第158章 "Deceived by Shadows"

**Chapter 158: The Web of Deception**

White Xiaopu's eyes blazed with anger as he demanded, "What do you mean, I've been a pawn in your game?" The stranger's calm demeanor only fueled his ire, and he took a step forward, his fists clenched.

The stranger didn't flinch, his gaze unwavering. "I mean, White Xiaopu, that you've been playing right into my hands. Your... unique abilities, they're very useful to me."

White Xiaopu's mind reeled as he tried to make sense of the stranger's words. "What abilities?" he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "You mean my pathetic cultivation?"

The stranger chuckled, a low, menacing sound. "Oh no, White Xiaopu. Your cultivation may be... lacking, but your potential is immense. And I've been carefully guiding you towards your true potential."

White Xiaopu's eyes narrowed, his heart racing with rage. "You're lying! I would never work with someone like you!" But even as he spoke, a nagging doubt crept into his mind. Had he been blind to the truth all along?

The stranger's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Ah, but you have, White Xiaopu. You've been playing right into my hands, and I've been enjoying every moment of it."

As the stranger spoke, the air around them began to distort, as if reality itself was bending to accommodate his words. White Xiaopu's grip on his fists tightened, his vision blurring as the world around him began to spin.

The stranger's laughter echoed through the air, his words dripping with venom. "You see, White Xiaopu, I've been waiting for you. And soon, you'll realize that you're nothing more than a pawn in my game... a game that will soon come to an end."

As the stranger's words faded into the distance, White Xiaopu felt himself being pulled back, as if by an unseen force. He stumbled, his footing unsure, as the world around him continued to distort and bend.

And then, everything went black.

To be continued...