Chapter 146: Ning Rongrong's Gift

"Congratulations, you've triggered an E-level hidden quest: Gift Shi Nian's head spirit bone to Ning Rongrong."

Leaving the Great Spirit Arena, Mu Chen didn't join Flender and the others. Instead, he leisurely strolled towards the western part of the city.

It was the height of summer, and the sun at 2 PM was scorching. The streets were almost deserted due to the heat.

*Clang*

As Mu Chen passed a stall, a bowl fell to the ground.

Mu Chen paused but didn't pay much attention, continuing on his way. But a strange pattern emerged: no matter which direction he walked, he'd pass a stall where the owner accidentally broke a bowl.

After walking for a while, Mu Chen stopped, unfazed, and calmly said, "Come out, no need to hide anymore."

"Well, well, well, no wonder you're a student of Shrek Academy. You noticed something was off so quickly. Too bad it's already too late!" A voice echoed from all directions, making it impossible to pinpoint its source.

"Yes, too bad, indeed. It's already too late!" Mu Chen echoed the sentiment.

"Hmm, you understand. Make it easy on yourself, and I'll grant you a quick death," Shi Nian of Canghui Academy said flatly.

"Hmm, you understand. Make it easy on yourself, and I'll grant you a quick death," Mu Chen repeated, like a parrot.

"So, you're not going to do it yourself? In my illusion, do you really think you can escape alive?" Shi Nian taunted.

"Oh, are you talking about this illusion? Pardon my bluntness, but it's child's play. To me, it's something a kid would make," Mu Chen said dismissively.

"Shrek Academy students are all so arrogant. Let's see how you break my illusion. If you can't, you'll starve here!" Shi Nian said coldly.

"Fine, I'll break it for you! Break!" Mu Chen's eyes gleamed, and the surroundings shattered like a broken mirror.

Mu Chen found himself standing in a forest, but he showed no surprise.

"You... you broke my illusion?" Shi Nian's voice was filled with disbelief.

Even a Soul Douluo or a Titled Douluo would hesitate to fight Shi Nian, due to his illusion-casting martial soul, Remnant Dream. Even a Titled Douluo wouldn't claim to easily break Shi Nian's illusion. Yet, Mu Chen had shattered it effortlessly.

This left Shi Nian astonished.

"Your eyes..." Shi Nian locked eyes with Mu Chen.

Mu Chen's eyes were different—blood-red with intricate symbols. These were the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan he had earned through his quests, which allowed him to see through Shi Nian's illusion immediately.

"You want me gone, right?" Mu Chen asked with a smile.

"Only by eliminating you can Canghui Academy win. One isn't enough; I'll make more of you disappear. I'm guessing you're the next competitor, right?" Shi Nian inquired.

"Correct. But you didn't expect that I've been waiting for you. You took long enough to make your move," Mu Chen smiled.

"You were waiting for me?" Shi Nian was taken aback.

"This isn't Heaven Dou City anymore. If I kill you here, no one else will know," Mu Chen said with a smile.

"Arrogant. With my seventy-two levels of soul power, let's see how you kill me," Shi Nian activated his seventh soul ring, glowing brightly.

**Seventh Soul Skill: Nightmare**

A strange wave spread out, causing Mu Chen's heart to skip a beat.

Shi Nian's martial soul was unique; his seventh soul skill wasn't a true body but a Nightmare. The Nightmare's terror was in amplifying one's inner fears and demons indefinitely, trapping them until they perished. It was similar to Uchiha Itachi's Izanami from the Naruto world.

"Is that all?" Mu Chen sneered.

"What, you're unaffected?" Shi Nian stared at Mu Chen in surprise.

"I told you, your illusion is child's play. It doesn't work on me," Mu Chen said calmly.

"Impossible, how can you have no guilt?" Shi Nian frowned. To resist the Nightmare, one must have a clear conscience.

"In my homeland, we have a saying: 'It's rude not to reciprocate!' Shi Nian, prepare to die!" Mu Chen declared, a pink rune appearing on his forehead.

"Head spirit bone?" Shi Nian was shocked. The young man before him also possessed a head spirit bone.

**Eye of Slaughter**

In an instant, Shi Nian found himself on a battlefield.

The battlefield was littered with corpses, the ground stained with blood. Even the clouds above were tinged red. A murderous aura permeated the area.

"Why am I here?"

"Is this an illusion?"

"This must be an illusion, I've fallen for that brat's trick. But how do I get out?"

Shi Nian began to panic. As an illusion master, he knew that standing still was the best course of action.

However, Shi Nian couldn't stay put. The murderous aura was corrosive, eroding his mental strength. Staying meant certain death.

"Damn it, how do I escape?"

Shi Nian grew desperate. He used to relish watching others go mad and die in his illusions. He never imagined he'd face such a fate.

Was this karma?

As Shi Nian ran, seeking an exit, he found no way off the battlefield.

*Hum*

An unbelievable scene unfolded.

The corpses on the ground began to rise as if resurrected.

No, have you ever seen a living person without a heart? 

The dead weren't revived but became zombies, reaching for Shi Nian.

Shi Nian panicked, running frantically to avoid the zombies.

*Hum*

Shi Nian underestimated the power of Mu Chen's head spirit bone. The blood-stained ground softened beneath his feet, turning into a blood lake.

*Swish*

Hands reached from the lake, grabbing Shi Nian. Then more hands, pulling him into the lake of blood.

"No... no... no!"

Shi Nian screamed, struggling in vain as the zombies dragged him into the blood lake.

In reality, Mu Chen stood before Shi Nian, whose eyes were wide open, filled with terror. Blood trickled from his orifices, dripping onto the ground.

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