plumnovel 52. Trial
52. Trial
Passing through the mountain gate, one ascends the winding stone steps, eventually reaching a massive platform halfway up the mountain. At the end of the platform stands a magnificent hall, above which hangs a plaque with the three ancient characters "Temporary Hall of Testing Hearts." Before the hall, hundreds of applicants who have passed the initial screening stand solemnly, the atmosphere even more somber than at the foot of the mountain.
An elderly man with a gaunt face, dressed in the robes of a Seven Absolutes Sect elder, stood on the high steps in front of the hall, his gaze sweeping across the entire area like lightning. He did not deliberately exude an aura, but the majesty of someone who had long held a high position and his unfathomable inner strength naturally created an invisible pressure that quickly silenced the noisy crowd.
"My surname is Han, and I am honored to be the Elder of External Affairs of the Seven Absolutes Sect, presiding over the first stage of this guest elder recruitment." Elder Han's voice was calm, yet clearly reached everyone's ears. "This stage tests one's character. In martial arts training, internal strength and techniques are certainly important, but character and willpower are fundamental. Those with weak willpower, even with extraordinary abilities, are easily led astray or taken advantage of by external demons."
He paused, then pointed to the tightly closed hall doors behind him: "This hall is called 'Test of the Heart,' and it contains the 'Seven Emotions Illusionary Heart Array.' Those who enter the array will directly confront their deepest obsessions, fears, desires, regrets... all sorts of inner demons will transform into illusions, invading your minds."
A slight commotion arose in the crowd, and many people showed expressions of tension or apprehension. The Seven Emotions Illusionary Mind Array—just from its name, one could tell it was no easy feat.
"Within the illusion, all sensations are indistinguishable from reality. If you can hold fast to your principles, remain unmoved by the illusions, and see through the falsehoods, you can break free. The time limit is one incense stick's time. Those who fail to break free within one incense stick's time, or whose minds are clouded and who fall into madness, are considered failures." Elder Han's tone turned stern. "Remember, an illusion is still an illusion. The deeper you indulge, the harder it is to break free, and it may even damage the foundation of your soul. Now, if anyone feels their will is not firm, they may voluntarily withdraw."
The arena was silent; no one had backed out. Those who had made it this far were all seasoned warriors with some confidence in themselves, and none of them wanted to back down before the battle even began.
Elder Han nodded slightly upon seeing this: "In that case, enter the hall in order. The formation will then activate on its own."
The palace doors slowly opened, revealing a deep, dark space inside, like a gaping maw ready to devour its inhabitants. The applicants, in turn, entered the palace with a mix of emotions.
Lin Mo stood calmly in the middle of the line. He possessed an extraordinary level of confidence in the face of tests of character. Having lived two lives, experienced life-or-death crises, and witnessed his beloved being sealed away, his will had long been tempered to be as firm as a rock. Moreover, in his previous life, he was a powerful figure standing at the pinnacle of the martial arts world; what storms hadn't he weathered?
When it was his turn, he took a deep breath and calmly stepped across the threshold.
The scene before him suddenly changed! The light dimmed, the palace gate behind him seemed to vanish, and the surroundings turned into a chaotic darkness, with only a faint light ahead. He walked towards the light, and the surrounding scenery gradually became clear.
It was no longer the cold and impersonal Test of Hearts Hall, but... a familiar peach blossom forest.
A gentle spring breeze blows, peach blossoms are in full bloom, and petals fall in profusion. The stream babbles, its water crystal clear. The air is filled with the sweet fragrance of peach blossoms and the aroma of earth.
Lin Mo's heart clenched.
This is... the place where he first met Qinglan.
"Brother Lin, look how beautifully these peach blossoms are blooming!" A clear, melodious voice, tinged with a touch of coquettishness, rang out behind him.
Lin Mo's body stiffened slightly, and he slowly turned around.
