“ pū tōng ！ pū tōng ！”
“噗通！噗通！”
*puff! puff!*
lǐ fán de xīn zàng chà nà jiān bù shòu kòng zhì de jù liè tiào dòng qǐ lái 。
李凡的心脏刹那间不受控制的剧烈跳动起来。
Li Fan's heart began to beat wildly, almost uncontrollably.
fǎng fú qīn yǎn kàn dào le bù jiǔ zhī hòu ， zì jǐ cǎn sǐ de jǐng xiàng 。
仿佛亲眼看到了不久之后，自己惨死的景象。
It seemed as if he had witnessed his own gruesome death in the near future.
lǐ fán xià yì shí de jiù yào xīn zhōng mò niàn 【 hái zhēn 】， huí dào dìng máo shí kè 。
李凡下意识的就要心中默念【还真】，回到定锚时刻。
Instinctively, Li Fan was about to silently recite "Zhenhuan" to return to the anchor moment.
dàn shì ， diàn guāng huǒ shí jiān ， tā què yòu yǐn yǐn gǎn dào yǒu diǎn bú duì ， qiáng xíng tíng le xià lái 。
但是，电光火石间，他却又隐隐感到有点不对，强行停了下来。
But in an instant, he felt something was off and forcibly stopped himself.
xuán huáng liàn xīn zhòu huǎn huǎn jiāng xīn zhōng bù duàn yǒng xiàn de kǒng jù jiǎo suì ， huà zuò xīn shén yǎng liào de tóng shí ， yě wèi lǐ fán zhēng qǔ le bǎo guì de yī sī lěng jìng sī kǎo de jī huì 。
玄黄炼心咒缓缓将心中不断涌现的恐惧搅碎，化作心神养料的同时，也为李凡争取了宝贵的一丝冷静思考的机会。
The Xuanhuang Refining Heart Spell slowly shattered the fear that kept arising within him, turning it into nourishment for his mind while also giving Li Fan a precious moment of calm reflection.
“ nán bù chéng shì zhāng zhì liáng fā xiàn le shén me ， yǒu yì tōng guò zhè zhǒng fāng shì lái hài wǒ ？”
“难不成是张志良发现了什么，有意通过这种方式来害我？”
"Could Zhang Ziliang have discovered something and intentionally used this method to harm me?"
“ bú duì …… tā rú jīn yīng gāi yǐ jīng jìn shēng huà shén ， duì fù wǒ yí gè xiǎo xiǎo de zhù jī xiū shì ， gēn běn yòng bù zhe duō cǐ yī jǔ 。”
“不对……他如今应该已经晋升化神，对付我一个小小的筑基修士，根本用不着多此一举。”
"No... he should already be at the Transcendent Realm. He doesn't need to go through such trouble just to deal with a Foundation Establishment cultivator like me."
“ zhí jiē dòng shǒu jiù xíng 。”
“直接动手就行。”
"He could just act directly."
“ nà me ， xiàn zài zhī suǒ yǐ chū xiàn zhè zhǒng guǐ yì de zhuàng kuàng ， jiù shì 【 yì mǎ 】 běn shēn de zuò yòng ？”
“那么，现在之所以出现这种诡异的状况，就是【意马】本身的作用？”
"So, why is it that I'm experiencing these strange phenomena now? Is it because of the inherent effect of [Yimai]?"
zhèng zhè me xiǎng zhe ， lǐ fán hū jué yī zhèn huǎng hū 。
正这么想着，李凡忽觉一阵恍惚。
As he pondered this, Li Fan suddenly felt disoriented.
bèi hòu hàn máo shù qǐ ， fǎng fú yǒu rén zài dīng zhe zì jǐ kàn yī yàng 。
背后汗毛竖起，仿佛有人在盯着自己看一样。
Hair on his neck stood up as if someone was staring at him.
lǐ fán sǒng rán yī jīng ， lì mǎ huí guò shēn qù 。
李凡悚然一惊，立马回过身去。
Li Fan turned around in alarm to see Zhang Ziliang looking at him with a mysterious smile.
