Chapter 96: Illusory Realm

Everyone was focused on Ye Yuan, so naturally no one noticed the sudden change in Long Tang, except for Zuo Bugui.

And even Zuo Bugui could not imagine what kind of transformation Long Tang's change had brought him.

It was not until many years later, when Zuo Bugui heard that Long Tang had broken through the void as the strongest of the Boundless Realm and ascended to the Divine Domain, that he understood the significance of this conversation that had taken place in the State of Qin.

Of course, that is a story for later.

Just as Long Tang and Zuo Bugui were speaking, another commotion broke out in the crowd.

"Look, Ye Yuan has stopped advancing!"

"Yes, he stopped on the three hundred and thirty-eighth step, only five steps!"

"That scared me to death. I thought he would keep breaking through like a hot knife through butter."

"Are you stupid? This is the Nine Heavens Path, known as a death trap for the Qi Transformation Realm. How could it be a smooth ride? The real difficulty starts from the three hundred and thirty-third step. Most Qi Transformation Realm students who attempted the Nine Heavens Path before fell right here! With Ye Yuan's monstrous talent, how could he fall in the first stage?"

"So that's it! The speed at which he passed just now was too frightening; it swept me along, haha. So, do you think Ye Yuan can make it?"

"Absolutely impossible! If Ye Yuan were even half a step into the Liquid Essence Realm, I'd think he might have a chance. But he's only at the sixth level of Qi Transformation! The most terrifying part of the Nine Heavens Path is still the last three hundred and thirty-three steps!"

Just as Ye Yuan stepped onto the fifth step of the second stage of the Nine Heavens Path, his fierce momentum of charging finally came to a halt.

This naturally caught everyone's attention, and the crowd began to buzz with discussion.

Those who had been intimidated by Ye Yuan's charging momentum suddenly realized the truth!

This was the Nine Heavens Path, a death trap for the Qi Transformation Realm. How could it be passed so smoothly?

Seeing this, Su Yubai's initial shock turned into ecstasy.

"I knew he couldn't pass! A mere sixth level of Qi Transformation daring to challenge the Nine Heavens Path—overreaching! Seeking his own doom!"

Though inwardly ecstatic, Su Yubai was not foolish enough to show it on his face, but his words were merciless.

After all, everyone knew he wanted to eliminate Ye Yuan, so there was no need for him to pretend to be a good person.

"Elder Su is right. This Ye Yuan would rather challenge the Nine Heavens Path than come to the Council of Elders. He is showing contempt for us, truly an insolent brat! In my opinion, his death is not worth regretting!" an elder chimed in.

"Elder Lin, your words are mistaken. Challenging the Nine Heavens Path is every student's right. Passing it grants the privileges of a core disciple of the upper sect, as stipulated by the upper sect. No matter how powerful the Council of Elders is, it cannot override the rules of the upper sect, can it?" Hu Changsheng said calmly, slightly lifting his eyelids.

Like everyone else, Hu Changsheng had been amazed by Ye Yuan's performance, but he did not show it. He kept his eyes half-closed, like an old monk in meditation.

However, Hu Changsheng had developed a fondness for talent and felt a great pity for Ye Yuan.

A genius like this might one day pass the Heaven-level assessment and become an inner disciple of the Youyun Sect. He might even shine in the Ten Nations Grand Competition and be accepted as a core disciple!

And now, Ye Yuan was about to fall on the Nine Heavens Path. How could one not sigh with regret?

The ones causing this tragedy were none other than these so-called elders playing with power!

How could this not stir his discontent?

Thus, Hu Changsheng, who was always easygoing, finally lost his temper!

Yes, even with Ye Yuan's stunning performance, Hu Changsheng did not believe that Ye Yuan could pass the Nine Heavens Path!

As the vice dean, he naturally knew much more than the students. The further one went on the Nine Heavens Path, the harder it became, especially the last three hundred and thirty-three steps, where the difficulty reached an almost insane level.

With Ye Yuan's current level of cultivation, it was impossible for him to break through!

Hu Changsheng's words left the elder surnamed Lin speechless. What could he say? That he was greater than the Nethercloud Sect? Wasn't that asking for death?

……

At this moment, Ye Yuan's mind had already wandered beyond his body, finding himself in his own alchemy room within the Divine Realm's Medicine King Hall.

The alchemy room, spacious enough to serve as a martial arts training hall, was more than ten times larger than Feng Ruoqing's alchemy room—truly luxurious!

Ye Yuan could skimp on other things, but he would never compromise on his alchemy room.

Because the realm of the Alchemy God was his lifelong pursuit!

The Wuji Cauldron, one of the finest alchemy cauldrons in the Divine Realm, had once been Ye Yuan's favorite.

Besides that, all kinds of alchemy equipment and herbs were available in abundance—everything was so familiar.

Ye Yuan had lived in this alchemy room for over three hundred years!

To Ye Yuan, he was even more familiar with this alchemy room than with his own bedroom.

There was no mirror in this alchemy room, but Ye Yuan knew that he must have already regained his former appearance.

"The mind shapes the appearance. This illusion is truly vivid, able to excavate what is buried deep in my heart so thoroughly! Though I know it's an illusion, I still don't want to wake up!" Ye Yuan sighed.

After stepping into the second stage of the Nine Heavens Path, Ye Yuan suddenly felt his head grow unbearably heavy. After a period of daze, he found himself in his former alchemy room.

Almost instantly, Ye Yuan confirmed that he had entered an illusion.

Illusory realms seem harmless at first glance, but they are extremely dangerous. Those students who went mad while traversing the Nine Heavens Path basically fell victim in this second stage, losing themselves.

Ordinary people, once deeply trapped in an illusory realm, often find it hard to extricate themselves; they are instantly drawn in and ultimately lose themselves within it.

Only those with firm minds can break free from the illusion and return to reality. Yet this process is also incredibly difficult. Even someone as strong as Mo Yuntian back then took several days to wake up.

Speaking of mental resilience, Qing Yunzi in his previous life was not necessarily that formidable.

But now, having undergone great upheaval, his mind has matured many times over compared to his previous life. Coupled with his unwavering determination for revenge, how could ordinary illusions confuse him?

Not to mention that Ye Yuan himself is a formation master. Even if his current strength is insufficient to break the formation, it is extremely difficult for an illusion formation to trap him.

No matter how powerful this Nine Heavens Path is, it is merely a lower-realm formation, nothing significant in Ye Yuan's eyes.

This is his greatest reliance for daring to traverse the Nine Heavens Path!

However, seeing through an illusion does not mean one can break it, nor does it mean one is willing to break it.

The illusion of this Nine Heavens Path was extremely powerful, directly targeting the human heart.

Even someone like Ye Yuan, upon seeing this room full of memories, was reluctant to leave.

These things had accompanied Ye Yuan day and night for three hundred years!

Every blade of grass and every tree carried deep affection!

With a casual wave, the Wuji Cauldron transformed into a very small medicine cauldron in Ye Yuan's palm. The feeling of his fingers touching the cauldron was exactly the same as before.

Of course it would be exactly the same, because this illusion was evolved from his own thoughts!

"If only time could go back once more..." Ye Yuan sighed.