Beneath the peach tree stood a young girl in a pale yellow dress, her bright eyes and white teeth gleaming with a charming smile. She held a peach blossom in her hand, tilting her head to look at him, her eyes filled with longing and joy. Those features, that expression—it was none other than his beloved from a past life, the one he so desperately clung to, sealed within the dark golden tower—Su Qinglan!
A living, breathing Su Qinglan who can laugh and talk.
The illusion perfectly replicated the most beautiful moment in his memory, even the temperature of the sunlight on her hair and the curve of the breeze brushing against the hem of her clothes were exactly the same.
"Qinglan..." Lin Mo murmured, his eyes momentarily unfocused. Countless sweet memories, sealed away, surged into his mind like a tide, the immense joy of regaining what he had lost almost overwhelming his reason. He subconsciously took a step forward, wanting to touch that face so close to his.
"Brother Lin, what's wrong? Why are you spacing out?" Su Qinglan smiled sweetly, took the initiative to step forward, and naturally took his arm. The touch was warm and real. "We agreed to build a small wooden house here, to see the flowers in spring, listen to the rain in summer, harvest in autumn, and enjoy the snow in winter... If you don't do it soon, the peach blossoms will all wither."
Her voice carried a hint of coquetry, and her eyes were pure, full of longing for the future.
This was the blueprint they had drawn together, a simple yet unattainable dream.
Lin Mo let her hold his arm, feeling the warmth and weight in his embrace, and the turmoil in his heart gradually subsided. He knew this was an illusion, a manifestation of the formation that stirred his deepest obsessions. No matter how real the 'Qinglan' before him seemed, it was merely a wisp of illusory projection.
The true Qinglan is still sealed within that cold magical artifact, her soul dormant.
"The cabin... will be built," Lin Mo said, his voice a little hoarse, but his eyes growing clearer. "But not here, and not now."
Su Qinglan's smile faltered slightly, a fleeting, almost imperceptible darkness flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure, shaking his arm: "What time was that? We're perfectly fine now. Look, the sun is so bright, the flowers are so beautiful, it's just the two of us, and there are no more of those conflicts in the martial world, no more family feuds, isn't that good?"
Her tone was seductive, trying to draw Lin Mo into this warm and peaceful illusion, to make him indulge in it, to make him forget everything.
Lin Mo gently withdrew his arm, took a half step back, and looked at her calmly: "Very well. But this is just a mirage. The real Qinglan is waiting for me, waiting for me to become strong enough to break the seal and awaken her. I cannot stay here."
Su Qinglan's smile finally crumbled, and she looked on the verge of tears, pitiful and vulnerable: "Brother Lin, don't you love me anymore? Why did you wake me up? We're together now! Are you really willing to lose me again?"
As they spoke, the surrounding scenery began to distort and crumble. The vibrant peach blossoms withered and faded at a visible speed, the clear streams became murky, and the gentle spring breeze turned into a biting, chilling wind. The bright sky was shrouded in heavy, dark clouds, and lightning flashed and thunder roared.
Su Qinglan's appearance began to change; her pale yellow dress faded to grayish-white, her delicate skin lost its luster, her eyes became empty and mournful, and her voice was shrill: "Why don't you want me? Why did you leave me again?! Stay with me!"
She stretched out her hands, her nails becoming long and sharp, carrying a chilling aura, and reached out to grab Lin Mo. The idyllic paradise instantly transformed into a deadly hellscape!
This is the backlash of inner demons, twisting beautiful memories into the deepest fear and guilt.
Faced with this horrifying change and the approaching "ghost," Lin Mo's eyes showed no fear, only deep pity and a hint of resolve. He knew that this was not Qinglan, but rather a manifestation of his own fear and guilt over losing Qinglan.
"I have never left, and I will never give up." Lin Mo's voice was resolute, carrying the power to pierce through illusions. "You are someone I must protect, not a demon that hinders my progress. Disperse!"
He pointed his fingers like a sword, without using any internal force, but simply gathered his unwavering will and pointed lightly at the approaching 'Su Qinglan'.
