This illusion is so realistic, it's like a dream, and if you're not careful, it's easy for it to find your weaknesses.

Unfortunately, Shi Xuan's spiritual awareness was too high, and the moment she stepped into the golden palace, she was prepared to enter the illusion, which led to her current situation of being awake while dreaming.

No matter what Fan Hongde said or how he tried to provoke Shi Xuan, it was all in vain, because Shi Xuan didn't want to talk to a virtual phantom; she just wanted to use him to practice her skills.

In Shi Xuan's eternal silence, Fan Hongde had no choice but to slowly shut his mouth and concentrate on the fight. Although he was a pill cultivator, he was still at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, and the techniques he cultivated were quite impressive.

Before Shi Xuan's sword arrived, Fan Hongde's vines rose from the ground, wrapped around the sword, and dragged it forward, trying to pull the spirit sword from Shi Xuan's hand.

Shi Xuan suddenly channeled his spiritual power into the sword, shattering the opponent's vines in an instant, and continued to thrust forward.

Fan Hongde raised a shield, blocking the sword's edge while simultaneously unleashing a vast swarm of caltrops that spun rapidly and swept towards Shi Xuan.

Shi Xuan wielded his spirit sword with impenetrable skill, knocking down all the caltrop balls scattered on the ground.

...

The two moved very quickly, and in less than a quarter of an hour, they had already exchanged hundreds of moves.

Shi Xuan's strength was enhanced by the illusion and she had the advantage of being a sword cultivator. She was initially evenly matched with Fan Hongde, but she had the advantage of excellent comprehension and the ability to apply what she learned to other situations. As the fight went on, she gradually began to gain the upper hand.

Shi Xuan's sword moved faster and faster, forcing Fan Hongde to retreat step by step. It seemed that in less than ten moves, he would be defeated by Shi Xuan's sword.

However, at that moment, Fan Hongde seemed to have suddenly increased his cultivation level, becoming incredibly powerful. He switched from defense to offense, releasing vines that Shi Xuan could not shatter even with a single burst of spiritual power.

Shi Xuan's advantage vanished instantly. Fan Hongde's wood-attribute attack enveloped Shi Xuan layer by layer. Just as a wooden spike was about to pierce Shi Xuan's body, time suddenly froze, and then the scene before them shattered.

One can imagine the consequences if Fan Hongde's stab had succeeded and killed Shi Xuan in the illusion.

If Shi Xuan were truly trapped in the illusion, and after gaining hope for revenge, it was suddenly shattered and he was killed by the enemy, how unwilling would he be? The little embers of his inner demons that were originally just scattered sparks would probably ignite into a raging inferno under such circumstances.

Unfortunately, Shi Xuan did not delve into the illusion. At the last moment, she took out the Truth Mirror given to her by her fourth senior brother.

The illusion shattered, but Shi Xuan remained standing on the suspension bridge, still in the posture of taking his first step.

In truth, for Shi Xuan, who was fully conscious, even if she were stabbed by Fan Hongde, it wouldn't have any consequences. She broke the illusion simply to avoid experiencing being "killed." After all, the illusion was too realistic; being hit by it wouldn't be pleasant.

A gust of wind seemed to blow across the suspension bridge, causing Shi Xuan to sway, as if the illusion was dissatisfied with its failure.

Shi Xuan smiled and continued forward. When he reached the middle of the suspension bridge, a thick fog rose in the mountains and enveloped the entire suspension bridge.

A figure walked towards Shi Xuan from the other side of the bridge, facing her directly, but the fog was too thick to see clearly. When he got closer, she realized it was "Fan Hongde," the one who had fought her to the death in the illusion just moments before.

Fan Hongde had no intention of making a move. He spoke in a seemingly amiable manner, "Xuan'er, I've watched you grow up. I haven't mistreated you in the past. The unpleasantness we've had is all because I made a mistake. Now that I know I was wrong, shall we let bygones be bygones?"

Shi Xuan replied with a smile, "No good."

"How can you be so ungrateful!" Fan Hongde said, "I've raised you for three years, and even if I were feeding a dog, I would be grateful. Now that I've humbled myself to seek peace, you are so ungrateful!"

So what he meant was: you only lost your spiritual root, but I lost three years' worth of food!

Shi Xuan, not wanting to say more to the illusion, still smiled and replied, "Exactly."

A murderous grudge cannot be easily forgiven. Even if this were merely an illusion, and even if Fan Hongde truly repented and knelt before Shi Xuan, weeping bitterly, Shi Xuan would not forgive him on behalf of the former Shi Xuan. The damage has been done, and Shi Xuan is far more impatient with "forgiveness."

These two words.

Fan Hongde was blocking the bridge and wanted to say something more, but Shi Xuan stepped forward and pushed him aside. The illusion, just like a real person, suddenly fell off the suspension bridge and into the bottomless abyss.

Shi Xuan didn't even frown; he just kept walking forward.

Not two steps away, another "Lin Daozi" appeared in front of her.

The master's image was very vivid. He was holding a wine gourd as usual, and took a sip before speaking: "Disciple, I saw what happened just now. As the saying goes, to err is human, to forgive divine. Since Sect Master Fan has already repented and you are not in any serious danger, why bother to dwell on it? Letting go of others is also letting go of yourself."

Shi Xuan: "I don't want to let myself off the hook."

"I have already promised Fan Hongde that I would advise you to stop being his enemy. Now that I have said it, do you intend to go back on my word?"

Shi Xuan: "My affairs are my own to decide."

"But Fan Hongde has already fallen off the cliff, so how about you spare his daughter?"

Shi Xuan: "Not good."

Lin Daozi was somewhat annoyed and frowned, saying, "Killing someone is just a matter of beheading them. His daughter was unaware of what he did, so why go to such lengths to kill him?"

Shi Xuan: "I'm happy."

At this moment, Shi Mingxiu appeared from behind Lin Daozi. He stroked his long beard and said to Shi Xuan earnestly, "A cultivator must know how to assess the situation. You are just a mere disciple, yet you dare to seek revenge against the entire Divine Cauldron Sect. This is no different from an ant trying to shake a tree, showing no self-awareness whatsoever."

Shi Xuan: "I do."

Seeing that she was so unyielding, Shi Mingxiu angrily said, "If you remain obstinate today, my Lianfeng Sword Sect will not tolerate such an arrogant person as you. From now on, you shall leave the Lianfeng Sword Sect and seek a better position elsewhere!"

Shi Xuan: "Agreed."

Although this was just an illusion, when these people appeared in front of Shi Xuan one by one, asking her such questions, or using various conditions as temptations, or threatening her with her important possessions, Shi Xuan had given them serious consideration.

Those who cultivate immortality believe in cause and effect. Since she was reborn and took over the body of the previous "Shi Xuan," she must also bear the hatred of her. This is something that no other external force can shake.

Whether it's her master or her sect, they are both things she cares about deeply. However, if she were to become immersed in tenderness and forget the hatred of her original self, it would be contrary to the path she has chosen to cultivate.

Her path must be to follow her heart and have a clear conscience!

Thinking of this, she pushed aside the two people in front of her, strode towards the other side of the suspension bridge, and shouted at the illusion, "Don't waste your energy! My Dao heart will not be shaken by you!"