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**
In this strange space, the concept of time became extremely blurry.
Because they couldn't break this space and leave, and because everyone had been traumatized by the real illusion created by the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree, none of them dared to act recklessly here. Everyone simply waited patiently.
Fortunately, although this place was stuffy and dull, at least it was real. While inside the illusion, you couldn't even distinguish real from fake. Thinking back to that feeling was truly terrifying. As time slowly passed in this space…
Everyone gradually entered a cultivation state. The energy here was rich and filled with vibrant life force, making it an excellent tonic for anyone. This energy also worked very well for healing, even capable of clearing some hidden internal injuries buried deep within one's body.
Thus, during this long and boring wait, everyone gradually settled into cultivation. After a period of time, each of them obtained not-so-small gains.
Of course, while cultivating, Xian'er and the others didn't relax their vigilance. They always had someone take turns watching Hun Yu and the others, in case they acted like cornered dogs and tried something crazy again.
But after the previous attempt, Hun Yu and the rest clearly understood that with the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree present, no matter how insane they acted, it would all be useless. It was better to focus on healing and recovering. They no longer lost their rationality.
In this monotonous cycle of cultivation, about one month quietly passed. During this month, the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree made no movements. The meditating Wei Yang and Xiao Yan, seated inside the tree, were like insects trapped in amber, completely motionless.
Even their auras disappeared entirely from everyone's perception.
Sometimes, even Xian'er and the others felt panic rise in their hearts, afraid that Wei Yang and Xiao Yan would fall into the reincarnation illusion forever and never wake up again. But they still maintained basic rationality and did not act impulsively because of this fear.
As time passed, Hun Yu, Jiu Feng, and the others also felt a mix of anticipation and uneasiness.
Their hearts were restless, suffering in silence. The rest of the group gradually became anxious and irritable as well. After all, no one wanted to be trapped in such a space for a lifetime. Otherwise, how would that be any different from being a prisoner?
Thus, in this quiet and suffocating atmosphere, an undercurrent of agitation slowly appeared at some point and grew stronger as time went on. Seven days later, someone finally couldn't endure their frustration anymore.
Just as a few people, eyes red, were preparing to gamble everything and forcefully challenge the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree. The two figures seated within the ancient tree suddenly trembled ever so slightly.
Hmm?
Everyone's spirits jolted, and all eyes shot toward the ancient tree. Then they saw it. Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, Wei Yang and Xiao Yan, who had kept their eyes shut for over a month, slowly opened them.
As the two opened their eyes inside the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree. The space filled with vibrant life force suddenly rippled with strange fluctuations. Everyone stared at the two pairs of slowly opening black eyes and froze on the spot.
What kind of eyes were those!
It was hard to describe them with simple words. Everyone felt an ancient aura from them, a sense of vicissitude that seemed to see through the world itself. That ancient, aged feeling penetrated the soul, as though staring across the endless river of time.
"Brother Yang!"
"Brother Xiao Yan!"
Xian'er and Gu Xun'er looked at the two men opening their eyes. Their beautiful eyes filled with joy, and they both let out a breath of relief. The heavy boulder that had been pressing on their hearts finally fell away.
"Their gazes… they're terrifying!"
Hun Yu and the others exchanged looks, expressions sinking.
Their feelings were different. In their perception, when Wei Yang and Xiao Yan's gazes landed on them, it felt as if even their souls were laid completely bare before those eyes. The sensation was extremely uncomfortable, extremely unsafe.
Incredibly despairing.
The entire space fell into silence. No one spoke. Every gaze was locked on the two dark silhouettes inside the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree. Everyone's emotions were complicated, mixed with all sorts of feelings.
Comprehending under the Bodhisattva Tree… since ancient times, it had only ever appeared in vague records within old texts. So no one knew what kind of changes a person might undergo after such enlightenment.
But without question, it would be an immense harvest. Under everyone's watchful eyes, Wei Yang and Xiao Yan seemed slightly dazed, as if their minds were still wandering in confusion and had yet to fully awaken.
Their gazes slowly swept across everyone, and finally stopped together on Xian'er, Gu Xun'er, and the others. In that moment, the ancient and time-worn darkness in their eyes finally began to ripple with the faintest hint of emotion.
"Xian… Xian'er."
"Xun… Xun'er."
The two of them slowly opened their mouths at the same time, and only after a moment did those slightly hoarse voices—carrying an ancient, indescribable aura—gently echo out from within the tree.
Hearing that, everyone's expressions changed slightly.
This voice, this tone… was completely different from how they used to speak. There was a sense of unfamiliarity.
Then, Wei Yang and Xiao Yan turned their heads and looked at each other. Both of them froze for a second. The ancient, desolate aura in their eyes gradually receded, slowly gathering back until it completely faded away.
"Brother Wei… did we… come back?" Xiao Yan asked hoarsely, sounding slightly unsure.
"Mm, we're back. Returned to the real world. The Hundred Reincarnation… is over." Wei Yang exhaled lightly and nodded.
The two looked at each other and smiled. In those smiles was endless emotion. They had finally returned.
Everything needed no words.
During the Hundred Reincarnation, they had been in the same illusion, fighting side by side, wandering through a lifespan that felt impossibly long.
In that illusion, they battled together, walked together, helped each other through crisis after crisis, killing one formidable enemy after another. The memories of that long, long reincarnation did not fade when the illusion ended.
Instead, they were deeply carved into their minds. This would become their most precious wealth and foundation from now on. After all, experiencing what amounted to a hundred lifetimes wasn't something ordinary people could ever have.
Compared to that, the few decades of their actual lives weren't even worth a fraction—not even a rounding error. So when they first woke up, they genuinely had trouble distinguishing what was real and what had been illusion.
They weren't even sure which memories were real and which ones were fake. This confusion… might take some time before they fully adjusted.
"Never thought… the first thing I'd see after waking up would still be your stupid face." Wei Yang frowned and said, "After staring at you for so many years, I'm already sick of it. Can you disappear from my sight for a while? If this keeps up, I'm gonna turn gay."
"Please, like I'm happy to see you. And I still don't get what's wrong with the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree. Why the hell did it throw the two of us into the same illusion?"
Xiao Yan complained, "At this point, I even know how many hairs you have on your body. Just thinking about it is disgusting."
"Shut up!" Wei Yang glared, "You could've just taken a bath. Who told you to let your eyes wander, huh?!"
The two glared at each other. Then…
"Tch!"
Both of them spat at the same time and turned their heads away with expressions full of disdain.
"."
Below, everyone stared, dumbfounded.
What… was happening?! Were they really saying such outrageous things right now? Damn, this overflowing bromance was burning their eyes!
Xian'er and the other girls all had their faces darken at the same time, several black lines appearing on their foreheads.
In their hearts, however, a faint worry rose.
From what they said… they were together for an entire hundred lifetimes? That… sounded dangerous. Could their minds really be alright after that?
Rustle~
Bodhisattva Ancient Tree (internally): You think the Hundred Reincarnation doesn't require energy and mental strain? You still want your own separate illusions? Keep dreaming.
**
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