Chapter 145: Within the Illusion
Hong Chenji sat cross-legged deep within the ancestral land, gray-white mist swirling around him like living snakes entwining his body. Suddenly, he furrowed his brow, sensing a violent surge in the mist at the periphery of the ancestral land, as if it had been cleaved by a ferocious force!
"Hmm?"
He abruptly opened his eyes, a flash of surprise crossing them, quickly turning into wild joy.
"Another peak Saint Realm?!"
He licked his lips, his heart brimming with excitement.
For an ordinary cultivator, facing a peak Saint Realm existence would likely terrify them out of their wits. But Hong Chenji was different—his origins were unique, and unless a legendary "Immortal Venerable Realm" intervened, a peak Saint Realm posed little threat to him.
Of course, he couldn't easily subdue a peak Saint Realm cultivator either, or he wouldn't have spent years in a deadlock with Hong Chenji (his true self) at the limit of the Five Decays of Heaven and Man, only recently seizing the chance to fully take over.
But this time… it was different!
"Hehehe…"
Hong Chenji let out a sinister laugh, his gaze shifting to Chen Xingcai, who was trapped in an illusion nearby.
He held leverage!
A peak Saint Realm cultivator's mind was resilient and difficult to breach, but this young girl, not yet twenty years old, could hardly possess such a strong will. If he could break through her psychological defenses, he could easily control her, making her the perfect pawn in his hands!
Then, whether it was the peak Saint Realm presence before him or the one outside furiously attacking the mist, both would have to submit!
As for the attack from that peak Saint Realm outside?
Hong Chenji felt no panic.
His mist had long fused with the ancestral land's ley lines, endlessly regenerating and inexhaustible. To force a breakthrough with brute strength? A single peak Saint Realm wasn't qualified!
His gaze returned to Chen Xingcai. Seeing her furrowed brows and a trace of pain on her face, he felt a surge of delight—
It's working!
"Little girl, just surrender to it…"
Hong Chenji chuckled lowly, gently hooking his finger. The gray-white mist coiled around Chen Xingcai's neck like a venomous snake, slowly tightening…
Ji Hongli cleaved through the surging gray mist with a sword strike, her peripheral vision catching Chen Xingcai's troubling state—the girl's eyes were tightly shut, her slender fingers clutching her clothing, cold sweat beading on her forehead, clearly deep within a profound illusion.
"Not good!"
She immediately sheathed her sword and formed a hand seal with her jade-like hands. A crimson, fiery barrier instantly enveloped Chen Xingcai, isolating the encroaching gray mist. She urgently called out, "Xingcai! Wake up!"
"Jie jie jie…" Hong Chenji's cold laughter echoed through the mist, "It's useless. She's already trapped in the 'Heart-Eroding Nightmare Mist.' The more fear or sorrow she feels, the more she'll be assimilated by my mist!"
Ji Hongli paid no heed, continuing to call out, "Think of your father! Think of your senior brothers and sisters! Focus on the good things!"
"Heh, in the illusion, she can't hear any sound." Hong Chenji said smugly, directing even more mist toward Chen Xingcai.
Indeed, pain surfaced on the girl's face, her brows knitting tightly, her lips trembling slightly, as if enduring a horrific scene.
Seeing this, Hong Chenji grew even more excited, the gray mist churning more violently. But just as he thought victory was assured—
"Father… Master… Hehe hehe…"
Chen Xingcai suddenly broke into a foolish laugh, a suspicious glimmer at the corner of her mouth.
"What?!"
Hong Chenji's eyes widened. The gray mist about to coil around the girl seemed to strike an invisible wall, unable to advance an inch!
This can't be!
He hurriedly inspected the scene within the illusion—by all logic, Chen Xingcai should be experiencing her greatest fears: rejection by her father, isolation by her senior brothers and sisters… even he, as an onlooker, found these scenes oppressive.
But this girl…
"Hehe… so perfect…"
She was actually laughing foolishly?! And with such a dreamy expression?!
All the negative emotions had vanished in an instant?!
No! You should be sad! You should be in pain!
Hong Chenji roared in frustration, frantically urging more "Heart-Eroding Nightmare Mist" onward.
Increase the dosage!
…
Within the illusion:
The scene suddenly accelerated and transformed, instantly becoming a festive setting adorned with lanterns and decorations—
"Bow to heaven and earth!"
Chen Chang'an wore a bright red wedding robe, his usually lazy demeanor now spirited, his eyes and brows brimming with gentle smiles.
The typically aloof Ji Hongli, adorned in a phoenix coronet and ceremonial robes, rarely showed a hint of shyness, standing shoulder to shoulder with the groom amid the crowd's cheers.
"Bow to the parents!"
The eldest disciple Xiao Chen wore a joyful expression, busily serving the master and mistress their nuptial wine. Han Yu, alongside Li Han Zhou, solemnly acted as the master of ceremonies.
Ji Lingxiu, abandoning her usual dignity, skipped around scattering petals. Even the usually taciturn Jiang Che broke his silence, delivering an unprecedented string of blessings for a century of harmony and early offspring.
The entire Immortal Spirit Valley was immersed in a sea of joy—except for Chen Xingcai, deliberately ignored.
"The bride crosses the fire basin!"
Chen Xingcai squatted in a corner, her eyes gleaming with excitement, munching on sunflower seeds she'd somehow procured, nodding frantically: "Father's holding Master's hand! He held it, he held it!"
Hong Chenji: "???"
This isn't right! According to the script, she should be crying out, "Why is everyone ignoring me!" right now!
The furious mastermind behind the scenes immediately manipulated the illusion, directing Jiang Che's phantom to approach with a grim expression: "Junior Sister, Master doesn't care about you at all…"
"Smack!"
Chen Xingcai didn't even look up, casually swatting away the "Fourth Senior Brother" obstructing her view: "Don't disturb me! Can't you see Father lifting Master's veil?"
The phantom Jiang Che staggered back, utterly bewildered.
Outside, Hong Chenji nearly spat blood—he had maxed out the heartbreaking script of "being ignored by loved ones"! So what's wrong with this girl?
Turning an angst-filled narrative into a sweet romance to indulge in?!
"Second Senior Brother, look!" Chen Xingcai suddenly grabbed the sleeve of the passing phantom Han Yu, excitedly pointing, "Father just stole a kiss from Master! Ahhh, I'm dying!"
The phantom Han Yu, forced into the role: "…"
"Han Yu" couldn't even maintain his illusionary persona, frantically tugging at his hair: "At least feel sad for once! Your father doesn't want you!"
"Huh?" Chen Xingcai finally spared him a glance, as if looking at a fool: "My father married my Master! This is a huge win, isn't it!"
"On the wedding night, Master blushed three times, Father's ears turned red five times… hehe hehe…"
Hong Chenji collapsed into a roar, waving his hands as the world within the illusion began to crumble!
…
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