Chapter 303: Insight into Illusion and Miraculous Transformation

Qin Feng's words, "It's time to come out," like a stone cast into an ancient well, sent ripples through this strange, twilight-like space. The altar stood empty, its translucent white material glowing with a soft, luminous sheen under the gentle light.

Just as everyone thought there would be no response, a palm-sized depression at the center of the altar suddenly glowed with a soft white light. The radiance was not blinding, yet it seemed to contain an endless stream of information, slowly rising and coalescing into a hazy figure above the altar, formed entirely of pure energy.

The figure gradually sharpened, revealing a humanoid shape clad in an ancient, simple robe, long hair flowing freely, its face obscured by a halo of light. It had no distinct features, yet it gave the impression of "watching" them all—a profound, ancient dignity, transcending eons of time and space, spread through the air.

"Seeker of the Key…"

A gentle, neutral voice resonated directly within each person's consciousness, devoid of emotion yet carrying undeniable authority.

"I am 'Jing Yi,' the Guardian Spirit of this place."

The members of the Exploration Squad instantly tensed, holding their breath. Was this the "Jing Yi" Yun Ge had spoken of? The entity guarding the Key?

Xia Wan felt her Bloodline resonate more strongly with the luminous figure. She stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Disciple Xia Wan, guided by 'Yun Ge,' has come to seek the Key, to confront the imminent crisis and fulfill the Guardian's mission."

"'Yun Ge'…" The luminous form of Jing Yi's voice betrayed a barely perceptible ripple. "She chose you for a reason. But the Key is no ordinary object. To obtain it, you must pass Three Trials, proving you possess both the qualification and the heart to bear its weight."

Three Trials?

A chill ran through them all. Of course it wouldn't be simple.

"First Trial," Jing Yi's luminous form raised a hand and pointed at them, "'Insight into Illusion.'"

As he spoke, the scenery around them shifted violently! The tranquil grassland and Energy Trees vanished instantly, replaced by an endless, churning sea of Mist. Within the Mist, strange roars, seductive whispers, and calls from familiar voices echoed, disturbing the mind.

"This Mist distorts perception, amplifies inner demons, and generates illusions," Jing Yi's voice echoed through the Mist. "Find the single true path to the entrance of the next trial. Those who succumb to illusion shall be lost forever."

The Tactics Captain immediately ordered: "Everyone stay alert! Guard your minds! Do not be deceived by illusions! Technician, attempt to scan the environment!"

Yet every scanner screen displayed only chaotic static—this energy field completely disrupted all electronic instruments.

"Follow me."

Qin Feng's voice rang out calmly. Without hesitation, he stepped forward in one direction. To everyone else, that direction appeared no different from any other—indeed, the illusions were even stronger there: grotesque ghostly shadows lunged, comrades' corpses lay strewn, piles of glittering treasure shimmered…

But Qin Feng acted as if he saw nothing. His steps remained steady. When those lifelike illusions drew near his body, they dissolved like bubbles beneath sunlight.

"Can Mr. Qin see the true path?" the Geologist exclaimed.

Xia Wan followed closely behind Qin Feng, trying to focus her mind and activate her Bloodline Power to sense her surroundings. But the Mist's interference was overwhelming; she could barely detect a faint, subtle "stability" in the direction Qin Feng walked—different from the surrounding illusions—yet she could not perceive it as clearly as he did.

As he walked, Qin Feng spoke calmly, as if explaining: "The energy field is not uniform. Illusions arise from specific Energy Nodes. The gaps between nodes are the truth."

He paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of Mist to land on a team member frantically swinging his weapon at empty air—within his illusion, he was being attacked by several shadow beasts.

"Three steps left, five steps forward—you'll exit this Illusion Node," Qin Feng's voice reached the man directly.

The man jolted, instinctively following the instruction. The "monsters" surrounding him vanished instantly. He realized he had nearly crashed into a sharp rock hidden in the Mist, drenched in cold sweat.

"Thank you, sir!" he gasped, still shaken.

Qin Feng's gaze swept over the others, precisely identifying each person's illusion's weak point and the way out. He could even "see" the hidden true Energy Traps and safe paths deep within the Mist.

