Superstrong Illusion

Superstrong Illusion...

A gentle breeze caressed the surroundings, causing the long hair of the delicate and seemingly fragile maiden, Lin Xian'er, to flutter gently. She was nothing like what Qin Wentian had anticipated. Prior to this encounter, he had heard others' assessments of the Celestial Maiden Sect, and he had imagined that a woman skilled in the art of seduction would be something more, perhaps possessing bewitching eyes or a sultry laugh that could ensnare souls.

However, the reality before him contradicted Qin Wentian's expectations. Lin Xian'er's zither melody was pure, clear, and elegant, akin to the tranquil flow of a stream seeping into people's hearts, stirring their very souls. There was no trace of deliberate seduction in her music, and her eyes were as crystalline as still waters, so transparent that one could peer directly into the depths of her soul, discerning her strength and fragility hidden within.

This encounter marked the first time Qin Wentian had met a maiden like her, one who appeared entirely distinct from the other women in the world. In her gaze, despite the surface appearance of vulnerability, there resided an undeniable sense of determination.

Qin Wentian wasn't alone in his sentiments; the others present were similarly affected by the striking contrast they witnessed. Among them were numerous Heaven Chosen from prominent factions, individuals with extraordinary status who had arrived with hearts filled with pride and arrogance. Initially, they had merely come to see what capabilities this rumored celestial maiden possessed, the woman who could allegedly bewitch even Heaven Chosen, infiltrating their steadfast hearts.

All of them believed their hearts to be resolute, their willpower unyielding. How could a mere beautiful woman have the power to tempt them and sway their hearts? Thus, these Heaven Chosen arrived with a daring attitude, eager to witness firsthand how this supposed world's number one beauty could enchant them.

Yet, without a doubt, they had all suffered complete and utter defeat—miserable defeat. From start to finish, Lin Xian'er hadn't shown the slightest inclination to beguile them. Within her gentle fragility, there also resided a sense of pride.

Inhaling deeply, the geniuses felt a pang of shame. Qin Wentian shared this sentiment; a single glance at Lin Xian'er had evoked such emotions within him.

"Everyone has come from afar to visit me, and I am truly grateful for your kindness," Lin Xian'er said with a gentle smile, her expression pure and unblemished, evoking a sense of wistfulness in those who gazed upon her.

"The flawless countenance of Fairy Xian'er has undoubtedly broadened my horizons. Merely one look has made this journey worthwhile," Shang Tong sighed, genuinely impressed and respectful in his words.

"Lin Xian'er, you are truly formidable. Just your presence has left these Heaven Chosen utterly captivated," a voice resounded from a distance, accompanied by an overwhelming surge of demonic energy. In that particular direction, a fearsome crimson-eyed demonic wolf sped through the air, towing an air-carriage that whistled through the skies before emerging fully into view.

With a deafening explosion, the air-carriage disintegrated into pieces. Following this, an incredibly demonic and imposing figure of a young man stepped out, perched atop the crimson-eyed demonic wolf. His presence exuded an overwhelming aura of dominance.

The mention of the "Saint Child of the Supreme Demon Sect" sent a shiver through the hearts of the spectators. The Saint Child of the Supreme Demon Sect held immense power, even among the ranks of geniuses.

Lin Xian'er, however, merely glanced at him casually before responding in her soft voice, "So many Heaven Chosen have graced me with their presence today. If you don't mind, allow me to show my gratitude with a zither melody."

As her words hung in the air, a subtle transformation overcame Lin Xian'er. Her gentle fragility gave way to an aura brimming with confidence. Her slender fingers delicately rested on the zither strings as she continued, "For those who have no reason to be here, please depart immediately. Xian'er might inadvertently harm you."

"What grand words," another figure chimed in. The crowd turned their attention to the rooftop of a nearby building, where a young man stood, his hair billowing in the wind. His demeanor marked him as a prominent figure from one of the major powers in the Royal Sacred Region.

"Xian'er is truly interested in seeing which among the geniuses present today will rank among the top few in the Immortal Martial Realm," Lin Xian'er spoke gently as the notes of her zither began to resonate. A soft radiance emanated from her fingers, spreading outward. The moment the zither's music filled the air, an eerie silence descended upon the space, as if everyone had entered a realm of profound perception.

The music's tranquility led the listeners to a wondrous mental realm. As Qin Wentian immersed himself in the music, an illusion materialized before him. In this fantastical space of his mind, he found himself alone with Lin Xian'er.

