Dong.
Dong dong dong……
When Lin Nan opened her eyes again, she realized that many people around her had already collapsed onto the ground.
Their lips were pale, expressions tense, murmuring something under their breath.
Clearly, they were trapped in the illusion. If they were not careful, just as Senior Brother had said, their Dao Heart could shatter, and their entire path of cultivation would be cut off for life.
Lin Nan glanced at the girl beside her and greeted, “Hey, you’re out already?”
“Y-yeah…”
Shen Yuer nodded hesitantly.
She really wanted to ask Lin Nan what her illusion had been, where exactly her Dao lay, but she was afraid that if she asked, Lin Nan would suddenly turn the question back on her, “Then what about you, Yuer? What did you encounter in your illusion?”
She couldn’t exactly say, “I met you, and then I very coldly and mercilessly rejected you,” could she?
What kind of words would those be?
The Qingyun Sect disciples watching more people awaken quietly started whispering among themselves.
“So it’s true, Senior Brother has sharp eyes. The few he named woke up first.”
“Senior Brother is powerful, but when it comes to discerning vision, it’s still Senior Sister Qiao. Lin Nan’s waking speed isn’t slow either.”
“Not slow, her Dao Heart is firm, but why do I feel her Dao Heart is… off?”
“It is strange, especially compared to Shen Yuer.”
The few who spoke glanced cautiously at the Senior Brother, who was squinting thoughtfully.
Senior Sister Qiao smiled, “Senior Brother, I win.”
“Yes, you win,” Senior Brother shook his head but conceded the point.
Senior Sister Qiao truly smiled then, her eyes full of relief as she looked at Lin Nan, “Senior Brother, what do you think of these new junior brothers and sisters’ talents?”
“Some good, some bad.”
“And their Dao Hearts?”
“……”
Senior Brother was silent for a long time. Actually, he only paid attention to a few people’s illusions, among them the half-demon girl Lin Nan.
How to evaluate her? From initial disdain to eventually a trace of pity.
The illusion conjured by the Inquiry Stone often represents one’s true inner nature:
Take Shen Yuer as an example her illusion, at its core, was quite traditional. Most people’s illusions revolve around three things.
Wealth, power, and lover. Among these three, it’s easiest for someone to get lost choosing one. If the Dao Heart isn’t firm, they easily lose themselves and may even absurdly claim, “I want all of them.”
Although the illusion magnifies one’s desire for these three things, however…
Heh. Senior Brother sneered inwardly, silently cursing: people like this are just drooling idiots even if they’re healed.
Cultivators wholeheartedly pursue the Dao. If one follows their heart and chooses one of these things, carrying it out steadfastly to eventually achieve something in that realm, that can be barely considered passing.
But someone like Shen Yuer, who abandoned all three and only sought the Dao, is truly rare.
A good seedling.
But this Lin Nan…
“By the way, don’t you think Lin Nan is kind of pitiful?”
A junior sister behind whispered softly.
Once spoken, others quickly agreed, “She really is miserable. Everyone opposes her marrying Shen Yuer, but she still charges ahead headfirst.”
“She’s so deeply affectionate, and Shen Yuer didn’t even think twice before abandoning her. That’s really…”
“Sigh, tell me about it. The worst part is, on the stair climb, neither Lin Nan nor Shen Yuer could have made it without the other!”
These words were like a stone thrown into a still pond, the splash spreading into everyone’s hearts.
Cultivators are mostly rational and don’t obsess over fairness, but these two girls… it’s truly a pity.
“Quiet.”
Senior Brother gestured, suppressing the chatter behind him. Everyone waited quietly for a long time, and when it was certain no one else would pass this second trial, he publicly announced the list of those who passed.
“Congratulations to all those still standing for passing the Inquiry Stone trial. From now on, I will officially address you all as junior brothers and sisters.”
Hearing Senior Brother’s announcement, the crowd finally breathed a sigh of relief. Some immediately collapsed onto the ground, but the moment their hips touched, they seemed to realize something and hurriedly stood back up.
“No need to force yourselves,” Senior Brother’s gaze softened momentarily, “If you’re tired, sit down. There aren’t many rules in Qingyun Sect.”
That disciple, as if pardoned, looked at Senior Brother with gratitude.
“I will give you some time to familiarize yourselves with Qingyun Sect, and the various peaks, elders, and disciples will also get to know and observe you.”
“In the end, which peak you join, what cultivation techniques you learn, and so on will be decided then.”
After speaking, Senior Brother raised his right hand, three fingers joined, and said, “Additionally: three months from now, Qingyun Sect will hold a routine initiation ceremony for you.”
Immediately, a curious junior disciple raised a hand to ask, “What is the purpose of this initiation ceremony? Does it decide the resource distribution for each disciple?”
“It decides nothing. The only thing it decides is who among your generation will be the leader.”
Senior Brother finally smiled, “For example, my title as Senior Brother came from my generation because no one could beat me.”
“All right, junior brothers and sisters, that’s all for today. Lin Nan, stay behind.”
After the final word, the disciples behind Senior Brother guided the new disciples into the mountain gate, escorting them to their assigned caves, explaining the general layout of Qingyun Sect.
During the upcoming familiarization period, they would understand their status, what to do, and what not to do…
Lin Nan and Shen Yuer remained standing there.
The young girl, a little confused, lightly patted Lin Nan’s shoulder and quietly asked, “Xiao Lin, I still don’t quite get it. Deciding who’s the leader isn’t just about resource distribution? Then why did Senior Brother say it decides nothing?”
Lin Nan went “Oh” and explained, “There’s supposedly a folk competition around the Northern Continent called the Slap Match. One-on-one duel, each slapping the other until someone passes out. The last one laughing is the winner.”
Shen Yuer let out a breath, “How terrifying. Even if you win, you’ll get slapped a lot. Are the people who join this competition crazy?”
“Who knows. The champion a few years back reportedly lost three or four teeth from the slaps.”
Shen Yuer’s face twisted, “So what’s the point of winning this contest?”
“There is one,” Lin Nan held up her index finger, “The winner earns the respect of everyone as the big brother. Oh, it’s basically the same as being called Senior Brother.”
Shen Yuer opened her mouth wide, feeling something was off but unable to find a reason to refute it.
She could only stammer in confusion, “So aren’t they just fools then…”
Behind them, Senior Brother stood still, golden light flashing in his palm.
“Senior Brother, don’t be like this,” Senior Sister Qiao quickly grabbed him, “The two junior sisters don’t mean anything by it.”
“They’re not exactly fools either,” Lin Nan’s voice reached their ears, finally easing Senior Brother’s mood a little.
Senior Sister Qiao sighed in relief, pointing at the two, “See, I told you…”
Just as she finished speaking, Lin Nan added naturally, “Logically speaking, Senior Brother should be the big fool.”
“???”
Senior Brother nearly lost his mind. He drew his flying sword with a sharp whoosh, righteous aura blazing, “Senior Sister Qiao, don’t stop me! I’m going to exorcise demons and uphold the Dao right now!”