Chapter 1530: Ice Coffin Illusion

"What? She dispelled my illusion space with such ease. This old woman is truly extraordinary; she's far more powerful than anyone I've ever encountered who practices mental energy cultivation."

This was the most profound realization in White Lotus Demon Saint's heart at that moment, yet she would never consider abandoning her resistance.

After all, White Lotus Demon Saint knew full well that this battle was no longer just about her personal gains or losses. She represented the future of billions of demon kind and, more importantly, was Xu Yang's only direct disciple. She absolutely could not disappoint her master.

Gritting her teeth, White Lotus Demon Saint conjured an even more powerful mental illusion between them. This time, however, the old woman seemed far less amicable. Uncharacteristically, she took the initiative to strike, not only instantly dismantling all the illusionary spaces White Lotus Demon Saint had created, but also turning around to impose an extremely powerful sealing barrier upon her.

Xu Yang's illusory form observed the entire scene and immediately discerned several flaws in the old woman's mental energy cultivation technique.

"So that's it," he thought. "The mental energy technique this old woman cultivates is primarily purification-based, but its most fatal weakness is now exposed: it lacks sufficiently powerful mental offensive capabilities.

"This means that if White Lotus can choose to confront her directly, by consolidating a sufficiently powerful mental force for one ultimate strike, she could easily break free from this 'boiling frog' predicament."

Xu Yang immediately realized that any attempt to urgently convey information to her would be futile. Both were now completely trapped within the illusion woven by the old woman. Even if Xu Yang wished to intervene, he had no way to forcefully enter the fray.

If Xu Yang were to truly decide to intervene directly with great power, using his strength to alter the outcome of this confrontation, it would not only fail to genuinely help White Lotus Demon Saint, but might also leave a lasting shadow on her soul.

Such an act would profoundly impact her future cultivation. How could Xu Yang personally jeopardize his disciple's path to spiritual growth?

Therefore, Xu Yang had no choice but to silently pray for White Lotus Demon Saint, hoping she would achieve a breakthrough through her own strength.

"Little girl," the old woman's voice echoed, "from this moment, I offer you a chance to choose again. If you are willing to relinquish all the cultivation you've amassed and acknowledge me as your revered master, I will impart all my lifelong knowledge to you. You are the most gifted mental-type demon beast I've ever encountered, especially considering you were originally a human soul possessor.

"In my view, even with your soul bound to a demon beast's body, you remain a proud human, still possessing the potential to inherit the most powerful mental techniques of my Tong Yuan lineage. Consider this carefully; I am extending a very serious invitation. Of course, if your answer fails to satisfy me, I will not hesitate to erase your very existence."

The old woman had already comfortably assumed the role of the dominant figure within White Lotus Demon Saint's soul world. White Lotus, meanwhile, found it increasingly difficult to summon sufficient courage and confidence in the old woman's presence. A crushing sense of being utterly suppressed by her opponent became frighteningly clear. The only remaining belief preventing her from giving up was her unwavering promise to Xu Yang.

"Master, what am I to do?"

Just as White Lotus Demon Saint was wavering internally, the old woman suddenly revealed a sinister sneer and burst into raucous laughter.

"Hahaha," she cackled, "your resolve has begun to waver! You already believe that I am the sole victor in this battle, and that you can never defeat me. Little girl, abandon your resistance. You have fallen into the dream I wove for you and will never escape!"

The moment her words ceased, the old woman's true form vanished completely from White Lotus Demon Saint's soul world, replaced by an incredibly cold, colossal ancient coffin. This ice coffin had entirely encased White Lotus Demon Saint within her own soul world.

At that moment, White Lotus Demon Saint's five senses and spiritual perception were completely stripped away in an incredibly short time. Only her soul remained active; her body and all awareness of her surroundings had rapidly vanished.

All that remained for White Lotus Demon Saint was a cold coffin and the sight of her own face, gradually aging before her eyes. She was utterly powerless to resist, like a living corpse, able only to silently count the passing moments within her mind.

Stripped of her freedom and all contact with the outside world, left alone in that frigid space to await death, she was engulfed by a suffocating despair.

White Lotus Demon Saint had never experienced such a profound feeling. Even when she had previously teetered on the brink of life and death during her breakthroughs, she had never known despair like this.

White Lotus Demon Saint finally understood that when confronting a sufficiently powerful mental energy master, her resolve must not falter in the slightest. If her conviction wavered, the outcome of the battle would be sealed, and she would never emerge victorious.

"Master," she whispered, "perhaps I truly made a mistake. Have I disappointed you?"

White Lotus Demon Saint shed a single tear, unaware that within it lay her reassembled life force, and within that life force, flowed a trace of Xu Yang's soul essence.

It was a wisp of Xu Yang's aura, integrated into the very essence of White Lotus Demon Saint's life force, which had long since merged with her entire being.

Ordinarily, the girl had never perceived the stirring of Xu Yang's potent soul essence. Yet, just as her life was on the verge of eternally slumbering within this illusion, that wisp of Xu Yang's aura suddenly surged into White Lotus Demon Saint's soul world, igniting the boundless darkness within her soul and becoming the sole, eternal flicker of light.

"Foolish girl!" a voice boomed in her mind. "Why did I tell you that you never need to fear any opponent, even if the will of a supreme god stands before you? As long as your desire for victory does not perish in your heart, you will never reach the abyss of failure!"

The voice echoed repeatedly within White Lotus Demon Saint's mind, causing the girl to snap her eyes open. All the dormant power within her body began to frantically revive, her lost five senses gradually returned, and under the surging might, the coffin that had sealed her began to rapidly melt within moments.

"Old woman," White Lotus Demon Saint roared, "do you truly believe this is enough to completely suppress me? I told you I am Xu Yang's disciple; you are not qualified to judge me!"

A furious roar erupted! White Lotus Demon Saint completely returned to her peak state. The ice coffin before her shattered instantly, and all surrounding illusions vanished entirely.

White Lotus Demon Saint returned to the real world. Before her, the old woman, visibly shaken, raised the horsetail whisk in her hand and lashed out towards White Lotus Demon Saint's true form.