Since it knew her origins, things were a bit troublesome.
Xue Mingzhao's eyes darted around. “Just you wait. If I get trapped to death here, my senior brother will definitely lead a group to break in and rescue me.”
The inner demon rolled its eyes (even though it didn't have any). “This is your own exclusive illusion. Outsiders can't interfere at all, understand?”
Xue Mingzhao retorted, “Then aren't you afraid that by casually digging through people's memories, some ruthless expert will achieve great cultivation after leaving and come back to tear down your crappy illusion?”
The inner demon sneered. “Tear me down for what? I'm just a tool used for tempering disciples, okay? Once you leave, I'll cease to exist. Who's going to remember anyone?”
It had to be said that this inner demon had an extremely strong learning ability. After skimming through her memories, it could easily use all kinds of novel expressions.
Xue Mingzhao let out a long, drawn-out “oh.” “So you're just a one-time consumable? Everyone has their own inner demon, and once we defeat you, you're gone. No one outside knows what happens here, and you can't go out and blabber about it, right?”
The inner demon bristled with impatience. “Yes, yes, yes! Why do you talk so much!”
Xue Mingzhao let out another “oh,” completely calm. “Then it's fine.”
With that, she flew off with a whoosh, circling the area and looking around.
“Hey, this place isn't in my memory. Did you replicate this based on the real Heavenly Origin Sect?”
Suppressing its impatience, the inner demon replied, “No. I can only create things you've seen before. Anything not in your memory is fictional.”
Xue Mingzhao thought about it and realized it made sense. After all, if you hadn't seen it, you wouldn't know if it was real or fake, so naturally, no one would doubt it.
She immediately lost interest and curled her lips.
What a waste of her effort to try and memorize the layout of the Heavenly Origin Sect for her future escape. Since it was all fake, there was no point in looking at it.
Seeing her “is that all?” expression, the inner demon instantly blew its top.
What was that supposed to mean? Was this wretched girl looking down on its usefulness?!
Normally, according to the rules, as soon as Xue Mingzhao saw through the illusion, the inner demon would directly send her out of the Heaven-Inquiring Ladder trial.
But this girl's speed in breaking the illusion was absurdly fast. The inner demon felt competitive, thinking that letting her go so easily wouldn't count as tempering her state of mind at all.
It felt like it was failing at being an inner demon, so it gritted its teeth and prepared to weave a brand-new illusion.
It buried itself in digging through all of Xue Mingzhao's memories, sorting through them repeatedly, but the more it read, the more bewildered it became.
In the hearts of ordinary cultivators, there were plenty of obsessions with the Dao, family ties, and regrets. Any single one could be used to construct an unsolvable puzzle.
In contrast, Xue Mingzhao had no opportunities she absolutely had to obtain, no grudges she couldn't let go of, no obsession with reaching the peak of the Dao, and no deep-seated hatred. Her greatest desire was simply to eat her fill and earn some spirit stones to hoard.
No matter how much it searched, it couldn't find a single obsession heavy enough to trap her.
The inner demon fell into silence, momentarily at a loss as to what kind of illusion to create to make things difficult for her.
Just then, Xue Mingzhao yawned. “I've had enough fun. Send me out.”
The inner demon: ???
“Do you think this is your own bed? You think you can just come and go as you please?!”
Xue Mingzhao spread her hands, utterly indifferent. “Fine, fine, fine. Then hurry up and bring on the next round. I'm in a rush to go out and have dinner. If I'm late, the food will get cold.”
The inner demon opened its mouth. “Heh—” Just as it was about to let out a signature villainous laugh, it suddenly remembered the girl saying its laugh was unpleasant. It forced the laugh back down and snorted coldly. “If you want to get out, it's simple. Just answer one question.”
“Go ahead and ask, then.”
The moment she finished speaking, the surrounding scenery shifted with a whoosh.
Raging flames filled the sky as a crimson sea of fire swept in all directions, sending a wave of scorching heat rushing toward her.
In the middle of the sea of fire, two suspended stone platforms were enveloped in karmic fire, their edges continuously crumbling.
On one side, Su Mingyuan's robes were catching fire as he looked at her anxiously.
On the other side, a Deliverance Immortal Lotus bloomed quietly. Its translucent white light stubbornly endured amidst the raging flames, a supreme treasure capable of smoothing one's path to ascension.
Before she could think further, she saw Su Mingyuan shouting anxiously, “Mingzhao, quick, go get that Deliverance Immortal Lotus! You've cultivated painstakingly for ten thousand years and finally reached Tribulation Transcendence. You're only one step away from ascension. Don't hesitate!”
An influx of memories was instantly injected into Xue Mingzhao's mind.
She had stumbled her way through ten thousand years of cultivation, enduring countless hardships to finally reach the Tribulation Transcendence realm, only a single step away from ascension.
This once-in-a-millennium Deliverance Immortal Lotus was her only chance.
Facing the blinding firelight, Su Mingyuan's gaze was firm. His voice was calm yet incredibly earnest. “A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for ascension. If you miss it, you will never get another chance. There is no need to stop for me.”
“Master!” Xue Mingzhao shouted anxiously, looking at Su Mingyuan in the fire.
On the side, the inner demon was stomping its feet in secret delight: Hmph, that's what you get for mocking me earlier! I've found your weak spot.
Let's see what you do now! Whichever side you choose, it's a dead end!
If you save Su Mingyuan, the immortal lotus will burn to ash, and your chance of ascension will go down the drain.
If you choose the immortal lotus, Su Mingyuan will be burned to death, and you'll live in guilt for the rest of your life.
Even if she eventually broke free from the illusion and realized everything was fake, so what?
Once an inner demon took root, it would be enough to plague the girl for a lifetime, torturing her day and night, leaving her with no peace.
The more the inner demon thought about it, the more pleased it became, bursting into laughter on the spot. “Choose! Go on, choose!”
The flames continued to surge, and the rate at which the two stone platforms were crumbling grew faster and faster.
Xue Mingzhao looked at Su Mingyuan anxiously, covering her face and weeping.
The inner demon grew increasingly smug, confident it had finally found the girl's Achilles' heel.
Xue Mingzhao wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and suddenly smiled. “I choose... you!”
With that, she drew the Moon Trace Sword and slashed toward the spot where the inner demon was hiding.
The inner demon was stunned at first: Wait, she didn't fall into the illusion?
Then, it dismissed it with disdain: So what if you saw through it? I am formless and shadowless. Do you really think you can slice me with a sword?
This is simply a jo—
Before it could finish its thought, a sharp sword Qi slashed over, carrying an irresistible, oppressive aura.
The inner demon went pale with fright. “You're actually—”
Before it could finish its sentence, the entire illusion shattered with a loud clack.
Back on the ladder, Su Ye was rolling up his sleeves, preparing to wake his junior sister using the same method.
Before he could make a move, he saw Xue Mingzhao snap her eyes open.
Within those eyes, a chilling, murderous intent was practically overflowing.
Su Ye instantly shuddered.
With that look, he would honestly believe it if someone said his junior sister could pin the Sect Master to the ground and beat him up right now.
Rate on N.U.
