66: The Lingering Melody of Illusory Sounds, Trials of Inner Demons

The guiding resonance transmitted by the immortal abode pivot token was faint yet continuous, like an invisible lighthouse in a sea of fog. Lin Xuan briefly sensed it and realized that this guidance did not point towards their planned evacuation route, but rather to another path leading deeper into the core area of the ruins—an arched entrance half-concealed by massive twisted vines and collapsed statues.

“The cardinal edict seems to have a new response, pointing over there.” Lin Xuan pointed toward the inconspicuous entrance, his tone inquisitive. “Perhaps it's another ruin related to the Immortal Palace, or it might hold clues for leaving. The risk is unknown, what are your thoughts?”

Su Wanqing's icy gaze swept over the deep, secluded entrance. After sensing it for a moment, she said coolly, “Although the aura here is ancient, it lacks the intense filth we encountered before. Instead, it holds a... tranquil rhythm. It is worth exploring.”

Qu Feiyan smiled charmingly, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. “Wherever Little Brother Lin goes, this older sister will naturally follow. Maybe there's something fun hidden inside?” Her flirtatious eyes flickered, showing her usual intense interest in novelties.

Gongsun Yu grasped her silver ring tightly and nodded vigorously. “Big Brother Lin, I'll listen to you!” Having just achieved a Breakthrough, she was full of confidence.

Seeing that the Three women had no objections, Lin Xuan hesitated no longer and led the way toward the arched entrance. His Mid-stage Golden Core Divine Sense carefully probed, confirming that there were no Restriction traps near the entrance, only the heavy dust left by time.

The four people filed in, passing through a short, dark passageway before their eyes suddenly opened up to a spacious area.

What greeted them was not the expected ruined palace, but a peculiar circular space. The walls of the space were not rock, but a kind of translucent, glazed material. Inside, countless tiny specks of light seemed to flow slowly, forming unpredictable patterns. The dome was extremely high, adorned with soft light sources resembling stars, casting a gentle radiance.

Most striking was the center of the space, where dozens of glazed mirror shards of varying sizes and shapes floated. These shards rotated and drifted slowly and irregularly. Occasionally, they would collide, yet they emitted an ethereal, melodious sound, not of physical impact, like countless wind chimes softly singing in the breeze.

“Is this... the 'illusory sound pavilion'?” Su Wanqing gazed at the ancient runes faintly visible on the wall and whispered uncertainly. “Legend says the Immortal Palace had a hall governing music and illusions, capable of stirring the spirit and refining the Dao Heart.”

The instant her words fell, as if activated by the name "illusory sound pavilion," the entire circular space subtly brightened. The flow of light specks within the surrounding glazed walls accelerated, and the rotation of the suspended glazed mirror shards in the center suddenly became orderly. The ethereal music they emitted began to intertwine and converge, forming an ethereal yet highly penetrating melody.

At first, the melody was pleasant to the ear, seemingly capable of cleansing the mind, but soon, it silently wrapped around the Divine Soul of the four individuals like invisible threads.

Lin Xuan only felt the scene before his eyes tremble slightly, and various chaotic noises seemed to ring in his ears—the clamor of a city from his previous life, the ridicule he suffered in this life as a “Trash,” and the illusion of facing enemies worldwide if the System were exposed... All kinds of distracting thoughts stirred restlessly. But his Golden Core was stable, his Dao Heart firm, and coupled with the mental resistance provided by the System, these illusory noises were suppressed as soon as they arose, leaving his eyes clear. He immediately realized this was a Trial Grounds targeting the state of mind!

He looked at the Three women, whose situations were all different.

Su Wanqing's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and the moonlight around her fluctuated. She seemed to be standing on an ice plain. Ahead lay the deeper mysteries of the Taiyin Youying Bloodline Legacy, but they were accompanied by the coldness and responsibility of eternal solitude, causing a trace of hesitation in her heart. This was her hidden fear regarding the mission of her Bloodline.

The charming smile faded from Qu Feiyan's face, replaced by a trace of confusion and struggle. Illusions swirled before her eyes: on one side, the past massacres and betrayals of the Blood Lotus Sect; on the other, the completely different path she took after following Lin Xuan. Two distinct trajectories of fate pulled at her spirit. This was the questioning of her choice of Dao.

