The selection grounds gradually became quieter as time continued passing. After Wan Lin emerged from the Illusory Mind Test, the attention of the people surrounding the ancient formation returned to those who remained trapped within their own worlds. The third incense stick continued burning slowly, its thin trail of smoke rising into the air before disappearing beneath the morning sky. For the participants standing within the formation, however, the passage of time had become something entirely different.
Some remained motionless, their faces pale and their bodies covered in cold sweat. Others occasionally revealed subtle reactions as though fighting battles that existed only within their minds. One young cultivator suddenly staggered backwards before falling heavily onto the ground, his face filled with terror even though there was nothing before him. The elders immediately activated the formation and removed him from the examination.
His eyes opened moments later. The young man looked around in confusion, but when he realized where he was, his expression immediately became ugly.
He had failed!
There was no need for anyone to explain it to him. The other participants who had already been removed from the formation remained nearby, their expressions varying considerably. Some looked disappointed while others appeared unwilling to accept the result. A few lowered their heads in silence, clearly understanding that they had reached the end of their journey in this selection.
The Illusory Mind Test did not care about the background someone possessed or the cultivation resources they had received before arriving in Emerald City. Within the formation, everyone was forced to face their own minds. Those who could not overcome themselves would not be allowed to continue.
Feng Li stood quietly outside the formation beside Feng Xue, his gaze occasionally moving across the remaining participants. Although he had already completed the examination, he did not immediately leave the selection grounds. His thoughts remained occupied by several things, particularly the words Yun Li had spoken directly into his consciousness.
Mei Yao said hi.
The words were simple.
Yet Feng Li had been unable to completely remove them from his mind. He had known that Mei Yao was extraordinary from the beginning. There had always been things surrounding her that Feng Li did not completely understand, and her sudden departure had left behind questions that remained unanswered. Now Yun Li had appeared from the Myriad Dao Sect and casually mentioned her name as though the two of them shared a connection Feng Li had never known about.
Feng Li slowly turned his eyes toward Yun Li. The young man stood among the representatives of the major powers with his hands behind his back, watching the Illusory Mind Test with a calm expression. He did not appear particularly concerned about the remaining participants, nor did he appear surprised by what had happened to Feng Li within the formation.
Perhaps sensing Feng Li's gaze, Yun Li turned his head slightly.
Their eyes met.
A faint smile appeared on Yun Li's face.
Feng Li's expression remained unchanged.
He had questions.
And sooner or later, Yun Li would answer at least some of them.
Time continued passing as the third incense eventually burned away. The fourth incense stick was then lit, and the atmosphere surrounding the selection grounds gradually became heavier. By that point, only a small number of participants remained within the formation.
Several had chosen the second method of passing.
They had not broken through their illusions.
They had not discovered the truth behind the illusory space and found their way out.
Instead, they continued enduring.
Their expressions revealed the difficulty of doing so.
One young woman stood with blood flowing from the corner of her lips, although the injury itself had not truly occurred. The illusion had clearly pushed her consciousness to a point where her physical body was beginning to react. Another participant's hands trembled uncontrollably, yet he remained standing. The people watching understood that these participants were fighting battles that no one else could witness.
Eventually, another participant collapsed.
The formation responded immediately.
His consciousness had reached its limit.
The elders removed him.
The fourth incense continued burning.
By the time the fifth incense was lit, the enormous formation that had once contained numerous young cultivators had become almost empty. Only a handful remained.
Feng Xue watched quietly. Her own experience within the illusion was still fresh in her mind. Although she had successfully escaped after two incense intervals, she understood how dangerous the test truly was. There had been moments when she had felt the illusion attempting to drag her deeper, attempting to convince her that the world surrounding her was real.
She had resisted.
She had refused to allow herself to become lost. Yet when she looked toward Feng Li, she could not help remembering what had happened when he emerged.
The formation had trembled.
Something had happened within the Illusory Mind Test that even the elders had not immediately understood.
Feng Li had not simply passed.
Whatever he had done had caused the illusion itself to collapse.
Feng Xue did not ask him about it.
She knew that Feng Li had his own secrets.
Just as she had hers.
The fifth incense gradually burned toward its end.
The final participants continued standing.
One eventually opened his eyes.
