’So real yet so illusory, like a dream... Is this the power of a Magical Treasure? It’s a good thing this is just a trial of character for Sect Disciples. Otherwise, any Qi Refining Cultivator trapped inside would be stuck until they died.’

Bai Zichen was dazed for a moment, finding it hard to distinguish between reality and illusion.

It felt as though he had truly experienced it all: being injured and hitting rock bottom, then resuming his Cultivation under the weight of his former title as a genius, amidst cold stares and ridicule.

Finally, he had gambled his life, pleading with the heavens for that one ethereal opportunity, finding life in the face of death against all odds, and successfully achieving Foundation Establishment.

Although the entire Cultivation process and the experience of Foundation Establishment within the Illusion Realm were all false, his memory of it was a complete blur. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Yet, he could faintly sense that breaking through the realm at the end of this journey through the Illusion Realm would be of great benefit to his future Cultivation.

"How is that possible!"

Xiong Baishan had finally stopped on the thirty-second step of the Celestial Ladder, completely lost within it, and was automatically teleported out by the Heart Inquiry Celestial Ladder.

He stood at the bottom of the Celestial Ladder, watching Bai Zichen’s expression shift from confusion to fear, but ultimately hardening with resolve as he ascended step by step, finally standing firm on the fiftieth step.

’It’s fine... The Heart Inquiry Path only assesses a person’s character; it doesn’t represent anything else. There are plenty of disciples with outstanding character who die prematurely, and it has no direct connection to one’s strength in Combat.’

The supremely confident Xiong Baishan’s expression had changed. He could only mutter to himself for encouragement. His Companion Bear Beast was the source of his confidence.

"How is that possible!"

In front of the Water Mirror, Ma Ming uttered the exact same words.

He of course recognized Bai Zichen, the Inner Sect Disciple who had taken the Cave Mansion he had originally reserved for his younger clan sister, causing him to lose a great deal of face.

Back then, Ma Ming had only made it twenty-something steps on the Heart Inquiry Path before falling into an Illusion Realm. In it, his impulsive actions led to the death of a junior martial brother. He then sought revenge by slaughtering the entire clan of the responsible Cultivator, which in turn drew the ire of that Cultivator’s friends, who came seeking vengeance.

From then on, grievances intertwined. Caught in an endless cycle of revenge, he walked a path of slaughter, ultimately wasting a hundred years before dying of exhaustion amidst the carnage, ending the trial.

Judging others by his own standards, he could never have imagined that Bai Zichen could reach the fiftieth step of the Heart Inquiry Path.

’He’s not going to surpass Sect Leader Wei, is he? It would be good if he did. That way, every time new disciples take the trial, they won’t see that the highest record in the last century belongs to him!’

Elder Zhang was first taken aback, but upon thinking of this, he began to feel a sense of anticipation.

"Later, have all the files on this disciple named Bai Zichen sent to me. Regardless of how many more steps he takes, his character is more than sufficient. If he excels in other areas as well, then we can move him to the top of the list for that selection."

Liang Yu gave the instruction, his eyes remaining glued to the figure in the Water Mirror.

This time, Bai Zichen lingered on the fiftieth step of the Celestial Ladder for a long time. A look of confusion appeared on his face, and he even began to unconsciously look around.

At thirty, he reached Foundation Establishment. By one hundred, he achieved Core Formation, becoming the youngest Core Formation True Man in the history of the Qingfeng Sect.

"Next year, I will plant the flag of the Qingfeng Sect before the gates of the Ghost Spirit Sect!"

The following year, Bai Zichen led the Sect’s grand army, cutting a path through all obstacles. Before the Ghost Spirit Sect’s Grand Array, he set up the Star River Sword Array and single-handedly battled three Core Formation True Men, achieving a great victory.

He broke through their gates and toppled their mountain, making the Ghost Spirit Sect a thing of the past. Bai Zichen’s prestige reached its absolute peak.

Immediately after, he left Liang Country to travel the world.

But as soon as he was outside Liang Country, he encountered a plump, white pig that sent him flying with a single nudge.

’A Nascent Soul Stage Pig Demon?’

"Where did this two-legged beast come from? So weak!"

"Lock him back up. Let’s raise him for another two years before we butcher him!"

