Chapter 1500: Illusion

"Since we're all experiencing Kunlun Abyss for the first time, why do you seem to know more than the other cultivators of our generation?" Xu Yang couldn't help but ask. The aloof young woman scoffed, an innate sense of superiority resurfacing.

"I may not venture out often, but I know everything that happens in the world. This is a unique characteristic of the Xuanyuan Imperial Clan. Primarily, it's because even the younger generation of cultivators from our clan possesses a far more extensive understanding of the outside world compared to the younger strongholds of other major imperial clans. After all, our elders instilled in us early on the understanding that while power and strength are revered in this world, having power doesn't necessarily mean possessing sufficient survival skills. Especially in a wilderness like this, sheer strength alone isn't enough to survive."

Xu Yang nodded slightly. Although he wasn't particularly fond of this arrogant girl, she undeniably possessed certain qualities that others lacked.

As they journeyed deeper into the cave, Xu Yang's powerful perception failed to detect any signs of life force fluctuations, which greatly surprised the team.

*Rumble!* In a sudden instant, Xu Yang and his companions were forced to halt. From a vast, empty corner of the cave at the end of their sight, a giant ape over three meters tall unexpectedly leaped out. This ape was immense, its eyes glowing with a bloodthirsty light, making it appear extremely fierce and terrifying.

However, after appearing, the creature, having locked onto Xu Yang and his group's aura, did not immediately attack. Instead, it stood solemnly before them, gazing at them with a blank expression, as if seeking to understand them further.

"Who are you? Don't you know whose abode this is? Trespassers die!"

Xu Yang sneered, "Do you really think you can stop us?"

The giant ape before them snorted coldly. "My strength may not be immense, but you must understand that this is the abode of Demon Saint Qitian. If you take another step forward, the array formations there will make you experience true despair. If you are determined to meet Demon Saint Qitian, I will not forcibly stop you. Decide for yourselves how to proceed."

After speaking, the giant ape folded its thick arms and actually stepped aside, no longer obstructing Xu Yang's team. Clearly, this demonic dwelling was not as easy to navigate as they might have imagined.

However, for Xu Yang and his companions, if the Demon Saint's inner sanctum were truly as simple as walking on flat ground, then the formidable aura of a Level Ten Demon Saint would have no meaning. They had come prepared to face all difficulties, naturally fearless and ready to push forward.

As soon as the words left his mouth, all four stomped their feet, accelerating their movement techniques to the limit, and vanished from the sight of the three-meter-tall ape guard in an instant.

The giant ape guard watched Xu Yang and his companions depart, shaking its head helplessly and sighing. It seemed to believe that the array formations personally set by the Demon Saint would not be so easily breached.

Sure enough, when Xu Yang and the other three landed again, the surrounding space had undergone a drastic transformation. It was a circular yet incredibly narrow interior. Soon, illusions appeared around them, and the scene changed dramatically.

"Oh my god, are you kidding me? This is a monkey mountain!" The aloof young woman was momentarily stunned, finding the scene hard to believe, but Xu Yang quickly regained his composure. He had a feeling that while the place looked picturesque, even somewhat comical with the monkeys, true danger often lurked within such seemingly tranquil settings.

"Watch out! Get clear!"

With a premonition, Xu Yang immediately sensed danger and silently appeared next to Xiao Xiang.

True to his warning, a small, half-meter-tall hairy monkey, chirping excitedly, had scurried towards Xiao Xiang's feet. But as it got close, it suddenly and without warning transformed into a massive ten-meter-tall ape.

It unleashed an angry punch towards Xiao Xiang. If Xu Yang hadn't reacted swiftly, instantly scooping her up and rolling to the side, that devastating punch would have landed squarely on her.

Having clearly dodged the attack, Xiao Xiang was truly shaken, yet she also felt grateful for Xu Yang's protection. Feeling the profound sense of security and his presence, her beautiful face flushed, and she seemed to realize, without fully understanding how, that she had fallen in love with him.

Of course, in such a situation, Xiao Xiang had no time to think about anything else. Without hesitation, she activated her Longevity Victory Technique, continuously bestowing over a dozen auras upon Xu Yang.

Meanwhile, just as the danger to Xiao Xiang subsided, the aloof young woman's position also came under attack from a giant ape. It turned out that hundreds of monkeys in this illusionary realm each had the potential to transform into colossal demonic apes.

Apparently, only Xu Yang possessed spiritual energy strong enough to predict which small monkey would suddenly transform and attack. This meant that dealing with the terrifying threat of the illusion fell solely to him.

He had to constantly move between the girls, shifting and maneuvering. The Level Nine Giant Serpent Empress, however, was relatively safe; possessing the powerful physique of a Level Nine demonic beast, even a direct attack from a giant ape wouldn't cause her severe injury.

"Hehe, little ones, you truly have a death wish, venturing into this Demon Saint's cave. If I don't give you a taste of the gates of hell, I'm afraid you won't truly understand the deterrent power of the words 'Demon Saint' in Kunlun Abyss!"

This voice belonged to none of the giant apes and permeated every corner of the environment. It was likely the true voice of Demon Saint Qitian, though his actual form did not appear.

"Haha, a so-called Demon Saint is nothing but a coward hiding his face. We've already arrived at your abode, and you still dream of trapping us with these formations? That's utterly fanciful."

As his words fell, Xu Yang unhesitatingly conjured a massive sword aura. The power of the Eternal Sword Dao seemed to instantly shock the small monkeys before him.

Amidst this atmosphere of shock, hundreds of small monkeys before them mutated wildly in a very short time, transforming into a massive combat group of hundreds of giant apes.

Each giant ape stood ten meters tall, its eyes radiating a blood-red light that seemed to devour everything. Such terrifying deterrence would have caused others to collapse in despair, but Xu Yang maintained his composure.

"Heh, just some hairy brutes. Do you really think you can overturn the heavens here?"

Xu Yang sneered. He swept out with the massive Eternal Sword Aura in a horizontal arc. Its power was like cleaving the sky and rending the earth. Where it passed, the giant apes recoiled in fear, yet a significant number of them were struck, their lower bodies severed instantly.