When did you get the illusion that I wasn't using genjutsu

Thump! Thump!

A bizarre, eerie, and utterly inexplicable sensation flooded the heart of Dick, a late-stage grandmaster.

He stood there, his heartbeat pounding like a war drum—rapid and erratic. His gaze remained locked onto the black figure seated on the couch.

No fluctuations of true energy.

No signs of any martial techniques being used.

Then… what had just happened?

Was it… an illusion?

No. It couldn’t be. He could still distinguish reality from dreams.

Dick quickly steadied his mind, his body tensing as he refused to let his eyes leave the Night King for even a second. His vigilance soared to its peak, his entire body gathering true energy.

The Night King truly lived up to his name—his abilities were indeed strange.

But since Dick was still alive, it meant the opponent’s influence, while unsettling, wasn’t deep enough to be fatal!

So…

Gradually, Dick calmed himself, though his guard remained razor-sharp. He stared at the Night King and spoke in a low voice, "You just used an illusion technique, didn’t you?"

The world of ancient martial arts was filled with countless experts, many of whom specialized in illusion-based techniques.

Dick had encountered such fighters in his early years.

But without exception… they had all died.

In Dick’s mind, illusions were nothing more than cheap tricks. True martial artists walked the path of overwhelming force—breaking through all obstacles with sheer power!

Hearing this,

"Heh."

Gu Yan slowly stood up, his laughter echoing in layers from all directions.

Click!

He flicked open a lighter, producing a crisp metallic sound. "You’re quite clever."

As he spoke, he took one deliberate step after another toward Dick, each footfall resonating like a hammer against Dick’s heart.

His face blurred under an eerie, distorting force.

But Dick, unlike before, no longer seemed panicked or lost. Instead, he steadily regained his composure.

Hearing the Night King’s response, he smirked with confidence.

At the same time, his body tensed, true energy surging within him.

Watching the Night King approach step by step, he sneered, "Night King, I admit you once plunged the world into momentary darkness."

"But I’m sorry."

"Your era…"

"Is over!"

Bzzzt!

The moment his words fell,

A torrent of bloody true energy erupted from Dick’s body. His eyes turned crimson as he roared and thrust both hands toward the approaching Night King.

"Die!!!"

BOOM!!!

An immense surge of energy burst from Dick’s palms, instantly forming a crimson beam that shot straight at the Night King.

The surrounding air twisted violently under the force, as if space itself could no longer withstand such power.

This… was the might of a late-stage grandmaster!

Yet,

Facing this attack,

Gu Yan showed no intention of dodging.

Just as the crimson beam was about to strike him, he casually raised a hand. A deep, mysterious dark energy swiftly condensed in his palm.

RUMBLE—

The collision of the two forces erupted like thunder, filling the entire space with blinding light.

Dick’s bloody true energy and Gu Yan’s dark energy clashed in midair, consuming each other before finally triggering a small-scale explosion.

BANG!!!

The shockwave shattered every window in the room, reducing furniture to splinters and pulverizing the floor into dust.

Amid the billowing smoke,

WHOOSH!

Dick’s figure shot forward, his fingers morphing into a sinister scarlet as he clawed toward the eerie silhouette before him.

A vicious grin spread across his face as he watched the Night King stand motionless.

His Blood Wraith Technique had reached perfection!

And his fingers had been refined into its ultimate secret art—the Blood Reaper’s Touch!

A single graze was all it took to drain every drop of blood energy from his opponent!

Even the Night King was no exception—he was just a slightly stronger living being!

Dick’s strike was swift and ruthless.

Squelch!!

His Blood Reaper’s Touch pierced straight into the Night King’s body.

Success!!!

Dick’s face twisted with triumph.

Before his eyes, the Night King rapidly dissolved into a pool of blood.

Witnessing this, Dick couldn’t hold back his mocking laughter. "Hahahaha!!! What Night King?!"

"You’re nothing but my—?!"

Before he could finish,

Under Dick’s frozen gaze,

The Night King, who should have been reduced to a puddle of blood,

Instead…

Reformed in an unnatural manner, reappearing right in front of him.

At the same time, the Night King raised a hand, sending a wave of dread coursing through Dick’s entire being.

Not good!

His pupils contracted.

Then—BAM!!!

"Cough!!!"

A tremendous force slammed into his chest.

BANG!

His body was sent flying backward, crashing through the wall and out of the room.

SWOOSH!

A pair of crimson wings unfurled from his back, allowing Dick to hover midair.

A trickle of blood escaped his lips as he stared in disbelief at the Night King, who stood unharmed before the shattered floor-to-ceiling window.

How?!

Dick felt dazed. He had clearly touched the Night King.

So why…?!

"Pathetic."

"Every thought in your mind is laid bare before me."

The familiar voice rang out.

