The next day arrived swiftly.
At dawn, Zhang Nu and Liu Hai had already prepared to head to the Nine Fox Ridge, where they hoped to improve their cultivation level and defeat numerous Yao Beasts.
"Be very careful on this road," Liu Hai advised. "Don't underestimate it. This place is crawling with monsters, even though it may seem empty at first."
"Trust me, they're already watching us closely."
Liu Hai was speaking from experience, having learned these lessons the hard way. On his first trip to the mountain, he'd been deceived by a minor YaoGuai skilled in illusions. If not for a stroke of luck that allowed him to see through the trick, he would have perished.
Zhang Nu nodded in acknowledgment. Liu Hai's advice was invaluable, and he had no intention of letting him down or losing his trust.
Before long, the two reached the foot of the mountain, where Zhang Nu could immediately sense numerous eyes observing them. However, he refrained from revealing his abilities just yet, not wanting to alarm Liu Hai.
"Zhang Nu, be extremely cautious. No matter what happens, don't let your guard down," Liu Hai advised.
Zhang Nu nodded in response, and the two of them began their ascent up Nine Fox Ridge. As soon as they stepped onto the ridge, they both felt a subtle shift in their surroundings, as though they had suddenly entered another realm.
"Be careful, Zhang Nu. We may have already fallen into a YaoGuai's illusion," Liu Hai warned.
Zhang Nu nodded again. To him, a mere illusion YaoGuai was nothing to fear. With his high cultivation, he was confident he could defeat the YaoGuai and further strengthen his power. However, he needed to ensure that Liu Hai remained unaware of his abilities.
Although Zhang Nu's special physique made him immune to such illusions, he couldn't afford to let Liu Hai suspect anything. As long as Liu Hai remained trustworthy, there would be no issues, but if he harbored any ill intentions, it could lead to more people attacking Zhang Nu later on.
Zhang Nu and Liu Hai continued walking when they suddenly encountered an illusionary formation ahead. Zhang Nu immediately recognized it as a simple illusionary array, one that posed no threat to him. However, Liu Hai, with his significantly lower cultivation level, was far more susceptible to its effects. He could easily become lost within the illusion and forget his original purpose.
Zhang Nu watched as Liu Hai, seemingly under the influence of the array, wandered toward a shadowy forest. Although they had only recently met, Zhang Nu felt that Liu Hai had been genuine in his assistance. Liu Hai had openly shared everything he knew, treating Zhang Nu as a trusted ally.
Just as Liu Hai was about to step further into danger, Zhang Nu acted swiftly, pulling him back and tapping on Liu Hai's temples twice. Within moments, Liu Hai regained his senses, realizing how close he had come to falling for the illusion once again. Without Zhang Nu's intervention, he might not have escaped the array.
"Thank you, Zhang Nu. I warned you about this earlier, and yet I was the one who almost got caught," Liu Hai said, with a self-deprecating tone.
Zhang Nu simply nodded. "It's fine. Your warning helped me stay cautious. Let's proceed carefully."
With heightened vigilance, they continued forward and eventually exited the illusion. As they did, the Illusion YaoGuai opened its eyes. Though it had only set a basic illusionary trap, it knew that ordinary people wouldn't have been able to break free so easily. It realized that Zhang Nu and Liu Hai were not to be underestimated.