“Enter this gate, and there will be no turning back.”

So said Yinguo Daojun.

Jian Chou paused briefly before the gate, nodded once, and entered alone.

Before the Heavenly Hall, upon the Cloud Sea Plaza.

The huge watermelon was still chasing Xiao Jin while wildly spitting watermelon seeds. Each watermelon seed was as large as a baby’s fist, and when they hit a person, they left large lumps.

Xiao Jin was beaten until he fled in all directions, howling miserably.

Seeing that in no time his head was already covered in bumps, he forcibly endured it, refusing to yield unto death: “Even if you beat me to death, I still want to eat melons! Eat! Melons!”

The big watermelon became even more furious, opening its mouth wide to release an even denser spray of watermelon seeds, falling like a waterfall!

“Owwww…”

Xiao Jin cried out strangely again, desperately fleeing to the side.

Without paying attention to his direction, he actually charged into the crowd.

Thus, everyone began cursing: “How did he get in here! Run, run! Damn this monster!”

“Ping ping pang pang!”

Watermelon seeds fell madly, countless people suffered.

The entire plaza was in chaos.

The other people, fearing injury from the monster overhead, retreated one after another, not daring to approach.

The circle of spectators was scattered like a tide, expanding outward by a full hundred zhang in just this short time!

Xiao Jin was on the verge of tears.

What kind of broken Door of Right and Wrong and Cause and Effect was this? It was simply a trap!

He desperately ran forward, also sweeping past those six doors at flying speed. But as he ran, he felt something was wrong.

“Why isn’t it continuing to hit me?”

The watermelon seeds falling from the sky had disappeared, and there was no longer that huge shadow on the ground.

The big watermelon stopped chasing him?

Xiao Jin stopped his steps and looked back, immediately widening his eyes.

The big watermelon that had just been chasing Xiao Jin all over the sky had turned its massive body in mid-air, looking down at a giant gate below.

That was the gate in the southwest direction, Jiang Wenchao’s.

Taking a step forward, Jiang Wenchao’s figure appeared on this side of the giant gate.

Accompanying his appearance, however, was…

A stone wall.

Deep emerald moss covered it completely, with hundreds of ancient characters, each stroke extremely neat. Even the gaps between these strokes were filled with tiny moss.

“Three Reflections Cliff.”

Three characters, written with vigorous brush strokes, yet seeming to carry dark repentance, placed on the rightmost side of the stone wall.

The moment this stone wall appeared, everyone immediately felt that strange aura.

Darkness.

Fear.

And also…

Repentance, interrogation.

Everyone had one or two points of evil in their hearts, so from the incomprehensible characters on this stone wall arose a hidden emotion…

The big watermelon naturally also saw it, though it really didn’t have much human emotion. It just opened its mouth and, under everyone’s dumbfounded gaze, spat several watermelon seeds at that stone wall.

“Ping ping pang pang.”

The watermelon seeds carried wind, all smashing against the stone wall.

“…”

They caused no damage whatsoever.

Jiang Wenchao stood before his own giant gate, looking at the big watermelon “floating” in mid-air with an almost expressionless face.

Xiao Jin watched this scene from afar, immediately breaking out in cold sweat.

This was bad, this stupid watermelon seemed to have kicked an iron plate.

However…

The final trial was battle between phantom bodies, so wouldn’t that be a battle between the big watermelon and the stone wall?

Which meant it had nothing to do with him?

Thinking this, Xiao Jin immediately became happy. Just as he was about to take out a watermelon again and start munching, that smile had barely appeared on his face when the watermelon in the sky, as if it had eyes in the back of its head, suddenly turned direction and charged at him, continuing to spit watermelon seeds!

“Mama, why is it still me!”

Xiao Jin was so frightened he ran away, unable to help crying out in grief and indignation.

“Hahaha…”

This scene immediately amused the distant crowd of spectators.

Serves you right for running around earlier, you brought this upon yourself!

Fudao Shanren, however, didn’t laugh. He just looked at Jiang Wenchao’s stone wall with great interest, unable to help asking: “What’s the story with your Three Reflections Cliff?”

“This junior’s heart dwells on past events, once harboring resentment. But others’ good and evil have nothing to do with this junior’s good and evil. If there is resentment, it only adds troubles to cultivation. When resentful thoughts arise, I reflect thrice upon myself; when murderous thoughts arise, I also reflect thrice upon myself.”

Jiang Wenchao replied.

Perhaps in the past there were indeed many people who wronged him, but their crimes didn’t warrant death.

