The game starts with escaping from the famine and flipping the table

Before the black mist of the Netherworld Bone Forest had completely dissipated, the space in front of them began to distort and fluctuate.

The originally gray sky was gradually shrouded in a hazy white mist, and the faint outlines of pavilions and towers appeared in the mist. Illusory rosy light flowed between the carved beams and painted rafters, like a fairy palace floating in the clouds.

"The third challenge, the Mirage Illusion." The Mirage Demon King's voice carried a hint of solemnity, and the mist surrounding him involuntarily tightened. No one understood the destructive power of the Mirage Illusion better than him.

"This illusion is not an ordinary maze. It is made from the resentment of the Demon Lord's remnant soul, supplemented by the lost illusion control secrets of the Mirage Clan. Once an ordinary cultivator steps into it, his soul will be entangled by the illusion, and he will be forever trapped in his obsession. His physical body will be slowly eroded by the mist and eventually become nourishment for the illusion."

As soon as the Mirage King finished speaking, the illusory image of the celestial palace in front of them suddenly became clear.

The vermilion palace gates bear the four gilded characters "Mirage Heavenly Palace," and several heavenly soldiers in silver armor stand on either side of the entrance, their eyes empty yet filled with a chilling murderous aura.

Even more strangely, everyone clearly saw familiar figures flash by in the celestial palace:

Su Xiaoya saw the schools on Blue Star, where her classmates were diligently doing practice problems, and the teachers' serious faces occasionally flashed with satisfaction and expectation—who wouldn't want to teach a few students to prestigious universities and deliver a perfect answer to their teaching career...

Yu Shuheng witnessed the World Tree's lush and verdant splendor before its calamity, and the old Taoist Xuanmuzi leisurely roaming the Three Realms...

Before Bai Yiyi's eyes appeared the prosperous scene of the ten thousand foxes of Qingqiu paying homage, with the clansmen laughing and playing freely...

"Where the heart leads, all desires are fulfilled. Alas, everything before my eyes is but an illusion!" Bai Yi's eyes were moist. She spread her nine fox tails, and golden foxfire burned in the air to form a barrier, attempting to isolate the illusion from its erosion.

Yuwen Yu even met with the past emperors of the human race, each of them gazing at him with stern expressions and giving him earnest advice...

"This illusion excels at stirring up the deepest obsessions in people's hearts; the more one cares about people and things, the more real the illusion becomes. Once one becomes immersed in it, the remnant soul of the Demon Lord will seize control of one's soul!" The Mirage King also began to resist, his heart filled with boundless hatred. This Bronze Demon Lord had actually stolen the Mirage Clan's treasure—damn him!

Suddenly, the Sea Serpent King let out a low groan. The venomous sea serpents at his waist stirred restlessly like a disturbed swarm of bees, and his eyes, like a lighthouse in the fog, gradually became confused. He murmured to himself, "Mother...you're not dead?"

It turned out that he caught a glimpse of his mother, the one who had died tragically in the jaws of her natural enemy while protecting him in his childhood, standing gracefully on the steps of the celestial palace, waving to him repeatedly.

The Sea Serpent King moved with lightning speed, rushing towards the ethereal illusion like an arrow released from a bow.

"Don't be impulsive!" The Mirage King reacted swiftly, his surrounding mist transforming into a sturdy chain that tightly bound the Sea Serpent King's ankle. "That's nothing but an illusion! Your mother has long since returned to the starry sea. Don't be deceived by this illusory dream!"

The Sea Serpent King struggled violently like a trapped beast, his eyes burning red like flames: "Let me go! I want to find my mother!" The demonic power within him surged like a raging tide, showing signs of breaking free from his restraints.

When the "mother" in the illusion saw that he was being blocked, her face showed a sorrowful expression as if she were weeping and pleading. Her voice was as plaintive and moving as a nightingale's song: "My child, have you forgotten the terrible scene when your mother was torn apart by that ferocious and terrifying whale while trying to save you? Now that I have been brought back to life, do you refuse to acknowledge me?"

These words were like an extremely sharp knife, mercilessly piercing the deepest wound in the heart of the Sea Serpent King.

His aura grew increasingly violent, like a giant wave in a raging storm. His scales stood on end like steel spikes, and the venomous sea serpent, like a lion with its mane bristling in fury, spewed out dark green venom, attacking the Mirage King fiercely like a torrential downpour.

