The woman in the illusion, dressed in white, possessed an otherworldly elegance, as if floating above the mundane world!

Her limpid eyes burst with fierce Sword Intent. With a sword slung over her back and her hands clas meninas her, she seemed capable of slashing the heavens and cleaving the earth. Her oppressive aura was so potent it felt as though it could penetrate the illusion, instantly intimidating everyone in the great hall.

"This, this... This is Elder Yan?" the middle-aged man leading the group stammered.

"No wonder she's our Sword Sect's Elder Yan. Even the shadow of her illusion is terrifying," the slightly portly elder wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "My Heart Calming Illusion Sword Technique at the Ten-layer Realm can't withstand it."

"No, how could this child's illusion conjure Elder Yan?" the beautiful woman asked, puzzled. "How could his innermost fear be Elder Yan?"

"Wait, look! Isn't there something odd about this Elder Yan?"

As they looked again, the illusory Elder Yan suddenly drew the longsword from her back and slashed forward.

「——」

Wang Mu's heart skipped a beat as he stared at the figure before him. Why would it be her? What Seeking Dao Rope? How could I possibly be afraid of her?

This is impossible! It's fake! All of it is just fake! Wang Mu saw through Yan Qingwu's illusion in a glance. It's merely an illusion, after all.

Now that I've undergone the Bone Marrow Transplant, my spirit and soul are far beyond ordinary. Even if this Seeking Dao Rope truly conjures the thing I fear most... Wang Mu knew his soul could still remain clear-headed at all times.

Even though the appearance of this illusion made his heart jump for a moment.

Moreover, there had been several other shadows behind it, but they had completely dissipated under the now more prominent illusion of Yan Qingwu.

Besides, it's just an illusion. Does Yan Qingwu even know about my connection to Dongfang Mu? Even if she appears, what can she do? It's just meant to scare me. A mere Seeking Dao Rope. Wang Mu's mind was incredibly lucid. He planned to walk right through the illusion...

However, elsewhere, on Gu Yun Mountain, within a void grotto-heaven.

Yan Qingwu, who was meditating with her eyes closed, gently opened them. Who conjured me in their Seeking Dao Rope's illusion? She made a quick calculation with her fingers and paused in surprise. So it's him... Why would he fear me deep within his heart? Karma, karma! Wait, could it be...

With a flick of her sleeve, a cloud drifted from the fabric, transforming into a light screen in mid-air.

The light screen showed Wang Mu's current situation within the illusion.

He's clearly not afraid at all. Yan Qingwu observed Wang Mu's current fearless demeanor and, for a moment, even wondered if there was a problem with the Seeking Dao Rope. How can this lad's soul be so clear, like jade? Could it be his Hundred Refinement Body Technique... Yan Qingwu was somewhat puzzled. Just looking at him like this, a thought struck her.

Suddenly, she pointed her finger.

A ray of light shot from her fingertip like a spiritual gleam, flying into the light screen and merging with the illusion within.

The next moment, the illusion's eyes seemed to come alive, becoming terrifyingly real.

I want to see if you're truly unafraid, or just pretending to be.

...

Wang Mu waved his sleeve, intending to walk straight through this illusion and reach the other side in one go.

However, he had only taken a single step.

The next moment, the illusion of Yan Qingwu suddenly erupted with a terrifying aura. She then drew the longsword from her back and slashed it down at Wang Mu!

As the sword slashed towards him, Wang Mu's scalp tingled with terror.

He was inexplicably gripped by a sense of mortal danger!

You've got to be kidding me! Is this Seeking Dao Rope really that powerful?

Wang Mu was so startled he couldn't move. The illusion seemed to have come to life, especially as the sword descended, giving Wang Mu the distinct impression that it could split the heavens and cleave the earth.

It's too real! I already saw through it! It's fake... It absolutely has to be... Damn it!

"Wait, spare me!" Wang Mu shouted instinctively.

In that instant, he could no longer distinguish between reality and illusion.

He had been confident he could identify all the previous illusions at a glance.

But this one, suddenly, he just couldn't tell.

Especially that aura; it was too real!

Too terrifying!