zhǐ jiàn zhāng zhì liáng zhèng yōu yōu dì dīng zhe zì jǐ ， lù chū yī fù nán yǐ yán shuō de xiào róng 。
只见张志良正幽幽地盯着自己，露出一副难以言说的笑容。
Instinctively, Li Fan retreated, and his spiritual energy surged as the Congyun Sword was about to be unleashed.
lǐ fán běn néng de shēn xíng bào tuì ， tǐ nèi líng lì yǒng dòng ， cóng yún jiàn jiù yào zhǎn chū 。
李凡本能的身形暴退，体内灵力涌动，丛云剑就要斩出。
But then, Zhang Ziliang's figure vanished again.
dàn zhuǎn yǎn jiān ， zhāng zhì liáng de shēn yǐng què yòu xiāo shī bú jiàn le 。
但转眼间，张志良的身影却又消失不见了。
Li Fan was momentarily stunned before realizing he was still within the Heavenly Xuan Mirror.
lǐ fán lèng le yī lèng ， zhè cái fǎn yìng guò lái zì jǐ shì zài tiān xuán jìng zhōng 。
李凡愣了一愣，这才反应过来自己是在天玄镜中。
Even an existence like Tianyi would need to make a significant disturbance to forcefully enter.
lián tiān yī nà děng cún zài xiǎng yào qiáng chuǎng ， yě yào jīng qǐ bù xiǎo de dòng jìng 。
连天医那等存在想要强闯，也要惊起不小的动静。
How could Zhang Ziliang just sneak in silently?
zhāng zhì liáng yòu zěn me kě néng jiù zhè yàng qiāo wú shēng xī de chuǎng jìn lái 。
张志良又怎么可能就这样悄无声息的闯进来。
"Is this a hallucination?"
“ huàn jué ？”
“幻觉？”
Looking at the corpse of Yimai, Li Fan noticed something amiss and frowned.
lǐ fán yòu zhuǎn guò tóu qù kàn dì shàng de yì mǎ shī shēn ， mǎ shàng chá jué dào le yì cháng zhī chù ， méi tou yí zhòu 。
李凡又转过头去看地上的意马尸身，马上察觉到了异常之处，眉头一皱。
The corpse had changed its posture unconsciously.
zhè yì mǎ shī tǐ ， jìng rán zài bù zhī bù jué jiān ， biàn le gè zī shì 。
这意马尸体，竟然在不知不觉间，变了个姿势。
"Is it alive or dead?"
“ tā dào dǐ shì sǐ shì huó ？”
“它到底是死是活？”
Fear gripped him again, lingering within his heart.
lǐ fán bù yóu dì rú cǐ xiǎng dào 。
李凡不由地如此想到。
His body shivered slightly.
kǒng jù zài cì xí lái ， yú xīn jiān jiǔ jiǔ huí dàng 。
恐惧再次袭来，于心间久久回荡。
"This [Yimai] is somewhat peculiar."
shēn tǐ wēi hán 。
身体微寒。
"But I have Zhenhuan. No matter how perilous, it won't harm my life..."
“ zhè 【 yì mǎ 】 yǒu diǎn guǐ yì 。”
“这【意马】有点诡异。”
With this thought, Li Fan felt a bit more at ease.
“ bù guò ， wǒ yǒu 【 hái zhēn 】， tā zài zěn me xiōng xiǎn ， yě shāng bù liǎo wǒ de xìng mìng ……”
“不过，我有【还真】，它再怎么凶险，也伤不了我的性命……”
Strange as it was, the sudden fear in his mind seemed to recede like a tide.
niàn jí cǐ chù ， lǐ fán xīn zhōng shāo ān 。
念及此处，李凡心中稍安。
"Interesting..."
shuō lái yě guài ， dāng tā rú cǐ xiǎng de shí hòu ， xīn zhōng mò míng de kǒng jù gǎn ， yě hū de rú cháo shuǐ bān zàn shí tuì què le 。
说来也怪，当他如此想的时候，心中莫名的恐惧感，也忽的如潮水般暂时退却了。
Li Fan's gaze shifted slightly.
