Bringing The Farm To Live In Another World Chapter 2281: Golden Force

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Truth be told, Wan Feng and his companions felt greater shock at Zhao Hai's swift departure right after shaking off the illusion than at his breakthrough to the Sixth Stage.

Wan Feng and the rest had personally ascended the Heart Refining Road before. They understood full well the horrors of its illusions. These illusions strike straight at a person's inner self. They drill into your most vulnerable thoughts. They zero in on your deepest cravings and cherished memories without delay. When trapped in such an illusion, everything seems utterly lifelike, like stepping into reality itself. Escaping then becomes nearly impossible.

Should you succumb to the illusion, the path would nudge your body toward the precipice, causing a tumble. Of course, the supervising Elder would swoop in to rescue you. No harm would come in the end. Yet this signifies the close of your test.

From the Heart Refining Road's inception, only a handful have managed to rouse themselves after getting ensnared in an illusion. Wan Feng and his group had braced themselves before tackling the road, so they avoided easy entrapment. Folks like Zhao Hai, who press on after falling into one, are exceptionally rare.

Zhao Hai had stayed vigilant the moment he began the Heart Refining Road. After all, it marked his initial attempt. With the fresh energy now conquered and minimal damage to his psyche, Zhao Hai sped through the sixth stage. It wasn't long before he reached the seventh.

On this occasion, Zhao Hai exercised even greater caution. The instant his foot touched the seventh level, a wave of unfamiliar energy washed over him, distinct from before. Luckily, his readiness kept him from the illusion's grasp.

Pressing onward, Zhao Hai advanced. Soon enough, he stepped onto the Eighth Stage and made for the Ninth. Witnessing Zhao Hai enter the Eighth Stage left Wan Feng and the others in awe. Starting from the fifth level, the challenge shifted from spiritual force to sheer willpower. Lacking in resolve, you'd plunge straight into an illusion. With each level, the demand for stronger willpower intensified. For Zhao Hai to conquer the Eighth on his debut and near the Ninth so rapidly highlighted his extraordinary mental fortitude.

Right now, Zhao Hai was struggling intensely. An unseen force battered his mind relentlessly, trying to drag him into delusion. His spiritual force proved ineffective against this assault. Zhao Hai relied solely on willpower to endure. The force grew fiercer by the moment. Already, he sensed his determination wavering.

Even so, Zhao Hai gritted his teeth and pushed ahead. His mind focused solely on progression. He reinforced his resolve to shield his thoughts from the illusion's pull.

Unbeknownst to Zhao Hai, he had already entered the Ninth Stage and stood close to the peak. Atop the Heart Refining Road sat a modest platform where three figures waited. Each donned black cultivator robes, their hair snowy white. They gazed at Zhao Hai with evident astonishment.

The central figure observed Zhao Hai and nodded approvingly. “What an impressive talent. His willpower stands out strongly. Given his aptitude and the cultivation technique he follows, he’s bound to rise as a Core Disciple someday.”

The pair flanking him remained silent, yet their faces betrayed intriguing emotions. One displayed surprise laced with reluctance and irritation.

The other responded far more positively. He let a smile bloom openly as he watched Zhao Hai, resembling a grandfather beaming at a youth's success.

These reactions from the two elders stemmed from their backgrounds. One bore the Long surname, the other Zhou. The Long-surnamed elder served as the Supreme Elder of the Long Family and an Inner Sect Elder in the Forbidden Path Sect. He was also the great-grandfather to Long Batian and Long Fei.

The Zhou-surnamed elder held the role of Supreme Elder for the Zhou Clan. Like his counterpart, he was an Inner Sect Elder of the Forbidden Path Sect and great-grandfather to Zhou Feng. In essence, these two represented the Zhou and Long Families within the Forbidden Path Sect.

Long Fei and Long Batian, those brothers—one had his arms shattered by Zhao Hai, the other a Teleportation Stage Expert who failed against him—had suffered public humiliation at Zhao Hai's hands. This fueled the Long Family's resentment toward him. As the family's Supreme Elder, the Long-named old man naturally harbored no fondness for Zhao Hai.