Wang Mu genuinely began to suspect that this was the real Elder Yan who had appeared before him, discovered his identity, and was now striking him down with her sword.

Startled, Wang Mu blurted it out.

The illusion, however, seemed not to hear.

"Why kill me?" Wang Mu yelled.

The illusion still did not pause.

The sword light, though mere inches away, felt as distant as the horizon as it descended upon Wang Mu.

The breath of death swept over his entire body.

At this critical moment, the imposing aura stunned everyone in the great hall into silence.

Seeing that the situation was unalterable, Wang Mu decided to employ his ultimate method:

He spread his arms and lay back on the chains, as if giving up completely.

"Like I'm afraid of dying! Come on, come on, strike me right here!"

As he spoke, he even thrust his chest out.

Then he closed his eyes, ignoring everything, truly as if waiting for death.

At this moment, Wang Mu had truly resigned himself to death.

After all, as a transmigrator, it didn't really matter where he came from or where he was going.

BOOM!

The sword light fell, landing between Wang Mu's eyebrows. It lingered for a moment but descended no further.

The illusion instantly turned to dust and dissipated.

The immense aura dissipated, scattering the surrounding Cloud Sea.

Su Yu, watching from behind, was somewhat dumbfounded.

"Brother Su Yu, what just happened?" someone asked in surprise. "His assessment, how was its aura so terrifying?"

"Ah, did you all feel it too? I felt it as well!"

"So terrifying! I felt like I was about to die; that aura was so strong! This person is so formidable. He progressed so quickly just now; I wonder what he saw?"

The Feathered People siblings exchanged glances, their eyes filled with confusion.

"That... perhaps he harbors a great terror in his heart," Su Yu said after a moment's silence. "However, as long as one is fearless! Look, just now he was fearless, so the illusion vanished."

The crowd was silent. Ah, was that fearlessness?

"I hope that when everyone else goes up later, they too will not be afraid and will directly face the depths of their own hearts."

Su Yu felt that Wang Mu's assessment was a bit strange.

Normally, only the person on the Seeking Dao Rope would experience the illusions. Others shouldn't be able to see or feel them. The exceptions were the Peak Masters in the main hall responsible for overseeing the assessment. There was a Formation in the main hall connected to the Seeking Dao Rope, allowing them to observe everything happening on it.

From where they were, they could only infer the participant's approximate experience based on their reactions.

They shouldn't be able to see any illusions, nor feel anything... And what's more... That illusion's aura... it seemed like Elder Yan's... Su Yu mused. He had a bold idea.

「——」

In the main hall.

The higher-ups of the Sword Sect had all fallen silent. They were silent because they had understood something.

"That... just now, was that Elder Yan herself making a move?" the portly elder muttered. "Why would she personally test a mere mortal?"

"That aura was so lifelike; it definitely wasn't just an illusion... Could it be that Elder Yan suspects this person?" the leading middle-aged man pondered. "Logically, there shouldn't be a reason... Elder Yan's actions are truly incomprehensible."

"This person is a villager from Anle Village at the foot of Gu Yun Mountain. Three years ago, at Yunlai Creek, he found Elder Yan, who had perished after failing her Tribulation Crossing," the beautiful woman mused. "For someone like him, facing a Sword Immortal like Elder Yan, a mere wisp of her aura would be enough to obliterate his Divine Soul. So, it's understandable that Elder Yan would be what he feared most in his heart."

"It's unexpected that Elder Yan would personally test him. Perhaps she holds this person in high regard."

As they discussed it, they all felt it made some sense, but they couldn't fathom the thoughts of their own Ancestor.

...

Meanwhile, in a void grotto-heaven atop Gu Yun Mountain.

Yan Qingwu watched Wang Mu lying down, resigned to death, and fell silent for a moment.

Indeed, the ignorant are also fearless, Yan Qingwu shook her head. I wonder how long this karmic tie will last... After such probing, this boy hasn't shown any resemblance to him... He shouldn't be a descendant either... What strange karma...

Just then, she suddenly sensed something, and a look of disdain appeared on her face.

So it's you, you demoness! How dare you trespass into my Sword Sect's Holy Land! Very well, this is a perfect opportunity...

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