Chapter 95: The Scandalous Illusion
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The grand door behind Yu Zhao slowly shut as she moved forward without hesitation, her steps echoing in the wide passageway.
The material used in constructing the Merfolk Pavilion’s passage was a mystery. As Yu Zhao walked deeper, she realized her divine sense was being suppressed to a range of less than a zhang (around 3 meters).
Outwardly, she remained composed, but inwardly, her vigilance grew.
Why would a shop specializing in selling items go to such lengths to create an air of mystery? Did it hide some unknown secrets?
Pondering these questions, she reached the end of the passage, where another sealed stone door awaited.
This time, instead of immediately opening it, she stopped and touched her chin, lost in thought.
Suddenly, her ears twitched, and she instinctively leaned toward the stone door. She thought she heard the sound of a woman singing.
She held her breath, concentrating, but after waiting for some time, the singing did not return. It was as if her ears had deceived her.
Narrowing her eyes, Yu Zhao placed her hand on the stone door.
A grating sound broke the silence, making her teeth ache as the door gradually slid open. Blue light spilled out, casting eerie shadows on her face and giving her expression a sinister edge.
When the scene behind the door fully revealed itself, her pupils contracted in shock.
“Customer, do you enjoy singing? Let me sing a song for you,” a soft, enchanting female voice greeted her.
Yu Zhao’s body froze as an icy chill rushed from the soles of her feet to her head.
That… thing could speak? No, it could sing too?
It wasn’t surprising that Yu Zhao lost her composure. Anyone would have been startled to see a blue heart floating in a pool of water suddenly open its “mouth” and speak.
The blue glow illuminating her face came from this heart.
She silently thanked her decision to leave Little Red behind—this sight would have terrified the child.
“Ee-yah-lee~~”
Without waiting for Yu Zhao’s response, the heart began singing on its own. The veins on its surface pulsated rhythmically, creating an indescribable eeriness.
What chilled Yu Zhao even more was that the heart sang in a language she could not understand. Despite the language barrier, she could feel the seductive undertone embedded in its melody.
Yes, this blue heart was trying to enchant her mind with its singing.
Yu Zhao, with the experience of two lifetimes and unwavering willpower, wasn’t easily swayed. Moreover, the Illusory Tides Technique she practiced specialized in influencing the minds of cultivators, trapping them in illusions.
The moment the mesmerizing melody reached her ears, she instantly recognized the heart’s malicious intent.
Feigning rapture, she narrowed her eyes and pretended to fall under its spell.
To its credit, the heart’s singing was undeniably beautiful, so much so that even with her mental defenses up, Yu Zhao almost succumbed to its allure.
This near-miss solidified a growing suspicion in her mind.
Legends spoke of a unique race in the Southern Abyss’s deep seas known as the Merfolk Tribe. These beings, with their fish tails and human torsos, were said to be stunningly beautiful, standing five to six chi tall, with snow-white skin and enchanting voices.
Those who heard their songs willingly stayed with the Merfolk Tribe, entranced by their spellbinding melodies.
Besides their singing, the Merfolk were also coveted by countless cultivators for another extraordinary trait—their tears.
When shed, their tears crystallized into white pearls. These pearls, when ground into powder and applied to wounds, could heal injuries instantly, earning them the name Unhealing Pearl.
In pursuit of the rare Unyielding Pearl, countless cultivators ventured into the deep sea, hunting Merfolk and forcing their tears. The Merfolk Tribe quickly vanished without a trace in the Southern Abyss.
When Yu Zhao first heard the story of the Merfolk Tribe from Little Red, she thought it was nothing more than a fabricated legend. However, upon seeing the strange blue heart before her and hearing the enchanting, mesmerizing melody, she began to believe in the existence of the Merfolk Tribe within the cultivation world.
This realization sent a chill through her heart.
If the rumors were true, didn’t it mean the Merfolk Tribe truly faced annihilation? Was this vibrant, beating heart a remnant of that catastrophic event?
Perhaps overwhelmed by her thoughts, her vision blurred, and she was drawn into an illusion.
The illusion she created typically manifested from one’s thoughts and desires, but this heart, suspected to be from a Merfolk, employed far cruder techniques.
Yu Zhao was certain of this because she suddenly found herself watching Fang Cheng Lang, Lan Zi Yu, and others dressed in flamboyant outfits, dancing in front of her.
Yes, dancing. Not just any dance, but an outrageously indecent one.
It was utterly scandalous!
While clapping along gleefully, Yu Zhao righteously condemned the scene in her heart.
She had to admit, though, seeing the usually upright Fang Cheng Lang and his companions act so outrageously was oddly satisfying.
Though the illusion wasn’t real, it was still quite the visual treat.
“Ten high-grade spirit stones for the ticket? Totally worth it,” she thought.
At that moment, the “Fang Cheng Lang” in the illusion picked up a glass of wine and approached Yu Zhao with graceful steps.
Instinctively, she leaned back slightly.
His garish attire was simply too much for her eyes to bear.
To uncover the blue heart’s intentions, Yu Zhao forced herself to endure and even managed a cheerful smile.
“Fang Cheng Lang” approached her, giggling coquettishly. Without a word, he raised the glass and poured the wine toward her lips.
Yu Zhao tilted her head back and drank.
This was her illusion, so she was certain the wine was harmless.
In any other scenario, she wouldn’t have dared drink it. Who knew what it might contain?
“Zhao Zhao~”
“Fang Cheng Lang” suddenly called her name and reached out to stroke her hair.
Yu Zhao clenched her teeth so hard she nearly cracked them, suppressing the urge to kick this imposter away.
Previously, she found Fang Cheng Lang and his group unpleasant. Now, compared to this cheap imitation, they didn’t seem so bad after all.
Noticing no resistance from Yu Zhao, “Fang Cheng Lang’s” seductive gaze quickly flashed with cold calculation, and a faint light appeared at his fingertips.
Just as his hand was about to touch the back of her head, Yu Zhao swiftly grabbed his arm.
“Fang Cheng Lang” froze, lowering his gaze to meet her clear, unwavering eyes.
She wasn’t under the spell of the song!
Realizing this, “Fang Cheng Lang” tried to escape, but Yu Zhao’s grip held him firmly in place, rendering him immobile.
“Let’s see what trick you’re playing,” Yu Zhao said, pulling his hand closer for examination. Comparing it to the memories from Bright Moon Hermit, she quickly deciphered the runes on his fingertips.
“Heart Demon Mark? You were trying to plant a Heart Demon Mark in my Sea of Consciousness.”
“Fang Cheng Lang’s” face turned pale.
Not only had he been caught, but his scheme was also exposed.
He was doomed.