“ yǒu diǎn yì si ……”
“有点意思……”
But he remained in human form with a horse face. Clearly, things were far from over.
lǐ fán mù guāng wēi dòng 。
李凡目光微动。
Seizing the moment, Li Fan quickly thought of a strategy.
bù guò zì jǐ yī rán shì rén shēn mǎ miàn de zhuàng tài ， hěn xiǎn rán shì qíng hái méi yǒu jié shù 。
不过自己依然是人身马面的状态，很显然事情还没有结束。
Before he could think of anything else, the scene changed again.
zhuā zhù zhè jiàn xì ， lǐ fán sī niàn jí zhuǎn ， kǎo lǜ zhe duì cè 。
抓住这间隙，李凡思念急转，考虑着对策。
Suddenly, an arrow pierced through the air and landed on Yimai's left arm.
rán ér ， hái méi děng lǐ fán xiǎng qǐ lái shén me ， chǎng jiān zài cì fā shēng le biàn huà 。
然而，还没等李凡想起来什么，场间再次发生了变化。
Just as Li Fan was about to pull out the arrow to check its authenticity, intense pain shot through his own left arm.
jiàn shǐ pò kōng zhī shēng hū de chuán lái 。
箭矢破空之声忽的传来。
Fortunately, the pain also originated from his left arm.
suí hòu jiù shì zhā jìn xuè ròu de mèn xiǎng shēng 。
随后就是扎进血肉的闷响声。
Li Fan scanned with his divine sense, his expression turning grim.
lǐ fán xún zhe shēng yīn wàng qù ， zhǐ jiàn yī zhī fēi jiàn ， bù zhī cóng hé ér lái 。
李凡循着声音望去，只见一只飞箭，不知从何而来。
The same spot, the same wound!
zhèng zhōng yì mǎ shī shēn zuǒ bì 。
正中意马尸身左臂。
Even using spiritual energy couldn't heal it.
jiù zài lǐ fán xiǎng bá chū jiàn shǐ ， kàn kàn tā dào dǐ shì zhēn shì jiǎ de shí hòu ， yī gǔ jù tòng hū de xí lái 。
就在李凡想拔出箭矢，看看它到底是真是假的时候，一股剧痛忽的袭来。
He had purchased a Trauma Elixir in the Heavenly Xuan Mirror, but it showed no effect after consumption.
qiǎo de shì ， tòng jué yě shì lái zì zì shēn zuǒ bì 。
巧的是，痛觉也是来自自身左臂。
The wound remained.
lǐ fán shén shí yī sǎo ， miàn sè dùn shí yīn chén xià lái 。
李凡神识一扫，面色顿时阴沉下来。
"What...?"
tóng yàng de wèi zhì ， tóng yàng de shāng kǒu ！
同样的位置，同样的伤口！
"Is this real or fake?"
shèn zhì lǐ fán diào yòng líng lì ， yě wú fǎ shǐ shāng kǒu yù hé 。
甚至李凡调用灵力，也无法使伤口愈合。
Li Fan's mind felt the burning pain on his arm, everything seeming so real.
zài tiān xuán jìng zhōng gòu mǎi le yī kē chuāng shāng dān yào ， fú xià kǒu ， yě yī rán méi yǒu rèn hé xiào guǒ 。
在天玄镜中购买了一颗创伤丹药，服下口，也依然没有任何效果。
"So, whatever happens to Yimai will be reflected onto me?"
shāng kǒu yī rán cún zài 。
伤口依然存在。
"If..."
“ zhè ……”
“这……”
His thoughts were interrupted as he forcibly activated the Refining Heart Spell to clear away杂念.
“ dào dǐ shì zhēn shì jiǎ ？”
“到底是真是假？”
Ignoring the pain, Li Fan continued thinking of a strategy.
lǐ fán yì niàn gǎn shòu zhuó shǒu bì shàng huǒ shāo bān de cì tòng gǎn ， yī qiè dōu shì rú cǐ zhēn shí 。
李凡意念感受着手臂上火烧般的刺痛感，一切都是如此真实。
"According to theory, Zhang Ziliang has no reason to toy with me. This Yimai is indeed a treasure that can enhance one's soul."
