The illusions found the scene that had just played out before them too complex to process. They didn't seem to understand at all what Chu Liang had shouted at them.1

However, when Chu Liang leaped forward and climbed onto the first plank walkway of the Stairway to the Heavens, the illusions followed him anyway.0

Right then, Chu Liang felt as though he was lugging something that weighed a thousand jun[1] behind him. Each illusion was like a huge and heavy iron ball and chain shackled to him... imposing an enormous burden on him!0

What's going on?0

Chu Liang continued moving forward, but he couldn't increase his speed at all. Then that white-robed elderly man showed up in front of Chu Liang again.0

The Conservation Master didn't seem to be in a good mood. Well, no one—even if it was just their clone—would be happy about getting killed all of a sudden, seemingly without rhyme or reason.3

"I believe you've realized it, haven't you?" the Conservation Master said slowly. "It's not that I'm forcing you to kill one of them. These attachments manifest as sources of resistance against your ascent, and as you climb higher, the resistance will keep getting stronger. If you don't let go of your attachments,...2