A master of illusion, as the name suggests, possesses the core skill of creating elusive and unpredictable illusions. Among the lawful professions, only the scout's perception ability can penetrate these illusions. Even at the same level, star officials can discern the illusions with a bit of time and attention. In contrast, the fire mages and earth monsters, who are inherently less adept in the realm of spirit, rarely perceive the illusions unless influenced by external forces. Should a fire mage be ambushed within an illusion, their innate sense of crisis can issue an early warning, allowing Jiang Ju to detect the illusion. However, figures such as the greedy general are well aware of the fire mages' vulnerabilities and have thus never launched an ambush. With a stumble, Jiang Ju's long spear vanished, and upon opening his collar, he found his chest skin tinged with a deep blue-black. He had been struck by a venom. Since some time ago, the snake maiden's toxic mist had been subtly seeping into his body, undetected and silent. "Yellow Taiji, I'm poisoned!" Jiang Ju roared back, his voice hoarse. "Same here!" A slightly raspy voice echoed from the thick mist behind him. Taking a deep breath, Jiang Ju summoned the fire spirit within him, activating his "Furious One" skill, sending a surge of intense heat throughout his organs to physically neutralize the toxin. His symptoms immediately eased—but then, a sharp, high-pitched female scream erupted. Jiang Ju wavered, and the blazing flames on his skin instantly faded. He clutched his forehead in pain, his eyes bloodshot, blood gushing from his nasal passages. Yellow Taiji, Xiao Yuan, and Lady Yin Yao all felt a sudden, severe headache, as though steel skewers had been driven into their heads, or as if their blood vessels had burst simultaneously. A mental shock. Jiang's eyes were bulging, his head pounding, yet he forced himself to surge forward like a cannonball into the depths of the mist, where he spotted two Fog Masters attacking the Nine-Drake Crystal Dome. Without hesitation, he immediately activated the blazing light from his half-fingered glove, launching a devastating wave of fire that dealt heavy damage to Yuchuan, Mei, and the others. As the flames scorched everything, the Greedy General, the Hundred-Slash Warrior, and the Earth Coffin warped and deformed, transforming into Mei Yuchuan, whose eyes sparkled with springtime warmth, smiling gently. "Such a magnificent blaze! It's burned us to a cinder!" Jiang was taken aback. Then, as Mei Yuchuan gently waved her hand, the roaring sea of fire instantly vanished. In the next instant, the scene dissolved, and Jiang found himself back in the thick mist, once again hearing the resounding "thuds" of the blows striking the Nine-Drake Crystal Dome. A broad hand rested gently on his shoulder—Huang Taiji's. "You've been pulled into a dream," Huang Taiji said calmly, as he raised his hand and formed a stone shield in his palm. The Lawful faction has two 6th-level and two 5th-level members. It's difficult for Yuchuan Mei to pull everyone into a dream while they're awake. Therefore, she has chosen the most aggressive combatant, Jiang Ju. "Damn woman!" Jiang Ju grits her teeth. At that moment, a sharp crack echoes from afar—the Nine-Drifted Crystal Dome finally gives way under the blows of the two Mist Masters. Both feel a weight settle upon their hearts. "Crack!" The Greedy Divine General strikes the yellow clay coffin with the flat of his sword, then pauses to gaze. First, he is captivated by the elegant robe, jade belt, and polished boots—his desire flares intensely. Only upon his second glance does he examine the blackened figure and confirm that the Prime Heavenly Sovereign has indeed passed. "This is exactly what Yuchuan Mei described—the set? It's mine now! It's all mine!" The Greedy Divine General beams, his lips glistening with excitement, reaching out to grasp the belt. Among the three pieces of equipment, the belt is the finest in condition. As he reached for his belt, he suddenly felt his fingers growing stiff, his skin tightening, and his entire palm rapidly shriveling, losing moisture. The Greedy Divine General was startled, about to withdraw his hand, when he heard a clear chime from afar. In response to the sound, the spiraling aura at Yuan Shi Tian Zun's waist surged, firmly anchoring his hand. Then, his forearm began to shrivel and lose moisture, and his upper arm skin tightened... Far off, Xiao Yuan stood before a scroll laid out on a crimson cloth, with candles, a straw figure, yellow paper charms, and red cords arranged beside it. Holding a bronze bell, she shook it swiftly and vigorously. While Jiang Ju drew the enemy's attention, she had finally completed her preparations and executed her masterstroke as a spirit-medium—her signature skill! She had diminished the Greedy Divine General's fortune, amplifying the