The Illusion of Regret and the Trial of the Soul

Junzhu’s master had once explained that illusion arts varied greatly, ranging from simple sleight of hand to complete disorientation. Falling victim to an illusion was incredibly perilous, as one’s true body would be utterly unable to act normally.

If he truly found himself caught in an illusion, it must be a highly advanced one, capable of perfectly simulating an entire world through memories. As for how to break free, Lin Tian knew that there had to be an impostor within the illusion, or perhaps a manipulator hidden among them. Resolving that individual would naturally dispel the illusion.

He went to the restroom to splash water on his face. The reflection staring back felt strangely alien. Since transmigrating, he had become accustomed to seeing the youthful, charming face of Luo Yingkong in the mirror, so seeing his original self as a mature man again was quite unsettling. His body, too, felt terribly weak, heavy, and sluggish.

Emerging from the restroom, he found a team of soldiers had cordoned off the area. The experiment report had already been submitted, and their group was to be escorted back home. It was precisely as he had initially predicted. He had long known that the collision experiment held no further significance. Rather than continuing it, a full-speed accelerated collision was preferable.

This not only set a new record for the fastest speed but also prompted the military to completely abandon the experiment. In this way, he wasn’t entirely without merit, and the military would undoubtedly provide him with a substantial subsidy. However, his predictions had been wrong in one crucial aspect. This experiment had actually caused his soul to transmigrate to a cultivation world, possessing the newborn body of Luo Yingkong.

‘It really is identical…’

****

Above the desert at night, rows of combat helicopters descended, their powerful searchlights illuminating the ground. All the researchers boarded the aircraft, and Lin Tian was no exception. He ceaselessly observed the people around him, vigilant for any sign of anomaly that might betray an impostor.

Two days later, having flown back to his city under the cover of night, he still found nothing amiss with anyone. Everyone was exactly as he remembered them. Lin Tian walked alone down the street, heading towards his apartment, deep in thought.

‘Considering the middle-aged man’s words about not being swayed by emotions, I’m a solitary person with few close connections, let alone romantic entanglements.’

He entered his familiar residential complex. A small white villa was his home. The door was ajar, which made Lin Tian pause.

“Which unit is it this time? They’re always searching my home. I really want to curse them out. This seems like a good opportunity.”

****

Pushing open the half-closed door, he was about to launch into a tirade when a familiar and cherished voice drifted over.

“Lin Tian! You rascal, you’re back without a word. You haven’t eaten yet, have you? I’ll warm up some dishes for you.”

The speaker was a young woman, sitting by a computer playing a game, a popsicle in her hand. Seeing Lin Tian return, she quickly rose and headed towards the kitchen. He stood frozen. This was his girlfriend, who had passed away years ago. Why was she here?

‘Perhaps it’s because I miss her too much, often imagining her still alive, and the illusion has created her…’

“You—”

“You what? Don’t stand at the door blocking the breeze. The air conditioner at home is broken; hurry and fix it.”

Lin Tian’s nose stung. He knew it was an illusion, yet it felt so real. He truly wished he could remain lost in this illusion forever. She was the only person who had ever caused Lin Tian such profound heartache. Due to the unique nature of his work, intruders had often broken into his home. When he returned on that fateful day, all he found was a pool of blood… She hadn’t even left a dying message. In response, the military had simply told him to move, and the incident was never thoroughly investigated.

“There aren’t many dishes; just make do,” the young woman said, bringing out a few plates of warmed-up leftovers. Lin Tian sat at the table and devoured the food, tears streaming down his face without him even realizing it.

“Hey, hey! Why are you suddenly crying? I didn’t make anything with onions.”

“It’s nothing. It’s just been a long time since I’ve eaten food like this. I miss it…” Lin Tian ate every last morsel.

“What do you mean? Are you eating junk food every day? No matter how busy you are with work, you still need to eat. I’ll peel an apple for you.”

****

Lin Tian knew none of it was real, yet he spent several days with her, hoping to resolve his lingering regrets. The next day, after they finished playing games and eating dinner, the young woman was peeling an apple again.

