CHAPTER 62.1: MAKE ILLUSIONS REAL AND FALSEHOODS TRUE

The girl hurled her threat and left before Qi Yuan could respond.

Watching her retreating back, Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes. It was the first time he’d ever seen an NPC display such raw, intense emotion.

By contrast, Tang Yan’s expression remained calm, showing neither joy nor sorrow. He’d long known the truth. The Five Ancestors were nothing more than lingering obsessions. Their true bodies had perished at the hands of the alien demons long ago. Rational as always, he didn’t share Little Green’s grief.

Just then, Qi Yuan felt a scorching heat sweep over him. A mass of crimson flame flew in, hovering only a few inches from his chest, blazing furiously.

"Aaah!" With a roar, Fire Ancestor materialized beside him. The old man glared at Qi Yuan with undisguised hostility. "You?! Aside from being a bit better-looking, what's so special about you?! Why should you be the one to perfect the five elements?"

Tang Yan quickly stepped in. "This is Fire Ancestor, his temper is a bit volatile."

Qi Yuan bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Fire Ancestor."

Fire Ancestor snorted at Tang Yan’s explanation, spat out a tongue of flame, and set the scholar’s robe ablaze.

Tang Yan merely smiled, elegant as ever. "Fire Ancestor, you're so full of mischief."

"Aaah!" Fire Ancestor shouted in frustration, but said no more.

At that moment, Qi Yuan felt another presence approaching. The ground rippled as if something was burrowing beneath it. Soon, a small, round-bellied girl popped up, looking like a walking tumbler toy. She stared silently at Qi Yuan.

"This is Earth Ancestor."

Qi Yuan saluted once more. "Greetings, Earth Ancestor."

Someone said dignifiedly, their voice carried over from afar, "Young man, I only dozed off for a moment, and you've already achieved Perfect Five Elements. I thought I'd slept for millennia, but it turns out only three days passed. This is truly unexpected."

Golden-robed, upright, and proper as ever, Metal Ancestor approached with steady steps. He looked exactly as he had the first time they met. Two others walked at his side: Water Ancestor, poised and graceful in her blue gown, and Wood Ancestor, barefoot in gaudy colors, grinning like a mischievous rogue.

Qi Yuan bowed seriously again. "Greetings, three Ancestors."

Tang Yan and the others quietly withdrew, leaving Qi Yuan and Little Bride standing before the Five Ancestors.

Metal Ancestor stepped forward, his expression kind. "That day, I made an agreement with you. Today, I have come to honor it."

He didn’t bother to beat around the bush. Fire Ancestor cursed under his breath, about to object, until Earth Ancestor gave him a sharp kick to the rear. He fell silent, though his eyes still burned with dissatisfaction.

Then, Water Ancestor said in a dignified tone, "Garment Division Master. Will you pledge to join us in three hundred years at the Demon-Slaying Assembly, to eradicate the alien demons?"

The moment Qi Yuan held mastery over the Five Elements Forbidden Zone, the remnants of their obsessions would finally dissipate.

Qi Yuan declared, "I will slay the alien demons!"

He directly named his true enemy without mentioning the assembly. The alien demons were this world’s final boss. Only by killing them could he obtain all the Heavenly Dao Fragments and build his foundation.

Water Ancestor nodded, satisfied with his response. "Good."

Metal, Wood, and Earth Ancestors also nodded their approval. Fire Ancestor was still scowling, until Earth Ancestor glared at him, forcing him into a reluctant nod.

Qi Yuan seized the chance to ask, "Since you've faced them before, just how strong are the alien demons?"

Metal Ancestor fell silent for a while, before replying, "They wield a supreme treasure called the Flesh Hook. It hangs from the heavens like a fishing line, piercing a cultivator’s body. When I was still alive, I’d fought it with all my might, yet I couldn’t even leave the faintest mark."

Qi Yuan frowned deeply. If even Metal Ancestor, once likely at the Divine Realm level, couldn’t withstand it, then the hook was truly terrifying.

Wood Ancestor said, "At the Demon-Slaying Assembly, stay far away from that Flesh Hook. Once it pierces you, it’s all over. Not even the Celestial God can escape."

Even Fire Ancestor said in an unexpectedly solemn tone, "Know this, the alien demon may not be just one, perhaps two, or more..."

Qi Yuan absorbed the information, unsettled. "How strong are they really? The Five Elements Forbidden Zone together houses dozens of experts. The Yinyang Forbidden Zone holds as many as well. If we all attacked at once, wouldn't sheer numbers be enough to cut them down?"

He thought the combined strength of so many level 90+ experts was overwhelming.

Wood Ancestor shook his head. "The alien demons can’t die. Kill them once, they revive. Kill them a hundred times, they revive a hundred times."

Qi Yuan raised a brow, but only briefly. "Are they immortal?"

A so-called "unkillable boss" was normal in games, it just meant one had to kill them a lot. Still, his estimation of their threat rose higher. Without reaching level 100, charging in was pure suicide.

Metal Ancestor smiled gently. "Since you understand, it is time we honor our promise."