Illusion

"It's done!" Joy flashed in Yao Chen's eyes.

"Remember, after taking the pill, do not refine it with Dou Qi. Instead, wrap it in spiritual power and activate its restorative ability." Yao Chen wiped away nonexistent sweat, handed the pill bottle to Huo Yuhao, and spoke solemnly.

Huo Yuhao accepted the pill, obvious unease appearing on his face as he cautiously asked, "This is the Spirit-Restoring Pill?"

Yao Chen smiled and nodded. A faint trace of exhaustion seemed to show on his face. Given his current state, refining a Sixth Grade pill was still somewhat taxing.

Not missing the fatigue on Yao Lao's face, Huo Yuhao softly urged, "Now that the pill has been refined, Teacher, you should return to the ring and rest first."

Yao Chen waved his hand and stored the Black Demon Cauldron on the ground into the Ancient Flame Ring. Just as he was about to slip into the ring, his expression changed slightly. He suddenly turned his head and looked toward Green Mountain Town.

"What's wrong?" Yao Chen's actions made the three of them tense up, and they hurriedly asked.

"Someone is coming. Let's go!" Yao Chen said in a deep voice. Huo Yuhao and the other two reacted swiftly, leaping onto Blue Eagle's back together. Once all three of them were seated securely, Blue Eagle spread its wings and took flight. At the same time, Yao Chen's figure vanished, his soul power turning into a curtain of light that enveloped them and concealed their presence. Huo Yuhao also mobilized his spiritual power to wrap around everyone. As space distorted, their traces vanished completely from both the naked eye and soul perception.

Not long after Huo Yuhao's group left, a streak of azure light flashed past, and Yun Yun appeared in the valley still carrying the scent of pills.

"Have they already left?"

That night, inside a secluded cave, the three sat around a campfire after dinner. Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian saw that Huo Yuhao's face, which should have been filled with joy, remained full of nervous unease. They could not help comforting him.

"Don't worry. You don't doubt Master's pill-refining skills, do you?"

"Brother Yuhao, the pill Teacher refined will definitely heal your Spiritual Sea."

Huo Yuhao shook his head without speaking. Wearing an expression they could not understand, as though he were about to be judged, he took out the pill and swallowed it.

As the pill entered his body, Huo Yuhao mobilized his spiritual power to wrap around it completely, carefully stimulating its medicinal effect. Strands of energy followed his spiritual power into his Spiritual Sea, repairing crack after crack. Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Sea became whole and smooth once more.

After the final strand of golden light merged into it, the pitch-black world brightened again after many years.

His once-vast Spiritual Sea had shrunk considerably. Waves surged across its brilliant golden surface, revealing the turmoil in its owner's heart. Yet after the golden light faded, the empty spiritual world did not fall into darkness again.

The waves gradually calmed, and a person slowly emerged from the tranquil surface, standing atop the water.

His eyes were tightly closed, and he did not dare open them. He silently felt the cold wind formed from spiritual power sweep over his body.

"Yuhao, long time no see!" Layered voices rang out, too indistinct to make out clearly. Huo Yuhao opened his eyes and smiled.

"Long time no see, everyone!"

Golden figures surrounded Huo Yuhao. Perhaps it truly had been too long; a faint sense of unfamiliarity held them back. Even Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and Snow Empress, who were closest to Huo Yuhao, did not rush forward.

Huo Yuhao walked up to every figure and gently embraced them, not even sparing the Evil Emperor. When he embraced Ice Empress, Brother Sky Dream's jealous muttering sounded by his ear, and a tear slipped from the corner of his eye.

"It's so good to see you all again."

"Oh no!" In the real world, Yao Chen suddenly emerged from the Ancient Flame Ring and caught Huo Yuhao's body. He frantically mobilized his soul power and poured it into Huo Yuhao's body.

Ding! A crisp soul chime rang out as a seven-colored barrier appeared. Yao Chen's soul power was bounced away, completely unable to enter Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Sea.

"That's impossible?!"

