277: Chapter 277: Too Familiar

"This Illusion Demon Realm is even more difficult than I imagined," Xiao Ran said in a low voice.

He took out the ten thousand poison bead and held it in his palm.

The ten thousand poison bead warmed slightly, absorbing the Death Qi in the surroundings.

The yellow spring banner also floated up from his waist, the runes on its surface lighting up as it devoured the resentment in the mist.

The two Magic Treasures protected his Divine Soul, making him feel a bit better.

He continued to walk forward.

In the mist, a new illusion appeared.

This time, he saw Su Qinghan standing on the city wall, her white robes like snow, her long sword dripping with blood.

She looked back at him, her eyes red.

"Xiao Ran, why didn't you come to find me?" she asked.

Xiao Ran knew this was an illusion, but he still couldn't help but take another look.

Su Qinghan's appearance was too real; even the grievance in her eyes was so realistic.

"I'll fuck you when I get out," he murmured, then shattered the illusion with a palm strike.

The illusion shattered, and Su Qinghan vanished, turning into black smoke.

After walking a bit further, Bai Linger appeared in the mist.

She was sitting in the garden of the City Lord's Mansion, holding an equinox flower in her hand, her head bowed as tears dripped onto the petals.

"Young Master Xiao, you promised you would treat me well."

Her voice was very soft, as light as the wind.

Xiao Ran's hand paused slightly.

He knew this was an illusion, but he still remembered that final night in White Emperor City.

"I'll fuck you too."

After saying this, Xiao Ran shattered the illusion with a palm strike.

In the mist, Xiao Yating appeared again.

She stood in the manor of the Wanhua Society, her purple eyes watching him, a faint, elusive smile on her lips.

"Young Master Xiao, you still owe me a promise," she said.

Xiao Ran did indeed owe Xiao Yating a promise—to help her retrieve the equinox flower.

He had already obtained the equinox flower, but he hadn't given it to her yet.

"I'll give it to you after I fuck you when I get back."

The mist grew thicker, and the illusions became more numerous.

There were Li Changsheng's, Venerable Huangquan's, Ten Thousand Poisons Demon Venerable's, White Emperor's, as well as those of the Zhou Family, the Sword Sect, and the Zhao Family...

Every illusion struck directly at the most vulnerable part of his heart, and every illusion nearly made him sink into them.

But he gritted his teeth and held on.

He used the ten thousand poison bead to absorb the Death Qi, the yellow spring banner to devour the resentment, and the Guixu Body to consume all attacks.

His Divine Soul grew weaker with each impact, but it never collapsed.

He did not know how much time had passed, but the mist ahead finally began to thin.

Xiao Ran saw a door, and behind the door was the third trial.

He staggered to the door and looked back at the mist.

In the mist, it seemed there were countless eyes staring at him, waiting for him to fall.

"I will not fall."

Xiao Ran pushed open the door and walked out.

Outside the door was the stone tablet for the third trial.

The words "Heavenly Mystery Array" were carved on the stone tablet.

Xiao Ran leaned against the stone tablet, gasping for breath.

His face was pale, cold sweat rained down his forehead, and his Divine Soul was as weak as a candle in the wind.

He took a Soul-Nourishing Pill from his Storage Ring, popped it into his mouth, and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing for a good while before he recovered.

Through the Soul Link, he sent a message to Li Changsheng.

"Changsheng, I've passed the second trial."

Li Changsheng's voice came through quickly: "How is it? Is it difficult?"

"Difficult. Extremely difficult."

"The Illusion Demon Realm will stir up the most vulnerable parts of your heart and attack your Divine Soul. I had the ten thousand poison bead and the yellow spring banner protecting me, and I still almost couldn't hold on."

"But it's not without a solution."

"Although those illusions are real, they are projections of your inner self. As long as you have no guilt, no fear, and no obsession in your heart, they cannot hurt you."

Li Changsheng fell silent.

No guilt, no fear, no obsession in his heart?

How could he, Li Changsheng, not have any?

He was also a person, and he also had seven emotions and six desires.

"Are you saying that one must sever the seven emotions and six desires to pass?" Li Changsheng asked.

Xiao Ran shook his head: "More or less. The more you face them directly, the more vulnerable you become."

Li Changsheng: "I understand. I will try."

Xiao Ran added: "Also, the resentment of the dead in the Illusion Demon Realm will erode your Divine Soul."

"If you have any Magic Treasure that protects the Divine Soul, use it."

"Do not try to tough it out; those resentments are very powerful."

Li Changsheng asked: "How many Magic Treasures did you use?"

"Two Divine Artifacts, the ten thousand poison bead and the yellow spring banner."

Li Changsheng nodded.

He had plenty of treasures as well, enough to handle it.

"Thanks."

"Thanks my ass. Hurry up and get over here; I still need to wait for you for the third trial."

Li Changsheng cut the connection, took a deep breath, and stepped into the mist of the second trial.

Just after entering it, he didn't feel it was anything special.

Until one figure after another appeared.

Each of them seemed to possess a strange, demonic power that could affect his emotions.

Even though Li Changsheng tried his best to restrain himself, these emotions still welled up in his heart.

He immediately understood that this was a trial left behind by a Senior with an extremely high level of attainment in illusion arts.

Those who cannot guard their Divine Soul cannot pass.

Li Changsheng immediately began to use his methods.

In the mist.

He saw Liu Ruyan.

She stood before the mountain gate of the Hehuan Sect, wearing a red wedding dress, holding a red rose in her hand.

Her eyes were red, and tears were welling up.

"Li Changsheng, you promised to marry me."

"You lied."

Her voice was filled with a crying tone.

Li Changsheng felt a pang of pain in his heart.

Liu Ruyan—he had indeed been moved by her.

But their stances were different, their Sects were different, and they were destined not to be together.

He had chosen to evade it back then, focusing on the idea that he could have his way with her, but he couldn't take responsibility.

Now, the creditor had come knocking.

"I'm sorry."

Li Changsheng said in a low voice.

He slashed through the mist with his sword.

The illusion shattered, and Liu Ruyan vanished.

After walking a few more steps, Ling Jianxin appeared in the mist.

He stood before the main hall of the Supreme Dao Palace, his white robes like snow, a long sword hanging at his waist.

His gaze was cold and indifferent, as if looking at a stranger.

"Li Changsheng, you colluded with the Demon Sect and betrayed the Dao Sect. Do you still have the face to return?"

Ling Jianxin's voice was like an ice pick, piercing Li Changsheng's heart.

Li Changsheng knew that someone was trying to scare him.

"Bullshit, I did not collude with the Demon Sect."

"I have never done anything to betray the Dao Sect."

Ling Jianxin sneered: "You and Xiao Ran joined forces in the Moon Secret Realm and killed so many people. Do you think no one knows?"

Li Changsheng was stunned.

How could Ling Jianxin know about the incident in the Moon Secret Realm?

No, this was an illusion; it was the fear in his heart.

"You are not Ling Jianxin. You are my Heart Demon."

"I will not be fooled by you."

He shattered the illusion with a palm strike.

In the mist, Xiao Ran appeared again.

He sat on the demonic throne of the Eternal Night Demon Sect, his black robes fluttering, a faint smile on his lips.

"Changsheng, you're here?"

"Come quickly, let us dominate the Cultivation World together."

Li Changsheng looked at Xiao Ran and shook his head.

"You are an illusion; Xiao Ran would not speak like this."

He slashed out with his sword, and the illusion shattered.

He passed through this illusion extremely easily.

Because he and Xiao Ran were too familiar with each other.