Ye Fan, cautious at heart, moved step by step towards the entrance of the main hall. At this moment, a voice came from beside his body: "Qing Neng, you're back?"

It was the voice of Master Hui Ning. As Ye Fan's second mentor, he still held respect for her.

But when Ye Fan turned his head, he couldn't see the figure of Master Hui Ning at all.

At this moment, the voice of Zhuo Junwu came from behind him: "Ye Fan, are you alright?"

When the two voices appeared simultaneously, Ye Fan suddenly realized a problem; he might have entered an illusionary realm.

Indeed, the Copper Tomb Mirror within him immediately shone brightly. With two protector chimes, the mirror was already quite powerful, but its light still couldn't focus on one spot, indicating that the person who set the illusion was very skilled.

Why would he enter an illusion upon returning to the Tianxuan Sect? He speculated two possibilities: either Shadowless had arrived at the Tianxuan Sect, and the illusion was set by Shadowless; or someone else set the illusion to confuse his mind, or it was a spiritual trial for his mind.

"Master, is it you?"

Since the illusion itself was meant to confuse the mind, Ye Fan closed his eyes directly and took the initiative to counterattack.

Both Hui Ning Master and Zhuo Junwu were his mentors, and he called out directly to the master, wanting to see from which side the voice responded, and then use the Copper Tomb Mirror to judge the authenticity.

"It's me." The voices came simultaneously from front and back, but the light of the Copper Tomb Mirror remained scattered, unable to determine which side was real.

Ye Fan suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils shining brightly. He headed towards the direction of the main hall. Since he couldn't ascertain the real intent of the illusion, he would proceed with his previous plan, enter the hall, and seek Hua Wu.

When he entered the hall, the radiance inside was strong. The hall was filled with chairs, each seated with a person. Some Ye Fan recognized, like Li Zhaojun, Min Shang, Lan Jing, Hua Wu, etc., while others he didn't know. These people were of both genders, young and old, like a purgatory; one could assume they were all dead, yet their souls still lingered.

"Ye Fan, you're back?" The voice was from Ye Guohua. He saw Ye Guohua and Qiao Feixuan walking towards him, carrying a wooden box. But as they neared, the Copper Tomb Mirror within Ye Fan suddenly pinpointed a direction, and Ye Fan unleashed spiritual energy in that very direction contained in Ye Guohua and Qiao Feixuan's images.

Like a mirage, their shadows vanished upon impact.

The surrounding figures seemed ghostly, rising from their chairs and approaching Ye Fan, speaking in a jumble as if to disrupt Ye Fan's mental state, making it difficult for him to discern the real exit.

Ye Fan shouted sharply: "Is this amusing?"

With just one sentence, the surroundings suddenly fell silent. When he reopened his eyes, those influences were gone, the hall returned to its original state, but three people appeared in the hall.

Two were none other than Hua Wu, the Sect Master of Tianxuan Sect, and the other was his master Hui Ning Master. Beside them was a coughing person, who previously gave Ye Fan trouble, Shadowless.

However, the three seemed unaware the illusion had been broken by Ye Fan. Master Hui Ning asked, "Sect sister, can Qing Neng truly escape from the illusion?"

Hua Wu replied, "This illusion is colorless and formless, nearly authentic. Even you and I within might find ourselves caught, unable to extricate. Qing Neng's talent is high, yet this trial sharpens his spiritual power."

At this moment, Ye Fan was walking step by step towards the three. Master Hui Ning further asked, "How is he walking over here?"

Even Hua Wu was a bit surprised, looking at the hunched Shadowless and said, "Has the illusion shattered?"

"Impossible to break." Shadowless retorted, "He's surely still in the illusion."

Ye Fan slightly frowned, uncertain whether the three before him were figures within the illusion or real entities. He shouted sternly, "Why did you use an illusion to deceive me into entering?"

"Who is he speaking to?" Master Hui Ning asked.

"I'm speaking to you, Master, Sect Master, and Shadowless senior." Ye Fan correctly identified the trio's identities, and his focused gaze had no deviation.

Now even Shadowless realized his illusion had been broken by Ye Fan once again; this time Ye Fan countered his illusion much more easily than before in Zhangzhou City.

"Cough, cough…" Shadowless coughed, blood seeping slightly from his mouth, "Ye Fan, your cultivation is indeed impressive, even my illusions can no longer affect you."

Hua Wu said, "Qing Neng, don't blame us; Shadowless said you could overcome illusions, this was a trial for your spiritual power, unexpected to us, your spiritual power is indeed strong. However, above us, there are those of higher cultivation whose created illusions might make you truly believe them and forever trap you within."

Ye Fan bowed respectfully: "Sect Master, I've returned as agreed to attempt making Taining recognize me as its master. If I fail, I shall return to Earth, perhaps never setting foot in the secret realm again."

"Go ahead." Hua Wu gestured to the distance, "Taining is displayed there, but be cautious, no one can assist you on the subsequent path!"

As Hua Wu finished speaking, a hint of yellow light appeared before Ye Fan, revealing Taining, like a massive hammer, placed upon the altar table in the hall. Around Taining, the spiritual energy was strong, simultaneously exerting an invisible pressure on Ye Fan.

However, standing beside Taining were two individuals, one was Huang Ze, the other was a person already deceased, Qing Lian, Li Zhaojun's mentor.

"Impossible, she died back then; this must be an illusion." Ye Fan reminded himself internally, yet the scene before him was immensely real.

Within the illusion, not only the senses were tangibly existent, but even human interactions were genuine, which was the terrifying aspect of Shadowless.

Ye Fan admitted that his spiritual power alone couldn't transcend Shadowless's illusions; his ability to escape the illusions twice relied entirely on the Copper Tomb Mirror within him.

But currently, the Copper Tomb Mirror seemed to malfunction, unexpectedly falling asleep, showing no reaction to the figures of Huang Ze and Qing Lian ahead.

"Proceed, attempt to infuse spiritual energy into Taining, you might then complete recognition as its master." Hua Wu's voice transmitted.

Ye Fan moved step by step closer to the altar table holding Taining, his gaze fixed on Qing Lian and Huang Ze. He recalled Hua Wu's warning that no one could assist him, implying upon approaching Taining, he would likely encounter attacks.

"Master Qing Lian?" Ye Fan queried.

"It's me." Qing Lian's voice came coolly, yet sharply, resembling a wailing ghost, "You disrupted my painstaking plans for my disciple, plunging her into the vile emotions of the human world, causing my own degradation by two darned youngsters, dying without a burial place. I've returned to demand justice from you."

"But you've died." Ye Fan struggled to discern if this was truly an illusion.

"Yet my soul has not perished, nor has my resentment subsided." Qing Lian replied.

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