Second Heart Trial: the delusion of power
The illusion of the blood sea shattered, and Han Li's divine soul steadied somewhat. Before he could catch his breath, however, the torrent of spacetime swept over him again. The scene before him shifted, and he found himself seated upon a throne in a towering, magnificent palace.
Stars formed the palace ceiling, white jade its steps, and spiritual energy billowed into rosy clouds. Below him, countless cultivators knelt in a dense, dark mass. Among them were Lu Yun, Nangong Wan, Zhou Tong, Wu Jiuzhi, and other allies of the righteous path, as well as demonic titans such as Myriad Beasts True Cultivator and Su Ziyan-even the dead Blood Fiend Ancestor! All wore reverent expressions and addressed him as "Alliance Leader," their eyes filled with awe and submission.
"Congratulations, Alliance Leader Han, on unifying the Righteous and Demonic Paths of Heavenly South and accomplishing an unparalleled undertaking!" Their voices surged like a sea, shaking the palace.
A sense of immense power filled his entire body. Han Li "felt" that his cultivation had reached Deity Transformation, or even higher. With the slightest thought, he could command the spiritual energy of mountains and rivers for ten thousand miles; with a gesture, he could determine the life or death of countless living beings. Authority, strength, reverence, beauty... the pinnacle of every worldly desire seemed within easy reach.
"Look. This is what you deserve." A seductive whisper rose, sounding as though it came from the depths of his own heart. "Destroy the demonic path, unite Heavenly South, receive the homage of ten thousand cultivators, and establish an immortal dominion. Wasn't this the moment you endured all those hardships for? Stay here, and all of this will be real. Eternal."
The sweetness of authority and the intoxication of power