"We have no choice but to forcefully awaken him!" Yu Shuheng frowned, as if facing a formidable enemy. He activated the power of the World Tree, and a dazzling emerald beam of light shot towards the Sea Serpent King's brow like a meteor.

The power of life, like a babbling brook, flowed continuously into the Sea Serpent King's soul, attempting to dispel the erosion of the illusion that was like a persistent, malignant tumor.

However, the power of the illusion was unfathomable and beyond imagination. As soon as the emerald beam of light touched the surface of the Sea Serpent King, it was blocked by a layer of pitch-black black mist, as if it had hit a copper wall and an iron barrier, and could not penetrate even a little bit.

"The foundation of the illusion lies in the soul, which is difficult to shake with ordinary power." Bai Yiyi's fox eyes were like bright gems, shimmering with cunning light. A wisp of golden soul fire, as dazzling as the sun, condensed at her fingertips. "I will use the secret technique of Qingqiu to activate his original soul. You take the opportunity to use the power of the World Tree to purify the demonic energy. I ask the Mirage King to stabilize his physical body. Under no circumstances should he fall into the Demon Lord's trap, causing us to kill each other."

The three of them instantly reached a tacit understanding.

Bai Yi flicked his finger, and the golden soul fire shot into the Sea Serpent King's brow like a meteor.

The Sea Serpent King shuddered, letting out a painful roar, its eyes constantly shifting between confusion and clarity.

Taking advantage of the situation, the Mirage King tightened the mist chains, firmly binding the Sea Serpent King to the spot.

Xuan Yuan also stepped forward, and the Xuan Iron Shield released a soft halo, protecting the Sea Serpent King's physical body.

Yu Shuheng then unfurled the phantom of the World Tree, and countless emerald green branches and leaves drooped down, enveloping the Sea Serpent King's body, with life force seeping into his body like a continuous spring rain.

A moment later, the Sea Serpent King suddenly exhaled a mouthful of black, turbid air, and his eyes finally regained their clarity. With lingering fear and guilt, he said, "Thank you all, fellow Daoists. I almost made a terrible mistake just now."

"Don't blame yourself. This illusion is extremely strange, like a thick fog, making it hard to understand." Su Xiaoya murmured softly. She knew that only by completely breaking through this strange illusion could her teammates be safe.

The Eye of Truth between her brows shone like a brilliant star, slowly radiating light. It pierced through the illusion array, its gaze sharp as a torch, firmly locking onto the depths of the Immortal Palace, where a faint black phantom seemed to appear, like the will of a remnant soul of the Demon Lord, exuding a chilling aura.

"The core of the illusion is hidden in the main hall of the celestial palace. The remnant soul of the Demon Lord controls the entire illusion like a puppet, using his own will as a guide. If you want to break the formation, you must first destroy his mental clone."

The moment the words left his mouth, the gates of the celestial palace were suddenly pushed open as if by an invisible hand, and countless celestial soldiers and generals transformed from illusions surged out like a tidal wave.

These celestial soldiers and generals were far superior to ordinary puppets. Their moves were as smooth as flowing water and exquisite. They could not only imitate the supernatural powers of cultivators, but also use the familiar techniques as if they were in water, leaving people helpless.

Even more terrifying is that whenever someone kills a heavenly soldier, another illusion formed from obsession will spring up like mushrooms after rain, whether it be a relative or an enemy, disturbing everyone's mind like a ghost, making it impossible to guard against.

"I'll lead the way!" Yuwen Zhangyu, wielding the Human Emperor's Sword, channeled his own aura into golden armor. "Human destiny, suppress the false!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he leaped into the air, and the Emperor's Sword unleashed a dazzling sword aura. Wherever the sword aura passed, the illusions of heavenly soldiers and generals melted away like ice and snow.

But then, the faces of the previous emperors, who had been criticizing him, appeared before his eyes: "Yuwen Zhangyu, as the emperor of the human race, you have abandoned the safety of the human race and ventured into the Ruins of Desolation. Are you not afraid of being doomed forever?"

Yuwen Yu felt a chill run down his spine, but quickly regained his composure: "Human Emperor, it is my duty to protect the myriad lives of Qingyuan Star. Although this journey may be fraught with peril, it is my bounden duty!"

With his mind free of distractions, the light of the Emperor's Sword grew even brighter, shattering the illusion of the late emperor as well.

Su Xiaoya then used her spacetime powers to create a distorted passage within the illusion.