Elder Zhou felt the reverse. Zhao Hai shared a close bond with Zhou Feng. The stronger Zhao Hai's showing, the more regard the Forbidden Path Sect would hold for him. Greater standing for Zhao Hai meant greater aid to the Zhou Clan. Thus, the Zhou Clan's Supreme Elder rejoiced at Zhao Hai's prowess.

The Long Family's Supreme Elder realized that Zhao Hai's arrival at the Ninth Stage guaranteed sect attention, win or lose. Any Long Family action against him must now proceed openly. Direct sabotage was off-limits, lest the Sect launch an inquiry.

These three elders oversaw the Heart Refining Road trials. The road held immense importance for the Forbidden Path Sect. Those who excelled on it were destined for prominent roles, becoming the sect's key supports.

Zhao Hai possessed remarkable talent and practiced a Buddhist Body Cultivation Method. Success on the Heart Refining Road promised substantial future gains. That's why these three were dispatched to monitor him.

The third elder's position was noteworthy too. He acted as a Merit Transferring Elder for Core Disciples and ranked among the Forbidden Path Sect's Supreme Elders.

As for the other two, hailing from Zhou and Long Families respectively, they grasped the sect's intent in assigning them. It served as a reminder to stay composed. The sect warned against targeting or recruiting Zhao Hai.

Though they comprehended the directive, releasing Zhao Hai from their considerations remained out of the question.

Zhao Hai remained oblivious to the elders' deliberations. Each step now demanded immense effort. Sweat poured from his brow like a downpour, an unprecedented ordeal for him.

Zhao Hai battled fierce illusions nonstop. In truth, his awareness flickered only half the time.

Nevertheless, amid this turmoil, Zhao Hai forged ahead. He had now stepped into the Ninth Stage.

The Ninth Stage's illusions hit with greater ferocity. Zhao Hai sensed his mind ripping asunder. One part clung to the present world, the other mired in Earthly memories. His Earth existence felt achingly vivid. After all, Earth had been his true reality. Straddling dual worlds filled Zhao Hai with torment.

Just as Zhao Hai feared his mind would fracture completely, the golden spiritual force within his soul stirred. As it flowed into his consciousness, clarity returned to his thoughts. His soul seemed to glow golden. Bathed in this radiance, Zhao Hai experienced soothing warmth, like sunlight's embrace. The tearing sensation vanished entirely.

Swiftly, the mental burden eased for Zhao Hai. Moments later, he spotted the trio at the summit. This jolted him, prompting heightened wariness. He feigned ongoing struggle, masking any lapse in vigilance.

Simultaneously, Zhao Hai detected the intruding energy attempting to copy his memories and extract them. Thankfully, the golden spiritual force steadily drew in the road's energy. This steadied his mind further.

This exchange also sharpened Zhao Hai's focus. Earlier, Zhou Feng had warned him that the Heart Refining Road exposed one's true nature. They might not voice it, but the road's peculiar energy could capture it. The Forbidden Path Sect could thus archive memories, ensuring no hidden truths lingered.

This realization sparked an idea in Zhao Hai. He promptly deployed the golden spiritual force to forge illusory memories and offer them to the energy. Consequently, the sect would receive these fabrications, dispelling all doubts about him.

With preparations complete, Zhao Hai simulated collapse. His body lurched, sending him plummeting off the cliff. He fell short of the summit.

Yet as Zhao Hai tumbled, the three Elders and Wan Feng's group exhaled in relief. Frankly, his stamina had astounded them. Passing the Heart Refining Road would have branded him a freak in their view.

Wan Feng darted forward, snatching Zhao Hai mid-fall. He noted Zhao Hai's clenched teeth before the faint. Wan Feng sighed inwardly. Gently, he descended and placed Zhao Hai on solid ground. Then his gaze lifted to the Heart Refining Road's peak.

The moment Zhao Hai dropped, the lead Elder sighed softly. “Fine young one. Such determination. Prime stock.”

With that, the Elder approached a nearby stone slab on the summit. He displaced it, uncovering a jade slip beneath. The Elder then took the jade slip and infused it with spiritual force.

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