Absolute Destiny Game.

Chapter 524 Separation of Spirit and Body
Xiao Jie lay quietly in the darkness, his whole body tormented by pain. Yet even this pain made him feel more comfortable than ever before. Compared to the terrifying torment he had endured during the day, it was like being in heaven.

Having lived two lives, he had never suffered such torment or endured such hardship.

He didn't even know how he got through it.

But even though I made it through the first day, will I be able to continue to endure it?

Xiao Jie never considered himself a so-called tough guy. He had only managed to persevere for one day by relying on his desire to become an immortal and his determination to revive his companions.

If this kind of interrogation continues, Xiao Jie feels that he will eventually be unable to withstand it.

Once you open your mouth, the game is over.

No, there's still hope! Xiao Jie said to himself in his heart. Based on his understanding of the game, the system would definitely not kill him like this.

Game designers cannot design an impossible task. Although the Illusionary Realm is said to be a method of immortals, it is ultimately a part of the game, and therefore must follow the rules of the game.

So as long as I can hold on for a while, things will definitely turn around.

The only question is—how long do I have to hold out?
We have to find a way...

The next day, the brutal torture began as scheduled.

The whip ripped open the wounds that had just scabbed over yesterday, and the branding iron burned the sensitive nerves again. Despite the boundless pain, Xiao Jie's consciousness remained unusually clear.

He was thinking, thinking about the key to breaking the deadlock.

A thought suddenly flashed through my mind like lightning: Why do these jailers insist on me "confessing" when all I need to do is force a fingerprint on my hand?
He suddenly realized! This test was not simply meant to torture him to death, but rather an extreme test of his character by the system! Its purpose was definitely not to kill him for the sake of killing him. If the system truly wanted to eliminate him, it could simply conjure up a peerless master out of thin air, who could obliterate him with a single palm strike. Why go to such lengths?

They arrested people and tortured them.

Since this illusory realm is a "device" used by immortals for amusement and entertainment, its core logic must be "service"—or rather, guided by the "will" of the experiencer! In order to enable the experiencer to achieve a certain goal.

In other words, as long as Xiao Jie himself doesn't want to die and grits his teeth and never gives up, he can theoretically live on indefinitely! Unless... he chooses to give up himself.

Although it was just a guess, a feeling, based on Xiao Jie's many years of gaming experience, he was almost certain that it was true.

The purpose of the torture inflicted by these prison guards is to destroy his will and force him to "give up"!
"Crack!" Another lash of the whip, like a poisoned blade, ripped the flesh off his back, and blood gushed out instantly.

"Sizzle..." The red-hot branding iron was pressed against his battered shoulder again, and the smell of burning flesh filled the air.

Xiao Jie initially gritted his teeth and endured it with all his might. It's fake! It's all fake! He screamed inwardly, this is just a game! The real me is sitting comfortably in front of the computer, completely unharmed!

However, the pain surged through his nerves like a tidal wave.

He kept repeating these words. In extreme pain, his thoughts gradually became unfocused and his mind went blank. Even so, he continued to repeat these words.

It's fake—it's all fake.

In this constant repetition and endurance, a strange feeling quietly began to grow. The excruciating pain seemed to gradually detach from "him" himself. He felt like a detached bystander, suspended above the cell, watching the jailers below brutally torture a mangled, bloodied body named "Xiao Jie".

For a brief moment, he even had an urge to sneer.

What was going on? He was filled with doubt and confusion. I could clearly 'feel' every bit of pain, but it seemed as if the pain was falling on someone else? For a moment, he forgot about the 'scream' and fell into this strange and detached state of 'dazedness'.

"Crack!" Another whip lashed down, and the jailer noticed that the tortured man had stopped screaming again. He thought the man had fainted from the pain, so he grabbed a ladle of cold water and was about to splash him to wake him up when Xiao Jie suddenly raised his head.

A pair of cold eyes looked at him with a half-smile.

The jailer felt a chill run down his spine, and then flew into a rage.

