Chapter 29 Illusion

That sweet, exotic fragrance seemed to permeate everything, seeping into my lungs with every breath.

The slender figures in the woods became clearer and clearer, no longer just a fleeting glimpse, but transformed into the illusory images of women with graceful figures, stunningly beautiful faces, and revealing clothes.

They danced around the crowd, emitting captivating laughter and whispers.

"Be careful, it's an illusion and charm!" Su Meichuan's expression changed slightly. As an expert in charm, he immediately sensed something was wrong. Pink light flowed around his body as he tried to resist the power.

But this time, the allure seems particularly cunning, not directly arousing desire, but rather targeting the deepest longings and obsessions within.

The next moment, except for Su Meichuan, who was only slightly dazed due to her high resistance to the same source ability, the scene in front of the other five people suddenly distorted and changed.

Before Jun Xiangbei's eyes appeared a warm and bustling market, surrounded by vibrant human beings whose faces were filled with joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, each emotion so vivid and lifelike.

He "felt" a strange warmth surging in his chest; it was... joy?

Jun Xiangbei saw a child fall and cry, and a pang of unease gripped his heart—was it… pity?

He even "saw" Su Meichuan smile at him, a smile that no longer triggered the program's error alarm, but instead brought an indescribable thrill that made his core processor slightly overheat...

Jun stood frozen in place, his eyes filled with bewilderment and an unprecedented thirst for knowledge.

He wanted to understand, to truly "feel" these complex and fascinating variables.

Viewers in Jun Xiangbei's live stream witnessed Jun Xiangbei's illusion:

Is he 'learning' about emotions?

"Oh no, oh no, will the God of War be affected? He's the most vulnerable to this stuff."

Oh no! Alarm bells rang in Gu Yunqing's mind.

He was simultaneously controlling two aliases, Zhuge Jin and Qiu Zangxue, and instantly felt a double impact.

In Zhuge Jin's "vision," the dilapidated temples around him disappeared, replaced by an endless starry sky.

Stars flowed and laws whispered, and at the highest point of this starry sky, a figure stood with his back to him before the throne where countless laws converged.

The figure was dressed in ordinary dark casual clothes, with black hair and black eyes. The figure was slightly thin, but exuded a kind of calm pressure that was unsettling, as if it could control everything.

This is exactly Gu Yunqing's true form.

A seductive voice echoed in Zhuge Jin's mind: "Step forward, push him... let him sit on that throne... and wield supreme power..."

At the same time, in Qiu Zangxue's illusion, a completely different scene unfolded.

It was a peak built of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, with the remains of countless gods, demons and powerful players beneath one's feet. The stench of blood filled the sky, and the fighting spirit burned as if it were a tangible thing.

Before that skeletal throne stood the same handsome young man with black hair and black eyes—Gu Yunqing's true form.

A bloodthirsty whisper roared in Qiu Zangxue's ear: "Charge forward, pave the way with the enemy's corpses, and push him onto that one and only throne!"

"Let the name of Asura become the nightmare of all living beings! Let him... reign supreme!"

Two illusions, two projections of extreme desires, yet both strangely target the same goal—to push Gu Yunqing's true form to the pinnacle of power.

Viewers in Qiu Zangxue and Zhuge Jin's live streams all witnessed their illusions and were shocked:

"!!! How come these two powerful figures are the same person in their illusions?"

"Who is this handsome young man? I've never seen him before."

"Holy crap, Zhuge Liang and Red-Eyed Bro like the same person?"

"What kind of love triangle plot is this? (Confused)"

"Wait, could this be that 'Mr. Gu'? Xin Yuan'er mentioned him earlier."

"Inspector Gu Yunqing? Just who is he to have these two big shots..."

Gu Yunqing's conscious mind was simultaneously subjected to the impact of two desires originating from her own subconscious, causing her to feel dizzy.

Damn it, this illusion directly reflects his deepest, most fundamental ambitions.

Master the power, ascend to the summit!

Moreover, they all focus on his physical body.

Gu Yunqing forced herself to calm down, relying on her strong willpower and the unique experience of controlling her split soul to quickly distinguish between reality and illusion.

"Illusion!" Zhuge Jin's voice carried a hint of coldness. The clear light of the Fuxi Divine Spark around him flickered slightly, and the illusion of the Starry Throne shattered inch by inch like a reflection in a mirror or the moon in the water.

"Boring." A flash of ferocity appeared in Qiu Zangxue's crimson eyes, and Xing Tian's battle intent, like a raging hurricane, directly shattered the illusion of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Forget about thrones and ruling the world; all he wanted to do right now was kill the guy who created this illusion.

The two broke free from the illusion almost simultaneously.

Xin Yuan'er's illusion was much simpler and more direct.

He returned to the real world and was excitedly boasting to a kind-faced old man with a cane about how he had followed the big shots to dominate the infinite world and made a fortune.

