Illusion Trial

Zhou Hao put the Dragon Sword into his Ring of Holding, flew to the nearest rooftop, and sat cross-legged on the spot, calming the tension and bewilderment from killing someone for the first time.

He took deep breaths for a while before finally easing the severe discomfort. Then he raised his eyes to look at the bloodstained village and fell into deep thought.

In truth, he had sensed that something was wrong the moment he arrived. Zhou Yuanbao on his hand and Mu Jinyin on his head had not made a sound, which was clearly abnormal.

The scene he had first encountered had startled him so badly that he had briefly lost his ability to think. While fighting the man in black, he had regained a little of his reason.

Now, Jia Qing and the others' disappearance further proved that something fishy was going on here.

"How does it feel?" An aged voice suddenly rang out beside Zhou Hao's ear.

Zhou Hao was jolted, and when he turned his head, an old face frightened him so badly that he scrambled backward several steps on hands and feet.

Only after taking a closer look did he realize that he knew the old man who had suddenly appeared beside him. It was his fake master, Du Tianhong.

Zhou Hao was utterly speechless and could not help saying, "You really are like a lingering ghost!"

From now on, even if he encountered a living, breathing Du Tianhong, he would not be the least bit surprised!

Du Tianhong asked with a chuckle, "I should already be dead by now, shouldn't I?"

Zhou Hao paused, looking deeply at Du Tianhong before nodding.

"Yes, you're already dead. I suppose I count as your disciple now."

Du Tianhong maintained his smile as he said, "I know you're my disciple. Otherwise, you wouldn't have entered this place."

He paused there, then turned back and asked Zhou Hao, "Do you know where this is?"

Zhou Hao shook his head. As if he could possibly know.

"This is an illusion realm. Only those who cultivate the Spirit-Womb Art can trigger it," Du Tianhong continued.

Zhou Hao nodded lightly, then asked, "What did you bring me in here for?"

"That's a good question." Du Tianhong gave him a thumbs-up, then said solemnly, "There are two reasons. First, to assess your heart and determine whether you are a kind person. This illusion realm has three layers. The first layer draws out an illusion capable of angering the entrant according to the entrant's psyche.

"The second and third layers can be considered one. Those carrying malicious thoughts will trigger the hidden killing formation and be killed outright. Those who lean toward goodness, on the other hand, will continue through the illusion realm.

"This brings us to the second reason. Everyone knows that being a good person is difficult. Kind people often make the mistake of being softhearted, and I was worried that the entrant might be some greenhorn who had never killed anyone. So, the first thing I wanted him to learn was how to kill."

After saying that, he gave Zhou Hao a deep look. Only after a long while did he smile and say, "Congratulations. You have passed this trial."

Zhou Hao's thoughts were somewhat tangled. After sorting them out, he asked, "Is killing truly the only way to adapt to this world?"

Du Tianhong was slightly taken aback. He had not expected Zhou Hao to ask such a question.

He smiled, rose to his feet, and stood with his hands behind his back as he looked over the blood-dyed village. In a deep voice, he asked, "Do you think what happened in this illusion realm was real?"

Zhou Hao abruptly raised his head and stared at Du Tianhong in disbelief.

When Du Tianhong asked that question, it was practically the same as telling him that everything that had happened here had once truly existed.

Du Tianhong turned to Zhou Hao and said softly, "In a world without order, killing is a required lesson for everyone. Only by staying alive do you earn the right to establish order."

Zhou Hao fell silent. This was the first time he had realized just how cruel another world could be.

"Haha." Du Tianhong smiled and sighed. "You need to experience such things for yourself. I have no time to teach you, nor can I teach you. I only hope that when the time comes, you will not be softhearted."

Zhou Hao nodded woodenly. He was thinking about killing. This was actually related to the era he had lived in. In a peaceful age, he had never encountered any murder cases. If he had any connection to such things at all, it was only through what he had seen in the news.

But this world, one that possessed immensely powerful extraordinary forces, was clearly not so peaceful. No matter what, this was a reality he would have to accept in the future.

Du Tianhong's purpose in pulling him into the illusion realm had actually been very simple: he wanted Zhou Hao not to be softhearted at critical moments. It was a reminder from a senior who had roamed the world for many years.

Zhou Hao would naturally remember it well, but truly adapting to it would probably take some time.

"Alright, it is time for us to say goodbye as well," Du Tianhong suddenly said.

Zhou Hao snapped out of his thoughts, raised his head to look at Du Tianhong, and asked, "Are you actually dead or not?"

Uh... Three black lines slid down Du Tianhong's forehead. He looked at Zhou Hao speechlessly and said word by word, "Right now, I want to strangle you."

As his disciple, Zhou Hao was actually asking whether he was dead or not? Was he wishing for his death? What filial piety—he was practically being filial to death!

"Sigh~" Du Tianhong let out a faint sigh and said, "This version of me was constructed by the illusion realm. It is not actually me. Even our conversation is merely the effect of the illusion realm. The real me should be thoroughly dead."

Zhou Hao pondered for a moment, then suddenly dropped to both knees and called out with utter sincerity, "Master."

Then he kowtowed three times in succession.

Du Tianhong's pupils trembled faintly. That resolute cry of "Master" stirred a trace of emotion within him.

But he was already an old immortal, and he quickly reined in that bit of emotion. He stepped before Zhou Hao, placed a hand atop Zhou Hao's head, and remained silent for a long while before slowly saying:

"Good disciple."

As soon as he spoke, the illusion realm began to crumble apart. Du Tianhong turned into white light and scattered into the air, but at the very end, he left behind one final sentence.

"Perhaps we will meet again in the future."

Those words lingered by Zhou Hao's ear for a long time, immediately shattering the emotions that had just welled up within him.

"That old bastard really is like a lingering ghost!" Zhou Hao stood up and looked at the collapsing illusion realm, yet the corners of his mouth involuntarily curled upward.

His words were not very pleasant, but upon hearing that he might meet Du Tianhong again in the future, he was actually happy inside.

Bang~

The illusion realm shattered completely. Zhou Hao, lying within the coffin, abruptly opened his eyes and immediately slapped the coffin lid flying.

"Dad?"

Zhou Yuanbao and Mu Jinyin cried out worriedly.

They had noticed that something was wrong with Zhou Hao, but they could not think of any solution and could only fret helplessly at the side.

Seeing their anxious, worried expressions, Zhou Hao felt warmth rise in his heart. He smiled and said, "I made you worry."

Zhou Yuanjin curled his lips. "If you still hadn't woken up, we would have destroyed this coffin."

They had truly intended to do so, but they lacked the ability. Even if they unleashed all their strength, they could not damage the coffin. After all, it had been forged from a billion-year meteorite; its hardness was not something beings at their level could shake.

Zhou Hao comfortingly patted the two beasts on their heads and nodded. "In a few days, I'll reward each of you with a divine crystal."

"Yay~"

Zhou Yuanbao and Mu Jinyin immediately cheered.

Just then, a beam of light shot out from the coffin and shone upon the ceiling, where a mysterious pattern emerged.

A line of words floated above the coffin: Use the Spirit-Womb Ring to leave...