Chapter 505: The Mirage of the Sea God

After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Xuan finally stopped and leaped to his feet.

As expected of a Heaven-recognized master teacher, truly extraordinary. Like last time, although his cultivation hadn't increased and he remained at the peak of the Life Extension Realm, his understanding of cultivation and martial techniques had deepened.

His combat power had more than doubled.

If before he could fight evenly with a middle-stage Mortal Transformation Second Layer cultivator, now, even without the Library of Heaven's Path, he was no weaker than a late-stage Primordial Qi Realm cultivator.

His mental state had also changed drastically, soaring from 12.1 to 14.1, an increase of a full 2.0 points.

Although this leap wasn't as terrifying as the Heaven's Path Scroll, it would have been impossible to achieve through cultivation alone without decades of hard work.

In other words, a Heaven-recognized master teacher had saved him at least decades of cultivation in terms of mental state!

Terrifying!

Additionally, his Eye of Insight and Heaven-granted Speech had also improved. The former could now easily see through existences two minor levels above his own.

Now, even a mid-stage Primordial Qi Realm expert could be seen through effortlessly.

As for Heaven-granted Speech, with a thought, he could speak eloquently, making his words more convincing and hard to refuse.

Previously, to deceive Song Chao, he had to expend soul energy and use various persuasion tactics. Now, with Heaven-granted Speech activated, Song Chao would involuntarily believe him and be unable to refute.

More importantly, having gained the recognition of heaven and earth, his understanding of being a master teacher had deepened, and his mental state had advanced further on the path of clarity.

No wonder everyone sought the recognition of heaven and earth—for a master teacher, its effect was nothing short of rebirth.

His master teacher abilities had improved, and although his cultivation hadn't broken through, it was not far off!

Being a Heaven-recognized master teacher had given him a clearer understanding of cultivation. Although he was still at the peak of the Life Extension Realm, breaking through would now be very easy.

After all, he had studied hundreds of Primordial Qi Realm manuals. Even if they didn't form a complete Heaven's Path cultivation technique, they pointed the direction for cultivation. With enough spirit stones, breaking through was not complicated.

Let's take another look at this room!

After sensing the changes in himself, Zhang Xuan looked up again.

It's not a formation, nor a mechanism!

With his mental state now smooth and unhindered, his perception of things was vastly different from before. Earlier, he couldn't identify what was before him, but now, with a single glance, it was clear.

Has Master Zhang noticed something?

Everyone looked over.

A Heaven-recognized master teacher—they had never seen one, but since he could become a legend of the Master Teacher Pavilion, he must be extraordinary.

It's a method used by soul shamans to confuse souls. In other words, everything we see is fake—an illusion! Zhang Xuan frowned and said.

If it's an illusion, how did the puppet suddenly disappear? Luo Zhu didn't believe it.

An illusion can at most confuse people; it can't teleport things away, can it?

The puppet disappeared as soon as it left the passage, clearly transported away by some powerful formation.

Soul shamans confuse living beings with souls, making us 'see' the same scene, so we naturally believe it's real. But... puppets are different; they have no soul, no thoughts, and cannot be confused... So, it didn't disappear; it entered reality, unable to enter the illusion, and thus we couldn't see it!

Zhang Xuan explained.

Soul shamans confuse living beings with souls, making them unable to distinguish reality from illusion. Puppets are different; they can't be confused, so they directly enter reality and are naturally unseen by people.

If that's true... could it be a soul shaman's... [Mirage of the Sea God]?

Suddenly thinking of something, Luo Zhu's face turned pale, and he nearly fell to the ground in fright.

Mirage of the Sea God?

Everyone looked confused, even the usually knowledgeable Pavilion Master Sai was at a loss.

The Mirage of the Sea God is a special technique of soul shamans. It uses soul energy to create an extremely realistic scene, making people involuntarily walk into it, like a mirage in the desert. Once inside, the soul leaves the body and falls under their control, unable to escape...

As he explained, Luo Zhu trembled.

Soul leaves the body?

Everyone was startled.

The reason humans can resist soul shamans is because they have a physical body. Once the soul leaves, they are completely at the shaman's mercy—like meat on a chopping block.

That's right. If we had gone in earlier, our souls would have left our bodies. Even if we didn't die... we'd be as good as dead!

Luo Zhu was drenched in cold sweat.

The others also turned pale.

Fortunately, they had sensed something strange and hadn't rushed in. If they had, their souls would have left their bodies, and they wouldn't even know how they died.

As expected of a soul shaman, truly terrifying—even the means of killing are hard to guard against.

But... being able to use the Mirage of the Sea God means the level is at least six-star. Could this be... a six-star soul shaman's tomb? Luo Zhu wondered.

The Mirage of the Sea God is not something any soul shaman can use; only those who have reached six-star can do it.