A chill shot up Dick’s spine. He whipped his head around—

Only to see…

The Night King standing behind him,

Casually flicking his elegant lighter.

In that instant, Dick understood.

His expression darkened.

An illusion?! When did—?!

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. "Another illusion, right?"

"Night King, is this all you’ve got?"

Damn it! Two illusions in a row?!

More importantly, how had he fallen for it?

Dick’s mood soured, his face twisting with rage.

Calm down, Dick. Stay calm.

Was the Night King toying with him for amusement?

Yes, that had to be it.

His mentor had once said the Night King was a sadistic being who reveled in others’ suffering.

So…

Watching Dick struggle helplessly in an illusion was the Night King’s idea of fun?

How dare he look down on me like this?!

I’m the most talented martial artist in the Western Nations!

Born at the pinnacle of power!

Dick’s eyes flicked toward the crimson formation above—still intact.

But…

He focused his senses inward, and his face instantly twisted in fury.

Damn it! He couldn’t feel a single trace of his organization’s members—not even the faintest ripple of true energy.

What method had the Night King used to slaughter them all so silently?!

No wonder no one had come despite the massive battle earlier.

Fine. He needed to stay composed.

Illusions couldn’t be maintained indefinitely—that defied the laws of martial techniques.

Recalling the earlier events,

There had been a moment when the illusion had broken.

Dick’s mind raced. Every technique had a weakness.

The same goes for illusion techniques. If illusions had no weaknesses, he would have died hundreds of times in his youth.

As a late-stage grandmaster, Dick had plenty of experience battling fighters skilled in illusions.

He knew... whenever someone used illusions, there would always be a flaw.

Even if that person was the Night King!

So...

Think, Dick... the flaw in the Night King's illusions!

Suddenly!

His gaze landed on the exquisite lighter in the Night King's hand.

Click—click—!

The crisp sound of the lighter echoed in Dick's mind.

That's it!

The lighter! That was the precursor to the Night King's illusions!

Sure enough!

The next moment!

When the Night King flicked the lighter again—

Hum!

Faint but unmistakable, a ripple of true energy pulsed through the air.

Now!

Dick's blood surged as he clasped his hands together and roared, "Night King!! I've seen through your tricks!!"

The next second.

Boom!!

Drops of blood materialized around the Night King.

But their target wasn't him—it was... the lighter in his hand!!

Crack!! The blood droplets shot forward!

The lighter shattered!

"Tch."

The Night King let out a displeased sound as his body dissolved into a cloud of black mist, fleeing toward the edge of the formation.

"Don't even think about running!"

Dick's face twisted with manic glee. Boom!

The crimson wings on his back flared, propelling him into the air as he chased after the black mist.

The Night King was... running?!

"Night King!! You actually flee?!"

"Hahaha!! What Night King?! Just a pathetic clown!!"

"No wonder so many fear you! It's all because of your illusions, huh?! Hahaha, too bad!! I've killed more illusionists than I've had meals!"

"Others fear you—but not me!"

"Night King!! Today is your death day!!"

Soaring through the air, Dick stretched his hands forward.

Boom! Boom! Boom!!

Spheres of energy, glowing with a sinister crimson light, relentlessly bombarded the Night King.

Bang! Bang! Bang!!!

Yet, each energy sphere was obliterated by bursts of dark energy.

As the black mist drew closer,

Dick's hands wove intricate seals before his fingers pointed toward the center of the formation's apex.

Hum!

A beam of red light descended from the apex, converging at his fingertip.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!

A blood-red pearl, radiating dense sanguine energy, materialized at Dick's fingertip.

[Bloodbane Pearl]

[The ultimate artifact forged from the lifeblood of ten thousand beings! Capable of manipulating the essence of lifeblood to unleash unique blood-based true energy!]

Normally, Dick would never reveal such a treasure.

But! This time, his opponent was the Night King!

So!

He bellowed at the black mist ahead, "Night King! You can't use illusions anymore!! Just die quietly!!"

"Bloodbane Formation!! Activate!!"

As his voice faded—

Boom!!

The Bloodbane Formation enveloping the Death God Organization erupted in crimson light, and the blood pearls shot toward the black mist.

With the Bloodbane Pearl and the Bloodbane Formation combined, even the so-called Night King would be reduced to nothing but lifeforce!

Dick watched eagerly as the Bloodbane Pearl closed in on the Night King. Almost there! Just a little more!!

He! Would be the first to truly kill the Night King!!!!

But then...

Just as the Bloodbane Pearl was about to strike the black mist—

Something unexpected happened.

Crack—!

Everything before him shattered like glass.

At the same time.

A voice, icy and detached.

Suddenly whispered in Dick's ear.

"When did you ever get the illusion..."

"That I wasn't using illusions?"