There was no earth-shattering roar, only a soft thud like shattering glass.
The rushing figure, the withered peach grove, the turbid stream, the sky filled with lightning and thunder... everything, like a shattered mirror, broke into pieces, turning into specks of light and disappearing into nothingness.
The chaotic darkness returned to before us, with only the faint light ahead remaining.
The illusion has been shattered.
From falling into the illusion to breaking free, it only took a dozen or so breaths.
As the darkness faded, Lin Mo found himself still standing inside the Hall of Trials, his position almost unchanged. The hall remained dimly lit, with faintly glowing gems embedded in the walls, outlining the vast space. He could see the other applicants still undergoing trials in the distance, their expressions varied—some laughing wildly, some weeping, some fearful, some angry—clearly still deeply immersed in their own illusions.
At the innermost part of the main hall, Elder Han and several Seven Absolutes Sect deacons sat cross-legged, their eyes filled with undisguised astonishment as they all focused on Lin Mo.
So fast?!
They were all too aware of the power of the Seven Emotions Illusionary Mind Array. The more resolute and experienced a person was, the more powerful the illusion they would create, because their obsession was deeper. For ordinary martial artists, it was already difficult to break free within half an incense stick's time, and to break the array before an incense stick had burned out was to be considered an outstanding individual.
But how long has it been since this young man named Lin Mo entered the formation and broke through it? The incense stick used for timing has only been lit for a short time, and not even a tenth of it has burned out!
The strength of this child's will is simply astonishing! What exactly did he go through to be able to remain sober and break free so quickly from such a mind-blowing illusion?
Lin Mo ignored the surprised looks from Elder Han and the others. He calmed his slightly agitated emotions caused by the illusion, nodded slightly to Elder Han and the others, and then silently walked to the designated passageway on one side of the main hall, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.
Although he broke through the formation quickly, confronting his deepest obsession, especially the way he "saw" Qinglan again, still stirred up ripples in his heart. He needed some time to completely calm these ripples and allow his Dao heart to return to its clarity.
Time passed slowly, and the incense burned gently.
People kept breaking free from the illusion, their faces still showing lingering fear. They staggered to the passage area and, upon seeing Lin Mo, who was already sitting quietly and meditating, all showed expressions of shock and disbelief.
Some people did not survive; some wailed and cried, while others acted like madmen. They were quickly subdued by the Seven Absolutes Sect disciples who were waiting nearby and taken away from the main hall, meaning they had lost their eligibility.
The young master surnamed Zhao, who had provoked Lin Mo outside the mountain gate, was among the last to break through the formation. He was pale and covered in cold sweat, clearly having suffered greatly in the illusion. When he saw Lin Mo, who appeared calm and composed, as if he had only taken a short rest, his eyes were filled with complex emotions. In the end, he lowered his head, unable to meet Lin Mo's gaze any longer.
As the last wisp of incense ash fell, Elder Han stood up.
"Time's up! Those who haven't broken through the formation are eliminated!"
As soon as the voice fell, more than a dozen people, their faces filled with resentment and despair, were asked to leave the main hall.
Elder Han's gaze swept over the hundred or so people who had passed the first test, pausing briefly on Lin Mo, before he announced in a clear voice, "Congratulations on passing the first test, 'Test of the Mind.' Mindset is the foundation of martial arts; I hope you will all diligently cultivate it in the future and not slack off. Rest for half an hour, and then we will proceed with the second test."
Upon hearing this, most of the people breathed a sigh of relief and quickly took the time to adjust their breathing and recover.
Lin Mo slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and lucid, the earlier turmoil completely subsided. The illusionary trial was not only an assessment, but also a test of his Dao heart. Having faced it head-on, his belief in saving Qinglan became even more firm and unwavering.
He looked out of the main hall, his gaze seemingly piercing through the layers of buildings to land deep within the Seven Absolutes Sect. The first trial was over; he eagerly awaited the next test of his martial arts skills.