Chapter 605: Ineffective Illusion

Chapter 605: Ineffective Illusion

“What is happening here?”

Lin Nuo stood before the scene, puzzled and feeling an ominous premonition.

After all, he was quite sensitive to Demon Crystals. These two were forming a stone layout, and he could think of a few things.

This was a common method used by Demon Practitioners to set up enhancement formations with Demon Crystals. Simply put, it was a way to buff themselves while also limiting their enemies.

Before the representative from the Refining Demon Sect even arrived, they had sent someone to toss around Demon Crystals? Are you here to celebrate or to fight? On someone’s big day, throwing Demon Crystals at their estate—does Helong Hall have no shame?

And why are you throwing Demon Crystals towards the latrine? Is there treasure here?

Of course, it’s all just golden opportunities everywhere.

Lin Nuo also noticed that there were servants from the estate present, and they seemed to be watching the pair set up the crystals without any sign of alarm, let alone reporting to their master.

Could it be that they’re all in cahoots? Colluding together?

It seems that way.

Are these all Demon Practitioners specifically sneaking into the estate to lay down their arrangements?

Right now, regardless of what they were up to, it was clear he had stumbled upon something he shouldn’t have, and it could spark a series of troublesome events he might get caught up in.

Better to act like he didn’t see anything; after all, this had nothing to do with him. He was just here to enjoy the feast. If these organizations had some sort of hidden conflicts or strife, it was none of his concern. If they really did come after him with a bloodbath, he could just run away—this wasn’t his home, after all; he didn’t need to defend it.

After a brief mental struggle, Lin Nuo decided to pretend to be a passing newbie, casually making his way down the corridor toward the banquet.

However, the illusionist Li Yu had noticed him, especially since the second-in-command had instructed them to pay attention to the character Ni Daye. After all, the expansion of Mu Yiting’s power was closely tied to him.

The second-in-command had also expressed that if they could recruit him, it would be a great boost.

If they relied solely on bribery and power, obviously it wouldn’t work, since Mu Yiting was on the weaker side. It was all about loyalty.

Given this loyalty, persuading him to switch sides would be difficult; they would need external means—like his illusions.

As long as he could alter Lin Nuo’s emotions and induce hallucinations, he would follow their orders, becoming part of their chess pieces.

If the second-in-command learned of this, perhaps he would be rewarded.

Li Yu then had a new idea. The second-in-command had said they should trust in their abilities and exercise freedom as long as it didn’t interfere with the task, so he seized the opportunity to utilize his illusions on Ni Daye.

But influencing multiple people at once would be taxing, and his success rate would drop significantly.

Just then, his accomplice arrived. He passed one of the Demon Practitioners over to his partner and prepared to use an illusion on Ni Daye.

Still dressed in plain servant attire, he approached Lin Nuo with a smile and said politely, “Esteemed young master, is there anything I can assist you with?”

“Nothing much, I’m just heading back to the banquet.”

“Oh, to the banquet? Then please, go on ahead.”

Li Yu was all smiles, but beneath that friendly facade lay sharp blades, fully prepared for anything.

Lin Nuo noticed something odd about the servant, figuring he was probably up to no good.

Whatever. It had nothing to do with him; he decided to leave.

Just as Lin Nuo turned to walk away, however, Li Yu raised his hand and began to cast his illusion on Lin Nuo.

Lin Nuo’s head buzzed, and his vision blurred slightly.

He realized what was happening; it felt familiar.

An illusion, right?

Yes, it was an illusion. He had encountered them in his past life.

After all, in his previous life as a villain, he had faced all kinds of powerful tricks, including illusionists who had tried to control him with their magic.

But it never worked; those tricks were ineffective against him.

Generally speaking, if someone with higher cultivation tried to suppress someone with lower cultivation, there was over a ninety percent chance the illusion would work. However, if the reverse was true, the success rate dropped dramatically.

Now it seemed Lin Nuo’s cultivation level was indeed lower than that of the illusionist, which meant he should have had a good chance of falling victim to the spell.

With his head buzzing and vision slightly blurred, it was clear an illusion was at work.

But…

As an excellent villain, even if his cultivation was lower, he could still handle illusions and mental bombardment with ease.

Steady his heart, focus his mind, stay calm.

This illusionary attack was brief, but Lin Nuo fought through it fiercely in his mind, like a raging tidal wave crashing in on a youth struggling in the sea.

Floating above the stormy waters in his mind, seeing the wave coming, he remained utterly unperturbed. He gathered his energy and pressed his palm down onto the water’s surface, causing a fierce whirlwind to erupt, trapping the raging waves within its grasp.

The illusion was blocked; it hadn’t completely invaded the depths of Lin Nuo’s mind, but had been confined by him.

The buzzing stopped, and clarity returned to his eyes.

His skills hadn’t dulled; even in this rebirth, despite his lower cultivation, this little trick hadn’t managed to snag Lin Nuo.

If it could have, he would have succumbed to those spiritual tortures and conscious invasions a long time ago, easily played with by those villains, leaving him unable to stand here now.

Surprisingly, an illusionist showed up—this birthday banquet for Mu Yuanfeng was lively indeed.

Now Lin Nuo had a grasp of the situation; those two were likely under the influence of an illusion, making them act against their will by laying down Demon Crystals in the estate, planning something big.

From what he had just seen, they wouldn’t let him leave so easily; they would surely want to detain him, creating a scene so that the entire world would know.

So, they planned to use illusions to keep him in check, potentially leveraging him to carry out their misdeeds.

What a plot twist, hiring someone to do dirty work—these illusionists truly were despicable.

Wait a minute, aren’t they all villains? What’s the difference between despicable and not?

Damn, being called a knight for too long has affected my righteous mindset.

Alright, good strategy; no wonder the treacherous illusionists are role models for our kind.

Right now, Lin Nuo was immune to this illusion, but the illusionist before him showed no signs of panic. Generally speaking, when an illusion is dispelled, villains often express surprise with “What?!” or something similar.

But he didn’t. He looked rather confident.

Could it be…

He doesn’t know that my immunity has rendered his illusion ineffective?

That’s possible; after all, the illusion’s power had been confined in Lin Nuo’s mind, and he hadn’t declared, “Your illusion won’t work on me.”

So what comes next…

Lin Nuo had an idea—why not play along and pretend to be under the illusion’s influence?

Typically, someone affected by an illusion would have a vacant stare, be cold and unresponsive, like a puppet with no soul.

He would fake it, acting like he was under control.