Chapter 123: Illusions as Fleeting as a Mirage

Crack!

As the small silver vortex descended into the night, the surrounding space was instantly illuminated. Following this, cracks exploded across the sky in every direction, and the entire world began to crumble like reflections in water, falling into nothingness. The small silver vortex itself vanished into the void, leaving no trace.

"What... is going on?"

Watching the shattering fissures closing in on them from all sides, Tianming was utterly bewildered. His attack hadn't seemed that powerful—he had merely tripled the intensity of Xuan Jian’s strike, which should have been at most the power of a third or fourth-stage Spirit Silence realm cultivator. How could it have triggered such a cataclysmic shift in the heavens and earth?

"It’s an illusion! Your previous attack must have been so powerful that the illusion couldn't sustain it and collapsed. If my guess is correct, we should be able to break free any moment now," Kuang Zhen suddenly shouted to Tianming, as if something had just occurred to him.

So that was it...

Tianming trusted Kuang Zhen’s words implicitly. After all, Kuang Zhen was a Reincarnator who had lived for a long time before his death; he was surely well-versed in many things. Besides, Tianming had no other explanation.

"By the way, what about Xuan Jian?" Tianming nodded and asked with surprise.

"He must have already exited the illusion. If I’m not mistaken, we fell into this illusionary trap the moment we stepped into the Li Manor. Furthermore, the person behind this is watching us right now, and what’s more terrifying is that their strength is likely even greater than Xuan Jian’s."

After a moment of contemplation, Kuang Zhen shook his head with a worried expression.

"No wonder... we didn't see a single soul when we entered. I never expected us to walk straight into a trap. But I wonder who this mastermind is? Do they hold hostility toward us, or are they merely testing us?"

"..."

Soon, a beam of light, connecting heaven and earth, completely enveloped the two of them.

...

Meanwhile, in a completely different mansion, a youth in black robes sat in a pavilion. To his left were three men radiating baleful energy, and to his right were Jiang Cheng, dressed in fire-red robes, and the Master of the Li Manor, a man well past his prime.

At that moment, their eyes were fixed on a phantom mirror made of solidified water!

"What do you think?"

On the screen, the scene displayed Tianming condensing the small silver vortex in his hand. Two of the men watching were instantly struck with astonishment. This was no longer a simple case of fighting above one's rank; even those at the Spirit Silence realm would struggle to withstand such a technique.

"To think that Chu Yun could possess such a formidable move. This power of devouring... it is unprecedented!" The Master of the Li Manor shook his head and sighed.

Although he hadn't experienced the power firsthand, he knew that any technique capable of so easily consuming Xuan Jian’s Heaven-grade essence art must exceed the tenth stage of the Void Spirit realm. He doubted that even he could achieve such a crushing result if he were to fight Xuan Jian one-on-one.

"Truly bizarre. It seems the three of us underestimated the boy. Very well! We accept our defeat; we shall have no more complaints..." The three baleful figures, who had previously been full of disdain, were visibly moved by the sight.

Given the sheer disparity in strength displayed, the fact that Xuan Jian, one of the Four Fiends, had lost to this young punk left them with no choice but to concede. Even if they were unconvinced, they were helpless, knowing that if they were in his shoes, the outcome would likely be the same.

If this were on the battlefield, the reputation of the Four Fiends might truly prove to be undeserved!

"Haha, what are you saying, seniors? I am merely following the Spirit Master’s orders. I had not witnessed that young man's strength before either, so I hope the three of you will harbor no resentment moving forward."

The black-robed youth, Xie Xin, shook his head with a forced smile and waved his hands at the three men, speaking with extreme deference.

"Hmph!"

The three men radiating baleful energy turned their faces away coldly, refusing to reply to Xie Xin. They were supposed to fight as a quartet, but they had been forcibly separated, which naturally exposed the weaknesses of their individual combat abilities. Having lost face in the process, they were filled with resentment.

"Protector, I do not understand. Since their strength has been verified, why not release them from the illusion?" Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Jiang Cheng quickly stepped forward, bowed to Xie Xin, and asked in a low voice.

"Wait!"

Before the person was seen, the voice had already reached the pavilion...

On a corridor spanning across the water, a crack suddenly expanded, and a tall, slender figure leaped out, looking somewhat disheveled. His black disguise had vanished; he was now wearing light grey attire with tight-fitting leggings, his dark hair held back by a blue headband and a red ribbon, with a few stray locks drifting in the air.

"Xuan Jian? Why do you speak like that? Are you still unconvinced?"

Seeing the tall, light-grey-clad figure speak, Xie Xin was extremely surprised. Jiang Cheng and the Master of the Li Manor also looked at the disheveled figure approaching from the corridor, unable to fathom what Xuan Jian was planning.

"Hmph, although they have proven their strength, how can you be sure they are trustworthy? Unless..." Xuan Jian shook his head with a cold smile, nodded toward the three men in the distance, and continued.

"Yes, yes, exactly!"

Hearing this, the other three Fiends nodded in quick succession.

"Xuan Jian, speak plainly instead of being cryptic. And you, Xuan Li, Xuan Feng, Xuan Yan—I respect your seniority, which is why I call you seniors, but do not push your luck! If you don't want to get involved in this mess, then get out!"

Xie Xin let out a cold snort, his face darkening as he slammed his hand onto the stone table. Rolling black energy surged like a river, and he stood up, glaring fiercely at Xuan Jian. His heavy killing intent caused the sky to shift, and black clouds gathered like an invading army, shrouding the entire Li Manor.

Jiang Cheng and the Master of the Li Manor also glared at the four of them, the atmosphere becoming stiflingly heavy in an instant.

"What? Do you want to fight? We, the Four Fiends, have never feared anyone. So what if you are in the Spirit Silence realm? Today, all four of us brothers are present. Let us see who emerges victorious!" Xuan Li, one of the Fiends, stepped forward, his gaze arrogant as he locked eyes with Xie Xin.

"That's right. Listen here, kid, get your position straight. We are not here to follow your orders. We will do as we please, and we don't need your opinion!"

"Exactly!"

Xuan Yan and Xuan Feng, standing beside Xuan Li, sneered as well. Although all four of them were only at the tenth stage of the Void Spirit realm, if a real fight broke out, their combination techniques made the Spirit Silence realm look like nothing. Moreover, given their status and seniority, they had no need to listen to a junior.

Even if this junior had once been valued by "that person," those days were long gone!

"You! You people are absolutely unreasonable!" Xie Xin gripped his fists tightly. He felt uneasy deep down, as his own cultivation had been forced upon him; compared to a true Spirit Silence realm expert, it was merely a facade. If they were to actually fight, he feared...

"Brother Xie, let us first hear what they wish to do before we deliberate further," the Master of the Li Manor, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, lowered his head and suggested.

"Fine!"

"Xuan Jian, tell us, what will it take for you to believe they are trustworthy?"

Hearing Xie Xin’s words, the killing intent radiating from the three men finally began to dissipate. Xuan Jian, who had remained expressionless throughout, smiled and nodded. "That is more like it. Protector Xie, my request is not excessive. I only need..."