"Strange. A moment ago, I seemed to sense some movement here, but why do I sense nothing now? Was it my imagination?"
A puzzled voice sounded, and then a hazy figure flashed into view, standing at the edge of this stretch of primeval forest, examining the vast, dense woodland before him with questioning eyes.
"With my strength, it's impossible for me to make a mistake. It seems that the holy relic of the Ancient Heavenly Fox Clan must have been hiding in this primeval forest before.
Damn it, I came here before and actually didn't find it. Now that little bitch has probably already taken the relic and left."
After a moment, the voice spoke again, this time filled with anger.
At this time, Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao were already far away from this primeval forest.
Ye Yunfei noticed that beneath their feet was a vast, seemingly boundless continent that looked like ruins, presenting a desolate scene everywhere.
Not long after, Hu Miao and Ye Yunfei entered a city that appeared abandoned. The city was empty, with many buildings collapsed or covered in a thick layer of dust.
Led by Hu Miao, the two arrived in front of a palace located east of the city.
"Master, try sensing what's special about this place," Hu Miao turned her head and said to Ye Yunfei.
"There's abundant Mental Force energy here," Ye Yunfei immediately revealed a look of pleasant surprise.
"Correct. The Primordial True Fox Stele contains a piece of information: originally, this stele was placed inside this hall. This hall is called the Illusion Heart Hall, specifically arranged here by Tianmu Shenjun.
Later, Tianmu Shenjun left this cultivation cave dwelling, and this stele developed its own will and left the hall.
Because within this hall exists two types of energy, as well as treasures containing these two energies. One is Illusion Dao Energy, the other is Mental Force energy."
Hu Miao explained to Ye Yunfei.
"Illusion Heart Hall, containing both Illusion Dao Energy and Mental Force energy?
What exactly was this place used for?"
Upon hearing Hu Miao's words, Ye Yunfei became somewhat curious.
Of course, Ye Yunfei knew Hu Miao wouldn't deceive him. That Primordial True Fox Stele should indeed have been placed within this hall.
Tianmu Shenjun concentrating both Illusion Dao Energy and Mental Force energy in one hall surely had a purpose, but no matter how Ye Yunfei thought about it, he couldn't figure out the reason.
"Master, don't worry about what this place was used for just yet. This hall contains very high-level Mental Force energy, and there are quite a few high-level magical treasures containing Mental Force energy inside.
Let's hurry in and take a look."
Hu Miao urged.
"You're right. Let's go in and see immediately," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Master, let me lead the way!"
Hu Miao's figure flashed, and she stood before the palace's main gate. The Primordial True Fox Stele then floated above her head, radiating billowing Illusion Dao Energy. Thick chains of Illusion Dao laws also materialized from an ethereal state on the stele, cascading down with clattering sounds.
Set against the backdrop of the tall stele, Hu Miao's aura appeared hazy and ethereal, yet with an ineffably noble feeling.
Ever since refining this Primordial True Fox Stele, Hu Miao's strength had indeed skyrocketed.
Now, even Ye Yunfei found it somewhat difficult to see through Hu Miao's true power level.
Boom!
With a surge of powerful energy erupting from the stele above Hu Miao's head, the palace gates were directly pushed open.
At the moment Hu Miao controlled the stele to smash open the palace gates, a figure appeared in the distance. At a glance, it saw the stele floating above Hu Miao.
"Found it at last! It truly is the holy relic of the Ancient Heavenly Fox Clan, exactly as in the legends."
The figure's gaze fixed upon the Primordial True Fox Stele, growing feverish.
Then, this figure soared into the air, speeding rapidly towards the city where Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao were located.
At this time, Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao had already stepped inside the palace before them.
After Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao entered, the palace gates slowly began to close.
Once the palace gates shut, the scene inside the hall rapidly began to change.
Immediately after, Ye Yunfei found himself and Hu Miao standing within a deep, dark corridor.
Strange symbols densely covered the walls on both sides of the corridor, emitting a thick, bewitching aura. Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao proceeded forward. Not long after, they saw several large characters carved on one side of the corridor wall: Illusion Heart Corridor. The strokes of the characters contained powerful, bewitching energy.