"You dare glare at me?" He grabbed a branding iron from the brazier and pressed it down on Xiao Jie's chest.

Based on his past experience, anyone who had been hit like that would have screamed their lungs out, but Xiao Jie just watched him indifferently, his expression as calm as that of a bystander...

The jailer felt a chill run down his spine, but then his expression hardened even further.

So you're tough, huh? You can take a beating, huh? I'll see how long you can stay tough. What awaits Xiao Jie is double the torture.

Late at night, Xiao Jie was thrown back into his ordinary cell, lying on the cold, damp floor like a ripped rag doll. Almost every inch of his body was covered in gruesome wounds, some deep enough to expose bone, blood mixed with grime and congealed into scabs. Only his eyes, still bright in the darkness, proved that this "corpse" was alive, and... terrifyingly lucid.

(I see, now I understand everything.)
(The spirit can actually transcend the physical body and exist independently!)

That subtle feeling has now disappeared, and the pain has returned to his body, but Xiao Jie has discovered a trace of the mystery of this Taixu Illusionary Realm trial.

(That mysterious and profound feeling must be related to becoming an immortal.)
(As long as you can master this ability, you can endure torture!)
Xiao Jie was unusually determined at this moment. As long as he didn't die, no amount of pain could defeat him.

"Brother, what are you thinking about?" The scarred prisoner's voice rang out again in the darkness, echoing in my ears.

Xiao Jie did not respond. He desperately sketched several familiar faces in his mind—Ye Luo, An Ran, Wo Yu Cheng Xian… Only by imagining the blurry faces of his companions (having been immersed in the illusion for too long, his memories had faded like a painting, leaving only hazy outlines) could he draw a bit of strength to keep going.

They are still waiting for me to rescue them; I must not give up.

“We’ve dug a tunnel, and today is the perfect time to escape. I respect you as a man, so I can take you with me. Are you still alive? If you are, just say so.”

The scarred man's voice was tinged with anxiety and unusual earnestness.

A tunnel? Escape?

A powerful will to survive and an urge to cry for help almost burst from his throat, but Xiao Jie clenched his teeth and swallowed back his silent scream. He couldn't make a sound, and he dared not believe anything.

"Sigh..." A long sigh echoed in the darkness. "Looks like he's really dead. Let's go, there's no hope for him."

Footsteps rustled softly as the group of prisoners vanished like ghosts. The empty cell was left only with a suffocating silence and his faint breathing.

Was he all alone now? Xiao Jie couldn't see his surroundings, but he could feel his own faint breathing, the only one left in the prison.

Xiao Jie's body had already been broken down by the torture, and he couldn't even move his hands. He could neither get up to escape nor call for help.

A feeling of utter despair washed over me. Was this where I was going to die?

No, it definitely won't!
He said to himself silently, and in pain and despair, he lost consciousness once again.

After an unknown amount of time in his unconscious state, Xiao Jie opened his eyes again. Instead of the cold stone walls and dirty straw mat, he was greeted by a rough but clean wooden roof. Beneath him was a soft bed, and he was covered with a thin blanket that smelled of sunshine. The cool scent of ointment emanated from his wounds; the pain, though still present, had subsided considerably.

"Are you awake?" a gentle voice sounded.

Xiao Jie turned his head slightly and saw a handsome man with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes sitting by the bed, cooking a pot of medicinal soup on a charcoal stove. The bitter aroma of the soup brought a sense of peace to his heart.

The young man turned to look at him apologetically. “I’m sorry you’ve suffered. I am ‘Peerless Hero,’ and the ‘Drunken Sword Immortal’ who committed evil deeds and wronged you is my junior brother. He acts recklessly and has committed several serious crimes, causing my brother to suffer this calamity. I am truly ashamed.”

Xiao Jie understood and nodded slightly in thanks.

Sure enough! One test is over.

The system's logic was crystal clear: as long as he could endure the extreme test and didn't give up, he could unlock a new stage. It was like a quest chain in a game, with each link connected to the next. His understanding of the operating rules of this "Illusory Realm" became increasingly thorough.

