condensed and focused than before!

Su Yueyao's vacant eyes regained their luster, and the flow of Moonlight Power became even more harmonious and free. She looked at Lin Zhou and nodded slightly, everything understood without words. She felt her mind was clearer than ever before, and her control over Moonlight Power seemed to have advanced a step further.

Even their kin hero units, affected by the aftershocks of the Lingshu Soul Stabilizing Needles, broke free from various illusions and rapidly recovered their combat power!

Yuncheng No. 1 High School's defense line, on the verge of collapse, was miraculously pulled back by Lin Zhou with his wondrous School of Medicine Divine Ability!

"What?! How is this possible?!" Thousand Illusions' triumphant laughter abruptly ceased, replaced by immense shock and bewilderment! "My Seven Emotions and Six Desires Illusion Heart Formation... was actually broken?! What kind of power was that?!"

He could clearly feel that the mental fluctuations of the several opponents, which had been like flickering candles in the wind, filled with various desires and emotions, rapidly became stable, clear, and resilient after those strange green spiritual needles entered! As if they had been cleansed by a vital force!

This method was unheard of! It was neither a crude mental shock nor a simple purifying light, but a more subtle, akin to... a method of treatment and regulation?!

Inside and outside the battlefield, there was an uproar once again because of Lin Zhou's unexpected method!

"Needles? He used needles to break the illusion?"

"Those aren't ordinary needles! They are spiritual needles condensed from Divine Power! They possess a kind of... vital force!"

"Is it a healing Divine Ability? No! How can a healing Divine Ability break illusions?"

"It's Lin Zhou! He used a new ability again! How many trump cards does the Hundred Schools Divine Domain still have that we don't know about?!"