She sat playing the zither, while he sat before her, enthralled by the music. In this world, it felt as if only the two of them existed.

"It's an Illusion-scape," Qin Wentian discerned. The zither music had drawn him into an Illusion-scape. He didn't immediately try to break free because Lin Xian'er had hinted at challenging the geniuses present. He wanted to see her methods.

The music spiraled upward, its soul-stirring quality undeniable. Qin Wentian continued to sit there, accompanying her and appreciating her music. As time passed, he felt an unspoken understanding between them. They communicated without words, with the music as their medium. After a while, he felt as if he knew her heart through her melodies, and she understood him as well. It was a simple connection devoid of complexity, and strangely, the music brought him tranquility, leaving behind all worries and conflicts. All that remained was Lin Xian'er and her zither, soothing his heart, providing a space for his spirit to unburden itself, and allowing him to relax.

Qin Wentian lost track of time, feeling as though he had been in her company for an eternity. They hadn't spoken, yet they understood each other implicitly. The sound of her zither alone had forged this connection.

"Would you be willing to converse with me? I can hear the voice of your heart," Lin Xian'er smiled, tilting her head as she gazed at Qin Wentian. Her actions caused his heart to race as he stared at her flawless countenance.

"What a formidable Illusion-scape. Your proficiency in illusion techniques must be at an exceptionally high level," Qin Wentian replied, his heart still reverberating with astonishment. He recalled the dream-like experience he had endured in the Royal Tomb of Grand Xia, where the line between illusion and reality had blurred. This Illusion-scape invoked a similar sensation, a testament to its potency.

"However, isn't it true that you wouldn't find it difficult to extricate yourself from it if you so desired?" Lin Xian'er continued to smile. "May I have the honor of knowing your name?"

"I am Qin Wentian."

"Ah, so you are the one who broke the record at the Battle Sword Sect's grass hut. Not only that, you are also the spouse of the Holy Maiden. No wonder I couldn't detect any feelings of affection for me in your heart, and your unshakable resolve in the face of my illusion suggests that you have encountered a similar situation before," Lin Xian'er stated, giving the impression that she could see through Qin Wentian completely.

Qin Wentian opened up about his past experiences with dreamscapes, revealing, "I once experienced a dream before, and the power of that dreamscape was even stronger compared to Fairy Lin's illusion-scape."

Lin Xian'er nodded thoughtfully, her eyes showing understanding. "I see. Sir Qin, your name has never been heard of before in the Royal Sacred Region, yet you've suddenly caused quite a commotion, even winning the heart of the Holy Maiden. I surmise that you must have come from a distant land, enduring numerous hardships to reach your current position. It's no wonder your heart is so resolute. How can these other geniuses even compare to you?" Her words dripped with sincerity, as if she regretted not meeting him sooner.

"Fairy Lin, you're giving me too much credit," Qin Wentian replied humbly. "In this vast Royal Sacred Region, countless geniuses abound. While I, Qin, recognize my own abilities, I would never underestimate the heroes of the world. You, Fairy Lin, have truly broadened my perspective."

"Among these people," Lin Xian'er mused, "Sir Qin is someone I genuinely wish to know better. But I wonder, when the day comes that we meet again on the battlefield, amid the clashing of weapons, how will I bring myself to harm you?" As she spoke, the tranquil atmosphere vanished, and her zither's melody changed. Waves of killing intent saturated the air, as if they had transformed from soulmates into mortal enemies who had no choice but to draw their weapons and fight, a powerful sense of helplessness looming.

"Fairy Lin, your words exude confidence. Are you so sure that you'll be able to defeat me?" Qin Wentian asked, intrigued by Lin Xian'er's confident demeanor. Her admission that she couldn't bear to harm him suggested she believed she had the ability to injure him. Such words didn't align with the image of a gentle and fragile maiden.

Lin Xian'er didn't respond, but the zither melody grew increasingly frenetic, resembling a violent storm of rain and wind, or the galloping hooves of a charging cavalry. The entire space became suffused with killing intent, yet the seemingly delicate maiden continued to sit there, playing a tune of death.

"Sir Qin, please be cautious," Lin Xian'er cautioned softly. Suddenly, within the strains of her music, a blade materialized without warning and shot toward Qin Wentian at blinding speed.

Qin Wentian's aura surged, and his demeanor transformed instantly. He raised his palms, summoning a dragon imprint that roared loudly, distorting the manifested sound blade.

