You've only been cultivating for a few years, and you're already talking about cultivating

After observing for a while, Qi Fei understood: "This is an illusion created by greed and desire..."

Greed and desire are among the basic human instincts, as well as thought patterns inherited from humans throughout their long history of survival.

Only greed and desire can enable people to reproduce and survive.

However, greed and desire cannot help one think about the Way in the process of seeking the Way.

"Sword" said, "It is very rare to find someone who is so immersed in a life of debauchery and illusion."

Qi Fei looked at the tally marks all over Ru Yan's thighs, thought for a moment, and said:

"While everyone else is endlessly cycling through illusions, she's here, completely immersed and enjoying herself. Let's make things a bit more difficult for her. Speaking of which, you can manipulate illusions, right?"

"Sword" asked, "How do you want to increase the difficulty?"

"Listen to me..."

Thus, in the illusion, Ru Yan, who was indulging in pleasure, suddenly found herself in a snow-capped mountain.

The cold wind howled, and the snow fell heavily.

Not far away, an injured white fox huddled in the snow, shivering.

Ruyan was a little dazed, her mind still filled with the images of the hedonistic pleasure she had just experienced, but instinct compelled her to pull out a braised duck from her bosom and hand it over.

Here's a braised duck for you; I hope it helps you get through the winter.

The white fox ate the braised duck in small bites, and Ruyan didn't think much of it. She turned around and went back to her own courtyard.

Life went on as usual. She gradually forgot about what happened on the snow mountain, and spent her days eating and drinking, until the following spring arrived in the blink of an eye.

One afternoon, the courtyard gate was suddenly pushed open, and a man walked in.

The man had striking features, with sharp eyebrows and a handsome face. He wore a magnificent cloak and exuded an air of elegance that made Ru Yan unable to look away.

His voice, which made Ruyan's whole body go weak, asked: "Last year, did you save a white fox on the snowy mountain?"

Ruyan's eyes lit up instantly, and she exclaimed in surprise, "You...you're that white fox? Did you come to repay a debt of gratitude?"

The handsome man smiled slightly and shook his head.

"No, I am that braised duck."

"I'm here for revenge!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and slapped Ruyan on the forehead.

"Smack."

Ruyan's vision went black, and she collapsed.

Her last thought before she died was, "This braised duck looks so cool!"

On the snow-capped mountain, Ruyan has been resurrected.

This time, she was smarter. She ignored the white fox curled up in the snow and carefully carried the braised duck home.

After returning home, she placed the braised duck in the center of the main room, lit three incense sticks every day, and kowtowed respectfully.

She is waiting.

Wait until the braised duck turns into a handsome guy, then he can do *shoo-shoo* things with her.

One day, two days, three days... Finally, one day, the courtyard gate was pushed open.

It was still that handsome guy, still that face that made her heart flutter.

Before he could even speak, Ruyan blurted out, "Are you that braised duck?"

The handsome guy shook his head.

"No, I am the white fox. Why did you stand by and watch me die?"

After he finished speaking, he raised his hand.

"Smack."

Ruyan died again.

On the snow-capped mountain, Ruyan came back to life.

She lay in the snow, watching the snowflakes dance in the air, her mind blank except for one thought:

"I didn't expect the white fox to be so handsome..."

She glanced at the white fox curled up not far away, then touched the braised duck in her arms, and a bold idea popped into her mind.

"How about... saving them both? Hehehe..."

She had already imagined a wonderful scene: whether it was a white fox or a braised duck, two handsome men would be circling around her, one gentle and refined, the other elegant and charming, embracing each other on both sides, enjoying themselves immensely.

So, she excitedly picked up the white fox and took it home along with the braised duck she was holding.

She placed the white fox on the bed and took meticulous care of it, feeding it water and medicine. She placed a braised duck in the main room, kept incense burning constantly, and offered prayers morning and evening.

As the days went by, the white fox's injuries gradually healed, and Ruyan's emotions grew more and more excited.

She would look in the mirror several times a day, do her hair and makeup, change into new clothes, and wait for that day to arrive.

One day, while she was fetching water in the yard, she heard the door creak open.

She turned her head abruptly.

The handsome man walked out of the door. His handsome face was etched in her heart. She had seen him three times, each time under a different identity, but each time with the same face.

The handsome man saw her, smiled slightly, clasped his hands in thanks, and said, "Thank you for saving my life, young lady."

Ru Yan was delighted by that smile and quickly leaned closer to ask, "Are you a white fox or a braised duck?"

"I am that white fox," the handsome man said gently. "If it weren't for your rescue that day, I probably wouldn't have survived this ordeal."

He paused, then turned and called into the house, "Come out, come and meet your benefactor."

Under Ruyan's astonished gaze, a gentle and considerate woman walked out from behind the door and was gently pulled into the arms of the handsome man.

The woman smiled shyly and said, "I am that braised duck. Thank you for your help, my benefactor, which allowed us lovers to finally be together."

Ruyan's mind went blank for a moment.

No way! I saved both of you, and now you two are dating?

What about me? Didn't I save him for nothing?

"No! He's mine!" Ruyan cried, her eyes red as she lunged at the handsome man.

However, before she could even touch anyone, the woman who was actually a braised duck raised her hand to block and gently pushed her away.

"Smack."

Ruyan died again.

This time, Ruyan cried bitterly in the snowy mountains, unsure whether to save the white fox or not, or whether to save the braised duck or not.

Seeing this, "Sword" said with a hint of admiration, "Human, you are indeed more powerful."

Qi Fei looked at Ru Yan, who was at a loss in the illusion, and shook his head: "I'm not that great, it's just that this person is like a stupid donkey."

People like Ruyan think like a donkey. As long as there's a carrot in front of her, she'll keep running towards it without ever stopping to think.

She never thinks, never reflects, and never engages in dialectical thinking. Her mind is always preoccupied with one thing: wanting to eat that carrot.

"I'll go check out the other people's illusions."

Qi Fei placed his hands on different mountain peaks, his consciousness traversing between one illusion after another.

He saw all sorts of people, trapped in all sorts of illusions.

Some of them fought repeatedly on the battlefield, some drifted in the business world, some were entangled in love, and some searched bitterly in the mountains and forests.

Their illusions were all different, but none of them could recognize that they were in an illusion.

Qi Fei glanced around, gradually gaining a better understanding.

Suddenly, he stopped in a dreamlike state.

It was a battlefield, with a chilling wind blowing and ghostly shadows looming overhead.

A familiar black banner fluttered in the wind, and as the banner billowed, countless shadows emerged from it, covering the sky and the earth.