"That was close! I almost failed!"
Successfully pulling Mu Yang's consciousness into the illusion, Hu Liena secretly felt relieved.
Aside from methods for cultivating spiritual power, mental strength was also somewhat linked to soul power levels. If her soul power level had been just one rank lower, or Mu Yang's had been just one rank higher, then her Heavenly Fox Illusion Realm soul bone skill would have had no effect on him.
Feeling fortunate, a sly smile appeared on Hu Liena's lips, making her look just like a fox that had successfully stolen a chicken.
Then, her consciousness also sank into the illusion.
For opponents whose mental strength was far weaker than hers, she wouldn't have needed to do this. However, Mu Yang's mental strength was powerful, only slightly inferior to her own. If she didn't personally immerse herself in the illusion to control it, he might quickly notice flaws and break free from its hold.
At the end of the day, the Heavenly Fox Illusion Realm was merely a pure illusion technique.
And with purely illusion-based skills, once an opponent spotted flaws, the effectiveness would drastically drop. If there were too many flaws, even someone with weaker mental strength—so long as it wasn't significantly lower—could break free from the illusion.
Under Hu Liena's control, the illusion realm, which was nearly seamlessly connected to reality, progressed at a slightly slower pace than the real world.
At this moment, the match had yet to officially begin, and the referee signaled for both sides to activate their martial souls.
Just like in the real world earlier, Mu Yang remained motionless. But Hu Liena was different—she immediately created a grand spectacle.
"Nine Tailed Charming Fox, Possession!"
With a charming cry, a massive white nine-tailed fox phantom flickered behind her. Her ears elongated, transforming into a pair of furry white fox ears, while nine white tails spread out from behind her. One after another, her soul rings gleamed brilliantly.
In an instant—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red—nine soul rings encircled Hu Liena as she activated her martial soul possession.
Seeing this, Mu Yang's eyelids couldn't help but twitch.
What kind of nonsense is this? Not only did her martial soul undergo a super evolution and her soul power level skyrocket, but she even obtained a hundred-thousand-year ninth soul ring? Do you really think I'm an idiot who'll believe all of this is real?
However, just as Mu Yang was silently ridiculing her, he suddenly felt a spiritual force invade his sea of consciousness, attempting to alter his perception.
After considering for a moment, Mu Yang didn't resist this spiritual force but instead ensured his mind remained clear, preventing his fundamental awareness from being manipulated.
In the next instant, from Mu Yang's perception, Hu Liena—standing on the battlefield—radiated an overwhelming presence, as if she had truly become a nine-ring Title Douluo.
But this "achieved" nine-ring Title Douluo Hu Liena gave Mu Yang the same feeling as the illusion itself—like a paper tiger that would collapse at the slightest poke.
"Interesting~"
Mu Yang silently evaluated.
Clearly, this illusion-based soul bone ability allowed Hu Liena to act as the GM within the illusion, making her seem like the creator of the world.
But if that was all it did, then it wouldn't be enough.
The flaws were too obvious. In the common knowledge of soul masters, the age limit for the Soul Master Tournament was 25 years old—nowhere near enough time for a participant to cultivate to the nine-ring Title Douluo realm, even with innate full soul power.
Thus, this illusion-based soul bone skill had also developed another ability—manipulating the target's perception, making all the unrealistic aspects seem perfectly reasonable, and making them wholeheartedly believe everything Hu Liena displayed was real.
"Y-You're a Title Douluo? A hundred-thousand-year soul ring?"
Staring at the nine soul rings shining around Hu Liena, Mu Yang put on a shocked expression and spoke.
"Hmph~ Little Mu Yang, why aren't you bowing to pay respects to Her Excellency the Heavenly Fox?"
Hu Liena snorted, looking proud and arrogant.
Hearing this, Mu Yang's face darkened.
You want me, Mu Yang, to respectfully call you 'Her Excellency the Heavenly Fox'? Unless you really became a Title Douluo, that's not happening!
Though that's what he thought, Mu Yang's mind was already working rapidly, planning how to deal with Hu Liena's act.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up—he had a great idea.
"Hu Liena, you truly are an unprecedented super genius of the soul master world, already achieving the rank of Title Douluo?"
Mu Yang asked, pretending to be in disbelief.
According to the "script," his perception had been altered by Hu Liena, but since his mental strength was only slightly "weaker" than hers, it was reasonable that his mind hadn't been completely overwritten.
"Hmph—"
Without speaking, Hu Liena let out a cold snort, unleashing a terrifying soul power pressure upon Mu Yang.
Immediately, a strange sensation surged within Mu Yang's heart.
This soul power pressure felt like he was plunging into an abyss, yet at the same time, like a gentle breeze brushing past—an indescribable contradiction.
Enduring the "terrifying" soul power pressure, Mu Yang gritted his teeth and declared:
"Fake! It's all fake! Hu Liena, if you're really a Title Douluo, then you should be able to see my soul power level. Tell me, what is my soul power level?"
Hu Liena: "…"
How would I know what your soul power level is? Teacher never told me! Are you trying to put this chubby fox in a tough spot?!
"Level 57?"
Hu Liena hesitantly guessed.
"Hahaha! I knew it! This is definitely fake! Hu Liena, let me tell you—I'm a level 56 Soul King!"
Mu Yang said, completely making things up.
"Level 56? Got it!"
Hu Liena smiled and nodded, then, at the cost of some spiritual energy, she once again activated her ability to modify perceptions—temporarily erasing Mu Yang's memory of this conversation.
Then, the familiar scene played out again.
"Little Mu Yang, why aren't you bowing to pay respects to Her Excellency the Heavenly Fox?"
"Fake! It's all fake! Hu Liena… just tell me, what's my soul power level?"
"Hmph—Ignorant frog in a well! A mere level 56 Soul King dares to act arrogant in front of this Douluo?"
Hu Liena sneered in disdain.
You definitely didn't expect this, did you, Mu Yang? I've already found out your soul power level!
The Heavenly Fox Illusion Realm soul bone skill— the more the target believes the illusion is real, the deeper they sink into it, making it even harder to break free.
As for pretending to be a mighty Title Douluo? Hu Liena admitted she might have exaggerated a bit, but that didn't matter. With her ability to alter perceptions, as long as Mu Yang believed it, it wouldn't be an issue.
Of course, the main reason she played this role was that once the target left the illusion, the memories she had suppressed with her ability would gradually return.
This Mu Yang was quite the show-off, and he had nearly wiped out her Spirit Hall team—Hu Liena had already recorded that in her little notebook!
Making him bow respectfully in apology and then thoroughly humiliating him? That was absolutely necessary!
And for something as satisfying as this, not only did she need to remember it, but Mu Yang also had to remember it—otherwise, how could she achieve double the enjoyment?
This was just like how a woman who loves showing off wouldn't carry too luxurious a handbag when shopping—if no one could recognize it, then wouldn't that just be a wasted opportunity to flaunt?
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}
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