My Heart Remains the Same

My Heart Remains the Same . . .

Hua Taixu possessed an extraordinary ability, one that defied conventional combat tactics. In order to overcome him, brute force alone wouldn't suffice. One had to navigate the treacherous labyrinth of his illusions.

Before laying a finger on Hua Taixu's true self, challengers were compelled to shatter his intricate illusions. Without doing so, they'd remain clueless about his actual whereabouts, rendering their attacks futile and misguided.

In response to this enigmatic challenge, Qin Wentian's eyes tapped into his second bloodline power. They radiated with the incandescent glow of a candle's flame. Hua Taixu's crafted incarnations found themselves consumed by the searing intensity of Qin Wentian's gaze, reduced to ashes as they returned to the formless void. An approaching incarnation met a swift demise as Qin Wentian simply shifted his gaze, barely moving from his initial stance.

Amid the celestial expanse, Hua Taixu's illusions continued to spawn ceaselessly, only to meet the same fiery fate, disintegrating one after the other. The time had come for Hua Taixu's corporeal form to face Qin Wentian, but not without a transformation of his own. His eyes bore a swirling vortex, an abyss that threatened to ensnare its prey. Within those pupils, runic lights danced like elusive specters.

In the blink of an eye, an even more potent illusion unfurled before Qin Wentian's eyes. Desperate to avert his gaze, he found himself powerless against the inexorable pull of Hua Taixu's eyes, ensnared within a phantasmagoric reel of memories.

Within this ethereal realm, silhouettes of Qing'er, Mo Qingcheng, and Uncle Black materialized, like fragments of his past and present. The cascade of memories enveloped Qin Wentian, ensnaring him once more.

Witnessing this spectacle, the immortal kings were taken aback. These two participants wielded eyes of formidable might, and their clash unfolded as a battle of ocular supremacy.

Addressing the Myriad Incarnations Immortal King, the Undying Immortal King queried, "Myriad Incarnation, how did Hua Taixu acquire those eyes?"

In response, the Myriad Incarnations Immortal King beamed with pride. "He cultivated them himself. I offered only peripheral guidance. After undergoing nine lifetimes within the samsara world, he chanced upon a stroke of immense fortune. His samsara eyes could ensnare adversaries in a mini-cycle of samsara, evoking every experience they'd ever known. Moreover, he could interweave illusions within this cycle. For those with feeble wills, they would falter in an instant."

The achievement belonged not only to the master but equally to the disciple. A mentor could impart wisdom, but true mastery rested squarely on the shoulders of the student. Hua Taixu's mastery of these eyes surpassed even the Myriad Incarnations Immortal King, a supreme immortal king herself.

The samsara world was a forbidden realm, an uncharted territory within the immortal realms where few dared to tread due to the high risk of death or worse. It was a realm shrouded in mystery, an obscure particle world.

The Undying Immortal King sighed, his gaze heavy with acknowledgment. "To think he ventured into the samsara world. Such places are fraught with danger. It's a testament to his courage."

The Myriad Incarnations Immortal King smiled as she glanced at her disciple. "His courage is what propelled him to enter the samsara world. Without such daring, how could he have unlocked the extraordinary power of the samsara eyes?"

The Undying Immortal King couldn't help but chuckle as he commented, "But don't underestimate Qin Wentian. Those eyes of his hold their own brand of terror."

The spectators watched with bated breath as Qin Wentian and Hua Taixu locked eyes, an aura of tension filling the air. Qin Wentian's entire being radiated a brilliant white light, his formidable immortal battle art unleashed with resounding power. On the other hand, Hua Taixu, a master of illusionary arts, wove illusions into his attacks. In terms of raw strength, it was evident he lagged behind, making it his apparent weakness.

To conquer Hua Taixu, one had to breach his illusions and subdue him with unwavering force.

Taking a step forward, Qin Wentian shattered the illusions with the sheer power of his gaze, his determination unwavering. Hua Taixu's eyes, meanwhile, intensified, their vortex spiraling even faster, warping the entire space and drawing Qin Wentian into another illusion-scape. Here, countless familiar silhouettes materialized before him.

In a calm voice, Qin Wentian declared, "My heart won't waver." A formidable aura surged from him as he charged toward Hua Taixu. But in that very moment, Mo Qingcheng's silhouette appeared before him. It was so lifelike that even Qin Wentian hesitated for a split second.

A frown creased his brow. How could he proceed with his attack when Mo Qingcheng stood before him?

Suddenly, he found himself ensnared by a pair of eyes capable of plunging one into a samsara-like trance. These eyes pierced through his white eyes, transporting him to an imposing immortal palace where his parents stood. Eminent experts surrounded them, their auras incomprehensibly powerful, as if a momentous event had transpired.

The clarity of it all made it seem as though he had returned to infancy, a samsara uniquely his own.

"Be careful!" Jun Mengchen's cry rang out. Yet, Hua Taixu's spear was already poised at Qin Wentian's throat. It moved so swiftly that it sent shivers down the spines of Jun Mengchen and Zi Qingxuan.

With a violet roar, a surge of demonic energy enveloped Qin Wentian, shielding him from the impending strike. Simultaneously, his eyes snapped open.