"What happened?" The two who had been cultivating at the cave entrance hurried inside, anxiously looking at Yao Chen as they demanded, "Did something happen to Yuhao?"

Yao Chen was sweating profusely in panic, utterly at a loss. Even his soul body flickered between bright and dim, becoming unstable.

"Yuhao's Spiritual Sea had clearly been completely restored, but his spiritual power suddenly began draining rapidly. It won't stop at all. If this continues, I'm afraid he will..."

"What will happen?" Xiao Yi Xian grabbed Yao Chen's sleeve, her voice trembling.

"He'll die. He'll never wake up again." After several failed attempts to enter Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Sea, Yao Chen slumped to the ground in despair.

"Isn't there any pill we can use?" Xiao Yan viciously pinched his thigh, forcing himself to remain calm.

"No. Even if we start refining one now, it will be too late."

"Damn it!" Xiao Yan swung his fist and furiously smashed it into the ground, blasting out a sizable crater. Stones flew everywhere, and some pebbles struck Huo Yuhao's face. Suddenly, Huo Yuhao's voice sounded.

"Let me sleep for a while. Just a little while will be enough."

The three hurriedly looked at Huo Yuhao. What they could not understand was that Huo Yuhao's eyes remained closed, while a brilliant smile appeared on his face. It should have been a happy smile, yet it gave them the suffocating feeling that their hearts were being clenched.

Drip! Drip!

Tears fell. Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian looked at each other and saw the unceasing tears on one another's faces.

"Strange. Why are you crying?"

Within the spiritual world, Huo Yuhao held Dong'er's and Qiu'er's hands, one in each of his own, as he told the soul spirits about his experiences on the Battle Qi Continent. He spoke of the fatherly love he had felt from Xiao Zhan, the brotherhood between himself and Xiao Yan, and the beautiful scenery he had seen while training in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. He told them every detail, wishing he could recount every minute and second of the past decade to them.

At first, they responded eagerly. But soon, they quieted down and listened intently to Huo Yuhao's increasingly hurried voice.

"Yuhao." Wang Dong'er and Wang Qiu'er interrupted him together.

"I know. I know..."

Huo Yuhao struggled to keep his eyes open. Though there were no tears, everything before him grew blurrier and blurrier. He held Dong'er's and Qiu'er's hands, never daring to tighten his grip.

He struggled to raise his head, wanting to see everything before him clearly. Dizziness gradually overcame him, and in the darkness, it felt as though someone struck him. With a splash, Huo Yuhao fell onto the lake's surface.

Inside the cave, Huo Yuhao lay on the ground. Xiao Yan panted heavily, still clutching a stone in his hand. "It seems to have worked. Master, take a look. Is Yuhao's spiritual power..."

"Haa..." Only after examining him did Yao Chen finally let out a long breath, his voice weak. "It's fine. Yuhao's spiritual power is no longer draining."

After sighing in relief, Yao Chen's heart tightened again. Looking at Huo Yuhao's peaceful yet pale face, he muttered, "Yuhao, your past... just what was it?"

He turned to Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian. The tear streaks on their faces had not yet dried. Yao Chen wearily waved his hand. "You two should rest first. I'll watch over him."

Xiao Yi Xian shook her head and said to Yao Chen and Xiao Yan, "Teacher, Xiao Yan, you've both been tired all day. Let me watch over Brother Yuhao."

Seeing the unquestionable look in Xiao Yi Xian's eyes, Yao Chen and Xiao Yan stopped insisting. Yao Chen placed a soul barrier at the cave entrance before returning to the Ancient Flame Ring to rest with Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yi Xian carried Huo Yuhao to the campfire and let him rest his head on her lap. She quietly looked at his face, then suddenly smiled. Combined with the tears still not wiped dry from the corners of her eyes, she looked somewhat ridiculous.

After an unknown amount of time, Huo Yuhao opened his eyes. Seeing the dim and empty spiritual world before him, he remained frozen for a long while.

He slowly raised his hands.

Then, in the empty Spiritual Sea, he embraced himself.

After a long time, Huo Yuhao willed himself to leave the Spiritual Sea.