calamities he now faced. Suddenly, the bronze bell in Xiao Yuan's hands burst with a loud "crack." She turned her head toward the distance. Though veiled in thick mist, her spiritual intuition allowed her to "see" the Snake Maiden. The other, just like her, opened her platform and employed spirit-medium techniques to counter the spirit-medium. The greedy general seized the opportunity to lift her hand. At that moment, stone armor began to coalesce from the bottom of the coffin and rapidly spread upward, fully covering the coffin once again. Huang Taiqi stepped in—though the heavy nature of the earth monster prevented him from arriving immediately, his "Descendant of the Earth Pulse" ability allowed him to cast skills remotely through the earth's energy. Seeing this, the small circle immediately picked up the straw figure inscribed with "Primordial Heavenly Sovereign," brushed a streak of black ash onto it, then bit her tongue to release a mist of blood toward the figure. She placed it on the table, picked up a small bowl, and sealed it with a firm snap. With both hands swiftly forming seals and murmuring incantations, she began her prayer. A glow of blood appeared on the distant stone armor, as if strengthened, becoming more solid. Offering prayers! The Greedy Deity exhaled, a soft "hmm," and, seeing Jiang Ju closing in, abandoned the idea of opening the coffin. With his blood-red blade, he levered up the coffin's base and gave it a firm heave. The earth coffin soared into the air. The Greedy Deity then lifted the stone coffin and stepped back. Instantly, thick mist enveloped his form. Meanwhile, the Hundred-Enemy Blade advanced a step, sweeping out his blade toward Jiang Ju. "Get out of the way!" Jiang Ju crouched low, kicked off, and delivered a hook punch aimed at the Hundred-Enemy Blade's abdomen. But the blow missed—his heavily tattooed companion's body collapsed into mist. The Mist Sovereign could transform into mist within the fog, thus evading physical attacks and freely teleporting within the fog's reach. However, each use required a ten-second cooldown before the next activation, and the user could not carry heavy objects or companions during the transformation. "Ddud, dud…," Jiang Ju murmured, now losing sight of the Greedy Deity. No matter how hard he blew his whistle, he could not locate the Greedy Deity's presence. At that moment, a steady rhythm of footsteps echoed, as Huang Taiqi, clad in stone armor, surged forward like a rhinoceros into the thick mist. Immediately, sounds of axe and sword strikes came from the other side. Huang Taiqi, sensing the earth's response, located the greedy general within the fog. "Dudududu…" Jiang Ju instantly reacted, blowing his whistle to clear the mist and darting forward. Soon, he saw Huang Taiqi engaged in fierce combat—being struck—by both the greedy general and the Hundred-Blade General. Facing the dual attacks of the two mist lords, the cracks in Jiang Ju's stone armor continuously formed and then reformed. The mesmerizing spirit adept excelled at breaching armor; even the Mountain God, at the same level, could not achieve unbreakable defense. Yet, the Mountain God's feet rooted in the earth, granting him a continuous flow of spiritual energy, offering unparalleled endurance. Each layer of defense broken would swiftly regenerate. "Hoo!" Jiang Ju expelled a flame from his palm, shaping it into a long blade, and swept it across the greedy general who was carrying a coffin on his shoulders. Meanwhile, Huang Taiqi once again activated his gravitational The Greedy God raised four phantom arms to lift the coffin, propping his blood-red blade against it with a solid "thud"—the flame blade exploded, searing the god's body rigid. "Bang!" Jiang Ju kicked the base of the stone coffin with a powerful force, sending it spinning and flying toward the distance. At the same time, Huang Taiji used his body as a weapon, delivering a fierce iron-shoulder charge that sent the Hundred-Slice General flying. Huang and the Fire Prince both pursued the coffin. A sharp cry rang out once more. Hidden within the thick mist, Yuchuan Mei launched a mental assault. While both men were struck dumb, as though struck by lightning, the serpent maiden twisted her body with fluid grace, like a dragon, and seized the coffin first, lifting it high. "I've got it—cover me!" Her voice barely finished when a voice from within the mist spoke up: "That's a trick!" The serpent maiden was startled, fixing her gaze—only to find her hands empty, the coffin nowhere to be seen. Turning her head, she saw a ghostly corpse without a head, carrying a coffin and sprinting off at full speed, its head dangling from its waist, hair and sash tied in a firm knot, mouth clamped around a small horn, issuing orders: "Huang Taiji, come and take the coffin—I can't protect it much longer!" The serpent princess was furious, twisting her body swiftly