223: The Rules of the Forest of Illusions

The wind in the back mountain of Hundred Refinements Peak ceased.

Su Ming bent down and unhurriedly pulled out the eighteen Formation Flags one by one, which had been inserted into rock crevices and windless corners.

His movements were gentle, like an old farmer tending to crops and gathering tools.

Although these flags were made of inferior material, after being tempered by the Yin Evil Wind just now, a faint, cold stream of light appeared on their surfaces—a sign that Evil Qi had entered them.

"Keep them. Go back and use the 'Water Tempering Method' to wash out the Evil Qi; they can still be used a few more times." Lin Yu's voice rang out in his mind. "If you can seal this trace of Evil Qi inside the flagpoles, the next time you set up a 'Minor Yin Wind Formation,' it would be excellent for ambushing people. Our foundation is weak; even a needle must achieve the effect of a sledgehammer."

Su Ming's fingers rubbed against the cold flagpoles before he placed them into his Storage Pouch and gave a slight nod.

The gazes around him remained fixed on him. There was shock, jealousy, and, more significantly, an inscrutable apprehension. Zhao Yin stood at the edge of the crowd, his face ashen. He had originally intended to see Su Ming make a fool of himself, but instead, he had become a stepping stone for the other's fame. Now, he lowered his head, his fingernails almost tearing through his palm.

Zhang Lie did not give the crowd much time to dwell on it.

"The first two rounds are over. One hundred and thirteen people remain."

The Formation Peak Steward waved his large sleeve, and a crimson Spiritual Light swept up the crowd. "Follow me."

Everyone felt their feet lighten as the scenery rapidly receded.

The heat and clamor of Hundred Refinements Peak were quickly left behind, replaced by an increasingly heavy dampness and coolness.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the crimson Spiritual Light dissipated.

Su Ming landed firmly and looked up.

Before his eyes was an ancient mountain forest enveloped in thick fog.

Unlike the barrenness of Hundred Refinements Peak, ancient trees towered here. Each tree required several people to encircle it, their bark cracked like Dragon scales, and their dense branches and leaves blotted out the sky. However, the most striking feature was not these ancient trees, but the layer of white fog permeating the forest.

The fog was not still; it slowly writhed like a living thing, sometimes gathering into the shape of a beast, sometimes scattering like fine gauze. The moment Divine Sense touched it, it vanished instantly, like a clay ox sinking into the sea.

In front of the forest stood a moss-covered stone stele, inscribed with three ancient seal characters: "Heart-Seeking Forest."

Beside the stele, an old man in a gray robe sat cross-legged on a blue stone. His hair and beard were white, his face lean and ascetic, his eyes slightly closed, and a whisk lay across his knees. If one did not see him with their own eyes, relying solely on perception, the spot seemed empty, as if only a rock or a piece of dead wood were there.

After landing, Zhang Lie restrained his rampant fiery temper and respectfully bowed to the gray-robed Elder: "Junior Martial Uncle Wenxin, I have brought the Outer Sect examination Disciples."

The gray-robed Elder's eyelids trembled slightly and slowly opened.

In that instant, Su Ming felt as if he had been seen through—from his skin to his bones, even the circulation of Spiritual Power within his Dantian was laid bare. Subconsciously, he tensed his muscles, his fingers subtly reaching for a Talisman hidden in his sleeve.

"Mhm."

The old man's voice was hoarse, like wind rustling through dry leaves. "More than last time."

His gaze swept over the crowd and settled on the mist.

"The third trial: Illusory Heart-Seeking."

The old man raised his hand and pointed to the forest behind him. "There are only three rules."

"First, once you enter the forest, it's every person for themselves. This fog is called 'Mirage Smoke,' and it can isolate the five senses and Divine Sense. Even if two people enter hand-in-hand, the moment they step in, they will be separated."

"Second, thirty-six 'Heart-Seeking Tokens' are hidden in the forest. Anyone who finds one and leaves the mist within three days is considered to have passed. Three days in the outside world may be a lifetime, or just an instant, inside the forest."

"Third..."

