As information gradually integrated in his mind, Qi Yuan came up with a guess.
If the rabbit monster and mutated rabbits were considered as a whole...
Their judgment on other species might be like how humans judge monsters - regardless of how different they look, they are all monsters.
In the eyes of normal creatures, they are a group of rabbits.
But in their eyes, normal creatures are a group of rabbits.
The only part he couldn't understand was why there was an obvious alternating process between it seeing other species and rabbits...
He reviewed that part of the past experience with some contemplation.
What if it wasn't originally a rabbit monster?
It and the animals were gradually transformed into rabbits, and eventually it was also transformed into a rabbit.
Rabbits can distinguish each other, so in its vision, it reverted back to normal animals.
Verifying his guess was simple.
All he had to do was transform into the rabbit that the monster saw in the illusion, and the monster's reaction would tell him everything.
With that in mind, Qi Yuan brought the monster in the illusion back to consciousness.
The illusion changed to the location they were just in, with Qi Yuan and the monster facing each other.
As soon as the monster regained consciousness, it was met with Qi Yuan's face, and its rabbit face showed a terrified expression.
"A rabbit... that terrifying rabbit!"
Hearing its thoughts, Qi Yuan confirmed it was conscious, and slowly transformed his form into the rabbit image it saw.
The rabbit with eighteen filters came out, and Qi Yuan gave it enough time to react.
"Damn humans, disguising themselves as rabbits!"
"No wonder the rabbit could use a sword, it was actually a human in disguise."
Having obtained the answer he wanted, Qi Yuan mercilessly dismissed it.
A gentle breeze brushed across the long stairs in front of the palace, kicking up swirling dust.
A pair of feet ascended the steps.
Only the initial bloodstains bore witness to the monster's former existence.
The monster came to the palace to search for humans, but instead encountered strange rabbits.
In its memory, animals generally lacked the ability to resist being transformed into rabbits.
This area likely had other humans.
...
In a corner of the palace.
A few young boys and girls had just stopped from their frantic running, gasping for breath.
One of the boys tugged at his collar, muttering, "That old bore insisted I wear the family uniform, what a hassle."
"You should be grateful you wore the uniform, the temperature here is much lower than outside."
A girl leaned against the wall, rubbing her palms together and breathing onto them to warm up her frozen hands.
"I know, but I don't like this collar, it's choking me."
The others weren't interested in the discussion about the collar. After catching their breath, they asked, "What do we do next?"
That question opened the floodgates.
One of the girls held her chest, still shaken, "How did we suddenly get separated? One moment I turned around and was surrounded by rabbits, I nearly died of fright."
"Yeah, they were chasing us relentlessly just now."
The group discussed the recent harrowing experience, fully venting their emotions before someone spoke up.
"Let's wait for the rescue."
"Huh?"
That person continued, "We disappeared during the trial, so the family will definitely send people to find us. Running around aimlessly risks encountering monsters, it's better to wait here."
"I agree with Luo Feng's suggestion."
"Okay."
His proposal was quickly agreed upon by the others.
"Don't you want to explore this strange fusion realm we encountered?"
The boy who had been tugging at his collar asked in disbelief.
"No."
Several of them responded in unison.
"Why should we wait around?"
The one who looked down on Luo Feng, with an arrogant expression, uncrossed his arms and retorted, "Don't you know that the leading Elder Ma is formidable? His famous Lightning Five-Whip Combo is renowned."
"As long as we find him, we'll be safe. Even if we can't find him, we can leave traces, and Elder Ma will follow them to find us."
"We all have special abilities, escaping won't be a problem. Or is it that Luo Feng, you're scared?"
Luo Feng was just a half-grown boy, and it was already an achievement for him to remain calm in this situation.
Faced with this person's repeated provocations, even a mud man would have a bit of temper.
"Ma Yuanwei, you should talk to me again after you've obtained the second combat rank."
Ma Yuanwei had always envied Luo Feng's first combat rank, so Luo Feng poked at his sore spot.
Luo Feng didn't bother hiding his expression, immediately angering Ma Yuanwei.
"Heh, my brother is a renowned genius among all the major families, why would I envy you?"
"What does your brother being a genius have to do with you?"
Luo Feng didn't back down an inch.
Poked at his sore spot, Ma Yuanwei immediately jumped up and down, his voice cracking with agitation, "It was just a fluke that you got first place last year, this year the first place will definitely be mine."
"Earn it first before you talk, who can't brag?"
The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder, and they were about to start fighting.
Several of their companions immediately tried to reconcile them.
"Now is not the time for fighting."
"Don't argue anymore."
The noisy sounds from the corner attracted onlookers.
By the time they calmed down from the quarrel, they had already been surrounded by a group of monsters.
Drooling saliva dripped down, and they could even smell a rancid odor.
The group of youths huddled together with their backs against the wall.
"I'll break through the wall, buy me some time."
Luo Feng regained his composure, regretfully saying.
With monsters on the left, right, and front, the only chance of escape was to break through the wall behind them.
Ma Yuanwei was the first to disagree, his tone a little shaky, "You're just scared and want us to sacrifice ourselves for you."
"If you're scared, then you do it."
If the Ma Family wasn't so formidable, Luo Feng would have strangled this idiot.
"Who's scared?"
"Get out of the way."
The boy who had been tugging at his collar couldn't stand their bickering any longer. "If I'm scared, I'll do it, alright?"
"Are you still living in the great Qing era? That old cliche dialog, I'm going to die laughing at you guys."
He then concentrated his power ability into his fist and, carrying the resentment of being let down by his teammates, slammed it into the wall.
Crack—
Instead of the rumbling sound of a collapsing wall, the cracking sound of breaking bones rang out.
That boy's face turned the color of pig liver, his heroic spirit turning into embarrassment and pain in his arm.
What the hell was that?!
Although he was terribly embarrassed, no one really paid attention to him.
"I can't hold this barrier much longer, hurry up!"
A girl held a porous stone in her hands, an artifact that amplified her feeble barrier to withstand these low-level monsters.
Unfortunately, her level was too low to sustain it for long.
"Let's all attack together."
They were tired of Luo Feng and Ma Yuanwei's bickering and made the decision themselves.
Various abilities were unleashed on the wall, but to their despair...
The wall remained motionless.
Crack—
The sound of the barrier shattering echoed, and they had no choice but to face the encroaching horde of monsters.