As soon as he received all the things the Guardian gave him, the Guardian snapped his fingers, and he disappeared.
When everything came into full view in front of him, he realized that he was once again in the forest of Celterre.
Gazing around him, he found the same gate that he and Ming Ze were trying to open on their first day in this Mystic Realm.
Was this another illusion? Knowing that this could be another illusion, Fu Yang didn't panic. Rather, he was going to face this calmly.
Walking inside the forest, he soon found Ming Ze meditating. As Fu Yang looked at him, he suddenly recalled the first time he went here... Ming Ze also meditated as soon as the two of them came here.
'Back to his first illusion again...?'
Thinking so, he started looking for the Spatial Ring given by the Guardian. Maybe if he found it, it could prove that meeting the Guardian really happened.
But to his disappointment, it wasn't there.
He returned back to where he came from, thinking that the ring may have fallen from his hand. Despite looking everywhere, the ring couldn't be found.
"Ah... The Dragon Clone!"
Looking around, Fu Yang tried to find any traces of the Dragon Clone... Maybe if he saw it again, it would be able to reassure him that all the things that happened with the Guardian were real.
However, no matter how much he looked around, he couldn't even find any traces of the Dragon Clone.
"What about the things I memorized? I should be able to remember it, right?"
Focusing his mind, he tried to remember each cultivation book that he memorized. However, nothing came to his mind...
"All of that... Was it an illusion again?"
Returning to Ming Ze's side, Fu Yang tried to wake him up. He took a stick nearby and poked Ming Ze's cheek.
Poke, poke, poke...
After several pokes, Ming Ze looked at Fu Yang angrily.
"Why are you disturbing me!?"
He was currently on the verge of a breakthrough after regaining his strength, but Fu Yang disturbing him made him unable to breakthrough.
"Ming Ze... what happened before you come here?"
Having asked this question, Ming Ze looked at Fu Yang with a confused face.
"We were stuck and then came here from the gate?"
Having heard the response of Ming Ze, Fu Yang stood petrified in his spot. Did he just become a victim of another illusion?
Also, what was real and what was an illusion? Was his first time going out from the gate the reality? Or the second time, and this was another illusion?
Then he recalled, he seemed to have taken water from the Energy Spring… If he was able to find it in his Spatial Ring, maybe the Guardian was the illusion, and this forest was the real one…?
Searching through his Spatial Ring, he suddenly found a jug full of Energy Water.
"It seems like this was reality…"
***
In a white room similar to the place where Fu Yang studied, a young man with similar looks to Fu Yang was sitting in front of an orb. The orb was currently broadcasting what was happening to Fu Yang in real time.
"Sigh, how come this heir is so easy to be affected by illusions?"
Out of nowhere, a person wearing a green robe with long pointy ears suddenly appeared. His golden hair was adorned with a crown of wreath.
"Elvy, what are you doing here?"
The look-alike of Fu Yang asked.
"I sensed my son coming into the Mystic Realm you're guarding. Obviously, I wanted to take a look at how he is faring," the Current King of the Mondie Forest, Elvian Mondie, replied. His other identity was also the 14th Guardian of the Absolute Master Mystic Realm. "So he's the heir, huh? Quite ordinary."
"He hasn't found an appropriate disciple yet, so he couldn't start my trial. Right now, I'm training his mental fortitude."
The Elven King nodded in response to the 18th Guardian's words.
"Let me guess, you haven't introduced yourself as the 18th guardian yet? Knowing that he hasn't got any disciples that met the criteria, you will just introduce yourself as the Guardian or something..."
The young man responded with a smirk before saying, "I haven't yet truly shown myself in front of him."
"You truly like to play around… as expected of the Illusion Dragon."
After saying those words, the Elven King suddenly started to look around. "By the way, I haven't seen the Black Panther that was always beside you."
The young man frowned and then changed the orb's broadcast. Soon it showed a small black cat sleeping amidst the bushes.
"This stupid Black Panther is always sleeping!"
The Elven King responded with a laugh, "It seems like your little helper isn't that helpful after all! Hahaha!"
The young man rolled his eyes and returned the broadcast to Fu Yang and Ming Ze.
"You should stop playing with him. What if he becomes crazy?"
"If he couldn't even survive these petty illusions, he is not fit to become the heir."
The Elven King pondered for a moment, his gaze fixed on the unfolding events in the broadcast. He then turned to the young man, his expression filled with curiosity.
"Tell me, Illusion Dragon, what do you see in this heir? Why invest so much effort in testing his mental fortitude?"
The young man's eyes gleamed with a mix of amusement and determination as he replied, "There's more to him than meets the eye, Elvy. This heir possesses a unique potential that surpasses his seemingly ordinary nature. I believe he has the strength to break through the illusions and emerge stronger than ever. Though, that would happen once he got himself the right disciple."
The Elven King raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the young man's confidence. "And how do you plan to guide him towards this realization?"
The Illusion Dragon leaned back, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Through the trials of the Mystic Realm, of course. By challenging his perception of reality and pushing the boundaries of his mind, I will help him unlock his true potential."
Elvian Mondie chuckled, his eyes filled with a mix of amusement and admiration. "You always were a mischievous one, my friend. But I trust your judgment. May this heir prove himself worthy of the trials that lie ahead."
The Illusion Dragon nodded, his gaze fixated on the broadcast once more. "Indeed, Elvy. Let us watch and see what he will do in these illusions. Only then will we truly know if he really fits to become the heir."
"You... you are not affecting my son, are you?"
The young man gave him a side glance. "Aren't elves immune to Illusions?"
"Hmm... You are right about that."
Returning their attention towards the orb, the two of them stopped their chatter.