In the Door of Right and Wrong and Cause and Effect, he saw the deepest knot in his heart over these thirty years—

Just because his cultivation went wrong once, his talent scattered, the masters who had once placed high hopes on him began to blame him one after another…

In those years, his declining cultivation didn’t cause him pain, only the cold and warmth he had tasted over these thirty years chilled his heart.

Hate?

Resentment?

Wanting them to truly recognize who he was now?

All of these existed.

But most importantly, a moment’s difference in thought had nearly led to great error.

The world’s people could belittle him, despise him, kick him when he was down at any time, but he, Jiang Wenchao, should not be someone who would belittle others, despise others, or kick others when they were down due to a moment’s difference in thought.

Reflecting thrice upon oneself, though not a sage, he was not far from it.

Facing the inquiring gazes of Fudao Shanren and Hengxu Zhenren, Jiang Wenchao remained neither humble nor arrogant, only bowing with clasped hands.

“A heart nature clear, bright, benevolent and good. A bright pearl covered in dust for thirty years, it is time for it to shine…”

Hengxu Zhenren sighed, giving his praise.

Fudao Shanren also nodded.

Two people in the field already had phantom bodies—a strange watermelon spirit and a rigid Three Reflections Cliff…

It seemed that to have a fight, they still needed to wait for the others to come out.

Southwest direction.

Young Master Ruhua’s figure appeared behind the gate almost immediately after.

Everyone immediately looked over excitedly, then all froze—

Why did Young Master Ruhua’s complexion seem somewhat poor?

It wasn’t just poor, it was iron-blue, even dark as a pot bottom!

The fragrant flowers on his garment, all seeming to sense their master’s anger, tightly curled themselves into flower buds, not a single one daring to bloom a single petal.

What on earth had happened to make the usually smiling-tiger-like Young Master Ruhua show such an expression?

This question appeared unanimously in everyone’s hearts.

However, the answer soon appeared.

As Young Master Ruhua walked out step by step, a phantom gradually condensed from the giant gate, following behind Young Master Ruhua and appearing in everyone’s field of vision.

It was actually a giant three zhang tall!

Fierce expression, glaring with copper-bell-sized eyes, lips pierced with over ten iron rings, fangs protruding; dark skin, bulging muscles knotted into blocks, hard as iron lumps; shoulders spread wide like a small mountain; arms reaching past the knees, shaped like an ape; thick feet covered with black hair like weeds…

Everyone was stunned.

This…

What kind of monster was this!

On the great earth of the Nineteen Continents, there were actually such robust “people”?!

From very far away, Qian Que held his little abacus, his heart racing, nearly scared to death by this scene: “Why does it feel like a demon monkey…”

“It is.”

A decisive voice cut through.

Qian Que made an “ah” sound with a rising tone, looking back in surprise, only to see Meng Xizhou with a face full of amazement, staring at the giant in the field without blinking even once.

“What do you mean?”

Meng Xizhou rubbed his chin and laughed strangely: “Isn’t this simple? Phantom bodies are what the heart sees. If Young Master Ruhua had no desire for such things, how could this appear?”

“…”

Having no words to say, yet not wanting to give no response, after thinking for a long time, Qian Que finally rolled his eyes at Meng Xizhou.

Young Master Ruhua’s phantom body was a giant, obviously not in line with Young Master Ruhua’s own aesthetics.

Everyone was suppressing their laughter.

Only Fudao Shanren’s gaze shuttled back and forth among the three phantom bodies, finally revealing a cunning smile: Hehe, the good show was about to begin.

Phantom bodies all originated from cultivators’ hearts, with positive and negative aspects, their forms reflecting the cultivators’ inner nature to a certain degree.

Generally speaking, the stronger the heart and more stable the temperament of a cultivator, the higher their phantom body’s strength would be.

This final round was purely about “seeing the heart.”

As for who would win and who would lose, that would be determined through actual combat.

Originally, the big watermelon and Three Reflections Cliff in the field couldn’t fight, but with this savage giant’s appearance, things were different.

The first to turn and look was the big watermelon that had been chasing Xiao Jin and spraying wildly.

Next came that rigid Three Reflections Cliff.

Three Reflections Cliff, as the name suggested, was for people to reflect thrice upon themselves.

After the big watermelon flew toward the giant, the Three Reflections Cliff wall surface emitted purple-blue interwoven light, also turning toward the giant’s direction.

“Bang!”

Every character on the wall surface shot out a ray of light, striking straight at the giant.

The giant roared once, then grabbed his fist and charged toward the stone wall, seeming to sense the stone wall’s threat and wanting to smash it first.

Only…

When everyone’s nerves were taut, when the giant took his steps, the big watermelon’s body shook, and a piece of emerald watermelon rind actually instantly peeled off from its body, swift as lightning, slipping under the giant’s foot at the critical moment!