Gongsun Yu, whose cultivation was the weakest, was affected the most. Her face was pale, and her body trembled slightly. She seemed to see Lin Xuan and her two older sisters falling one after another before powerful enemies, while she was powerless to help. That bone-deep helplessness and fear nearly consumed her. This was the deep fear in her heart of losing her support.

“Guard your minds closely! This is illusory sound refining the heart; everything you see is false, only guarding your true self is real!” Lin Xuan shouted in a deep voice. His voice was like a morning bell and evening drum, containing Golden Core magical power, directly entering the Sea of Consciousness of the Three women.

At the same time, he tried to activate the immortal abode pivot token. A clear, hazy radiance spread from his palm, attempting to interfere with or even quell the strange melody. However, the Law of the illusory sound pavilion seemed independent and powerful. Although the cardinal edict's clear light could protect Lin Xuan himself and weaken some of the illusory sound's effect on the Three women, it could not stop it completely.

Hearing Lin Xuan's voice, the Three women were all invigorated and separately circulated their Cultivation Technique to resist the Heart Demon.

The coldness in Su Wanqing's eyes condensed, and her ice sword softly hummed, slashing at the fear of loneliness within her heart, making her Taiyin Power even purer. Qu Feiyan took a deep breath, and the charm in her eyes was renewed. She looked at Lin Xuan's back ahead, the corner of her mouth curving into a genuine, unforced smile, having made a decision in her heart. Gongsun Yu gritted her teeth, recalling Lin Xuan's support and encouragement throughout their journey. Her thunder light silver ring burst forth with brilliant electric light, dispelling the gloom in her heart, and her gaze gradually became resolute.

Not only did their cultivation not suffer loss during this mental confrontation, but it became more refined and complete due to overcoming their Heart Demon. Especially Gongsun Yu, whose Early Golden Core Stage Realm was completely stabilized.

Just then, the melody of the glazed mirror shards in the center changed again. From the previous chaotic interference, it gradually converged into a clear, questioning sound that pointed directly at the Dao Heart. It was not language, yet the four people could clearly understand its meaning:

“Where does the Dao lie?”

Accompanied by this Soul-striking interrogation, the glazed walls shone brightly, reflecting the nascent form of the “Dao Concept” deep within the four individuals' hearts, something they might not have even clearly realized themselves—

Behind Su Wanqing was an endless, icy, silent starry sky, with an eerie moon hanging high, cold and aloof, guarding an ancient order.

Behind Qu Feiyan was a magnificent yet dangerous sea of flowers, blooming in destruction and reborn in silence, full of contradiction and vitality.

Behind Gongsun Yu was a world-shattering thunderbolt that tore through the darkness, supremely firm and positive, dispelling all evil, containing the dual true meaning of protection and destruction.

The scene behind Lin Xuan was the most peculiar. It was not a single image, but countless blurry “lines” appearing in the haze. These “lines” connected the Three women, connected the immortal abode pivot token, and connected to the unknown distance, like an invisible great net, containing the composite Dao rhythm of “investment,” “Karma,” “bondage,” and “growth.”

The Trial of the illusory sound pavilion was not for destruction, but for illuminating one's true self and clarifying the path of the Dao!

The melody gradually subsided, the glazed mirror shards resumed their slow drifting, and the pressure within the space suddenly vanished.

The four recovered their senses, exchanged glances, and saw enlightenment and understanding in each other's eyes. After this cleansing of their state of mind, they had a clearer recognition of their respective paths, and the trust and tacit understanding between them deepened further.

Lin Xuan sensed the nascent form of his unique “Dao rhythm,” and his understanding of the System's essence seemed to deepen. He looked toward the center of the now calm illusory sound pavilion, only to see that three transparent Talismans, emitting icy cold, magnificent, and thunderous auras respectively, had condensed there at some unknown time. They slowly drifted over and hovered before Su Wanqing, Qu Feiyan, and Gongsun Yu.

“Is this... a gift from the illusory sound pavilion?” Qu Feiyan curiously extended her hand, and the magnificent Talisman lightly landed in her palm, transforming into a streak of light that merged into her body.

Su Wanqing and Gongsun Yu also accepted their respective Talismans.

Lin Xuan could sense that these three Talismans contained pure mental power and a trace of unique Law imprint, which would greatly benefit the Three women in comprehending their own Great Dao in the future, serving as their reward for passing the trial.

“It seems we found the right place.” Lin Xuan smiled slightly, his gaze fixed on an exit at the other end of the illusory sound pavilion. “Let's go, there might be more surprises ahead.”