"Brat, this is where you'll meet your end." Shi Nian's raucous laughter echoed through the forest.
In one moment, he was standing on the street in Heaven Dou City; in the next, he found himself in a forest outside the city.
Looking at the towering trees around him, Chen Xuan remained expressionless and calm.
"In the Realm of Illusions, I am the ruler. Over a hundred Soul Masters have perished under my seventh soul skill. I hope you can stay this calm when the time comes." Shi Nian's chilling laughter faded as his figure gradually blurred and disappeared.
The scene around Chen Xuan began to distort, the sun dimming, trees warping into dancing tree demons, making the entire world seem magical.
"Brat, enjoy my seventh soul skill to the fullest. Even if you are a genius among the fortieth-level Soul Masters, or even if you're a Soul Saint of the same level, you won't be able to escape from my Realm of Illusions." Shi Nian's voice echoed throughout the world, though he was nowhere to be seen, as if he had merged with the world itself.
Chen Xuan surveyed the distorted surroundings, the illusory world shifting between reality and unreality. The flow of soul power was tangible, as if he had entered a new realm.
He sat down on the ground, feeling the flow of soul power around him, resisting the encroachment of the illusion.
"Brat, do you know what my greatest pleasure in life is?" Shi Nian's voice rippled through the illusionary space.
Chen Xuan didn't respond, focusing on observing the flow of soul power around him.
With the help of his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, he quickly located the weak points in this space.
Now, he could break through this illusory realm at any moment if he wished.
Chen Xuan's chakra remained stable, and the soul power of the illusion invading his body had no effect on his senses, as it was blocked.
"My greatest pleasure in life is watching geniuses like you go mad and die in my Realm of Illusions."
Shi Nian laughed wildly, revealing his confidence and satisfaction as he believed he had already secured victory over Chen Xuan.
"Wonderful, truly wonderful. Soon I'll see a once-in-a-century genius go mad and wail like a lost dog, dying under my Realm of Illusions."
Shi Nian's laughter had a perverse edge to it, resonating within the illusory space.
Chen Xuan did not rush to act, as doing so would only alarm Shi Nian. He was waiting, waiting for a chance to strike a fatal blow.
As a Soul Saint specializing in illusions, Shi Nian's offensive power, defensive strength, and speed were much weaker compared to his level. He was not someone a Soul Emperor or Soul King could contend with.
Thus, Chen Xuan had to make a single, decisive strike to defeat him completely.
For now, he needed to remain still, making Shi Nian believe that he was trapped in the dream, and then deliver a powerful blow.
Chen Xuan pretended to be affected, slightly distorting his face and trembling, showing immense pain.
"Struggle, wail. You will die in agony under my Realm of Illusions." Shi Nian laughed.
The multicolored space twisted, revealing the figure of an old man who appeared about thirty meters away, unable to control himself.
Chen Xuan maintained his composure, manipulating his soul power to reverse the flow within his body. He coughed up a large mouthful of blood, his face turning slightly pale.
He was struggling against the power of the illusion, his expression showing extreme pain, creating a facade of being injured.
"Closer, just a bit closer." Chen Xuan thought to himself, sensing the distance to the old man.
Shi Nian, standing far away, continued to release black mist from his seventh soul ring and dark tendrils that obscured the world.
At this moment, his smile was disturbingly twisted, his face full of cruel malice.
As Shi Nian approached, seeing Chen Xuan twitching ten meters away and suffering under the illusion, he couldn't help but laugh, reaching the peak of his happiness.
Torturing a genius, watching a genius suffer—that was his greatest pleasure in life, an exquisite delight.
"I really want to see what you are going through right now," Shi Nian muttered to himself.
His seventh soul skill, Nightmare, could only create the most terrifying and fearful experiences in a person's heart. He was eager to know what horrific scenes a prodigy like Chen Xuan was facing.
"Alas, it's a pity. If I had reached Title Douluo by now, I could see the terrifying scenes you're experiencing," Shi Nian lamented repeatedly, genuinely curious about the great horror that could frighten even a genius.
"Closer, just a bit closer, only five meters left!" Chen Xuan thought, unable to wait any longer.
He was ready to strike, with his Mangekyō Sharingan's power prepared. Once within the domain, everything would be under his control.
"Five..." Chen Xuan counted silently.
Shi Nian couldn't resist any longer, slowly moving forward. This vibrant life was about to end.
"Four..." Chen Xuan continued counting.
Shi Nian remained unguarded, believing Chen Xuan's pale, weakened appearance was genuine and could not be faked.
"Three... Two..."
Shi Nian's triumphant smile appeared as he reached out with a large hand, ready to end Chen Xuan's life.
A genius, a vibrant life, was about to die in his hands. The feeling was too wonderful, deeply satisfying.
"One!"
At this moment, Chen Xuan could no longer endure. He suddenly sprang into action, his Mangekyō Sharingan spinning, emitting a terrifying and cold light.
The distance had entered his domain. Now, the roles were reversed, and he was the ruler.
Shi Nian was taken aback, his expression changing drastically. He had not expected Chen Xuan to wake up and actually break through his Realm of Illusions.
The yin-yang fish in Chen Xuan's eyes spun, emitting divine light that transformed into blood-red symbols.
Shi Nian tried to escape, retreating rapidly. As soon as he sensed danger, he tried to flee at top speed.
Those crimson eyes even instilled a trace of fear in him.
But it was too late. Within this domain, once locked by the Sharingan's power, escape was futile.
The mysterious symbols glowed, forming blood-red chains that seemed like iron chains emerging from a sea of blood.
In a single breath, Shi Nian had already retreated fifty to sixty meters. His speed was impressive, showing the prowess of a Soul Saint, but he continued to retreat.
"You can't escape!" Chen Xuan's eyes blazed with intense light.
The cold power filled the realm, with the blood-red chains formed by the symbols appearing like demons from hell, piercing through the void, and instantly reaching above Shi Nian's head.
Shi Nian, despite his great speed and having already covered over a hundred meters, was enveloped in blood-red light. The evil power trapped him in place.
"What is this? Get away from me!" Shi Nian screamed, a sense of death pervading his entire being. The terrifying presence was unlike anything that should exist in this world.
He tried to break free, but the blood-red light above him was extremely terrifying, firmly holding him in place.
The blood-red chains, like demonic tendrils, bound his arms and legs, completely restraining him.
"Ah!" Shi Nian screamed in terror, overwhelmed by fear.
He discovered that the blood energy in his body was drying up, and he was rapidly aging, as if he had gone from a middle-aged man in his fifties or sixties to a frail old man in his nineties.
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