"She truly is bordering on madness," the others agreed. "It's hard to imagine what Liu Rushuang could have encountered to make her look like this."
Before long, they watched as Liu Rushuang began attacking the empty air in front of her. As she lashed out, her demeanor became even more frenzied than before. With each successive strike, the onlookers noticed that her power was gradually intensifying. However, because Liu Rushuang was in such a deranged state, her attacks were rebounding directly back onto her. The more ferocious her assault, the stronger the force that recoiled upon her.
Against a magical beast, this level of power would have been impressive. But here, inside the illusion realm, the longer one remained trapped, the more precarious their situation became. By now, everyone else had already broken free from the illusion realm—everyone except Song Nianchu, who had finished even earlier.
Huo Wen frowned as he watched Liu Rushuang. He had not expected a simple mental illusion to hold her for so long. By the time everyone else had emerged, Liu Rushuang was still lost within it.
"This... she couldn't possibly be stuck in there forever, could she?" The crowd exchanged bewildered glances.
"Is that... a possibility?"
They had never encountered a situation like Liu Rushuang’s before. Meanwhile, Song Nianchu had already moved on to engaging the magical beasts. While some were still fixated on Liu Rushuang's inability to break free, those who turned their attention to Song Nianchu were struck with shock.
Song Nianchu channeled the basic mental cultivation method she had recited that morning, transforming it into a series of strikes aimed directly at the magical beast’s eyes.
*Boom!*
The creature's eye exploded instantly.
*Awoo!*
The magical beast let out a howl of agony and began a frenzied counterattack against Song Nianchu. The moment Song Nianchu saw the beast covered in blood, something deep within her seemed to awaken. Her spirit pet, the Phoenix, felt its master’s transformation and was left stunned. It felt as if something inside its master began to boil at the sight of blood. Could it be that her master was... bloodthirsty?
Song Nianchu was unaware of her spirit pet’s internal turmoil, but she was undeniably exhilarated the moment she saw the blood. As her excitement grew, her offensive power shifted, and most importantly, she was utilizing the basic mental cultivation method she had learned that morning for every move.
"Is the basic mental cultivation method really that powerful?" The Personal Disciples outside began to wonder if they were the ones hallucinating. "This is the first time I've realized the method we learned back then was this potent. Has it been upgraded or something?"
"The mental cultivation method has always been the same," Teacher Cai remarked, casting a cold glance at the group. "It is simply that none of you have ever applied yourselves..."
Having their illusions shattered by Teacher Cai, the Personal Disciples felt as if they had been stripped bare, their faces flushing with embarrassment. Lin Chan had never learned such a method; as the daughter of the sect master, her path had been different from that of the other Personal Disciples. She had studied this type of Formation before, yet she had never seen anyone wield a basic mental cultivation method with such devastating efficacy.
Comparing this to Liu Rushuang, who was still trapped in the illusion realm, the disparity in strength was clear.
Song Nianchu quickly moved to attack the second magical beast. With the experience from her first attempt, she was much more fluid. The onlookers outside stopped paying attention to Liu Rushuang entirely; they were now consumed with curiosity about Song Nianchu.
*Boom!*
Song Nianchu launched another strike at the beast.
*Roar!*
The creature shrieked in pain. The scene that followed left everyone standing there, utterly speechless.