"Grandpa, look, I'm a god now. I promise you'll live a good life from now on, and you'll never have to worry about where your next meal will come from again."

Xin Yuan'er danced with excitement.

The old man smiled and patted his head, his face full of satisfaction: "Good, good, my Yuan'er has made something of himself..."

This heartwarming scene brought tears to Xin Yuan'er's eyes, and she almost felt overwhelmed by it.

However, the newly fused fragment of the God of Luck within him glowed slightly, and a cool aura flowed through his entire body.

He suddenly realized something was wrong: "No... Grandpa... he already..."

Realizing this, the intense sadness and sense of reality instantly shattered the illusion.

Xin Yuan'er blinked and realized that she was still standing in front of the gloomy temple, but her eyes were really red.

But Bai Muling saw a completely different scene from others.

There was no data, no Gu Yunqing, and no deceased relatives.

She stood on a sunny, flower-covered hillside, where a woman who bore a striking resemblance to her, but possessed a more gentle and graceful demeanor, was smiling and waving at her.

"Little Ling, come here quickly, your sister has found the way out." The woman's smile was bright, her eyes clear and full of vitality.

It was her older sister, Bai Muqing.

The older sister who died at the hands of "Saintess of Light" Elena while protecting her.

The older sister she missed day and night, the sister she felt so guilty about.

"Sister..." Bai Muling murmured, her usually calm and composed face instantly drained of color, and tears streamed down her face without warning.

She knew perfectly well that this was an illusion, and she knew perfectly well that her sister was no longer there.

But that figure, that voice, that warm smile... were exactly the same as the one she remembered most vividly.

Bai Muling watched her sister reach out her hand, as if by grasping it, she could return to the past, to the days when the two sisters depended on each other for survival, struggling to survive in the infinite world, yet filled with warmth.

Let's go back to... the time when my sister was still alive.

Overwhelmed by immense sorrow and longing, her reason struggled violently between reality and illusion.

Bai Muling's steps felt like they were made of lead, unable to move forward or backward. She could only stare blankly at that figure, tears streaming down her face.

Some viewers in Bai Muling's live stream were confused, while others were in the know:

"What's wrong with Miss Mu Ling? She's crying so sadly..."

"Who did she see? Her sister?"

"I remember now, Bai Muling and her sister were also well-known players. It is said that her sister died in an A-level dungeon while protecting her. The murderer was Elena, the saintess of the Light Guild."

"After her sister's death, Bai Muling disappeared for a long time."

"Holy crap, Elena, the Holy Maiden of Light? That crazy woman who claims 'all beings are equal under the Holy Light,' even more insane than Sylvie?"

"No wonder Bai Muling was in the punishment instance before... she was thrown in by the system because she ran out of points."

Su Meichuan frowned as she looked at the various states of her companions.

Jun Xiangbei's eyes were blank, as if he was trying to analyze and understand the emotional data.

Zhuge Jin and Qiu Zangxue have restored Qingming.

Xin Yuan patted his chest in fear.

Only Bai Muling was trapped in the illusion and her emotions collapsed.

He tried to use his charm ability to disrupt the surrounding illusion field, but found that the effect was minimal.

The alluring power remaining in this temple is extremely strong, and it is not of the same origin as his abilities.

"We must wake them up as soon as possible; we cannot stay here any longer!" Su Meichuan said urgently.

Gu Yunqing took in everyone's situation through Qiu Zangxue's perspective.

Jun Xiangbei was indeed drawn in by "emotions," Xin Yuan'er broke free on her own thanks to her lucky charm, and Bai Muling... her obsession runs too deep, she's in trouble.

Gu Yunqing's mind raced, and she quickly made a decision.

"break."

The system-managed Zhuge Jin uttered a simple syllable.

The voice was not loud, but it contained the ultimate truth of heaven and earth under the blessing of the god Fuxi, and carried a righteous power to cleanse the demonic atmosphere.

At the same time, Qiu Zangxue's murderous aura and fighting spirit erupted, and that pure and extreme killing will was the nemesis of all illusions and temptations.

The two forces, one orthodox and one unorthodox, complemented each other and instantly impacted the surrounding illusionary force field.

"Crack..."

It sounded like glass shattering.

The illusion before Jun Xiangbei's eyes froze and shattered instantly.

He snapped back to his senses, a faint trace of regret flashing in his eyes before his mind cleared. He immediately realized what had just happened, and a rare look of seriousness appeared on his usually aloof face.

Xin Yuan'er has also completely shaken off the lingering influence of her grandfather's phantom.

The alluring female phantom surrounding the crowd let out a resentful shriek before dissipating like wisps of smoke.

The cloying, exotic fragrance also faded away.

However, Bai Muling remained standing in the same spot, her eyes blurry with tears as she gazed at the empty hillside ahead, as if her sister's figure was still there.

The illusion has shattered, but her heart seems still trapped in that bright and sunny past.

