Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8743: Advice (1)

Still in a daze, he returned to his room and collapsed onto his bed. Aches plagued his entire body, particularly the phantom wound from the illusionary knife, which throbbed with imaginary pain. Despite knowing it was merely an illusion, his mind held onto the sensation of being cut, the sharp agony feeling undeniably real. Recalling the words of the ambulance personnel sent him into a fresh wave of shock.

Suddenly, he bolted upright, releasing a profound sigh. He now grasped why the sect had warned them of potential dangers before allowing entry into the illusionary realm. The peril wasn't external, but deeply internal. When one truly embraced the illusion as reality, every sensation became genuine. In such a state, death within the illusion meant actual death. Even those saved, like the previous disciple, required a year of recovery, rendering cultivation impossible during that time.

A year was an invaluable commodity for cultivators, representing a year’s worth of effort that others would gain over them. Such a wasted year was a devastating blow to any cultivator’s progress. And yet, he had witnessed such a thing unfold directly before his eyes.

Hao Tong exhaled another long breath and slowly rose. He paced his room, acknowledging his current unsettled state. Closing his eyes brought back the vivid image of the slashing blade. Despite his rational mind insisting on its falsity, the memory of that strike remained stubbornly imprinted.

After a considerable pause, Hao Tong made his way to the quiet room, intending to meditate. He hoped to achieve a state of calm and perhaps finally banish the haunting image of the knife. Just then, a knock echoed through the silence, startling him. He immediately moved to the door, opening it to find a cultivator nearing forty, a gentle smile gracing his features.

Upon seeing the visitor, Hao Tong immediately bowed. "Greetings, elder." The man was an elder of the Bloody Massacre Sect, albeit a lower-ranked one overseeing outer disciples. He was specifically responsible for Hao Tong and his peers, and his generally kind demeanor towards them prompted Hao Tong's respectful gesture.

"No need for such formality," the elder replied with a smile. "Hao Tong, I heard you took part in the realistic illusion?" He paused, then continued, "How are you feeling? Come, let's go inside and talk." With that, the elder entered Hao Tong's room. Hao Tong quickly followed, and they both settled in the living area. Hao Tong promptly prepared spiritual tea, a monthly allocation for every disciple.

Noticing Hao Tong's attentiveness, the elder remained silent, his smile unwavering. Only after Hao Tong served the tea and took his seat did the elder address him directly. "Hao Tong, how did you find the experience this time?" The question was casual, accompanied by a sip of tea.

Hao Tong responded swiftly, "Elder, I feel alright. However, a sense of unease lingers. I was preparing to meditate to calm myself." He spoke truthfully, understanding the importance of reporting his cultivation progress to the sect for future resource allocation, a matter critical to his path forward.

The elder regarded Hao Tong, his voice deepening slightly. "You're too hasty. If you feel uneasy now, how can you possibly meditate? Aren't you afraid of Qi deviation?" He advised, "Rest well and take the time to process your gains from this experience. Participating in actual combat isn't merely about completion; it's about deep reflection on mistakes and lessons learned. True progress comes from such analysis."

Hao Tong listened, initially stunned, then a wave of happiness washed over him. "Yes, elder. I understand. Thank you for your guidance; I would have made a grave mistake otherwise." He was genuinely delighted, realizing that attempting to meditate while unsettled could indeed have led to demonic possession. Conversely, by analyzing his experience, he might uncover unforeseen breakthroughs. The thought filled him with renewed excitement, eager to begin sorting through his recent gains.

Upon seeing him, the man offered a smile and said, "I'm relieved to see you like this. My knowledge of the illusory reality is limited, but I do know one crucial point. The sect has stated that the illusory reality is still undergoing improvements and currently presents some dangers. I heard someone met their end inside today. Be exceedingly careful the next time you enter."

Hao Tong was taken aback by this revelation, his expression shifting as he inquired, "Someone died inside? Is that truly the case?" He was utterly astonished. His previous assumption was that the worst possible outcome involved severe injury, rendering one unable to cultivate for a year, a fate far less dire than actual death. That someone had genuinely perished was profoundly shocking.

The man confirmed with a nod, "Indeed, a total of seven individuals have died within its confines. While not an overwhelming number, it is certainly significant. Considering that only one hundred people were permitted to participate in this experiment, a mortality rate of seven percent is alarmingly high. The sect is now preparing to implement further modifications, thus we are uncertain when it will become accessible again. You should take this opportunity for a thorough rest."

