When I woke up, the entire cultivation world was talking about my master.

Upon seeing this, the cultivators' pupils dilated, and they all averted their gazes. No one dared to meet Yi Chen's eyes in this state, and fear instinctively appeared on their faces, realizing—

A celestial being descending from the mortal realm... that's the legendary celestial being descending from the mortal realm!

Just one glance is enough to freeze your very soul.

The sky was dark and inky, and the last bolt of lightning, which had been brewing in the clouds for a long time, seemed about to strike.

The general gritted his teeth. From his angle, he couldn't even clearly see the face of the boy who was being protected so tightly at the center of the lightning tribulation. Naturally, he knew how terrifying the strength of Immortal Lord Jixue was, but they... were not entirely without a chance of winning.

It’s different in the past.

Even the most powerful half-demon has weaknesses and cannot withstand a weapon forged from Thousand-Frozen Cold Iron.

The power of the Thousand-Glazed Cold Iron had already been witnessed during the Blue Rain event in the Imperial City.

"Change weapons!"

"Yes, sir!" "Understood!"

In an instant, a series of icy blue blades, gleaming with a chilling light, simultaneously hummed.

The monks approached step by step.

Upon seeing this, Wei Jin's expression changed slightly. He quickly used his long whip to pull Xiao Huandu, who was still fighting fiercely with two elites, towards his side.

"return!"

"Ouch, it's so hot! Ugh!" Xiao Huandu wailed, clutching his waist. "Master, I'm going to be roasted alive!"

"Retreat into your senior master's protective barrier!"

Xiao Huandu scratched his head, "Huh? But..."

Another lash swept past several approaching cultivators, and spiritual energy was injected into the weapon, creating a crimson butterfly wall with red butterflies fluttering about.

It ignites upon contact and burns upon contact with the skin.

Hundreds of fire butterflies fluttered their wings and flew together, turning the dim valley into a magnificent spectacle. The rich and dazzling scene was so beautiful that even the fire spirit, who was also a fire elemental, was stunned and stared at its smoking hooves, questioning its existence.

Beautiful as it was, Wei Jin had no time to admire himself. As the only human immune to the Thousand-Condensed Cold Iron and the last hope of his family, he felt a chill run down his spine.

Now, Wei Jin only had one thought in his mind—

Why hasn't the last bolt of lightning struck yet?!

Chu Xianlan's thunderclouds gathered wider and lower, swirling into a tornado that almost covered half the valley. Occasionally, white and purple lightning flashed like dragons along the edge of the thick clouds.

This situation often means that the final bolt of lightning is about to strike.

That was also the most powerful and dangerous one.

The Golden Elixir transforms into the Nascent Soul, much like a fledgling bird hatching from its shell.

Thunder is its beak; without destruction, there can be no construction.

Chu Xianlan's mind was blank, oblivious to everything around her.

Consciousness sinks into the depths of the sea of ​​consciousness, and spiritual energy flows endlessly, like a thread pulling, like a drizzle falling on a lake, with boundless spiritual energy of heaven and earth converging in the dantian.

The formless becomes the tangible.

A perfectly formed golden elixir was already shining brightly, slowly rising in the dantian, about to break through numerous obstacles—but it suddenly stopped at an indeterminate position.

"Life has been full of twists and turns, every step fraught with thorns; do you have any complaints?"

"The journey is fraught with difficulties and hardships, yet do you harbor resentment?"

"Exceptionally talented yet coveted by others, meticulously plotting yet still unable to escape being schemed against—is there any resentment in his actions?"

The voice was like the whispers of millions of people in your ear at the same time, or like a close friend asking you a concerned question.

Chu Xianlan breathed slowly; he knew who was speaking.

The inner demons are everywhere, and no one can escape them, nor can anyone conceal even a fraction of their true self. They are one with all things and born in harmony with heaven and earth.

I am you, and you are me.

"I have no resentment, no hatred, and no regrets."

"Without the many twists and turns of fate, I would not be who I am today," Chu Xianlan said to herself, closing her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, her eyes were clear as water, and she said calmly, "In this world, I accept every step I have taken, whether good or bad. All things are my way."

"A fine 'no regrets' indeed," the inner demon chuckled casually. "If that's the case... why not consider another path?"

Your vision expands infinitely, and your inner demons reveal a magnificent, golden palace.

Those around him stood with their heads bowed in reverence, their eyes filled with awe and admiration, as if they were seeing a deity descend upon the world.

—You were born with a divine spiritual root, a once-in-a-century genius in the royal family.

—The world calls you the Crown Prince.

You were highly regarded by your father and doted on by your mother. You had no turbulent childhood and no tragedy of losing loved ones. You were praised by everyone in the court and the country. You had access to the finest talents and renowned teachers who vied to guide you.

A casual swing of your sword can draw cheers from the entire hall, making your peers look up to you in awe. You can have whatever you want, the sun, moon, and stars at your disposal. A single word can decide life and death, and a single command can move mountains and rivers.

Why bother going through all that hardship and suffering?

The inner demon covered Chu Xianlan's eyes and whispered gently, "This should have been your life."

"Let go... Become one with me... All this bliss will be yours."

The inner demon was chanting when Chu Xianlan pulled his hand away from her eyes.

He frowned and asked, "Where is my master?"

The images that the inner demon showed him were quite good, but then again, where is my great master?

Chu Xianlan then asked, "And where are my good friends, fellow disciples, and teachers?"

The inner demon remained silent for a moment, then conjured up a Yi Chen on the spot.

Staring at the white-clad figure that had appeared out of nowhere beside her, Chu Xianlan stared for a couple of moments before saying, "This isn't real."

Inner Demon: "..."

"Does it matter if it's real or fake? As long as you nod, this illusion becomes real, and your master becomes real. You can have him do whatever you want—speak gently, take meticulous care of him, and even..."

The last few words were spoken in an ambiguous tone, with a slight upward inflection.

"...He will love you deeply, fulfill all your needs, obey your commands, bow down to you, and never leave you..."

Before the inner demon could finish speaking, Chu Xianlan covered his mouth and pressed it back down.

"Don't utter such rebellious words again!"

Chu Xianlan was covered in goosebumps. What did he mean by wanting him to do whatever he wanted, obeying his orders... bowing down to him and submitting to him?!

Is this even human language?!

...Especially since this guy said it with his own face on his body, the level of horror is doubled.

His inner demons didn't have time to play along.

Her voice finally betrayed a hint of unbearable frustration, "What exactly do you want?!"

"No matter how good a fake is, it's still a fake," Chu Xianlan patted his shoulder, her gaze deep and thoughtful. "Don't you understand? I want the real thing."