Chapter 109

A familiar setup, a familiar sensation.

When Yang Lingrui first noticed his vision blurring, he immediately recognized the illusion array’s influence.

Though the treasure land’s illusion array was formidable, it fell short compared to the Su Family’s "skyborne separate courtyard" displayed during the ceremonial gathering.

"Yang clan summons spirits, under the Immortal Master’s protection."

As the scenery around him shifted endlessly, Yang Lingrui recited the incantation through thought movement.

Chen Yang’s consciousness stored within his sea of consciousness suddenly surged through his mind, spreading outward.

With this activation, Yang Lingrui’s divine awareness could now pierce through the illusions to discern true directions.

He found himself teleported near the first spiritual insect colony, yet his eyes contradicted his divine awareness – instead of insects, he saw scorched earth littered with corpses. A towering corpse demon stood before him, emitting guttural roars.

Sensing Yang Lingrui’s presence, the creature whirled around and lunged at him with a bloodcurdling shriek.

Every detail felt real – the deafening cries, the rotting stench, the visual horror. Only his unwavering divine awareness confirming the emptiness before him stopped Yang Lingrui from raising defensive hands.

"GROWL!!"

The corpse demon’s jaws snapped shut… passing harmlessly through Yang Lingrui’s unmoving form before dissolving into nothingness.

"Terrifyingly convincing," he murmured. "Any unprepared cultivator would exhaust themselves fighting phantoms."

He turned toward the third spiritual insect colony’s location.

The Feng family remained unaware of the Mayfly Essence there. Using the illusion array’s confusion, he aimed to claim it first. Success would grant him freedom to leave this treasure land immediately when exits opened, regardless of the Feng clan’s fate.

Guarded by Chen Yang’s consciousness, Yang Lingrui maintained clear time perception. After roughly half a day’s travel, he reached the pond housing the third colony – now appearing as molten lava fields.

Yang Lingrui walked straight through the illusory heatwaves. When the illusions faded, he activated the technique of movement. A controlled breeze extracted the Mayfly Essence from the adult insect – a hair-thin strand of glowing energy.

"This Essence…" He examined it briefly before sealing it in a stone container. Mission complete.

He harbored no greed for the treasure land’s so-called Inheritance. With powerhouses like Feng Lingyue and Wang Weiming present, competition was pointless.

But as he prepared to leave, a formidable presence crashed into his divine awareness’s range.

Wang Weiming of Solitary Moon Mountain had arrived.

Recognizing the aura’s owner, Yang Lingrui’s heart pounded. A scheme quickly formed in his mind.

"Die, beast!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Stop your violence! Surrender now!"

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Yang Lingrui redirected his spiritual power to unleash techniques, fiercely striking a large boulder. He kept shouting as he attacked.

The commotion drew Wang Weiming, who witnessed Yang Lingrui’s "mad" assault on the rock. Moonlight ribbons swirled around Wang Weiming, his clear eyes showing immunity to the illusion array. His gaze briefly lingered on Yang Lingrui before scanning elsewhere.

Since entering the treasure land, Wang Weiming had exclusively hunted cultivators at the sixth level of Gathering Qi. In his eyes, trash cultivators like Yang Lingrui – who couldn’t even break an illusion array – were worthless ants beneath his notice.

Yang Lingrui intensified his performance, even expending several talismans for realism. Hidden by the beams of light, he stole glances at Wang Weiming. The man seemed to be searching for something.

After moments, Wang Weiming’s eyes brightened. He strode toward a specific spot. Not daring to stare, Yang Lingrui vaguely saw him perform a technique. The ground shook, and a stone door emerged from distant trees.

Ecstasy crossed Wang Weiming’s face as he approached the door. He produced a milky-white insect embryo from his robe, fitting it into the door’s crevice. As the embryo melted, the stone door creaked open to reveal a mirror-like teleportation array.

Yang Lingrui planned to flee once Wang Weiming entered. But when the array activated, terrible suction erupted. Wang Weiming vanished instantly into the vortex.

Yang Lingrui struggled briefly before the great force yanked him into the array too. Weightlessness gripped him as he tumbled through a kaleidoscopic tunnel. Flashing images showed his birth, childhood, and present self – then unfamiliar visions:

An ancient yellow earth road.

A purple lightning bolt streaking down.

The Lady in Green.

And finally, a sword thrust through his heart.

“Ha… ha…”

The scene abruptly stopped, and Yang Lingrui jolted awake.

He rolled upright and frantically patted his chest, letting out a shaky breath upon finding no injuries.

Dying for no reason here would’ve been utterly unacceptable.

His gaze snapped to a high platform nearby.

A jade box rested atop it, containing an ancient stone fragment wreathed in swirling plumes of smoke.

“N-no… stay back!”

“Die! All of you—die!”

Wang Weiming’s shouts echoed from nearby. Yang Lingrui’s stomach dropped at the sound, but when he turned, he saw the man still lying unconscious—face drenched in sweat, features twisted in distress.

Wang Weiming was trapped in the same nightmare Yang Lingrui had endured. His twitching eyelids and strained expression suggested he might awaken any moment.

*Thud-thud!*

Yang Lingrui’s pulse roared in his ears.

Without wasting a heartbeat, he channeled every shred of spiritual power into his limbs. Three mountain-opening talismans flew from his hand as he unleashed his most devastating strike—all aimed at Wang Weiming’s vulnerable form.

Yang Lingrui harbored no delusions. If Wang Weiming awoke first, that ruthless schemer would eliminate him to claim the treasure and bury witnesses.

Strike first or die.

This was his only window. His fingers closed around it.

*Crunch!*

Wang Weiming’s eyes flew open as bones shattered.

“Ghk—!” Blood sprayed from his lips as he lurched upright, murderous gaze locking onto Yang Lingrui.

“Maggot! You’d dare—?!”

Moonlight ribbons materialized around Wang Weiming’s raised hand—but the attack dissolved as fresh blood gushed from his mouth. The Spiritual Manipulation method flickered out while he swayed, barely staying upright.

“Impossible! How did you—?”

Only now did he grasp the severity of his wounds. His spiritual power refused to answer his call.

*Swoosh!*

Five wind blades cleaved the air. A crimson flash lit the chamber. Wang Weiming’s severed limbs scattered across stone tiles, his disbelieving stare frozen as his torso hit the ground.