Dongbo Xueying gazed at the three figures before him. Prior to arriving, Palace Master Chen had naturally provided him with all the intelligence regarding these three. They were said to be an exceptionally powerful team of demigods dispatched from the Divine Realm by the Earth Temple. The weakest among them, a broad-shouldered man with red hair reclining on a chair, was named “Bobo.” Beside him stood a tall, gaunt man wrapped entirely in robes, known as “Ba Han.” The golden-armored youth sitting within the pavilion, leisurely eating pastries, was the leader of the trio—the most formidable of them all—named “Wu Ma Hai.”
A demigod team from the Divine Realm!
Even upon seeing the three, Dongbo Xueying felt an invisible pressure. Particularly the youth-like figure of Wuma Hai, whose presence exuded a dark, ominous aura of annihilation. It seemed that anyone daring to approach him would be torn apart. He seemed to embody the ultimate darkness and destruction hidden within the profound laws governing all things around him.
“The weakest among them possesses the power to suppress an entire era. How mighty must this golden-armored youth, Wuma Hai, be?” Dongbo Xueying mused inwardly, astonished. “No wonder they are the true elite handpicked from the Divine Realm.”
“So you are Dongbo Xueying?” A voice suddenly called out in a casual tone. The burly man with flaming red hair and eyes, Bobo, sat upright, a wineskin in one hand, speaking carelessly.
“Yes.” Dongbo Xueying nodded.
“I’ve heard you’re the most gifted prodigy in the history of your Xia Clan’s world, having mastered two Grade-Two Essences,” Bobo asked curiously. “One of them is rumored to be either Shadow Essence or Illusionary Realm Essence. Which one is it exactly?”
Dongbo Xueying paused, then smiled faintly. “Illusionary Realm Essence.”
Palace Master Chen and others already knew he had mastered the Illusionary Realm Essence, though it had not been publicly revealed.
In truth, whether it was disclosed or not made little difference. Both the God-Sundering Cultivation Hall and the Temple of Witchcraft had already speculated that Dongbo Xueying wielded either the Shadow Essence or the Illusionary Realm Essence. Both were terrifying Essences particularly suited for assassination. While the Illusionary Realm Essence was relatively weaker in raw offensive power, it enabled the manipulation of countless illusions and even illusionary clones, making it even more adept at assassination support.
“Truly impressive to have mastered the Illusionary Realm Essence,” Bobo remarked with admiration. Both the tall, robed man and the golden-armored youth turned their gazes toward Dongbo Xueying.
Dongbo Xueying stood with a faint smile.
Since he was determined to join them, he naturally had to show some sincerity.
“Pity your cultivation time is too short, and you’ve also been poisoned by the Hex of Six Curses,” Bobo continued. “If you were in the Divine Realm, with your talent, there might still be deities willing to assist you. But in this mortal world, there’s nothing that can be done… Oh, only the Temple of Time and Space can freely traverse countless worlds. For them, rescuing you would be simple. But the Temple of Time and Space only actively recruits or invites—it cannot be petitioned.”
Dongbo Xueying remained silent.
The Temple of Time and Space?
They had invited him once before, long ago. Now, all these demigod teams descending into this world were brought here by the Temple of Time and Space. They must be well aware of his affliction with the Hex of Six Curses and the torment he had endured over the years.
Yet… they had never extended another invitation.
Was it because he had refused the first time? Or were they waiting until he was desperate, only to reappear and offer him harsh terms?
Whatever the reason—
The fact remained that they had not invited him again. Even if they did, Dongbo Xueying would still demand many conditions. He knew all too well how terrifying the Temple of Time and Space’s restrictions were. If he allowed himself to be manipulated by them, he would never have a chance to rise again. Even if his physical body perished, his soul would still be controlled, forced to carry out endless missions.
Such a life was utterly unacceptable to Dongbo Xueying!
“Bobo, there’s no need to say all this,” Ba Han, the tall, robed man beside him, turned to Dongbo Xueying. “Dongbo Xueying, Palace Master Chen of your Xia Clan has already informed us of your intentions. But you should also understand… this expedition to Hongshi Mountain is a life-or-death gamble for us. We cannot afford even the slightest mishap.”