“Lin Tian, the family subsidy is enough for us to live very well. How about you stay with me forever, and you won’t have to worry about work anymore?”

Upon hearing this, Lin Tian sighed softly. “Let me peel it.”

****

Taking the fruit knife, Lin Tian didn’t hesitate for a moment, plunging it directly into the young woman’s chest. Her eyes suddenly widened.

“Lin… Tian, what are you…”

“She would know what I desire; she would never let me abandon my work! Don’t create a fake to deceive me!”

The young woman chuckled, and the surrounding mist enveloped them once more. Lin Tian’s consciousness returned to the body of a young girl, holding a dagger, which she plunged into the chest of a skeleton.

“Excellent. You’ve passed the second trial. Many before you failed this stage, some remaining trapped for decades without ever emerging,” a white-robed cultivator floated before Luo Yingkong, his face obscured.

“There’s another trial?” A newfound resolve flickered in Luo Yingkong’s eyes, and the matters of Earth seemed to have been cast aside.

“The final trial. Passing it will greatly benefit you. The rules are simple: utter the word ‘give up,’ and you fail.”

Swish! Swish!

Several iron chains flew out from the mist, binding Luo Yingkong’s limbs. No matter how she struggled, she could not break free.

“Cultivating the Jade Bone Heart Sutra requires immense endurance and a fearlessness towards physical pain. Only the soul is the true body; the flesh is merely a tool.”

“Is this to…”

A bone spike suddenly shot out from the white mist! Like a sharp arrow, it pierced through Luo Yingkong’s body! A bloody hole appeared in her abdomen, the pain incredibly real. Luo Yingkong’s expression barely flickered; this injury was nothing to her. When she had refined her body with the Hundred Poisons, the agony had been countless times worse.

Having reached the final step, she absolutely would not utter the word ‘give up.’ More bone spikes shot out from all around, impaling her body!

“If you can’t bear it, you can give up and find release,” the man advised from the side. Luo Yingkong simply closed her eyes, allowing the bone spikes to penetrate her body. This torment continued for an hour. She did not utter a single sound. Blood flowed across the floor, and her body was already a mangled mess of flesh and gore.

“Doesn’t it hurt?”

“It hurts, but if you treat it as a form of enjoyment, it’s not unbearable.” Luo Yingkong had extensively studied the brain and could hypnotize herself. It was the same when she learned the Cloud-Treading Steps, making herself unable to feel her legs.

“To possess such willpower at such a young age, further torture would be useless. Your name is Luo Yingkong, isn’t it? We shall meet again if fate allows.”

All of Luo Yingkong’s injuries vanished. The surrounding mist enveloped her, and her head grew heavy as she fell unconscious once more.

****

When she awoke, she felt something strange in her mouth. She quickly scrambled up, spitting out a medicinal pill, which she caught in her hand. Jiaofeng was rummaging through a storage bag.

“What are you doing?” Luo Yingkong asked, lying on the bunk. A sigh of relief escaped her; she was finally back.

“Master! You’re awake?! The pill worked! You scared me half to death!” Jiaofeng exclaimed, startled.

“What did you feed me?”

“Uh… I don’t know either. Anyway, I fed you all the pills with abundant spiritual energy. Didn’t that save you?”

A warm current surged through her stomach. Luo Yingkong quickly snatched the storage bag to inspect it. Many pills were missing from inside—even the Creation Pill was gone.

“Tsk!” Luo Yingkong harshly rapped Jiaofeng on the head. All the cultivation-enhancing medicines had been used up, and spiritual energy was swelling in her belly. If she had woken up any later, her meridians would surely have burst!

“How long was I asleep?”

“Only two hours…”

“Two hours? Stand guard for me. I’ll have to refine the medicinal power right here.”

“No problem!” Jiaofeng exited the room, not wanting to disturb Luo Yingkong. Then he remembered they were still in the inn… ‘I don’t have money for the room fee…’