Wizards begin with Occlumency.

The statue did not respond.

However, all three people in the hall could clearly sense an extremely complex emotion emanating from the statue.

Link couldn't stay in the palace for long, and his appearance this time was risky, so he had no choice but to retreat.

Since it's already known that the so-called cataclysmic disaster was brought about by Iris Clark, who inexplicably became the White Lotus Saint Mother, the aftermath is much easier to handle.

After glancing at the Qi Luck Array that was about to be restored to its original state, and at Eunuch Wei who was on guard and ready to attack at any moment, Link decided to leave first and deal with other matters later.

Speaking of this great array of fortune, Link couldn't help but admire the old supervisor.

I admire not only his alchemy skills, but also his ingenious attack methods.

The White Lotus Our Lady, who was transformed from Iris, was severely injured and defiled as soon as she was born.

This greatly reduced the difficulty of surviving the cataclysmic disaster.

He was truly a person of great wisdom and great compassion, willing to make sacrifices.

However, Link can no longer return to Fuli County immediately.

It's not that I don't trust my master Li Shuwen and the martial artists at the Bajiquan Martial Arts School.

Instead, be wary of the Taoist sects of this world.

Neither forcing him to be the one to undergo tribulation nor treating him as an accomplice of the White Lotus Mother are things Link wants to see.

Lin Ke simply settled down on a low hill in the western suburbs of the capital, using the sky as his blanket and the ground as his bed, and calmly observed how things would develop.

Since the Taoist sects are so powerful in this world, with the teachings of the sages and the old eunuch inviting the Holy Mother to her death, they must have other tricks up their sleeves.

For example, the Heavenly Gang Taoist, the Boundless Taoist, and the one behind the Serene Void True Man...

In the days that followed, things unfolded exactly as Link had predicted, and the Daoist sect began to stir.

One after another, high-ranking Taoist priests emerged from their respective temples and converged on Fuli County.

The news that an extraterrestrial demon had been born in the imperial palace quickly spread throughout the entire Dayong realm.

The rumors that the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors were dead and that the Empress was a sorceress were quite detailed and credible.

In just two or three days, the once peaceful and prosperous Dayong region was thrown into complete chaos.

The adult princes immediately fled the capital and returned to their fiefdoms to reorganize their troops and prepare for war.

Only the eldest son of the emperor, due to his depressed mood and drunkenness, missed the opportunity and was imprisoned in the palace by the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors under the supervision of Governor Wei.

Families and martial arts sects across the land were on edge, their voices trembling with fear.

Faced with the chaos, the common people had no other choice but to hoard food as much as possible.

Inside the palace, the empress was already somewhat flustered.

Fortunately, Governor Wei, who had been brainwashed into a fanatical believer by the statue of the Virgin Mary, remained calm in the face of danger and issued one order after another, barely managing to stabilize the court and the capital.

The Beijing garrison is also undergoing urgent scouting, reorganization, and training in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances.

However, the queen didn't care about any of that; all her attention was focused on the baby girl who was on the verge of death and the statue that remained silent to this day.

Whether it was saving the baby girl or reawakening the idol, these were things the queen desperately wanted to accomplish.

As a result, the Wei Dugong version of the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors continued to be exploited.

Two more days passed.

On the seventh day after the old eunuch sacrificed himself to severely injure the White Lotus Holy Mother, the Taoist sect of this world, under the leadership of the Heavenly Gang Taoist, set off for the capital.

Clearly, the Taoist sect had made preparations in advance to prepare for the calamity.

Even though Master Jingxu claimed to be reciting the Yellow Court Classic in silence and ignoring worldly affairs, he still appeared among the high-ranking priests.

Sixty-four high-ranking Taoist priests set up a demon-subduing formation.

Besides the high-ranking Taoist priests, the demon-slaying team also included many martial artists.

Both human and immortal martial arts and mechanical martial arts are available.

The Taoist Tiangang traveled throughout the Great Yong region on his master's orders, not for sightseeing, but for strategic maneuvering.

More than 20 years of hard work have been poured into this team.

The only pity is that the person destined to undergo tribulation actually ran away!

As a result, the number of high-ranking Taoist priests who sacrifice themselves will increase significantly, which is extremely hateful.

The Empress and the eunuch Wei, who was portrayed as Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong, received the news immediately.

However, there are not many measures they can take.

Order the military governors in various regions to annihilate this force?

can.

However, one must be mentally prepared that once this order is issued, the whole world will rebel.

This incident is completely different in nature from exploring the Valley of the Dead and stealing the Longevity Peaches.

The incident at the Valley of the Dead was an attempt by the emperor to demonstrate his authority.

Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king. On the shores of the whole land, all people are subjects of the king.

Legally speaking, the longevity peach tree in the Valley of the Dead truly belonged to the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors.