A moment later, another followed.
Both had endured until the final stage of the examination.
The people watching nodded as the elders confirmed their success.
Then the final incense burned completely.
The ancient formation slowly dimmed.
The spiritual energy flowing through its countless patterns gradually disappeared, and the participants who remained trapped within their illusory worlds opened their eyes one after another.
Some looked exhausted.
Others immediately looked around with confusion.
The examination had ended.
The blue-robed man stepped forward once more. His gaze moved across the participants who had completed the Illusory Mind Test before shifting toward those who had been removed.
"The final examination has concluded," he announced. "Those who were unable to withstand the Illusory Mind Test or break free from the illusory realm have failed the selection. Regardless of your previous performance, you will not be considered further."
His words were direct.
No one objected.
Some of the failed participants clenched their fists, while others revealed expressions of unwillingness. However, the rules had been explained before the test began.
Failure meant elimination.
The blue-robed man then turned his attention toward those who remained.
"As for those who have completed the examination, your results will now be recorded."
Several people immediately became attentive. The matter of the talent measurement had still not been completely resolved. The blue-robed man appeared to understand this.
"Those who completed both the talent examination and the Illusory Mind Test have fulfilled the requirements of this regional selection and will proceed to the Capital to represent Emerald City's region in the Martial Intake Challenge. However, because the talent measuring ceremony was interrupted, some participants were unable to undergo the examination."
His words caused several of the remaining young cultivators to exchange looks. The blue-robed man continued, explaining that those participants would not be eliminated because they had been deprived of the opportunity to take the examination through circumstances outside their control. Since they had successfully passed the Illusory Mind Test, they would also be permitted to travel to the Capital.
"There, you will undergo the proper talent examination before your qualifications are completely confirmed. If you fail to meet the requirements, you will not be considered further."
The people who had missed the talent examination revealed mixed expressions.
They had been given another opportunity.
But their futures were still uncertain.
Feng Li's situation was slightly different.
He had entered the talent measuring platform.
The platform had reacted.
Lightning had descended.
And then it had failed.
No proper result had ever appeared.
The blue-robed man's eyes briefly moved toward Feng Li before he continued speaking. "As for those whose examinations were interrupted by abnormalities involving the measuring artifact, the matter will also be resolved in the Capital using a superior measuring method."
A faint movement passed through the crowd.
Several people looked toward Feng Li.
The memory of what had happened during his examination had clearly not disappeared. Some still believed that the platform's destruction had proven he possessed no measurable talent. Others were no longer certain what to think, particularly after witnessing his performance within the Illusory Mind Test.
No one could deny one thing.
Whatever Feng Li was, he was not ordinary.
The Black Jade Sect elder's expression darkened slightly.
He remained silent.
However, his gaze toward Feng Li was no longer as simple as before. The events of the day had placed the young man beyond his reach in a manner the elder clearly disliked. The blue-robed man continued speaking, announcing that those who had successfully passed would be given three days to prepare themselves. After three days, they would depart from Emerald City and travel toward the Capital, where geniuses selected from the other regions would gather.
The Martial Intake Challenge would begin after the regional selections had been completed. For many of the young cultivators standing there, the words caused excitement to appear in their eyes.
The Capital!
It was a place most of them had only heard about.
A place where the powerful gathered.
And soon, they would stand alongside geniuses from regions far beyond Emerald City. The selection had officially ended. The different representatives gradually began discussing matters among themselves while the successful participants were directed toward another section of the grounds to have their names recorded. Feng Li remained where he was for a moment.
Yun Li approached him.
Feng Xue stood beside Feng Li and watched the young man from the Myriad Dao Sect arrive.
Yun Li's expression remained calm, carrying the same relaxed confidence he had displayed since revealing himself. He did not possess the arrogance often associated with people from powerful backgrounds, yet there was something about him that made it impossible to mistake him for an ordinary cultivator.
Feng Li looked directly at him.
"Mei Yao," Feng Li said.
Yun Li smiled faintly.
It appeared that he had been expecting the question.
"What about her?"
"You know her."
"I do."
The answer was simple.
Feng Li's gaze did not change. "Who is she?"
Yun Li looked toward the distant selection grounds for a brief moment before returning his attention to Feng Li. "She is my Junior Sister."
