Relying on the two charging straight into Leize Mountain, Leilina was beside herself with worry. Of course, it wasn't a deep affection for Liang Xiaoke that caused this, but rather that her own strength only reached the level of a Demon General—equivalent to a Martial Saint—making it extremely difficult to traverse the Leize circle alone. Yet, she lacked the courage to follow them in...

At that moment, Gongsun Lu's figure also plunged straight inside. Seeing the three figures vanish, Leilina's expression turned ugly.

"Fine, fine, I'll wait for you here for three days. If none of you emerge after three days, I'll leave on my own; survival or death will be left to fate!" Muttering her complaint with clear dissatisfaction, Leilina sat down to the side, quietly waiting for Ye Jingyu and the others to reappear.

Inside Leize Mountain, the Phantom Demon Leopard that Ye Jingyu had been relentlessly pursuing finally stopped in its tracks, seeming deeply fearful of the area ahead.

Ye Jingyu also halted, looking at the Phantom Demon Leopard, whose face was etched with terror, causing a growing sense of unease in his heart.

"Do you sense something is wrong?" Liang Xiaoke arrived before him at that moment, speaking cautiously.

"En, the atmosphere here is bizarre; even that leopard seems truly afraid!" Ye Jingyu nodded, though his gaze remained fixed on the leopard’s back, utterly puzzled as to why Luo Ling'er was riding it.

"This Phantom Demon Leopard can conjure the massive shadow of the Rain Master; could the one on its back also be an illusion?" Liang Xiaoke asked tentatively, equally focused on the phantom figure atop the demon beast.

"No, that's not an illusion. My Eye of Reincarnation can see through the origin; that is absolutely not an illusion!" Ye Jingyu shook his head firmly. That attire, that cascade of long black hair, and the half-revealed cheek—who else could it be but Luo Ling'er?

"Roar..." Just then, the Phantom Demon Leopard suddenly let out a tremendous roar, its figure preparing to surge forward once more. Ye Jingyu wouldn't allow it to flee; with a dash of Phantom Step, his form instantly blocked the leopard’s path.

Liang Xiaoke was right behind him, taking a timely step forward to seal off the leopard's retreat.

The leopard seemed utterly unfazed by Ye Jingyu and Liang Xiaoke. Its body dissolved into streaks of residual light, charging straight at Ye Jingyu.

Ye Jingyu’s heart tightened, yet he dared not strike for fear of harming Luo Ling'er on the leopard's back. Instead, he maneuvered closer, intending to capture the beast alive.

In just a few strides, he was near the leopard, but in that instant, seven or eight demon leopards materialized around him. Each one carried a woman on its back, and every single one extended razor-sharp claws towards Ye Jingyu.

Faced with the sudden swarm of beasts, Liang Xiaoke was momentarily startled. He knew these were the leopard's illusions. The body that had been lunging forward stopped, trying to discern which one was real, but Ye Jingyu had already unleashed a punch, slamming it toward the central leopard...

Under the effect of the Eye of Reincarnation, all illusions were revealed as phantoms...

With a heavy thwack, Ye Jingyu's fist landed squarely on the leopard's head. The immense force rattled the beast's skull, making it dizzy. It was fortunate for the leopard that its skull was incredibly resilient, and Ye Jingyu, worried about injuring Luo Ling'er, hadn't used his full strength; otherwise, that single blow would have been enough to completely shatter the creature...

However, the leopard's sharp claws managed to leave long gashes on Ye Jingyu's arm. But Ye Jingyu barely registered the injury; his other hand was already reaching toward the leopard's back.

Stunned and reeling from the blow, the leopard could no longer stop Ye Jingyu from making his rescue.

With blinding speed, he snatched Luo Ling'er from the leopard's back and pulled her into his embrace...

"Ling'er!" he whispered softly. At the sound of his voice, the supposedly unconscious Luo Ling'er abruptly snapped her eyes open. Immediately, a beam of blood-red light shot forth, and her delicate, fair little hand instantly morphed into a sharp talon, plunging directly into Ye Jingyu's chest...

With a hiss, a jet of crimson blood sprayed out. Horror flashed across Ye Jingyu’s eyes. When he looked at Luo Ling'er again, she was no longer his Ling'er, but a beautiful woman whose face was marked with demonic tattoos.

"Heh heh, did that feel good, my dear brother?" The woman let out a delicate laugh while nestled in Ye Jingyu's arms, her sharp claws tightening their grip around his heart...

"A'Yu..." At this moment, seeing "Luo Ling'er" suddenly attack Ye Jingyu, Liang Xiaoke was struck with terror. He rushed toward them desperately, but the leopard that Ye Jingyu had stunned was now blocking his path...

"Get lost..." Liang Xiaoke roared, raising his fist to smash the leopard, while Gongsun Lu, who was beside him, also attacked the beast...

But this time, the leopard truly conjured two separate figures, effectively intercepting Liang Xiaoke.

"You... you are a Phantasm?" Ye Jingyu looked at the demonic markings on the woman's face, watching her features shift fluidly, and managed to force out those three words with difficulty.

Although his Eye of Reincarnation could pierce the origin, currently it could only unravel certain illusions. But this Phantasm had perfectly transformed into Luo Ling'er's likeness; it wasn't an illusion at all, so how could he possibly see through it?

"Tee hee hee, I never expected Brother still knew of our Phantasm race. Indeed, your little sister is of the Phantasm race. What does Brother think of my illusionary arts? Is it convincing enough?" The Phantasm clutched tightly around Ye Jingyu’s heart, a look of triumph blooming on her face.

The Phantasm race was a major lineage within the Demon Realm, though they could not compare to the Eight Great Royal Families. They had always remained affiliated with the Blue Feather Clan. She had been dispatched by Ying Kongshi specifically to impede Ye Jingyu and his companions.

"A truly excellent illusion, a wondrous technique. But you should never, ever have taken Ling'er’s form!" Ye Jingyu ground out the words almost through clenched teeth.

"Tee hee hee, Brother speaks in jest. I have already changed; what can you do to me now?" The Phantasm said triumphantly. In her mind, having seized Ye Jingyu's heart, his life was entirely in her hands; could he possibly stir up any more trouble?

"I will make you perish without a burial site!" Ye Jingyu roared, lunging forward and grabbing for the Phantasm's neck.

The Phantasm was greatly alarmed and prepared to exert full force to tear open Ye Jingyu’s heart, but Ye Jingyu’s palm had already clamped around her throat. A surge of immense power flooded into her, completely sealing off all her abilities. Immediately, she felt Ye Jingyu’s grip tighten...

With a sharp crack, the sound of the Phantasm’s neck snapping echoed.

Demonic creatures possessed potent vitality; even with her neck broken, the Phantasm would not die instantly. A wave of excruciating pain flooded her mind.