David’s soul floated in the void at the exit of the second level, its purple light dim and its golden light flickering.
He was surrounded by nothingness, without heaven or earth, without direction, only endless gray-white mist flowing slowly, enveloping him.
This was a buffer zone between the second and third levels, a place to rest and give challengers a chance to catch their breath.
The golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture slowly returned, and the remaining medicinal power of the Soul Refreshing Liquid was absorbed little by little. David’s soul slowly warmed, but he was in no rush to fly forward.
Bei Mingyuan’s words kept ringing in his mind: “These levels are all fake.”
False.
He closed his eyes, and a sharp pain from the depths of his soul brought him back to consciousness, but also made him confused.
Even with the combined efforts of Venerable Tianji and several Gold Immortals to activate the ancient Soul Refining Formation, they were unable to harm the Great Luo Golden Scripture in the slightest.
Yet here, a small group of True Immortal Realm Spirit Beasts were able to dim the golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture and make his soul tremble.
This doesn’t make sense.
The Great Luo Golden Scripture’s defense was absolute, a power that surpassed the Immortal Lord level. How could it possibly be shaken by a soul beast at the True Immortal realm?
Except—the attacks from these soul beasts weren’t actually real at all.
The damage they cause is not real damage to the soul, but a mental illusion.
It was the illusion array that made his soul “think” that he was injured, which was why the golden light “thought” that it needed to expend more energy to fight, so it became dim.
David’s spirits rose slightly.
He remembered that when they were in the Celestial Realm, Bai Qian once told him that the fox clan’s greatest strength was not attacks, but illusions.
A true master of illusion does not crush you with brute force, but rather makes your five senses, your soul, and even your Dao heart believe that everything before you is real.
If your body thinks you’re injured, then you really are.
If your spirit believes that you have been attacked, your spiritual power will be completely drained.
This Ancient Soul Forest was originally the territory of the demon race.
Isn’t illusion magic what demons are best at?
He slowly opened his eyes; the purple halo stopped flashing and became steady and steady.
Instead of rushing to the third floor, he sat cross-legged, floated, closed his eyes, and focused his mind into the depths of his consciousness.
The golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture slowly flowed around him, no longer spreading outwards, but narrowing inward, inch by inch, returning to his divine soul.
The golden light grew weaker until it almost completely disappeared.
David’s soul was exposed to a gray-white mist. There was no golden light protecting him, but he felt no stinging pain.
The mist was cold, but it did not damage his soul.
He smiled.
As I expected.
The attacks from those soul beasts and the damage caused by the restrictions were just illusions.
The golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture was inexhaustible from the start; the light simply worked in conjunction with his perception to create the illusion of being “attacked.”
If he continued to believe that it was real, he would truly be trapped in the illusion, and would never be able to escape.
Bei Mingyuan’s voice sounded again, slightly relieved: “You finally understand. The trial in the Primordial Spirit Forest is not a test of your combat strength, but rather a test of your state of mind.”
The Forest of Souls Labyrinth tests whether you can stay true to yourself while lost.
Battles against groups of spirit beasts will test your ability to see through illusions in critical situations.
What really traps you is not the forest of your soul, but your own heart.
David nodded without saying anything else.
He stood up, turned into a purple beam of light, and flew towards the third level.
This time, he did not activate the golden light that protected his body from the Great Luo Golden Scripture, but instead revealed himself naked amidst the ash-white mist.
The mist just passed without harming him in the slightest.
Just when David understood the true meaning of the illusion array, five beams of golden light pierced the sky above the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge, like five flaming meteors, leaving behind a long trail of flames, and shot towards the Demon Emperor’s Palace.
The five beams of golden light moved with incredible speed, streaking through the sky and emitting shrill screams, startling the demon beasts on the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge until they prostrated themselves on the ground, too afraid to move.
That oppressive force descended from the sky, like Mount Tai pressing down, causing the entire mountain range to tremble slightly.
Qingqiu was drinking tea in the side hall. He picked up the white jade teacup, took a small sip, and his amber eyes remained calm, as if he had been looking forward to this moment for a long time.
She put down her teacup, stood up, and her long white dress dragged on the ground, producing a soft rustling sound.
He walked to the entrance of the side hall, looked up at the sky, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
“Heavenly Venerable, you have finally come.”
Since Venerable Tianji brought out the gift, Qingqiu knew he would definitely return; it’s just a matter of time.
FAQ Novel
Q: What shocking doubt does Bei Mingyuan raise about David’s current challenges?
A: Bei Mingyuan questions whether David’s trials are truly authentic, given the unexpected struggles of the Great Luo Golden Scripture against mere True God Realm Spirit Beasts.
Q: How does David manage to escape the relentless pursuit of the soul beasts?
A: David, despite his weakening state and immense pain, mobilizes his remaining spiritual power to transform into a bright purple beam, breaking through the encirclement and reaching the exit just in time.
What are your predictions for David’s next challenge, and what do you make of Bei Mingyuan’s profound observation?