Feng Li's eyes narrowed slightly.
Feng Xue also looked toward Yun Li.
The answer confirmed what Feng Li had already begun suspecting.
Mei Yao had a connection to the Myriad Dao Sect.
Yet Yun Li's words created even more questions.
"If she is your Junior Sister, then she belongs to the Myriad Dao Sect?"
Yun Li revealed a faint smile.
"You are asking questions whose answers should come from her."
Feng Li remained silent.
Yun Li continued calmly. "She is safe. That much, you do not need to worry about. As for the rest, when the time comes for you to meet again, perhaps you should ask her yourself."
There was no hostility in his voice. Yet Feng Li could clearly tell that Yun Li had no intention of revealing anything further. The exact identity Mei Yao possessed within the sect remained hidden. Feng Li did not continue pressing him.
There was little point.
If Yun Li had wanted to explain everything, he would not have deliberately stopped at calling her his Junior Sister. Instead, Feng Li asked another question.
"Did she know you were coming?"
Yun Li's smile became slightly more mysterious.
"Perhaps."
That was all he said.
Feng Li stared at him.
Yun Li simply smiled.
Feng Li understood that continuing the conversation would accomplish nothing.
The young man before him clearly enjoyed leaving behind questions.
After a moment of silence, Yun Li's expression became slightly more serious.
"Now that you have asked what you wanted to ask, it is time for me to ask you something."
Feng Li looked at him.
"My invitation."
The surrounding sounds seemed to become distant.
Yun Li had given Feng Li time to think.
He had not pressured him during the selection, and even after intervening on his behalf, he had allowed Feng Li to decide for himself.
Feng Li's eyes remained calm.
"I accept."
Yun Li was silent for a brief moment.
Then a genuine smile appeared on his face.
It was the first time since arriving in Emerald City that his satisfaction had become so obvious.
"Good."
Yun Li raised his hand.
A small object appeared within his palm.
It was an insignia.
The symbol carved upon its surface immediately caused the expressions of several nearby people to change.
The Myriad Dao Sect.
Even without Yun Li announcing what it was, the representatives of the major powers recognized the symbol.
The insignia carried a restrained aura, its surface appearing simple at first glance. Yet the spiritual fluctuations contained within it were impossible to ignore. The moment Feng Li accepted it, countless pairs of eyes focused upon him.
Yun Li extended his hand.
"Take it."
Feng Li looked at the insignia.
"This represents your identity as a disciple of the Myriad Dao Sect."
Feng Xue's eyes widened slightly.
The people nearby immediately became silent.
They understood the significance of those words.
Feng Li had not returned to the Myriad Dao Sect.
He had not undergone the ordinary procedures required of a new disciple.
Yet Yun Li was giving him the sect's insignia.
This was an exception.
Feng Li accepted it.
The moment his fingers touched the insignia, he could feel a faint connection forming between himself and the object. The spiritual energy contained within it recognized his presence before gradually becoming calm.
Yun Li watched him.
"Normally, you would receive this after officially entering the sect," he explained. "However, an exception has been made."
Feng Li looked toward him.
He did not ask who had made the exception.
There was only one person who could reasonably have given Yun Li such authority.
The Myriad Dao Sect Master.
The meaning behind the decision remained unclear.
Perhaps the insignia was intended to establish Feng Li's identity immediately.
Perhaps it was intended to protect him.
Or perhaps there was another reason entirely.
Feng Li placed the insignia away.
The surrounding people continued watching.
The Black Jade Sect elder's face became particularly unpleasant.
The young man he had attempted to suppress earlier had now become a recognized disciple of the Myriad Dao Sect. The number one sect had publicly placed its name upon him. Even if the elder still carried resentment, acting against Feng Li would no longer be as simple as it had been before.
Yun Li then turned his attention toward Feng Xue. For a moment, Feng Xue appeared surprised. She had not expected him to address her.
Yun Li looked at her carefully before speaking. "Your performance today was good."
Feng Xue remained respectful. "Thank you."
"You completed the Illusory Mind Test after two incense intervals. That is enough for me to know that your talent is not ordinary."
Feng Xue remained silent.
