Li Wei's team moved like shadows through the illusory forest, their steps muffled by the thick undergrowth. With Li Wei's manipulation of the formation, they glided past traps and avoided unnecessary conflict. The dense fog curled around them, hiding their movements from the other teams, who were likely locked in desperate struggles elsewhere within the illusion.
Li Jun's heart raced. He couldn't help but glance sideways at Li Wei, his mind still wrestling with a growing unease. *How did he become so powerful so quickly?* Li Wei had always seemed so unremarkable—yet now, it was as if he could see through the very fabric of reality itself. The thought that Li Wei had been pretending to be lazy all those years gnawed at him.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the forest. The team halted, every sense on edge. From the dense foliage ahead, a massive creature, its eyes glowing red and fangs bared, emerged. The beast, a construct of the illusory formation, was enormous, its black fur bristling with Qi. Its very presence made the air feel heavy and oppressive.
Jin Rui clenched his fists. "Looks like we've been spotted."
"Stay calm," Li Wei said in a steady voice, his eyes narrowing as he studied the creature. To the others, it appeared fearsome and solid. But to Li Wei, the beast was just another illusion—powerful, yes, but still bound by the flaws of the formation.
"I can disrupt it," Li Wei whispered, more to himself than to his team. "But we need to move fast."
Mei Chen, her sharp gaze fixed on the beast, nodded. "What's the plan, Li Wei?"
Li Wei's mind worked quickly. The illusionary beast was tethered to a Qi node, one of many that powered the formation. He could feel it, sense its flow. If he could sever the connection, the beast would dissolve into nothing.
"Jin Rui," Li Wei said, "you'll draw its attention. Keep it occupied. The rest of you, be ready to move. When I give the signal, we make a break for it."
Jin Rui, despite his earlier doubts, trusted Li Wei's command. "Got it," he grunted, stepping forward.
The beast roared, its massive form surging forward. Jin Rui met it head-on, his fists coated with Qi as he struck at the creature's thick hide. Each blow landed with the force of a boulder, but the beast barely staggered.
"That thing's tough!" Jin Rui shouted, dodging a swipe of its claws.
Li Wei didn't flinch. His focus was on the Qi node anchoring the beast to the illusion. He extended his spiritual sense, finding the thread of energy that bound the creature to the formation. With a swift motion, Li Wei redirected the flow of Qi, disrupting the connection.
The beast let out a deafening howl, its form flickering, as if it were about to vanish.
"Now!" Li Wei barked.
The team moved in perfect sync. Zhou Wei and Mei Chen darted through the opening that Jin Rui's diversion had created, Li Jun close behind them. As they passed, the illusionary beast began to disintegrate, its body collapsing into wisps of Qi that faded into the forest.
Jin Rui exhaled heavily, wiping sweat from his brow. "That was close," he muttered, catching up to the others.
Li Wei led them deeper into the forest, toward the heart of the formation. The path he had revealed was narrow and winding, but it led straight to the central node, the core of the illusion.
As they approached, the trees parted to reveal a clearing bathed in an eerie light. At the center of the clearing stood a large stone pillar, surrounded by intricate lines of Qi that pulsed like veins. This was the heart of the formation.
Li Wei's eyes gleamed. *This is it.*
"This is the core," Li Wei explained. "If we can control it, we'll have an advantage over the other teams. We can manipulate the illusion to our will."
Zhou Wei frowned, his usually calm demeanor tense. "Are you sure we should tamper with it? If something goes wrong…"
Mei Chen stepped forward, her gaze steady. "Li Wei hasn't led us astray so far. If anyone can pull this off, it's him."
Jin Rui crossed his arms, still breathing hard from the fight with the beast. "I say we go for it. If we can control the formation, we'll win this thing for sure."
Li Jun, however, couldn't stay silent any longer. "Li Wei… how do you know so much about formations? I don't understand. You've always been…" He trailed off, unsure of how to continue.
Li Wei met Li Jun's gaze, his expression unreadable. "There are things about me you wouldn't understand, Li Jun. Just trust me on this."
Li Jun wanted to ask more—wanted to demand answers—but he bit his tongue. Now wasn't the time.
Li Wei stepped toward the stone pillar, his hand outstretched. He could feel the energy pulsing through the core of the formation, like the heartbeat of a living creature. His past life as a formation master surged within him, and his mind instantly mapped out the flow of Qi. The structure was crude, full of weaknesses and poorly aligned points.
With a deft motion, Li Wei began to manipulate the core. His fingers danced through the air, redirecting Qi flows, severing connections, and realigning the formation's pathways. Slowly, the clearing began to change. The forest around them shimmered, the fog lifting as the illusion bent to Li Wei's will.
"There," he muttered. "It's done."
His teammates looked around in amazement as the world shifted. The fog cleared completely, revealing a direct path that led to the very edge of the formation. The other teams would be wandering aimlessly in the forest, but Li Wei had crafted a way out—one that only his team could use.
"You've done it," Zhou Wei said, awe in his voice.
Mei Chen smiled faintly. "We have the upper hand now."
But Li Wei wasn't done. He had one more trick up his sleeve. By altering the core, he could weaken the illusion for the other teams, making their trials even more difficult while easing the path for his own group. It was a risky move, but if it worked, victory was assured.
With a final surge of Qi, Li Wei destabilized the formation for the others. Across the illusory realm, the fog thickened, the creatures became more aggressive, and the traps more lethal.
"We've made it through," Li Wei said calmly. "Now let's finish this."
As they began to move down the path, a faint rumble echoed through the illusion. The other teams were still struggling, likely unaware of the changes Li Wei had made to the realm. It was only a matter of time before they either succumbed to the illusion or were forced to retreat.
Li Wei's team pressed forward, his manipulation of the formation giving them a clear advantage. And yet, as they neared the exit, a sudden shift in the air made him pause.
A powerful surge of Qi exploded ahead of them, warping the very fabric of the illusion. The path they had been following twisted violently, and a figure emerged from the mist—a tall, cloaked elder with a stern expression. His eyes gleamed with an intensity that sent a chill down their spines.
"Young ones, you've done well to reach this point," the elder said, his voice echoing unnaturally. "But did you think manipulating the formation would go unnoticed?"
Li Wei's heart raced. This elder wasn't part of the illusion—he was a real formation master, and he had sensed the changes Li Wei had made.
The elder smiled grimly. "Let's see how you handle a true challenge."
With a flick of his wrist, the elder poured his Qi into the formation. The illusion surged to life, more powerful than ever before. The ground beneath them quaked, and the trees around them began to warp into monstrous shapes.
For the first time, Li Wei felt the weight of true danger bearing down on him.
"We have no choice," Li Wei said, his eyes narrowing. "We'll have to fight our way out."
The final test had begun.