Illusion

A non-physical attack that deceives the senses; the vixen uses a high-tier illusion to make Han Li kill a false image while she stalks him invisible.

Definition

A non-physical attack that deceives the senses; the vixen uses a high-tier illusion to make Han Li kill a false image while she stalks him invisible.

Story context

Han Li, fresh off his conversation with two Star Palace Core Formation cultivators, decides to accompany them—then immediately attacks. What follows is a surgical, two-versus-one slaughter that showcases the raw power differential a well-prepared cultivator with *genuine* ancient treasures can wield against opponents stuck with self-refined or borderline equipment. The chapter moves fast, the kills are clinical, and the reveal of the Five Elements Ring’s containment ability is a game-changer. Oh, and someone’s watching from the water the whole time. This is Mortal Stream combat at its most transactional: don’t negotiate unless you’re ready to execute.

Why it matters

This chapter is a *palate cleanser of pure efficiency*. After the chaos of the Void Heaven Palace, Han Li is back in the open sea, and he’s operating at a new gear. Notice how the fight is framed: he doesn’t out-cultivate his opponents; he *out-equips* them. The Confucian scholar dies without casting a single spell. The burly man abandons his natal treasure just to flee, and still dies. That’s not brute force—that’s a setup executed with cold precision. Pay attention to the tease at the end: who’s in the water? In the Mortal Stream, no observation is ever purely coincidental, and no reveal is thrown away.