Yun Li continued. "However, talent alone is not enough to enter the Myriad Dao Sect."
His words did not carry any mockery.
Instead, they sounded like a simple statement of fact.
"The Martial Intake Challenge will gather the most outstanding geniuses selected from the different regions. If you can enter the top five, I will personally allow you to join the Myriad Dao Sect."
Feng Xue's eyes widened.
For a moment, she did not immediately respond.
The opportunity Yun Li had just given her was enormous.
Yet Yun Li did not stop there.
"Of course, your path remains your own. If another sect is better suited to what you desire, you may choose it instead. No one will force you to enter the Myriad Dao Sect."
His words caused Feng Xue's expression to become thoughtful.
She looked briefly toward Feng Li.
Then she looked back toward Yun Li.
"I understand."
Yun Li nodded.
"There is another reason you should think carefully. If you enter the Myriad Dao Sect, you will have the opportunity to reunite with Feng Li within the sect."
Feng Xue's eyes briefly moved toward her brother again. A faint determination gradually appeared within them. The Martial Intake Challenge had already been important to her. Now it had become something more.
Yun Li turned his attention back toward Feng Li.
"Now, since you have accepted my invitation, your situation has changed."
Feng Li listened.
"You have three choices."
Yun Li raised one finger. "The first is to return with me to the Myriad Dao Sect immediately. Once we arrive, you can complete the remaining procedures and officially begin your life within the sect."
He raised a second finger.
"The second is to travel to the Capital but not participate in the Martial Intake Challenge. You are already a disciple of the Myriad Dao Sect. You can simply observe the competition and see what the younger generation of this region is capable of."
Then he raised a third finger.
"The final choice is to participate."
Yun Li's eyes rested upon Feng Li.
"You can stand alongside the other geniuses and compete with them. You can see the world beyond Emerald City with your own eyes and discover how far you currently stand from the people walking the same generation as you."
Feng Li did not need much time to think.
The Myriad Dao Sect was now his sect.
That fact had not changed his desire to move forward.
If anything, it had given him a larger world to explore.
He looked toward Yun Li.
"I will participate."
For the first time, Yun Li's smile became noticeably brighter.
He appeared genuinely delighted by Feng Li's answer.
"Good, good, good!"
There was satisfaction in his voice.
"You made the choice I hoped you would."
Feng Li looked at him.
Yun Li simply smiled and did not explain what he meant.
The matter had been decided.
Feng Li would travel toward the Capital.
He would participate in the Martial Intake Challenge. And he would do so not as someone hoping to gain the attention of a sect, but as a disciple who had already been accepted by the number one sect. The difference would undoubtedly become interesting once the other geniuses discovered it.
The selection grounds gradually began emptying.
The failed participants left with their respective families or forces, while those who had succeeded remained behind to complete the necessary registration. The representatives of the different sects did not immediately leave Emerald City. Since the journey toward the Capital would begin in three days, most of them decided to remain within the city.
Yun Li also remained.
When Feng Li asked whether he intended to return to the Myriad Dao Sect before their departure, Yun Li simply shook his head.
"There is no need."
"You are staying?"
"For three days."
His answer was casual.
Feng Li did not question him further.
The people of Emerald City, however, would soon discover that Yun Li, the personal disciple of the Myriad Dao Sect Master, had decided to remain within their city.
News spread quickly.
Far more quickly than Feng Li expected.
By the time he returned to the Feng Clan, the events of the selection had already begun spreading throughout Emerald City. The talent measuring platform had failed during his examination. Lightning had descended. Feng Li had been allowed to continue after Yun Li appeared. He had completed the Illusory Mind Test first.
And most importantly, he had accepted the invitation of the Myriad Dao Sect.
The reactions throughout the city were undoubtedly complicated.
Some people celebrated.
Some could not believe it.
Others wondered how someone from Emerald City had suddenly attracted the attention of the number one sect. And there were undoubtedly those who were not pleased.
The Black Jade Sect was among them!
Feng Li, however, had little interest in concerning himself with what others thought. Night eventually descended upon Emerald City. The events of the day had finally begun settling. Feng Li sat alone within his room. The Myriad Dao Sect insignia rested within his hand. Under the faint light illuminating the room, the symbol carved upon its surface appeared simple.
