The figure in a blue-gray patched robe pressed his palms together, lowered his eyes, and continued his daily ascent without responding to the skeleton man's words.
The skeleton man continued:
"All Illusionists in this world may obtain it—except you. You are not one chosen by the gods. You are an outcast among Illusionists.
"If you are willing to return to the real world, there may yet be a way to survive when heaven and earth are overturned in the future. But if you dare covet divine authority, only destruction awaits you. The Past Leaves No Trace, you were more sensible back then."
Upon hearing those final words, Master Wuhen finally raised his eyes. His voice was weighty as a bell, deep as a drum. "I retreated back then only because my cultivation was insufficient. I have endured in silence for twenty years for this very day."
"And what has enduring for twenty years accomplished? You were Level 9 twenty years ago, and you are still Level 9 twenty years later. What is the difference?" The skeleton man sounded disdainful.
Master Wuhen said slowly, "Then what are you afraid of?"
The words seemed to provoke the skeleton man. The soul flames in its eye sockets surged as it "shouted" sternly:
"Back then, you rats snuck into the Hall of Gods and nearly disrupted the balance of the Spirit Realm. The curse failed to kill you, so you should have hidden yourself away. Yet now you have come to steal divine authority again. You seek death—this is the path to death."
Master Wuhen's expression went briefly distant. "They are already dead, and Ling Tuo has fallen as well. We were too impatient back then. Had we waited for Ling Tuo and Celestial Master Zhang to advance to demigods, or for Chu Shang