Chapter 104

Chapter 104: Slaying the Dream Illusion Beast

Yun Xi’s eyes lit up brightly as she asked, “Senior Sister Mu, could that lady cultivator have been drugged?”

Mu Ning Zhu’s expression darkened slightly. At this very moment, the male cultivator, clearly affected by the pink mist, had drawn close to the red-clad female cultivator and was embracing her. Although he struggled to control himself, his voice already had become unclear as he murmured, “Fellow Daoist, what…what’s happening to you?”

The female cultivator tugged uncontrollably at her crimson robe, moaning softly, “I’m so hot…” As she tore at her own robes, she also pulled at the male cultivator’s garments, hinting at a scene that was rapidly becoming inappropriate.

Mu Ning Zhu quickly waved her hand, signaling Yun Xi and Qin Tong Shuang to close their eyes. Zhang Yan, standing to the side, turned red as well. Though the three obediently shut their eyes, each secretly extended their divine senses.

Yun Xi’s divine sense was the strongest among them. As soon as she released it, her expression suddenly changed, and without hesitation, she formed a sharp spike of divine sense, stabbing toward a hidden spot.

In the next instant, a sharp cry of pain echoed through the dilapidated temple. Yun Xi swiftly stepped out of the formation, gripping her Seven-Star Fatal Staff tightly. With ruthless precision, she struck down, causing another miserable shriek. Waves rippled outwards from Yun Xi, causing Mu Ning Zhu and the others, who had rushed out behind her, to halt in shock.

They quickly noticed the male cultivator had collapsed unconscious, and what he’d been embracing was no longer a beautiful woman, but instead, a ghastly white skeleton.

Yun Xi leisurely put away her staff and sighed theatrically, “Tsk tsk, just as the stories say—beautiful women are but bones beneath fair skin.” She even felt a slight disappointment; she’d missed witnessing firsthand exactly how cultivators practiced dual cultivation.

Meanwhile, Mu Ning Zhu used the tip of her sword to lift the beast Yun Xi had crushed. Lowering her voice, she said, “It was actually a Dream Illusion Beast. How did it end up here?”

Yun Xi approached curiously, staring at the creature resembling a cross between a rat and a mink. “So this is a Dream Illusion Beast? It looks different from the description in the Demon Beast Compendium.”

After carefully examining it, Mu Ning Zhu casually flicked a fireball at the corpse, saying, “This demon beast probably has impure blood. It’s a hybrid. Even though it’s reached second-rank, it could only secretly try to attack us.”

Yun Xi recalled the description she’d read before. The Dream Illusion Beast was both fearsome and harmless. It possessed little combat ability, yet it could create illusions potent enough to harm cultivators within its dreams. Once trapped in the illusions, the cultivators’ souls weakened unknowingly until they perished, their bodies becoming nourishment for the beast.

Yun Xi had almost been caught, not realizing that Mu Ning Zhu’s insistence on shielding their eyes, intended to protect their innocence, would prompt her to use divine sense. [But I’m not actually a naive young girl,] Yun Xi thought wryly.

Qin Tong Shuang glanced thoughtfully at Yun Xi, murmuring, “Yun Xi, your perception is truly sharp. No wonder you were reluctant to enter this temple earlier.”

Could Yun Xi admit she’d been overly cautious precisely because such ruined temples were always scenes of sinister incidents? Furthermore, the illusion created by that second-rank Dream Illusion Beast had matched her own imagination perfectly—as if it read her mind.

At that time, Yun Xi didn’t yet know that the Dream Illusion Beast’s illusions indeed took form based on her thoughts, inadvertently influenced by her powerful divine sense, which surpassed her cultivation.

By now, the male cultivator had regained consciousness. He warily scanned Yun Xi’s group, then noticed the skeleton in his arms. In a panic, he hastily tossed the bones aside, cleansing himself with a dust-repelling spell and awkwardly rearranging his disheveled robe. With a frown, he turned to Yun Xi, who was currently extracting the demon core, and respectfully asked, “Fellow Daoists, what exactly happened here?”

Mu Ning Zhu stepped forward as the group’s leader, replying calmly, “My companions and I were resting here and became caught in the Dream Illusion Beast’s illusion. Thankfully, my junior sister detected the anomaly.”

Though his brow remained furrowed, the male cultivator courteously bowed his thanks. “Many thanks to you all for saving me from the Dream Illusion Beast.”

The mutant Dream Illusion Beast’s corpse lay in full view, making disbelief impossible.

Yun Xi, having secured the second-rank demon core, kept it carefully. She’d landed the killing blow, so naturally, the spoils belonged to her.

Despite the temple remaining the same, the recent incident left an awkward atmosphere between the two groups. With no desire to interact further, each occupied a separate corner quietly awaiting dawn.

Mu Ning Zhu once again activated the formation, grateful they’d previously established it, otherwise they might’ve fallen victim just like the male cultivator had.

Yun Xi took Dian Dian from her embrace, roughly waking him by poking at his head and scolding lightly, “A second-rank Dream Illusion Beast attacked your master secretly, and you didn’t even warn me?”

Dian Dian’s fluffy ears twitched as he rubbed his sleepy eyes, replying via mental transmission, “Master, Dian Dian didn’t sense any danger. Master’s divine sense is so powerful that Dian Dian knew you couldn’t be fooled, so I didn’t bother warning you.” After explaining himself, Dian Dian immediately started nodding off again.

Unable to watch any longer, Qin Tong Shuang advised, “Yun Xi, your spirit pet is probably close to advancing, which is why he’s so sleepy. You shouldn’t bully him.”

Yun Xi acknowledged softly, gently tucking Dian Dian back into her robes.

The latter half of the night passed uneventfully. At sunrise, Mu Ning Zhu’s group left after swallowing fasting pills, quietly refraining from further contact with the male cultivator.

When they were sufficiently far from the temple, Yun Xi murmured softly, “That man’s willpower was really poor—he nearly gave himself to a skeleton! If we hadn’t intervened, what would’ve happened?”

Mu Ning Zhu coughed delicately before answering, “He likely would’ve been drained completely of his vital essence and died.”

Yun Xi immediately understood, turning playfully to Zhang Yan, who wore a stiff expression. “See, boys have to learn to protect themselves too. That would’ve been quite tragic!”

Mu Ning Zhu took this opportunity to seriously caution them, “You three must remember: before reaching the Golden Core stage, do not lose your primordial yin or yang. Doing so will severely impede your future cultivation.”

“Yes, Senior Sister. We’ll remember,” Qin Tong Shuang and the others promised earnestly, understanding fully that cultivation must never be treated lightly.

Yun Xi knew Mu Ning Zhu wasn’t exaggerating. She’d encountered similar warnings in texts before—these unwritten rules were widely accepted precisely because they had genuine foundations.

After traveling for another three days, the four reached the next cultivation city—Chongming City.

Chongming City was a bustling place where mortals and cultivators lived side by side, making it especially vibrant.

Following their usual practice, the group checked into an inn to recuperate. The next day, the innkeeper greeted them warmly, eager to share some unexpected good news.