So the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors could do whatever they wanted.

At most, it just makes them look bad and act arbitrarily.

Faced with this incident, all the Empress and the eunuch Wei, who were acting as Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong, could do was send their imperial guards to strangle him.

Once this so-called demon-slaying team is wiped out, we can free up our resources to quell the unrest in Dayong, which has become turbulent in just a few days.

It was at this moment that Link, who was sitting cross-legged on a low hill in the western suburbs of the capital, received a meeting request from Iris.

It seems she has finally sorted out her feelings and is willing to face Link directly.

Lin Ke gladly accepted the invitation.

In an instant, he entered the Valley of the Dead, under the Longevity Peach Tree.

The "Tissot" was launched at his behest.

"Are you leaving?"

Loren Bender appeared just in time and asked a question.

"Not yet, I'm just going to see someone."

Link's gaze fell on the peach tree roots that were binding the "Sky Shuttle". "Make room."

Loren Bender looked at the increasingly powerful Link before him, reluctantly replied "Okay," and commanded the tree roots to make room.

Lin Ke spent more than a month working with Li Shuwen to develop a construct version of the "Eight Scenic Spots Technique of the Primordial Chaos," and of course, he also gained something from it.

Having already reached the peak of the Void Realm in the Human Immortal Martial Arts realm, he took another step forward and successfully broke through to the Divine Realm.

By breaking through the void, one can see the gods.

After the breakthrough, Link unsurprisingly sensed that the shackles had become much lighter.

Therefore, Link is not limited to following the so-called last instructions of Master Xujing, which involve undergoing tribulations and refining the two magic seals.

Proving one's path through force and breaking free from shackles also holds great promise.

"Don't worry, I won't break my promise."

Link was in a bad mood. He merely glanced at the phantom of Loren Bender and uttered a single sentence in a detached tone.

He then teleported into the "Sky Shuttle" and, through the Tower Spirit, commanded the still-operational Hummingbird-class interstellar warship to stealthily take off and enter space.

In the procession heading to the capital to subdue the demon, both Tiangang Daoist and Li Shuwen looked up.

"Your disciple has left."

After observing for a while, the Taoist Tiangang sighed to Li Shuwen, "I wonder if he will ever return? And if he does, which side will he be on?"

Li Shuwen ignored it and just quietly looked at the sky.

He recalled a discussion that had taken place two weeks prior.

After reaching the Divine Realm, which direction should one cultivate in?

Link stated frankly that he believes we should continue to follow the natural way, emulate the heavens and the earth, enrich our inner vision, and then use that inner vision to envelop the physical body and traverse the starry sky.

"No wonder the old supervisor is so fond of stargazing."

Li Shuwen muttered something to himself, then understood.

Where is the Way?

The Tao is under your feet, and the Tao is also in the starry sky, in the vast ocean of stars.

In the starry sky, the nearly broken-down "Sky Shuttle" arrived at the agreed-upon place, trembling precariously.

Link turned and glanced down at the planet, then flashed away from the warship, his physical body appearing in the void.

This is a quiet place devoid of light.

"Long time no see, Iris."

Link spoke first, taking the initiative to greet them.

"Iris..."

With a murmur, two stars lit up the dark, silent place.

Looking against the light, Link discovered that hidden in the tranquil place was a colossus whose eyeball was as big as an ordinary star.

The size of the colossus is impossible to discern with the naked eye.

One can only sense the endless silence, countless prayers, and incessant wails emanating from the colossus.

What makes up this colossal image are none other than a series of star systems.

So this is what the so-called cataclysmic event is all about.

"It has indeed been a long time, Link... Link Grand."

Suddenly, an illusion of Iris appeared before Link, standing on a lotus platform, with auspicious clouds above her head and a jade ruyi in her hand.

Looking at Iris, whose face was exactly the same as in his memory, but whose temperament was completely different, Link's mood became dark and incomprehensible. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but did not know what to say.

"Shh!"

Iris raised her right index finger and placed it in front of her lips, making a playful gesture that seemed out of place with her solemn demeanor. "Don't pity me, don't pity me, I don't need pity."

Iris winked playfully with her right eye and continued, "Those who pitied me have all been turned into guardian soldiers by me. Link..."

"Link, Link, I really don't want to turn you into a Guardian Soldier too. So... please don't pity me."

As she spoke, two lines of clear tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Look how good I am now. I have become the lord of countless stars, the White Lotus Holy Mother worshipped by trillions of people. I can breathe life into all living beings and destroy an era with a wave of my hand. How wonderful is that?"

"Once I conquer the last star, my path will be complete."

"Ha ha……"

"Hehehe..."

Iris's face remained the same, but her temperament changed, from playful and contradictory to sinister and resentful.