“Splat!”

The three-zhang-tall giant actually stepped directly on the watermelon rind and fell with one step!

“Crash!”

The massive mountain-like body smashed down, immediately shaking the earth and mountains.

The Three Reflections Cliff wall’s light heading toward the giant completely didn’t expect this situation, immediately missing its target and smashing straight into the ground, leaving a stretch of pitted marks.

“…”

Young Master Ruhua’s expression could no longer be described as ugly.

In this moment, Kunwu was quiet.

“…”

Fudao Shanren held his chicken leg, staring blankly, taking a long time to react: “Watermelon rind, hahahaha, Shanren is dying of laughter hahaha…”

Clutching his belly in laughter!

Attitude wild and arrogant!

Not giving any face!

The others finally couldn’t hold back either, all bursting into laughter.

Watermelon rind!

This ability was truly amazing!

The entire sky above Kunwu immediately became a scene of people falling over sideways.

The giant struggled to get up from the ground, his face full of anger. He immediately abandoned the Three Reflections Cliff that had first attacked him, turning instead to attack the big watermelon.

The big watermelon flew in the air, agile in form. Opening its mouth wide, it continuously spat watermelon seeds, each one as hard as a stone.

Hitting a person’s body, they would sink into the flesh momentarily, blood splattering.

The entire scene immediately became bloody.

That giant seemed to have no sensation at all, continuing to stride forward. Clenching one fist, all the muscles on his entire right arm swelled by a full circle.

A heavy punch, blasted out!

Rumbling.

Qi energy like swords rushed forward!

Thunk!

A stream of qi energy directly passed through a small piece of red flesh exposed by the big watermelon, leaving a hole.

The big watermelon cried out in pain, glaring angrily, baring sharp fangs, green light surging on its body.

The watermelon rind around its body immediately became crystal clear like jade.

Snap snap snap!

The qi energy hitting the watermelon rind only left shallow white marks.

“Hahaha—”

The laughter stopped abruptly.

Everyone was shocked by the changes before them: this watermelon might look a bit comical, but its combat power was truly impressive!

They had originally thought it was just a farce, but who knew there was real substance hidden within the farce?

All those who had been laughing almost simultaneously put away their previous contempt, refocusing their full attention on this chaotic battle.

When Zuoliu just emerged from the Door of Right and Wrong and Cause and Effect, he saw this…

Completely absurd scene.

A big watermelon and a three-zhang-tall giant fighting to the death, one flying in the sky, one chasing on the ground, with a wall-like thing beside them waiting for an opportunity, occasionally shooting several blue-purple rays of light to add to the chaos…

What the hell was this all about?

Zuoliu was at a complete loss.

He looked left—Yashan’s Grand Master Sister Jian Chou and Fengmo Sword Sect’s Xia Houshe hadn’t come out yet. He looked right—Jiang Wenchao, Xiao Jin, and Young Master Ruhua were already standing outside.

…

Could those three things fighting chaotically in the field be their phantom bodies?

This terrifying thought surfaced in his mind. Zuoliu looked back to see the giant gate completely empty, nothing appearing. After being beaten into an idiot by that group of people he admired, he had gained nothing and just came out?

“Where is your phantom body?”

From far away, Fudao Shanren saw him just emerging and called out to ask.

Hearing this, Zuoliu nearly burst into tears: “Elder, I want to ask you too—how come they all have them but I don’t?”

“Don’t have one?”

Fudao Shanren was stunned for a moment.

“How can you fight without one? Ah no, battle?”

“…”

Everyone who heard this exchange felt the urge to hold their heads.

Zuoliu looked completely devastated.

“Cough cough cough…”

Fudao Shanren finally realized he had focused on the wrong point. He looked at Zuoliu thoughtfully for a moment, then spoke a profoundly mysterious sentence: “Having none is also a phantom body. It seems you must rely on yourself.”

“Huh?!”

Rely on himself?

Bullshit!

Zuoliu’s gaze moved toward the field: the demon-king-like big watermelon, the giant-ape-like muscular savage… and the indescribable Three Reflections Cliff that seized every opportunity…

“This is unbattleable!!!”

He had thought his phantom body would be those powerful cultivators who had signed autographs for him, and now they were saying “having none” was also a phantom body?

This was simply too much of a trap!

The battlefield before him was too terrifying. Zuoliu turned to run away.

Unexpectedly, the moment this fearful emotion arose, the Three Reflections Cliff wall that had been chasing the giant immediately sensed it, turned direction, and immediately pounced toward Zuoliu.