Hao Tong acknowledged his words. The man then rose and addressed Nie Tong, "Ah, Hao Tong, your combat prowess has advanced rapidly, yet your mental fortitude requires further cultivation. Always remember that the illusory reality not only enhances strength and practical combat skills but also strengthens one's mental state. You must experience this for yourself." With that, he departed.

Hao Tong escorted him to the door, but he didn't immediately resume his cultivation. He remained preoccupied with the visitor's earlier words: that the illusory reality could bolster not just combat ability but also mental state. What could that possibly mean? How could an illusory realm possibly refine one's state of mind?

Seated, Hao Tong pondered the man's statements, his brow furrowed. Yet, no clear understanding emerged for a considerable duration. Unconsciously, his thoughts began to wander. He found himself recalling the sensation of being cleaved by a saber. His mind, sharp as ever, instantly snapped back to the present. His complexion turned grim.

Then, a sudden spark of insight illuminated his mind. He remembered the elder's previous pronouncements: the illusory reality's capacity to enhance both combat prowess and mental state. How could one achieve mental improvement? The elder's implication was that entering the illusory reality itself was a process designed to refine one's state of mind. The key was to constantly remind oneself that it was an illusion, even if the sensations felt utterly real. Adhering to this mental discipline would naturally lead to an improved state of mind. Conversely, succumbing to the belief that it was reality would invite peril, potentially leading to death within the illusory realm, much like those who had tragically perished without understanding why.

Furthermore, even Hao Tong's current predicament could be considered part of this mental state refinement process. He had experienced death once within the illusory reality. The experience had been terrifyingly lifelike, yet he now understood its artificial nature. Despite this knowledge, a residual fear lingered. Even now, the memory of the saber's bite would involuntarily surface. This was the very reason for it.

However, this fear could be reframed as a form of training. When he could conquer the trepidation within his heart and banish all fear, he would have vanquished his greatest opponent – himself. Overcoming oneself is the most arduous triumph a person can achieve. Once this internal battle was won, his mental state would undoubtedly mature.

With this realization, Hao Tong couldn't help but exhale a lengthy breath. A look of elation promptly spread across his face. He then stood and proceeded outdoors, soon arriving at a communal training ground. Numerous disciples diligently practiced their martial arts here daily. They harbored no fear of being observed, as their cultivated techniques might differ. Even when practicing identical cultivation methods, the sect actively encouraged inter-disciple communication, recognizing its profound benefits for collective strength enhancement.

Hao Tong counted several close friends among these practitioners. They all followed the cultivation techniques of the Blood Slaughter Sect, engaging in mutual exchange and collective advancement – a truly commendable endeavor. However, his purpose for visiting today wasn't communal practice. He intended to consolidate and process everything he had gained from his experiences within the illusory reality.

Previously, his perspective on this matter had been different. However, after the elder’s gentle guidance, he recalled the numerous tasks requiring his attention during this expedition into the illusory realm. In practical combat scenarios, he primarily relied on the Eight Bloody Fighting Styles, a technique he had mastered. This particular saber technique was renowned within the Bloody Massacre Sect for its formidable power, making it more than adequate for confronting most adversaries. Yet, when facing opponents of comparable cultivation level in actual combat, he felt compelled to employ the Eight Bloody Fighting Styles. He had previously been defeated in mere moments by an opponent wielding the cultivation techniques of the Giant Demon Sect, a fact that had genuinely astonished him. This experience revealed his engagement in a narrow, ineffective approach. While he had diligently practiced the Eight Bloody Battle Style, he recognized the folly of neglecting his existing foundational knowledge. He firmly believed that by fluidly integrating all his known cultivation techniques, his overall strength would undoubtedly surge.

This realization ignited a fervent desire within Hao Tong. He promptly retrieved his blood saber, commencing his practice of the Eight Bloody Combat Styles. However, concurrently with his drills, his thoughts wandered, contemplating how to seamlessly amalgamate his other learned cultivation techniques into the Eight Bloody Fighting Styles. Though initially awkward, he gradually discerned that the integration was not as arduous as he had anticipated. He discovered that incorporating elements from his existing, more common cultivation techniques into the Eight Bloody Fighting Styles was quite manageable. Upon their integration, the efficacy and sheer power of the Eight Fighting Eight Forms appeared to have significantly amplified, a revelation that both surprised and immensely delighted him, fueling his fervor for practice.