and gliding through the water, launching venomous arrows as she pursued. To her surprise, the ghostly corpse showed no fear, allowing the arrows to strike it without hesitation. Even when Huang Taiji and Jiang Ju were struck, they suffered greatly, yet the ghost remained unharmed. At that moment, thick mist surged before Princess Yin Yao, coalescing into a greedy divine general with silver-white hair flowing freely. Without a moment's hesitation, she raised the stone coffin, and with a sharp "thud," stone fragments flew in all directions, the blade aimed at her blocked by the coffin. The greedy general drew her sword and advanced step by step. "Thud, thud"—the sound of impacts echoed as Princess Yin Yao managed a few exchanges, then fell like a kite with its string cut, her As the enemy's greedy divine general rushed to seize the stone sarcophagus, it suddenly rose into the sky, wobbling steadily upward. No one noticed that a deep crimson blush had been gently applied to the sarcophagus. This time, the arrow pierced small Yuan's abdomen. She couldn't hold on anymore; the stone sarcophagus slipped from her hands and fell straight down. Straining to flap her thin wings, she glided toward the distant forests. Bai Renshan didn't intend to let her go. He drew the elastic band again, concentrating his vital energy into a compact projectile. "Thud!" The ground suddenly split open, widening into a massive gash that threatened to swallow him whole. Bai Renshan abandoned his lock and leaped clear. Huang Taiji, clad in stone armor and furious, rushed forward, wielding his narrow-bladed long sword in a series of fierce attacks, cutting off any chance for him to draw his bow. On the other side, Yuchuan Mei and the serpent maiden neither assisted Bai Renshan nor helped the greedy general seize the sarcophagus. Mei merely smiled and raised her hand, "Nearly there." With a firm grasp of her palm. The greedy general pursued the descending sarcophagus, seeing it within reach. "Boom!" A flash of flame, and Jiang Ju transformed into a cannonball, crashing into the sarcophagus with great force, sending it flying. Next, he charged at the greedy divine general, arms outstretched, eyes blazing red, roaring, "Die! Die! Die!" As he soared into the air, his skin glowed with a molten, vibrant crimson hue, and a splendid "flame" emblem shimmered at the center of his brow. In the next instant, a brilliant sun emerged, rapidly expanding and engulfing everything in its path—dust, trees, even the very ground—until all was consumed. Several seconds later, a thunderous roar shook the heavens and earth, mountains trembled, and a towering mushroom cloud surged upward, powerful gusts spiraling up the mountain slopes, lifting countless leaves into the sky. The Divine Sword Manor nestled in the mountain's midsection, as if struck by an earthquake, saw many of its aging structures collapse. The thick mist enveloping the mountain head vanished entirely in the face of this terrifying explosion. To an observer from afar, the scene was indistinguishable from a missile detonation. Jiang Ju had self-sacrificed. The explosive force lasted for over a dozen seconds, as it stemmed solely from the pure outburst of fire spirit energy. Soon, the smoke cleared, revealing a … The Jiange Pavilion. Cai Longshen, dressed in the official attire of Yuanhai Courier Bureau, gazed distantly at the battle unfolding at the foot of the mountain. Only after the fog had been blown away by the explosions did he finally make out the full scope of the fighting. "Jiang Ju—this useless fool—has failed to eliminate a single enemy," Cai Longshen muttered, frowning. He was handsome, with a pale complexion that seemed ill-health-related; his demeanor grew more somber when he frowned. "It appears we're going to lose this one," he said, running his fingers over the bronze ring in his palm. The ring resembled a thumb ring, intricately carved with openwork patterns. It was a transmission ring of Saint-tier quality—a consumable item. For spiritual-profession characters, transmission tools were typically consumables, rarely reusable. Each use of the transmission ring allowed the bearer to forcibly exit the spiritual realm, at the cost of a level drop. Once used, however, the ring could no longer be used within the realm's副本, as if a bug had been fixed—anyone who had once left the spiritual realm in this manner would be barred Few people are aware of this matter, as the transportation items are the merchant guild's vital strategic assets—more precious even than the life essence produced by the musicians' family. Through his connections, Grandfather sacrificed immense personal goodwill and incurred substantial costs to secure five transmission rings from the guild's senior leadership, one of which he received personally. Upon arriving at the Divine Sword Manor and discovering the orderly faction facing