However, just now, even the Illusionary Emotion Demon itself hadn’t realized that it had been influenced by the extreme formations within the Emperor’s Tomb, praying to the gods, becoming a part of its own “consumption.”

The people who constructed this Emperor’s Tomb naturally didn’t intend to absorb the emotions of the soul fragments. They imprisoned countless souls here to pray for something. What were they scheming to gain?

Yao Yao suddenly became worried. If her brother and the others had also inhaled the pollen of the Illusionary Emotion Demon, encountering the praying soul fragments might easily draw them into the influence of their thoughts.

“We need to leave this place quickly.” she whispered.

Chong Yan covered her ears with his hand and nodded, “Mm.”

However, as the people’s prostrations and prayers grew more chaotic and fervent, the thin air in the tomb seemed to become drier with each passing moment. The fluorescence within the empty coffin gradually converged and rose into the air.

In the end, above Yao Yao and Chong Yan, it coalesced into…

Yao Yao covered her mouth.

Although it was unclear, amidst the blurred image, the point of light had formed into…

A golden dragon.

Unlike the ancient divine demon with silver scales and bat wings, it was a standard divine golden dragon, without horns, scales, or the abnormal bone spikes that were usually present.

Yao Yao instinctively tightened her grip on Chong Yan’s hand.

These “gods” that the soul fragments were praying to were dragons.

The reflection of the golden dragon appeared in Chong Yan’s eyes, and in an instant, numerous memories about the dragon race surged forth.

He tightened his grip on her fingertips.

“How could gods exist in a place like this?” he murmured.

On the other side, Wen Yu had also been drawn deeper into the Emperor’s Tomb by the formation.

He was currently in a grand and magnificent hall, looking up at the intricately carved murals within the dark tomb. The murals depicted how the mountain people offered sacrifices to the gods, prayed to them, and how the gods would manifest.

The Deep Sea God understood this very well.

As an expert in pretending god, Wen Yu didn’t believe in any of it and began to wander around.

He wasn’t afraid of the dark; he had long been accustomed to it in the depths of the sea. His night vision was excellent. Wen Yu crawled around aimlessly and even took the time to appreciate the splendid palace-like structure, despite it being a tomb. It was exceptionally resplendent.

Yes, it would suit him well. Wen Yu secretly decided that when he returned to the Eastern Sea, he would have people build a similar one for him.

Soon, he discovered that in the center of this magnificent hall, there was a throne adorned with a carved dragon head.

A “chi,” a kind of dragon that was somewhat like a snake.

Wen Yu straightened his waist and compared himself to the chi head for a moment. He felt that he was even more magnificent and majestic. With great solemnity, he turned around and sat down.

However, as soon as his buttocks touched the throne, the hall was filled with a gathering of heads.

Crowded together, it was a dark mass of people. Apart from the thumping footsteps, everyone remained silent, just like wandering souls within the Emperor’s Tomb.

This scene felt somewhat familiar. Every time the people of Qiongyan Island worshipped him, praying for his blessings and protection, it was a similar gathering of people.

Soon, these soul fragments began their identical chanting and prayers, their expressions becoming entranced and fanatical.

Wen Yu looked at them, his snake-like eyes narrowing.

The powerful attraction made it impossible for people to resist being immersed in it. Their prayers amplified infinitely, making his snake heart pound and giving rise to indescribable desires.

If he didn’t know how false gods were cultivated, he too would probably begin sincerely praying to the “gods” here.

Unfortunately, Wen Yu understood this very well.

Even though he really wanted to be more beautiful and have a more dazzling palace at this moment.

But the snake’s worldview was unshakable.

Wen Yu didn’t know that he had unintentionally triggered a cheat here.

However, something was strange about this place, and Wen Yu decided to find his little companions as soon as possible.

On the other side, outside the tomb, there was a divine path.

Ji Rong held his sword, facing the soul fragments that filled the path.

Here, too, the crowded prostrations and prayers began.

This place was truly peculiar, and they needed to find Yao Yao and Ji Rong decided, gripping the Yu Ji Sword tightly, his expression serious.

However, among these people, Ji Rong was the only pure “human.”

A pure-blood cultivator.

Without the bloodline of the Ji Family women or the non-human worldviews.

So when he encountered the most fervent prayers and found himself surrounded, Ji Rong’s divine thoughts experienced a slight decline.

The pollen of the Illusionary Emotion Demon’s Flower dissipated, but the surrounding mental power formed a stronger and more powerful enclosure.

There were too many souls around him, each holding strong desires and praying to the “gods.” Countless figures, countless voices, filled his consciousness with a dissonance.

Prayers.

Expressing wishes to the gods.

They said that wishes would come true here.

The gods here are the most powerful.

Ji Rong was trapped in countless souls, feeling their strong visions, and finally remembered his own deepest desires.

His grip on the sword handle loosened more and more until he unconsciously spoke.

“Pray for my sister’s safety and health, to be protected from wicked people.”

“Pray for prosperity and the spread of my parents’ swordsmanship.”

“Pray for my parents’ well-being.”

Ji Rong, the young master of the Chang Sword Sect, was a natural genius, but he had been arrogant his whole life, exhausting all his desires for power, all for the sake of protecting Chang Sword Sect and his family.

The Yu Ji Sword hummed softly, as if sensing danger, yet also sighing.

With his prayers, the scenes in Ji Rong’s eyes began to change, returning to the Chang Sword Sect of over a decade ago, when his sister was young and his parents were still alive, and everything was simple and smooth. In the inverted formation of the Emperor’s Tomb, it was difficult for the praying individuals to realize that it was all an illusion.

But the Sword Spirit was naturally attuned to spiritual energy and unaffected by these mental powers. If it weren’t for the Sword Spirit merging with the sword master’s mind, she wouldn’t see the illusions before Ji Rong’s eyes, nor would she know how this so-called “gods” were effective.

Creating illusory imaginations, immersing oneself in them. This false happiness.

And as Ji Rong immersed himself in the illusion, small specks of light began to appear on his body.

Gradually condensing, they formed a golden figure in the air.

It was…

“Ji Rong,” the Yu Ji Sword Spirit exclaimed in a solemn voice.

From childhood to now, even if they quarreled every day, the Sword Spirit and her sword master still had a deep connection.

Only a true bond with one’s own sword could strike directly, awakening those in their dreams.

“Look at your sword.”

Ji Rong’s spirit suddenly shook, and he looked down at the Yu Ji Sword in his hand.

The small specks of light appearing on his body almost merged with the surging souls, then gathered and took shape in the sky.

Forming a golden figure.

“This is…”

The Sword Spirit’s voice was clear. “Merit.”

The Yu Ji Sword Spirit had lived for a very long time and had seen many things.

The ancient and obscure formation in this Emperor’s Tomb could even trap someone as accomplished as Ji Rong, who had reached the stage of Divine Transformation. Countless souls had been trapped here for countless years, living a surreal life of “being born at dawn and dying at dusk,” constantly praying.

And then, the false gods used illusions to fulfill their wishes, gaining specks of starlight in return.

That was merit.

Someone here was using souls to shape merit.

With merit, they fashioned a golden body.

______

“Cangyan, when are we going in?”

Jun Capital’s Forbidden Land, deep in the mountains.

Li Cangyan and Su Yilin stood before the damaged boundary wall, with members of the Wuji Sect and Jun People behind them, appearing mighty and imposing.

Li Cangyan stood in front of everyone, his figure erect and extraordinary.

With the mysterious flame’s gift of the treasure bottle, he had indeed successfully broken through, even breaking through two realms at once.