Huan Ling Zi's expression turned cold, "Oh, I wonder if Fellow Daoist Long has received your father's permission for such thoughts. Karma Fire, Thousand Dragon, Red Rain—these three islands have always advanced or retreated together. And yet, you actually side with outsiders. Or is it that Thousand Dragon Island no longer wishes to maintain an alliance with Karma Fire Island?"

"Our relationship between the three islands is not something for you to worry about," Long Chong answered.

"Fellow Daoist Huan Ling, on the arena strength determines the victor. Cui Yu lost because his skills were inferior. Right now we are focused on treasure hunting; why bother over such a trivial disagreement?" Qiong Yun said.

"Fine, fine, fine, it seems you're determined to protect this person. Then don't blame me for being ruthless and forcing you to withdraw from this competition prematurely!" Huan Ling Zi said coldly and indifferently.

Yuan Ming watched with a cold eye. Huan Ling Zi's visit seemed to be purposefully looking for trouble with him, and avenging Cui Yu was probably just an excuse.

A glimmer of cold light passed through his eyes. Whatever Huan Ling Zi's real intention, since he had come to him, Yuan Ming did not mind adding another Core Formation Stage Ghost Slave to the Night Parade of Hundred Demons within.

However, with Long Chong and Qiong Yun present, he couldn't employ many of his methods.

"Fellow Daoist Long, Fellow Daoist Qiong, there's no need to delay on my account, as you both need to compete for rankings for your own islands. Since Fellow Daoist Huan Ling has come for me, let the two of us settle this matter," Yuan Ming spoke up.

"Hehe, you heard him. Long Chong, Qiong Yun, do you really intend to forcefully defend him?" Huan Ling Zi laughed heartily.

Long Chong held his spear pointing to the ground, sweeping its tip across the surface, tracing a deep blue water streak across it.

A vast chill surged forth, and countless falling ice crystals dispersed all around. A blue and white Flood Dragon with scales like snowflakes and horns as clear as carved crystal appeared, transparent and shining.

"Brother Yuan, there's no need for further words. I have already promised Brother Tianming that no matter what happens, I will ensure your safety. Moreover, although we have not spoken much on this journey, we are already friends. Am I, Long Chong, the type to break my word and abandon a friend?" Long Chong laughed loudly, his eyes brimming with war intent.

Hearing this, Yuan Ming's expression paused, and he silently let out a bitter smile.

"Fine, since you, Long Chong, seek death, I shall grant your wish!" Huan Ling Zi let out a cold laugh as a green oil lamp appeared in his hand, the flame burning low.

Without any visible casting, the flame on the lamp flared up sharply, a green fire shot straight towards Long Chong.

Long Chong seemed to be quite wary of the green fire, as the blue and white Flood Dragon opened its mouth and spewed out a thick stream of cold air to meet the oncoming green fire.

His Flying Sword manifested dozens of sharp Water Blades.

Qiong Yun wielded the Thunder and Lightning Flying Sword, and together with Long Chong, they executed a Combined Attack Divine Power. Electric arcs flickered on the Water Blades as they headed straight for Huan Ling Zi.

Behind Huan Ling Zi, the four Wulu shouted and swung into action, their Magic Treasures shooting out like meteors to block the watery thunderblades.

The seven engaged in intense combat, their spirit lights fiercely intertwining, shredding the reeds of the swamp for tens of meters around them into dust.

"To instantly plunge high-level fighters like Long Chong and Qiong Yun into an illusion without their awareness, what a masterful Illusion Technique," Yuan Ming commented lightly.

"You flatter me," Huan Ling Zi replied indifferently, standing a few meters away, holding the oil lamp.

The four Wulu also stood quietly aside, not lifting a finger, while Long Chong and Qiong Yun wielded their spear and Flying Sword, swinging and striking at empty space, battling against illusory enemies.

