Cultivating immortality relies on spatial abilities; defying fate to become the protagonist.

Chapter 280

In her anxiety, Yu Tong unleashed a powerful burst of flames in an attempt to dispel the thick fog.

When the flames met the mist, they hissed and produced even more strange gases.

Gu Shihan quickly cast a protective spell to shield everyone from the fog.

Suddenly, a series of low roars came from all around, as if countless ferocious beasts were lurking in the thick fog.

Gu Shihan narrowed his eyes slightly, and pairs of eerie green eyes could be seen faintly in the thick fog.

Xingbai looked around warily, while Yutong clenched her fists.

Gu Shihan calmly took out several talismans from her storage ring and handed them to the two of them. "These are isolation talismans; they might be useful."

Just then, a giant claw emerged from the mist and reached out to grab Yu Tong.

Yu Tong dodged to the side, simultaneously retaliating with a burst of flame. The giant beast, in pain, roared and retreated into the mist.

But soon, more attacks came from all directions.

The three stood back to back, tensely dealing with the sudden attack. To complete their mission, they had to first escape the fog alive.

Protected by flames, the three proceeded cautiously, but the more they went, the more uneasy they felt. "Xingbai, don't you feel something's wrong? I feel like something is guiding us forward."

“Yes, I feel that too. Now we can only move forward; retreating seems impossible!” Xingbai said.

"Really? I'll try!" Yu Tong turned around and walked back the way she came, but before she could take three steps, she was stopped by something invisible. She muttered, "It really is impossible to go back!"

Gu Shihan frowned and said softly, "It seems we have no choice but to bite the bullet and move forward."

The three exchanged glances, each seeing a resolute look in the other's eyes.

From dawn to dusk, and from dusk to dawn, every time dawn breaks, a strange creature of different colors appears, and each time a battle must be fought.

Xingbai and Yutong took the stage first, and later, Gu Shihan took the stage herself.

Gu Shihan couldn't remember how many matches they had fought, nor how many days and nights they had gone through. Now, they seemed to have lost all contact with the outside world, and they couldn't even contact Mo Yu and the others.

After walking for a while, the view suddenly opened up, revealing an ancient palace. The palace emitted a faint glow, exuding a mysterious aura.

Just as they hesitated about whether to enter, an ethereal voice came: "Welcome to the Illusion Crystal Palace. If you wish to obtain the Illusion Crystal, you must solve three riddles."

Gu Shihan took a deep breath and stepped into the palace gate first. The palace was filled with shimmering runes.

The first puzzle was to find the pattern in the rune arrangement. Thanks to his intelligence, Xingbai quickly made a discovery and successfully solved the first problem.

The second puzzle involved manipulating spiritual energy to follow a specific trajectory. Yu Tong stepped forward and, after some effort, successfully solved it.

The third challenge requires the three of them to work together to activate a formation.

Gu Shihan's array formation skills are quite good. With the inheritance of ancient array formations, he can send arrays into existence. It's just that breaking the array takes a long time because this array is a complex one.

The formations were layered and interlocking; any mistake in the order or steps would fail, and each failure required starting from scratch. It took Gu Shihan ten days and ten nights to break the formation and enter the main hall.
In the center of the hall was a high platform, on which sat a transparent jade box containing ten iridescent crystals that emitted a seven-colored light.

"Hanhan, Huanjing, that's Huanjing!"

Yu Tong muttered, "Is that the Illusion Crystal we're looking for?"

“It should be!” Gu Shihan walked towards the high platform. Just as they approached the platform, many phantoms suddenly appeared around them.

These phantoms were all the strange creatures that had been defeated by them before, and each one was eyeing them menacingly.

Gu Shihan realized that this was the final test. If she could not defeat these phantoms formed from resentment, it would be difficult to obtain the Illusion Crystal.

She calmed herself and worked together with Xingbai and Yutong. Xingbai used her agility to attract the phantoms' attention, while Yutong released flames to disperse one phantom after another.

"Hanhan, use the Purification Bead! These phantoms are probably formed from resentment and yin energy; purification is the best way to eliminate them..."

Gu Shihan nodded, took the purification bead in her hand, and a faint light spread out, the illusion gradually dissipating.

As Gu Shihan reached for the Illusion Crystal, a hidden door suddenly opened, and an old man walked out.

The old man said calmly, "Congratulations on passing the test. This illusion crystal is yours."

However, this crystal possesses sentience and can only be taken by a human; otherwise, it will disappear. Of you few, only this young friend is permitted to take it away.”

Gu Nansheng bowed and asked, "Senior, is this Illusion Crystal related to the Illusion Spirit Clan? How can we find the Illusion Spirit Clan?"

The old man gave Gu Nansheng a deep look and slowly said, "The Illusion Crystal is indeed closely related to the Illusion Spirit Clan. The Illusion Spirit Clan lives in the deepest part of the Misty Forest, where there is a hidden space. However, the road leading there is full of various traps and mechanisms, and is guarded by the guardian beasts of the Illusion Spirit Clan."

"The deepest part of the Misty Forest?" Yu Tong asked.

The old man looked at Gu Shihan and nodded slightly, then offered some advice: "I have guarded this place for countless years, and no human has ever been able to reach it. Human, you are blessed with great fortune, possessing the light and dark spiritual roots that only the Illusionary Spirit Clan has."

The Phantom Spirit Clan encountered a devastating catastrophe ten thousand years ago, becoming trapped in the Misty Forest, unable to leave or reproduce, and their extinction was imminent.

Fairy Qingchen once promised to let the Illusionary Spirit Clan move to her Moonbeam Bracelet, but the rulers at the time misjudged the situation and missed the opportunity.

Unexpectedly, Fairy Qingchen perished, and the Moonbracelet disappeared without a trace. I am the oldest member of the Illusionary Spirit Clan, waiting for a destined person to save my clan.

Gu Shihan looked at each other in bewilderment. Had she become a tool again?

Seeing that Gu Shihan remained silent, the old man sighed inwardly and had no choice but to speak again: "If I'm not mistaken, you are the owner of the Moon Bracelet, right?"

Xingbai looked up in surprise, her eyes turning cold: "What do you mean?"

"Nine-tailed Celestial Fox? The spatial spirit beast of the Moon Bracelet? Fairy Qingchen's greatest reliance! Am I wrong?" The old man looked at the wary group and continued, "There's no need to be hostile towards me. Your arrival was just a deal between me and Brother Jiutian. The purpose was simply to entrust my Illusionary Spirit Clan to you."

"Who is the Nine Heavens Emperor?" Gu Shihan asked.

The old man sighed and said, "I don't know who the Nine Heavens Emperor is. I only know that the world is in his hands. Immortals, demons, monsters, and even our Spirit Race are all in his hands. But now he is asleep, and the world has lost its original basic order. Alas, my mission is complete, and it's time for me to return to dust."

(End of this chapter)