177: Chapter 177, Second Level: Illusory Realm for Refining the Heart

The altar ruins grew distant behind them, eventually vanishing into the gray mist.

Lin Fan's group moved toward the depths of the Ancient Road, walking on an ancient path paved with bluestone. Countless stone tablets stood on both sides of the road, carved with names of those who entered the Tongtian Ancient Road over the past ten thousand years but never made it out.

"The Jiang Family's ancient records state that the second layer of the Tongtian Ancient Road is called the 'Heart Illusion Realm'," Jiang Yun said as they walked. "Those who enter will fall into various illusions that test their true heart. If one's will is not firm, they will sink into it forever."

Lin Fan nodded.

This kind of test was nothing to him. The Eternal Annihilation Body itself had the ability to suppress the mind and see through falsehoods. However, he looked back at the thirty-odd Prodigies behind him; most of them likely wouldn't pass this trial.

"We've reached the entrance to the second layer."

Ahead, a massive light gate spanned across the center of the Ancient Road. The gate was light blue, rippling slightly like water, and a world shrouded in mist was faintly visible behind it.

Lin Fan stopped and turned to the crowd: "The test of the second layer is an illusion. After entering, we will be separated. What you can do is hold onto your true heart, remember who you are, and remember why you came."

Everyone looked solemn and nodded one after another.

Lin Fan looked at Jiang Yun: "Brother Jiang, I'll leave these people to you. Take out as many as you can, but don't force it."

Jiang Yun cupped his fists: "Rest assured, Brother Lin Fan, I will do my best."

Lin Fan said no more, exchanged a glance with Su Zhiqing, and stepped into the light gate side by side.

His vision blurred, and he found himself standing on soft grass.

Lin Fan looked around; the sun was warm, birds sang, and flowers were fragrant. In the distance were green mountains and clear waters, and nearby was a gurgling stream. It was completely different from the gray wasteland of the first layer, looking like a paradise. But he knew this was an illusion.

In the perception of the Eternal Annihilation Body, this world was filled with inconsistencies. The flowers and grass lacked vitality, the birdsong had no rhythm, and even the sunlight carried a hint of fake warmth.

"Su Zhiqing?" he called out.

No response.

As expected, they were separated.

Lin Fan stepped forward, preparing to find the exit.

But after just a few steps, a figure suddenly appeared ahead.

It was a woman wearing a moon-white dress, with a clear face and a gentle smile in her eyes.

"Lin Fan, you're finally here."

Lin Fan's pupils constricted slightly.

That was Xia Qingyue.

No, that wasn't right. Xia Qingyue was still in the Human Realm and couldn't possibly appear here.

"An illusion," he said flatly.

"An illusion?" The "Xia Qingyue" opposite him smiled. "You think I'm an illusion, but I feel that I am real."

She walked closer, reaching out to touch Lin Fan's cheek.

Lin Fan did not dodge, letting her fingers fall on his face.

Warm, soft, with a realistic touch.

"Can you feel it?" she whispered. "This is real. I am your Heart Demon, and also the truest desire in the depths of your heart."

Lin Fan remained silent.

"You have been fighting, getting stronger, and living for others," she said. "Have you ever thought about stopping? Stay here with me in this paradise; you won't have to face any more schemes, slaughter, or life and death."

"Enough," Lin Fan interrupted her.

He raised his hand and grabbed her wrist.

Gray Qi surged, and "Xia Qingyue's" figure began to twist and dissipate.

"I fight not to escape," he said. "But to protect."

"Xia Qingyue" looked at him, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.

Then, she completely dissipated.

Lin Fan withdrew his hand and continued forward.

Elsewhere, Su Zhiqing stood in a snowy plain.

The cold wind was biting, and snow fell heavily. She wore thin clothes but didn't feel cold because she knew it was an illusion.

Ahead stood a woman.

The woman looked exactly like her but was older, with kindness and gentleness in her eyes.

"Zhiqing," the woman whispered. "I am your mother."

Su Zhiqing's hand holding the sword tightened slightly.

"Are you really Mother?"

"Yes." The woman approached. "Back then, I died from self-detonation, and a wisp of my remnant soul drifted into the Ancient Road. I've been waiting for you here for ten thousand years."

She reached out, wanting to stroke Su Zhiqing's face.

Su Zhiqing did not dodge.

But the moment the woman's fingertips touched her cheek, she drew her sword.

A sword light flashed, and the woman's figure shattered.

"You aren't," Su Zhiqing said flatly. "I remember my mother's aura."