"It is said that Kongling Island possesses an Empty Illusion Reincarnation Skill that can utilize Heart Fire to create the most pure Illusion Power, a coveted source of nourishment for all Illusionist Demon Beasts. The Illusion Spirit Fox Clan of the East Sea Hidden Mist Mountain has even signed a contract with Kongling Island, willingly serving as the spirit beasts for Kongling Island's cultivators. Is this green flame the Illusion Spirit Fox Fire, or the Void Illusion Heart Fire, or is it perhaps a fusion of the two?" Yuan Ming looked at the green oil lamp, his words tinted with a mocking smile.

Huan Ling Zi's expression shifted slightly. Whether the Empty Illusion Reincarnation Skill or the Illusion Spirit Fox Clan, they were both secrets of Kongling Island. How did this person know about them?

What alarmed him even more was that after just a glance at the green lamp fire, Long Chong and Qiong Yun had fallen into the illusion, yet Yuan Ming, who had been looking at it for so long, seemed completely unaffected?

Huan Ling Zi clapped his hands together, and instantly three pale pink flames ignited on his shoulders and atop his head. A shadow of a Demon Fox, twice the height of a human, briefly appeared behind him.

Seeing this, the four Wulu quickly closed their eyes and fled backwards.

Huan Ling Zi paid no attention to the four Wulu, his hands forming seals as the three pink flames increased tenfold in intensity. His own body vanished in a flash, leaving only the pink flames hanging in the air, burning quietly.

"So, this is Kongling Island's Empty Illusion Reincarnation Skill? To be able to control someone's innate Heart Fire and cast Illusion Techniques is indeed unique," Yuan Ming remarked with a smile.

"I don't know where you've obtained knowledge of Kongling Island's secrets, but don't think that with just this bit of information, you can break through the methods of Kongling Island!" Huan Ling Zi yelled out, and the three pink flames also abruptly disappeared.

Yuan Ming just smiled slightly, "Then I truly look forward to it."

Provoked by Yuan Ming's attitude, Huan Ling Zi let out a cold snort from the void. Darkness, like a tide, surged forth swiftly, engulfing everything in the vicinity, even the spirit lights emitted during the exchanges between Long Chong and Qiong Yun were swallowed by the encroaching darkness.

Before long, only dark shadows remained around Yuan Ming, and the faint spirit light that enveloped his body still provided some illumination.

Yuan Ming observed his surroundings with interest as Soul Power surged in his Sea of Consciousness, forming a barrier outside his Divine Soul, blocking the influence of external forces, yet he still could not see through the darkness.

He suddenly felt surprised because, with his current strength of Divine Soul, unless a Soul Cultivator of the Sleep Witch Realm took action, no one should be able to trap him in an illusion without making a sound.

Huan Ling Zi's Divine Soul Power was quite strong, but it was only comparable to that of an Illusion Witch, not even reaching the level of a Love Witch. How could such power cause him to fall into an illusion?

"So that's how it is, this Huan Ling Zi does indeed have a talent for Illusion Technique," Xi Ying's voice sounded at that moment.

"You've seen through his tricks? His Divine Soul strength shouldn't be as strong as mine, yet I can't break through this Illusion Technique," Yuan Ming immediately asked.

"On his own, he naturally wouldn't be able to cast an Illusion Technique that could trap you," Xi Ying stated.

Yuan Ming raised an eyebrow, recalling the Demon Fox phantom that had appeared behind Huan Ling Zi when he was casting his Divine Skills.

"The Empty Illusion Reincarnation Skill of Kongling Island is quite mysterious. You should experience it well, as it will benefit your Illusion Technique cultivation," Xi Ying said again, his voice becoming deeper.

Before Yuan Ming could ask, he suddenly heard a rapid series of "bangs," and hundreds of pink Fox Fires suddenly appeared above his head, illuminating the surroundings.

For this reason, Yuan Ming suddenly realized that he was actually standing in a spacious Green Stone plaza, and not far in front of him, a three-story-tall Demon Fox Stele stood, with long slender eyes looking towards Yuan Ming, which, although inanimate, held an inexplicable spirit light.

Above the head of the Demon Fox Stele, Huan Ling Zi stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at Yuan Ming from a high position, with a cruel smile on his face, he said, "Hehe, this is the execution ground I've specially prepared for you. I wonder if you find it satisfactory?"

