After leaving the Great Soul Fighting Arena, Tang San quickly made his way toward Shrek Academy. His mind was set on finding a quiet place to absorb his spirit bone and break through level 40, striving for greater success in the competition.
The morning sun shone brightly, its warm light usually bringing him comfort. Tang San had always enjoyed basking in the sunlight, letting his thoughts wander toward cultivation. But today, an unusual restlessness gnawed at him. He had no time for leisure—not when a precious treasure awaited him at the Night of the 24th Bridge under the bright moon.
Strangely, his journey felt unusually long. He had been walking for quite some time, yet Shrek Academy still seemed far away.
Had he been walking too slowly? Frowning, Tang San quickened his pace.
But then, his steps gradually slowed as an unsettling sensation crept over him. Something was off.
The sun still shone upon him, yet the warmth had vanished. Instead, a subtle chill seeped in from all directions.
His expression turned vigilant. Everything around him appeared normal—people passed by as usual, and the academy wasn't far ahead. Was he just imagining things?
Casting a sharp gaze behind him, he scanned the street and the surrounding pedestrians. Nothing seemed amiss. Everything looked ordinary.
Forcing himself to stay calm, Tang San resumed walking, unconsciously condensing his Mysterious Heaven Skill. He trusted his instincts deeply. As someone well-versed in poison, members of the Tang Sect were always wary of being poisoned themselves, honing an acute sense of crisis. His growing unease told him something was wrong.
Yet, rather than speeding up, he deliberately slowed down, extending his perception to probe his surroundings for any anomalies.
Moments later, he stopped in his tracks, his expression turning serious.
No—this wasn't right.
Despite finding nothing unusual through his perception, he knew that, at his current pace, he should have reached the academy by now. And yet, no matter how far he walked, the academy remained distant, as if he were trapped in an endless loop.
"As expected of someone who defeated three Emperor team—you truly are remarkable and quite perceptive. Unfortunately, you noticed too late." A cold voice suddenly echoed in Tang San's ears.
A figure clad in white approached from a distance. Tang San recognized him immediately—Shi Nian, the instructor from Canghui Academy.
His heart grew heavy, and he fixed Shi Nian with a calm stare "So, you're a teacher from Canghui Academy. May I ask why you've gone out of your way to stop me?"
Shi Nian smiled, his expression composed "It's not a lesson I wish to teach—I simply need you to disappear."
Tang San's eyes narrowed "Is this because of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Competition?"
Shi Nian's lips curled into a chilling smirk "Not just that—but also for your spirit bone. Haven't you ever heard the saying that an innocent man becomes guilty by possessing a treasure?"
Tang San's heart skipped a beat. He had been careful and yet Shi Nian had somehow learned about the spirit bone. That meant he had eavesdropped on his conversation with Jun Tianlin. A Spirit Saint's presence was nearly impossible for a Spirit King and a Spirit Ancestor to detect. It was no wonder he hadn't noticed.
"So, you intend to kill me?" Tang San asked, his voice low.
Shi Nian snorted coldly "You're simply too exceptional. You even possess a spirit skill that can counter illusions. For the sake of my academy's victory—and your spirit bone—you must die."
Tang San sneered "You dare attack me here? Don't forget, this is a public street. If you kill me, you won't be able to set foot in the spirit master world again."
Shi Nian's smile deepened, the wrinkles on his face bunching together. A sinister light flickered in his eyes "Since I've decided to act, I've already made all the necessary preparations. Tell me, do you still think this is the streets of Heaven Dou City?"
The haze around them suddenly lifted, revealing a stark change in scenery. To Tang San's astonishment, he now stood in the wilderness. Looking back, he could barely make out the rooftops of Heaven Dou City. He quickly deduced that he had been lured into a small forest outside the city—without even realizing it.
"You're finished" Shi Nian declared "You have no backing, no allies here. From what I gathered in your conversation with the Sword Lord, your relationship with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan isn't strong enough for them to intervene. I have no reservations about killing you."
With those words, Shi Nian's figure dissipated into mist, and the surroundings shifted once more. His voice echoed from all directions "Tang San, do you know what I enjoy most in life? Watching my opponents descend into madness—until they die."
Tang San immediately activated his Purple Demon Eye at full strength. But without Sacred Soul Grass, it was only at the second level, unable to pierce through a Soul Saint's illusions.
His surroundings twisted and warped, and suddenly, he found himself reliving the moment he had been forced off a cliff by the elders of the Tang Sect. However, after learning from Jun Tianlin that he had never truly been expelled, the trauma of that memory had lessened. He managed to endure it.
But the next illusion filled him with rage.
Xiao Wu—his beloved Xiao Wu—was being tormented by the vile Bu Le. She cried out desperately for his help, yet he was powerless, unable to move, forced to watch helplessly.
TL:(who the hell is Bu Le)
"No!!!" Tang San's anguished scream reverberated through the forest
Perched atop a tree nearby, Jun Tianlin listened to the cry, his expression unreadable 'What is Tang San seeing to make him scream so miserably? His Purple Demon Eye is useless, and he lacks the Yama's Invitation that allowed him to turn the tide like in the original story. It seems he won't hold on for much longer. I suppose it's time for me to act.'
Moments later, Tang San's mental resilience finally shattered, and he collapsed unconscious.
For someone who had lived two lifetimes, his mental strength was extraordinary. An ordinary person would have suffered brain death long ago.
"Not bad—you merely fainted" Shi Nian mused "A shame, though. I wanted to see you die in agony, but I suppose I'll have to finish this myself."
He reached down, his fingers closing around Tang San's throat, ready to end his life.
Just then—
A pebble, charged with immense spirit power, struck the back of his hand with a sharp sting, forcing him to recoil instinctively.
"I'm sorry, Shi Nian" a voice rang out "He's still useful to me—I can't let you kill him."
Stepping forward with a Demon Sword in hand, Jun Tianlin approached, his gaze cold and unyielding.
"Sword Lord!" Shi Nian's pupils constricted in shock. He hadn't expected Jun Tianlin to be watching.
What now? Should he kill the Sword Lord too? But if he did, he would be hunted by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
For the first time, hesitation flickered in Shi Nian's eyes.