A Jade Rabbit, exuding the same powerful aura, hopped over and sent Bai Zichen flying for dozens of *li* with a kick of its small foot.

In mid-air, he even saw that such Nascent Soul Stage Great Demons were densely packed, numbering in the dozens, even hundreds.

’Outside of Liang Country, Nascent Souls are everywhere? Even a fat pig has the power to crush me effortlessly. What meaning is there in my century of bitter Cultivation...’

Bai Zichen’s thoughts were in chaos. Everything before him was beyond his comprehension, seeming to shatter the very meaning of the Cultivation he had pursued since childhood.

’Any random Demon Beast is born with strength surpassing mine. Bitter Cultivation is meaningless... In the eyes of a Nascent Soul Great Demon, what difference is there between a Core Formation cultivator and a Mortal? We’re all just two-legged beasts they raise. I might as well have been a Mortal, concerned only with my own small plot of land. I would have been happier...’

Bai Zichen’s body grew increasingly faint and translucent, as if he might dissipate at any moment.

Just then, a scene from his youth flashed before his eyes: a young boy with his hair in a topknot, clutching the Chang Chun Skill and struggling to memorize it. It was as if he had grasped some kind of enlightenment.

’I have cultivated my entire life for the Great Dao, to seek eternal life... What does the Cultivation of others have to do with me? Even if a creature is as foolish as a pig but is born at the Divinity Transformation stage, it cannot affect my heart which seeks the Dao.’

The hundreds of Nascent Soul Great Demons abruptly exploded, transforming into streams of light that surged into Bai Zichen’s body, making it solid and pure.

He took another step toward the border of Liang Country, and the entire world faded away. He was now standing on the sixtieth step of the Celestial Ladder.

Bai Zichen took a deep breath. The series of illusory worlds, each experience like a dream fast-forwarded ten thousand times, left his head throbbing with a sharp, piercing pain.

He stepped onto the sixty-first step of the Heart Inquiry Path. The moment he saw himself transform into a meteorite hurtling toward the ground, burning up into a giant fireball, he was pushed by a gentle force out of the illusory world and found himself back at the bottom of the Heart Inquiry Celestial Ladder.

’What happened? I haven’t failed the trial yet, have I? Why was I teleported out?’

Bai Zichen was completely baffled. He had already experienced the miraculous nature of the hundred-step Heart Inquiry Path.

Though he couldn’t quite put it into words, he was certain he had gained something beneficial from the Heart Inquiry Path. The depths of his heart felt as if dust had been wiped away, leaving it crystal clear.

"Your character may not have reached its limit, but the Heart Inquiry Celestial Ladder detected that your Sea of Consciousness could no longer withstand the ordeal of another virtual world. To prevent irreversible damage to Sect Disciples, it was designed to automatically teleport you out if such a situation arises."

An Elder Cultivator had abruptly appeared behind him, his eyes fixed solely on Bai Zichen, filled with admiration.

"It is indeed a bit of a pity. If you had a Cultivation at Qi Refining Perfection, you might have truly been able to reach the seventieth step. However, for a Qi Refining Cultivator, the difference in benefits gained between the two is not significant, so you need not worry too much."

"Greetings, Junior Martial Uncle Liang."

Bai Zichen hurriedly bowed. He had memorized the appearance of the Law Enforcement Hall Master before even joining the Sect; how could he not recognize him?

"Both of you have passed the second stage of the True Inheritance Trial. Go back and await further notice. Someone will inform you once the third stage, Combat, has been arranged."

Liang Yu offered a few more simple words of encouragement, things along the lines of cultivating diligently and becoming a pillar of the Sect as soon as possible.

After leaving the Law Enforcement Hall, Xiong Baishan ran off in a hurry without saying a word.

Bai Zichen felt neither joy nor worry. When it came to the final Inner Sect Combat, he was the most confident.

Having just emerged from the Heart Inquiry Path, his mind seemed to hold several lifetimes that weren’t his own, creating a sense of disconnect now that he was back in reality.

It seemed he would need a few days to resolve the side effects of the Heart Inquiry Path.

’The one with the greatest character among all True Disciples of the Qingfeng Sect in the past century...’

Bai Zichen chuckled. That title certainly had a nice ring to it.