After much deliberation, I finally said to Wangliang,
"Can't you go in alone and try to persuade him?"
"That's one way, but I'm not particularly keen on it."
"Why?"
"I've never seen a junior disciple block a senior disciple so fiercely when they want to visit the master. This junior disciple is the type who, once he thinks something is a no, he'll push it to the end. I doubt he'll let me in unless he gets rid of the source of the evil aura."
As Wangliang spoke, there was a strange look of suspicion in his eyes.
Wangliang said,
"Is your internal energy perhaps from the dark arts (魔道)?"
"No, it's not. As you can see, it's a power based on the Five Elements' lightning energy. Don't you know that lightning energy has the effect of dispelling evil?"
"Hmm... I still can't figure it out."
I felt a pang in my heart as I saw Wangliang grumbling. In fact, the best solution in this situation would be to leave the Heavenly Rock Secret Book somewhere else, but Wangliang would immediately become suspicious. Moreover, I didn't feel like telling Wangliang about the Heavenly Rock Secret Book right away.
But I had no choice.
Given that I was so easily ensnared by an illusion despite having top-notch internal energy, I had to admit that Tian Wujin's illusionary techniques transcended internal energy. This wasn't a situation where brute force could break through. I had to tell Wangliang the truth.
"Wangliang, I think he's blocking me because of this book."
"......?"
I showed Wangliang the Heavenly Rock Secret Book that I had in my possession and explained how I obtained it. Wangliang was startled when he saw the strange script and said,
"This is the same script as the nameless ritual book in the imperial palace!"
"Can you interpret it?"
"I don't know how the ritualist did it, but with my abilities, it's impossible. If I had the nameless ritual book, I might be able to compare and interpret it... Anyway, it's understandable why Tian Wujin, the junior disciple, would consider this a dangerous item."
Wangliang's eyes were filled with a look of suspicion that I couldn't quite understand.
Wangliang said,
"Your attachment to this book is beyond comprehension. Anyway, I understand. If you insist, I'll enter the illusion with you."
"Will that make a difference? You were taken down instantly just now."
"If I go in with you, the junior disciple will at least not harm you. Consider it my compromise."
So, Wangliang and I walked back into the village. I felt a bit guilty for being so stubborn with Wangliang, but I had no choice. If I left the Heavenly Rock Secret Book outside my body and died, I wouldn't be able to reverse time again. That's why I was even considering giving up Wangliang's help if it didn't work.
Swoosh...
After walking about twenty paces, a thick mist began to spread under our feet. I turned to look, but Wangliang was already gone. The ordinary village scenery had turned into a desolate valley. I tried to boost my internal energy to dispel the illusion, but nothing changed.
Thud
A figure walked towards us from the opposite direction. It was Tian Wujin, still dressed as a farmer. Tian Wujin glared at me coldly and said,
"You are truly ignorant. I acknowledge that your internal energy is unparalleled, but it's not enough to break through my illusionary mist, even if you were to die and come back to life."
"Why are you blocking me so much? Do you have the authority to turn away visitors to your master?"
"As I said, my master is not here. The reason I'm blocking you is because of the extremely peculiar evil aura I sense from you. It would be against my duty as a disciple to bring such a dangerous element into my master's hermitage."
I felt wronged and argued with Tian Wujin,
"Evil aura? Wangliang and I are trying to practice righteousness to save innocent people! How can you call us evil just like that?"
Tian Wujin answered confidently,
"That's why you're still alive. It's not extremely evil, but it's a kind of energy I've never felt before, so I'm still on guard. If it were the energy of a non-human outer path (非人外道), you wouldn't have taken three steps before your breath was cut off."
"Hah, that's not going to—"
Cough!
At that moment, blood spurted from my nose and mouth. I felt a subtle impact from my insides, even though there was no sign of an attack. Fortunately, it wasn't life-threatening, but it was a stealthy attack I didn't see coming.
"Is there any way it won't work? In this illusionary mist, time and space are under my control."
This is dangerous!
I felt a sudden surge of fear. Even though Tian Wujin was only three paces away from me, it seemed impossible to reach him. And since he could attack me whenever he wanted, I was at a significant disadvantage.
I asked Tian Wujin,
"How... How can you have that much power? You don't look that old."
Tian Wujin chuckled,
"You look five years younger than me, don't you? Indeed, you seem to be a master who has reversed aging."
"......"
"Better to retreat now. Senior Brother Wangliang is suffering because of you."
Tian Wujin didn't seem to dislike Wangliang. This was in stark contrast to the assumption that he would look down on Wangliang due to the difference in talent. They seemed to have a normal senior-junior relationship. I asked out of curiosity,
"What did you do to Wangliang?"
"He's walking through an endless maze. I've set him a problem using the principles of the hidden formation."
"......"
Wangliang scratched his head and sighed.
"It was a really difficult problem. I was so nervous about getting it wrong. Now I might fall behind in my studies of the hidden formation."
I felt my face turn red. I knew what would have happened if I had lost. I would have died in the illusionary mist without much resistance, and Wangliang would have been exhausted from struggling in the illusion. I felt ashamed, thinking that Wangliang had saved my life.
'I was being too stubborn.'
I realized that it was time to let go of my personal selfishness. Without Wangliang, this sixth life would have been a mess from the start. It was thanks to Wangliang that I found direction and succeeded in the sect extermination. I had to give up some of my desires to match his consideration for me.
After a long while, I finally decided and said,
"I'll bury the Heavenly Rock Secret Book and come back."
"You've made a good decision."
I eventually buried the Heavenly Rock Secret Book under a unique pine tree about five li away from where we were. It wouldn't be too difficult to find it later by recalling my memory. Then, I re-entered the village with Wangliang.
This time, the illusionary mist didn't appear. The village looked ordinary, and people were walking around leisurely. Tian Wujin's voice echoed around me as I remained vigilant.
[You've dispelled the evil aura and come in. I will allow your presence.]
The voice disappeared, and we were back in the peaceful village. Wangliang beside me smiled wryly.
"Don't be too disheartened, Bai Xiong. The junior disciple is a genius who easily mastered the techniques of the immortals from the age of six. He has the innate talent of an immortal bone (仙骨) and exceptional supernatural abilities. There are probably only two or three people in the entire continent who can match the junior disciple in terms of magical techniques."
"Is he that skilled?"
"Of course. How else would he inherit the true teachings of Senior Master Wangliang? To face him, you'd need someone of the caliber of the White Lotus Sect leader or the White Lotus Sect's law-enforcing lion."
"......"
I didn't think Wangliang was exaggerating. Tian Wujin's illusionary techniques were so advanced that they easily shattered the limits of what martial artists considered possible when visiting a dark path. If Tian Wujin was this skilled, how powerful must Senior Master Wangliang be?
But I smiled instead.
"This will be interesting."
I felt more like I had opened a new realm than being frustrated by today's defeat. Moreover, I realized that if I could master the concepts of will (意) and intention (念), I might be able to fight against such a high-level magical technician, even though it was still a distant goal!
After securing a room at the inn, I started practicing my internal energy and martial arts without rest. I had learned from the experience of being trapped in Tian Wujin's illusion for half a year. I couldn't afford to be lazy or idle, as the path ahead was long and arduous. If I did, I would die and have to start over countless times.
It was exactly two months later when I finally met Senior Master Wangliang.