Chapter 35: The Terrifying Coming

Xiao Nanfeng exited the inner courtyard, heading toward the manor's outskirts. Fog blanketed the surroundings, and he nearly lost his way multiple times, circling back to the gate he had initially entered. Pressing close to the gate, he listened for any movement, and, hearing nothing, climbed up to survey the scene. To his dismay, the fog outside had thickened, greatly reducing visibility.

With a determined grit, Xiao Nanfeng leapt over the wall.

The moment he landed, a chill shot through him. "Something's wrong!"

The surrounding fog abruptly disappeared, replaced by a space bathed in a strange purple glow.

"Of course, something's wrong. I had to activate the **Illusory Purple-Gold Talisman** just to wait for you. This treasure from the **Taiqing Sect** is priceless. You've cost me dearly!" an icy voice echoed.

Turning around, Xiao Nanfeng saw a group of ten men, all sneering as they approached.

"Ma Shan? How did you know I'd come out from here?" Xiao Nanfeng's face darkened.

"Hmph. **Yao Guang Manor** has a formation that confuses intruders, making them circle back to the main gate. We only had to wait here. You've kept us waiting a long time, Nanfeng. In this illusion realm, there's no escape," Ma Shan taunted, stepping closer.

"We're in an illusion realm?" Xiao Nanfeng's expression changed.

Realms of illusion and dream belong to the spiritual domain. To avoid **Lady Rouge**, I've forced myself into deep sleep for months, refusing to enter the spiritual world. Yet here I am, dragged into this realm?

Frustration and alarm crept into Xiao Nanfeng's face as he frantically looked for a way out.

"Don't bother struggling. While the **Illusory Purple-Gold Talisman** is active, the realm is sealed. No one leaves," Ma Shan said, smirking at Xiao Nanfeng's panic.

"Why create an illusion realm instead of attacking me in reality?" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

"This is **Yao Guang Manor**! The **Fairy Yao Guang** never interferes in sect affairs, but disturb her during her meditation, and she'll cripple anyone, no exceptions. And yet, you managed to wander around here unscathed. Lucky, aren't you? Fighting near Yao Guang Manor is forbidden, and any noise disturbing the fairy has the same consequence. You've really got nerve, running here of all places!" Ma Shan cursed.

"Fairy Yao Guang?" Xiao Nanfeng paled, breaking into a cold sweat.

The woman in blue… was she the Fairy Yao Guang? Meditating in seclusion? Not speaking wasn't because she was deaf but because she was at a critical point in her meditation? I hope I was respectful enough earlier.

"Enough talk. Let's finish him and get out before we risk alerting Fairy Yao Guang," Ma Shan commanded.

"Yes, sir!"

The group charged at Xiao Nanfeng with menacing intent.

"You idiots! You dragged me into an illusion realm, don't you know how dangerous that is? Break the illusion, or none of you will survive!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

"Lies! Do you think we'd believe you?" a man sneered, lunging at him.

Xiao Nanfeng's gaze turned icy, and he threw a powerful punch. The man's chest collapsed under the blow, sending him flying back.

"What?" The group stared, stunned.

What just happened? How did he win so quickly? And against a soul-powered opponent?

"Soul power?! You have soul power? Aren't you only at the **Acquired Realm**?" Ma Shan pointed, shocked.

In this illusion realm, it wasn't physical strength that mattered but soul power. Conventionally, someone at the Acquired Realm wouldn't have begun soul cultivation and would be defenseless, yet Xiao Nanfeng had sent a soul-powered enemy flying. How could this be?

A fierce light sparked in Xiao Nanfeng's eyes as he dashed into the crowd.

With a downward chop, he struck an opponent's soul-powered arms, snapping them with a sickening crunch. The man was flung backward, vomiting blood mid-air.

"Xiao Wu is already at the **Mortal-Breaking Realm**, yet his soul power is weaker?" Ma Shan exclaimed.

Another man struck Xiao Nanfeng from behind, but Xiao's soul power shield absorbed the impact. He bent slightly, then whipped his right leg upward in a fierce kick to the man's jaw.

A resounding thud filled the air as the man screamed, blood spraying, his jaw shattered.

Xiao Nanfeng's eyes blazed. "Didn't you hear me? If you don't end this illusion realm, I'll crush your heads!"

With a loud crack, another man's head snapped back from Xiao's powerful kick, spraying blood.

"Everyone, attack! Kill him!" Ma Shan shouted in terror.

They had thought trapping Nanfeng was foolproof. Instead, it was as if a fierce beast had been unleashed on them.

