Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao then continued their climb upwards along the stone staircase.
Ye Yunfei felt that after emerging from the previous illusion realm, his ability to face the energy emanating from the stone steps seemed to have improved a little.
He estimated that each time he successfully navigated out of an illusion realm, he could better adapt to the staircase.
Next, Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao made their way upwards and, in one go, actually managed to reach the thirtieth step.
During this process, although Ye Yunfei's movements began to slow again, he still stubbornly persisted and finally climbed to the thirtieth step.
When Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao reached the thirtieth step, the gray-clothed middle-aged man behind them had climbed to the twentieth step. His expression then began to change, and he stood there motionless.
"Looks like that guy has fallen into another illusion," Ye Yunfei said with a chuckle, observing the gray-clothed man's frozen state. "Although his strength is formidable, upon arriving here, he's just like us—continuously sinking into one illusion after another."
"Master, the illusions here were set up by Tianmu Shenjun," Hu Miao said to Ye Yunfei. "Although that man's cultivation realm and power are decent, compared to Tianmu Shenjun, they are far inferior.
When facing a trial personally arranged by Tianmu Shenjun, his experience probably isn't much better than ours. This test was likely designed to evaluate one's innate character and talent, especially in terms of aptitude for the Illusion Dao and Mental Force energy.
When it comes to mental fortitude and natural aptitude, we aren't necessarily inferior to him. So, his performance within these illusions may not surpass ours."
"Hu Miao, I think you're right," Hun Lao chimed in. "His cultivation realm and raw strength don't grant him much of an advantage here."
"Master, this is the thirtieth step. I feel like we're about to sink into another illusion," Hu Miao suddenly announced.
Just after Hu Miao finished speaking, Ye Yunfei found himself indeed plunged into a new illusion realm.
The potency of this illusion was even more terrifying. Within it, Ye Yunfei spent a full several hundred years, growing from a menial-disciple in a small sect to eventually become one of the top-tier powerhouses in that illusory world.
One day, Ye Yunfei stood atop a peak in that world, his hands clasped behind his back, gazing up at the heavens when he suddenly burst into loud laughter, thoroughly awakening to clarity.
Then, Ye Yunfei found himself back in reality, standing on the thirtieth stone step.
Looking down, he saw the gray-clothed middle-aged man still motionless on the twentieth step, looking like a stone statue.
"Looks like this guy isn't that impressive," Hu Miao said disdainfully. She had also awakened by this time and glanced at the man below. "We've already emerged from the illusion, yet he's still stuck there."
"He's simply older than you two and possesses greater cultivation strength," Hun Lao said with a laugh. "If we're truly comparing mental resilience and natural talent, he may not necessarily surpass you two. His biggest reliance is just having lived longer."
"Master, let's continue upwards," Hu Miao said to Ye Yunfei.
"How far are you two planning to climb like this? And after experiencing two or three illusions, I haven't seen you receive any reward whatsoever," Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm couldn't help but chime in.
"This staircase is the main test Tianmu Shenjun designed within this palace. If we can pass it, we will undoubtedly receive extremely generous rewards. There's no need to be impatient," Ye Yunfei explained.
He and Hu Miao continued their upward climb. Soon after, Ye Yunfei noticed that the gray-clothed man below seemed to have emerged from his illusion and had also resumed his ascent.
"Dammit! On this staircase, my cultivation realm and power aren't proving very useful at all. That last illusion was far too realistic; I struggled within it for such a long time before barely managing to break free. Usually, with the illusions I encounter, I can easily shatter them with a slight exertion of my own cultivation power. But the ones here are terrifyingly potent. Tianmu Shenjun truly deserves his reputation as one of the supreme powerhouses of ancient times," the gray-clothed man thought to himself, his expression rather grim. He had wrestled with that previous illusion for a prolonged period before finally seeing through it.
"Should I continue climbing upwards?" the man wondered, shooting a glance at Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao, who were steadily climbing higher. A trace of hesitation flickered in his eyes.
"Enough! If those two juniors dare to climb, what reason do I have to retreat with my strength? Catching them sooner and obtaining the sacred artifact of the Primordial Heavenly Fox Clan is the goal; there's no need to waste time here." The man gritted his teeth and continued his ascent.
Before long, Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao reached the fortieth step.
"Master, there seems to be an illusion every ten steps on this staircase. We're about to sink into another one," Hu Miao stated.
Sure enough, just as Hu Miao finished speaking, Ye Yunfei found himself within an unfamiliar expanse of void.
In the time that followed, Ye Yunfei grew, struggled, and fought his way within this strange illusory void.
This illusion was even more realistic than any Ye Yunfei had experienced before, to the point where he, for a time, truly believed he was a part of it.
However, at the very end, both of Ye Yunfei's Soul Bodies, along with dozens of his Soul Force Planets, suddenly erupted simultaneously. Instant clarity returned.
He delivered a single punch, annihilating his greatest enemy within that illusion realm, resolving all its grudges and entanglements. With that, Ye Yunfei completely broke free from the illusion, standing firmly on the fortieth step.
