Do I Have Any Choice To Refuse?

"This young man can see through formations of the highest level? Of the extreme level?" 

The 80 year old man muttered in disbelief, his face expressing stupefaction as he looked at Ling Tian. 

Ling Tian looked at Xuan Li who seemed to be in another space and time, but he knew that she was just in another formation. 

Xuan Li had also entered an illusion just like Lang Qingzu, a powerful but terrifying illusion with amplified heart fears that even the great powerhouses of the Great Ascension realm might deviate from their path and lose their dao heart. 

All seemed to be well with Xuan Li; even though she seemed to struggle in her thoughts, her face soon began to show signs of calm and stability, as if she had recovered. A completely different state than Lang Qingzu was in. 

Therefore, Xuan Li did not need his help, and she would even manage to break out of this formation on her own, managing to break through the illusion and overcome it. 

Then Ling Tian averted his gaze elsewhere, finding the person who had caught his attention from the beginning. 

A very young boy, with many childish traces but slowly seeming to gain maturity and understanding, lay in cultivation position just like Xuan Li. This was the first 16-year-old boy who was in first place to pass the training test, surpassing Lang Qingzu and Xuan Li. 

However, this 16-year-old's face also seemed to show struggle and tiredness, but Ling Tian could see that it was very different from Xuan Li's expression, as if he seemed to be aware of what was happening to him, maintaining a trace of calmness. 

"He most likely wants to temper his heart." Ling Tian raised his eyebrows slightly before nodding. As expected from this kind of special person. 

"Are you a True Immortal?" 

Suddenly, the old man's voice was heard, causing Ling Tian to raise his eyebrows in slight surprise for a moment before returning to his indifferent expression. 

"What makes you think that?" Ling Tian asked, lifting the corner of his mouth. A look of mild interest appeared on his face. 

"No one in this world should be able to break through the formation of this place like you did, so easily that even the formation can't acknowledge your presence." The old man said directly. 

"Maybe I'm just really good in the area of formations." Ling Tian replied while keeping the same expression. 

"I don't think so!" The old man shook his head and quickly replied, "Even an immortal ascension expert would find it difficult to break through this formation in a short amount of time, let alone break through without activating the defenses, and above all, managing to get someone out of the false heart illusion..." 

The old man stared at Ling Tian, with an expression that he wanted to get his answer no matter what. 

A Great Ascension realm peak expert could not do what this young man had done, much less an immortal ascension expert who was half a step from becoming a true immortal and ascending to a higher plane could do it. After all, the formations of this place were built by many great powerful and skilled experts for thousands of years, managing to reach the semi-immortal formation level! 

The pride and prestige of being the first sect of the south state of the heavenly earth continent was not false at all! 

And leaving that aside, no one could pull someone out of the false heart illusion, as they would alter one's mind to the point that they could turn them into an idiot if they tried to intervene. This illusion formation was not a game, and one wrong step would end one's life. 

Ling Tian looked at him nonchalantly, as if he wasn't scared that someone might discover something about his identity. 

"You think too much." 

Ling Tian shook his head, not responding to the old man. He returned his gaze to Lang Qingzu, whom he had never let go of carrying in his arms. 

The old man looked seriously at Ling Tian. He did not seem to be annoyed or angry that a young man would behave in this way. But neither did he relax his guard, always looking at Ling Tian. 

* Crack! * 

After an interval of time, the sound of a branch snapping in half was heard. 

Xuan Li suddenly appeared between the old man and Ling Tian. She was in the same lotus position, eyes closed as she seemed to cultivate silently. 

"Huh?" Xuan Li blinked briefly before looking dazedly at the old man in front of her. 

Unexpectedly, the old man showed a surprised expression as he saw Xuan Li as well. 

"What's wrong? You've never seen a little girl before?" 

Suddenly, Ling Tian's voice was heard, startling both of them. The old man frowned at the sight of Ling Tian and Xuan Li quickly looked back. 

"Sect Ancestor!" 

Xuan Li was surprised to see Ling Tian in this place. But when she noticed Lang Qingzu in Ling Tian's arms, her pupils shrank and her expression was filled with worry. 

"Zu'er!" 

Xuan Li didn't care about the old man in front of her and she quickly stood up and ran towards Ling Tian as she watched Lang Qingzu. Huge worry and anxiety filled her eyes. 

"Don't worry, she's fine." Ling Tian smiled reassuringly at Xuan Li and added, "She also went through the same trial illusion as you, but she got very exhausted and needs to rest." 

Xuan Li was dumbfounded as she listened to Ling Tian before letting out a sigh of relief. 

"That's good." Xuan Li looked at Lang Qingzu still with worry, but her expression showed relief at the sight of her. 

Lang Qingzu was in what seemed like a deep sleep, surprising Xuan Li as she watched her little fingers cling tightly to Ling Tian's clothes and seemed to snuggle completely into him. Her small face rested with a gentle expression, showing that she was fine. 

"A-ancestor... I..." 

After making sure that Lang Qingzu was fine, Xuan Li looked at Ling Tian and soon stammered. 

"What's wrong?" Ling Tian raised his eyebrows when he saw Xuan Li's behavior. Probably something must have happened in his illusion. 

Indeed, Ling Tian's thought came true when he heard Xuan Li's words. 

"Ancestor! I have let you down! I am a disappointment as your grand disciple!" Xuan Li prostrated herself before Ling Tian, banging her head on the ground as she apologized. 

Ling Tian couldn't help but be surprised and he asked, "Why are you apologizing?" He felt somewhat amused and became interested. 

"Because I tried to kill you in the illusion!" Xuan Li answered honestly. 

This powerful ancestor and master of her master was in this place, so if he was here, then Xuan Li wouldn't be surprised if Ling Tian might have seen the trial illusion she was in a few moments ago. 

Therefore, Xuan Li did not hesitate to apologize to Ling Tian, even though it was an illusion. Although she eventually realized that it was all an illusion, the thought of having attacked Ling Tian in her thoughts filled her with panic. 

A helpless but at the same time amused smile was painted on Ling Tian's face as she listened to Xuan Li. 

"Whatever happened in your illusion, it's over, it was just a test nothing more. You have nothing to worry about. As long as you can distinguish reality and falsehood from illusion, there's no problem." 

Lifting Xuan Li up as he slowly moved his hand, Ling Tian said with a gentle smile. 

"Umn..." Xuan Li nodded softly. Her expression became shy and somewhat nervous as she stood close to Ling Tian. Many things also happened in that illusion that deeply shocked Xuan Li's heart, but she shook her head trying to get rid of those memories. 

Ling Tian smiled seeing Xuan Li's expression but did not ask more. 

"She passed your test, won't you hand over the inheritance to her?" 

Looking towards the 80 year old man, Ling Tian asked with a faint smile. Xuan Li beside him was stunned to hear Ling Tian and she looked curiously at the old man she had seen when she opened her eyes a few moments ago. 

"Do I have any choice to refuse?" 

After staring at Ling Tian for a while, the old man sighed helplessly.