It must be said, the illusions of the Heart-Confusing Array were quite powerful.
It had recreated the original owner's life in its entirety, without the slightest error.
However, the Heart-Confusing Array didn't realize that while this was indeed the original owner's most unforgettable experience and greatest inner demon, it was no longer the original owner experiencing it, but Zi Linling.
Therefore, no matter how vivid the recreated scene, it couldn't shake Zi Linling's state of mind.
After the illusion had played out the original owner's entire life, the scene suddenly shifted, and Zi Linling returned to the world of her past life.
Everything in Yan Kingdom was as familiar as ever. The familiar capital city, the familiar streets, the familiar neon lights, the familiar crowds...
More importantly, Zi Linling saw three familiar figures—her father Zi Tianhe, her mother Liu Ping, and her sister Zi Xiaoling, who was suspected of being the one who took her life.
But it was precisely because she saw these three figures that Zi Linling's anger surged.
This was because, at this moment, Zi Tianhe and Liu Ping seemed to be under a curse, looking at Zi Xiaoling with affection while calling out "Lin'er."
Although Zi Linling knew it was just an illusion, she still felt heartbroken for her parents.
"Dad, Mom! Lin'er is unfilial, I've made you suffer!"
She whispered softly, then closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, the pain and entanglement in her eyes were gone, replaced by a fierce glint.
"Heart-Confusing Array? You shouldn't have blinded my parents! You shouldn't have muddled their minds! You shouldn't have insulted their love for me! Therefore, you must pay the price, and the price is—crumble! Heart-Confusing! Array!"
As Zi Linling spoke, her unyielding willpower soared to the heavens.
Within that willpower, there was no fear, only a soaring fighting spirit. That fighting spirit could kill gods and slay demons!
Under this soaring willpower and fighting spirit, the illusion before her quickly developed a crack.
The crack widened rapidly, and within a few breaths, it shattered the illusion.
Then, the willpower and fighting spirit continued their momentum, crashing into the array.
"Crack!"
A crisp sound rang out, and simultaneously, an energy storm erupted, tearing the entire trigger-type Heart-Confusing Array apart.
Mo Long Ao Xiang and Zi Guo Chang, who had fallen into the illusion, instantly awoke and instinctively summoned dark elements around them, forming a shield around their bodies.
"Bang! Bang!"
"Puff! Puff!"
Two thuds as they finally hit the ground rang out, followed by two sounds of spitting blood.
Without a doubt, Mo Long Ao Xiang and Zi Guo Chang were the ones who had fallen.
This was because Ye Lingyuan was still standing steadily behind Zi Linling, unmoved.
Around him, various laws intertwined, forcefully blocking the energy storm ten meters in front of him.
The reason for the ten meters was that Zi Linling was precisely within that range.
In other words, Ye Lingyuan, with his own strength, protected Zi Linling and himself.
This showed that even within the same Minor God Realm, there were still disparities.
Of course, Zi Guo Chang was indeed a bit weaker, but Mo Long Ao Xiang's strength was not much different from Ye Lingyuan's.
The reason he was sent flying and spat blood was twofold: firstly, he had expended too much energy in the illusion; secondly, he had not transformed into his true dragon form and had resisted purely in his human body; thirdly, in his haste, he had exerted too much force and injured himself.
People are different, and their fates are different.
Some are born favorites of heaven, while others are born despised.
Ye Lingyuan was clearly a favorite of heaven.
Meanwhile, the energy storm, composed of willpower centered around Zi Linling, instantly swept through the entire trigger-type Heart-Confusing Array.
With continuous "cracking" sounds, the trigger-type Heart-Confusing Array rapidly disintegrated.
A moment later, they found themselves standing on the path forward again.
Mo Long Ao Xiang felt a wave of lingering fear, coupled with a growing sense of inferiority.
He had originally thought that after a thousand years of tempering, even if he couldn't withstand the illusion of the Heart-Confusing Array, he wouldn't be so severely injured.
Yet, it was precisely he who had almost perished in the Heart-Confusing Array. If Zi Linling hadn't dispelled it in time, his fate would likely have been even more tragic than a thousand years ago.
Mo Long Ao Xiang wasn't afraid of death, but he couldn't die now, because Xi Xi's solitary tombstone was still waiting for him to return!
Zi Guo Chang fared slightly better, not as disheveled, but it was merely a case of being marginally better off than Mo Long Ao Xiang.
And all of this was thanks to him having entered the illusion for a shorter period than Mo Long Ao Xiang.
Furthermore, his willpower was slightly superior to Mo Long Ao Xiang's.
Therefore, although he appeared disheveled, he was not significantly injured.
"Lin'er, are you alright?" Ye Lingyuan asked, looking at Zi Linling with concern.
His dark, deep eyes were filled with worry.
Zi Linling shook her head, panting slightly, "I'm fine, I just expended a lot of energy."
Breaking through the illusion, though relying on willpower, still consumed a tremendous amount of mental energy.
Thus, although she succeeded, she felt an overwhelming sense of exhaustion.
Ye Lingyuan helped Zi Linling to sit down slowly on the ground, letting her lean into his embrace. He said gently, "Come, lean on me and rest for a while!"
Zi Linling did not refuse. She wearily rested her head on Ye Lingyuan's chest, closed her eyes, and drifted off into a hazy sleep, accompanied by the steady beat of Ye Lingyuan's heart.
Zi Guo Chang adjusted his breathing slightly, stooped, and approached the two, asking, "How is Lin'er?"
Ye Lingyuan "shushed" him and whispered, "She's fine, just too tired. She'll be alright after a sleep!"
"That's good, that's good!"
Hearing this, Zi Guo Chang breathed a sigh of relief, sat down on the ground, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes to tend to his injuries.
His injuries, though not as severe as Mo Long Ao Xiang's, were enough to make him wince.
Mo Long Ao Xiang's physical injuries were not the main concern; with the dragon race's formidable recovery abilities, he would soon be as good as new.
However, his current vacant gaze and the blow to his Dao heart were the most terrifying aspects.
The so-called Dao heart is an individual's firmest conviction, the reason that supports their continuous pursuit of strength.
With a Dao heart, no hardship or obstacle can impede their path to becoming stronger. With a Dao heart, even in the most difficult circumstances, one can face challenges head-on and overcome them.
Just like a thousand years ago, Mo Long Ao Xiang, to avenge the woman he loved, to protect what was in his heart, forged a bloody path through sheer force.
Just like twelve years ago, Zi Guo Chang, to rescue the woman he loved, for the sake of true love in his heart, managed to survive under extreme disadvantage.
Such a conviction is a Dao heart.