The shattered figure didn't dissipate but turned into countless light spots, reconsolidating into a figure before her.

This time, it was an old man.

The Lord of the Glazed Immortal Domain.

"Zhiqing, are you going to kill even your Revered Master?"

Su Zhiqing remained silent.

"I raised you for a thousand years, taught you swordsmanship, and protected you," the old man said. "Is this how you repay me?"

Su Zhiqing looked at him for a long time before saying:

"Revered Master would not appear here. He knows I came to the Ancient Road and would only tell me to be careful, not stop me."

The sword light flashed again.

The old man dissipated.

The surrounding snowy plain also began to twist and collapse.

Su Zhiqing stood with her sword, her gaze calm.

She knew she had passed the test of the second layer.

Lin Fan walked through the illusion, encountering countless visions along the way.

There was the Clan Leader, questioning why he insisted on entering the Ancient Road despite the Family's safety; there was Lin Pojun, covered in blood and begging for his life; there were the Three Hundred Battle Guards, all kneeling and asking him to go home; there were even the Emperor and the Great Emperor of Annihilation, asking if he was prepared to face Xu.

Every one of them was incredibly real, each striking at the most vulnerable parts of his heart.

But he did not stop or hesitate.

He knew who he was and why he had come.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, a light gate finally appeared ahead.

That was the exit of the second layer.

Just as Lin Fan was about to step in, a voice suddenly came from behind:

"Lin Fan."

He stopped and looked back.

A woman stood behind him.

It wasn't Xia Qingyue, nor Su Zhiqing, nor anyone he knew.

The woman wore a black dress, her long hair cascading like a waterfall. Her face was exquisite, but her eyes had no pupils, only two pools of deep darkness.

"You don't know me," she said. "But I know you."

Lin Fan frowned slightly: "You are—"

"I am Xu," the woman smiled. "Or rather, a projection left here by Xu."

Lin Fan's gaze narrowed.

"No need to be nervous," Xu's projection said. "I just came to see what the person who inherited their path after ten thousand years actually looks like."

She looked Lin Fan up and down, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes: "Not bad. Stronger than I imagined."

Lin Fan said flatly: "Have you seen enough?"

"Enough." Xu's projection nodded. "I'll wait for you on the ninth layer. I hope by then, you can still be as confident as you are now."

Her figure began to dissipate.

At the last moment, she suddenly said: "By the way, I'll tell you one thing—the poison in the Gold Envoy's body has already taken effect."

Lin Fan's expression changed slightly.

Xu's projection completely dissipated.

Lin Fan turned and rushed into the light gate.

At the exit of the second layer, Jiang Yun and the others had already gathered.

Su Zhiqing stood in the crowd. Seeing him come out, she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

But Lin Fan didn't stop, heading straight for the Gold Envoy who was tied up nearby.

The Gold Envoy was curled up on the ground, trembling all over, her face covered in black patterns.

"She's been poisoned," Jiang Yun said. "She was like this when we came out; we don't know what happened."

Lin Fan knelt down to check the Gold Envoy's condition.

Black patterns were spreading through her body. Wherever they passed, flesh and blood withered and died. It was an extremely overbearing poison—no, not a poison, but a backlash from out-of-control Power of Annihilation.

"Save me..." The Gold Envoy struggled to open her eyes, which were filled with fear.

Lin Fan remained silent.

He knew this was Xu's doing. The Gold Envoy had failed her mission and had a Restriction planted in her. Now that it had triggered, she was doomed.

"I can't save you," he said. "But I can give you a quick end."

Despair flashed in the Gold Envoy's eyes, which then turned into relief.

"Thank you..."

Lin Fan raised his hand, and a streak of gray Qi entered her forehead.

The Gold Envoy closed her eyes, and her aura vanished.

Everyone fell silent.

Su Zhiqing walked to Lin Fan's side and whispered: "Xu's projection?"

Lin Fan nodded.

"What did she say?"

"Waiting for me on the ninth layer." Lin Fan looked into the distance. "Also, she said the poison in the Gold Envoy's body would take effect."

Su Zhiqing remained silent.

She faintly felt that the existence called "Xu" was far more terrifying than they had imagined.

Lin Fan stood up and looked at everyone: "Continue forward. The entrance to the third layer is three hundred miles ahead."

Everyone followed his lead, heading deeper into the Ancient Road.

Behind them, the Gold Envoy's body slowly dissipated, turning into nothingness.

It was as if she had never existed.

The gray mist churned, swallowing everything.

The second layer of the Ancient Road was passed.

The true test was still ahead.