Yuan Ming didn't pay attention to Huan Ling Zi, he looked around and spread his Divine Sense, scanning all around.

A strange force enveloped the surroundings, like a layer of water film, completely sealing him off from everything outside.

"I see," Yuan Ming's lips revealed a slight smile, and a powerful Soul Power swept out and hit the water film around him hard.

The water film shattered in response, easily broken by Yuan Ming's formidable Divine Sense.

Yuan Ming saw the darkness that had enveloped him dissipate quickly, the Fox Fires above his head also went out in succession, and everything returned to how it was, with him still standing in the swamp. Not far away, Long Chong and others were fiercely engaged in battle, various spirit lights flying chaotically, but they seemed to be influenced by something, deliberately avoiding the spot where he stood.

And the tall Demon Fox Stele that was in front of him also disappeared without a trace, replaced by a white-based demon fox with red patterns, two human heights tall, with three tails, each tip bearing a slowly burning pink flame.

As for Huan Ling Zi, who had been standing atop the Demon Fox Stele, he was now to the right side of Yuan Ming, staring at him with a cold gaze, seemingly unaware that his Illusion Technique had been broken.

Seeing Yuan Ming observing his surroundings, he immediately spoke up, "What, are you so frightened that you can't speak? Or do you still delude yourself into thinking you could see through my Illusion Technique?"

Oddly enough, although he was standing to Yuan Ming's right and speaking, the voice came from the body of the three-tailed Demon Fox, it was unclear by what means.

Yuan Ming suppressed a smile, turned his gaze towards the demon fox, and pretended to still be trapped in the illusion, "Your Illusion Technique does have some merit, but unfortunately, not much."

Hearing this, Huan Ling Zi's anger flared, and he immediately let out a cold laugh, "At this point, you still dare to be so arrogant. Let's see if you're still so tough after I nail you to death with Ten Thousand Blades Piercing Heart!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he spat out a Stele Magic Treasure wrapped tightly with nine Black Iron Chains. The Magic Treasure grew to the size of a person upon catching the wind and then plummeted down in front of Huan Ling Zi.

Right after that, Huan Ling Zi's fingers tapped rapidly on the Stele, unleashing one spell after another. Instantly, five iron chains rose into the sky from the Stele, with Triangular Iron Blades at the ends aimed at Yuan Ming, poised like giant snakes ready to strike.

Curious about the situation within the illusion, Yuan Ming temporarily dispersed his Soul Power, and darkness enveloped the surroundings once again.

Among the myriad Fox Fires above his head, Black Iron Chains as thick as an arm appeared out of thin air, with Fox Fire blazing on the chains, and on the tips of the Triangular Iron Blades, the Fox Fire even condensed into fox heads that opened their mouths wide and lunged at Yuan Ming.

This attack was particularly intimidating, but Yuan Ming, who had already seen through the truth, remained calm.

He formed a spell with his fingers, and a Bronze Small Tripod flew out instantly. From within the tripod, five mighty eagles, forged of blazing fire, surged towards the sky, aiming for the actual position of the five chains, pecking and clawing at them, effectively intercepting them.

The other illusionary chains arrived in an instant, with Triangular Iron Blades stabbing straight into Yuan Ming's body, but they were like shadows, leaving no mark whatsoever.

When Huan Ling Zi saw Yuan Ming accurately intercept his attack, his expression changed immediately. Just as he was about to cast another spell, he saw Yuan Ming suddenly turn his head to look at his real position and then actually burst into a smile.

Huan Ling Zi's forehead instantly broke out in a sweat, and he quickly altered his spell to activate the Stele to protect his body.

But just then, Yuan Ming suddenly turned his head again, gazing over at the three-tailed Demon Fox, his right hand shaped like a sword finger, and gave it a flick.

In an instant, a hazy white mist spewed from the Cold Moon Ring, forming a dozen slender Ice Cones in midair, shooting towards the three-tailed Demon Fox.

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