The Real Illusion

Qian Renxue listened to Qian Daoliu's words, blinked her eyes, and said thoughtfully, "Someone chosen by a god, like me? Then which god chose him?"

"I don't know. Perhaps only Bibi Dong or he himself knows that. Alright, Xue'er, it's getting late. You should head back and rest or cultivate." Qian Daoliu smiled as he looked at the Angel Divine Statue in the Worship Hall, his eyes filled with contemplation.

"I understand, Grandpa." Qian Renxue answered and headed straight for her room.

Late at night, two faint golden rays shot out from the Angel Divine Statue, each flying in a different direction.

One of the rays entered Bi Zihan's room and landed on his body. In a daze, Bi Zihan's consciousness entered an illusion.

As Bi Zihan slept, he sensed that something seemed off. He opened his eyes and looked around, but nothing appeared unusual—except for something perched atop the roof beam.

Just as his eyes closed again, he jolted awake. His room had no visible roof beams, and what he had just seen was clearly a crude wooden hut.

Bi Zihan sat up in bed. Just as he was about to look toward the roof beam, he sensed something strange at his side. Turning his head, he met a pair of somewhat slender phoenix eyes.

Their eyes met, and Bi Zihan instantly became alert. Looking at the person before him, he asked, "Qian Renxue, why are you here? And where is this?"

"I should be asking you that! What did you do? Where is this place?" Qian Renxue's eyes were equally wary. She had been asleep in her room, but when she sensed something strange and opened her eyes, she was already here.

"You're asking me? I was sleeping perfectly fine. Who knew I'd end up here the moment I opened my eyes?" Bi Zihan warily stared at Qian Renxue, meeting her phoenix eyes.

After staring at each other for a while, they both drew their swords and pointed them at one another, their eyes full of vigilance and caution.

As they faced off, a roar came from the roof beam. A massive snake nearly ten meters long lunged at them.

The moment Bi Zihan and Qian Renxue noticed it, they dodged in opposite directions. But neither noticed the thin silver chain wrapped around Bi Zihan's left hand, its other end connected to Qian Renxue's right hand.

As they dodged to either side, the chain between their hands was pulled taut. The giant snake slammed headfirst into the stretched chain, and the immense force traveled through it into their bodies, sending both of them stumbling backward and crashing heavily into the wall.

Two pained groans rang out. Bi Zihan and Qian Renxue glanced at the chain around their hands, then at the giant snake ahead. In unspoken agreement, they swung their swords at the chain.

Clang! Clang! Their swords struck the chain, sending sparks flying, but it remained completely intact—not even a scratch appeared on it.

Surprise flashed through Bi Zihan's eyes. The weapon in his hand was the divine weapon Doomsday Judgment, yet it could not sever the chain or even leave a mark. Qian Renxue was the same. Her Sword of Angels was equally powerless against the chain.

"Let's deal with the giant snake first, then figure out the chain. What do you think?" Bi Zihan turned his sword, its tip aimed at the snake ahead.

"Fine. We'll deal with it first, then figure out the chain and where this place is." Qian Renxue nodded, readily agreeing to Bi Zihan's suggestion.

The chain was only about a meter long. At such a distance, it would be nearly impossible to deal with the giant snake unless they cooperated. Their best option was to work together to kill the snake first, then solve the mystery of the chain and this place.

Bi Zihan and Qian Renxue got to their feet and charged toward the giant snake together. As they rushed forward, they tried to summon their martial souls, only to discover that some force seemed to be suppressing them, making them impossible to release.

But there was no time to think about that. Bi Zihan leaped high into the air, intending to strike the giant snake's eyes with Doomsday Judgment. Qian Renxue, meanwhile, focused on the snake's vital spot, preparing to slash it with the Sword of Angels.

But because of the chain's length, Bi Zihan was pulled down before he could reach the snake's eyes, crashing to the ground. Qian Renxue was likewise yanked to a sudden stop before she could strike the snake's vital spot.

Seeing their plight, mockery appeared in the giant snake's eyes. Its enormous tail swept toward them, striking both of them and sending them crashing heavily into the wall again.

After doing that, the giant snake did not continue its attack. It merely remained where it was, watching them with mocking eyes.

Feeling the intense pain coursing through their bodies, Bi Zihan and Qian Renxue exchanged a glance before charging at the giant snake once more. This time, Bi Zihan chose to target its vital spot, while Qian Renxue chose to attack its eyes.

Different choices, same result. Both were sent flying again by the giant snake's massive tail and slammed into the wall.

"Qian Renxue, where exactly are you trying to attack? The chain isn't long enough. Can't you pick one direction?" Bi Zihan forced himself to stand despite the pain, unable to keep from complaining.

"Bi Zihan, I should be asking you that. Can you stop attacking at random?" Qian Renxue shot him a glare and stood up while enduring the pain.

"Hit its eyes first, then its vital spot!" After saying that, Bi Zihan charged toward the giant snake alongside Qian Renxue.

When they reached the snake, they leaped high into the air and attacked its eyes at the same time. Seeing the two of them jump, the giant snake swung its tail directly at the chain between them.

Just as they were about to strike the giant snake, its huge tail smashed into the chain. The force transmitted through it, and both of them were instantly thrown to the ground.

In the God Realm, inside Angel Palace, the Angel God watched the situation unfold in the illusion and could not help raising a hand to her forehead. She remembered that both of them had been highly experienced and skilled in battle. How had their coordination become this absurd?