"Once I achieve my goal, I will become the supreme being. What Taiyi, what Sage, can they do anything to me?"

"I will surely shatter the heavens and banish all the immortals!"

His temperament suddenly changed again, from sinister and resentful to arrogant and cold.

"The Supreme Council! The Supreme Council! I must destroy the Supreme Council!"

Then, one different aspect after another flashed by at the speed of light.

These are all Iris, yet none of them are Iris.

As Link watched the scene unfold before him, a barely perceptible sadness surfaced deep in his eyes.

If Iris Clark was simply suffering from a split personality when they first met...

So now, the White Lotus Saint Mother has completely gone mad and is about to lose her true self as Iris Clark.

At the same time, Link had a sudden realization.

All his previous speculations about how to complete the test and his doubts about the Daoist sect in this world were unnecessary.

The Taoist sect of this world is the Taoist sect of this world, and the Celestial Master of Emptiness and Tranquility is the Celestial Master of Emptiness and Tranquility.

Ultimately, they are different.

The Taoist sects of this world have their own considerations.

The last instructions and arrangements of Master Xujing may not have been altered, but they were greatly changed in the process of implementation.

Now, two different paths to completing the trial lie before Link, for him to choose from.

First, we must accept the instructions of Master Xujing and, with the help of the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal and the Jiulao Xiandu Seal, cleanse the White Lotus Holy Mother before us, purify Iris Clark's soul, and save countless star systems and trillions of people.

The benefit of doing this is that Iris Clark can return to normal, Link can complete the test, and perhaps there will be other gains as well;

The downside is also obvious: you will create a huge karmic debt and get caught in a maze.

Secondly, they refused to accept Master Xujing's instructions and tried to find another way to complete the test.

"What are you thinking about?"

Iris then returned to her initial playful yet contradictory state, tilting her head and asking a question with curiosity.

"I was wondering, do you still like explosions?"

Link carefully considered his words before replying with this statement.

"what!"

Iris exclaimed in surprise, "An explosion! Of course I love it. But..."

"But what?"

"But the explosions we used to play with were too quiet."

"Too."

Link glanced at Iris's enormous true form.

Perhaps only a supernova explosion could catch Iris's eye and cause a ripple.

"Could you close your eyes for a moment? I have a gift for you."

Suddenly, Link changed the subject and said something very abruptly.

"Um?"

Iris blinked, a smile playing on her lips. "A gift? Are you trying to take this opportunity to kill me?"

Why do you think that way?

Link frowned, really wanting to know the answer.

"Because that's what they all do."

With a gentle wave of her jade ruyi, Iris displayed over thirty scenes in turn.

However, along with Link, they were among the young generation of genius wizards who were thrown into the ninth trial, which should have been undertaken by Iris Clark alone, by the High Council of the Wizarding World.

From these images, Link saw the different paths the wizards took, and the same fate they all shared.

That is to try to destroy the White Lotus Mother in various ways, and then be captured alive by Iris and tortured day and night.

The endless wails that Link had heard earlier were from these genius wizards and those who had caused some harm to the White Lotus Mother.

"I'm different from them."

After reading it, Link shook his head decisively.

He never intended to kill Iris Clark.

They didn't even have the intention to deceive.

I really just wanted to give Iris a gift.

"Yes. You are indeed different from them."

Iris's illusion suddenly took a step forward, bringing her within a fist's distance of Link, and said meaningfully, "You'd better not disappoint me with your gift, Link. Otherwise, I will..."

As she spoke, Iris chuckled, as if she had thought of something happy.

After laughing for a while, she calmed down and continued, "Otherwise, I'll eat you up."

"Don't worry, you'll definitely like it."

Link remained calm and confident.

"Okay, I'm looking forward to your gift."

As soon as the words were spoken, the tranquil place returned to its dark and gloomy state.

Link reached out and took out two sandalwood boxes. He opened the lids and took out two magic seals from them.

Once a decision is made, there will be no hesitation.

A drop of blood from between the eyebrows fell onto the seal of Yangping Zhidu Gong, and a drop of blood from the heart fell onto the seal of Jiulao Xiandu.

In an instant, Link's energy and spirit were completely exhausted.

His cultivation in martial arts as a human immortal, and his mastery of secret techniques based on the magical modifications of wizarding magic from the wizarding world, have all vanished.

The Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal and the Jiulao Xiandu Seal have already been activated.

A wisp of pure air emanated from each of the two imitation seals, drifting away to who knows where.

"What are you doing?"

Iris's voice rang in Link's ears, who was nearly exhausted.

Link turned his head with difficulty, grinning, "I'm preparing a present for you!"

"Iris".

Iris is Iris.

Iris Clark and Iris Clark are not the same person.

How could Link not recognize Iris Clark?

and so……

Die, Iris! (End of Chapter)