overwhelming odds, Cai Longshen began to seriously consider abandoning the current quest, especially with Yuchuan Mei's arrival, which only intensified his apprehensions. Subsequent betrayals by the bee maiden and the arrival of Huang Taiqi offered him a glimmer of hope, though he still instinctively felt that he would not be able to prevail—this feeling, though unexplained, was purely intuitive. Thus, he chose to remain passive, observing the battle unfold, believing that even with Huang Taiqi and Jiang Ju's combined strength, they could at least hold off the opposing six-level faction and allow him to step in later to consolidate the spoils. Yet, Jiang Ju's self-sacrifice and Huang Taiqi's subsequent isolation left him utterly overwhelmed. The defeat was now inevitable. ... Deep within the massive crater, Jiang Ju lay barely alive, his body shattered, chest rising and falling weakly. His arms were blown clean off at the shoulder level, and the lower half of his torso was completely destroyed, with great lengths of intestines sliding out of his body, staining the scorched earth beneath. The flame emblem on his forehead glowed brilliantly, radiating molten light that continuously washed over his broken form, sustaining his final breath. This was the life-preserving fire seal left by his half-divine father—the only means of survival—his father, who cherished the ideal of "strong warriors emerging from mountains of corpses and seas of blood," and was unwilling to bestow many reserves upon his children. Thus, though Jiang Ju had many siblings, most of them were ordinary folk, and only a few of them had become journey-level cultivators. By his generation, only Jiang Jingwei and himself remained. Along the edge of the crater, a blackened, cracked stone wall stood firm, shielding Xiao Yuan and Princess Yin Yao from the blast's force. Huang Tai supported the wall, breathing lightly. Farther in the scorched earth, Yuchuan Mei, draped in a feathered cloak, chuckled: "Incompetent—fire commander truly is incompetent." "Indeed, he is." On the blazing slope, the Greedy God approached slowly, holding his sword, unharmed, his clothes untouched. The divine generals chasing the stone sarcophagus were merely illusions crafted by Yuchuan Mei. The fire commander's impulsiveness and temper were, against the skillful emotional guidance of a master illusionist, colossal weaknesses. Since the battle began until Jiang Ju's self-sacrifice, Yuchuan Mei had quietly steered the fire prince's emotions, fueling his impatience and fury. As the orderly forces found themselves under pressure and Jiang Ju alone struggled to hold the line, she naturally nurtured in him a sense of pessimism and the desire for total self-sacrifice. Bit by bit, through subtle influence and careful cultivation, she finally ignited the fire within Jiang Ju's heart. "Damn it..." Hearing the voices outside the crater, Jiang Ji gasped, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He opened his inventory, pulled out a vial of life essence, bit down on it, snapped the needle, and took a large swallow. Then he finished off the remaining half. His complexion gradually improved, and he grumbled, "Why didn't they get blown to pieces? Huang Taiji, protect me! When I recover, I'll definitely have their heads on a plate..." Even in life-threatening condition, he still kept shouting about killing people. The serpent maiden hissed softly, watching Jiang Ji from the crater floor, and smiled gently. "Master Fire, calm down—your chances of victory have never really been strong from the start. Think about why Cai Longshen didn't intervene. Right now, he's all about self-preservation, and I've already planted psychological suggestions in his mind. Honestly, I think the illusionist is far superior—she sees each person's psychological vulnerabilities clearly." Yi Chuan Mei smiled slightly. "It wasn't easy to guide Cai Longshen's emotions. Thanks to your prayers, I managed it all in one go." After the betrayal by the蜂女, they abandoned the passive waiting strategy—originally intending to strike the Sword Pavilion before Huang Taiqi arrived at the Divine Sword Manor, uniting their forces to dismantle the pavilion. However, Yi Chuan Mei, who possessed telepathy, sensed Cai Longshen's growing confidence and his reluctance to engage, and promptly revised their strategy, formulating a more detailed and comprehensive plan—namely, to divide and weaken the enemy. The ritual ceremony to summon the bee goddess was merely one component of this broader strategy. In secret, Yi Chuan Mei amplified Cai Longshen's inherent self-interest, coldness, and pessimism, intensifying his hesitation—an effort that typically requires time, since subtle influence unfolds gradually. But the blessing from the Snake Goddess removed his concerns. Thus, the battle unfolded at the foot of the mountain. Indeed, upon observing the defensive