Death, the Heart Devil Tribulation Arrives
Not long after, Li Yunjing climbed to the three hundredth step, where the oppressive aura had tripled.
The once densely packed crowd has now thinned out considerably.
Almost all the Golden Core Realm cultivators were wiped out. Those who managed to get here were all top geniuses in the Nascent Soul Realm. Even so, they were all pale-faced, their foreheads covered in cold sweat, and every step they took required all their strength. Their legs trembled uncontrollably.
Many people gritted their teeth and climbed dozens more levels, but in the end they couldn't withstand the heavy feeling that pressed down on their souls. Helplessly, they crushed their participation jade tokens and were enveloped in the Golden Light of the protective array and sent out of the Path of Immortal Ascension.
The lights of those eliminated rose and fell, streaking across the misty mountains like shooting stars, making one's heart clench with anxiety.
Li Yunjing walked alone in the middle of the crowd, his steps steady and normal.
The Supreme Unity Pure Subtlety Scripture flowed slowly through my body, and the clear and pure Dao intent spread from my Dantian to my limbs and bones, isolating me from the heavy pressure that directly oppressed my soul.
Unlike other cultivators who gritted their teeth and endured the hardship, he did not deliberately urge his spiritual power to accelerate his ascent. Instead, he climbed upwards at an almost natural pace, as if the path beneath his feet was not a perilous trial but an ordinary cobblestone path.
Cultivating immortality begins with cultivating the mind.
This was the first sentence Nangong Chengyu taught him, and it has been the principle he has always adhered to since he transmigrated to this world of cultivation.
At this moment, the illusion around them gradually intensified.
The formations on the Path of Immortal Ascension will stir up the deepest obsessions in a cultivator's heart, conjuring up scenes that are difficult to distinguish from reality.
Some saw mountains of Spirit Stone Law Treasure, reached out to grab them but missed their footing; others saw their deceased loved ones, and nearly suffered Qi Deviation in their loss of composure; still others saw themselves ascend to the pinnacle of immortality, receiving the worship of countless sects, becoming so engrossed that they could never extricate themselves...
Li Yunjing activated his power to Shatter Illusions, and all illusions appeared to him as fragile as bubbles, easily shattered.
He coldly observed the struggles and descent of the cultivators around him, without a trace of mockery in his heart. Everyone has their own obsessions, but most people can never overcome them in their entire lives.
However, just as he crossed the five hundred steps, his brows suddenly furrowed slightly.
Something's not right.
These illusions were too real, and too dangerous.
According to the information he had heard in the past few days, although the State of Mind illusion of the Taiyi Path of Immortal Ascension can test one's Dao heart, it will never damage the cultivator's foundation. At most, it will only eliminate those whose Dao heart is unstable.
But in the illusion he was seeing now, there was a faint, chilling black aura lingering around it. Any illusion tainted by this black aura would instantly become a hundred times more violent.
Just then, a person suddenly let out a shrill scream, clutching his head and rolling wildly on the steps, his eyes bloodshot and veins bulging all over his body.
"No! No! My sect! My disciples!"
He waved his hands wildly, his spiritual energy shooting out uncontrollably in all directions, causing the cultivators around him who were not trapped by the illusion to retreat in fright.
Those cultivators who were still immersed in the illusion were struck by spiritual energy and seriously injured on the spot. Fortunately, they were protected by their competition jade tokens and were able to leave in time, preventing them from dying on the spot.
But in just a moment, the cultivator who had suddenly gone berserk froze, his eyes instantly losing their luster and becoming empty.
Immediately afterwards, his entire body crumbled like a weathered rock, starting from his fingertips, until it turned into dust and dissipated into the clouds, leaving only a dull jade competition token lying alone on the white jade steps.
The entire room fell silent.
Panic spread like a plague among the remaining cultivators.
"What happened? No one has ever died on the Path of Immortal Ascension in previous years!"
"That's terrifying! He was clearly just trapped in an illusion, how could he suddenly turn to ashes?"
"This is not a trial, this is a massacre!"
On the high platform, the elders from various sects who were being assessed using the Water Mirror Technique also changed their expressions.
"Perhaps this cultivator's Dao heart was flawed, and he just happened to experience a sudden outburst of inner demons," one of the red-haired cultivators mused. "Cultivating immortality is inherently defying the heavens; life and death are preordained, so there's no need to be alarmed."
On the Path of Immortal Ascension, Li Yunjing's gaze had already locked onto a figure walking not far ahead.
The person who was closely following Chu Lingxiao.
He appeared to be struggling against the pressure and climbing upwards, just like the other cultivators. However, Li Yunjing could clearly see that his hands, hanging at his sides, were rapidly forming obscure and difficult-to-understand Method Formula.
With each tremor of his fingertips, a barely perceptible wisp of black energy would overflow from his fingertips and merge into the Dao patterns on the steps beneath his feet.
After absorbing the black energy, the Dao patterns would flicker slightly, and then emit an even more intense illusionary power.
"I see."
Li Yunjing understood.
That guy embedded some kind of unknown magical power into the formation of the Path of Immortal Ascension.
This insidious curse can amplify the obsessions and fears in a cultivator's heart, turning what was originally a gentle trial of the State of Mind into a death trap that devours the soul.
The cultivator who turned to ashes did not die from inner demons, but rather had his entire soul extracted by the power of the curse.
This method is also rare even in the demonic path.
That person seems to be someone of considerable importance.
Li Yunjing's eyes turned cold.
He neither made a fuss nor acted rashly.
We are still on the Path of Immortal Ascension; we must not alert the enemy.
Moreover, since one Devil Cultivator has appeared, he is definitely not the only Devil Cultivator.
There are definitely many more Devil Cultivator who have infiltrated the scene; Li Yunjing needs to find an opportunity to call for help.
Going it alone is not a good thing.
Taking a deep breath, Li Yunjing continued climbing, searching for a solution.
At this moment, the voice of the Five Spirits Lord suddenly rang out.
"Young master, I'm here to lend you a hand!"
The next moment, Li Yunjing suddenly felt much lighter.
"This is..." Li Yunjing was surprised.
Five Spirits Lord explained, "The so-called Path of Immortal Ascension becomes increasingly difficult as you progress, but with your abilities, young master, reaching the summit is definitely not a problem."
This will take a lot of time, so I'm here to help you, young master, so you don't have to waste your time on such trivial matters.
"Thank you very much," Li Yunjing said.
The next moment, Li Yunjing's speed increased significantly.
He moved like a blue shadow through the clouds, constantly surpassing one cultivator after another.
Level 1000, Level 1200, Level 1400...
As the steps continued to rise, the pressure became increasingly terrifying. Fewer than fifteen cultivators were able to persist until this point, all of whom were top geniuses at the Nascent Spirit Transformation.
Chu Lingxiao was still far ahead, having already reached the 1,800th step.
Li Yunjing stopped at the 1,500th step.
It wasn't because he couldn't withstand the pressure, but because he felt an unprecedentedly terrifying illusionary power sweeping towards him like a tidal wave.
This is the first insurmountable barrier on the Taiyi Path of Immortal Ascension, and also the place where the Heart Devil Tribulation is strongest.
The Devil Cultivator following behind Chu Lingxiao had obviously noticed him as well. He turned around and glanced at him, a gentle yet murderous smile on his face, and his fingers suddenly moved faster.
Countless streams of black energy converged from all directions, swirling around Li Yunjing's body.
Li Yunjing took a deep breath, pushed the Supreme Unity Pure Subtlety Scripture to its limit, and prepared to face the Heart Devil Tribulation.
But the moment the illusion completely enveloped him, Li Yunjing was utterly stunned...