Chapter 190: Impossible
It was the morning of the ninth day.
The forest air was crisp, heavy with the metallic scent of dew, and the faint glow of the blood moon still lingered as though reluctant to leave. Yu Xuan and Lingluo stood side by side, gazes fixed on the faint path that led toward the central region.
Today, they would face the real impossible. Maybe?
"Let’s not underestimate the trial," Yu Xuan said firmly, his tone sharper than usual. "Sister, I want the both of us to do our best to win this in one go. We don’t even know if the trial will change after this. There may not be a second chance."
Lingluo stretched lazily, as though his words were morning chatter instead of a warning.
"Yeah, yeah. You always sound like an old man giving lectures." But even as she teased, her eyes flickered with a rare seriousness.
Yu Xuan ignored her jab. Before coming here, he had asked "the shorty" countless questions, and even combed through local forums accessible through the medallion’s. It was oddly comforting to have such thing in a Cultivation World.
But the information he found was not that detailed.
Most posts were vague, full of speculation and rumors. The highest anyone dared to discuss in slight detail was the hell difficulty of the trial. He thought there was restriction on sharing the details of the trial as it is unique to each individual and group.
About the impossible difficulty, however... there was nothing. No details.
"Let’s go. Now," Lingluo said abruptly, brushing the imaginary dust from her robes.
Together, they started walking toward the central area.
The journey was deceptively calm. The plains stretched endlessly under the morning light, empty and windswept, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Their footsteps were the only sound, crunching softly against the dry earth.
Then, after what felt like a long silence, a shadow rose on the horizon.
A castle.
Yu Xuan narrowed his eyes, taking in the structure as it grew clearer with each step. It stood massive and imposing, built from a black stone that seemed to drink in the light. Unlike the wilderness they had traversed so far, the castle was unnaturally pristine, untouched by time or decay.
If he had to describe it... it was a fusion. The sharp spires and battlements were distinctly like Western castles, but the sloping eaves and layered roofs carried the weight of Eastern tradition. The blend looked majestic, but also gave a chilling feeling.
And above all, the color.
Black.
Every wall, every tower, every jagged edge of stone was a suffocating shade of black. It wasn’t just paint or material, it radiated something, an oppressive aura that made the air feel heavy.
’Really...’ Yu Xuan thought, his brow twitching. They just had to go with black. As if the whole color spectrum didn’t exist.
Beside him, Lingluo tilted her head. "This is...?"
"A castle," Yu Xuan said simply, though the word felt lacking, he felt the architecture was quite great.
He took a deep breath, steadying his thoughts. "Let’s go. I want to end this within the week."
Lingluo smirked faintly, brushing back her hair. "Confident, aren’t we?"
Together, the siblings stepped forward, their figures framed against the looming black castle that awaited them at the heart of the trial.
But the closer they drew, the heavier the air became.
Lingluo frowned, her brows knitting. "Brother... doesn’t this place feel strange?"
Yu Xuan didn’t answer immediately. His instincts screamed the same, but instead of voicing it, he chose to confirm. He focused inward, steadying his breathing, and activated the skill — [Immortal’s Gaze].
Golden light flickered faintly in his eyes, and alongside it, he activated his divine ability, his so-called trait — [Soul Vision] also surged forth painting his eyes with an invisible light.
And what he saw made his expression stiffen.
At first, the veil of reality rippled and peeled back. His suspicions were confirmed — they were walking through an illusionary formation. Layers upon layers of deception wrapped the land around the castle like a suffocating net.
Normally, this would have been a disaster.
But Yu Xuan had one advantage. His trait [Mental Resistance] was absolute against illusions that tampered with the psyche. For him, the formation was nothing but smoke and mirrors.
Yet what troubled him was not the existence of the formation.
It was what lay behind it.
When the veil was stripped away, Yu Xuan froze.
An army.
Not a metaphorical army, but a literal tide of monsters.
The green monsters from their very first battle, there were hundreds.
The hunters with crimson eyes, hundreds more, their killing intent rolling like waves.
The winged humanoids, the so-called bird-people, filled the skies in flocks.
The humans with blades for arms, the Sword Demon’s kin — stood in disciplined ranks, their body-swords gleaming coldly.
And looming before all were the draconic warriors, scaled and proud, their dragon blood surging like fire. They stood shoulder to shoulder, not a scattered group, but a legion.
Yu Xuan’s breath grew heavy. "...All of them."
But what unsettled him most wasn’t their number.
It was their souls.
With [Soul Vision], Yu Xuan peered deeper. And there he saw it, each and every one of them was bound in chains.
Thick, pitch-black shackles of soul-energy coiled around their essences, forcing them into obedience. Their eyes burned with killing intent, but beneath that rage was... emptiness. No will of their own.
A cold shiver crawled up Yu Xuan’s spine.
’Who...?’
Who could chain so many souls at once? Who had the power to shackle not just one guardian, not a squad, but entire group of hundreds of battle-hardened beings?
The realization dawned on him like a blade against his throat.
This wasn’t just a simple trial.
The name Impossible Difficulty made sense.
Yu Xuan clenched his fists. The sight stirred something ugly inside him — disgust, unease, and a flicker of anger. He did not like what he saw. Not at all. He knew he was being immature but he really didn’t like it.
He deactivated his vision, letting the illusion mask itself once more. But the truth lingered in his mind like a brand.
When Lingluo glanced at him staring in daze, her curiosity sharp,
Yu Xuan forced a thin smile. "It will be really difficult."