Evan Yang looked at this illusion, unable to bring himself to strike. But if he couldn't, he'd never leave this place. Faced with this dilemma, he said, "Then I’ll just make you unable to move."
After speaking, Evan flashed behind the fake Gavin White with ghostly speed, touching several key points on her body. Instantly, Gavin White was unable to move.
"You..." The fake Gavin White exclaimed in surprise.
"I told you, I can make you unable to move," Evan Yang said.
"Let me go, let me go!" the fake Gavin White pleaded.
Evan Yang looked at the pitiful, helpless fake Gavin White and shook his head helplessly. He wanted to let her go, but knew that if he did now, he’d never be able to leave this place. So he shouted toward the sky, "Senior, I’ve already subdued her. Does this count?"
"No, it doesn’t. You have to kill her for it to count. What’s wrong? Can’t do it? Only one step left," the old man laughed.
To kill the fake Gavin White before him, Evan Yang really couldn’t bring himself to do it—her words and actions were exactly like the real thing.
The fake Gavin White looked at Evan Yang and said, "Kill me, and you’ll be able to leave."
Looking at the fake Gavin White, Evan Yang shook his head and said, "No, I won’t do it."
"Then you’ll be trapped here forever," the fake Gavin White said. Looking at this fake Gavin White, whose words and actions matched the real thing, Evan Yang laughed, "That’s fine, I’ll just stay here."
"You’re crazy," the fake Gavin White said. Evan Yang ignored her and started searching for another way to break this barrier. Seeing Evan refusing to strike and instead looking for another exit, the old man laughed, "Don’t bother searching, you won’t find it."
"How would I know if I don’t try?" Evan Yang replied.
The old man fell silent and said nothing more. Evan Yang continued searching for an exit, while the fake Gavin White kept talking to him, trying every kind of persuasion to force him to act, but Evan just kept busy with his own efforts.
After several days, Evan Yang finally discovered the energy source of the barrier. If he destroyed it, he could leave just the same. He drew the Soul‑Devouring Divine Sword, gathered his power, and unleashed a wild slash at the spot.
Zzzt—boom! The inner fantasy world shattered, and the fake Gavin White vanished as well. Evan Yang returned to reality, put away his sword, and looked at the old man on the riverbank. "I’m out. Will you keep your promise?"
"Was that sword just now the Soul‑Devouring Divine Sword?" The old man looked at Evan Yang, shocked and suspicious.
Evan Yang replied, "That’s right. Didn’t expect you’d recognize it, Senior."
"Looks like I underestimated you. But you’ve completed the task I gave you, so I’ll ferry you for free. Get on," the old man said to Evan Yang.
Evan Yang stepped aboard in one motion, entering the ferry’s protective field. Once inside, he no longer felt that repulsive force. Curious, he asked, "Senior, have you been here for years?"
"Me? Depends," the old man laughed, then started rowing. The ferry quickly moved forward.
"Depends? Senior, you really are joking," Evan Yang thought the old man was strange—was he here just to mess with people?
"You mean to say I’m here just to mess with people?" The old man smiled at Evan Yang. Evan hadn’t expected him to guess his thoughts. "You?"
"If I can create inner-heart illusions like the one just now, of course I know what you’re thinking. On this ferry, I know everything in your mind. So, kid, congratulations on boarding the Dreamshadow Ferry." The old man smiled.
Suddenly, the surroundings changed dramatically. Evan Yang found himself in a strange place, surrounded by darkness. He frowned and asked, "Who are you really? Why are you toying with me?"
"It depends on your comprehension. If you can guess who I am, I’ll give you some hints to help you move forward, and eventually you’ll be able to leave this place," the old man said with a smile.
Evan Yang wondered how he always ran into seniors like this, feeling helpless inside. Just then, the Blood Demon Lord spoke, "Guard your heart! Otherwise, whatever you think, he’ll see it all."
"How do I guard it?" Evan Yang asked curiously.
"Wrap your body with your power and isolate yourself from this place. That’s enough," the Blood Demon Lord replied.
Evan Yang immediately followed the Blood Demon Lord’s instructions and isolated himself. Seeing this, the old man laughed, "So you have an expert hiding in your body. I didn’t expect you to have the Soul‑Devouring Divine Sword and an expert within as well."
"His name is Elias Dreamshadow, the Heavenly Dream Sage. He’s eccentric, and it’s said he appears on a magical river just to mess with people. It must be him—the Sage Dreamshadow who can see into others’ hearts," the Blood Demon Lord explained.
Hearing about such a strange person, Evan Yang called out to the old man, "I already know who you are!"
