Having lost its prey right under its nose, the white bear grew even more furious, launching a barrage of frantic spell attacks at Qin Hu, Qi Li, and Wang Hao. This indiscriminate assault inadvertently allowed the others to escape further away.

Wang Hao was utterly speechless. “I’m only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. Aren’t you overestimating me?”

The spiritual light on his Clear Source Boots flickered wildly as he cast several defensive talismans on himself.

However, attacks from a third-tier demon beast were not so easy to withstand. The power of the white bear’s strikes grew increasingly fierce. Judging by the spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from its body, it was at least a mid-tier third-grade beast.

Wang Hao’s defenses crumbled instantly.

The last few attacks struck his body directly. If he weren’t a body cultivator, he would have been reduced to pulp on the spot. Even so, he was severely injured. One of his arms hung limply at his side, and his body was drenched in blood. He couldn’t even manage sword flight anymore.

Wang Hao hurriedly summoned Yaya, ordering the beast to carry him to safety.

He didn’t want to die. At this moment, a pang of regret hit him. Why hadn’t he just laid low? With his current resources, reaching the peak of Foundation Establishment would have been guaranteed. Why did he have to come out and take such risks?

But the regret was fleeting. He knew that without taking risks, he wouldn’t obtain the materials needed for Core Formation. Without those materials, how could a Five Spiritual Roots cultivator like him ever form a Golden Core?

Perhaps assuming Wang Hao was as good as dead, the white bear stopped targeting him and turned its attention to Qi Li and Qin Hu, who had managed to block most of its previous attacks. Terrified out of their wits, the two men unleashed various divine abilities in a desperate bid for survival.

This only provoked the white bear further, drawing its focus entirely onto them.

Better a Fellow Daoist die than this poor Daoist.

Wang Hao felt a slight easing of the pressure. But his relief was short-lived. A group of second-tier demon beasts, seemingly acting on the white bear’s orders, peeled off from the main horde to hunt down the stragglers.

“Head for the mountain! There are remnants of formations up there. I refuse to believe these beasts dare to charge in recklessly!” Wang Hao instructed Yaya.

With a sharp cry, Yaya banked and flew swiftly toward the mountain peak.

But Yaya was only a lower second-grade beast. Among the pursuers were many upper second-grade flying types, far faster than it. In his severely wounded state, Wang Hao couldn’t fight them off.

A second-grade upper-tier Flying Sky Bat seized an opportunity and struck Yaya hard.

SCREECH!

Yaya let out a mournful cry, its body dipping dangerously close to the treetops before barely stabilizing. Its large toe was torn in half, blood spraying into the air, but fortunately, its wings were unharmed. It continued flying, carrying Wang Hao through the pain.

Wang Hao released the Phantom Moon Butterflies, ordering them to spew mist in hopes of confusing the pursuers.

“Keep going! To the peak!”

Sure enough, restriction lights flickered constantly along the mountain path, forcing the flying demon beasts to slow down. With his powerful Divine Consciousness scanning the gaps, Wang Hao guided Yaya through safe corridors in the chaotic energy field.

Yet, spells still struck them repeatedly. Upon reaching the final ascent, Yaya took a heavy hit to its left wing while shielding Wang Hao. Unable to maintain altitude, it spiraled down toward the barren mountaintop.

The peak was empty except for a single massive black boulder—precisely why Wang Hao and the others hadn’t bothered exploring it earlier. Crashing into rock at this speed would be fatal, even for a body cultivator.

“Am I going to die?”

Wang Hao couldn’t describe the feeling in his heart. Fear, regret, acceptance—all vanished, leaving only one thought: Survive.

Using his last dregs of spiritual energy, he condensed a protective shield and recalled Yaya into the spirit beast pouch. Yaya was hanging by a thread; even at the end, it had tried to use its body as a cushion. How could Wang Hao bear to let it die?

He braced for impact.

However, the bone-shattering crash never came. Instead, he felt a sensation like passing through a soft, yielding membrane.

“A formation,” Wang Hao murmured, his voice weak.

He looked up. The sky above was clear; none of the demon beasts had pursued them through the barrier. He counted himself lucky.