A vision appeared before her eyes—the Great God Pangu, the Taoist of Time, the Great Immortal Yangmei, the Ancestor of Chaos, the Taoist of Five Elements, the Taoist of Yin and Yang, and the Ancestor of Karma stood before her, looking at her with disappointment.

"Little girl, you could have focused on your cultivation and reached the pinnacle of the Great Dao. Why did you get involved in this pointless conflict? The journey to the Void is fraught with peril, and you are courting death!"

Uh!

A hint of surprise flashed in Su Xiaoya's eyes. When did she master so many Great Dao rules?

Ugh!

She's been dabbling in things haphazardly, and without realizing it, she's learned a whole lot. She really needs to find some time to quietly immerse herself in learning and properly organize her knowledge.

She quickly regained her composure. Breaking the formation was the priority now; everything else could wait until the matter of Guixu was resolved.

Su Xiaoya looked at these "big shots" with a determined gaze. Even if it was an illusion, she should still show them respect first—it's all about courtesy before resorting to force.

"The path of the Great Dao should be guided by the well-being of all living beings. Now that the Demon Lord is about to emerge, Qingyuan Star is in imminent danger. How can Xiaoya remain unaffected?"

Having said that, she traced a line through the void with her fingertips, and a spatial rift instantly swallowed the illusion. Without pausing, she sped towards the main hall of the celestial palace.

Bai Yiyi's foxfire is the best counter to illusions. With all nine fox tails spread out, the golden foxfire spreads like wildfire, and wherever it passes, the black mist dissipates and the illusions are shattered.

Instead of seeing his relatives and friends, he saw a scene of Qingqiu being devoured by demonic energy and his people dying tragically after the Demon Lord broke the seal.

But Bai Yiyi had lived for thousands of years, and his mind was as firm as a rock. He snorted coldly: "A mere illusion, does it think it can shake my Dao heart?" The foxfire surged and instantly burned the illusion to ashes.

Yu Shuheng used the power of the World Tree to purify the surrounding demonic energy while stabilizing everyone's souls.

What he saw was the withered World Tree and the decay of all things. Although he felt sorry for it, he became even more determined to break the formation.

Xuanmuzi, the old Taoist, had truly experienced brutal battles, and the memories of the Land of Fallen Gods were still vivid in his mind. This illusion dared to challenge his bottom line—damn it!

To be honest, there aren't many people on Qingyuan Star that Yu Shuheng cares about, but Xuan Muzi is one of them.

However, Yu Shuheng also knew that the Bronze Demon Lord was not present at the moment, and saving people was the priority.

Once he truly finds the Bronze Demon Lord's true form, Yu Shuheng declares that he will definitely let him experience what it means to be unable to live or die!

Yu Shuheng forcibly suppressed the killing intent in his heart and released the life force of the World Tree to continuously nourish everyone's souls, protecting them from the deep erosion of the illusion.

The sea monsters joined forces to resist the endless stream of celestial soldiers and illusions.

The trident of Poseidon was wielded, and golden divine power transformed into giant waves that swept across the army.

The whale king's sonic boom shattered a large number of illusions;

The King Shark's fins are incredibly sharp; each strike can tear apart several afterimages.

The Sea Serpent King controls the venomous sea serpents, which coil and strangle any fish that manage to escape...

Xuan Yuan and Cang Yuan guarded the rear. The Xuan Iron Shield blocked the illusion's sneak attack, while Cang Yuan activated the power of the tide to continuously wash away the demonic energy in the air, providing protection for everyone.

After a bloody battle, the group finally reached the main hall of the celestial palace.

Inside the main hall, a black phantom sat on the throne like a mountain; it was the will of the Demon Lord's remnant soul.

He was shrouded in intense resentment, his face blurred, yet he exuded a chilling aura, like a demon from the deepest hell, making people tremble with fear.

"A bunch of ignorant ants, how dare you trespass into my Mirage Illusion?" The voice of the Demon Lord's mental clone was hoarse and grating, like two stubborn rocks rubbing against each other. "This place will be your burial ground, and your obsessions will become the best nourishment for me to regain my power!"

Before the words were finished, the walls of the main hall suddenly cracked open, and countless black chains, like ferocious venomous snakes, lunged at the crowd, tightly binding them.

These chains were covered with eerie runes, shimmering with a sinister light and emanating a demonic aura that eroded the soul, as if they were a curse from hell.