This was no longer merely strong perception—it was almost as if… he possessed the "Heavenly Eye," capable of seeing through the very essence of all illusions!

Under Qin Feng's near-cheating "vision," the Exploration Squad moved swiftly and safely through the deadly Mist illusion array.

Xia Wan watched Qin Feng's back—the one that seemed to pierce through all Mist—and was awestruck. The man not only possessed extraordinary power, but even trials targeting the mind and perception appeared trivial before him.

Soon, under Qin Feng's lead, the mist cleared before them. They stood before an ancient Stone Gate, closed and carved with intricate patterns of flowers, birds, insects, and fish.

"First Trial, 'Insight into Illusion,' passed," Jing Yi's voice sounded again, the luminous form reappearing before the Stone Gate. "Second Trial, 'Seeing Through Appearances.'"

The carvings on the Stone Gate suddenly came alive! The flowers, birds, insects, and fish detached from the gate, transforming into streams of light that wrapped around them all!

In a flash of light, they were stunned to find their combat gear and uniforms vanished—replaced by wildly different outfits, utterly incongruous with this era's context!

The Tactics Captain now wore heavy medieval armor and wielded a greatsword, his face filled with shock. The Geologist now wore a long robe and held a compass, adjusting non-existent glasses. The Technician had become a Rococo-style noblewoman in a puffy skirt and wig, utterly humiliated.

Xia Wan looked down at herself: she now wore an exquisitely ornate ancient imperial gown, flowing sleeves like celestial robes, jade pendants chiming softly—as if she had stepped from a mural as a divine maiden.

What… what was going on?!

"This gate cannot be opened by force," Jing Yi explained. "Only by wearing the 'Appearance' tied to this place's karmic connections can the mechanism be triggered. The garments you now wear are the 'Appearances' of various eras and identities that once had karmic ties to this place. Find the single correct 'Appearance,' stand before the gate, and it will open."

The team exchanged bewildered glances. This trial was bizarre! They had to wear these ridiculous outfits and find the one correct set?

As everyone stared at each other's absurd appearances, uncertain what to do, Qin Feng's body also flashed with light.

The next moment, his ordinary clothes transformed into a sleek, perfectly fitted, futuristic silver-gray tunic with a high collar, its shoulders adorned with streamlined dark patterns, the material shimmering with a blend of metal and fabric, accentuating his tall, upright frame with a cold, transcendent aura.

It stood in stark contrast to his previously plain, rustic appearance—yet strangely harmonious, as if he had always been meant to wear it.

This "miraculous transformation" seemed to account for individual traits?

But Qin Feng paid no attention to his dazzling new attire. His gaze swept over the team's eclectic outfits, finally settling on Xia Wan's magnificent imperial gown.

"That outfit," he remarked flatly, "is the ceremonial attire of the 'Xihe' clan's Holy Maiden during heavenly rites—most deeply tied to this place's karma."

He pointed to the Tactics Captain's armor: "This is the obsession of some lost foreign explorer—useless." He pointed to the Geologist's robe: "This is the lingering image of a Ming Dynasty feng shui master—superficial." He pointed to the Technician's puffy skirt: "... this one? Purely a distraction."

He judged each "Appearance" as precisely as the most expert stylist and historian, evaluating the karmic weight each carried.

Finally, he looked at Xia Wan: "Go. Stand before the gate."

Xia Wan obeyed, walking to the Stone Gate in her elaborate, ornate gown.

The instant she stopped, her gown resonated with ancient carvings on the gate, emitting a faint glow. The heavy Stone Gate groaned with a "zaa-zaa" sound and slowly swung inward, revealing the passage beyond to the Third Trial.

"Second Trial, 'Seeing Through Appearances,' passed," Jing Yi's luminous form seemed to nod slightly. "The final trial lies ahead."

The team stared at the slowly opening gate, then at Qin Feng—calm as ever, as if he had merely done something trivial—and all they could think was:

With Mr. Qin here, these bizarre trials somehow feel… like child's play?

Seeing through illusions, perceiving the truth behind appearances… what could this man not do?