His mind relaxed, and the adrenaline faded. Darkness swarmed his vision. Before losing consciousness, he faintly sensed a figure seated on the ground nearby. Instinctively, he dragged his body toward it before blacking out completely.

When he opened his eyes again, Wang Hao found himself on a small island.

Just as he was trying to make sense of his surroundings, the wooden door to his room creaked open, and several youths walked in, faces beaming.

“Brother Wenhao! What are you spacing out for? It’s time to fetch your bride!”

“Fetch my bride?” Wang Hao looked at them, confused. “Why should I fetch a bride? Wait… when did I get engaged?”

“Fifth Child! Are you so happy you’ve gone silly?” An old man walked in, chuckling. “What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and help the groom get ready! We’ll miss the auspicious hour soon; we can’t afford any complaints from the bride’s family!”

Before he could protest, Wang Hao was draped in red and green attire and ushered out of the room.

Outside stood a donkey adorned with red flowers. Wang Hao mounted it while several youths shouldered loads of gifts, leading a festive procession toward another part of the village.

In a modestly sized courtyard, similarly decorated with red cloth, sat a bride dressed in traditional wedding clothes, weeping softly before her parents.

“Xiaotang, dear! Don’t cry anymore! Your makeup will run. The in-laws might complain!” The middle-aged mother comforted her daughter gently.

The young woman raised her head, tears glistening in her eyes. “Mother! Why must I marry so young? Can’t I stay with you for a few more years?”

Her mother chided softly, “Silly child! Once grown up, women should marry—to support their husbands and raise children is natural! What good is staying with us? Do you want to become an old maid?”

“The groom is here! Hurry up!” A shout came from outside.

The mother quickly wiped her daughter’s tears and straightened her clothes.

Moments later, urged by the crowd, Wang Hao knocked on the door. Like a puppet on strings, he followed the guidance through numerous rituals, successfully welcoming the bride into her sedan chair. Amidst music and fanfare, they arrived at a hall plastered with ‘Double Happiness’ characters.

After performing the wedding bows, they were sent to the bridal chamber. In a daze, Wang Hao completed the marital rites with his new wife.

The bride was gentle, beautiful, and virtuous. The two supported each other in life.

Having been a lifelong bachelor in both his previous and current lives, this was Wang Hao’s first taste of such warmth. He soon became immersed in it.

The couple had three children and cultivated over ten acres of land. They rose with the sun and rested at its setting—the man plowing the fields, the woman weaving cloth. Their life was hard, yet happy.

In what seemed like an instant, decades passed. Wang Hao was now old and frail, his hair and beard turned white.

One day, his mischievous grandson came running in, covered in mud.

Upon seeing him, the boy immediately clung to Wang Hao’s leg. “Grandpa, Grandpa! Are there really immortals in this world?”

Wang Hao patted the boy’s head affectionately. “What immortals? How could there be any? I’ve lived over sixty years and never seen one. You must have met a trickster. Don’t get tricked away!”

“But just now, an immortal came to our village! He said if you have a Spiritual Root, you can cultivate. He also said I have a Spiritual Root and asked if I wanted to cultivate with him!”

Spiritual Root? Cultivation?

Wang Hao’s gaze went blank for a moment. A crack formed in the peaceful facade of his memories.

“I remember now… I’m Wang Hao. A Foundation Establishment cultivator. I am an immortal!”

Wang Hao burst into crazy, jarring laughter.

He looked around. His beloved grandson from moments ago was cowering fearfully to one side, on the verge of tears. But Wang Hao couldn’t care less. Because all of this was false. He had no grandson. It was all an illusion.

“This is an illusionary realm. I remember… I was at the peak of the Pill Cauldron Sect. I must have triggered a restriction.”

But then, his frown deepened.

“Wait… why hasn’t this illusion vanished now that I’ve awakened?”

Wang Hao concentrated, recalling the last thing he saw before fainting. A figure seated on the ground.

He slapped his forehead. “Right! That person must have been pulled in too! Just me knowing it’s an illusion isn’t enough to escape. We both have to break it.”

Finding that person was easy. Based on appearance, Wang Hao realized that his “wife” in this illusion—Ji Xiaotang—was the very person he needed to wake up.