Chapter 42 - Eye of Reality

Many people, when faced with such a choice, might choose to stay even though they know it’s illusory.

But Leng Yan was never one to be swayed by lust, and with Shui Yunyao already in his heart, there was no reason for him to agree to stay, especially since this was just an illusory realm.

“What happens if I don’t want to stay and want to leave?” Leng Yan asked with a vigilant heart, a smile on his lips.

“You can’t decide whether to stay or not. Right now, your body is a soul body. If you refuse, we’ll make your soul vanish! Think it over!” said the lady in purple, who had been silent, with a cold demeanor.

Hearing this, Leng Yan was taken aback. Although he knew in his heart that these were illusions, he dared not risk it, as these women might indeed have the power to harm him.

At this moment, Leng Yan was less capable than an ordinary person. If these four women possessed dao magic, wouldn’t his soul be in danger?

“Is that a threat?” Leng Yan asked in an icy voice.

“So what if it is? Sisters, let’s go. When we return, I expect your answer.” The lady in red said with authority, flicking her robe and turning away.

The seven women appeared like colorful ribbons, soaring into the sky and vanishing in an instant. As they left, a giant red lotus appeared beneath Leng Yan’s feet, prompting his alertness and attempt to leap away.

But he found chains anchoring him in place.

Crimson flames ignited, and Leng Yan immediately felt waves of pain. This pain was different from physical pain; it was an agony of the soul.

These flames were not ordinary; they were red lotus karma fire, meant to burn the soul.

“Ah!”

Such pain was beyond what any ordinary person could endure. Unable to withstand it, Leng Yan cried out in agony.

He gritted his teeth, desperately trying to calm himself, convinced that he could find a way as long as he remained composed.

“Is this an illusory realm or reality?” Leng Yan always believed it to be an illusion, but the piercing soul pain made him doubt his thoughts; an illusion shouldn’t cause such pain. Could this be real?

Clutching his head with both hands, he swayed, hoping to lessen the pain, but the blood-red flames beneath continued to scorch his soul.

“So painful! Ah! It’s so painful!”

The unbearable agony made Leng Yan roll on the ground, clutching his head and violently striking the earth. But it was all in vain, as the pain persisted relentlessly.

After an hour of inhuman torment, Leng Yan was left without strength, only able to lie on the ground and writhe in pain, his body numb to the agony, reduced to silent groans.

“So, have you made up your mind? Are you staying or not?” At some point, the seven women had returned, with the lady in red asking in a seductive voice.

Their arrival marked the end of the torment. The red lotus karma fire dissipated into sparks in the air, leaving everything as beautiful as before. Only Leng Yan lay on the grass like a corpse, his faint breaths the only sign of life.

Leng Yan’s condition was a deliberate act to buy himself some time to think.

Seeing his state, the seven women did not press him immediately but instead chatted leisurely, as if waiting for him to recuperate.

“Reality or illusion?” This question persistently lingered in Leng Yan’s mind. Everything he saw and felt seemed real, yet he constantly believed it was all an illusory realm.

“Could what my eyes see be false?” Leng Yan murmured, doubting his own vision. Suddenly, a spark of clarity flashed in his mind.

“Don’t be deceived by the heart, don’t let the spiritual mind be disturbed; what I see is the most real.”

Leng Yan repeated this phrase, his eyes gradually filling with understanding. The illusory realm had fooled his eyes, deceived his heart, and disturbed his spiritual mind.

This had caused his soul to perceive an illusory reflection; a reflection altered by his heart that was conveyed to his spiritual mind, trapping him in a dream-like world.

The so-called pain and suffering were born from his spiritual mind, binding him in a self-imposed cocoon.

By purifying his heart and cleansing his spiritual mind, he could restore the true scenes his eyes beheld, breaking the illusion effortlessly!

In that moment, Leng Yan came to a profound realization, as if a thin veil had been pierced. Simultaneously, he felt a surge of power descend upon him, and his eyes began to feel a warm sensation.

Closing his eyes and opening them again, everything before him gradually vanished, leaving only the Void.

In the midst of the Void stood a middle-aged man in a yellow robe, exuding an aura of invincibility and permanence.

His gaze carried a sense of ancient wisdom, his presence was rustic yet majestic, and his demeanor commanded the world, unrivaled and supreme.

Leng Yan looked around, feeling somewhat bewildered, uncertain of where he was.

“Senior, may I ask where is this place?” Leng Yan stood cautiously in the Void, as if walking on thin ice, not daring to move an inch, and asked.

His words echoed in the Void, but the middle-aged man remained motionless, maintaining the same posture and expression.

“Senior!” Leng Yan called out once more. Yet, the middle-aged man gave no response.

Testing the ground, Leng Yan took a tentative step. Even though he stood in the Void, an unseen force held him securely.

Realizing he wouldn’t fall, Leng Yan boldly approached the middle-aged man.

“This aura fills me with awe!” Leng Yan remarked, stunned by the enormity of the presence.

“I have finally awaited your arrival!” Suddenly, a bright light emanated from the figure, and a phantom identical to him appeared, the voice coming from this apparition.

“You’ve been waiting for me?” Leng Yan asked, puzzled.

“Don’t ask me anything. I am merely a remnant of divine sense, and as soon as I finish speaking, I will completely dissipate.”

“My life was devoted to battle, with combat as my unwavering faith. Against both the god race and the ancient race, I stood unrivaled.

Without opponents, there were no battles, which I couldn’t accept. Finally, through my search, I found the way of heaven in this purgatory. I fought the way of heaven with all my might, only to suffer a crushing defeat, leaving my physical body and soul to dissipate. What remained was my battle faith, left in this purgatory.

Today, your journey through the illusory realm shows you have grasped the eye of reality, and you are worthy of receiving my legacy of faith.

I hope you can carry on my faith and challenge heaven! The voice from the apparition was filled with endless battle intent, and as the voice faded, so too did the apparition.”

“Who is this person? To battle the way of heaven! What immense audacity!” Leng Yan was stunned. What is the way of heaven? It is the supreme ruler of all things, so much so that even an immortal appears insignificant in its eyes.

Yet this person dared to battle against it!

Looking at the body of belief before him, Leng Yan felt his blood boiling. If this person could battle the way of heaven, then why couldn’t he? To battle against the heavens-what a life worth living!

Grasping the body of belief before him, Leng Yan watched as it shattered into pieces. He inhaled deeply, absorbing the battle faith entirely into his own beliefs.

“Battle! As cultivators, why should we fear a battle?”

Battle! As cultivators, how can we not battle?

Battle! Battle against the way of heaven, strive for greatness and ambition!

In Leng Yan’s mind, there was only battle. This battle was courage. This battle was fearlessness. This battle was defiance.

This was true “defiance,” a faith that defies fate, proclaiming control over one’s own destiny, not bound by the heavens!

A golden character for battle glowed on Leng Yan’s forehead. At that moment, filled with battle intent, Leng Yan exuded an overwhelming aura of supremacy. This transformation was all due to absorbing the battle faith.

“Is this the essence of battle faith? What an overwhelming feeling, and the battle experience contained within this faith is certainly the greatest gain.” Leng Yan exhaled, savoring the sensation brought on by the battle faith.

Still immersed in the feeling of battle intent, the surrounding Void began to fracture, and a force propelled Leng Yan outward.

As Leng Yan took one last look back while leaving the purgatory, a blood-red world came into view. Within that crimson realm stood a black-robed man, smirking at him, his gaze filled with cold indifference and ruthlessness.