"Oh? Let’s hear it," the old man smiled.
"Elias Dreamshadow, the Heavenly Dream Sage!" Evan Yang answered.
"Answered so quickly? Looks like that guy helped you, huh? I’m curious who he is. Still, since you got it right, I’ll keep my promise. Here’s a hint: there’s a staircase to your left. Walk up, and you’ll find the next clue. Good luck," the old man laughed.
Evan Yang looked to the left and, sure enough, saw a staircase. He walked over curiously. As soon as he stepped on it, a powerful force dragged him down, slamming both knees onto the steps.
"If you want to climb, do it with your own strength, kid," the old man’s voice sounded again.
"I’ll make it!" Evan Yang gritted his teeth and shouted, then forced himself to stand. He hadn’t been prepared before, but now he used his power to resist the pressure. Soon, he climbed the steps one by one. Seeing Evan, only at Immortal Sovereign level, climb so easily, the old man clicked his tongue, "Not bad, not bad. Your potential’s pretty strong."
The staircase had fifty steps in all. Evan Yang climbed to the top, where he saw a huge boulder with nine holes. Each hole was only big enough for a hand, and inside each was a handle.
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"This is the second trial. If you can press all nine handles at once, you’ll move the boulder," the old man laughed.
Looking at the nine holes, Evan Yang smiled, "That’s not difficult." Instantly, nine clones appeared, each reaching in and twisting a handle.
The clones disappeared, and Evan Yang smiled, "Done, right?"
Sure enough, the boulder moved. The old man’s tone changed as he said, "Your clone technique really is impressive. I can’t tell which is real, and each one’s power is the same."
"I’m afraid it’s nothing special in your eyes, Senior," Evan Yang replied.
"You’ve surprised me a bit, but there’s more ahead—don’t rush," the old man laughed.
A hole appeared ahead, and a surge of powerful flames erupted from within. The heat was intense.
"This flame isn’t ordinary. If you can endure inside for half an hour, you win!" the old man laughed.
"This seems like a natural flame?" Evan Yang noticed the fire could be absorbed by his Sacred Flame and smiled.
"That’s right—it’s the Infinite Spirit Flame, which I once stole from the Infinite Sky Grotto. Are you brave enough to enter? If not, you’ll stay here forever with me," the old man laughed.
"Who says I’m not brave enough? Watch me." Evan Yang flashed inside, and the boulder closed behind him. Outside, the old man muttered, "This kid’s got a death wish. He thinks the Infinite Spirit Flame is just a normal fire? Back when I stole it, I got burned more than once."
But inside, Evan Yang was comfortably bathing in the flames. The Sacred Flame absorbed them all, growing stronger with each one. All his attribute spaces expanded considerably.
Though Evan Yang’s cultivation was still at Immortal Sovereign, his power kept increasing. He still couldn’t figure out why he couldn’t break through.
About half an hour later, Sage Dreamshadow expected Evan Yang to be reduced to ashes—or at least crippled. He opened the boulder, stood at the entrance, and was about to call out to see if Evan was still alive. But inside, the flames were gone, and only Evan stood in the center. Stunned, he asked, "Where’s the fire?"
"I ate it," Evan Yang replied.
"Ate it? What ate it? What ate it?" The old man was unusually agitated—he’d gone to great lengths to get that flame, and who could possibly eat it?
Evan Yang pointed to himself. "Sorry, your flames didn’t affect me much—they were absorbed instead."
"What?" The old man stared at Evan Yang in disbelief, then looked again, suspicious, "You’re sure you absorbed them?"
"Otherwise, how am I still standing here?" Evan Yang asked.
The old man half-believed Evan Yang, then cursed under his breath, "Damn, I miscalculated—he actually absorbed it."
"Senior, what’s wrong? Feeling sorry for it?" Seeing the old man’s expression, Evan Yang laughed.
"No, not really. Since you won, you move on to the next trial. If you pass this one, you can leave. If not, you’ll stay here," the old man said gloomily.
Evan Yang smiled, "Alright, I wonder what the last trial is."
"Cross the snowy plain and climb the icy mountain," the old man said, then emphasized, "Kid, this isn’t ordinary snow or ice—the cold can make your soul tremble, even leave you collapsed in the snow, unable to get up."
"Senior, just bring it on. If I succeed, you have to let me go," Evan Yang said.
"Of course. I, Dreamshadow, keep my word—never cheated anyone," the old man promised. Evan Yang relaxed, "Alright."
The old man led Evan Yang to another giant boulder. When it opened, a wave of bone-chilling cold poured out.