“ zhè me shuō ， zài 【 yì mǎ 】 shàng fā shēng de yī qiè ， dū huì yìng shè dào wǒ shēn shàng ？”
“这么说，在【意马】上发生的一切，都会映射到我身上？”
"So, could it be inferred that the bizarre scenes I just witnessed are so real because they bypassed my senses and directly affected my soul?"
“ rú guǒ ……”
“如果……”
"Going beyond ordinary hallucinations, striking at the soul..."
hú sī luàn xiǎng méi yǒu jiē zhe zhǎn kāi ， lǐ fán qiáng xíng yùn zhuàn liàn xīn zhòu ， jiāng zá niàn qīng chú 。
胡思乱想没有接着展开，李凡强行运转炼心咒，将杂念清除。
Just as Li Fan was pondering, a sharp sword suddenly appeared.
bù guǎn shēn shàng de shāng tòng ， jì xù sī kǎo zhe duì cè 。
不管身上的伤痛，继续思考着对策。
It sliced off Yimai's right index finger.
“ lǐ lùn shàng lái jiǎng ， zhāng zhì liáng méi yǒu lǐ yóu xì shuǎ wǒ 。 zhè 【 yì mǎ 】 dí què shì néng gòu zēng qiáng shén hún de zhēn bǎo 。”
“理论上来讲，张志良没有理由戏耍我。这【意马】的确是能够增强神魂的珍宝。”
The pain made Li Fan gasp in cold air.
“ nà me shì bú shì kě yǐ tuī duàn ， gāng gāng fā shēng de nà yí mù mù guǐ yì chǎng jǐng ， zhī suǒ yǐ rú cǐ zhēn shí ， jiù shì yīn wèi tā rào guò le wǒ de gǎn guān ， zhí jiē zuò yòng zài le wǒ de shén hún zhī shàng 。”
“那么是不是可以推断，刚刚发生的那一幕幕诡异场景，之所以如此真实，就是因为它绕过了我的感官，直接作用在了我的神魂之上。”
Looking down at his own hand, he saw that his index finger had indeed disappeared, bleeding profusely.
“ chāo chū le pǔ tōng huàn jué de gài niàn ， zhí jī shén hún ……”
“超出了普通幻觉的概念，直击神魂……”
Li Fan examined his mangled right hand closely.
jiù zài lǐ fán sī kǎo de gōng fu ， yī bǐng lì jiàn hū de chū xiàn 。
就在李凡思考的功夫，一柄利剑忽的出现。
"It is real..."
hán guāng sì shè ， jiāng yì mǎ yòu shǒu shí zhǐ ， lián gēn qiè xià 。
寒光四射，将意马右手食指，连根切下。
"Or fake?"
jù tòng ràng lǐ fán bù yóu de xī le kǒu lěng qì 。
剧痛让李凡不由的吸了口冷气。
Reason told him everything happening to him was just the effect of Yimai on his soul—false.
kàn xiàng zì jǐ yòu shǒu ， guǒ rán shí zhǐ yǐ jīng xiāo shī le 。
看向自己右手，果然食指已经消失了。
But the continuous burning pain made Li Fan doubt his judgment.
zhǐ shì zài bù duàn de liú zhe xiān xuè 。
只是在不断的流着鲜血。
"If all this were a mere illusion, it wouldn't matter."
lǐ fán jiāng cán quē de yòu shǒu fàng zài yǎn qián ， zǐ xì guān chá 。
李凡将残缺的右手放在眼前，仔细观察。
"But if I'm wrong and these wounds are real?"
“ shì zhēn ……”
“是真……”
"And if I simply wait for things to continue, am I really waiting for my death?"