Xiao Nanfeng knew only overwhelming force would compel them to break the illusion realm.

Relentlessly, he continued, his fists wielding **Dominance Fist**, fierce and unstoppable. Each punch sent an enemy flying as a whirlwind stirred with his strikes.

"Boom!"

Another three men were knocked out of the fight.

Ma Shan lunged at Xiao Nanfeng, gripping his neck.

"Fool!" Xiao Nanfeng's eyes gleamed with malice as he elbowed backward.

With a sickening crack, Ma Shan was flung away, spewing blood, his chest crushed.

The remaining men were no match. Within moments, Xiao Nanfeng left each one coughing up blood, bones broken.

"Can an Acquired Realm practitioner refine their soul? Impossible!" one man gasped, blood trickling from his mouth.

"His soul power rivals even **Zhao Yuanjiao's**. This can't be!"

The ten men lay defeated, each staring at Xiao Nanfeng in shock.

"Release the illusion, or you will all die! Now!" Xiao Nanfeng's foot pinned Ma Shan down, fury in his voice.

"You've won. Why the rush to leave? What are you so afraid of?" Ma Shan spat blood, glaring at him.

Xiao Nanfeng pressed harder on Ma Shan's chest, grinding the bones beneath his heel.

With a shamed cry, Ma Shan shouted, "Release the illusion!"

With a hum, the purple glow faded, yet they all remained in the illusion realm.

"I told you to end the illusion! Do you want more punishment? Let us return to our bodies—even if we risk Fairy Yao Guang's wrath, it's better than suffering this boy's humiliation. Release it!" Ma Shan shouted at his fellow disciple.

"I did release it!" The disciple, trembling and bloodied, stammered in fear.

"Released it? Then why are we still trapped?" Ma Shan roared, disbelieving.

"It's true. I don't know what happened, but it seems we're stuck," the disciple said anxiously.

"We're not stuck; it's already too late, you fools," Xiao Nanfeng snarled, glancing toward a shadowy presence.

Following his gaze, Ma Shan paled as he saw a figure in the distance—a ghostly skeleton, wrapped in swirling black mist.

"Lady Rouge? You made it in after all?" Xiao Nanfeng muttered, smiling bitterly.

After months of sleepless vigilance, he had failed at last.

The skeleton, with a vengeful glint in its hollow eyes, teleported in front of Xiao Nanfeng, a bony claw reaching for his chest.

"**Dominance Fist**!"

Summoning his soul power, Xiao Nanfeng struck with all his might.

The skeleton staggered back a step, and Xiao Nanfeng did the same.

"After all these months of soul cultivation, I'm a match for Lady Rouge?" Xiao Nanfeng's eyes brightened.

In this fleeting moment of parity, the skeleton no longer seemed as fearsome.

"Ha! So you do have limits? This time, I'll break you apart!" Xiao Nanfeng charged eagerly.

Man and skeleton clashed, fists and claws flashing. The Dominance Fist filled the air with Xiao's fist shadows, but the skeleton moved with lightning speed, matching each strike. After hundreds of exchanges, neither gained the upper hand.

"Again!" Xiao Nanfeng lunged at the skeleton.

But the skeleton dodged, teleporting to one of the disciples.

"No! Stop!" Xiao Nanfeng cried, dashing over.

He was too late. The skeleton's claw pierced the man's head.

With a horrific scream, the disciple fell, blood pooling beneath him as the skeleton inhaled his dissipating soul in a misty cloud.

"Is that the evil spirit from the new disciples' trials? If it kills us in the illusion, our bodies die in reality too!" one disciple screamed, horrified.

"Gather around me, now!" Xiao Nanfeng yelled, charging toward the skeleton.

Yet the skeleton avoided direct confrontation, teleporting to another disciple.

"No!" The man tried to defend himself, but wounded, he was no match. He died in an instant, his soul consumed by the skeleton.

"Another one?" Ma Shan's face drained of color.

"Do you all have a death wish? Fight it with me!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted angrily.

He wasn't trying to protect them; he simply couldn't allow the skeleton to grow stronger.

But, the Skeleton Man had the advantage of instantaneous movement in the illusionary realm, and instantly arrived in front of Ma Shan.

"Don't come over, help, Senior Brother Nanfeng, I was wrong, save me!" Ma Shan ran towards Xiao Nanfeng in terror.

However, it was simply too late, the Skeleton Man's sharp claws instantly pierced into Ma Shan's chest, blood exploded and Ma Shan died on the spot.