Hua Taixu retreated, but his previous closeness was calculated for this precise moment. Qin Wentian, now clear-headed, couldn't let him escape. Thunderous echoes resounded as golden figures of suppression descended from the heavens, blocking Hua Taixu's retreat. Qin Wentian's palms erupted with runic light, capable of seizing stars and plucking moons, radiating absolute dominance.

Hua Taixu's eyes gleamed with a sharp edge as numerous incarnations materialized once more. They appeared corporeal, indistinguishable from reality, and were scattered throughout the space. These incarnations emanated resplendent runic light as they launched simultaneous attacks, their combined force clashing against Qin Wentian's mighty palm imprint. The collision erupted with colossal energy.

Simultaneously, Qin Wentian sensed a pair of samsara eyes fixated on him, attempting to pierce his heart. Countless scenes, some from the past and others crafted anew by Hua Taixu's illusions, flashed before his eyes.

The climactic clash between Qin Wentian and Hua Taixu reached a deafening crescendo. The resounding "BOOM!" marked the ignition of Qin Wentian's dual bloodlines, pure white flames swirling around him like divine fire. His eyes, now more terrifying than ever, pierced through Hua Taixu's illusions, pinpointing the location of his true body.

Hua Taixu's myriad incarnations brandished their long spears, each strike aimed at Qin Wentian's eyes. With each passing second, countless scenes flickered within Qin Wentian's gaze. Were it not for his potent bloodlines, he would have been powerless against Hua Taixu's onslaught.

In a thunderous roar, Qin Wentian bellowed, "GET DOWN HERE!"

As his voice echoed, golden figures of suppression descended from his constellation, creating an overwhelming forcefield in all directions. The power of suppression materialized into a potent diagram, crushing Hua Taixu's incarnations with sheer might. An additional surge of extraordinary energy sealed the space, leaving no escape.

Now, it was Qin Wentian's moment to shine. He had honed the incarnation burst technique in the Immortal Martial Realm. With a furious cry, millions of Qin Wentians appeared, palms outstretched toward the real Hua Taixu.

The fearsome white candle flames danced through the skies, reducing everything to ash in their wake. Hua Taixu, his real body suppressed by the formidable diagram, had no hope of breaking free in the brief moment of chaos.

"BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!" Terrifying palm imprints hurtled toward Hua Taixu, but their force was neutralized before they could connect. Finally free, Hua Taixu retreated with a pallid face, floating in mid-air. His expression gradually normalized as he gazed calmly at Qin Wentian, remarking, "It seems you are still the number one of Grand Xia."

Despite experiencing nine samsara lifetimes, Hua Taixu found himself bested by Qin Wentian on this day. He recognized that in terms of shattering illusions and sheer strength, Qin Wentian held the upper hand.

"I have lost," Hua Taixu admitted, a hint of disappointment and frustration audible in his voice. The battle had been enthralling, a grand showdown between two exceptional geniuses that ended with Hua Taixu's defeat.

Regarding the title of 'number one' in Grand Xia, others might not comprehend its significance, but Qin Wentian did. Grand Xia was their homeland, and it likely represented Hua Taixu's aspiration.

"We need not determine who's number one or number two. We are both Grand Xia's pride, and the more demon-level talents Grand Xia produces, the better for all of us," Qin Wentian declared.

"Indeed," Hua Taixu concurred with a smile.

The spectators were awestruck, their faces filled with admiration. The Myriad Incarnations Immortal King, momentarily surprised, soon recovered and smiled as she glanced at Qin Wentian. "A true demon-level talent."

Amid the aftermath of their titanic clash, the Immortal Kings gathered to discuss the remarkable talents displayed by Qin Wentian and Hua Taixu.

"They are both invaluable disciples, worthy of the highest levels of nurturing," the Undying Immortal King remarked, his hand gently stroking his beard. His eyes held a gleam of admiration. "The illusion-scape cultivated by your disciple has reached godly levels. In the future, his mastery of illusions may even surpass your own. If only we could mitigate his weaknesses, one can only imagine the boundless power he could wield." The Immortal King's words carried genuine excitement. Even a venerable figure like him felt a strong desire to provide guidance to such exceptionally talented youngsters.

Dongsheng Ting, not one to be left out of the conversation, added his thoughts. He shifted his gaze toward the platform where Qin Wentian stood, a mixture of emotions coursing through him.

Qin Wentian had achieved the unthinkable by defeating Hua Taixu. This raised a pressing question for Dongsheng Ting: what rank should he assign to Qin Wentian now?

Caught in this moment of contemplation, Qin Wentian's eyes turned in his direction. Dongsheng Ting quickly put on a reassuring smile and continued, "In the past, you displayed extraordinary talent. My royal father had considered taking you on as his disciple, but you declined the offer, refusing a 1,000 years of tempering. Now, as fate has brought you full circle to this juncture once more, your unwavering determination deserves recognition. Let me ask you this: if you could turn back time, would you accept my royal father's conditions and become his disciple?"

Dongsheng Ting's question hung in the air, laden with significance. He was, in essence, granting Qin Wentian a second chance—a chance to secure a place in the coveted top three.

With calm composure, Qin Wentian met Dongsheng Ting's gaze and replied, "A thousand years is too long. But my heart remains unchanged."