“ shì jiǎ ？”
“是假？”
A thought emerged unbidden.
lǐ zhì gào sù lǐ fán ， fā shēng zài shēn shàng de yī qiè ， dōu zhǐ shì yì mǎ zài shén hún shàng de zuò yòng 。 dōu shì xū jiǎ de 。
理智告诉李凡，发生在身上的一切，都只是意马在神魂上的作用。都是虚假的。
"Perhaps seeking verification from others would be better."
dàn shēn shàng chí xù chuán lái de zhuó tòng ， yòu bù dé bù ràng lǐ fán ， duì zì jǐ de pàn duàn chǎn shēng le huái yí 。
但身上持续传来的灼痛，又不得不让李凡，对自己的判断产生了怀疑。
With that in mind, Li Fan left the Heavenly Xuan Mirror.
“ tǎng ruò zhè yī qiè dōu shì xū huàn cuò jué de huà ， nà dào yě wú suǒ wèi 。”
“倘若这一切都是虚幻错觉的话，那倒也无所谓。”
After walking around with his horse face in front of other cultivators without drawing any strange attention, Li Fan finally confirmed it was indeed a hallucinatory experience brought by Yimai.
“ dàn rú guǒ wǒ pàn duàn cuò le ， zhè xiē shāng kǒu ， dōu shì zhēn de ne ？”
“但如果我判断错了，这些伤口，都是真的呢？”
But...
“ rú guǒ zuò shì biàn huà jì xù fā shēng de huà ， qǐ bù shì yì wèi zhe ， wǒ zài děng sǐ ？”
“如果坐视变化继续发生的话，岂不是意味着，我在等死？”
"Sss!"
yí gè niàn tou bù yóu dì mào le chū lái 。
一个念头不由地冒了出来。
Li Fan touched his chest where another deep wound appeared.
“ xiǎng yào pàn duàn shì zhēn shì jiǎ ， bù rú qǐng páng rén lái jiàn bié yī fān 。”
“想要判断是真是假，不如请旁人来鉴别一番。”
In the time he had been verifying things outside, eight wounds had already formed on his body.
zhè me xiǎng zhe ， lǐ fán lí kāi le tiān xuán jìng 。
这么想着，李凡离开了天玄镜。
"The speed is increasing. The wounds are getting bigger."
ér dāng tā dǐng zhe yī fù mǎ liǎn ， zài bié de xiū shì miàn qián huàng dàng le jǐ quān ， dōu méi yǒu yǐn lái rèn hé qí yì de mù guāng hòu 。
而当他顶着一副马脸，在别的修士面前晃荡了几圈，都没有引来任何奇异的目光后。
"Even knowing they're illusions, at this point..."
lǐ fán zhōng yú què xìn ， zhè zhēn de shì yì mǎ dài lái de xū huàn tǐ yàn 。
李凡终于确信，这真的是意马带来的虚幻体验。
"It doesn't matter if it's real or fake anymore."
dàn shì ……
但是……
"So, if this continues, I might really die?"
“ sī ！”
“嘶！”
Before crossing over, Li Fan heard of a punishment where a prisoner's eyes were covered and their arms cut with a knife.
lǐ fán mō le mō xiōng kǒu ， nà lǐ yòu chū xiàn le yī dào shēn shēn de shāng kǒu 。
李凡摸了摸胸口，那里又出现了一道深深的伤口。
Water was then dripped to mimic the sound of blood dripping, and they were told in whispers about the loss of blood.
jiù zài tā yú wài miàn guàng quān yàn zhèng de gōng fu ， lǐ fán de shēn shàng yǐ jīng zǒng gòng chū xiàn le bā dào shāng hén 。
就在他于外面逛圈验证的功夫，李凡的身上已经总共出现了八道伤痕。
Although the wounds on his arm had already healed, some prisoners really believed they were bleeding too much and slowly died from psychological suggestion.
“ chū xiàn de sù dù yuè lái yuè kuài ， shāng kǒu yě yuè lái yuè dà 。”
“出现的速度越来越快，伤口也越来越大。”
When one believes they are dead, they will truly die.