“Mama!”

Zuoliu’s soul nearly left his body, scared until hair grew on his legs, fleeing like smoke.

Only…

How could it be so easy to escape?

“When fear arises in the heart, one should reflect upon it!”

A hoarse voice like stone grinding against stone emerged from the Three Reflections Cliff.

Blue-purple light flashed, and the Three Reflections Cliff’s speed suddenly surged, catching up to Zuoliu in the blink of an eye. Without hesitation, it struck at Zuoliu, blue-purple light weaving into a net, immediately binding Zuoliu like a big dumpling.

“Damn you, what are you trying to do! Let me go, quickly let me go!”

Zuoliu struggled desperately, but his emotions began to fluctuate.

Did I do something wrong?

Am I being improper?

How can I shout at others like this?

How can I retreat at the crucial moment?

…

One by one, faults instantly appeared.

Zuoliu, bound like a big dumpling, was like a prisoner, wrapped in blue-purple light, dragged behind the Three Reflections Cliff, looking exactly like a criminal.

Reflect thrice, reflect thrice—this was how it reflected thrice.

Simply ruthless!

Everyone witnessed the power of Jiang Wenchao’s phantom body for the first time, all clicking their tongues.

Only…

Though the battle was intense, it always felt like something was missing.

Finally, someone couldn’t help asking: “Where are the other two?”

“Yeah…”

There were only four now, where were the other two?

Everyone’s gazes immediately focused on the remaining two gates: due east Jian Chou, northeast Xia Houshe.

The complex and varied scenes had already disappeared from these two gates.

The ten-zhang-high giant gates had shown no movement until now, making people unable to help but suspect.

“It’s been so long, why haven’t they come out yet?”

“Maybe they’re deliberately coming out late to reap the benefits?”

“Who knows, there’s been no movement at all…”

“Could something have happened to them inside?”

…

Once this thought arose, everyone felt their hearts clawing and scratching, wishing they could pry open the two gates to see what exactly had happened to Jian Chou and Xia Houshe.

The disciples under Yashan Sect also frowned, showing some worry.

On Jiutou River, the angler placed his fishing rod aside and looked up…

Inside the giant gate.

Jian Chou’s figure had departed, leaving only that green-robed woman standing in place, looking back at this void with a gaze of contemplation.

As if sensing some summons, the two-zhang lawless, constant, and indefinite dragon vein that she had pointed skyward earlier actually withdrew from the sky again, drilling into that giant gate.

At this moment, the giant gate on the green-robed woman’s side completely closed, becoming a gradually fading phantom that retreated into darkness.

Thus, she smiled slightly, her form dispersing, transforming into a crystal-clear emerald leaf.

A tender hand reached out from the void, a finger lightly pointing to catch this emerald leaf.

Outside the giant gate, strange phenomena appeared.

Heavy black qi surged from the eastern giant gate, a scene of ghastly gloom.

But simultaneously, there was also a vast and mighty qi covering heaven and earth.

A figure, growing from small to large, gradually approaching.

Someone shouted: “She’s coming out!”

Countless people turned to look.

All eyes focused over.

From within the great gate, that figure finally became increasingly clear.

One step.

Jian Chou emerged from within the gate, finally standing once again on this vast Cloud Sea Plaza.

Quite a few people breathed a sigh of relief, but just as Jian Chou stood still, the sky behind her suddenly grew overcast.

Black fissures appeared accompanied by strange phenomena.

Thousands of li of dismal yellow clouds filled the sky, gloomy and threatening rain. Blue lightning streaked across the heavens, illuminating the outline of the great hall below.

Shattered white bones covered the ground.

At the very front of the hall were steps built from nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine grim skulls piled high.

A white bone throne sat at the end of the steps.

On the throne sat a woman.

In her right hand, she held a fearsome giant axe.

Evil spirit patterns covered it completely, crimson markings pulsing like blood vessels on a human body, with a black and white pearl embedded in the back.

In her left hand, she gripped a six-chi rusty long sword.

Simple and archaic characters were carved on the sword body, while the sharp blade’s edge bore wave-like patterns.

A deep red mark stretched from sword tip along the blade, shocking as a bloodstain.

A twelve-tasseled crown sat atop her head, wearing deep ink-colored robes embroidered with complex blood patterns. Her spine straight, she sat solemnly at the highest point of this great hall.

Beneath her profound eyes lay a calmness that saw through the mortal world; between her delicate brows was an inviolable stern majesty.

Blood flowed like rivers, white bones like mountains.

Asura realm, Avici field.

Tens of millions of evil spirits prostrated on the ground, only to her—

Bowing in worship!