Starting as a Grandmaster, all of my cultivation techniques are at max level.

The last figure looked at Xia Jin and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"I never imagined you'd be able to withstand the trials of despair and greed." His voice was exactly the same as Xia Jin's, yet it carried an inexplicable sense of incongruity. "However, your journey ends here!"

"By now, your soul and spirit should already be cracked. You can't get past my test of lust!"

Xia Jin's eyes sharpened, and a chilling killing intent surged from his body.

He didn't speak.

Or rather, he simply didn't want to say another word to this disgusting bastard.

He raised his right hand, and white flames instantly surged out, grabbing directly at the figure's head!

However, just like at the beginning, his attempt was still ineffective.

The figure didn't even flinch, maintaining that eerie smile as it silently watched him.

"It's no use. I've said it before, we exist within you. You can't kill your own heart."

Xia Jin withdrew her hand, her expression shifting between light and shadow.

Just then, the figure's body suddenly burst forth with light, instantly enveloping Xia Jin.

"This time, you will understand what true desire is."

Xia Jin felt the scene before him distort and change again, and when he could see everything around him again, he was in a fairyland filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers.

But Xia Jin's gaze was fixed ahead.

There, dozens of graceful figures were slowly walking towards him.

They were a group of stunning beauties.

That's right, she's a beauty who is flawless in both appearance and figure.

Whether charming, innocent, noble, aloof, gentle, or adorable... all kinds of styles and temperaments, it's as if all the beautiful women in the world have gathered here.

Each and every one of them possesses a beauty that could topple kingdoms.

Each one of them is enough to drive any man in the world crazy.

Moreover, all these beauties looked at Xia Jin with tender affection.

However, Xia Jin glanced at the group of beauties and smiled.

That smile carried three parts mockery and seven parts disdain.

"Hmph!" He sneered, his gaze sweeping over the approaching beauties, his eyes devoid of any emotion. "Is this all you've got?"

"You may not know this, but this kind of beauty is the least of my concerns. You've miscalculated if you think you can seduce me with your looks!"

Xia Jin's words seemed to affect the group of unique beauties as well. They stopped and looked at Xia Jin with a hint of resentment in their eyes.

However, at that moment, Xia Jin heard a faint voice.

"This is just the beginning. Passion, not lust."

"You'll experience it very soon."

"What the hell!?" Xia Jin's expression suddenly changed!

He discovered that all the so-called stunning beauties around him had vanished after the voice disappeared.

The peach grove is still there, the stream is still there, and the fallen petals are still there.

But those figures that could make any man's heart flutter vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed.

Instead, a figure appeared.

She stood deep within the peach grove, amidst a shower of falling petals.

A long, white dress, flowing black hair, and a face that Xia Jin knew all too well.

Leng Yuexi.

She stood there quietly, just as always.

However, her eyes held endless sorrow, and... disappointment.

"Husband..." she whispered, her voice like a spring breeze, yet it made Xia Jin's heart clench suddenly, "You...don't you want me anymore?"

Xia Jin opened her mouth, but found that she couldn't say a word.

"I've waited for you for a very, very long time." Leng Yuexi lowered her head, her eyelashes trembling slightly. "But you still haven't come."

"I……"

Xia Jin was about to speak when she noticed that the space around her was distorted again.

Leng Yuexi's figure disappeared.

Instead, another figure appeared.

Su Xuanji.

She stood by the stream, barefoot, looking down at her reflection in the water. Hearing footsteps, she looked up, her clear eyes already brimming with tears.

"Xia Jin..." Her voice carried a hint of disappointment, "You promised to protect me... but that day... why didn't you show up that day?"

Xia Jin's hands clenched unconsciously, and her breathing became rapid.

He knew it was an illusion.

He knew it was all fake.

but,

Why?

Why does it hurt so much?

The surrounding scenery began to change wildly, and every scene showed someone he cared about.

"No……"

Xia Jin's body trembled slightly; his usually unwavering Dao heart had suffered a heavy blow.

pain.

It hurts too much.

It hurts even more than watching them die in the despairing illusion just now.

Because he is still alive here, yet his "absence" causes them endless suffering.

"Lust..."

Xia Jin muttered to herself, finally understanding the meaning behind the words of the human figure.

Sexual desire is never simply about physical beauty.

Love is longing, it is ties, it is those figures etched deepest in our hearts.

Desire is longing, reluctance to part, and the obsession to protect and accompany them.

These things are more deadly than any beauty.

Because this is what he truly cares about.

Just then, that ethereal voice rang out again:

"See that? That's your lust."

"Your concern for them, your reluctance to part with them, your sense of responsibility towards them... all of these are your weaknesses."

"You can ignore any beauty and resist any temptation."

"But can you really let them go?"

"Can you let them go?"

"If you can't, then..."

"You'll never get out of this."

"No!! You're wrong!!" Xia Jin suddenly raised her head, a smile appearing on her face. "What you're describing isn't my weakness, but rather the weapon I'll use to tear apart your lustful desires!"

......

Meanwhile, outside...

Fan Wujiu and Zhan Wuji reunited.

However, at this moment, the two looked at each other in bewilderment.

"I didn't expect Xia Jin to venture into that demon's lair so quickly." Fan Wujiu held his wine glass, his brows furrowing slightly. "I thought he would heed my advice and wait until he was 100% certain before making a decision."

Zhan Wuji sat opposite him, raised his head, and looked at the distant islands with a complex expression in his eyes.

"Now I'm starting to believe what you're saying."

"Perhaps, Xia Jin is indeed stronger than me."

"It's not just about strength, but also about that indomitable spirit."

He paused, then took a big gulp of wine.

"I... am not as good as him."

Fan Wujiu was somewhat surprised to hear this: "Hmph! It's rare to see you admit that you're inferior to others. Even with Jian Wuxin back then, you wouldn't admit that you were better than him."

Upon hearing this, Zhan Wuji's expression turned somewhat strange.

"Jian Wuxin? Although he is very strong, even stronger than me, in a life-or-death battle, he would be the one to lose."

"His life has been too smooth." Zhan Wuji's gaze deepened. "Born into a noble family, exceptionally talented, famous at a young age, his life has been smooth sailing. He has never experienced true despair, never tasted true failure."

"Therefore, any setback he suffers is a devastating blow."

Fan Wujiu was silent for a moment, then nodded: "That makes sense."

Zhan Wuji put down his wine glass, stood up, and looked into the distance.

"Perhaps..." His voice held a hint of emotion, "it's time for me to venture into that den of demons."

Upon hearing this, Fan Wujiu's eyes flashed with surprise: "Hmm? I didn't expect you to have such thoughts. It seems this Brother Xia has a great influence on you."

Zhan Wuji didn't speak, but just quietly looked into the distance.

After a long while, he turned around, smiled, and said to Fan Wujiu:

"We've all been enjoying this comfortable life far too much these past few years."

"Forgot their true selves."

"After this period of seclusion, I will also head to the Demon Cave."

Fan Wujiu looked at his old friend and suddenly smiled.

That smile held both anticipation and a hint of budding fighting spirit.

"Alright." He raised his glass. "Then I'll wait and see what kind of person you'll emerge from that den of demons."