Chapter 52: Startling Dream (Part 8)

As Lin Fan's words gradually faded away, Lin Chen's consciousness began to blur, and the surrounding scenery transformed rapidly.

She found herself in a blurred and twisted illusion.

The air here was filled with a suffocating sense of oppression; all around her were fragmented memories, flickering before her eyes like blurry scrolls.

She tried to walk forward, but the ground beneath her feet kept shifting like quicksand, sometimes revealing a garden bathed in warm sunlight, and other times turning into dark corners.

Familiar voices rang in her ears, some whispering, others shouting, all mixed together, leaving her feeling deeply confused.

Lin Chen looked ahead, and suddenly, a familiar figure came into view. It was her sister, Sect Master Qi Meng, but the smile on her face was like a nightmare—twisted and gloomy.

"You are not my sister!"

Lin Chen shouted instinctively, a surge of fear rising in her heart.

Sect Master Qi Meng's figure gradually disappeared, replaced by familiar yet strange faces—friends, teachers, and even former opponents—appearing in the illusion in twisted ways, mocking her fragility and incompetence.

"Lin Chen, you have never been strong enough." A cold voice came from a Senior she once admired, their expression filled with disdain.

"Do you think you can escape from here?"

Lin Chen's heart began to beat violently, and tears streamed from her eyes.

"No, I don't believe it!" She shook her head desperately, trying to drive away these twisted illusions, but they followed her like shadows, impossible to shake off.

"Give up, Lin Chen." Another voice, seemingly from the abyss, was gloomy and icy. "No matter how hard you try, you will never be able to surpass her."

That was her own deep-seated doubt and fear.

Lin Chen was overwhelmed by these illusions, her heart filled with despair, as if the entire world were closing in on her.

Just then, a warm light flashed in the distance, and a glimmer of hope sparked in Lin Chen's heart as she ran toward the brightness.

As she approached, the familiar figure appeared again; Sect Master Qi Meng's face looked exceptionally gentle in the light.

"Lin Chen, don't be afraid." Sect Master Qi Meng reached out her hands, her tone full of determination and care,

"If the whole world wants to kill you, I will become an Incarnation of a demon and slaughter the entire world. You must believe that no matter what, I am standing by your side!"

Lin Chen felt a wave of warmth, and tears couldn't stop flowing, carrying her deep trust and reliance on her sister.

"Sister, I believe you!"

The illusion began to collapse instantly, and those twisted phantoms dissipated one after another.

Sect Master Qi Meng's hand gently grasped Lin Chen's, leading her through the light and gradually out of the illusion.

As the surrounding scenery kept changing, a sense of relief rose in Lin Chen's heart.

However, Sect Master Qi Meng's voice still echoed in her ears, as if it had never disappeared.

"Lin Chen, listen," Sect Master Qi Meng's tone remained firm and gentle,

"I know that the one who has been doing evil things has always been Lin Fan. You must understand that his actions have already hurt too many people, especially the sister lost by the Xuanyin Qin Sect. You must avenge her!"

A violent tremor shook Lin Chen's heart. The seeds of hatred quietly took root deep within her, but what followed was endless entanglement and struggle.

Lin Fan, the person who had just pulled her out of despair at her most desperate moment, had now become the enemy her sister said needed to be killed.

"Sister, but…" Lin Chen's voice was weak and hesitant, "Lin Fan saved me; he helped me escape the Netherworld."

Sect Master Qi Meng's gaze became stern: "But he also dragged you into a deeper vortex! Don't you understand?

His existence is a threat, and his power will destroy everything. You cannot be deceived by his tenderness! Killing him is to protect yourself, and to avenge everything we have lost!"

Lin Chen felt the inner struggle intensifying, like a silent war.

She thought of Lin Fan's sincere smiling face, and remembered his protection and help during times of crisis.

Could all of this be a disguise? Could he really be so cold and heartless?

"Why do you want me to kill him?" Lin Chen's voice choked, and tears fell once more, "I can't!"

"Because you are my sister, only you can do it." Sect Master Qi Meng's voice was like a clarion call, tearing through the hesitation in Lin Chen's heart,

"For all the victims, for your future, you must end all of this with your own hands!"

Just then, a surging power erupted within Lin Chen. She raised her head, her eyes revealing determination.

"I cannot choose hatred. I cannot become a killer! What I want is a just solution, a way that can heal, not the bloodshed of revenge."

Sect Master Qi Meng's face trembled slightly, seemingly touched by her determination, but then she shook her head.

"You must choose, Lin Chen! This is your destiny, and it cannot be avoided!"

"Destiny? I refuse to be bound!" Lin Chen shouted, a surge of courage igniting in her heart.

"I will find my own path, and I will solve this problem in my own way!"

As she spoke, the surrounding light began to flicker, and the illusion seemed to become less stable due to her resistance.

"Lin Chen, you must be careful… do not be deceived by him…" Sect Master Qi Meng's whisper was like a breeze, gradually fading away in her ears.

As the voice faded, the entire illusion began to blur, as if dissolving in a violent storm.

Lin Chen gripped the map in her hand, her heart rate accelerating as she realized she was nearing her final destination.

She passed through a radiance and arrived before a portal flickering with mysterious light.

Standing before the door was an elegant messenger, with a face like a Heavenly God, who said softly:

"Congratulations, Lin Chen, you have completed the journey in seven days. By passing through this door, you will be able to return to reality."

Lin Chen nodded slightly, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

She raised her hand to push the door open and was instantly enveloped by a strong light; her consciousness traveled through a realm of light and shadow, suddenly returning to the familiar scene of the Xuanyin Qin Sect.

She looked around, startled to realize she had returned to reality, but the scene before her shocked her to the core.

Lin Fan was controlling his own body, having become that immensely arrogant God of War, wearing silver-white armor, and was engaged in a fierce battle with the Disciples of the Xuanyin Qin Sect.

The surrounding Spiritual Qi was distorted, the roar of battle was deafening, and the entire Sect seemed to have fallen into a catastrophe.

Lin Chen's eyes widened in shock, and the next moment, she saw Lin Fan about to activate that terrifying strategic weapon, launching an attack against Fairy Qimeng.

Her heart was instantly filled with fear and confusion—her former friend had now become the enemy before her eyes.

"Lin Chen, hurry, choose who to trust, and who to kill!" Her heart was filled with struggle and bewilderment.

At this moment, all the memories, trust, and betrayal intertwined into a complex picture, causing her immense pain.

Should she be loyal to Lin Fan, who grew up with her, or protect Sect Master Qi Meng? Her heart struggled in torment, unable to control itself.