“I understand,” Dongbo Xueying nodded.
“To be honest, your strength is far beneath ours,” the gaunt man continued. “However, since you have mastered the Illusionary Realm Essence, we might consider taking you along.”
“That’s right, consider it,” Bobo casually picked up a green fruit from the nearby tray. “See this? This fruit will remain right here!”
As he spoke, he extended his hand and placed the green fruit upon a nearby stone.
“If you can take this fruit from me, then perhaps you’re barely worthy of accompanying us. If not… well, there’s nothing we can do. You can go about your business. We won’t bring along a little nuisance like you.” Bobo’s red eyes gleamed with excitement. “Dongbo Xueying, are you ready?”
Dongbo Xueying understood.
This was the test.
This was the Earth Temple’s team testing him. If he failed, he would be dismissed.
“I’m ready,” Dongbo Xueying nodded.
“Once I say ‘begin,’ you may use any means necessary,” Bobo smiled. “Rest assured, I won’t touch the fruit at all. I will only try to stop you. If you can still take the fruit despite my interference, then you will have succeeded.”
The tall, robed man narrowed his eyes with interest, while the golden-armored youth, Wuma Hai, who was eating pastries, also fixed his gaze on Dongbo Xueying.
“Begin!” Bobo grinned.
The moment the word left his lips—
Visible beams of light shot from Bobo’s crimson eyes, enveloping the surrounding void. At the same time, Bobo’s aura surged, his entire body radiating like a massive fireball. The terrifying pressure and fluctuations caused Dongbo Xueying to feel slightly startled. This pressure surpassed even that of Sikong Yang and Mountain Master He. In Dongbo Xueying’s memory, only the “Sword of Witchcraft” had exuded a more formidable aura!
The weakest among them still possessed the power to suppress an entire era! Bobo truly lived up to being a master capable of dominating an age.
“I’ve long heard of the Illusionary Realm Essence but have never seen it. Let’s see how formidable you truly are,” the tall, robed man Ba Han stared intently.
“Come on, come on, let me see your strength,” Bobo’s aura surged, red light enveloping the surroundings, clearly on full alert for any movement.
“Watch out!” Wuma Hai suddenly barked, his brows furrowing.
“Huh?”
Both Bobo, whose body radiated like a blazing fireball, and the tall man were astonished as they looked at the stone. The fruit that had been resting there moments ago had vanished!
Yes, vanished into thin air, without the slightest warning!
Yet Dongbo Xueying had not moved an inch the entire time.
“He actually sensed it,” Dongbo Xueying glanced at the golden-armored youth. His attack had been as swift and elusive as a ghost. Bobo, radiating immense power and scanning the surroundings meticulously, and the tall man, despite their vigilance, had not detected Dongbo’s move the moment he acted. But that golden-armored youth, Wuma Hai…
Dongbo Xueying sensed that a terrifying wave of dark destruction had indeed made contact with his attack. Of course, Wuma Hai did not interfere, for this test was meant to be blocked solely by Bobo. If Wuma Hai had joined in, it would have been nearly impossible to succeed.
“How… how is this possible? This… this…” Bobo’s eyes widened, his body’s temperature rising rapidly, instantly incinerating the chair beneath him into nothingness.
“Too fast,” the tall man couldn’t believe his eyes.
“Illusionary Realm Essence lives up to its reputation,” Wuma Hai, the golden-armored youth, chuckled in admiration. “No wonder it’s known as the most terrifying Grade-Two Essence for assassination. The cultivator himself doesn’t even need to act—his Illusionary Clone can do it. And your Illusionary Clone can shift between reality and illusion so seamlessly that the only moment one can sense its presence is the instant it strikes. Your mastery of the Illusionary Realm Essence must have reached the Second Stage. But it hasn’t yet reached the Third Stage. If it had, we semi-divine beings who have mastered other Grade-Two Essences would never have detected it at all.”
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