The old man paused, his cloudy eyes suddenly sharpening like a drawn sword. "Illusions arise from the heart; they are both false and true. Everything you see inside is either what you desire most or what you fear most deep down. Believe it, and it becomes real; disbelieve it, and it is false. If your Dao Heart is unstable and you sink into it, even immortals cannot save you."

He looked around at the crowd, his tone softening slightly: "What you are about to experience is the 'Basic Form' of the Heart-Seeking Forest. The three trials set up are merely the common principles of Mortal World entanglements, interpersonal trust and doubt, and decisions regarding the Dao path. However, the reality of the illusion far exceeds what you imagine. Take care of yourselves."

"Remember, guard your Original Heart."

Having finished speaking, the old man closed his eyes again and said no more.

A dead silence fell over the area.

The Disciples who had been spirited and vigorous on Hundred Refinements Peak just moments ago now watched the churning mist, many swallowing hard and showing signs of fear.

For Cultivators, cultivating the body is easy; cultivating the heart is difficult.

Physical pain can be endured, but confronting the deepest fears and desires of the heart is the most perilous tribulation.

"Go," Zhang Lie said in a deep voice. "The Auspicious Time has arrived."

A burly Utility Disciple gritted his teeth and was the first to stride forward: "What's there to be afraid of? This body of mine was trained into shape; can a mere illusion eat me?"

He took a step into the mist.

There was no sound, no ripple.

The robust figure vanished into thin air the moment he touched the white fog, as if erased by an eraser.

Following him, the second, the third... Disciples entered the forest one after another, each disappearing instantly, as if the forest were a giant maw swallowing everything.

In a dimension unseen by the crowd, not far behind the gray-robed Elder, Spiritual Light flickered within a seemingly ordinary mountain rock.

It was connected to the Formation Core, and Zhang Lie's Divine Sense, along with that of two other Duty Elders, was submerged within it.

What they could "see" was not the specific illusory scenes, but a hazy "Sea of Mental Thoughts"—over a hundred light points representing the Disciples who had entered the Formation. The brightness, color, and frequency of fluctuation of these points reflected their emotional state, the stability of their Dao Heart, and whether they were approaching the edge of danger.

This was a Sect Iron Rule: they could monitor the whole, but not pry into privacy. They could only judge performance based on these light points and the unique aura adhering to the Heart-Seeking Tokens carried by those who eventually emerged.

Su Ming did not rush to move.

He stood still, seemingly observing, but was actually communicating with Lin Yu.

"Master, this fog has some tricks to it," Su Ming said mentally. "I just tried probing it with the perception of the Ruoshui Art, and the Water Spiritual Qi was assimilated immediately."

"This is a high-level Illusion Formation, and it targets the Divine Soul," Lin Yu's voice became unusually serious. "The Formation is also simple; it adjusts based on the Divine Soul fluctuations of the entrants. Disciple, once you enter, no matter what you see, slap yourself first to confirm whether you are dreaming."

Su Ming's mouth twitched: "Master, isn't that trick too crude?"

"As long as it works," Lin Yu said. "Also, this Formation might shield external objects. Although the space in the ring is independent, if the isolation involves the Divine Soul level, I might not be able to contact you at all times."

Su Ming's heart tightened.

Lin Yu had always been his greatest trump card and support. Whether analyzing a Formation or handling a crisis, the Master's presence gave him a confidence far exceeding his peers. If contact were cut off... "Don't panic." Lin Yu seemed to sense his emotions. "You're not the greenhorn fresh out of the village anymore. You are already at the Fifth Layer of Qi Condensation, and you've mastered ninety Basic Runes. Even without me, this small Heart-Seeking Forest won't trap you. Remember our motto—"

"Hold steady, don't mess around," Su Ming finished.

"Wrong! It's 'See the essence through the phenomena'!" Lin Yu corrected. "No matter how real the illusion is, it's constructed by Energy. As long as it's Energy, it has nodes, flow, and flaws. Use your eyes to deconstruct it."

Su Ming took a deep breath and nodded.

He adjusted his robes and stepped forward.