Morning came far too fast for Li Ming's liking.
He yawned so hard it looked like his soul tried to escape. "Why do big life-changing events always start at dawn?"
Bai Guo, already in human form and munching on a rice bun, shrugged. "Because the heavens enjoy your suffering, descendant."
Li Ming groaned and followed the crowd toward the main courtyard. Hundreds of disciples were already there, buzzing with rumors about "the new test." No one knew what it was, but judging by the elders' grim faces, it wasn't going to involve tea parties.
Lan Yue stood at the front, her robe fluttering in the early wind. "Today marks the final stage before authentic discipleship," she announced. "You will enter the Heavenly Mirage Field. Inside, your mind, heart, and cultivation will be tested. What you see may not be real—but what you feel will be."
The disciples exchanged nervous glances.
Li Ming whispered, "That… doesn't sound like a normal exam."