When Ye Yunfei emerged from the illusion, he found Hu Miao had already freed herself and was standing beside him, her beautiful eyes watching him.
"Master, you've also broken free and awakened," Hu Miao exclaimed with joy, noticing the clarity returning to Ye Yunfei's gaze.
"Master, there are only ten steps left on this staircase. I presume we'll undergo one final illusion upon reaching the fiftieth step. If we can successfully emerge from it, we will then receive the reward Tianmu Shenjun left here," Hu Miao said to Ye Yunfei.
"Then let's ascend," Ye Yunfei nodded. Having come this far, there was no turning back.
Thus, Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao continued their climb upwards.
The pressure they had to bear increased with every step.
Having reached this point, both Ye Yunfei's and Hu Miao's speeds had slowed significantly. However, with the aid of her stele, Hu Miao seemed much more relaxed.
"Master, we should get as close together as possible. Let the Law Chains descending from the stele envelop you as well. That will ease some of the pressure you're experiencing," Hu Miao suggested.
And so, Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao took one step after another, relentlessly pushing upwards.
Below them, the gray-clothed middle-aged man remained motionless in his spot, clearly ensnared in another illusion realm, unable to extricate himself.
For this man, the power of this particular illusion was immense. Within it, he seemed to have completely forgotten his true self, wholly immersed in the identity the illusion bestowed upon him.
Supported by Hu Miao's Primordial True Fox Stele, Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao mustered all their strength and finally climbed to the fiftieth step—the very peak of this staircase.
*Hong!*
The moment Ye Yunfei's foot touched the fiftieth step, the surrounding scenery instantly transformed. The world spun, and then Ye Yunfei found himself within another realm.
In this world, his identity was that of a mortal without any cultivation ability. He was born into a poor, ordinary peasant family in a mortal world, with elderly parents.
From a very young age, Ye Yunfei's immature shoulders bore the heavy burdens of life.
His father was bedridden all year round, so all the arduous tasks within the household fell upon his mother and himself.
Fortunately, both his mother and Ye Yunfei possessed a strong, persevering character. Although their lives were bitter and challenging, they managed to scrape by. And staying together as a family brought them a sense of modest, simple happiness.
However, good times didn't last long. Before long, an army from a neighboring nation suddenly invaded, plunging the era into chaos and war.
Once, when Ye Yunfei was out working the fields, a large group of soldiers passed through the village, seizing the villagers' rations and valuables.
During this plunder, Ye Yunfei's father pointed angrily at several of the soldiers, shouting curses. This enraged them, and they promptly slew both of Ye Yunfei's parents, ransacking the house of everything of value before setting the simple dwelling ablaze.
When Ye Yunfei rushed back, he found his former home reduced to ashes. Frantically, he sifted through the scorched, hot bricks and tiles, unearthing the bodies of his parents.
After a bout of heart-wrenching sorrow, he carried their remains to a nearby mountain and buried them together in a shared grave.
After laying his parents to rest, Ye Yunfei vowed to avenge the bloody, profound hatred they had suffered. He then enlisted in the army.
In the time that followed, fueled by this seething hatred, Ye Yunfei endured and grew within the military. Having developed a resilient, hard-working character since childhood, he toiled tirelessly in the army and quickly won his superior's recognition. Step by step, Ye Yunfei climbed the ranks.
The war between the two nations dragged on intermittently for many years. Over a decade later, Ye Yunfei had grown into a General within the army.
During one critical battle, Ye Yunfei led his troops to a decisive victory, utterly crushing the forces of the neighboring nation. It was then that he identified his parents' killers.
Those several soldiers who had murdered his parents had, by this time, risen to become mid-level commanders in the opposing army.
Ye Yunfei led his personal guard soldiers to swarm forward, encircling these enemies. In short order, he captured all of them.
After the battle concluded, Ye Yunfei personally led these captured enemies to his parents' gravesite. There, he inflicted upon them a thousand cuts and ten thousand slashes.
Having avenged his parents, a knot deep within Ye Yunfei's heart was finally untied.
With his great vengeance fulfilled, Ye Yunfei's subordinates urgently reported to him that the war situation was critical and implored him to return to the front lines immediately to take command and lead the forces against the enemy army.
Yet, at this moment, Ye Yunfei's mind suddenly became exceptionally clear. Standing before his parents' grave with his hands clasped behind his back, he surveyed everything around him.
"It all feels like a dream," Ye Yunfei softly sighed.
Upon uttering the word "dream," a sudden *hong!* resonated within his mind, as if he had shattered some kind of restraint. Ye Yunfei glanced around again, his gaze growing placid, even cold.
"Yes... it is all a dream. Everything is illusory. It's all false," Ye Yunfei whispered in realization.
"General Ye, the military situation is urgent! Please depart at once for the front lines! The army awaits your return to take command!" Beside him, eighteen attendants—seeing Ye Yunfei's peculiar demeanor—suddenly knelt in unison and cried out.
"It is all false... including you," Ye Yunfei said softly, a faint smile touching his lips as he looked at the attendants who had been so loyal to him throughout that illusion.