"Miss Bai," Xin Yuan'er stepped forward and called out with concern.

Bai Muling's body trembled slightly as she slowly turned her head.

Her face was still wet with tears, but her eyes had regained their usual calmness. However, beneath that calmness lay a bottomless pain and hatred.

"I'm fine." Her voice was a little hoarse. She raised her hand and wiped away her tears forcefully, taking a deep breath. "It's just... I saw some old things."

She didn't say much, but everyone understood.

Jun Xiangbei looked at her, his eyes flashing with a data-like quality, as if he were recording and analyzing the strong emotional reaction caused by "losing someone important".

Xin Yuan'er sighed, patted her shoulder, and offered silent comfort.

Gu Yunqing understood. He had also seen the discussion about Sister Bai Muling through Qiu Zangxue's live stream.

The Holy Maiden of Light, Elena... is yet another potential problem.

However, this does not conflict with his goals for the time being.

Bai Muling's hatred might be used in the future.

The most urgent task is to explore this temple.

He controlled Qiu Zangxue, his scarlet eyes sweeping over the dilapidated temple entrance, and said hoarsely, "Go in."

The illusion has been shattered; the road ahead remains the same.

What secrets does this temple, which exudes a mixture of eeriness and divinity, hold inside?

Gu Yunqing led his team into that dark place.

The interior of the temple was even more dilapidated than the exterior, with massive stone pillars collapsed and exquisite murals peeling away and covered in thick dust.

The air was filled with a stale smell, mixed with the lingering sweet and strange fragrance from before, creating a bizarre and indescribable odor.

The deeper they went, the dimmer the light became. Only the faint glow from their weapons and occasional skills, along with the faint glow of Fuxi surrounding Zhuge Jin, illuminated the limited area.

The surroundings were eerily silent, with only their own footsteps and breathing echoing in the empty hall.

However, beneath this silence, a more subtle and refined power of allure and illusion surges.

They no longer appear as direct illusions, but rather, like invisible spider silk, they silently coil around you, attempting to stir the most subtle emotional fluctuations deep within your heart, arousing hidden desires and fears.

"Everyone be careful, the force field here is even stranger," Su Meichuan warned in a low voice, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, but his eyes were unusually bright.

Unlike others who needed to concentrate on resisting, Su Meichuan felt completely at ease in this rich and alluring illusion field.

His own alluring abilities resonated subtly with the remaining power in this place, and he even began to spontaneously and slowly absorb the scattered, pure fox demon essence.

The soft pink light surrounding him now carried a hint of eerie purple, his aura was steadily increasing, and his perception of the surrounding environment had become more acute.

Viewers in Su Meichuan's live stream immediately noticed the change in him:

"Su Meiren seems a little different; she looks even more beautiful now."

"His abilities seem to have been enhanced here?"

"Like attracts like? Could it be that this temple is connected to him?"

Through Qiu Zangxue's perspective, Gu Yunqing also keenly noticed the changes in Su Meichuan.

Oh? Su Meichuan's abilities resonate with the residual power here?

He is absorbing these powers... It seems that the remnants of this temple are perhaps more suitable for him.

Gu Yunqing remained calm and continued to lead the team cautiously forward.

Xin Yuan'er clutched the fragment of the God of Luck to his chest, muttering, "May the God of Luck protect me, please don't cause any more trouble..."

Bai Muling followed silently behind.

After passing through an archway that was nearly half collapsed, the view suddenly opened up.

This is a relatively complete circular main hall.

In the center of the main hall, there is not a statue of a god, but a huge reclining nine-tailed fox carved from pure white jade.

The fox is lifelike, with nine fluffy long tails elegantly encircling its body. Although it is covered with dust and cracks, its gem-encrusted eyes still retain a trace of captivating spirit.

At the heart of the nine-tailed fox statue, a fist-sized, shimmering ball of light floats.

Inside that sphere of light, nine tiny fox tail phantoms seemed to be swaying slowly, exuding an extremely pure and alluring charm and the essence of illusion!

It is not a godhood, nor does it possess the vast and imposing power of the laws of the Fuxi godhood, nor the mysterious probability-influencing power of the Lucky Godhood fragments. However, the primal power it contains is pure and powerful, directly addressing the ever-changing nature of the human heart and the interplay of reality and illusion.

"This is... the core essence of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox?" Su Meichuan exclaimed in shock, her eyes blazing with unprecedented intensity.

The alluring power within him surged at this moment, resonating strongly with the sphere of light, as if it had encountered a supreme source.

Almost without any guidance, the radiant core of the nine-tailed fox seemed to be summoned, trembled slightly, and then transformed into a stream of seven-colored light, actively heading towards Su Meichuan.

The speed was so fast that even Jun Xiangbei, who was closest to the scene, didn't have time to react.

The stream of light instantly entered Su Meichuan's chest!

"Ugh—!"