“ jiù suàn zhī dào zhè xiē dōu shì huàn jué ， dàn dào zhè zhǒng chéng dù ……”
“就算知道这些都是幻觉，但到这种程度……”
Li Fan guessed Yimai worked similarly because the hallucination was so real that without doing something, he would just wait for things to continue developing.
“ yǐ jīng wú suǒ wèi zhēn yǔ jiǎ le 。”
“已经无所谓真与假了。”
If Yimai's corpse suffered fatal injuries like a head explosion,
“ nà me ， ruò shì zhè me jì xù fā zhǎn xià qù ， wǒ yě kě néng zhēn de huì sǐ ？”
“那么，若是这么继续发展下去，我也可能真的会死？”
Li Fan might also be affected and believe he had received such severe wounds, leading to an inexplicable death.
lǐ fán zài chuān yuè zhī qián ， céng tīng guò yī zhǒng xíng fá 。
李凡在穿越之前，曾听过一种刑罚。
This demonstrated the precise impact of one's own cognition on their body.
méng zhù fàn rén de shuāng yǎn ， bìng yòng dāo huà pò shǒu bì 。
蒙住犯人的双眼，并用刀划破手臂。
To avoid this...
suí hòu yòng shuǐ dī mó fǎng xiān xuè dī luò de shēng yīn ， bìng bù duàn qiǎo shēng gào zhī xiān xuè liú shī de qíng xíng 。
随后用水滴模仿鲜血滴落的声音，并不断悄声告之鲜血流失的情形。
Li Fan opened the Zhenhuan panel and closely watched the charging progress.
suī rán shǒu bì shàng de shāng kǒu zǎo yǐ jīng níng gù ， gēn běn bú huì shī xuè guò duō ér sǐ 。
虽然手臂上的伤口早已经凝固，根本不会失血过多而死。
"Only if [Zhenhuan] doesn't activate its automatic protective mechanism will there be no danger to my life, regardless of how real it feels."
dàn jìng rán huì yǒu yī xiē fàn rén ， jiù zài bié rén hé zì jǐ de bù duàn xīn lǐ àn shì zhī xià ， zhēn de yǐ wéi zì jǐ shī xuè guò duō ， suí hòu màn màn sǐ qù 。
但竟然会有一些犯人，就在别人和自己的不断心理暗示之下，真的以为自己失血过多，随后慢慢死去。
With this thought, Li Fan felt much more at ease.
dāng zì jǐ rèn wéi zì jǐ yǐ jīng sǐ le ， nà me zì jǐ jiù huì zhēn de sǐ le 。
当自己认为自己已经死了，那么自己就会真的死了。
His fear gradually dissipated.
*puff! puff!*
Li Fan's heart began to beat wildly, almost uncontrollably.
It seemed as if he had witnessed his own gruesome death in the near future.
Instinctively, Li Fan was about to silently recite "Zhenhuan" to return to the anchor moment.
But in an instant, he felt something was off and forcibly stopped himself.
The Xuanhuang Refining Heart Spell slowly shattered the fear that kept arising within him, turning it into nourishment for his mind while also giving Li Fan a precious moment of calm reflection.
"Could Zhang Ziliang have discovered something and intentionally used this method to harm me?"
"No... he should already be at the Transcendent Realm. He doesn't need to go through such trouble just to deal with a Foundation Establishment cultivator like me."
"He could just act directly."
"So, why is it that I'm experiencing these strange phenomena now? Is it because of the inherent effect of [Yimai]?"
As he pondered this, Li Fan suddenly felt disoriented.
Hair on his neck stood up as if someone was staring at him.
Li Fan turned around in alarm to see Zhang Ziliang looking at him with a mysterious smile.
Instinctively, Li Fan retreated, and his spiritual energy surged as the Congyun Sword was about to be unleashed.
But then, Zhang Ziliang's figure vanished again.
Li Fan was momentarily stunned before realizing he was still within the Heavenly Xuan Mirror.
Even an existence like Tianyi would need to make a significant disturbance to forcefully enter.
How could Zhang Ziliang just sneak in silently?
"Is this a hallucination?"
Looking at the corpse of Yimai, Li Fan noticed something amiss and frowned.
