Chapter 325

Chapter 325: Illusion

When everyone burst out of the mountain cave and saw the scenery before them, despair once again welled up in their hearts.

Before them stood a cliff, beneath which was a sea of magma.

There was no path ahead.

Xu Ming took Shixin and first flew above the magma sea to avoid being immediately swallowed by the molten rock.

The others did the same.

They hovered in mid-air, watching as magma erupted from the cave opening and merged into this “sea,” all hearts tightening as if they had already imagined their own fates.

This cave actually had other exits.

Other cultivators also emerged from these other openings.

Xu Ming counted them, there were about a dozen exits.

It was like several streams flowing into the sea.

But the “horizon” of this magma sea kept rising.

All the exits were completely blocked by magma.

There was absolutely no way out. The magma inside the cave continued to rise relentlessly.

Everyone was like beasts driven together, soon to be swallowed by the magma sea.

At this moment, five or six hundred cultivators floated in the air, their heads tightly pressed against the overhanging rocks, trying to stay as far away from the magma below their feet as possible.

“Are you scared?”

Xu Ming looked at Shixin beside him.

Shixin raised her head, looking into Xu Ming’s eyes: “No fear. Death is inevitable for all; why should I be afraid?”

Xu Ming hesitated for a moment, then smiled and nodded: “That’s true.”

Buddhist cultivators generally take things lightly.

Xu Ming thought it was even more so for Shixin.

Gradually, the magma rose higher and higher.

It was now only about ten meters away from Xu Ming and the others’ feet.

“I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die!”

Looking at the magma, many cultivators burst into tears, on the brink of mental collapse.

They would rather have been killed by other cultivators than face death here.

If they had been killed by others, it would have happened suddenly.

But now, they faced constant torment.

Some people began regretting coming to this place.

If they hadn’t come to the Rootless Mystic Realm, they wouldn’t have died here! If they hadn’t come to the Rootless Mystic Realm, they would still be happily in their sect, respected by everyone.

What they didn’t know was that when they harbored such thoughts, even if they survived, their future path was destined to be short-lived.

A cultivator must have the resolve to survive in dire straits; otherwise, how can you compete with others, fight against heaven?

“Whoosh!”

The entire cave shook, stirring up waves of magma.

These waves engulfed some cultivators, sweeping them into the magma sea, silencing them forever.

Everyone was desperately thinking of ways to escape, but how could they? Every exit spewed magma, which continued to rise. Above them was the rock ceiling; it was an absolute dead end.

In contrast, Shixin still found time to chant sutras for those who perished in the fire, offering them blessings.

Xu Ming wanted to ask—when you are blessing them now, who will bless you when you die?

“You’re too kindhearted.”

Xu Ming sighed and turned his gaze away from Shixin.

Xu Ming wasn’t that pessimistic.

In Xu Ming’s view, any desperate situation must have a way out; it’s just that you haven’t found it yet.

Xu Ming had already activated his Dao Pattern Eye, scanning the surroundings. When his Dao Pattern Eye looked down, Xu Ming felt something was off.

The magma was still magma, no mistake.

But in his eyes, the magma looked overly red.

Compared to the magma that had surged out of the cave earlier, there seemed to be some differences.

“Could it be…”

At this point, Xu Ming had a bold idea.

“I’ve just thought of the key to breaking the deadlock.” Xu Ming said to Shixin beside him.

“What?” Shixin tilted her head, looking at Xu Ming curiously.

“Hard to explain.” Xu Ming shook his head, “It’s just my guess, but do you believe me?”

Shixin thought for a moment: “Do I have any other choice besides believing you?”

Xu Ming paused, smiling: “That’s right. Besides trusting me, you’d just be waiting to die here.”

“Then let’s go.”

Xu Ming grabbed Shixin’s hand and plummeted directly toward the magma sea below.

Shixin didn’t know why Xu Ming was seeking death, but she had no hesitation in her heart.

She trusted Xu Ming.

From the perspective of the others, Xu Ming and the bald woman were committing suicide out of love, having completely given up hope of survival.

Xu Ming and Shixin felt the heat becoming increasingly intense as the magma sea drew closer to them.

In less than a breath’s time, with the splashing of magma, Xu Ming and Shixin entered the fiery sea.

Shixin thought she was already dead, but when she opened her eyes, she found herself in another world.

“Indeed, I wasn’t wrong.”

Xu Ming slowly spoke.

Shixin turned her head and saw Xu Ming smirking, observing everything around him.

Above Xu Ming’s head was a crimson sky, without a single cloud, only a vast expanse of red. A red sun hung high in the heavens, but this sun bore a hint of imperfection.

Under Xu Ming’s feet was crimson earth, with magma flowing across it. Mountains stood amidst the land, and magma erupted from them.

There was not a trace of life here, as if it were the end of the world.

This reminded Xu Ming of when he was at Three Stone Peak, trapped within the Sword Graveyard of his consciousness, facing a similar scene.

“Is this place an illusion?” Shixin guessed.

Xu Ming nodded: “Yes, it’s an illusion. Including the magma sea we just encountered—it was all an illusion. But this illusion was too real. Real enough that when you were consumed by the magma, your brain truly believed you turned to ashes, and thus you died.

This is why illusions can kill.

The only way to break through is to have the resolve to live through death.

If you dare to plunge forward, your mind filled with determination, the illusion naturally dissolves.”

“So what exactly is this place?” Shixin blinked.

“Your question needs to be answered by her.”

Xu Ming’s gaze shifted forward.

Not far away, a woman in a red dress held a long sword, walking step by step towards Xu Ming and Shixin.

[Going to work tomorrow!]