133: Look at me, don't look at it.

Time froze under that kick.

Luo Ximei's body arched, and the protective Devilish Qi of her Great Perfection of Body Integration Stage was as thin as a cicada's wing before that white boot, penetrated without any obstruction.

Excruciating pain erupted from her chest, spreading throughout her entire body.

But this pain was far less than the utter bewilderment of her heart being completely torn apart.

She was kicked away.

In the exact same manner as her weaker self in the illusion, she was kicked away by the person she respected most in her life.

Reality and illusion overlapped at this moment, bringing a destructive mental impact.

Her cultivation, which she was so proud of, and her dignity as the ruler of the Demonic Path, all became a ridiculous point under this kick.

"Do you see?"

White-robed Su Lin slowly retracted his foot, looking down at the flying Luo Ximei with cold indifference.

"This is the gap between you and me.

No matter how strong you become, in front of me, you are still trash that can be discarded at will."

He did not pursue, but merely stood in place, enjoying the sight of his prey collapsing.

Luo Ximei's body crashed heavily against the invisible boundary of mist, then slid to the ground.

She violently spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, the dark red blood staining the ground in front of her.

The myriad soul banner, having lost its Revered Master's control, floated dimly beside her.

She did not look at her injuries, but merely raised her head, her blood-red eyes staring fixedly at the white-robed figure, filled with extreme confusion.

It's fake... This must be fake... But why, even the pain of being kicked away, feels so real?

Revered Master... would he really treat me like this?

If one day, I truly become the monster he despises,

Will he also, just like this, mercilessly... This thought was the last straw that broke the camel's back.

The light in her eyes quickly dimmed, and the demonic thoughts deep within her Divine Soul seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, beginning a frenzied counterattack, attempting to completely control this body.

Just at this critical moment, a figure walked unhurriedly in front of her, blocking the space between her and that White-robed Su Lin.

It was the real Su Lin.

He did not look at the arrogant illusion, not even sparing it a glance.

His gaze, from beginning to end, rested on his disheartened Disciple on the ground.

"Raise your head."

His voice was calm, without any emotional fluctuations, yet it possessed a strange power that could penetrate all confusion.

Luo Ximei's unfocused pupils slightly sharpened, seeing that familiar back.

"Look at me."

Su Lin spoke again, his tone slightly heavier.

Luo Ximei subconsciously raised her head, her gaze passing over his shoulder, seeing the mocking smile on the face of the white-robed illusion in the distance.

"Look at me, not it."

"Answer me one question." Su Lin spoke, his voice still steady, "Who am I?"

This question was simple, the answer should have come out immediately.

But at this moment, Luo Ximei could not utter a single word.

He is the light that pulled me out of the mire, the only existence in this world that makes me feel warm, the Revered Master for whom I am willing to give everything.

Two diametrically opposed images fiercely battled in her mind, tearing at her sanity and giving her a splitting headache.

"Can't you say it?" Su Lin seemed unsurprised. He reached out his hand, moving towards her cheek.

Luo Ximei's body instinctively flinched backward.

She was afraid.

She was afraid that this hand would also be filled with disdain and impatience, just like in the illusion.

But behind her was an invisible boundary, leaving her nowhere to retreat.

Su Lin's hand finally rested on her cheek.

There was no imagined rejection, no feeling of disgust.

It was a real, slightly cool warmth. His fingertips were a bit rough, gently wiping away the bloodstain from the corner of her mouth.

This action was gentle and without any Impurities.

"Then I will tell you."

Su Lin looked into her eyes, enunciating each word clearly.

"I am your Revered Master, Su Lin."

"And you," he emphasized, each word resounding, "are my fifth Disciple, Luo Ximei.

Not some monster, but my Disciple."

A trace of clarity finally appeared in Luo Ximei's confused eyes.

The White-robed Su Lin in the distance's expression changed slightly; he could feel his control over Luo Ximei's mind being disintegrated by these words.

He immediately spoke, attempting to regain dominance: "Lies! Listen, he is binding you with identity!

He is deceiving you with past affection! He is just using you, and once you lose your value..."

"Shut up."

This time, it was not Luo Ximei who spoke, but Su Lin.

He still did not turn around, nor did he even glance at the illusion, but simply interrupted the other party's Gu with a tone that stated facts.

He continued to look at Luo Ximei and said, "Look at it again.

Look closely, what is the power that constitutes it?"

Luo Ximei heard this, enduring the severe pain in her Divine Soul, and cast her gaze back towards the white-robed illusion.

This time, with Su Lin's words as a mental defense, she began to observe.

She saw that around the white-robed illusion, there was a faint layer of dark red Qi.

That Qi was domineering and violent, originating from the same source as the Devilish Qi within her own body.

She saw that every time the illusion spoke, every time it moved, it would draw energy from this gray mist space.

And the root of these energies was precisely the power that had dissipated from her two previous out-of-control attacks.

"Do you see?" Su Lin's voice sounded in her ear, like a true mentor, dispelling his Disciple's confusion.

"It is not some test left by an ancient demon god, nor is it an independent life.

It is a mirror, a mirror that only distorts and magnifies.

It has no power of its own; all its strength, all its might, you personally bestowed upon it."

"You unleash a bit of anger upon it, and it returns twice the humiliation.

You give it a bit of power, and it uses your power to defeat you."

"The more you want to destroy it, the more indestructible it becomes. Because what it feeds on is your 'delusional thoughts'."

It was she herself who had fed the deepest fear in her heart into a monster capable of crushing her.

The pain of being kicked away was so real because the force of that kick originated from her own body.

But... what good was understanding it?

"I... what should I do?"

Luo Ximei's voice carried a hint of confusion and helplessness. This was a vulnerability she had never shown since becoming a Demon Venerable.

She knew she couldn't attack again, but if she didn't attack, should she just let this fake, wearing Revered Master's face, humiliate them with the most malicious words?

"What to do?"

Su Lin withdrew his hand and slowly stood up.

"It's simple."

He turned around, finally, for the first time, looking directly at the white-robed illusion.

"Take back what it gave you.

And take back what it stole from you."

"Take it back?" Luo Ximei was puzzled.

"Yes, take it back."

Su Lin's voice was calm yet full of power, "Its existence is based on your power.

So, as long as you reclaim your power, it will cease to exist."