Like master teachers and other top-tier professions, soul shamans have high requirements for strength. Without sufficient cultivation, it's impossible... In other words, the owner of this tomb is very likely a six-star soul shaman!

At that level, if alive, they would definitely stand at the pinnacle of Mortal Transformation!

Even after death, they are not to be trifled with by people like us!

I think we should leave immediately! Pavilion Master Sai's brows twitched.

Although he also wanted to see the soul shaman's tomb and check for treasures, if the tomb owner had reached six-star in life, he dared not disturb them.

That's right. Such a powerful figure is not something we can afford to provoke...

Jin Conghai also clenched his fists and quickly spoke.

The higher one's cultivation, the more they know to revere.

The more knowledge one has, the more they understand their ignorance.

To deal with a six-star soul shaman, even one dead for who knows how many years, the few of them were definitely not up to the task.

Leave? That's a good idea...

Looking up, Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly: But I'm afraid it's already too late...

Hehe!

Before he finished speaking, everyone felt a chill, and a sinister laugh sounded.

I didn't expect my Mirage of the Sea God to be seen through so easily. Not bad, it seems I've got some decent bodies here!

The voice was eerie and grating, as if it echoed in the depths of their souls, sending chills down their spines.

Whoosh!

As the voice ended, the flowers and white clouds before them vanished, revealing an empty hall.

In the hall, a single coffin sat quietly, about forty to fifty meters away from them. They couldn't see its exact size, but judging by its appearance, it was much larger and more imposing than the four in the first hall.

Resurrection? You want to possess us? Zhang Xuan squinted.

With his mind clear and fully operational, he no longer felt nervousness or fear.

After sleeping for so many years, with people coming in, of course I want to possess them. Otherwise, how can I recover? The voice chuckled.

As he spoke, Zhang Xuan's Eye of Insight flickered as he searched around.

No matter how strong this guy was, he had been dead for who knows how many years. Since he used illusions to confuse them instead of showing himself, it meant he wasn't as terrifying as they imagined.

If he could find the hiding place, there might be a turning point.

However, after looking around, he found nothing.

Don't waste your efforts. If I don't want to appear, with your measly strength, who can find me? The voice seemed to see through his intention and spoke again.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

This voice communicated through the soul, directly echoing in their minds. If the other party didn't want to appear, it was indeed hard to locate.

He turned to look at Jin Conghai and Pavilion Master Sai, who also shook their heads involuntarily.

It seemed they had thought the same as him, trying to find the source through the voice, but also failed.

Master Zhang, I'll try to hold him off. You take the young master and the others and escape!

Just as he was thinking about what to do, Jin Conghai's voice transmission reached his ears.

Looking up, he saw Jin Conghai's eyes filled with determination, showing a resolve to die.

Do you have a plan? Zhang Xuan transmitted back.

No, but I have some poisons that can affect the soul. They might have some effect! Jin Conghai's expression was grave.

Powerful poisons can not only kill the body but also destroy the soul.

For example, the innate fetal poison on Zhang Xuan, planted in the womb and passed down with life, preventing one from living past thirty—it was even more terrifying than destroying the soul.

You want to poison me? You'll have to find me first!

As the two were discussing, the voice sounded again.

You can hear voice transmissions? Zhang Xuan's eyes widened.

They had used voice transmission, which only the two parties could hear. Even Pavilion Master Sai, standing nearby, didn't know the content. Yet this guy heard it clearly and knew they planned to poison him...

Wasn't that too powerful?

I can communicate with you through the soul. Not only voice transmissions, but I can also clearly know what you're thinking!

With a cold snort, the voice continued: Enough, stop struggling in vain. This passage, though without traps or dangers, can be opened and closed. While you were confused by the Mirage of the Sea God, I closed it. Even if you want to leave, it's too late!

Hearing this, everyone turned to look behind them. Their faces turned pale at once.

Indeed, as the voice said, the passage behind them was blocked by a rock, leaving no trace, as if the passage had never existed.

Let me try!

With a grim face, Jin Conghai turned and punched the rock.

Boom!

A violent tremor shook the area. The rock seemed protected by some massive force. Even with his Mortal Transformation Fourth Layer strength, he couldn't budge it, let alone break it.

Let me try too!

Pavilion Master Sai stepped forward, drew his long blade, and slashed several times. The result was the same as Jin Conghai's—no effect.

This is a [Dragon-Breaking Lock] set by a six-star master artisan. Unless you reach Mortal Transformation Ninth Layer, you can't break it with pure strength. Otherwise, you'll just have to die here... or be possessed by me...

The voice cackled.

Dragon-Breaking Lock?

Everyone's faces darkened.

Trapped here, unable to go forward and afraid to retreat... Were they really just waiting to die?