The corpse had changed its posture unconsciously.
"Is it alive or dead?"
Fear gripped him again, lingering within his heart.
His body shivered slightly.
"This [Yimai] is somewhat peculiar."
"But I have Zhenhuan. No matter how perilous, it won't harm my life..."
With this thought, Li Fan felt a bit more at ease.
Strange as it was, the sudden fear in his mind seemed to recede like a tide.
"Interesting..."
Li Fan's gaze shifted slightly.
But he remained in human form with a horse face. Clearly, things were far from over.
Seizing the moment, Li Fan quickly thought of a strategy.
Before he could think of anything else, the scene changed again.
Suddenly, an arrow pierced through the air and landed on Yimai's left arm.
Just as Li Fan was about to pull out the arrow to check its authenticity, intense pain shot through his own left arm.
Fortunately, the pain also originated from his left arm.
Li Fan scanned with his divine sense, his expression turning grim.
The same spot, the same wound!
Even using spiritual energy couldn't heal it.
He had purchased a Trauma Elixir in the Heavenly Xuan Mirror, but it showed no effect after consumption.
The wound remained.
"What...?"
"Is this real or fake?"
Li Fan's mind felt the burning pain on his arm, everything seeming so real.
"So, whatever happens to Yimai will be reflected onto me?"
"If..."
His thoughts were interrupted as he forcibly activated the Refining Heart Spell to clear away杂念.
Ignoring the pain, Li Fan continued thinking of a strategy.
"According to theory, Zhang Ziliang has no reason to toy with me. This Yimai is indeed a treasure that can enhance one's soul."
"So, could it be inferred that the bizarre scenes I just witnessed are so real because they bypassed my senses and directly affected my soul?"
"Going beyond ordinary hallucinations, striking at the soul..."
Just as Li Fan was pondering, a sharp sword suddenly appeared.
It sliced off Yimai's right index finger.
The pain made Li Fan gasp in cold air.
Looking down at his own hand, he saw that his index finger had indeed disappeared, bleeding profusely.
Li Fan examined his mangled right hand closely.
"It is real..."
"Or fake?"
Reason told him everything happening to him was just the effect of Yimai on his soul—false.
But the continuous burning pain made Li Fan doubt his judgment.
"If all this were a mere illusion, it wouldn't matter."
"But if I'm wrong and these wounds are real?"
"And if I simply wait for things to continue, am I really waiting for my death?"
A thought emerged unbidden.
"Perhaps seeking verification from others would be better."
With that in mind, Li Fan left the Heavenly Xuan Mirror.
After walking around with his horse face in front of other cultivators without drawing any strange attention, Li Fan finally confirmed it was indeed a hallucinatory experience brought by Yimai.
But...
"Sss!"
Li Fan touched his chest where another deep wound appeared.
In the time he had been verifying things outside, eight wounds had already formed on his body.
"The speed is increasing. The wounds are getting bigger."
"Even knowing they're illusions, at this point..."
"It doesn't matter if it's real or fake anymore."
"So, if this continues, I might really die?"
Before crossing over, Li Fan heard of a punishment where a prisoner's eyes were covered and their arms cut with a knife.
Water was then dripped to mimic the sound of blood dripping, and they were told in whispers about the loss of blood.
Although the wounds on his arm had already healed, some prisoners really believed they were bleeding too much and slowly died from psychological suggestion.
When one believes they are dead, they will truly die.
Li Fan guessed Yimai worked similarly because the hallucination was so real that without doing something, he would just wait for things to continue developing.
If Yimai's corpse suffered fatal injuries like a head explosion,
Li Fan might also be affected and believe he had received such severe wounds, leading to an inexplicable death.
This demonstrated the precise impact of one's own cognition on their body.
To avoid this...
Li Fan opened the Zhenhuan panel and closely watched the charging progress.
"Only if [Zhenhuan] doesn't activate its automatic protective mechanism will there be no danger to my life, regardless of how real it feels."
With this thought, Li Fan felt much more at ease.
His fear gradually dissipated.