"I went to the prison to check on my junior brother after hearing that he had been captured, but I didn't expect to run into you, brother. You don't need to worry, this place is absolutely safe. Just stay here and recover from your injuries. Once you're fully recovered, I will send you away." The chivalrous and peerless man spoke sincerely.

After a few days, with careful care, Xiao Jie was finally able to get out of bed and walk around. He pushed open the door of the bamboo house, and a bright and clear view opened up before him—

This is a secluded valley surrounded by verdant mountains. A crystal-clear stream flows gently through the valley floor, its murmuring waters like the tinkling of jade pendants.

Several exquisite bamboo houses are built along the stream, nestled among the swaying bamboo shadows.

Not far away, several simple thatched roofs gleamed softly in the sunlight. On the sunny slopes of the valley, vibrant gardens and orchards had been cultivated, bursting with blossoms and the subtle fragrance of ripe fruit wafting through the air. On the other side were neat rows of herb gardens, planted with various rare herbs, releasing their unique, refreshing aroma. The entire valley was tranquil and peaceful, like a secluded paradise, truly an ideal place for cultivating one's mind and spirit.

After lying in bed for many days, Xiao Jie's body was stiff and stiff. He stretched his muscles and bones to relax his body. Thanks to the medicinal soup provided by the chivalrous Wushuang, the injuries that had almost destroyed his body had now recovered to about 60-70%.

Even those deep, bone-revealing wounds have now mostly healed.

(What doesn't kill me only makes me stronger!)
As Xiao Jie was thinking this, a deep, thunderous roar came from the depths of the valley! Xiao Jie looked in the direction of the sound and saw an old man standing on a boulder beside the waterfall upstream, seemingly practicing some kind of martial art.

Xiao Jie followed the path up the hillside, and when he got closer, he finally saw the old man's face clearly.

The old man had white hair and beard, and was in high spirits. He wore a moon-white robe and had a somewhat otherworldly air about him. He seemed to be concentrating his energy and circulating his inner strength. Suddenly, he pushed out a palm towards the waterfall that was cascading down!
"boom--!!!"

An immense and unparalleled surge of internal energy erupted, forcefully blasting a massive water column through the ceaseless flow of water! Water splashed everywhere, raining down like a storm, creating a terrifying spectacle!
Xiao Jie was shocked: What terrifying internal energy! This must be at the grandmaster level. A thought flashed through his mind: Could this be the system's plan to have me become an apprentice?
That makes perfect sense! Following the usual game mechanics, after passing through hellish trials, it's time to give powerful rewards and enhancements.

Xiao Jie had tried to restore his internal energy when he was in the village, but all his skills were given to him directly by the game. Although he could use them in reality, he had no idea about the specific principles behind them. He could gradually master the skills of swordsmanship and hidden weapons through muscle memory, but he had no idea how to operate the meridians of internal energy.

Seeing the old man's formidable internal strength, he immediately felt the urge to become his disciple.

If one could cultivate internal strength and lightness skills, and combine them with one's own horizontal sword technique, one might be able to roam freely in this illusory realm, at least without worrying about being captured and tortured by a few random martial arts practitioners.

Thinking of this, Xiao Jie respectfully stepped forward and bowed.

When the white-bearded old man saw Xiao Jie, he immediately showed a kind expression.

"I've heard about you from Xia Yi Wushuang. My disciple, Jiu Jianxian, acted recklessly, which caused you trouble. I, Xuanjizi, never want to owe anyone anything. Do you have any wishes? Just tell me, and I will do my best to help you fulfill them."

Xiao Jie didn't hesitate at all. He knew he couldn't say it, but he could still do it with actions and words.

Despite his still-unrecovered body, he walked with faltering but unusually firm steps to the old man, knelt down, and prostrated himself deeply on the ground.

"Hmm?" Xuanji Zi raised an eyebrow slightly. "What do you mean by this?"

