Chapter 533: Playing the Way of Faith

The moment Ning Ruyu's words fell silent, the towering wave, like the hand of a sea god reaching out from the abyss, slammed down onto the two figures on the reef.

If this wave had struck the coast, it would have been a terrifying natural disaster, capable of instantly shattering all nearby roads and buildings. Even Chen Ling, without using any skills, would have been swept away by such a wave and dragged to the bottom of the sea.

Yet, before the colossal wave, the figure in white remained as still as a mountain.

From within his wide white sleeves, Ning Ruyu's slender hands gracefully swept, as if casually parting an invisible veil. An indescribable aura then burst forth from the void before him.

The next moment, the towering wave unexpectedly split open in the center, as if a pair of invisible hands had reached in and torn it directly apart from the middle.

Not only the wave but even the sea surface in front of the reef was parted, creating a vast chasm. The split waves roared and swept past both sides of the reef, completely bypassing Chen Ling and the other person in the center, crashing onto the sea surface with thunderous roars.

Boom—

Fine droplets of seawater scattered like rain, yet they did not touch the white robes in the slightest. Even after the colossal wave receded, not a single corner of his clothing was wet.

Before Chen Ling could fully recover, he suddenly seemed to notice something and looked up at the sky.

Unbeknownst to him, the overcast sky now appeared to have been sliced open by a sword. Golden sunlight streamed through the fissure, shimmering across the sea surface and extending all the way to Ning Ruyu, bathing him in its glow.

This seemingly ordinary gesture parted the colossal wave, the sea surface, and even the sky.

"This is... Sleeve-Sweeping Heaven?" Chen Ling murmured, staring blankly at the scene.

Ning Ruyu withdrew his hands amidst the scattering spray, turned to Chen Ling, and smiled faintly.

"Junior brother, did you see it clearly?"

"...No," Chen Ling frowned slightly. "I don't understand... without using spiritual power, what kind of force separated the waves? It couldn't have been just the wind from your palm, could it?"

"Of course not. Sleeve-Sweeping Heaven is different from other secret arts; its power comes from 'Theatrical Path Belief'."

"Theatrical Path Belief?"

"Whether in ancient times or modern, an actor's stage performance requires a 'sense of belief.' The stronger this belief, the deeper the immersion into the role, and the more authentic the performance becomes. When authenticity reaches a certain degree, it can subtly affect the 'fourth wall' between the actor and the audience, remotely influencing their emotions and even their future habits.

The Theatrical Path Ancient Archive can materialize illusory stories into reality, relying on something akin to 'Theatrical Path Belief.' When we believe that the scenes or props within a story are real, then they become real.

Of course, the manifestations within the Theatrical Path Ancient Archive are so real because the archive itself *is* the 'Way of the Drama God.' And everyone who embarks on the Way of the Drama God possesses a part of it. Therefore, when we infuse 'belief' into the Way of the Drama God, we can also influence our surroundings to a certain extent. This is the principle behind Sleeve-Sweeping Heaven."

Ning Ruyu's explanation was easy to understand, and Chen Ling immediately grasped its essence before asking:

"Does that mean every practitioner of the Way of the Drama God can 'have their wishes fulfilled'?"

"Of course not. Influencing the surrounding environment through 'belief' is far from easy. It's only during a performance, when your sense of belief and your own spiritual resonance reach their peak, that you can exert an influence on your surroundings in that fleeting moment.

This process is actually very difficult and hard to consciously control, as emotions and resonance are mostly encountered by chance. For instance, as I just mentioned, releasing power across three tiers requires perfect timing, location, and conditions to manifest. It cannot be replicated, and each instance is remarkable enough to be recorded in the history of the Theatrical Path."

Chen Ling was thoughtful.

"So, how should I practice?"

"Give up using spiritual power and any other skills. Here, repeat my actions from earlier, trying to mobilize your belief to part the incoming waves. Once you can part even a small corner of any wave, that will count as success."

Ning Ruyu pointed to the endless roaring waves in the distance. "Each successive wave is stronger than the last, and once the trial begins, it cannot be paused. The further you proceed, the more your stamina will wane. If you haven't mastered Sleeve-Sweeping Heaven within ninety-nine waves, it will be difficult to survive the final colossal wave. Generally, this process takes about three days, and even if you ultimately master the secret art, you'll still need three to five days to recuperate.

However, I've made some modifications for you. There are undercurrents beneath this reef now; each time you fall into the water, they will bring you back. This saves you the stamina of struggling on your own and will also significantly shorten the trial time. If you master it quickly and don't expend much energy, you might even make it back to the Mortal Realm today."

Hearing this, Chen Ling sincerely cupped his fist towards Ning Ruyu. "Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Ning Ruyu waved his hand.

"This is all your senior brother can do for you. Whether you can make it back to the Mortal Realm today is entirely up to you."

As his words ended, Ning Ruyu's figure gradually faded from the reef, until only Chen Ling remained alone upon the turbulent sea.

His gaze fell upon the tumultuous waves, and a flicker of determination shone in his eyes.

His vibrant red theatrical robe billowed in the strong wind. Chen Ling's sleeves slowly lifted as he imitated Ning Ruyu's previous posture, then he spoke softly:

"Integrating a sense of belief into the Way of the Drama God, then..."

Audience Expectation: 2

Meanwhile.

At the entrance to the Theatrical Path Ancient Archive.

Ning Ruyu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, watching the red-clad figure amidst the tumultuous waves not far off, as if observing an incredibly lifelike cinematic performance.

"It seems you managed to stop him," Wen Renyou's voice came from behind. Ning Ruyu turned to see Luan Mei approaching with him.

"My junior brother wants to take risks; as his senior brother, I always feel compelled to intervene," Ning Ruyu said with a helpless sigh.

"Does he absolutely have to go?"

"Judging by his demeanor, he absolutely must go."

"So, you still let him enter the Raging Waves Illusion... Aren't you afraid he'll meet with an accident in there? No one has ever mastered Sleeve-Sweeping Heaven using this method before," Luan Mei said, looking at Ning Ruyu.

"The past is the past; my junior brother is different from others," Ning Ruyu shook his head. "Besides, if I want him to master Sleeve-Sweeping Heaven quickly, this might be the only way..."

"Aren't you afraid he won't be able to withstand the ninety-nine waves and will face danger inside?"

"If it truly comes to that, I will naturally rescue him, no matter the cost," Ning Ruyu paused for a moment.

"However, if he can't even pass this trial, then there truly will be no need for him to go to the Mortal Realm to face death. At that point, no matter what he says, I will not let him leave."