After the various teams reached a temporary consensus, the tense atmosphere finally eased.
"Then we'll enter first," the Separation Marquis said calmly.
He did not wait for responses from the Insect Race or Monster Race. With a wave of his hand, he led the Human Race side forward, stepping into the Illusion Heart Realm one after another.
Bai Yue followed behind.
The moment his foot crossed the boundary, space and time twisted violently.
Although he was still standing on the narrow path, everyone else vanished in an instant—as if they had never existed at all.
Bai Yue was not surprised. He had already anticipated such an outcome. Without hesitation, he strode forward toward the end of the path.
At first, nothing seemed unusual.
The road was silent. Apart from the sound of his own footsteps, there was nothing—no wind, no echoes, no sense of life.
But as he walked farther, subtle changes began to appear.
A heavy pressure seeped into his chest. His emotions grew inexplicably restless, his body warming as stray thoughts surfaced from the depths of his consciousness. Regret, longing, hesitation—emotions that should not have been able to influence him at his level quietly emerged.
This was clearly the effect of the Illusion Heart Realm.
Under normal circumstances, with Bai Yue's state of mind and willpower, such interference would have been laughable. Yet the illusion did not assault him directly—it eroded him slowly, like water wearing down stone.
He closed his eyes briefly, steadying his breathing.
His mind became clear and sharp.
All distracting thoughts were crushed and dispersed, and he continued forward without slowing.
Soon, the flat road beneath his feet turned uneven. Stones protruded, cracks spread, and the path became increasingly treacherous. At the same time, the invisible pressure intensified, continuously stirring irritation and impatience deep within him.
Bai Yue remained unmoved.
Step by step, he advanced.
Before long, the path tilted sharply upward, transforming into a steep mountain trail, as if he were climbing toward an unseen summit.
Whispers echoed in his ears.
Soft, persuasive voices urged him to stop, to rest, to give himself a moment of reprieve before continuing. Promises of comfort and ease filled the air.
Bai Yue ignored them completely.
He climbed on.
Gradually, the temperature dropped. Snow began to fall from the sky, first lightly, then in thick, swirling sheets. Eventually, the entire mountain was buried beneath layers of heavy snow.
Extreme cold invaded his body. Each movement felt stiff, as if his limbs had frozen solid. Every step produced a faint creaking sound, like metal grinding against metal.
Still, Bai Yue did not stop.
He left a trail of footprints in the snow, advancing steadily through the blizzard.
Then the scenery shifted again.
A sulfurous lava hell appeared, heat scorching his skin. Next came graceful dancers smiling seductively. Then came pain—being torn apart, crushed, hacked, and broken again and again.
Until—
The world abruptly changed.
He stood inside a familiar apartment.
A modest suite: two bedrooms and a living room.
A clothes rack by the entrance. Hooks on the wall. Cushions neatly placed on the sofa. A refrigerator and water dispenser positioned exactly where he remembered them. Photos on the wall—scenes from a past life.
Everything was painfully familiar.
Bai Yue stood silently in the living room, staring at it all. A deep, indescribable warmth welled up in his heart, bringing with it a profound sense of happiness.
Suddenly, arms wrapped around him from behind.
A familiar fragrance filled his nose.
"You're back?" a gentle voice said. "Go wash your hands. Dinner's ready."
Before he could respond, he was pushed toward the bathroom.
He washed his hands at the sink and looked into the mirror. The reflection staring back at him unlocked countless memories all at once.
On the dining table sat simple dishes: stir-fried meat, shredded potatoes with green peppers, and a large bowl of mixed vegetables.
"Eat more," the girl said softly, her voice full of concern. "You must be tired…"
Bai Yue ate in silence.
The food was delicious.
Incredibly delicious.
After finishing the meal, he stood up and slowly looked around the apartment. Then he walked toward the door.
"Are you leaving?" the girl asked.
"I should go."
"But I don't want you to," she said, tugging lightly at his sleeve.
For a brief moment, his heart wavered.
Then Bai Yue gently freed himself, opened the door, and stepped outside.
Sunlight bathed the world.
—
Space shifted violently.
Bai Yue appeared on a vast square. World power surged through his body, instantly evaporating the faint moisture at the corner of his eyes.
He exhaled slowly and looked around.
On three sides stretched endless white mist. Directly ahead stood a massive jade-green palace, majestic beyond words.
The palace spanned tens of kilometers in length and width. Pavilions and towers adorned its interior, all crafted from at least F-grade metals. The main gate consisted of two colossal dark-golden doors made of unknown G-grade metal—rare and priceless.
As Bai Yue approached, he realized something astonishing.
The entire palace—pillars, steps, walls—was a single, unified structure. There were no separate components. It was one complete entity.
The gate stood open, evidently unlocked by those who had arrived before him.
He stepped inside.
Beyond the gate lay a spacious courtyard. A central path led directly to the main hall, flanked on both sides by massive flowerbeds.
A refreshing fragrance drifted from the flowers. Just a single breath caused Bai Yue's soul to feel clearer and more energized. From his experience, he instantly recognized it as a treasure capable of restoring divine power.
Several Undying from the Insect Race were already attempting to harvest the plants—but to no avail.
Their attacks, techniques, and divine power all rebounded harmlessly. Dense secret patterns interwove above the flowerbeds, forming an impenetrable defense.
The same was true for the surrounding rockeries and strange stones—each was a rare treasure, yet all were sealed by protective patterns.
When Bai Yue reached the entrance of the main hall, he found it crowded with figures. Almost everyone who had passed the Illusion Heart Realm had gathered here.
Because Bai Yue had deliberately immersed himself deeply in the illusion, he had taken longer than most. Those who had not made it through by now would likely remain trapped forever unless they achieved sudden enlightenment.
A clear voice echoed across heaven and earth.
"Congratulations on passing the Illusion Heart Realm," Yuan Bin's voice rang out, filled with amusement. "Did it feel easy?"
"As long as you move fast enough—before the illusion intensifies—you'll pass with a bit of luck. As for the Automaton Race… well, luck is also a form of strength."
At those words, many present felt a surge of irritation.
So that was it?
The Illusion Heart Realm had been deliberately designed to reward decisiveness rather than endurance.
"As a reward," Yuan Bin continued, "I have prepared gifts in this outer hall. Take what you can. What you obtain will depend entirely on your own fortune."
As his voice faded, the tightly sealed hall doors burst open.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
Figures shot forward instantly, rushing inside.
Soon, exclamations echoed throughout the hall.
"The walls are entirely made of G-grade metal!"
"Even the tables and chairs—everything!"
Astonishment spread rapidly.
Some tried to collect the furnishings, only to discover that they were completely integrated with the palace itself. No matter how they tried, the items could not be moved or stored.
An Undying from the Monster Race poured divine power into a table, exerting his full strength—yet the table did not budge in the slightest.
Not even the Separation Marquis or the Insect Race powerhouses could move a single object.
Just as confusion spread, some sharper minds withdrew from the main hall and headed toward other sections of the palace in search of opportunities.
I also read novels also read novels as you all know today i found more than 1 such person that was selling their novels for up to 150 USD[each book] i mean daammn and two were selling translations for 40 USD i mean ok but i have to say either i have been poor my whole life and dont know jack shit about this market or may be i am just a saint [damn the war is effecting the price of novels as well???]
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