Simultaneously, Qin Wentian took a step forward, generating sword qi that surged menacingly. He was a decisive individual, and since Lin Xian'er wished to test him, he would respond with full force, holding nothing back.

With each step, the sword qi surged to the heavens. Yet the zither melody from Lin Xian'er grew more frantic, filling the space with a mysterious energy. Qin Wentian felt that energy enveloping his entire being, causing him excruciating agony. However, his eyes remained unwavering, and he continued to advance with unyielding determination.

Lin Xian'er rose to her feet, her body bathed in a mystical light that blurred her figure. Moments later, she seemed to multiply, creating two, then four, and so on, until the entire space was filled with her silhouettes. Each Lin Xian'er held a zither, playing the same melody in perfect harmony. Qin Wentian suddenly found his mind growing hazy, his willpower teetering on the brink of collapse as he succumbed to the music.

"How formidable," Qin Wentian marveled. His bloodline stirred, and a blood-colored halberd appeared in his hands, exuding overwhelming bloodthirst.

At this moment, the silhouettes of Lin Xian'er plucked the zither strings, releasing thin strands of light that sliced through the sword qi and sped toward Qin Wentian. He had no room to evade.

"Die!" Qin Wentian unleashed the Seven Annihilation Swordplay to its limits. With his final step forward, the harmonious hum of countless swords filled the entire space. Most of Lin Xian'er's silhouettes were torn asunder. However, in the air above Qin Wentian, a shadow streaked toward him. It was as if he had eyes on top of his head, as he took another step and swung his blood-colored halberd upward, the strike silent and swift as lightning.

"Pu..." Lin Xian'er's body was pierced through, but at that very moment, a strong sense of impending danger gripped Qin Wentian's heightened senses. Behind him, a palm imprint surged towards him.

In an instant, a flood of astral light filled the space as Qin Wentian executed Stellar Transposition. His figure vanished, transforming into a hazy silhouette that darted forward. His halberd, gripped firmly in his hands, thrust forward with unyielding force. His target was the spot where Lin Xian'er had sat when she played her zither. Yet, to his amazement, that spot was now completely empty.

Behind where Qin Wentian had been just moments ago, Lin Xian'er stood with a startled expression, her beautiful eyes flashing with sharpness.

"Bzz!" Suddenly, energy fluctuations erupted in the original spot where Lin Xian'er had been. Her true body materialized there, but this time, the instant she appeared, her face paled, and she retreated at an astonishing speed. The ancient halberd that had been hurtling toward her vanished abruptly. In its place, a crisp sound rang out, and Lin Xian'er's silhouette, which had struck out with her palm, disappeared into thin air. Up ahead, where her heart should have been, a blood-colored ancient halberd was embedded.

Lin Xian'er tilted her head and gazed at Qin Wentian. "When did Sir Qin discover this?"

"Fairy's illusionary techniques are truly astonishing," Qin Wentian sighed in admiration. He didn't immediately answer Lin Xian'er's question. His perception was truly exceptional. Back when he was still in the Yuanfu realm, he had been able to spy on Luo He. Yet now, he had narrowly avoided being deceived by Lin Xian'er. When Lin Xian'er stood up earlier, she had already used her illusionary techniques to confound his perception with his own eyes.

"But in the end, I am the one who was defeated," Lin Xian'er laughed. Suddenly, everything in their surroundings disappeared. Qin Wentian realized he was still standing in his original spot, and Lin Xian'er was still seated in her Immortal Ripple Pavilion. It was as though everything that had happened was nothing more than a dream.

Not only Qin Wentian, but everyone else also awakened from the illusion, returning to reality. They were deeply shocked, with some Heaven Chosen even having blood trickling from the corners of their lips and pallid complexions. Even among the members of the Battle Sword Sect, many wore expressions of shame. Qin Wentian understood that Lin Xian'er had simultaneously dueled with all the geniuses present at the same time.

"Victory and defeat aren't clear yet. Why did Fairy Lin pull me out of the illusion-scape?" The Saint Child of the Supreme Demon Sect exuded a strong desire for battle, as if he hadn't had enough.

"Xian'er has already been defeated," Lin Xian'er replied. Then, her gaze landed on Qin Wentian as she continued, "The judgment of the Immortal Martial Realm's envoys is truly beyond question. Despite the many present here, the position of the number one genius belongs to none other than Sir Qin."