Yet the meaning behind it was anything but simple.
The number one sect.
Mei Yao.
Yun Li.
The Capital.
The Martial Intake Challenge.
Feng Xue's determination.
The path before him had suddenly become much larger.
Feng Li lowered his gaze toward the insignia.
Then a voice suddenly appeared within his mind.
"So, you went out for a small selection and returned carrying the name of the number one sect."
Feng Li's expression changed slightly.
The voice continued.
"I leave you alone for a short while, and somehow you manage to cause a talent-measuring platform to fail before destroying an illusory formation. Should I be impressed, or should I begin worrying about what you intend to destroy next?"
Feng Li remained silent for a moment.
Then his consciousness entered the Nine Floor Divine Pagoda.
The familiar mysterious space appeared around him.
"You are awake."
The old man's voice immediately responded.
"I was awake."
Feng Li's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You were silent."
"I was enjoying the silence."
Feng Li stared into the darkness.
The old man continued in a completely unconcerned tone. "Do you have any idea how exhausting it is to listen to you constantly create trouble? A peaceful old man should be allowed to rest."
"You watched everything."
"Of course."
Feng Li's expression became slightly darker.
"You watched everything and did nothing."
The old man seemed amused.
"What exactly did you expect me to do? Appear before everyone and announce that I am an ancient and incomparably handsome existence living inside your pagoda?"
Feng Li's face remained expressionless.
The old man sighed.
"Young people truly have no appreciation for humour."
For the first time in a long while, a faint sense of familiarity returned to Feng Li.
The old man had been absent for so long that Feng Li had almost begun wondering whether something had happened within the Nine Floor Divine Pagoda.
Now he realized that the mysterious existence had simply chosen not to speak.
Feng Li looked into the darkness.
"You knew about the Myriad Dao Sect?"
The old man was silent for a moment.
Then he replied, "I know of many things."
"That was not my question."
"And that is why you remain such an unpleasant person to have conversations with."
Feng Li waited.
The old man eventually continued.
"The Myriad Dao Sect is not a small place. You should not underestimate it simply because a single disciple came to invite you."
Feng Li's expression became serious.
The sarcasm in the old man's voice gradually disappeared.
"The world you have seen until now is still small. Emerald City is small. Even the regions surrounding it are small when compared to what exists beyond them."
"The Capital?"
The old man gave a faint laugh.
"The Capital is merely the beginning."
Feng Li remained silent.
The old man's voice continued echoing through the mysterious space.
"You destroyed an illusory formation today and caused several people to stare at you as though they had witnessed something impossible. Do not allow such things to enter your head."
"I have no intention of doing that."
"Good."
The old man's tone immediately became sarcastic again.
"Because if you become arrogant after defeating children in a small regional selection, I may have to seal you inside the second floor until you remember how embarrassing that would be."
Feng Li's face darkened.
"You cannot do that."
"Are you certain?"
Feng Li remained silent.
The old man laughed.
"Good. At least you still know when not to answer."
The mysterious space gradually became quiet again.
The old man sighed.
Feng Li remained silent.
The old man continued.
"However, you should understand one thing."
His voice became slightly more serious.
"The paths ahead of you are beginning to connect."
Feng Li's eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?"
The old man did not answer.
Instead, his voice became filled with amusement once again.
"You will find out."
Then the mysterious space became silent.
"Old man."
No answer came.
"Are you asleep again?"
Still nothing.
Feng Li stood within the Nine Floor Divine Pagoda for a moment before eventually withdrawing his consciousness. His eyes opened within his room. The Myriad Dao Sect insignia remained in his hand. The old man's final words continued lingering within his mind.
The paths ahead of you are beginning to connect.
Feng Li looked toward the window. Beyond it, Emerald City remained illuminated beneath the night sky.
Three days.
After three days, he would leave.
He would travel toward the Capital.
There, the geniuses selected from the different regions would gather. The Martial Intake Challenge awaited him. And somewhere beyond everything he currently understood stood the Myriad Dao Sect.
Mei Yao was there.
Yun Li would be there.
And perhaps answers to questions Feng Li had not yet learned how to ask.
A new path had opened before him.
And this time, Feng Li intended to walk it himself.