"It seems this corridor has an illusory or confusing effect. Be careful," Ye Yunfei said in a grave tone.
"But I haven't sensed any Illusion Dao Energy here yet, nor have I found any illusion arrays or dreamscapes," Golden-Horned Dragon Silkwerm remarked.
As a member of the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkwerm race, he had a deep understanding of various arrays and restrictions in the world.
"Precisely because of that, we need to be even more cautious.
It shows that the illusion arrays or dreamscapes present here are so advanced that we have no ability to detect them," Hu Miao spoke with great caution. With the help of the Primordial True Fox Stele above her head, she could already sense the terrifying nature of this corridor.
"I... seem to see an old fellow sect member from back then..."
Huang Shang suddenly appeared beside Ye Yunfei, mumbling to himself with a confused expression. His eyes grew dazed,
and he started to take a step forward.
"Be careful, Old Huang!"
Knowing something was wrong, Ye Yunfei acted urgently. With a thought, he released a powerful wave of Soul Force energy, flooding into Huang Shang's sea of consciousness and enveloping his soul body.
"Such a potent dreamscape! I almost fell into it," Old Huang shuddered, instantly becoming clear-headed, cold sweat streaming down his back.
"That's odd. My level of Soul Force energy isn't superior to yours, Old Huang. Why were you so easily ensnared, while I'm completely unaffected?" Golden-Horned Dragon Silkwerm asked, puzzled.
"Perhaps it's not your turn yet.
Regardless, everyone needs to be cautious," Hu Miao said.
Hu Miao attempted to release her Illusion Dao Energy to begin probing, but as soon as her energy touched the corridor walls, it was completely absorbed by the symbols on the walls.
"My illusions are completely useless here, utterly absorbed," Hu Miao said in shock.
"Perhaps I can break the illusion arrays, dreamscapes, or restrictions here. After all, it's the innate talent of our race," Golden-Horned Dragon Silkwerm appeared, shaking his head. Two golden horns extended from his forehead, emitting ripples of spatial energy that transformed into golden symbols, diffusing into the space ahead.
The next moment.
Puff... Puff...
All the golden symbols created by Golden-Horned Dragon Silkwerm exploded.
"Spatial energy is also suppressed here. It doesn't work at all," Golden-Horned Dragon Silkwerm couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"Master, stay close to me!"
Hu Miao took a deep breath. The Primordial True Fox Stele above her head trembled slightly, radiating divine light and cascading thick chains of Illusion Dao laws, enveloping Ye Yunfei and the others.
"Everyone follow behind me, guard your mental state. I'll lead the way," Hu Miao emphasized again, taking the lead and stepping forward. Wherever she went, Illusion Dao Energy spread out like a tide, encompassing their surroundings.
"Eh?"
Not long after, Ye Yunfei's heart suddenly trembled because he saw some strange scenes.
Ye Yunfei saw various scenes from his youth when his family was oppressed by the joint efforts of the other great families of Yuanyue City. He saw the vivid, lifelike scenes of clansmen falling in pools of blood.
When first seeing these successive scenes, Ye Yunfei felt momentarily stunned, even somewhat angry, as these images were too realistic, and Ye Yunfei had indeed experienced them.
But the next moment, Ye Yunfei immediately realized something was amiss.
"Break!"
With a light shout, Ye Yunfei's soul body released powerful Soul Force energy that diffused like rippling water, instantly dispersing all those images.
"What's going on?
I actually saw the scenes of my old family and fellow sect members being slaughtered. This is real... Have I returned?"
At this time, Huang Shang suddenly spoke in a dazed voice.
"Old Huang, guard your mental state! Awaken!"
Hu Miao, seeing the situation, knew it was bad. Immediately, she caused the stele above her head to vibrate and let out a loud shout.
Boom! The stele emitted a resonating sound, like a morning bell and evening drum, dispelling the confusion in Huang Shang's mind.
"Fortunately, I had you. Otherwise, I'm afraid I would have fallen here," Huang Shang said, his face pale.