Xiao Jie raised his head, clasped his hands together, and made an extremely devout gesture of apprenticeship. His gaze was intense, filled with pleading and determination. He had already understood that in this world, a strong will itself was enough to convey information.

"You want to... become my disciple?" The old man stroked his long beard, a knowing look and a scrutinizing glint in his eyes.

Xiao Jie nodded vigorously.

"Hehe, you're quite the discerning young fellow. However, I heard that you killed several people before you were captured, so you must know some martial arts. Let this old man see your skills first!" A glint flashed in the old man's eyes. He casually picked up an ordinary bamboo branch from the side, stood there with an air of profound composure.

Xiao Jie took a deep breath, enduring the pain, and drew his sword! He moved swiftly, launching the first attack! The steel sword in his hand transformed into a violent flash of silver light, the very "Whirlwind Sword Technique" that made him famous! The sword strike was swift and fierce, sweeping towards the old man like a storm, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound!

In the game, sword skills are not very useful except for fighting some low-resilient humanoid monsters.

However, in reality, swordsmanship is more useful than combat skills. The reason is simple: in the game, there is a health bar, and slightly stronger monsters have ridiculously thick health bars, making it difficult to create a stun effect with swordsmanship and thus difficult to deal continuous damage.

But in 'reality' it's different. No matter if you're a peerless master or an emperor or general, you can be killed with a single blow.

Therefore, when fighting against a master, swordsmanship is naturally paramount.

However, faced with Xiao Jie's fierce attack, the old man merely smiled slightly. The bamboo branch in his hand seemed to come alive, gently tapping, deflecting, and guiding, its movements seemingly slow and casual, yet always precisely striking the weakest point in Xiao Jie's blade strike. The violent blade wind was as if pulled and dissolved by an invisible force, not even managing to touch a hem of the old man's clothing! Xiao Jie felt as if his blade had sunk into an invisible quagmire, its power easily dissipated, completely unable to unleash the speed advantage of the Gale Blade Technique.

Xiao Jie's eyes narrowed, and his sword aura suddenly changed! The originally violent sword light instantly became erratic and unpredictable, and the trajectory of the sword was like a gazelle hanging by its horns, leaving no trace—it was his "Illusory Annihilation Sword Technique" that had a vivid image!
"Huh?" For the first time, a serious look appeared in the old man's eyes, and he let out a soft exclamation. The bamboo branch in his hand also changed accordingly, no longer just deflecting attacks, but actively meeting them like a nimble snake, sometimes pointing, sometimes wrapping, sometimes twisting! His feet also began to move constantly.

The bamboo branch clashed with the steel blade, producing a crisp sound like metal striking metal! Although Xiao Jie's swordsmanship was exquisite, with each move aimed at vital points and containing unpredictable variations, the old man always managed to strike first after being the one to strike later, using his superior eyesight and more exquisite techniques to neutralize his attacks one by one.

After dozens of moves, Xiao Jie's knife was once again lightly tapped on the wrist by a bamboo branch, and fell to the ground with a "clang".

"Excellent swordsmanship!" The old man stopped his stance and stood up, looking at Xiao Jie, who was panting but had bright eyes, and made no attempt to hide his admiration. "Especially those last few moves, the artistic conception is profound and the changes are unpredictable! I wonder where you learned them?"

Unable to answer, Xiao Jie could only point forcefully to himself.

"You figured it out yourself? You truly are a martial arts prodigy. Although you're a bit older..." The old man looked Xiao Jie up and down, "your physique isn't fully developed yet, which is the perfect time to learn martial arts and build a foundation!"

Looking into Xiao Jie's eager eyes, he finally laughed loudly: "Very well! I have wandered for half my life and rarely take on disciples, but since you have already asked, I will make an exception today and accept you as my last disciple!"

From then on, Xiao Jie had a master. His eldest brother was the chivalrous and peerless one who rescued him from prison, his second brother was the infamous Drunken Sword Immortal who caused his imprisonment, and he, Xiao Jie, was Xuanji Zi's third personal disciple—Hidden Moon Following the Wind.

(End of this chapter)