forces of the Order of Harmony falter, Cai Longshen chose to remain passive. Bai Renshan coldly remarked, "A mountain deity and a fire master, with no scouts—how can they possibly compete with us in tactics?" "Oh, I forgot—our scouts have already been dispatched by the Divine General." Huang Taiqi sighed, his steady demeanor now tinged with deep weariness. "You bunch of useless dogs! You've got the nerve to challenge me, yet not one of you can hold a candle to me—every single one of you is a liability!" Jiang Ju shouted angrily, breathless with fury. His roar was soon swallowed by the rising layers of scorched earth, which piled up like a small mound, burying Jiang Ju within. Huang Taiqi leapt out of the trench, standing before the mound, prepared for battle. The Greedy General tore off a corner of his robe, tied his silver-white hair neatly, and glanced at Huang Taiqi with a smile. "A final struggle... Well then, let's go—complete the main quest and revive慕容龙." Huang Taiqi, tough and resilient, was proving difficult to dispatch in the short term; it was better to hand him over to the boss. … Huang Taiji found Xiao Yuan deep in the distant forest. She had sustained a fatal wound, yet had not immediately passed away. Her body, recently revitalized by the Life Original Liquid, was full of energy and had managed to repair about three or four parts of her injuries on its own. Nevertheless, her condition remained life-threatening. "Do you have any healing items?" he asked. Xiao Yuan shook her head slightly. Huang Taiji thought for a moment, then handed her his healing supplies. "That should keep you going for a while." He silently turned and walked upward toward the Divine Sword Manor. "Do you have any other options?" Xiao Yuan asked with a glimmer of hope. Huang Taiji shook his head gently. "But we must fight. As long as we are not dead, we must keep fighting. There is no retreat." Hope dimmed in Xiao Yuan's eyes. She lowered her head, remained silent for a few seconds, pressed her hand to her chest, and staggered after him. Together, they stepped out of the forest and into the area steaming with smoke, where they met Lady Yin Yao, who had come to join them. "We still have a chance." "Compared to the two of them, the Princess is more optimistic: 'Removing the water-based, yin elements from the Prime Immortal's body will likely awaken him. He has many reserves, and he is our only hope.' For instance, the Grand Summoner. For instance, the universal trading voucher she once proudly displayed. Now, the Prime Immortal, the one with the lowest rank, has become their last lifeline. Huang Taiqi nodded seriously. The silver-princess, her head resting on her waist, paused and added, 'If the awakening fails, I will leave this place, gather materials, and restore my body. As a yin corpse, I am not bound by the spiritual realm.' She turned to Xiao Yuan, 'You may choose to flee. Once the evil faction completes its mission, you will be free to leave the spiritual realm.' Xiao Yuan remained silent, simply walking forward without responding. ... Carrying the coffin on her shoulders, stepping over overgrown stone tiles, she walked along the main thoroughfare of the Divine Sword Manor, and the greedy general sensed unusual movements emanating from within the coffin. He immediately set down the stone sarcophagus and carefully sensed for a moment, only for the unusual activity within to fade once more. "Shall we break the stone sarcophagus?" asked Happi-Hundred. "Yi Chuan smiled, "Empathic connection isn't the same as foresight—I certainly didn't know that. Just leave him be. He's nothing but a weak, cowardly waste." Her words clearly carried more weight than the greedy general's provocations. Cai Long Shen felt a surge of fury that threatened to consume him completely. Noticing his own unusual state, he quickly suppressed his emotions, forcing himself to remain calm, and scoffed, "Yi Chuan, do you really think you can steer my emotions, make me lose my composure? That's mere child's play." Yi Chuan giggled softly, her feathered cloak rustling with each breath, "A true illusionist never imposes; they flow with the current, adapt to the nature of the person. Cai Long Shen, how do you know you haven't already been guided by me?" Cai Long Shen's expression darkened. Immediately, he summoned the sword armaments from the Sword Pavilion, arranging them densely and fluidly, like fish, to encircle and surround himself. The greedy general and others paid no attention to him, continuing on, walking farther down the main path. Soon, the four of them emerged from the complex, following a quiet Finally, it came to rest at the center, before the most imposing tomb, where a tall stone stele inscribed with the name "Mo Yu Fu" and his life story stood. At this moment, the vibrations within the stone coffin intensified, and a steady rhythmic knocking sound began to echo.